simple weekend recap: edition 28

The weekend began early with the first tiny strawberry of our garden...

...followed by my first shot of a a tortilla espanola (after being inspired by Toro's), which I can write more about this week.

 

 

Friday night T, a friend & I tried out a new experience (to us) in Groton at the Gilson's Herb Lyceum (write-up tomorrow)...

...and Saturday T & I continued our Gilson family support by trying Puritan & Company (finally), and being amazed by the fact that after one quick try this new hot spot has shot to our top two favorite restaurants (more Wednesday).

 

 

Sunday (happy father's day!) T & I tried our hands at Pasta making with the ladies of Nella Pasta at a Formaggio Kitchen class...

 

 

 

 

 ...which turns out is easier than I thought and was delicious!

 

 

 

We even walked away with leftovers for lunch and two more dough balls for tomorrow night's dinner at home!

 

Sunday night dinner was a quick onion-cornflake chicken (one of our favorites) with a wild rice pilaf & a quick sautee of brussel sprouts and pancetta before the premiere of True Blood with a large cup of tea to prepare for the week ahead!

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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.

*

 

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

*

...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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simple weekend recap: edition 26

The weekend started early at The Salty Pig customizing charcuterie boards and having (in my opinion) the best octopus plate Boston has to offer.

 

 

 

 

With fennel, peas, & olives, I was in love with the octopus. I feel like this is going to be one of my new favorite places...and T will definitely be in love once I take him here!

 

 

After a long week of work, Friday night consisted of whipping the grill out of the basement and grilling up some BBQ chicken, having the best potato salad in the world (which I forgot to document, so I guess I'll just have to re-make it so I can share it with you!), and the brussel sprout and corn recipe I made a few days ago before relaxing in front of our new outdoor fireplace with some s'mores.

 

 

Saturday morning lunch was spent at Harvest

which has my now-favorite cold lobster roll in the city. We relaxed on the beautifully peaceful patio before heading off to a matinee of The Great Gatsby at the Somerville Theatre, which provides cheap prices for movies in an old-school environment (with beer on tap!)!

 

 

For Saturday night date night, T & I finally went to 

Oleana for the first time (review later this week).

 

 

 

Sunday night dinner was coffee rubbed steak with chimichurri sauce with some homefries & a green salad made with romaine, pears, browned brussel sprouts & chives with a simple mustard-vinaigrette.

 

 

 

 

 

 

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