Super Bowl Treats

We were home. I didn't watch the game. Michael did but wasn't very excited.

I made:

Meatball sliders:  I got freshly ground 1/2 pounds of pork, beef and veal at Fairway.  I added an egg, chopped onion and garlic, handful of parsley flakes, salt, pepper, grated parm, bread crumbs and a half cup of sauce.  I baked the balls on a cookie sheet covered in parchment paper.  Then put them on mini pretzel rolls. 

Also, Chicken wingettes baked on parchment with olive oil and Old Bay seasoning.

And, phony Matlaw's baked clams with hot sauce.

Went to bed early, woke up to snow and went to work :)

Cooking and not...

So I've been cooking, and not...

Michael and I have been to The Village Grill, Joe's Shanghai and The Blackwater Inn.  The grill is on Yellowstone Boulevard near the Little League fields.  We had gyros and soup.  Average, nothing to write home about, certainly not overflowing like Fontana, nor as tasty. But local and easy to sit and eat and leave.  We went to Joe's Shanghai in Flushing with Jill and Lenny.  Soup dumplings of course; just pork and pork and crab; young chow rice; pork and string beans in black bean sauce and prawns and scallops in garlic sauce. Yum! And because we went early, we just walked in and sat down...priceless :)  Michael and I also went to The Blackwater Inn last week (used to be called The Old Brog) on Metropolitan Avenue.  Beers; shepherd's pie and chicken Caesar.  Their shepherd's pie used to be better, but you can walk in and sit down. 

Lately I have a thing about waiting for a table. Pisses me off.

Jesse is home and I have also been cooking:  Chicken soup, chicken cutlets, shrimp in a garlicky marinara over linguine.  Tomorrow is pork roast with sauerkraut; salt potatoes (small white potatoes, boiled in a pot of water with a TON of salt) and Brussels sprouts.

Saturday is Glenn and Eileen's annual ornament exchange party and I am bringing Old Bay wings.

Sunday I am doing nothing :)

Fall Fare

Last week Jennie and I took Barbara out for her birthday. I won't say which one it was, but next year is BIG.

We went to Bamboo Ya on Queens Boulevard.  We have been here before and we sat at the same tatami table with our shoes off.  We had many cups of hot sake and we shared a bunch of small plates:  Cigar spring rolls, salmon skin roll, sweet potato roll, chicken yakitori and vegetable gyoza. We also shared a piece of fried cheesecake for dessert.  Their desserts leave much to be desired, but the menu is good, the food is good and the service is good. And not expensive either :)

Happy Birthday Gracie!

We also went out with Jill, Lenny, Karen, Vince and Patty to Dinosaur BBQ after Jill finished her Avon breast cancer walk.  It has become a yearly ritual.  Mostly beer all around, I had 2 bloody Mary's; garlic chipotle wings and fried green tomatoes for the table.  Then chicken, pork, brisket and a portobello mushroom (with a bit pf pulled pork) for me.  Chocolate ice box cake for dessert and I almost fell asleep on the way to the car. Yummy and great company!

Last week I made lasagna with my own homemade pork sausage.  I made the sausage a week or so ago and froze it.  I ground up country pork boneless spare ribs with fennel seed, fresh garlic, parsley and Parmesan cheese (salt and pepper too).  I have been babysitting Jill's Kitchen Aid mixer (goody for me) and I bought the meat grinder attachment for it.  Works very well, cleans up easily and I am sure there will be more grinding in my future.

Saturday night was our Polikoff Party.  We haven't had one in years.  Forest Hills crowd mainly from Little League.  Wine, beer, Michael's amazing margaritas, Old Bay chicken wings, crudite, cheese, crackers, olives and the rest was frozen appetizers from Costco.  So much dessert-I am cookied out.  And that's not a bad thing.  But since we are visiting Ithaca this weekend, the cookies are going too :)

Approaching Holidays

Jesse is home! Holidays are coming! Busy, busy, busy...

Can't say much about cooking lately. Made rosemary lamb chops, papardelle with mushrooms and Greek salad when my mother-in-law came for dinner the other night. Ordered pizza last night :) Tonight's plan (ha ha) is chicken sausage, rice and green beans.

Friday night, however, is a different story. Christmas Eve with the Figliolias and Wisners!!

Our menu is: (If you'd like to be surprised, skip the next paragraphs). Antipasti will include: Cheese board with Manchego, Ciao Angelo and Parmigiano-Reggiano with fig spread, honey, mustard and cornichons. Also, roasted tomatoes, marinated artichokes, olives and baguette and raisin-pumpernickel breads. Along with sauteed shrimp and chorizo.

Dinner is: Turkey lasagna (so all can eat it), Caesar salad, Linguine with white clam sauce, chicken cutlets, foccacia bread and a small baked ziti with no ricotta for Ian. Desert is: Apple and blueberry cobbler with caramel ice cream on the side, along with chocolate chip cookies.

I hope I didn't leave anything out...I am sure Michael will take photos for my next post.

I am making Michael's mom's recipe of sweet and sour meatballs for Christmas Day to take to Denise and Joe's along with a tray of Old Bay chicken wings.

Can't wait to celebrate! Merry Christmas to everyone!