simple weekend recap: edition 24

Friday night dinner T & I celebrated our 6 year 

anniversary at the new amazing restaurant, Asta...

 

 

 

 

...but as we headed out to our car for a nice drive home we realized our 

back window was smashed, so the rest of our celebration evening was 

spent in various police stations. Happy 6-year!

 

Saturday morning marked a new day, filled with

 hashbrowns and bacon (which make everything better...really)...

 

...and the return of my baby girl!

 

Before T took off on his weekend work trip to Berlin, I made a simple 

healthy halibut dinner (recipe this week)...

 

...and a less-healthy chocolate souffle.

 

Sunday was filled with flowers that remind me of 

fields of wildflowers in the summer...

 

 

...and Craigie on Main since it was so good last time. I started with the grilled Spanish octopus with griled cipollini onion, green olive and lemon salad, bulgur wheat, and chorizon puree. I always get grilled octopus when it's on a menu because it's one of my favorite things.

 

For my entree I went with the slow-roasted chicken breast stuffed with chicken sausage, apricots, forest mushrooms, turnip puree, and wheat berries.

 

Although we were quite full, I had to have the orange blossom beignets with a date-orange caramel and cardamom anglaise. I had no idea these would be the largest beignets in the world, but I also had no idea they would be some of the tastiest.

 

 

After a heavy food weekend, I whipped up an easy pea puree to line a lean chicken wrap to recover from a delicious, but rich, weekend of food!

 

 

 

 

 

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apologies

Apologies for the slow week on here, it's been anything but slow on my end. Just a quick note to say I haven't forgotten about you. This past weekend T & I went down to Florida to celebrate his grandparents' 50th wedding anniversary. Saturday morning at the spa, before the big festivities of the party later that night.

 

Off to go gallivant around the city with my large umbrella & T's 

annoyed smile, I promise we'll all catch up soon!

 

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bourbon chicken

In the mall-days of middle school I used to love trolling by the chinese food section of the food court to accept free samples of the chicken on a stick. Gross, I know, you don't need to tell me, I'm well-aware. Doesn't change the fact that I still crave that taste...but with better quality meat of course. That's where my recipe for bourbon chicken comes in!

Ingredients (4 servings with sides served):
1 lb organic boneless chicken breast, cut into cubes
1/2 cup flour
1/4 cup soy sauce
1/3 cup bourbon 
1 tbs vinegar
2 tbs brown sugar
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp garlic powder 
splash of Worcestershire sauce

Directions:
1.  Preheat oven to 375F. Dredge chicken cubes in flour and evenly spread on a baking sheet or a shallow pan. Pop in preheated oven for 10 minutes.

  

 
2. Meanwhile heat remainder of ingredients (soy sauce, bourbon, vinegar, brown sugar, ground ginger, garlic powder and a splash of Worcestershire sauce) over medium-high heat until fully-mixed and it begins to bubble.

 

 

3. Remove chicken from the oven and pour the sauce mixture all over the chicken. Return to preheated oven for another 6 minutes to fully coat.
 

 

4. Remove the chicken from the oven and serve with extra spoonfuls of sauce over rice with a side of green veggies!
 

 

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plan an impromptu soiree

To plan an impromptu spring or summer soiree you only need 3 things...

1. A cute appetizer...like caprese pops.  Simply cut a cherry tomato in half, spear one half with a toothpick, next push a small mozzarella ball down, a ripped piece of basil, and finish off with the other half of the cheery tomato. Can be made hours before the party-- just drizzle balsamic and a sprinkle of fresh-cracked pepper over the pops before serving!

 

2. A super tasty & fun cocktail...like a watermelon vodka slushie served in-watermelon! Each person gets their own little watermelon for the whole night! Cut the top off of a personal-sized watermelon, scoop watermelon guts out into a blender, add juice from half of a lime, vodka, and a handful of ice. Blend until smooth and return the slushie mixture to the watermelon. *Bonus points for serving with a cute striped straw*

3. A delicious dessert...like mini chocolate cheesecakes! Take 6 chocolate graham crackers, crumble and mix with 2 tbs sugar and 3 tbs melted butter. Mush this mixture into the bottom of lightly greased muffin tins (or mini muffin tins). Next beat 24 oz of light cream cheese with 3/4 cup sugar, and 1 tsp vanilla syrup. Add 3 eggs and beat until fully mixed and soft. Pour equally in tins and bake at 325F for 30 minutes. Let cool completely before popping into the fridge to harden and cool overnight. Enjoy the next day at the soiree!

 

*Bonus points for personalized invitations, during a less-impromptu soiree of course*

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egg sammich

Most of my recipes are supa easy and supa quick, and this may actually be the easiest and the quickest. But truth is, it's not mine. I wish I could tell you who's it is...but I can't remember. I first read about this sammich in 2008 and anyone I made it for after that had their socks knocked off. This is a especially perfect weekend breakfast sandwich for someone you may be trying to impress.

Ingredients (per 1 open-face sammich):
1 slice of toast of choice
1 tbs ricotta cheese
1 egg, fried to your liking
1 tbs honey
sprinkle of fresh-ground pepper

Directions:
1. Spread ricotta over toast. Add egg on top of ricotta.    
 

2. Drizzle honey over egg.
 

3. Top with a light sprinkling of fresh-ground pepper. (*Note: I love pepper, so you will probably want to use a little less than that shown in this picture).

 

 

Enjoy with a fork & knife...or get in there with just your hands, but bring napkins either way!

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mystery meet

A couple of months aago, I taped a podcast with Mystery Meet about Bondir based on the review I did in September. Mystery Meet is a really neat organization that brings together adventurous foodies. Foodies register blindly to go to a dinner, and are told of the time and date, but not the place. Registered guests find out where their dinner will be only 24 hours in advance! Click the icon below to hear the podcast!

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bee's knees supply company

I have found the most perfect shop in the whole world. Well, to be honest, I didn't find it, my friend, Kelsey, did...but she was nice enough to share the secret. Opening only a couple of weeks ago in the Fort Point Channel neighborhood, Bee's Knees is right next to Flour bakery & a quick 7-minute walk from South Station. With lofty ceilings and the most rustic-chic design I've ever seen, I felt like I was visiting someone's perfect home.

 

In 5,500 square feet, this shop provides the largest cheese selection in downtown Boston, a ridiculously large collection of locally-made beers and wine, the highest quality local & international ingredients, a cafe complete with the tastiest sweets, a floral section, along with a deli. This shop really has everything I could ever want, in one spot, in the most beautiful setting. Just look at those floors! The moment you step in you can tell how much planning & creativity went into this perfected shop. You could say I'm in love...because I am.

With an on-site chocolatier, the cafe section churns out the tastiest chocolates bursting with layers of flavors along with croissants, macarons, a large tea & coffee menu (proudly serving George Howell coffee, woop woop), and ice cream!

The flowers are beautiful, and wrapped in burlap within galvanized pails...did they know I was coming? Couldn't be more perfect...

A large chunk of the store is dedicated to the wine & beer, and I'm not complainin'. With wine tastings on Fridays from 4-7pm, they will definitely attract a large crowd. At a super convenient time, in a beautiful space, and thoughtfully chosen samples, you better bet I'll be there often!
 

 

To make it even better (if possible), Bee's Knees has a full-time chef on-site creating daily entrees for easy take-away meals. With a fully-equipped open kitchen, they will offer lessons, chef demos, wine dinners, and tastings. I may have to move next door at this rate.
 

 

 

 

Did I also mention the fact that they have a CSA program for customers to have even easier access to these thoughtfully-chosen purveyors? Because they do.

 

One last tip, right near the door, is a basket of day-old bread...for 50% off! A huge discount for some pretty incredible bread. Obviously I had to get a $1.90 baguette...how could I possibly say no to that deal? 

The perfect new addition to the Fort Point Channel neighborhood, Bee's Knees Supply Company has easily moved into my #1 slot for favorite spot in all of Boston. You better bet I'll be back for tastings & classes...and a stop in whenever I'm in the area, like Tuesday, because I miss it already! Find out more about the shop here.

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