Thursday, May 10, 2012
Tuesday, May 8, 2012
Night Two: Chicken With Spinach and Mushrooms
Night two was successful, but with a few small hiccups. Whenever my husband and I cook chicken, we always brine it first since we're not fans of the usual dry, flavorless chicken. (Brining instructions: 4 quarts water, 1 cup salt, 1 cup sugar, stir and then soak chicken for 30-60 minutes.) However, I added too much salt to the brine, and since the chicken was pretty salty we avoided all other salt in the recipe.
Other than that, everything went pretty smoothly. Not including brining time, everything took 35 minutes (the recipe said 25 minutes, but I'm a slow cooker). I took the chicken out and patted dry, then cooked it in a non-stick skillet following the times from the recipe. While the chicken cooked, my sous chef/husband sliced the red pepper and washed the musrooms. We bought those pre-sliced packaged mushrooms so no mushroom prep was required.
When the chicken was finished, I tossed in the veggies for a few minutes, then added wine (I used sauvignon blanc) and garlic. It took longer for the wine to cook down than the recipe said since we skimped on the mushrooms, and they help to soak up with wine. I tossed in the spinach to cook down, and then we were ready to go.
Despite the slightly salty chicken, everything was delicious. It's a healthy, easy meal and we'll make it again. The veggies especially were wonderful, and they'd work great with anything - steak, eggs, pork, or even standalone. Still loving this week of Real Simple cooking!You can check out the recipe here.
Monday, May 7, 2012
Night One: Salmon With Lemon-Cilantro Vinaigrette
Night one was a success! I bought two six-ounce fillets of farm-raised salmon (skin on), and I used Near East Toasted Pine Nut Couscous (5.6 ounces). The recipe was very easy to cut in half for my husband and I (all recipes serve four).
I didn't strictly time myself, but from start to finish the meal definitely took under 20 minutes to prepare. (The recipe says 15 minutes.) I put water on to boil and heated oil in a skillet, then sliced two scallions for the vinaigrette. I spread the 1/4 teaspoon paprika over the non-skin sides of the salmon, then used salt and pepper on both sides.
The couscous finished first, and while I waited for the salmon to cook (3 minutes per side on a medium-high 4 setting) I finished the vinaigrette.
This meal was delicious and will definitely be a go-to recipe in the future. Even though we didn't have cilantro (Whole Foods was out), the meal was incredibly flavorful. I especially recommend buying farm-raised salmon for its fatty flavor. Wonderful, easy, and relatively healthy dinner!
View the recipe here.
Real Simple: One Week of Dinners
With the arrival of summer, I have more free time and I want to make it somewhat productive. Since I seem to have met my unspoken goal of watching every series rerun ever broadcast on SoapNet, I wanted to direct my energies elsewhere.
Way back in October 2009, I read a Real Simple issue with a month's worth of recipes. They broke recipes up into four weeks, and provided a complete shopping list for each week. You hit the grocery store once, then you have five nights of pre-planned meals.
Anyone who knows me knows that I love to dine out, and I'm especially a sucker for an impromptu snacks-and-drinks happy hour. Challenging myself to skipping restaurants to cook up "Week 4" is no small feat. So... here we go!
I'll be checking in with each completed meal: preparation ease/difficulty, flavors, time requirements, and photos. I purchased the "Week 4" shopping list at Whole Foods in Sarasota. My bill came to about $76, although I already had chicken, and I added a few items (Annie's Mac 'n' Cheese, extra avocados).
You can check out the shopping lists and recipes (with nutritional info) here.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
As my husband Brad and I were walking through the Sarasota Farmers Market on Saturday, we were discussing what to eat. Crepes, grouper sandwich, kettle corn? On our ride into downtown, we'd passed Brasserie Belge, and we decided to have a proper sit-down lunch there.
We had ridden our bikes in, so we were in workout clothes with helmet hair, just looking for a bite to eat. We sat outside and ordered a couple of Leffe Blonds ($3.75 each) from our just-moved-from-Belgium waiter. The service was admittedly slow, but our server was very sweet and apologetic. (They seemed slightly understaffed.) And literally everything was worth the wait.
The Leffe was of course delicious and refreshing on a warm Saturday afternoon. After a while, the bread and butter appeared. We could tell (and asked our waiter to confirm) that the bread was baked daily in-house. The fresh doughy bread topped with slightly sweet, perfectly spreadable butter was heaven. You might be thinking to yourself, why is this crazy lady spending so much time discussing the bread? Try it and you'll know. I even said to Brad while we were eating it, "When the bread is this good, you know everything else will be amazing."
My prediction came true when our entrees arrived. Brad ordered the Belgian Meatballs Liege ($12) -- two large meatballs, perfectly moist from inside out, sitting in a fruit-based sauce and accompanied by a side salad. Delicious, hearty, and slightly sweet. I'm a sucker for meat and fruit combinations, and this one didn't let me down.
From our server's recommendation, I ordered the Chevre Salad (also $12). This dish was... heaven. Seriously. The whole time I was sitting there, outside in Sarasota's perfect weather, drinking a light and flavorful Leffe, and biting into the honey-speckled goat cheese pastries, I was thinking... heaven. Anyway, the salad came with two "goat cheese pillows" lightly coated in honey placed atop a bed of romaine, with a honey vinaigrette on the side. The sweetness of the honey and goat cheese combined with the crunch earthy romaine was... all right, I won't say it again, but you get the picture.
My only regret is that we couldn't stay longer to try what I presume were out-of-this-world desserts. I had an important appointment to get to -- a 2 o'clock meeting at Lido Beach.
I can't wait to go back to this place. (If it hadn't been for time constraints, we were actually thinking of returning for dinner that same night.) I'm not exaggerating when I say this might be my new favorite restaurant in Sarasota. Go now!
We had ridden our bikes in, so we were in workout clothes with helmet hair, just looking for a bite to eat. We sat outside and ordered a couple of Leffe Blonds ($3.75 each) from our just-moved-from-Belgium waiter. The service was admittedly slow, but our server was very sweet and apologetic. (They seemed slightly understaffed.) And literally everything was worth the wait.
The Leffe was of course delicious and refreshing on a warm Saturday afternoon. After a while, the bread and butter appeared. We could tell (and asked our waiter to confirm) that the bread was baked daily in-house. The fresh doughy bread topped with slightly sweet, perfectly spreadable butter was heaven. You might be thinking to yourself, why is this crazy lady spending so much time discussing the bread? Try it and you'll know. I even said to Brad while we were eating it, "When the bread is this good, you know everything else will be amazing."
My prediction came true when our entrees arrived. Brad ordered the Belgian Meatballs Liege ($12) -- two large meatballs, perfectly moist from inside out, sitting in a fruit-based sauce and accompanied by a side salad. Delicious, hearty, and slightly sweet. I'm a sucker for meat and fruit combinations, and this one didn't let me down.
From our server's recommendation, I ordered the Chevre Salad (also $12). This dish was... heaven. Seriously. The whole time I was sitting there, outside in Sarasota's perfect weather, drinking a light and flavorful Leffe, and biting into the honey-speckled goat cheese pastries, I was thinking... heaven. Anyway, the salad came with two "goat cheese pillows" lightly coated in honey placed atop a bed of romaine, with a honey vinaigrette on the side. The sweetness of the honey and goat cheese combined with the crunch earthy romaine was... all right, I won't say it again, but you get the picture.
My only regret is that we couldn't stay longer to try what I presume were out-of-this-world desserts. I had an important appointment to get to -- a 2 o'clock meeting at Lido Beach.
I can't wait to go back to this place. (If it hadn't been for time constraints, we were actually thinking of returning for dinner that same night.) I'm not exaggerating when I say this might be my new favorite restaurant in Sarasota. Go now!
Sunday, June 20, 2010
Gulfport Gem
My husband Brad and I recently took my in-laws out to dinner at the Gulfport establishment Backfin Blue. It was one of those "memorable meal" experiences -- mouth-watering food, warm service, and no watch-checking, all while sitting on the back porch watching a storm roll in. Granted we were wearing wine goggles that evening (we went through two bottles for three people, since Brad's mom isn't a drinker), but I think the meal would've held up even if we'd stuck with ice water.
The aforementioned wine was two bottles of Ravenswood Zinfandel for $22 each. Zinfandel has become my go-to red -- not super heavy, so it's fine for sipping sans meal, but with more character than merlots or pinot noirs. The wine list was very affordable with many bottles in the low $20s, going up from there. Yes, you can find Ravenswood for half the price at Total Wine, but when is this not true of a restaurant bottle?
To start, I had the Corn & Crab Soup which was out-of-this-world ooey gooey rich. I probably gained 2.7 pounds eating a bowl, well worth it though. Order this soup. Seriously. The rest of my tablemates ate the fish spread. I only managed to leave my soup for one swipe of the smooth spread before my husband housed the whole plate. He's a man of few words, but I think he recommends it.
Our entrees came with two salad choices. The ladies went with the straightforward Tossed Salad, which hit the spot with its red onion slices. (Why don't restaurants use red onions more? C'mon people!) The more adventurous gentlemen ordered the Artichoke & Tomato, marinated in balsamic vinaigrette. It was too vinegary for my tastes, but the me claimed to love it.
Then came the dinners: two orders of a special combining the Jumbo Lump Crabcakes and the Portobello Imperial, an order of Prime Rib, and Macadamia Nut-Crusted Grouper. (The seafood dishes were all around the $20 range, and the ten-ounce Prime Rib came in at $14.50.) The crabcakes were hearty, made of crab with little filler. The price may seem high compared to crabcakes at other restaurants, but since these guys weren't packed with breadcrumbs or crackers, it's not apples-to-apples. I preferred the straight-up crabcake to its more dolled-up partner sitting atop a portobello and a spoonful of red pepper sauce.
The prime rib was juicy, fatty, and to my eyes appeared much larger than its ten-ounce label. (We all wondered if they kindly guesstimated the weight of the marbling and removed it from the actual weight. This sucker was HUGE.) But the star of the evening was the grouper, expertly cooked to create a buttery flavor without actually tasting like it'd been simmering in a stick of butter, and covered with what looked like an entire can of hand-chopped mac nuts.
I should mention the service as well, since the food makes a restaurant while the service can break it. The waitstaff were excellent and perfectly suited to this restaurant. Casual, friendly, relaxed, yet knowledgeable.
Our bill for two bottles, two apps, and four entrees came to around $140. The prices seems slightly high-ish for our area, but we all went home with plenty of leftovers. One crabcake was a full meal since it's straight meat, and my fellow diners conquered less than half of the prime rib and grouper. With the portions and food quality, the prices are a steal.
If you're looking to save a little cash, check the Creative Loafing Deals section. Under "Bites," we purchased a $30 gift certificate at Backfin Blue for $15 (well, technically it's $17 after the $2 fee). If you're planning on clearing $30 in food charges (any couple dining there will hit this mark easily), then you can save $13 by visiting CL Deals first!
In the changing landscape of Gulfport, Backfin Blue has remained a constant for obvious reasons. With the vistas reminiscent of Old Florida, the charming porch seating, and fresh food prepared with care, this place is the backbone of Gulport's restaurant scene.
The aforementioned wine was two bottles of Ravenswood Zinfandel for $22 each. Zinfandel has become my go-to red -- not super heavy, so it's fine for sipping sans meal, but with more character than merlots or pinot noirs. The wine list was very affordable with many bottles in the low $20s, going up from there. Yes, you can find Ravenswood for half the price at Total Wine, but when is this not true of a restaurant bottle?
To start, I had the Corn & Crab Soup which was out-of-this-world ooey gooey rich. I probably gained 2.7 pounds eating a bowl, well worth it though. Order this soup. Seriously. The rest of my tablemates ate the fish spread. I only managed to leave my soup for one swipe of the smooth spread before my husband housed the whole plate. He's a man of few words, but I think he recommends it.
Our entrees came with two salad choices. The ladies went with the straightforward Tossed Salad, which hit the spot with its red onion slices. (Why don't restaurants use red onions more? C'mon people!) The more adventurous gentlemen ordered the Artichoke & Tomato, marinated in balsamic vinaigrette. It was too vinegary for my tastes, but the me claimed to love it.
Then came the dinners: two orders of a special combining the Jumbo Lump Crabcakes and the Portobello Imperial, an order of Prime Rib, and Macadamia Nut-Crusted Grouper. (The seafood dishes were all around the $20 range, and the ten-ounce Prime Rib came in at $14.50.) The crabcakes were hearty, made of crab with little filler. The price may seem high compared to crabcakes at other restaurants, but since these guys weren't packed with breadcrumbs or crackers, it's not apples-to-apples. I preferred the straight-up crabcake to its more dolled-up partner sitting atop a portobello and a spoonful of red pepper sauce.
The prime rib was juicy, fatty, and to my eyes appeared much larger than its ten-ounce label. (We all wondered if they kindly guesstimated the weight of the marbling and removed it from the actual weight. This sucker was HUGE.) But the star of the evening was the grouper, expertly cooked to create a buttery flavor without actually tasting like it'd been simmering in a stick of butter, and covered with what looked like an entire can of hand-chopped mac nuts.
I should mention the service as well, since the food makes a restaurant while the service can break it. The waitstaff were excellent and perfectly suited to this restaurant. Casual, friendly, relaxed, yet knowledgeable.
Our bill for two bottles, two apps, and four entrees came to around $140. The prices seems slightly high-ish for our area, but we all went home with plenty of leftovers. One crabcake was a full meal since it's straight meat, and my fellow diners conquered less than half of the prime rib and grouper. With the portions and food quality, the prices are a steal.
If you're looking to save a little cash, check the Creative Loafing Deals section. Under "Bites," we purchased a $30 gift certificate at Backfin Blue for $15 (well, technically it's $17 after the $2 fee). If you're planning on clearing $30 in food charges (any couple dining there will hit this mark easily), then you can save $13 by visiting CL Deals first!
In the changing landscape of Gulfport, Backfin Blue has remained a constant for obvious reasons. With the vistas reminiscent of Old Florida, the charming porch seating, and fresh food prepared with care, this place is the backbone of Gulport's restaurant scene.
Friday, June 18, 2010
I Recommend...
So if my past journals are any indication, I'll post a flurry of information for, say, 3 days, followed by radio silence. I'd better get some info in here while I still remember that I have a blog.
First, I want to recommend a baking website I came across last night. Baking Bites is a site full of delicious recipes. I made the Blueberry Banana Bread last night and just finished a slice (or 3) for breakfast. Super easy, and surprisingly the only oil/butter in the batter is vegetable oil (3 tbsp). There is a cup of sugar in the loaf, but for a breakfast pastry I'd say it's not that bad for you! I can't wait to try more of her recipes.
Also, since I'm moving from St. Pete to Sarasota in less than a month, I wanted to make a list of my favorite 'Burg restaurants.
Z Grille Fun decor, not stuffy at all, way delicious. My favorite things: 1/2 price wine bottles on Mondays; Dr. Pepper Ribs; any deviled eggs (I even liked them with horseradish, and I HATE horseradish); Chicken and Waffles (order them at brunch for half the cost of the dinner version).
Bella Brava Consistently good food, and plenty of deals that make it less insane to eat out all the time. The deals I currently know about: lunches during June and July are buy-one-get-one-free with a FB coupon; 1/2 price wine bottles on Wednesdays (we went to a Wednesday lunch and got the BOGO lunch AND 1/2 price wine); every third Monday of the month, all food is 1/2 off at dinner.
Tangelo's I really really love their Veggie Burger, and I'm not a Veggie Burger kind of girl.
Red Mesa Cantina Gorgeous outdoor patio with a fountain in the center. I especially love their brunches. They're delicious and pretty affordable -- I think everything on the brunch menu is under $10, and you can get a mimosa (OJ, pomegranate, etc.) for $3! I usually get the Sweet Potato Pancakes since I'm rarely in the mood for burritos before 5 pm.
Whistle Stop Okay, technically this place is in Safety Harbor, but it's effing amazing. It's completely outdoors, they use grass-fed locally raised beef for their burgers, and they have live music on weekends that's actually not obnoxious. (Most live music at restaurants is way too loud in my opinion, but theirs is just right.) Anything with pork seems to be great -- love the BBQ Pork Sandwich (with Sweet Potato Fries, natch) and the Shredded Pork Tacos.
Kahwa I'm pretty whatever about coffee (if it has caffeine I'm all set), but the coffee is amazing at Kahwa. Any food I've had there has been great -- yogurt parfait, and some sort of tomato/basil/mozzerella sandwich.
Those are the places that immediately come to mind. I'm going to truly miss downtown St. Pete, but hopefully in a few months I will have discovered a new set of places to love in SRQ.
First, I want to recommend a baking website I came across last night. Baking Bites is a site full of delicious recipes. I made the Blueberry Banana Bread last night and just finished a slice (or 3) for breakfast. Super easy, and surprisingly the only oil/butter in the batter is vegetable oil (3 tbsp). There is a cup of sugar in the loaf, but for a breakfast pastry I'd say it's not that bad for you! I can't wait to try more of her recipes.
Also, since I'm moving from St. Pete to Sarasota in less than a month, I wanted to make a list of my favorite 'Burg restaurants.
Z Grille Fun decor, not stuffy at all, way delicious. My favorite things: 1/2 price wine bottles on Mondays; Dr. Pepper Ribs; any deviled eggs (I even liked them with horseradish, and I HATE horseradish); Chicken and Waffles (order them at brunch for half the cost of the dinner version).
Bella Brava Consistently good food, and plenty of deals that make it less insane to eat out all the time. The deals I currently know about: lunches during June and July are buy-one-get-one-free with a FB coupon; 1/2 price wine bottles on Wednesdays (we went to a Wednesday lunch and got the BOGO lunch AND 1/2 price wine); every third Monday of the month, all food is 1/2 off at dinner.
Tangelo's I really really love their Veggie Burger, and I'm not a Veggie Burger kind of girl.
Red Mesa Cantina Gorgeous outdoor patio with a fountain in the center. I especially love their brunches. They're delicious and pretty affordable -- I think everything on the brunch menu is under $10, and you can get a mimosa (OJ, pomegranate, etc.) for $3! I usually get the Sweet Potato Pancakes since I'm rarely in the mood for burritos before 5 pm.
Whistle Stop Okay, technically this place is in Safety Harbor, but it's effing amazing. It's completely outdoors, they use grass-fed locally raised beef for their burgers, and they have live music on weekends that's actually not obnoxious. (Most live music at restaurants is way too loud in my opinion, but theirs is just right.) Anything with pork seems to be great -- love the BBQ Pork Sandwich (with Sweet Potato Fries, natch) and the Shredded Pork Tacos.
Kahwa I'm pretty whatever about coffee (if it has caffeine I'm all set), but the coffee is amazing at Kahwa. Any food I've had there has been great -- yogurt parfait, and some sort of tomato/basil/mozzerella sandwich.
Those are the places that immediately come to mind. I'm going to truly miss downtown St. Pete, but hopefully in a few months I will have discovered a new set of places to love in SRQ.
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