Since Friday

Saturday we went to Glenn and Eileen's for dinner. Wonderful friends, food and wine, as usual :)

Sunday we shopped a bit and then had dinner at home: Penne Salt (remember the green olives, black olives and capers). I added the capers to my dish only, Michael is not a fan.

Monday night was turkey burgers and Greek salad, Tuesday night was ribs with rice and peas and tonight will be chef salad with grilled chicken. Tomorrow will probably be leftover night and Friday Jennie and I are taking Barbara out for her birthday.

Saturday is a FULL day. From 12-4 we will be at Martha Clara Vineyards on the North Fork for Lori's 40th birthday bash, then we have to RUN home for the 3rd Annual Forest Hills Little League Dinner and Benefit Auction IN COSTUME for god's sake! Then Sunday, back out to Glenn and Eileen's for a bit of Halloween spirit (no costumes required).

Sounds busy, but a life full of friends is a great thing!

Lunch with Denise

Yesterday I had lunch with Denise at Cabana on 70th Road off Austin Street. We have certainly been there many times before, and the food is never disappointing. The service, not so great, but nothing to write home about :) We each had a glass of Cabernet, then Denise had Picadillo (ground beef and potatoes sauteed with garlic, plum tomatoes, onion, bell peppers, olives and capers) over rice and beans and I had the Cabana salad (field greens topped with hearts of palm, queso blanco, plum tomatoes, red onions and olives served with a black bean vinaigrette).We shared flan for dessert! We talked about our kids (as usual) and myriad other things and had a really nice afternoon.

Three Days

Tuesday night I made chicken andouille sausage with mixed greens (collard, mustard, spinach). So good (even though I push the sausage out of the way). Last night was pork tenderloin with carrots and rosemary and salad. Tonight we may eat out, and the weekend is always up for grabs.

We did find a place we'd like to try though. Nothing fancy, not a chain (even though it is in a "chain" location). Scotto's http://www.scottosrestaurant.com/ near Chili's and CozyMel's in Westbury. Scotto Brothers are Long Island restaurateurs who own catering houses and restaurants. Michael and I used to go to Scotto's when it was located in Great Neck, many, many moons ago...They had really good Italian food and a wonderful waitress who always remembered us.

This weekend looks open and casual and filled with no plans :)

Next weekend, however, is booked solid. Feast or famine!

Counting/BBQ

Saturday night we went to The Counting Room on Berry Street with Dina and Dmitry. It's a very cool space with neat lighting and seating arrangements. We sat downstairs, where it was much quieter. There's a nice bar and additional seating too. We shared two bottles of Montepulciano d'Abruzzo, a cheese and meat board (with really good mustard and dried figs). Dina and I shared a veggie sandwich and French onion soup without the soup (toasted bread, onions, cheese on a skillet-with a small glass of soup to pour over the top). Michael and Dmitry each had the Latin pork sandwich.

Afterwards we walked over to Brooklyn Bowl to show them what it's like, but the Tom Tom Club was playing and tickets were needed, so we didn't go in, however, we ran into Joe and Danny right outside. What a nice coincidence!

Later we drove to Aegean Cove on Steinway Street for Greek coffee and Greek yogurt and some other Greek dessert similar to zeppoles but with honey and cherry sauce. Yum!

Sunday night we went uptown to Dinosaur BBQ to meet Jill, Lenny, Brett, Karen, Patty and Vince (Jill's family). Jill had just walked 39 miles over the weekend for the Avon Breast Cancer Walk. She was tired but really happy and we were all hungry :) Wings are great. Beer is good. Service is marginal. New location, same deal.

Tonight is roasted chicken with garlic and green onion teriyaki with veggies on the side.

Can't decide on the rest of the week yet...

Since Monday

Monday night, Jesse ate with us again. We had steak, cous cous and Greek salad. He left Tuesday afternoon after an hour or so of Target shopping for odds and ends that he wanted to take back to school. I miss him and will be very happy to have him home (and the rest of our family) for Thanksgiving!

Tuesday night Michael and I went to Joe's Shanghai in Flushing with Jill, Lenny and Brett. Of course we shared everything: 2 orders of pork and crab soup dumplings, moo shu chicken, shrimp and scallops in garlic sauce, shrimp fried rice and scallion pancakes.

Wednesday night I made chicken cacciatore with broccoli rabe on the side. After dinner we went out to Syms near Roosevelt Field to pick up Michael's suits that were altered so he would have them in time for Sarah's sweet sixteen party Friday night. After Syms, we went to Chili's for Presidente Margaritas (the only margaritas I like). Fun! A mini date night!

Tonight we are eating all the leftovers in the fridge (plus salad).

Friday is Sarah's party, Saturday is The Counting Room in Williamsburg with Dina and Dmitry and Sunday is the new location of Dinosaur BBQ uptown with the Wisners.

Woo Who...

Homemade Ravioli

Michael photographed a step-by-step animation of the two of us making homemade mushroom and onion ravioli with cream sauce from scratch...enjoy watching...

Our Boy is Home!

Jesse came home yesterday! It was so good to see him and hug him. The 3 of us ate dinner together for the first time in 6 weeks. Chicken cutlets, chicken parm, spinach with garlic and oil and ziti with Rao's sauce.

More dinners planned for while Jesse is home, but we'll see how many come to fruition :)

As for last week (sorry I haven't updated, I kept forgetting to ask Michael to add the focaccia photo-so I didn't post it till late)...Saturday Michael rode his bike to Steve and Lori's and we had cheese and olives and bread and baked garlic and wine, then dinner was pork chops and salmon on the grill with a side of salad and cauliflower puree. Everything was Great!! Steve let me pick some hot peppers from his garden which he told me to wash, de-seed, cut up and freeze for future use. So I did.

Sunday was the Austin Street Fair which Michael and I walked and we bought pickles from The Pickle People (yum). Michael picked up Dani's later and we ate with the Wisners.

Monday night I made ginger shrimp: saute shrimp in olive oil, add ginger preserves and lime juice, top with fresh parsley.

Tuesday was supposed to be turkey meatloaf, but we went over to Denise's so Michael could fix a computer problem and we ate Dee's pizza and salad that Denise picked up for us :) thanks!

So Wednesday night was turkey meatloaf (I had pizza again) after Michael and I went suit shopping-unsuccessfully. But he will try again.

The weekend is open, I may cook, I may not. We'll see what unfolds now that the boys are back in town...

Focaccia

Well, after three tries, I think I finally got it right, or nearly right. I made focaccia on Friday afternoon. Michael, Jill, Lenny and Brett were the usual guinea pigs/testers. They all approved!

Next time, I'll experiment by adding more onions and garlic, or also trying the focaccia as a pizza crust.

Friday night we went to Barosa with Jill and Lenny and Steve and Sue Boyle. We had our usuals: Calamari Barosa, chopped salad, stuffed artichoke. Michael had chicken scarpariello, Lenny had veal francese, Steve had veal Marsala and Sue, Jill and I shared seafood fra diavlo over linguine (I ate half a lobster tail). After all the appetizers, I cannot eat a meal. We all shared wine, dessert and coffee too. It was a very nice evening, made even nicer by Jill and I walking home. There is nothing like a good walk after a big meal.

Today, Michael is riding his bike to Wantagh (to Steve and Lori's) and I am driving there.

Have a nice weekend, before it rains again...