Recently...

Happy Bull Pizza is a pop-up operation run by one guy named Felix who comes to 2 of our favorite breweries: Finback Queens and Grimm.  He has a varied menu, and can make something not on this menu if he has the time, and the inclination LOL.  This is the margherita, and if you are trying ANY pizza ANYWHERE for the first time, please get the simplest.  That way you can truly judge the smell, flavor and texture.  If you like it, move on to variations.  This margherita is wonderfully crispy, yet perfectly chewy.  The sauce and cheese are mildly salty and just right.  The bottom is always cooked through. No weak spots.  Dough is hand-thrown for each pie you order!

Michael's favorite bake of mine are chocolate chip cookies (sometimes with other chips ie; espresso, white, Heath). This week I decided to make my favorite (which I make and eat less than once a year) shortbread.  I added espresso chips for an interesting change.  

Grilled chicken marinated in olive oil, rosemary and thyme (both growing in pots on our terrace).  I roast cherry/grape tomatoes in the oven with a head of garlic covered in olive oil, salt, pepper and pepper flake from our friend Steve (who grows his own, then dries them and crushes them). You cannot compare this to dried packaged hot pepper.

Pork stir-fry with julienned veggies and couscous.  Marinated-thinly sliced pork, carrots, bean sprouts, scallions.

Everyone's favorite, pappardelle with mushrooms and onions in cream sauce.  I think there's a video on here somewhere of us making ravioli with the mushrooms and onions inside...

Chicken cacciatore. Needs no explanation :)

YES, I am retired and I spend my time MY WAY, which includes cooking whatever and whenever I want.  It's dreamy!!!

Hey There Friends

 Hey there friends.

It's been years....seriously...2020 was the fucking worst.  Couldn't go out to eat for so long, thought I'd collapse. I did cook a lot and worked from home most of the year, but I cannot say that makes up for sitting and being served. 

Now, however, I am RETIRED. Last day of work was Wednesday November 30, 2022 and I am beyond THRILLED to be home.  

Call me crazy, I like to be home: cooking, laundry, projects, reading, movies, Netflix, Amazon Prime, HBO Max and Paramount+.  Movies for me all day and International series all night, or vice versa, makes no difference.  

Recently Michael I spent a few days (maybe 2) brewery hopping.  Our favorites are Finback Queens (Finbackbrewery.com) and Grimm (Grimmales.com) on Metropolitan Avenue.  We also frequent Evil Twin, Wild East and Talea. Shout out  to the best bar tenders Bailey, Marcus and Ian.  Lest we overlook a great and happening bar in Queens called Bierwax (Bierwaxqueens.com) where the BEST cocktails are made by Rudy and the bar is tended by Ariel.

Since I retired I've made a few dishes that are family favorites: 

Getting prepared for Feta Spinach Wraps

The finished product

Also, 

Brie Cranberry Bites (leftover brie and homemade cranberry sauce from Thanksgiving)

 And: 

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with onion, garlic and balsamic glaze

Pappardelle with mushrooms, onions and cream sauce

Romanian Meat Borscht with short ribs and matzoh balls

So happy to be home and hopefully writing here more often about food, friends, bars, restaurants, etc...

PS:  Follow me on Instagram if you'd like @Jandonna

Tonight

Tonight I made fresh pappardelle (not mine, sniff, sniff, but from a package) with mushrooms and onions in cream sauce with escarole on the side.

Boil macaroni.

Saute diced mushrooms and onions in olive oil with salt, pepper and sweet paprika until the water is exuded.  Add a sprinkle of Wondra (very fine flour), mix, then add heavy cream. The sauce will thicken.
Pour over pappardelle.

Saute ecarole with garlic until almost done, add chopped tomato and cook until soft. Yum!

That's all folks!

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!

Quickly

Friday night Michael played softball and they had a BBQ. I made and brought Caesar salad and Greek pasta salad and ate a turkey burger (surprise).

Saturday was Michael's birthday. He went for an early bike ride with Jill, then we went to the beach and later had dinner with Lenny at Barosa. I had the appetizers: stuffed artichoke, chopped salad and calamari. Michael had that and chicken scarpariello and Lenny had veal milanese. No dessert, no coffee. Too stuffed. Good food!

Sunday we were at the beach for a short time, then went to Monica and Tom's for a BBQ with Joe, Denise and all our boys! Good food, good company. Nice little going away dinner for the boys!

Tonight I am making mushrooms and onions in cream sauce over pappardelle with grilled chicken and tomato and mozzarella salad. That's if anyone comes home for dinner. Otherwise I'll eat soup :)

Pappardelle...

Tonight was a family favorite, Pappardelle with mushrooms and onions in cream sauce, with burnt broccoli on the side.

Last night was stewed chicken thighs (skinless and boneless) with garlic (lots), onion and hot cherry peppers over jasmati rice with salad on the side.

Tomorrow I am meeting my brother for dinner, so I will not cook, but I will let you know about the restaurant we go to (PastaVino in Mineola).

Thursday is marinated steak (that i will begin marinating tomorrow).

The sun came out today :)

My rainbow maker hanging on our terrace door made rainbows :)

I am having lunch with my friend Denise on Thursday :)

Life is good :)