Welcome Baby Dinner

Tonight we are going over to some friend's house to meet their new baby! Our thing is to bring over dinner whenever we go to meet the new addition to a family. It is always the same thing: Homemade Pesto (tonight I did a blend of arugula & basil), Pasta, Mixed Salad Greens, Homemade Vinaigrette, Bread, Wine, Bottle of Bubbly Water and Lemon Bars (I usually bring Barefoot Contessa Brownies (homemade), but have so many Meyer lemons that I decided to shake it up a bit).

Thursday's Dinner

As I mentioned it has been a long week so tonight we decided to take a drive down to Aldo's for dinner!

Wednesday's Dinner

It has been a long week, tonight we started with Tanqueray Tonics, which we never do especially during the week! The weather has been so gloomy, we wanted to pretend it was 90 outside and not cold & foggy! Then we moved to a nice meal of comfort food - my made up version of a french classic ~ Coq au Vin with a roasted Barley & Shallot dish. I served it with a wonderful 2005 Cotes du Rhone I found at Bi Rite Market (by the way, they have a wonderful wine collection & very reasonable).

Tuesday's Dinner

I did not feel like going to the market today so I had to get creative with what we had in the house, after a long weekend away, it was not much! I was inspired by BF's Portuguese background as well as my Basque background - both his mother and my grandmother use to use a lot of chickpeas in their houses and we have come to love them! Decided to throw in some secret seasons as well as some of the Portuguese Chorizo we won at the auction a couple weeks ago & why not some spinach I had picked up during the day - this is what we got! Enjoyed it with a wonderful glass of 2005 Blackwing Shiraz - super delicious!!! Dessert was left over frozen yogurt from last week as well as some strawberries I picked up. Enjoy!

Camping Cont ...

...... camping would not be complete without smores & .... home-made creme brulee?! The creme brulee became an added tradition last year & the recipe is from Fringale!

Memorial Day Weekend

BF & I went away for the annual camping trip with a group of friends, to Bishop, CA. This use to be a weekend of physical activities with little thought as to what we would be eating! Well, the last couple trips have become a weekend of questions, "what is for dinner tonight?" We went all out this past weekend - grilled salmon and corn one night. The next night we started with grilled portabella mushrooms and then grilled up some NY cut grass-fed beef steaks with a wild mushroom medley served with grilled asparagus. Now keep in mind all food is grilled over open fire!

Thursday's Dinner

As I have said before, when BF is not here, I tend to get a bit lazy ... actually, too busy tonight to cook, so I whipped up some of David Lebovitz's Frozen Yogurt - can you say, Viva La France?! Very Berry Good!!!!!

Wednesday's Dinner

I, was, again, inspired by the Traveler's Lunchbox! We dined on this outstanding Risotto - at first BF was curious & suspect about cauliflower in Risotto .... but, then one bite and he was sold! This will be a new staple in our household! As well I attempted a recipe for a berry Clafoutis ............ it looked pretty but was terrible!!!!! I need a better recipe - a more french one! ?????

Macarons

Okay ... I am in love with Macarons. Not the coconut ones (or as my sweet 6 year old friend M. calls them ... "the American ones"), instead the actual French ones! I am trying to master the recipe for M.'s sister's tea party next week & as you will see from this photo .. I have a lot of work ahead of me. Mine actually look like Driedels! Let me tell you, looks are deceiving as these babies - ROCKED and they received more compliments from my astounding taste panel than I have ever had! I used three recipes for them & varied them a bit: The actual cookie part - I used the Basic Macaron Recipe and flavored with almond extract. AS well I ground my own almonds. The filling, I used two different ones: a Blood Orange Curd & an Italian Buttercream (flavored with Vanilla Beans). A BIG THANK YOU to those of you who inspired me!!!

Our Fridge this week!

In response to Becks & Posh's posting, here is what is "Chillin Out" in our Fridge which is definitely the coolest part of our apartment this week! Top Shelve: Lots of Diary Items! As well as some Portuguese Peppers as well as homemade hot sauce from Boston - thanks to BF's uncle & dad!! Second Shelve: Eggs, Peanut Butter, Sesame Paste, Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, Feta and Parmesan Cheeses. Third Shelve: Homemade Ketchup, couple bottles of white wine (french), Prosecco, Iced Tea, Bubbly Water, Portuguese Chorizo (which we won at an auction), Elk (which we are grilling up this weekend) and peppers. Vegetable Bin: Lots of Meyer Lemons from our neighbor (YIPPY)!! Mushrooms, Lettuce and Baby Carrots. On the Fridge Door. Top Shelve: More cheeses! Rest of the Door: Rum, Vermouth, Homemade (from my step-mom, she makes the best) Peach Jam, Thai Curry Paste, Horseradish, Japanese Ginger and assorted condiments.

Tuesday's Dinner

Was inspired by the market visit! Fresh made pesto as well as pasta. Served with a red-leaf lettuce salad and vine ripened tomatoes drizzled with Olive Oil and Meyer Lemon juice. Sauteed an assortment of baby squash and their blossoms with some shallots and olive oil, zested Lemon over the top! Served with a nice wine from the Loire Valley - wonderful!!

Farmer's Market Visit

I use to shop at Farmer's Market weekly, but have not been in months. It was a beauitful day today so I decided to venture down to the Ferry Plaza - I have to say, I love this time of the year, great stuff is hitting the market! Wanted to share some of it with you! Enjoy! See Flickr for more great shots.

Monday's Dinner

Homemade falafel served with a Meyer Lemon Cannellini bean hummus, toubeleh and whole white pitas. No dessert tonight ... watching the waistlines!

Sunday's Dinner

A whole weekend spent eating out - boy, was I glad to get back into the kitchen! We had a couple hungry guy friends over so decided to fire up the grill and throw some burgers on! Was fantastic if I do say so! Started the meal with homemade meyer lemon (thanks to my neighbor for bringing a whole bag full of them over) hummus & Stacy's Pita chips. Dinner was ... Organic grass fed beef burgers seasoned perfectly with fresh herbs, served on egg/sesame buns with homemade ketchup. Served with grilled white corn and a Greek salad with it! For dessert, I used a recipe from Tartelette, Cardamon Ice Cream - WOW!!!! I am now addicted to my new Kitchen Aid ice cream maker!!!

Thursday's Dinner

I did say it was the week of cleaning out the fridge............................. Orecchiette Pasta with a sauce of fresh peas, edamame, sauteed yellow onions, applewood bacon and mascarpone cheese - I love how the little peas and edamame sat in the pasta, all cozy. Dessert was slightly broiled apricots filled with the wonderful leftover Caramel Salted ice cream!!!

Wednesday's Dinner

Chilli Rellenos (baked & not breaded) stuffed with shallots, zucchini, mild sweet peppers & jack cheese served on a Chipotle sauce made with fresh tomatoes & yellow onions and Chipotles! Had to cheat on Dessert and find out what all the range was with Salted caramel ice cream - fantastic!!!

This week is called ..... cleaning out the fridge!

Risotto with sauteed shallots, asparagus, shitake mushrooms and arugula (this was an afterthought .. when I decided I did not want to make a salad - added a nice zip to the dish). Finished off with zest of meyer lemon (love love love them). Apricots, which were warmed in the broiler and then I filled them Mascarpone cheese & then I drizzled with warm Lavender Honey.

Wednesday's Dinner

Went out to dinner. go here

Tuesday's Dinner

Arugula Salad with Vine Ripened Tomatoes and a Blood Orange & Olive Oil Dressing and fresh cracked pepper!

Look familiar? Did not feel like cooking tonight even though I hate leftovers! So, tonight I added a twist, sauteed shallots and an avocado. This time of the year is the beginning to the best season for food ... succulent blackberries & raspberries with fresh cream - for dessert! And, of course, a nice glass of wine!