Easter 2016

Holiday weekend starting with fun with two awesome Amys and drinks at one of our favorite haunts, Luckys. Enjoyed bone marrow and awesome drinks, followed by a Passion Play and then a day in the country with friends and shrimp and grits and ham biscuits, a Southern tradition.

 Whirlwind fun and all the kids home for the weekend. These are the times we live for and cherish. Realizing with every holiday that there are no guarantees as the kids get older that the next holiday will find us all together. So grateful for every moment we share. They all love the food and the memories created around the table. As we began the cooking Saturday and would leave the house and return I was in heaven smelling all the awesome herbs and the aromas as they hang in the air, making the house a home. I hope my children will carry those memories with them as they move into their own lives, and cherish the smell of good food whenever they make it home.

Easter with the kids, all grown up now, included a delicious holiday meal where everyone contributed. Matthew's girlfriend, Ruth, is a vegetarian so we pulled out several Yotam Ottolenghi cookbooks and whipped up some mujadara (Israeli lentils, basmati rice and homemade fried onions, comfort food), fried cauliflower with tamarind and mint dipping sauce, salad, roasted golden beets, Thai chili deviled eggs and delicious vegan organic tortes. A feast in the making. Folks who are not vegetarian don't often realize how satisfying a vegetarian gourmet meal can be. We are all sufficiently stuffed and satisfied. Lots of fun cooking with the family. Kevin even cleaned up afterwards! Thanks, Easter Bunny! Spring right around the corner, everything in bloom, family all around, great food and awesome wine from Jefferson Vineyards....doesn't get much better than this....The Lord is risen indeed! Hallelujah!

Friday night fun. Rice spinach salad and grilled asparagus with steak.

Just when you think that all the wonderful meals that were lovingly prepared for you as you convalesced have come to an end, your bestest buddy, who is a fabulous cook, has you over to partake of another amazing meal. Thank you, Eva, for all the fabulous food you have fixed over the years. You always do so much for so many! I loved the spinach rice salad! Everything was delicious!

Cold snowy day. Warm tummies. Mexican meatloaf.

Cooooold days in the country call for good wine, great friends and Southern comfort food. Calling for the once a year meatloaf with smashed potatoes. Stick to your ribs good. This year I made Mexican meatloaf with crumbled corn chips, salsa and cheddar cheese. Delicious! No particular recipe, just start with good ground sirloin and add the usual ingredients plus the Mexican additions. Sometimes I love being a basic Southern girl!

Nut-Crusted Chicken Breasts

So during the course of the evening trying to pull together a nice dinner for the guys my always reliable Dacor oven decides to go whacky and the microwave quits working. I guess I was just not meant to do a lot of cooking this weekend. Kevin has his hands full trying to fix things this week!

Simple dinner of almond crusted chicken breasts with asparagus and roasted golden beets. November 2012 Cooks Illustrated All Time Best Recipes talks about how to make a nice nutty crust for the chicken. The answer...half chopped almonds and half Panko, browned in butter. Tasted yummy. Too busy to think through it any further than that. Even this gal knows when to keep it simple! Bon appetit!

Friday night finale

Well, tonight was Mason's final basketball game of his high school career at his school.  Off to the playoffs now. It's been an exciting and long week, and after the game we all looked at one another wondering what was for dinner. As basketball has taken up so much of the week I have not been an attentive mom/wife who has kept the fridge full, but due to a fortuitous misunderstanding I inherited a couple of steamed lobster tails. Even more fortuitous was the fact that THE ONE man who intimidates me in the kitchen (really, he challenges me, but I start to go into shock whenever I have to cook with him) came to the game and we decided to cook dinner together. Lobster and potatoes in cream sauce was amazing! Paired with several nice wines, awesome salad, bread and chocolate croissants for dessert...delicious! Thanks, Hayden, as always, for making me step up to the plate and be accountable to the trade. You truly inspire me and I want to cook just like you when I grow up!!!! Love you, Heidi!

Hump Day Recharge

Evening movie and libations at Local Roots. Delicious Cigar Box, Medoza Malbec from Argentina. Lovely blend. Served with their cheese plate which was the best I've had. Great presentation. Wonderful cheese selection, great rye thins and pickled accompaniments.  Nice night with CJ. Bon appetit.

Peanut Noodle Pasta Salad

Sunday night and I don't want to spend hours in the kitchen.  Saw this easy recipe on Facebook and decided to try it.  Thai noodles with fresh veges all in a peanut, Sriracha, ginger sauce.  Topped with cilantro.  Served at room temperature.  Lovely little change of course.  Used up a lot of veges in the frig and have leftovers for lunch.  The spicy Sriracha peanut sauce is awesome and would go with so many Thai dishes. Monday is right around the corner and it's going to be a wild week.  Sometimes Mom just has to do something simple to keep the troops happy (including herself).  Served with a great local microbrew.  Yup, I'm ready for the week...bring it on.........!!!!!!!!!!

1/2 cup smooth peanut butter
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup rice wine vinegar
2 T Sriracha
1/4 cup water
1 T fresh chopped ginger
3 cloves chopped garlic
2 T brown sugar

Whisk all ingredients well.  Cook one package pasta.  Drain pasta.  Cut:

1 bunch scallions
1 cup carrot matchsticks
1 cup each red pepper strips and yellow pepper strips
2 thinly sliced cucumbers

Mix veges with pasta.  Pour sauce over all and mix well.  Top with 1/2 cup peanuts and 1/2 cup chopped cilantro.  Serve room temperature or chilled.