Summer Panini

The Panini Days of Summer
Last weekend was crazy, and it was only the beginning of what will be a Mr. Toad’s Wild Ride of Adventure Summer for us. I am not entirely sure if I know my own name at this point. I do know that the mother of all laundry piles has gathered in the laundry room, and your guess is as good as mine as to when it will get some attention. The bright side is that the dog loves her new bed.

We have now entered what I call, The Panini Days of Summer. These are the days when there is so much going on that dinner is more often than not, something that we can slap between two pieces of bread and throw on my Panini press. Cut up a cold Cantaloupe or Watermelon and voila…dinner a-go-go.

There are so many possible panini creations. If we can, we’ll use whatever is left over from the previous night’s dinner (some left-overs just won’t work in a sandwich). It’s not unheard of for us to just use a bunch of cheese—sometimes with an apple slice or two. Left over spaghetti and meatballs? Don’t underestimate the power of a meatball panini dipped in leftover sauce. (A favorite of my son’s). July and August mean that we have tomato paninis. Although with no garden this year, we’ll have to rely on friends for that garden grown yumminess. And don’t get me started on the grilled veggie panini!

This is my favorite go-to panini, because I always have the ingredients on hand. If you are looking for more ideas for panini, take a peek at this article from Food Network with lots of great ideas.

Amy’s Summer Panini Read more…

Canal House Style Chicken Thighs with Lemon

Good Yard Bird
The kitchen can be the world’s best reality check. The outcome of your endeavors is not always guaranteed—no matter how good a cook you think you are—and for that reason, it is best to always check one’s ego at the door (and keep your instant-read thermometer handy). Just when you think you can totally take on an Iron Chef, karma has its nasty way with you. I need only to look back a couple of weeks to the epic fail that was my attempt to make Pearly Rice Balls with Red Bean Paste in them. Instead of producing lovely round rice balls, I managed to make a gelatinous, shapeless glob that looked like scary fried eggs.

And yet, sometimes (cue the choir of angels), you make something so tasty, so utterly divine that your obvious talent just can’t be denied. (Move over Thomas Keller! I laugh at you and your Michelin stars!) Last night was one of those nights…

To be fair, my genius had some help this time around. (OK. Yes. Most of the time I need help.) Mine came in the form of the book Genius Recipes by Food52 by way of The Canal House. This cookbook has been getting a lot of buzz lately and for very good reason. It is the bomb-diggity. It really is genius. It is also the cookbook we are using for our next cookbook club.

Looking at my copy right now I have at least twenty recipes that I have flagged to try. One of them is Canal House Style Chicken Thighs with Lemon which is what I made for dinner last night à chez moi. My husband told me it was the best chicken I have ever made. I’ve made a lot of chicken, which means either this recipe is just that good or I need to go back to school. Full disclosure, I used preserved lemons. made by a friend, who also happens to be in our cookbook club. It’s possible that they were the secret ingredient because man, they were good.

Do yourselves a favor, go get this book. Or, you can follow along on their blog as Kristin Miglore cooks her way through the book.

And look-y there. The BEST EVER CHICKEN is front and center….

Canal House Style Chicken Thighs with Lemon
Recipe adapted from Food 52 Read more…

Classic Ensenada Fish Tacos

Easter South Of The Border
As you read this, it is entirely possible (and most likely) that I am pool-side, slathered in SPF 5000, and sucking down margaritas like water. If I am not, it is because I am stuffing my face with fish tacos, while sucking down margaritas like water.

Vacations are always fun and relaxing, but I think we are looking forward to this one even more. We are just that tired. (I am including the kids in that statement. After all of the standards testing, they’re just done.)

The five of us are looking forward to a week of great weather and doing absolutely nothing. Normally, when we plan a trip we all throw out ideas for activities. When asked what everyone wanted to do this time around, the overwhelming response was “drool”. I am so on board with that.

There may be a snorkeling trip along the way, and I am pretty sure there will be some jewelry shopping with my daughter, but one thing I know for certain is there will be good food. How do I know this? Because when you don’t give me your input or opinion on such matters, you do so at your own peril. I have made all of the reservations at the places I want to try!

¡Hasta la vista!, baby…

Classic Ensenada Fish Tacos
Adapted from Rick Bayless
Tacos de Pescado “Clasicos de Ensenada”
From Season 8, Mexico—One Plate at a Time
Servings: 12 tacos, enough to serve 4 people Read more…

Julie & Julia’s Bruschetta

Big Night
I love movies; always have. I especially love a matinee by myself, alone, in the theater.

Because I love movies, I have always loved the Oscars. Growing up my mother and I would watch every minute. We would critique the dresses, cheer for the actors we wanted to win, and jeer the ones who won when they shouldn’t have. It was a big deal, and everyone knew not to bug us while the Oscars were on. (Who could possibly be calling now?)

Now that I have my own family, I am sad to report that I am the only one who cares. This is what happens when you live with a bunch of jocks. I thought I had a partner in my glitter-loving daughter but, alas, it appears that I am destined to be alone on this red-carpeted island. My boys just stare at me blankly. My husband gives me the “You have got to be kidding me” look.

For this reason I never really get to go crazy and make themed dinners to eat while watching the show. Instead I am forced to come up with something easy for them to serve themselves while I am otherwise occupied.

A girl can dream, and if I was going to put an Oscar menu together I would pull together a few recipes my very long list of favorite—Oscar nominated or not.

Here are some recipes from that list:

Cocktails
Vodka Martini Shaken, Not Stirred: Any Bond movie. (I love them all.)
or
A nice Chianti: The Silence of The Lambs (1991)

Appetizers
Tomato Buschetta, see recipe below: Julie & Julia (2009)
Fried Green Tomatoes: Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)

Main Dish
Chicken Tagine: Sabrina (1995)
or
Hot Dogs: Bull Durham (1988)
We recommend the Miller Dogs from the Meat Counter

Desserts
Reine De Saba Cake: Chocolate (2000)
or
Minny’s Chocolate Pie: The Help (2011)

Julie & Julia’s Bruschetta
(adapted from recipe by food stylist Susan Spungen)
Read more…