Another Week of Jury Duty and Dinners

Today was my twelfth day of jury duty at Queens criminal court in Kew Gardens.  The other jurors and I have become friends. We play crosswords and other games while we wait (and wait (and wait) (and wait) (and wait) for court time to catch up with reality time.

Dinners this week have been:  Turkey burgers and Greek salad; chicken sausage, penne  and broccoli with garlic and oil; chicken marsala with sauteed spinach; and leftovers.  Tonight is undecided as are Saturday and Sunday.
Monday is back to jury duty.  Have a good weekend :)

Full Plate

That's what we've been having lately.  Last week we went to Teddy's in Wiliamsburg with Jill and Lenny.  They were taking us out to dinner as a thank you for cooking meals for them the previous week.  Teddy's is a bar/restaurant on North 8th and Berry.  The sign outside does not say Teddy's, but we still know it's there.  We had:  Tomato soup and grilled cheese; goat cheese and beet salad; fried oysters; shrimp cabana (with jalapenos and bacon); a chicken burger and a regular burger and spinach quesadillas.  Add in a few beers and a few cocktails and a few glasses of wine and we had a really good time.  Afterward, we checked out the bar at a new place called Masten Lake .  Michael found the place on line and the name was reminiscent of where he spent summers as a child.  The bar is nice, they have strange and interesting cocktails.  The menu is a bit eclectic but we decided we would come back and have dinner there one night. However, after checking on line for their menu and website I just discovered that they closed.  They had only been open for seven months.  Sorry to see them go.

We were also at Dani's recently.  A long time favorite of ours.  We had:  Garden salad, truly the best stracciatella soup anywhere, eggplant parm and chicken with broccoli, peppers and onions in marinara.  Yum!

This past week the Wisners have once again joined us for dinner.  Their kitchen is not finished yet.  I made:  Baked shrimp scampi, orzo and spinach; Rack of pork chops, roasted potatoes and broccoli; chicken cutlets and asparagus with an appetizer of mini steamed pork buns from Chinatown.  Tonight is a staple:  Turkey burgers and Greek salad.

Tomorrow night Barb and I are taking Jennie out for her birthday and we have no other plans for the weekend, but I am sure eating will be involved :)

Since Friday

Friday night was Italian night with the Wisners. We had Sunday gravy with braciole, meatballs and sausage; garlic bread; salad; broccoli rabe with garlic and oil; wine; homemade iced tea; and cheesecake for dessert. Yum!

Sunday was eggplant parm. Monday was stir fry chicken with vegetables (baby bok choy, red pepper, broccoli florets, snow peas, baby corn, water chestnuts, onions, garlic) in a marinade of soy sauce, oyster sauce, rice vinegar, ginger and garlic. Today I made pasta fagioli. Tonight is turkey burgers and salad and tomorrow is penne vodka and spinach with garlic and oil.

Friday night is Ham night with the Wisners; Baked quarter ham; mashed potatoes; mixed greens, cranberry sauce and something for dessert I have not yet decided upon.

Saturday I am visiting my brother and Sunday we will be at the Shapiros for (you guessed it) the Jet game. J E T S Jets, Jets, Jets!!!

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!

A few Days

Last Friday night we met a bunch of Forest Hills friends (and saw some old friends)at Manor Oktoberfest of Forest Hills on Yellowstone Boulevard. We actually weren't there for the food, Todd Wolfe and his band were playing!

Music was AMAZING! Friends were GREAT! Food was mediocre! I had a turkey burger, which in no way compared to Tower Diner's turkey burger. Michael had Caesar salad with grilled chicken and Tom had pierogies.

Beer was fine :) Michael finished a boot of Spaten in 18 minutes and boy did he have fun afterwards. He was the life of the party, happy and relaxed!

Sunday night, the Wisners came for dinner and I made roast turkey breast, rice and Greek salad.

Last night I went out to Moca Bistro on 70th Road (www.mocaus.com). We had spicy tuna and avocado salad, mini spring rolls, bbq pork and sea bass yakitori (especially good). Everything was good and we'd go back again.

Tonight I am probably going to make dinner. Haven't decided on what yet. Thursday Michael has a game and Saturday is Michael's 49th birthday, so it's all up to him:)

xo

I Know, I Know!

I am slacking off again. Not my usual style I admit, but it seems to be the wave of the summer season.

I am not cooking as much, or hardly ever, I should say. We don't sit down for dinner as a family at 7pm every week night anymore. Things in the kitchen are different.

This week I made chicken cacciatore, chicken sausage with broccoli rabe and turkey burgers with Greek salad. But we ate them at our own pace and not necessarily together. I guess I felt there needed to be food available for my boys.

I even went food shopping last, after we ate Tex-Mex takeout, at 8pm. It's nice when there are very few people in the store! Stop and Shop (or as Jill and I call it: Stop and Steal - because they are so expensive, it feels as if you've been stolen from) is open until midnight. Trader Joe's until 10pm. Who knew?

Last week we went to the Furthur concert at Coney Island with Jill and Lenny. Joe, the B-Man and Jerry showed up too. We even saw Andy Dymond and friends. But the show itself was not the music, it was the parking lot. What a scene! Straight out of a movie. The sixties are alive and well and still following the Dead. Of course, I had to have a Nathan's hot dog (with mustard and sauerkraut). It was just as I remembered from the last time I had one (maybe 2-3 years ago). Crunchy, yummy, greasy...didn't much like it later...but every 3 years it ain't so bad :)

This weekend is beach...beach...beach. It will be hot and maybe we'll stay one night to BBQ. July 4 at the Shapiros!!!! Yummy food, best friends, can't wait!

Yesterday

Last night one of my most favorite family members appeared on our doorstep :) Our niece Chrysalis came for a visit!

Before she came, however, I made dinner. I had planned on my mother-in-law joining us, but she wasn't feeling well, so we went on without her.

I made French onion soup. The crouton/bread was very good. Baguette sliced thickly, spread with boiled garlic (always keep some in the fridge) a bit of olive oil and toasted in the oven 'til crispy brown.

Greek salad and turkey burgers with more garlic, Tillamook cheddar, horseradish sauce (mayo, horseradish, lemon juice and pepper) on brioche rolls (only Jesse eats the bread) and crispy shoestring onions that I fried in canola oil 'til golden brown, then spread on paper towel. The natural sugar in the onions caramelizes as they cool and the onions become super crunchy and sweet. Sorry no photos.

Tonight may be pasta with spinach, maybe white beans and tomatoes too. Just what Chrysalis and I like.

Have a sunny day! Warm days may be coming soon...

Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday

All week cooking. Well almost. Monday night Michael and I went suit shopping and to Vincent's!!

Tuesday night I made chicken sausage with broccoli rabe. Usually I take the sausage out of it's casing, but this time I did not. I browned them, added the veggies, garlic, olive oil and red pepper (from Steve Shapiro's garden), then covered the pan and let it steam.

Wednesday night I tried my hand at homemade pizza dough (flour, oil, salt, yeast, water) and made pizza (with fresh mozzarella) and pizza knots.

Tonight I made rosemary-garlic turkey burgers with Greek salad and Greek lemon potatoes.
All very yummy and Michael takes great photos of our dinners!!

Tomorrow night we're going to Citi Field (the new Shea Stadium). I've never been, but heard they have great new food options! I am obviously not going for the game (Let's Go Mets, anyway).

Saturday we will be at our friend Leslie's in Huntington for her son Louis' 18th birthday. Fun with friends! Always a great time!