The Week

Monday I made sausage and peppers, Tuesday I made arroz con pollo, Tonight is turkey burgers and tomorrow will be balsamic chicken.

No plans for the weekend. Been thinking of Fall lately...trees, apples, country roads, soup...Maybe a trip to Connecticut soon?

THE Worst Lunch

Today Denise and I had the worst lunch we've had yet. We meet every so often to have lunch together, which is really nice, however, today we went to Mardi Gras on Austin Street. We hadn't been there in forever and have no plans to ever go back.

We shared a fried shrimp sandwich and a fried catfish sandwich. The shrimp and fish were gross tasting and the side of sweet potato fries and onion rings were tasteless and greasy. What a waste of good lunch time.

Next time, Cabana...

Chrysalis and Ryan

The best niece and nephew in the world visited us this weekend! Michael calls them "my friends", because we hang out so well together and have a really good time, every time!

They arrived very late Friday night (or very early Saturday morning, depending upon your interpretation of the time) @ 1:30am...

We spent all day Saturday with the angels. First we went to Yumiko (http://www.yumiko-online.com/en/about2.php) a dance store on the upper west side that produces hand made dance leotards, etc. Ryan needed to visit a dance store for his class. So he modeled a few items, then bought what he needed.

Afterwards, we were all very hungry...all that dance activity...so we went to Carmine's (http://www.carminesnyc.com/) for lunch for the BEST baked clams and linguine with white clam sauce-we also shared 2 stuffed artichokes.

Following lunch, we went down to Soho to walk and explore and shop! Then we got hungry again :) so we came back to Forest Hills and went to Barosa (http://www.barosas.com/) for dinner. No, too much Italian food is not a bad thing (not in NYC anyway). We shared Barosa Calamari (yum) and chopped salad (yum). Chrysalis and I shared Chilean sea bass oreganata (yum), Michael had chicken scarpariello and Ryan had a personal pizza with mozzarella, ricotta and onions (yum). Can't complain about anything!

We all came home and fell asleep :)

They are gone and I've been doing laundry. Michael went for a bike ride with Jill this morning (so good for them!!!). And then I decided to make spaghetti all'amatriciana: tomato sauce with pancetta and onions and red pepper flake (thanks Steve). Michael helped roll out the dough.

Jesse is happy at school and with his roommates and friends. We are happy at home. Hope I didn't speak too soon...

xo

After the Visit

Sunday night, after we visited my brother's new house (which is great), we ate dinner with Glenn, Eileen, Emily and Sarah. Eileen and Glenn made London broil on the grill, with baked potatoes and a really good cauliflower and tomato casserole. I ate Emilio's pizza. It is my absolute favorite (http://emiliosonlinemenu.com/).

Monday night I made a roasted chicken with Leslie's gravy (way yummy) and spinach on the side.

Tuesday night I made shrimp and chorizo with escarole on the side.

Michael has a baseball meeting on Wednesday night, so I am not cooking.

For Thursday I plan (plan being the operative word) to make a slow-cooked barbecued pork.

Friday night, last week, was my 47th birthday :) We went to My Moon with Joe and Denise and Barbara, Paul and Jackie. We had every spread, calamari, tuna tartare, doner kebab, chicken kebab, pan seared tuna and ribeye with peppercorns. Two bottles of Turkish wine, coffee, tea and truffle cake and Turkish flan. A really great evening with some of my favorite people!

The weekend is open...Enjoy the warmth, while it lasts :)

Spanakopita

Chicken Marsala on Monday was good.

Spanakopita on Tuesday was better.

First I sauteed onions in olive oil.

Then I mixed the onions with spinach, eggs, feta cheese, salt and pepper.








Then I layered and buttered and layered and buttered 8 sheets of phyllo (or filo, if you prefer) dough in the bottom of a lasagna pan, added the spinach mixture, then layered and buttered and layered and buttered 8 more sheets of phyllo on top.

Then baked and ate and shared with Jill too :)

Last night we went to Dee's with Denise and shared an Aphrodite pizza (mozzarella, feta, tomato sauce, spinach and calamata olives).

Tonight Barbara and Jennie are taking me to Sato for my birthday!

Friday night we are eating at My Moon with Joe and Denise!

Saturday we'll be at Glenn and Eileen's for a birthday dinner for me and Leslie!

Sunday we are visiting my brother at his new house.

So busy, so nice!

Rest is for the weary...which I will be next week :)

Friday Night

Friday night we went to Dumont (http://www.dumontrestaurant.com/) with Joe and Denise and Tom and Monica.

Service is friendly, wine list a bit pricey but we found a Cal Siscon 2004 Monstant -Cabernet Sauvignon, Garnacha, Cariñenanice cabernet-for $44 and had 2 bottles.

We had: Marinated beet salad with Greek yogurt, roasted red pepper, feta, arugula and a sherry vinaigrette; Crispy baby artichokes with preserved lemon, herbs, Parmesan, arugula and garlic dressing; DuMont salad with Danish blue, radish, haricots vert, pecans and balsamic vinaigrette; Peekytoe crab cake with tomatillo, avocado salad and cilantro; Smoked barbecued spare ribs St. Louis-style with ginger molasses; Dayboat cod with sweet corn, fava bean, cherry tomato and pancetta; Rock shrimp & cavatelli with stewed heirloom cherry tomato, arugula and aioli; DuMac & cheese made with cheddar, Gruyere, Parmesan, bacon and radiatore pasta; The Dumont burger; and a side of sauteed spinach. Dessert was: Blueberry Crumble made with blueberry compote, streusel topping and mascarpone ice cream and Vanilla Panna Cotta made with rhubarb & strawberry compote and candied pistachios.

The big hits were the Mac & Cheese and the Blueberry Crumble (in my opinion). Every thing was good. There was only one problem and it was very telling (in my opinion): Michael asked for sauteed onions on his Dumont burger and the chef said NO. What the fuck is that about?

Anywho...Saturday was our last beautiful day at the beach :( Later we went to Barosa for one of our favorite meals: First, their bread basket is out of this world, then we shared a chopped salad, a stuffed artichoke and a Barosa calamari. Michael finished with chicken scarpariello. If the 2 women sitting next to us at the bar and (because there's a conspiracy) also sitting behind us at dinner could have shut up for at least five seconds, it would have been a better meal!

Sunday we cleaned out the cabana with Roy and Laurie and came home for all of our leftovers in the fridge for dinner.

Last night I made Michael Chicken Marsala. Photo to come :)

Tonight is Spanakopita, tomorrow Arroz con Pollo. Then cooking is finished until next Monday...

Chicken Riggies

Yes, the recipe is from Rachel Ray, originally, but I adulterate everything I cook. Just can't leave it the way I found it :)

Brown chicken pieces, breast, boneless thigh, whatever, in olive oil and remove. Add onions chopped, cubanelle peppers chopped and garlic-lots. Soften. Add chopped roasted peppers and chopped hot cherry peppers-yum! Soften. Put chicken back,add can of crushed tomatoes and cook. Add heavy cream 'till pink. Salt and Pepper. Serve over rigatoni (hence "riggies") or not. Serve with side of escarole and garlic.

That's what we will be eating later tonight. I pick out the chicken and Michael doesn't eat the rigatoni (that's why he loses weight and I ...).

Just saw Jesse on Skype (video chat), but he was too busy for me, was going to chat with Ian. So glad he's independent, yet hard not to be needed. Better this way, just not easier...

xo

Kinda Slow

It's quiet, that's for sure! No job yet, but I will send out another batch of resumes this week. I am branching out from 11374 and 11375 schools. We'll see what happens.

Kinda slow in the food department. Last night I made Michael chicken sausage over spinach and I ate vegetable soup.

I may go food shopping later so I'll see what I can get for tonight's dinner.

I have planned a few dinners: Chicken Riggies (from Rachel Ray), Chicken Marsala, Shrimp and Chorizo, Spanakopita, Leslie's Roasted Chicken, Balsamic Chicken and Arroz con Pollo. You know how those plans go :) Eventually they will all come to fruition, but who knows when...

Friday night we are going to Dumont in Brooklyn with Joe and Denise and Tom and Monica. We are hoping to be able to sit outside, depends upon the weather.

This weekend is the last beach club weekend. They turn off the electricity on Sunday. So that means we will clean out and be gone Sunday afternoon until next May 1 :(

Have a nice day!

We Saw Ryan!

Wednesday night Michael and I drove to Purchase to see our nephew Ryan!

He looked great, sounded great. We were so happy that he'd adjusted to campus life so quickly. His dance schedule is rigorous, but he seems to enjoy it. His room is crowded, it's a converted triple: one loft bed with a desk underneath, and a bunk bed. But he's not complaining - I am :) -

We went to dinner on Anderson Hill Road at The Cobble Stone, a pub-like place. Everything was good. Veggie stack (spinach, zucchini, portobello, roasted peppers, tomato, covered with mozzarella and drizzled with balsamic), fried bocconcini with marinara, onion soup, turkey burger with carmelized onions, sweet potato fries and penne with shrimp in vodka sauce. HOLY SHIT! Sounds like we ordered the entire menu!! Ryan took home the leftovers.

Thursday night I made Michael meatloaf. Since Jesse is not here and he has an unreal aversion to meatloaf, I thought it would be a treat. It didn't turn out so well however. To the veal, pork, beef mixture I added the leftover bolognese sauce. It had too much moisture so the meatloaf was mushy. Probably tasted good, but looked funky. Michael is so sweet he ate it anyway!

Last night we went out to Glenn and Eileen's for dinner and conversation and great friends (not necessarily in that order). We ordered in Chinese, then played a game of Clue (I was clueless...). A little wine, a little So You Think You Can Dance recaps, a cup of coffee and we went home. A very nice evening. Emily and Sarah are totally enjoyable teenagers (I know, that sounds like an oxymoron, but it's true).

It should be a windy day at the beach today, who knows what's in store for dinner.

Tomorrow we are going to Leslie's...friends...pool...wine...food...what more is there?

Sunday, back to the beach, hopefully less windy by then. Our beach club closes next Sunday (9/12) when we will clean out and then close the cabana until May 1, 2011 :(

Lately

Sunday night we ordered in Tex-Mex. We had our usual: I had a cheese and guacamole quesadilla and a black bean soft taco. Michael had a chicken fajita salad with no shell and 2 chicken fajita soft tacos.

Monday night I made Michael jalapeno chicken (chicken breasts marinated in chopped jalapenos-sans seeds-white wine, garlic and balsamic vinegar) with salad on the side.

Last night I met Michael at the fields after his game and we went to Dani's and had our usual: I had eggplant casserole and Michael had chicken with peppers, onions and broccoli with marinara sauce and we shared a salad.

This sounds really boring :) sorry!

Tonight we are going up to Purchase to visit our nephew Ryan and take him out to dinner at The Cobble Stone. I will let you know how it goes...

Enjoy the heat!