Turkey Chops with Baked Zucchini & Tomatoes + Pitango! August 28, 2008

Executive chef M (not actually an executive chef… haha..but nonetheless henceforth will be referred to as ECM) prepared this lovely meal for me on Wednesday night!

Based on my strong suggestions (what? bossy bissy? who me??), we baked the zucchini with tons of garlic, dried thyme, evoo, s&p and tomatoes from dad’s garden! He grilled up some turkey chops with McCormick’s grill mates chicken seasoning (which is wayyyy salty but still very tasty!). What a delicious meal!

And to top off the evening, Pitango was in order!

Chicken Fajitas!!! August 25, 2008

Friday night was spent in lovely Alexandria, VA and it was spent making Fajitas! The fact that this is the first time I have made such a lovely feast is quite shocking! Thanks to Erica for the idea!

The rub came from an old xmas present (which has been sitting in my kitchen for 2 freaking years! and was quite lumpy…hahah) and complemented the chicken and assorted fajita ingredients very nicely! I sautéed red and yellow peppers and some onions, added tomatoes, four cheese, sour cream and cholula (for extra palate excitement!).

Fish N`Chips! August 23, 2008

This was Laurita and my nice fast meal from last night. Yes, the color scheme is definitely in preparation for those fall leaves coming around here soon! The mango sauce is a winner. ALWAYS. And, this is the first time I have ever fried up (sautéed) potatoes! Crazy!

Scallops with Mango Sauce and Roasted Beets August 21, 2008

Last night’s delicious meal was much of an improvement from the same one about 2 months ago! See!- practice makes perfect! In all aspects of life.

The cooking directions are the same for the beets and scallops and I made my recent mango sauce again, which tasted AMAZING! Yay for lovely weeknight dinner dates.

In love with Annabel Lee Tavern August 18, 2008

Friday night happy hour was spent very happily with my girl, Jesica, and at Annabel Lee Tavern (within walking distance of her place! yay!). Neither of us had ever stopped by and boy are we glad this neighborhood has been bestowed upon by such a gem!

Here, below, is a Resurrection (yay Brewer’s- The owner used to be a bartender there!) and the most succulent and delicious duck fat french fries that Bawlmer has to offer!

Sauteed Scallops and Home-grown “Bruschetta” August 17, 2008

This meal was fantastic. I don’t know if it is just because my mind is on cloud nine right now or what!

But I am surely seeing that everything taste better when life is swell and when you have the freshest most delicious ingredients!

This is the first real foodie meal I have made for just myself in a long time. The scallops are fresh off the ice at wegmans (just sauteed in lots of butter and lots of s&p) and the tomatoes came from papa’s garden, basil from my lovely plant and baguette with olive oil also fresh from wegmans! C’est Magnifique!

Thai Arroy August 16, 2008

Well Thursday night was quite a lovely one on the town! Checked out the Body Worlds exhibit (not too appetite enhancing.. but nonetheless very fascinating!) Dinner at Thai Arroy in Federal Hill was delicious! I ordered (which is now becoming a standard) drunken noodles with duck! I would have to say that Thai restaurant has tastier drunken noodles, but this duck meat was fantastic!

Check out the rest of dinner below.

a delicious Shady Glen dinner adventure August 11, 2008

On the way home from Burlington last weekend, I spent the weekend in New Haven, CT visiting my bestest buddy Becca to help her celebrate her 25th birthday!!

She knew of this classic diner that serves crazy cheeseburgers and is an amazingly classic and retro joint: Shady Glen. So cute! Here is our dessert (peanut butter chocolate ice cream sundae) (2 of them!) which was delicious and we also got their claim to fame cheeseburger!

Mahi-Mahi with Saffron Risotto and Mango Sauce August 7, 2008

This glorious looking meal was made for a birthday celebration dinner for miss Becca! I have never tasted a mango sauce so delicious in my life. It went PERFECTLY with the saffron risotto and tender mahi-mahi! And for our extra added health benefit, we figured we could roast up some asparagus for a side!

Check out the Food Network recipe below!

Auntie’s Caprese BLT July 28, 2008

This was my third vacation dinner in Thompson’s Point, VT made graciously by my auntie Helen.  She is an avid reader of s.i.p and I am so happy I get to post one of her creations! 

This was a fantastically delicious Italian take on an American classic.  It was composed of ciabatta bread, a basil aioli, vermont maple bacon, balsamic marinated locally made mozzerella and fresh tomatoes!  We made 5 whole sandwich loaves and after three hours of insanely laborious work, we were finally able to eat!