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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simple weekend recap: edition 19

Friday kicked off the weekend with some guacamole in my Christmas molcajete. My favorite & easiest guacamole is just 2 avocados, 1/2 lime's worth of juice, 1 small tomato, 1 tbs cilantro, sprinkling of salt & pepper, 1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, and 1/2 tsp onion powder all mashed together.

 

Saturday Erin had a date with one of her boyfriends, Mickey, at the dog park...

 

...before the pup-parents headed out to dinner at 80 Thoreau.

 

I started with the crisp gnocchi with bacon, oysters, and cauliflower...

 

..before having the outstanding roasted & braised chicken with potato gratin, brussel sprouts, and almonds. I can never pass up their chicken...it's always so moist!

This weekend we also ended up at the Tip Tap room for some snacks. Started with the mashed sampler, a tasting of horseradish, goat cheese, creamed corn & olive tapenade mashed potatoes. Sadly the only one I enjoyed (but really enjoyed) was the creamed corn version.

 

The dessert saved the visit though...I will definitely return if not just for the perfected bread pudding dessert. Mmmmm.

 

Weekend home-cooked dinner was a chicken lasagna roll-up, a new recipe I thought up while craving both lasagna and chicken cacciatore.  Tender shredded chicken simmered in a tomato sauce rolled up with cheddar inside pieces of lasagna. T almost ate the whole batch himself, as these are delicious (recipe will be posted Tuesday)!

 

 

 

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simple weekend recap: edition 11

Friday after work I met up with a friend to try the Boylston location of the Parish Cafe (information here). A minute-walk from the Arlington T station, the Parish Cafe uses recipes for sandwiches provided by chefs all across Boston (along with an amazing cocktail menu). I went with the L'Espalier, created by the chef & owner of L'Espalier, Frank McClelland. A tasty combination of fresh Maine crab meat mixed with a homemade remoulade served open faced on toasted brioche topped with sliced avocado and mango. Served with Cape Cod potato chips and salted greens. I also opted for the Stella al fresco, absolut Ruby Red Grapefruit Vodka mixed with fresh lime juice, simple syrup and Ruby Red Grapefruit juice. Shaken and served straight up with a splash of Sprite. Delicious & generously strong.

Saturday, Erin & I spent some time with the leaves and pumpkins...

 

 

 

...before heading out to a friend's new place in the South End. We went to Aquitaine for an early dinner with their prix fixe menu that is offered from 5:30-6:30 nightly. A 3-course meal with a glass of wine for $29.95, a steal for a large-portioned French dinner in Boston! I will definitely be back for the regular menu.

We slept in and started the day on the right foot

 with a BLT with baby spinach and grape tomatoes... 

...before a walk through the dog park with Erin on a perfect fall day.

 

 

 

When the sun began to set, we headed home for a dinner of squash 

risotto and some pumpkin carving (and seed toasting!)...

 

 

 

before ending the weekend with a dessert snack 

of homemade banana bread and tea.

 

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simple weekend recap: edition 5

This past weekend T, Erin, & I went to the lake to celebrate T's 26th birthday and go to our yearly day at the Saratoga Race Track to see the horses.

After a late night of driving & a late morning of sleeping, I woke to have some of my meim's home-made potato & cheese pierogis.

 

 

 

After a day of relaxation...

We headed out to dinner followed by an evening of family portraits (of which, Erin obviously got bored within 3 pictures) & basketball!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After our big work out, we relaxed by the lake while T's birthday cake thawed out!

 

 

 

 

 The next day, we went to the track where I stuck to my regular bets of $1 to show on the gray horses, the long-shots, and the names that stick out. Unfortunately, as usual, I walked away -$5. Dang. We headed home to grill and relax before heading home.

 

 

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