Friday night Michael and I went to Sarah's dance recital at the Patchogue Theatre. We each had a quick slice of pizza before the show (1 margarita and 1 bbq chicken). It took us over two hours to get out there in Memorial Day heading-out-east-traffic and we were starving. Sarah was as cute as ever. We took some photos and video (even though they are prohibited). Afterwards we said our goodbyes and headed back to Queens where we ended up at Dani's for more slices, soup and salad. Their straciatella is still the best!
Saturday we were at the beach even though it was breezy and kinda cold. Afterwards we went to Barosa with Jill and Lenny: Chopped salad, stuffed artichoke, seafood salad in an avocado. Then: Soft shelled crab, chicken scarpariello and a pork chop milanese. 1/2 carafe of chardonnay, 1/2 carafe of montepulciano. Dessert was a completely tasteless red velvet cake (it was like chewing on nothing-very odd) and zabaglione with strawberries that was ok, but missing the Marsala. The girl at the next table had quite the cleavage and when she spoke sounded like Rosie Perez, so that was interesting...
Sunday we were back at the beach and it was warmer but still chilly for me. We went to dinner with Jill, Lenny and Brett at ...you guessed it...Dani's. Shrimp parm, eggplant parm, chicken with peppers, onions and broccoli in marinara, salad and ziti. Yum!
Monday, yes, back at the beach, finally a real beach day. Lenny had extra Mets tickets for the night game, so Michael and I went to the game, had great seats on the third base line, nine rows up from the field. It was a beautiful evening and the Mets won. It was a really good weekend!
Tuesday, May 31, 2011
Wednesday, May 25, 2011
Compound Butter
Last night I left ten sticks of butter out on my kitchen counter to soften.
This morning I made compound butter:
Soy and Scallion; Lemon and Pepper; Dill and Lemon; Caper and Anchovy; Parsley and Garlic.
I used two sticks for each flavor, mixed them with the appropriate additions, scooped the butter onto waxed paper, used the edge of a cookie sheet to gently push the butter into a roll, wrapped the butter in tin foil and labeled the outside (no one wants anchovies when they are expecting lemon), then put them in the freezer.
Here's the crazy thing: I almost never cook with butter anymore. Extra virgin olive oil only, even for eggs, but I always read that compound butters are something you should have on hand. So now I do.
Have a nice day!
This morning I made compound butter:
Soy and Scallion; Lemon and Pepper; Dill and Lemon; Caper and Anchovy; Parsley and Garlic.
I used two sticks for each flavor, mixed them with the appropriate additions, scooped the butter onto waxed paper, used the edge of a cookie sheet to gently push the butter into a roll, wrapped the butter in tin foil and labeled the outside (no one wants anchovies when they are expecting lemon), then put them in the freezer.
Here's the crazy thing: I almost never cook with butter anymore. Extra virgin olive oil only, even for eggs, but I always read that compound butters are something you should have on hand. So now I do.
Have a nice day!
Saturday, May 21, 2011
To Ithaca and Back
We went up to Ithaca this past week to pack up Jesse and come home with him!
We ate at a new restaurant on Triphammer Road called Ciao! (http://www.ciaoithaca.com/). We had: Arancini (rice balls), Grilled Chicken Wings with caramelized onions, Arugula and Tomato salad with red onion, kalamata olives and Gorgonzola in a Chianti dressing. Then we had: Quattro Formaggio pizza, Sayeed pizza-spinach, feta, kalamata olives, Gnocchi in vodka sauce, Rigatoni Scarpariello-with sausage, chicken and cherry peppers, Rigatoni with sausage and 4 cannolis to go :) Michael had a 25 ounce Margarita called "Shut the Front Door". We had a really nice family dinner!
Tonight we are going to Leslie's for a special celebration of Eileen's 50th Birthday!! Great fun, great food, great drinks, kids having fun...What could be better than spending time with your friends?
Have a nice weekend!
We ate at a new restaurant on Triphammer Road called Ciao! (http://www.ciaoithaca.com/). We had: Arancini (rice balls), Grilled Chicken Wings with caramelized onions, Arugula and Tomato salad with red onion, kalamata olives and Gorgonzola in a Chianti dressing. Then we had: Quattro Formaggio pizza, Sayeed pizza-spinach, feta, kalamata olives, Gnocchi in vodka sauce, Rigatoni Scarpariello-with sausage, chicken and cherry peppers, Rigatoni with sausage and 4 cannolis to go :) Michael had a 25 ounce Margarita called "Shut the Front Door". We had a really nice family dinner!
Tonight we are going to Leslie's for a special celebration of Eileen's 50th Birthday!! Great fun, great food, great drinks, kids having fun...What could be better than spending time with your friends?
Have a nice weekend!
Saturday, May 14, 2011
Last Weekend through This Weekend
Last weekend was The Weekend of the Wisners. Could be a movie title :) Friday night we joined Lenny and Jill at Sato, a regular haunt of ours for Japanese. We had some of our usuals: Salmon sashimi, shrimp coated with crunchy garlic, naruto roll (no rice or seaweed-fish rolled in cucumber) and WAY too many large hot sakes. Fun, Fun, Fun!
Saturday night, once again, we went out with Jill and Lenny to one of our favorite places in the City: El Quijote on 23rd Street: Garlic soup (of course), salad with blue cheese and their house vinaigrette; lobster-broiled and out of the shell in green sauce, mariscos in green sauce (mixed seafood) and Michael's favorite: Arroz con Pollo. We took a walk through Eataly and all was well.
Sunday was Mother's Day and Michael and I went to the cabana to finish opening, and lo and behold: Jill and Lenny showed up! We spent an hour or so with them and they left for their cousin's house and we went to Dani's.
I made a new recipe from a new cookbook this week: The book is: Food and Wine Quick from Scratch Chicken and the recipe is: Chicken thighs over lentils with chorizo. Yummy!
This Friday night we met Jill and Lenny :) and Sue and Steve Boyle and Lisa and Evan Spilke at Dirty Pierre's on Continental Avenue. I know what you're thinking...yes we've been advised of mice BUT it's been so long since we've been there that we felt it was safe to try it again. The mussels are amazing (so everyone says, I don't eat them) but the broth they are in is really good. I had goat cheese salad which is terrific with bacon and onions, Michael had Jerk Chicken. Others had burgers, chicken breast and fajitas. They all enjoyed margaritas (several), vodka with club soda, vodka with a splash of 7-Up and I had two Red Stripes. Yippee! Afterwards we walked to a pasticceria nearby for dessert and coffee, said our goodbyes and Michael and I stopped at Joe and Denise's new house to wish them congratulations on moving and also to wish Joe a happy birthday!
Tonight Michael and I are going to Leslie's daughter Isabelle's birthday party! We are bringing the usual Kendall Jackson Chardonnay, Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano, Ciao Angelo cheese and bread. It will be a fun evening with good friends!!
Saturday night, once again, we went out with Jill and Lenny to one of our favorite places in the City: El Quijote on 23rd Street: Garlic soup (of course), salad with blue cheese and their house vinaigrette; lobster-broiled and out of the shell in green sauce, mariscos in green sauce (mixed seafood) and Michael's favorite: Arroz con Pollo. We took a walk through Eataly and all was well.
Sunday was Mother's Day and Michael and I went to the cabana to finish opening, and lo and behold: Jill and Lenny showed up! We spent an hour or so with them and they left for their cousin's house and we went to Dani's.
I made a new recipe from a new cookbook this week: The book is: Food and Wine Quick from Scratch Chicken and the recipe is: Chicken thighs over lentils with chorizo. Yummy!
This Friday night we met Jill and Lenny :) and Sue and Steve Boyle and Lisa and Evan Spilke at Dirty Pierre's on Continental Avenue. I know what you're thinking...yes we've been advised of mice BUT it's been so long since we've been there that we felt it was safe to try it again. The mussels are amazing (so everyone says, I don't eat them) but the broth they are in is really good. I had goat cheese salad which is terrific with bacon and onions, Michael had Jerk Chicken. Others had burgers, chicken breast and fajitas. They all enjoyed margaritas (several), vodka with club soda, vodka with a splash of 7-Up and I had two Red Stripes. Yippee! Afterwards we walked to a pasticceria nearby for dessert and coffee, said our goodbyes and Michael and I stopped at Joe and Denise's new house to wish them congratulations on moving and also to wish Joe a happy birthday!
Tonight Michael and I are going to Leslie's daughter Isabelle's birthday party! We are bringing the usual Kendall Jackson Chardonnay, Cantina Zaccagnini Montepulciano, Ciao Angelo cheese and bread. It will be a fun evening with good friends!!
Saturday, May 7, 2011
Thursday, May 5, 2011
Isabelle's Confirmation
On Tuesday morning we went to St. Patrick's Church in Huntington to see Isabelle confirmed. She was a beauty! in a Lilly Pulitzer strapless dress.
After church we all went to Piccolo's (http://www.piccolorestaurant.net/) also in Huntington. Leslie spared nothing as a wonderful host: Appetizers: Eggplant Rollatini - ricotta & spinach - melted mozzarella, L.I. Little Neck Clams - oreganata, Fried Calamari - fra diavolo & garlic basil aioli, Poached Pear Salad - mesclun greens, candied walnuts, maytag bleu cheese & port wine dressing. Entrees: Chicken Parmigiana - served with linguini pomodoro, Filet of Sole Roberto - lightly breaded, fresh tomato & basil in a lemon & white wine sauce, Veal Chop Valdostano - stuffed with parma proscuitto & mozzarella cheese, mushroom demi glace, Veal Parmigiana - served with linguine pomodoro. Add wine, coffee and a beautiful chocolate cake and lunch was complete. Afterwards we went back to Lelie's for can-jam on lawn, music from Louis' playlist and later pizza (pepperoni, white and regular). It was a wonderful day with "framily."
Saturday I am visiting my brother for a few hours to go through boxes of photos. He doesn't know who most of the people are in the photos (old family) and I will hopefully be able to label most of them.
Sunday is Mother's Day and I am childless as my son is away at school, so I am sleeping late (not unusual in any case) and then Michael and I are going to the beach club to spruce up a bit.
Happy Mother's Day to you all!
After church we all went to Piccolo's (http://www.piccolorestaurant.net/) also in Huntington. Leslie spared nothing as a wonderful host: Appetizers: Eggplant Rollatini - ricotta & spinach - melted mozzarella, L.I. Little Neck Clams - oreganata, Fried Calamari - fra diavolo & garlic basil aioli, Poached Pear Salad - mesclun greens, candied walnuts, maytag bleu cheese & port wine dressing. Entrees: Chicken Parmigiana - served with linguini pomodoro, Filet of Sole Roberto - lightly breaded, fresh tomato & basil in a lemon & white wine sauce, Veal Chop Valdostano - stuffed with parma proscuitto & mozzarella cheese, mushroom demi glace, Veal Parmigiana - served with linguine pomodoro. Add wine, coffee and a beautiful chocolate cake and lunch was complete. Afterwards we went back to Lelie's for can-jam on lawn, music from Louis' playlist and later pizza (pepperoni, white and regular). It was a wonderful day with "framily."
Saturday I am visiting my brother for a few hours to go through boxes of photos. He doesn't know who most of the people are in the photos (old family) and I will hopefully be able to label most of them.
Sunday is Mother's Day and I am childless as my son is away at school, so I am sleeping late (not unusual in any case) and then Michael and I are going to the beach club to spruce up a bit.
Happy Mother's Day to you all!
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