simple weekend recap: edition 27

This weekend revolved around the first Boston Calling Festival, held right downtown at Boston City Hall Plaza.

 

When we weren't braving the chilling wind and rain...

...we were indoors enjoying chowder & hot chocolate..

...before venturing back out for Marina & The Diamonds and fun.

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Day two was still a chilly windy day, but nothing as chilling as Saturday...

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...but after feeling a bit under the weather from the terrible weather of Saturday, we skipped out early to enjoy a warm dinner at Grotto before heading home.

Recently I've been on a big grilling kick...with the weather being beautiful, and the grill taking 5 minutes to warm up, and only 10 minutes to cook the chicken, it is the perfect way to cook anything! My actual favorite reason to grill is because no matter what you marinate your meat in, it will be perfect. I've really thrown some strange things together over time, and each time it's more delicious than the past. 

My newest creation was the "pantry chicken" drizzled with honey, brown sugar, ketchup, sesame oil, soy sauce, olive oil, onion powder, garlic powder, salt & pepper then topped with sesame seeds, it marinates for 1 hour before being cooked on each side for about 5 minutes each.

 

 

 

 

 

Sounds terrible? Maybe, but give it a shot, with some rice pilaf and some asparagus (or maybe some proscuittowrapped asparagus) and you've just made yourself a deliciously easy meal!

 

 

Want to try a southwestern flare instead? Fine! Throw some chicken strips in a ziploc bag along with some adobo seasoning, garlic & onion powder, salt, pepper, olive oil, lime juice, red pepper flakes, crushed tomatoes with chilis, and some chili powder, let it marinate for an hour, then grill it up along with some fresh summer corn!

 

Serve on a tortilla with beans and cheese, maybe some lettuce, and you've got yourself another tasty healthy grilled chicken meal!

 

 

Sick of chicken yet? I can't really relate to that, but fine, I'll share my turkey shepherd's pie recipe with you...but you'll have to wait until tomorrow for that!

 

*: From other members' instagrams with #bostoncalling

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grotto & beacon hill chocolates

Working in Beacon Hill makes it easy to pop into one of my favorite little spots for a quick lunch or dinner. Grotto is located on Bowdoin Street, near North Station, Bowdoin, Government Center, MGH, and Park Street T stops. Two blocks from the Commons, this little gem is nestled underground. The dinners are beyond reasonable, as a 3-course dinner is $36, and the lunch is a steal, with a large lunch pasta portion running at $14 max (check out the menu here). Head down the steps, through the red velvet curtain, to an intimate dining area with mood lighting and a wall of wine bottles amidst walls of brick.

 

For dinner I go here for one reason, and one reason only...the lobster fra diavolo. With homemade linguine, this tasty dish is what dinner-dreams are made of. Buttery lobster tucked into spicy twists of heavenly-light pasta with a bit of a kick. Absolute perfection. I finish my portion without a doubt every single time.

After a quick & tasty early dinner, we strolled through Beacon Hill. Through the hilly cobblestone streets we went, warding off the rain, admiring the beautiful brownstones as we headed towards Beacon Hill Chocolates on Charles Street.

As the rain began to sprinkle, we headed home to tuck ourselves in & enjoy our treats!

My personal favorites were the s'mores bar & the chocolate covered cherries. Good thing this adorable (and delicious) shop is a mere 3 blocks from work...as I will be needing another s'mores bar prettttty soon!

 

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