Cool New Kitchen Stuff September 14, 2008

Ross’ sister and parents had a couples shower for us today at La Dolce Vita.  LDV is one of our favorite local restaurants, and very special because it is where we had our first date (and where we met in person for the first time!).  The food was amazing as always, and Renee, the owner, was sweet enough to give us a gift certificate from her and her staff as a gift.  That means we get to go back soon!!!

We received several new super cool kitchen items today.  I cannot WAIT to make some new recipes using these new gadgets!

 

First is the Cuisinart Griddler Panini Maker.  Here are pictures of it being used both ways:

                                    

How cool is that?  There are different plates that can be put in depdending on what you want to use it for, and best of all… the plates are dishwasher safe!  One of my favorite childhood memories is my Dad making breakfast for us on Sunday mornings on the griddle.  It has been many years since I’ve had that breakfast, and I can’t wait to cook one up.  I am also excited about making some super delicious sandwiches!

 

Our next awesome Cuisinart gift is the blender/food processor combo.  They have some pretty smart engineers at Cuisinart.

There are a few recipes that I have wanted to make that need a food processor and we haven’t had one.  Potato soup will be made at our house in the very near future!  Also, I think my sister and I ruined my last blender by making too many margaritas and crushing too much ice.  This one has a special ice crusing setting, so I think we’ll be all set.  We even got a recipe today for beer margaritas, so we might have to make up a batch of those to test out the new blender! 

 

We also received the Black and Decker electric carving knife.  Ross has pretty much perfected making roasts, and this will help it to look much nicer when it is served! 

 

We also received tons of other cool gifts, including lots of stuff for the house and garden.  Thanks to everyone, today and over the past few months, who has given us so much cool stuff!

A Busy/Slow Week August 31, 2008

…Meaning, the week has been busy so the cooking’s been slow.  We had a wedding appointment on Wednesday night, so had a repeat in the crock pot, Thai Pork with Peanut Sauce.  It was still good!  Thursday we were lazy and had grilled cheese and tomato soup.  Every now and then that just tastes so delicious.

 

Friday night we went to a Durham Bulls game.  Unlike my sister, I am definitely not a huge baseball fan.  I do, however, love the atmosphere of a ball park, and I love going to see the Durham Bulls.  I had no idea what was going on most of the game, but I had a good time with my sister, her boyfriend Mark, Ross and my friend Elizabeth.  And by far, my favorite part of going to the ball park is the food.  There is absolutely nothing like it.  I don’t know if the same food would taste as good if eaten elsewhere; it may be in part the atmosphere that makes it taste so good.  Either way, a cold beer, a big cheeseburger and a cup of fries was just sinful on a hot summer evening.  I was in my glory.

 

After the game we headed to Mellow Mushroom.  I don’t know what my deal is with atmosphere and food, but this is another place that has the best food and the most delicious margaritas, but only in the summer when eaten outside.  The pizza and the drinks are just not as good if you aren’t outside.  Really.  However, as soon as the weather starts to warm up each year, my sister and I make a mad dash for Mellow Mushroom.  We enjoyed a late night drink and pizza last night, along with some hot pretzels made out of their pizza dough.  Aaaahhhhh.  So good. 

 

Tonight, we headed to the Carolina game with Ed and Emily and their family.  In the 6 years that I have lived in NC, I have never been to a college sporting event.  I was excited.  We made it through the first quarter, and a tiny bit of the second when they had to evacuate us due to storms coming in.  So, it was a short experience.  We came home and made stir fry with chicken tenders, a bunch of veggies, some teriyaki sauce and water chestunuts.  I had some sesame oil in the pantry, so we used that to sautee it all in.  Before cooking the meat, we coated it in sesame seeds and some garlic powder.  We served it over rice with shrimp sauce and chow mein noodles.  It took about 20 minutes to make, and while it was by no means gourmet, it was pretty tasty. 

 

Hopefully we’ll have some time to cook some new and exciting meals in the days ahead!  I hope everyone is having a great long weekend!

Delicious Local Food August 16, 2008

Yesterday was a crazy day at work.  There were several people out sick and not enough people to cover.  This meant that Emily and I covered in a classroom this morning.  You could see the twinkle in the two and three year old’s eyes, just wondering what they could get away with while 2 different people were in their classroom.  Luckily we were able to laugh about it a lot, but we were definitely ready to take a lunch break after 1:00.  We couldn’t decide where to go, but finally decided on Myra’s Kitchen.  I hadn’t been there yet and have been dying to go.  I have heard so much about it through everyone’s blog!

 

Well, it was great.  I love the atmosphere inside and the staff couldn’t have been friendlier.  The food was absolutely delicious, and there were so many  things to choose from.  I can’t wait to go back to try something else.  The menu of side dishes alone goes on forever!

 

For dinner last night, Ross and I decided to do something low key.  We didn’t really feel like going anywhere, but I didn’t want to just stay home because I knew I’d fall asleep by 8 pm if I did.  We decided to go out to eat at one of our most special places, La Dolce Vita.  This is the restaurant that Ross and I met at on a blind date just over two years ago.  It is always good food, and always brings back fun memories.  They’ve added several new items to their menu, including The Dirty Bird, my choice for the night.  It was wonderful and I am sure I will order it again on another visit in the near future.

 

I had just complained to Emily a few days ago that while I love to cook, I was sad that life had been so hectic that we hadn’t been able to go out to eat in weeks.  I guess I made up for some lost time yesterday!   With the great local dining that we have in our small town, it was well worth the wait.

 

Enjoy your weekend, and try one of those restaurants if you have the opportunity!

Lots of Eating Out May 12, 2008

My Mom came to visit from NY this weekend to celebrate Mother’s Day with us.  As always when my parents visit, we ate out a lot!  Here are some highlights of the meals we ate.

 

Thursday night:  Kara, Elizabeth and I ate at South in North Hills in Raleigh.  It is Kara’s favorite restaurant.  I hadn’t been there since it became South (used to be Restaurant Savannah).  It has a great trendy atmosphere and a great menu to go with it.  I chose Shrimp and Grits.  I love shrimp but can’t make it.  I don’t know what I do or don’t do, but it never comes out well.  I had Shrimp and Grits for the first time at Bella last November.  I am not sure if this beat it or not (might need to go back to Bella so I can compare!) but it was great either way.  I highly recommend South as well as this dish!

 
Friday lunch:  Mom and I went to Twisted Fork at Triangle Town Center while we were doing wedding errands.  We both had crab cakes and they were excellent, better than I expected at a mall restaurant. 

 

Friday dinner:  Lucky 32 in Cary.  This is one of the restaurants that I forget about a lot and am always glad when I remember it.  I had Shrimp and Grits again!  I guess I had a serious craving this weekend.  It was great again, this one was spicier with some andouille sausage and the grits had a different texture (as a Yankee I admit I know nothing about grits, but these ones were firmer it seemed).  Kara had black bean cakes which she couldn’t finish so I had to help her out.  They were excellent.  Ross had meatloaf which I also had to try and it had lots of spices in it that made it different from any other I’ve tasted.  I would order it on a future visit!

 

Saurday Lunch:  After a trip to Southern Pines to do more wedding errands, we ate lunch at the Dairy Bar.  This was my Mom’s one request for her trip here.  Last time she came, we stopped there for lunch and she had her first serving of warm banana pudding.  She told me she had been dreaming about it since and needed more!  We all had a great meal and of course, a great dessert!

 

Saturday dinner:  Kara treated Mom and I to dinner at The Mint on Fayetteville Street Mall.  The Mint is a super swanky restaurant, they even brought Mom and Kara black linen napkins to replace the white ones since they had more dark colors in their outfits.  I had grilled tuna which was excellent.  It was cooked just right.  For a fancier restaurant, I was impressed with the portion.  I have a big appetite and fully expected to leave there starving, but I didn’t.  After dinner we took Mom to Napper Tandy’s to see 80z Enuff, our favorite band.  They were great as always!

 

Sunday was Mother’s Day dinner here at our house.  We had a great time with my Mom, my sister and Ross’ parents.   Ross’ sister, Lara couldn’t make it due to not feeling well and we missed her.   I’m exhausted after a long day, so I’ll post some recipes from our dinner tomorrow.  It was a great weekend filled with lots of great food and company.  Luckily with lots of wedding events coming up this summer I know I will see Mom again soon.  It’s always easier to say goodbye when I know it won’t be another 6 months before I see her again.  We missed Dad and wish he could have been here, too.  Next time!