Dinner & Dancing

After my lovely weekend playing hostess with my mom and her friend Denise I had a weekend to unwind with Alex before heading back into travel mode. Last week and the upcoming next two weekends we have weddings out of town. When we are gone so much on the weekends that typically means that our weekend diet consists of eating out, so during the week I cook every night. Here's a few of my recent recipe finds, perfect for summer:

ETHNIC: Fried Ripe Plantains
Once a week I make one meal that has some ethnic flavor. Last week it was caribbean/south american themed, but typically it's indian, greek, chinese or japanese. I was inspired by the plantains I saw when I was grocery shopping. We had a few meals similar to this one when we were on our honeymoon in Costa Rica.

Here's the recipe I followed - Fried Ripe Plantains. They are so easy and have such a wonderful flavor. It really transports you to somewhere tropical. I used them as a sweet side dish, but I think they would even make the perfect dessert.

TRADITIONAL: Cobb Salad
I have four "lazy" dinners that I count on when I have to make dinner, but don't feel like putting in any effort or just don't have the time:

1. Broiled Tilapia or Salmon with Green Beans & Brown Rice
2. Pizza using premade crust and whatever items I have in the fridge {usually onions, tomatoes, peppers, cheese}
3. Pasta {Typically the same ingredients as the pizza, but a different sauce, or maybe just olive oil}
4. Salad - spinach, romaine or red leaf lettuce with fruit, nuts & cheese

Well I happened to be feeling a little lazy and suddenly cobb salad popped into my head. I think that might've been the first time that ever happened. It's not one of my favorites, maybe just because I see it on so many menus it just never stands out to me?

I had some turkey bacon that I used instead of ham, tomatoes, almonds {that's not true to style is it?}, cheddar cheese and hard-boiled eggs.

The key to hard-boiled eggs is to plunge them in cold water as soon as they are done boiling and then shell them immediately. If you wait too long or don't submerge the eggs in cold water you may end up picking off the shell with tweezers. My mom and I recently had such an occasion when we were making deviled eggs. Let me tell you how much fun that is when you have at least a dozen eggs to attend to!

 

SHORTCUT: Roasted Corn on the Cob 
I have my staple items that are always on the grocery list and then I always try to add one surprise fruit and vegetable based on what's available and any promotions. This week it was corn on the cob! I really wanted to grill the corn, but I was feeling a little too lazy to get the grill going. I also felt like the length of time it would take was a little unpredictable so I googled Roasted Corn on the Cob. I found these instructions that I tweaked just a little bit!

My corn cobs (4) did not have full husks on them so I peeled them completely down. I put down a layer of aluminum foil on a baking sheet, then I melted 1 tbsp of butter in a small bowl. I added the juice from half a lime and sprinkled in a few shakes of Lawry's Seasoned Salt. I brushed the mixture onto my corn cobs and placed them on the foil. I then added another layer of foil on top and sealed the edges of the bottom layer over the top. My goal was to make a foil package with just enough room for the corn. This helps keep in the moisture. I let them roast for 30 mins at 350 degrees and they came out so flavorful and juicy.

SKILLET MEAL: Leftover/Throw Together Tacos
I had some garden {vegetable} tortillas that I wanted to use up so I hit one of my favorite sites, realsimple.com for some ideas. I found this recipe: Vegetarian Tacos with Goat Cheese that I tweaked a little bit. Instead of tofu I decided to go with ground turkey. I let it cook in the skillet and I sprinkled it with some pepper, cumin, garlic powder and cayenne pepper. Once it was cooked about half of the way through, I added half of an onion, diced.

A few minutes later I added corn (from my leftover corn cob), half a fresh tomato and about a cup or two of fresh spinach. As that cooked down I added about 1/2 cup of fresh salsa. It was similar to a pico de gallo, but a little more puréed. I used a slotted spoon to keep the entire mixture from getting too watery.

Once dinner was ready to go I threw some goat cheese on top of mine, as well as a small scoop of greek yogurt {our version of sour cream}. Alex is not a big fan of goat cheese, so he decided to forgo the cheese, and ironically, the item that inspired dinner, the tortilla. Oh well! I just used it to make some quesadillas for lunch the following day {using the leftover black beans from my caribbean meal!}.

SNACK: Microwave Potato Chips
I found a recipe from Pinterest for Microwave Potato Chips and I thought it was worth a shot. Unfortunately, I cut my potatoes too thick so it took a lot longer in the microwave than what the recipe suggests. They also didn't have quite the right consistency, but they were definitely crunchy and had great flavor. Next time I'll let Alex do the slicing! It's a good strategy for rewarding yourself without being tempted by a huge bag of chips!

Another little tip I found on Pinterest for the chip lovers: Take a packet of dry ranch dressing seasoning {I used onion soup mix} and stir it into some greek yogurt!

INDIVIDUAL DESSERTS: Peach Crisp
Alex and I both have a sweet tooth. Sometimes it's nice to satisfy that craving without ending up with enough dessert for the next five days! Whenever I think of doing individual desserts, my ramekins always come to mind. I had some fresh peaches from the farmer's market, so I decided to make two peach crisps.

Many of the recipes I found provided instructions for making a filling, basically the peaches mixed with lots of sugar, vanilla extract etc {here was my inspiration recipe}. I wanted to keep it on the lighter side so I just cut up two small peaches and plopped the pieces into the two ramekins. This recipe should work with the majority of fruits: peaches, pears, apples, raspberries, blueberries.

I followed the inspiration recipe for the topping {cut by 1/3}. Since I don't have a food processor I used a fork and mixed it the old fashioned way. I had a little bit more than I needed {before adding the water} so I divided it into a ziploc bag with a note of how to use it in the future for a quick dessert for two! After they baked for 25 minutes at 350 degrees I let them cool for a few minutes before I placed them on a couple little plates so we could handle them without burning ourselves!

We also recently tried grilling pizza, which worked out pretty well, but I think that one is going to require some more trial and error to get it just right.

 

This weekend we're off to Cleveland again, next weekend's wedding is in Columbus, then I'll be in Cincinnati for the weekend. After that we'll be on our way to Maine for Labor Day {another wedding}! Then it'll be a weekend in Columbus, followed by one in Cincinnati, and then one in Cleveland! Phew!

At least all of this eating will be offset by all of the dancing I will be doing over the two months!

Girls' Weekend in LEX

As I have mentioned a few times at least, I love having people come to visit! Planning a weekend for our friends is pretty easy because they typically love to do all of the same things that I do. However, I love a good challenge. My visitors last weekend gave me the perfect opportunity to flex my planning muscle and think outside the box a little bit.

My mom and her friend Denise, friends since 5th grade, drove down on Friday night after work. Here's a couple things I prepared prior to their arrival:

1. Planned the itinerary and let them know in advance some of the things we would be doing so they could add their input and have an idea of what to pack (you have to keep a few surprises!)
2. Based on the itinerary I planned a menu and went grocery shopping. I like to have a couple meals outside the house and a couple in the house. Variety is the best way to make sure everyone is happy! I had fresh fruit and homemade chocolate chip zucchini muffins (recipe at the bottom) out on the counter in case somebody got hungry at a non-meal time, or maybe even the middle of the night. The notes were just for me, but in the past I have also printed menus for my guests!
3. Cleaned the house and made sure their beds were all set along with some towels. 
4. Added a few welcome touches! I always have flowers out and yummy smelling candles lit. I'll typically leave out a fun surprise too. In this case I decorated water bottles and also left my mom a picture of her dog curled up, he normally sleeps next to her bed so I didn't want her to miss him!

Denise currently lives in Genoa, OH, near Toledo, so she had a little bit of a drive before arriving at my parent's house in Cincinnati. I knew they would be arriving a little bit too late for dinner so I decided to plan a little dessert outing. When I was younger and used to visit my grandparents' house in Toledo, there was always pie. So instead of a typical summer ice cream outing I decided to go the pie route!

I took them to Ramsey's down the street, which is a local diner. I always try to stick to unique local joints whenever possible. Alex and I shared a black bottom banana pie, my mom had a raspberry bliss pie and Denise had key lime. They were all delicious and we were able to sit outside so it was a relaxing way to kick off the weekend. We went to bed at a reasonable hour to rest up for our big Saturday. In the morning I got up and popped my strata (egg casserole basically) into the oven. It's perfect for weekend guests because you can prep it in advance and save yourself time and clean up in the morning! (recipe at the bottom)

After breakfast on our patio we headed downtown to check out Thoroughbred Park. I had driven past it many times, but had never taken the time to stop! I figured since we didn't have any other horse activities planned it would be a great way to get a little bit of that history in too.

After exploring the park and watching a dog frolic in the fountain we walked over to the Weekly Juicery to get a refreshing and healthy drink. My mom and I had recently been talking about smoothies and juicing so I thought it would be a fun place to try out with her! It was a super cute space and they had some great options, but I'm not sure that I'm on the juicing train. I found most of the drinks to be quite tart and a little expensive, but it was fun to try once! I think I'll stick to my homemade smoothies. 

Afterwards we drove down to the Lexington Farmer's Market and walked around for a while. I bought peaches, pretzel bread and beer cheese, while my mom bought some handmade jewelry and Denise bought a few loaves of bread. After that we were ready for lunch, so we walked down Main St, through Triangle Park to Stella's Kentucky Diner. It's a diner in a old house and the food and homemade sodas were perfect for a hot day. I had ginger mint and my mom had blackberry! 

Then we explored UK's campus and took a guided tour of Mary Todd Lincoln's childhood home. I recently saw the Lincoln movie so I really enjoyed learning more about her life and her family's connection to Lexington. Although it was raining by that time we also stopped by the Henry Clay Estate, Ashland, to check out the beautiful grounds. 

After our long day out and about we drove back to the house to relax a little bit and make dinner. After dinner we loaded up the car with a few chairs and a cooler to head out to the UK Arboretum for a production of Peter Pan. I think outdoor theatre is so neat, especially when you can bring your own wine and snacks! The rain earlier in the day had cooled down the weather and it was perfect for sitting outside. 

By the time we got home that evening I was exhausted to say the least. In the morning we sat outside and enjoyed our backyard along with some conversation before they had to head back home. We had so many fun activities that it made the weekend just fly by! Now I just have to print the picture of Denise and my mom at Thoroughbred Park for my guest book wall, and somehow condense this post into one little paragraph for the back... Another day...

RECIPES

Farmer's Market Strata

12 Servings, Prep Time: 25 Minutes, Cook Time: 1 Hour 5 Minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 pound ground sausage

• 1 small onion, chopped

• 1 green pepper, diced

• 1 yellow pepper, diced

• 1 small zucchini, shredded

• 6 slices white bread, cubed

• 1 cup cubed cooked potatoes

• 2 cups shredded Cheddar cheese

• 1/4 cup crumbled goat cheese

• 8 eggs

• 3 cups milk

• 1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce

• 1 teaspoon ground mustard

• 1 dash salt and pepper

Directions:

1. I mixed the cooked homemade sausage with all of the diced vegetables, except for the potato. In. a greased 13-in. x 9-in. x 2-in. baking dish, layer half the bread cubes, potatoes and cheese. Top with all of the sausage mixture. Add a little bit of goat cheese for a different flavor. Repeat layers of bread, potatoes and cheese. 
2. In a bowl, beat the eggs; add milk, Worcestershire sauce, mustard, salt and pepper. Pour over all. Cover and chill overnight.
3. Remove from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking. Bake, uncovered, at 325 degrees F for 65-70 minutes or until a knife inserted near the center comes out clean.

This originally came from a recipe called "Farmer's Strata" from allrecipes.com. I adapted it with my own ingredients and dubbed it "Farmer's Market Strata" because you can use whatever meat, vegetables, and cheese you may have picked up from the farmer's market or the grocery store that week. As long as you stick to the recommended amounts for each category you cannot go wrong in my opinion!

Chocolate Chip Zucchini Muffins

from allrecipes.com 

12 Servings, Prep Time: 15 Minutes, Cook Time: 20 mins

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 egg, lightly beaten
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 cup shredded zucchini
• 1/2 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease 12 muffin cups, or line with paper muffin liners.
2. Combine flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt in a bowl. Mix egg, oil, milk, lemon juice, and vanilla extract in another bowl; stir into dry ingredients until just moistened. Fold in zucchini, chocolate chips, and walnuts. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full.
3. Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into the center of a muffin comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes.

Add Another "C" City to the List

{And the themes from my last post continue here...}

Alex and I are constantly traveling between Cincinnati, Columbus and Cleveland. The second to last weekend in June I spent in Cincinnati while Alex drove up to Cleveland. I had a baby shower and he had a bachelor party. It feels like our schedule just works out most of the time which is a miracle considering how much we have going on! I had the opportunity to have brunch with two of my friends to celebrate an engagement too. That was an added bonus. I love all of the random events and meals with my friends. Of course I always love to spend more time with them, but when we just do lunch it almost makes me feel like I live in the same city as them.

That Saturday night my mom and I grabbed a fig and bacon pizza at M Woodfired Oven. I tried it at the Taste of Cincinnati with my friend Tricia and Alex's cousin Summer... Mouthwatering. It actually has fig, bacon, garlic confit, balsamic reduction, rosemary, and arugula on it. I also had a Cucumber cocktail, similar to a gin and tonic. 

Then my Dad got home, so we dragged him with us to get a little ice cream at the Mt. Washington Creamy Whip {an old-fashioned ice cream parlor}. I got a swirl cone with cherry dip. Obsessed with cherry dip and cake cones. Then I drove over to my friend Amy and John's new house in Columbia Tusculum to have a nightcap with Gin and grapefruit, The NEW Old-Fashioned. Our friends Erin and Tim, the newly engaged couple, were also there. I love sitting out on the patio with some music, a cocktail and some friends. There's something so serene about sitting outside once the sun goes down. Sunday I went to church with my parents, headed to the baby shower and then had dinner at my Grandma's before heading home. I can't help but pack in as much as physically possible.

The last weekend in June Alex and I drove up to Cincinnati {yes again} and explored a new brewery called MadTree Brewing with our friend Rob. The beer was decent, although it bored me a little bit, and the space was very unassuming and almost unfinished. Although that did not deter the crowd, it was packed! The next morning Alex and Rob drove up to Columbus for a business meeting and my mom picked me up. We drove up to my Grandma's house in Lebanon to visit with my extended family from Minnesota. We had a wonderful afternoon and it was so nice to see my Grandma two weekends in a row. Alex picked me up on his way back from Columbus and we still had some of the weekend to spend at home together. 

As soon as I unpacked it was time to repack for our trip to Charleston, SC! Our friends Karleya and Bryan drove down from Columbus Tuesday before the 4th to break up their drive. We left the next morning and by dinner time we were there. I packed us a ton of snacks and even made some homemade cookies, which were huge fan favorites, Chocolate Chip Coconut Crunch Cookies {my inspiration to make cookies with coconut in them came from Alex eating coconut straight from the bag after a very late volleyball game the night before}.

On the 4th we went to Folly Beach to enjoy the sunshine. The beach was beautiful and the water was warm. I love actually being able to swim at the beach. After having a quick lunch on the main strip we went back to the beach to meet up with my cousin and his friends for a couple hours. After the beach we headed back to Karleya's parents' place near downtown. We had a low country boil for dinner, and then it was time for 4th of July fireworks. We walked a block over to the waterfront and had a great view of four or five different firework displays! After that the four of us hit the town for a little bit and explored a couple bars, including the Gin Joint. Gin and I are slowly but surely becoming fast friends. 

Friday we explored the Sommer's toy shop on King St, called Magnifilous Toy Emporium. It was fun to see everyone trying out different toys and games and losing track of time. We headed down the street for lunch at Rarebit. They are known for their Moscow Mules so of course Karleya and I had to try one {she was the one that introduced me to them not too long ago}. They were so refreshing, I could've had at least three more {maybe if it hadn't been Noon}. Then we split the most amazing patty melt I have ever had in my life. After that I was a super happy camper. Alex and I joke that I am like a baby because I am happiest when I have eaten and have been able to use the restroom {I win for smallest bladder between the two of us, which if you know anything about Alex that is saying a lot}.

We walked around and did some shopping on King St. I couldn't believe how many stores there were! We rested for a little bit and then headed out to the marina for a boating trip around the bay. We had a tray of the most delicious cheeses {and meats} ever. I love cheese and most definitely love meat too. It always reminds me of the summer Karleya and I spent in Spain {happy memories}. Afterwards we all went to Husk to see just how good the bartender was. A couple from Asheville offered us their table and he turned out to be a brewer {long conversation to ensue}. Then we stopped by a rooftop bar at the Vendue Inn which was ridiculously crowded because of the holiday. 

The next day we had donuts from a popular spot on King St, so graciously picked up by Karleya's Dad, Blane. We then walked to the farmer's market and picked out some fresh ravioli for lunch. I also had a homemade Blood Orange & Basil popsicle. This guy's flavor pairings were so interesting! All of our ravioli choices were delectable and went perfectly with our wine and salad {I definitely know I am on vacation when I have wine with lunch}. Then the four of us hit Sullivan's Island to get in a little more beach time. Despite a 10 minute rain shower, it was perfect beach-going again. 

After soaking up the sun we went home and got ready for dinner out. Following dinner we came back to the house and just talked on the patio for a couple hours. I actually tried some mussels, not too bad. The next morning we got up early to hit the road. We stopped in Asheville for lunch, at the brewery the guy had told us about, called Wicked Weed. The food and the beer were impressive and it was a great way to break up our drive, especially considering that we got stuck in some awful traffic on the rest of the drive back. 

All in all it was the perfect long weekend road trip. Thank you to Karleya and Bryan for inviting us and for Nancy and Blane for hosting us! Now, when can I go back?