Monday, June 25, 2012

Since Camp

It's been two weeks since Michael and I spent the weekend at my childhood sleep away camp and I've been cooking some, going out some and ordering in some.

We've been to Dani's with the Wisners and had our usuals.  They have a new waiter (not that new, but I've not commented on him before).  He runs around and sweats and works really hard, but falls short of efficiency.  He spends time on unimportant things and leaves things like clearing and setting up new tables.  So there are empty tables with customers waiting.  Maybe he'll figure it out.  He also forgot to order one of our dinners, so that took some time...

Lenny and Karen planned and pulled off a wonderful surprise party for Jill's 50th birthday on Friday night the 15th.  About ten of Jill's girlfriends and family surprised Jill at Sato and the men went to Lenny and Jill's apartment for their own get together.  Then we all met back at Lenny and Jill's for more cocktails, cake and coffee.  Everyone had a great time and the food at Sato is always great. However, our most favorite waitress, Perlin, is no longer there.  After nine years she has gone back to Malaysia :(.  Lenny brought in two 3 foot heroes, antipasto, etc..for the guys. Most importantly, Jill was surprised and had a very good time!

Saturday the 16th, Michael and Lenny had a BBQ for their Little League team (burgers and dogs) and I made cole slaw, mesclun salad and Old Bay chicken wings, which were a big hit.

Father's Day we were supposed to go to the beach but we didn't like the weather.  We went to dinner with the Wisners to the Lobster Joint (http://lobsterjoint.com/) in Greenpoint, Brooklyn.  What a cool place. You order at the bar inside and then grab a table outside (or you can stay in if you prefer) and your food is brought to you.  We had:  Lobster corn bisque (no cream); fried clam strips and popcorn shrimp for appetizers.  A few Connecticut Lobster Rolls Served Warm with Butter and a few Lobster Club Rolls with Celery, Fresh Herb Mayo, Avocado and Bacon and a burger.  We had two pitchers of beer and Michael had an amazing Bloody Mary.  It was a great dinner.

Barbara and I revisited Atlas Park in Glendale for shopping and lunch.  We didn't buy much, not great stores or anything, but we did eat outside for lunch at Venezia Ristorante.  The food is average, but sitting outside under an umbrella, chatting with my friend and having a glass of wine (while Barb had a few sips of her cucumber-lemonade gin and tonic) was the best part of the day.

Friday night the Wisners came for dinner-we have seen much of them lately :)-and I made BBQ baby back ribs with homemade bbq sauce, farfalle with pink sauce and peas, mesclun salad with beets and goat cheese, tomato and mozzarella, brownies and fruit.  And wine of course!

Saturday we spent at the beach, all day and for dinner too.  It was actually Jill's 50th on Saturday and her sister Karen came too.  We ordered dinner from Mother Kelly's (balsamic chicken, linguine with white clam and Caesar salad).  We had little cakes for dessert that Karen brought and some coffee made in my 4 cup Farberware pot.  The weather was great and we loved the day.

Brett is graduating from high school on Tuesday and we have been invited to join them and their family at The Palm for dinner.  They have a great lobster special and I am jumping in :)

Congratulations Brett and Sarah on their high school graduations!

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Camp Towanda

No, it's not a restaurant, nor do they have especially good food or accommodations, but they do have my friends and my memories and my childhood...good and not so good, but always fun!

Michael and I spent this past weekend at my childhood sleep away camp, Camp Towanda, in Honesdale PA.  I was there every summer from 1972 through 1979.  My last year I was a waitress and to this day, it is still my most favorite job I ever had.

We arrived on Friday afternoon to appetizers and a keg of beer.  (Beer is not only highly unusual for camp, it's never been done in my time). So that was exciting.  Drinking out in the open :) instead of doing shots from a pint bottle of Southern Comfort, chasing it with warm water from a gross metal canteen at 2 am, in the rain, under an umbrella, sitting on the boys basketball court, knee to knee with my friend Howie (who passed away recently from cancer).  What a great memory, sad but so makes me smile at the same time. 

After we settled into our accommodations (girls bunk 9, in twin beds, with camp sheets, blankets, pillows and towels) we walked to the dining hall for flag lowering and dinner:  spaghetti, meatballs, sauce, frozen veggies (maybe canned), salad and bread-told you it wasn't exciting.  Later we walked and talked and hugged (well, I did) with all my friends.  We drank Patron on ice, had frozen Kit Kats and hot pretzels from the canteen.

Saturday at 8am, rise and shine for reveille (seriously) and flag raising and breakfast at 8:30:  runny eggs or over easy; pancakes, french toast, yogurt and coffee.  The rest of the day was more reminiscing and getting ready for Apache Relay.  It was an abbreviated version with no running (which sort of belies the point) but whatever.  Michael had to pop a balloon and I had to run the baton from girls basketball to beach volleyball.  Lunch was a BBQ with hot dogs, burgers, ribs, cole slaw, potato salad, veggie burgers, beans and of course, bug juice (sort of gross kool aid).

More appetizers later (shrimp cocktail too this time), more beer, less Patron and dinner was:  lemon chicken and rice with frozen/canned veggies and salad.  Very exciting.  Dessert was chocolate cake.

Singing around the campfire, making smores, back to the canteen and then crashing.  Friday night I hardly slept, Saturday night I was dead to the world.  What a day at camp can do for you!

Sunday am was the same breakfast, then saying goodbye, then taking home made turkey club sandwiches to go (best food of the weekend).

I am still smiling.

Monday, June 4, 2012

Homemade Buffalo Chicken Calzones

I found a recipe for calzones while Jesse was away at school.  I asked him if he would like me to make him some when he came home and he said yes, but he wanted Buffalo chicken calzones.

I bought a bag of store made pizza dough, cut it into three pieces, rolled them out to small circles (or a variation of that shape).  The stuffing was made of chicken breasts, onions, garlic and Tabasco Buffalo sauce.  I put the breasts, sliced onion and smashed garlic on a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper.  I drizzled olive oil all over everything then added salt and pepper.  I baked all at 350 degrees for 1/2 an hour.  I put it all in a large bowl and chopped it up with poultry shears (god they come in handy).  I spooned a third onto each piece of dough, then added shredded mozzarella.  I oiled the edges, folded them in half and pinched them closed.  I brushed egg wash over the tops and baked at 350 for 15 minutes.  They looked beautiful and Jesse came home from work and devoured one!  With a little blue cheese dressing on the side, they are a success!

Saffron

Michael and I went to Saffron (http://www.saffronrestaurantnewyork.com/index.htm) Friday night.  There is parking in the back, a small bar area up front and a decent sized dining room in back.  The staff is friendly and we were seated immediately.  A bit upscale for the area, considering the clam bars and pizza joints around. White tablecloths, but not fancy.  They have a decent selection of tapas under headings such as Meat, Seafood and Veggie, also salads, soups and paella. 

We shared a half pitcher of red berry sangria that was good, better than some, not as good as El Quijote (but I must stop comparing).  It was a bit pricey but then I think everything here was a bit pricey for Queens. 

We shared the Saffron tomato soup and I loved it.  It reminded me of lobster bisque without the lobster.  Michael thought it was okay.  We also had spicy garlic shrimp with garbanzo beans that was delicious!  We had their version of queso fundido with manchego and black beans.  It was also delicious, but mostly beans (which was ok with me) and house made chips.  Michael ordered the Meat Paella with chorizo, pork, chicken and saffron rice. Good but a bit bland.  He added some chimichurri and some of the garlic sauce from the shrimp and that helped.  Unfortunately, we were stuffed so no flan and cafe con leche.  Maybe next time.