July 2016 - NY Foodie Family

Five on Friday – The Last Week in July

Posted on July 29, 2016 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

These summer days are flying by! Just like that, July is over! Luckily, we have one more month of summer fun. This week wasn’t too exciting, but sometimes, relaxing and hanging out is just what we need. Weather wise, today and the weekend aren’t looking that great. We need the rain, but it puts a damper on summer weekend plans. Today we’re spending the day at the aquarium with a friend and her kids. Tomorrow we are supposed to be going to a neighborhood pool party and Sunday we think we are going to head into the city. Of course, rain may end up changing these plans! This week’s five include:

1. Supper Club – Sunday we hosted our monthly supper club. This month’s theme was Turkish cuisine. We made grilled chicken which we served over rice pilaf, eggs cooked in a pepper and onion dish as well as a grilled eggplant dish with spicy chickpeas and walnut sauce. Everything was delicious!

2. Day with friends at the lake – Friends of ours live in a community on a lake. They had their annual Summer Regatta and invited our family. The kids all had fun swimming in the lake and kayaking, as well as participating in games. We then went back to their house for dinner. Our sons are friends, but we adults hardly get to see each other. It was nice being able to spend time with them relaxing and catching up.

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3. Reading – I’ve been on a YA reading kick lately. I just finished The Flip Side by Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson. This is her first fiction book. It was so YA that I’d almost call it middle grade fiction, minus the prom and other high school related events! I am now reading The Museum of Heartbreak which so far is just so-so.

4. Dining Out – We normally go out to eat on the weekends when we are out and about. However, Saturday we had dinner with friends and Sunday we had supper club. So, the only dining out that happened this week was yesterday when the kids and I had lunch at a local ramen restaurant, Ramenesque. They shared that bowl of ramen, which I might have helped them with, along with some gyoza, while I had a kimchi pancake.

5. Watching – My husband and I finally finished Orange is the New Black. I can’t believe that we have to wait a whole year for the next season! My husband had us watch the first episode of Stranger Things, a new Netflix original supernatural/sci-fi/horror series. I’m not sure it’s really my thing, but there are only eight episodes, so maybe I’ll watch them all with him. I am caught up on the Real Housewives of Orange County and have just started watching the Real Housewives of New Jersey.

ICYMI this week on the blog:
Monday I shared our weekly meal plan.
Tuesday I posted What Is Your Yearbook Quote?
Wednesday I spotlighted leeks in my CSA challenge.

Linking up with Andrea, Tif and Amanda! Hope you have a great weekend!

Spicy Grits with Chorizo, Leeks and Corn {CSA Challenge}

Posted on July 27, 2016 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

In this week’s CSA challenge I am spotlighting leeks. Leeks look like long, thick scallions and are related to onions, shallots and scallions. However, they have a milder flavor than onions. Leeks need to be cleaned really well, as they grow in sandy soil, which tends to collect among the layers. In this recipe, to prepare the leeks, I chopped the tops and ends off. Then I made a cut down the length of the leek, sliced it and then rinsed them in a bowl of water.

To showcase the leeks I made Spicy Grits with Chorizo, Leeks and Corn. I have recently come to like grits, especially with cheese! The kids were visiting their grandparents for a few days and since they don’t like grits, I thought it was a perfect time to make this recipe. This recipe is versatile, in that you can substitute different vegetables. I used Swiss chard in place of the spinach the original recipe called for. I think adding some sautéed zucchini would be tasty as well!

Spicy Grits with Chorizo, Leeks and Corn
Recipe adapted from Real Simple

Ingredients:
2 links of chorizo, sliced about 1/4 inch thick
3 leeks (both white and light green parts), thinly sliced
1 clove garlic, minced
1 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, undrained
salt and pepper
1 1/2 teaspoons crushed red pepper
1/2 cup grits
1 1/2 cups fresh corn kernels (from 3 ears of corn)
1 bunch of Swiss chard, chopped

Directions:
1 . In a large saute pan, cook chorizo over medium heat until browned, approximately 3 minutes.

2. Add the leeks and garlic , cooking for approximately 3-4 minutes until leeks start to soften.

3. Add the tomatoes, 2 cups of water, 1/2 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper and crushed red pepper. Bring mixture to a boil.

4. Stir in the grits. Reduce heat to medium low and cook, stirring often until grits are tender and slightly thickened. (While the original recipe noted about 10 minutes, it took at least 20 minutes for my grits to thicken).

5. Add the corn and Swiss chard, cooking until the chard wilts, approximately five minutes.

What Is Your Yearbook Quote?

Posted on July 26, 2016 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

In their latest Happier podcast, Gretchen and Elizabeth discuss their yearbook quotes and challenge listeners to pick a yearbook quote. This episode connected with me, as I am a huge quote lover. Is it normal to ask for Bartlett’s Familiar Quotations as a Christmas present in high school?! While I still own the book, I have to admit that it’s been collecting dust from lack of use. Nowadays, I am more apt while reading a book to jot down a sentence that really resonates with me, rather than flip through the quotations book. Besides my food related boards, my Pinterest Quotes board has some of the most pins.

This podcast seemed very timely, as my husband’s chosen yearbook quote had recently come up in discussion between us. “It is better to keep your mouth shut and appear stupid than to open it and remove all doubt.” – Samuel Clemens. Oh how relevant this quote continues to be today!

I couldn’t remember if I had chosen a yearbook quote and if I had, what it was. So, this led me to dig out my high school yearbook to check. My husband will be humored to know that I was “Nancifiying” words even back then (his term for my frequent substitution of song lyrics and quotes with similar, but not quite the correct words!). My yearbook quote was “Moving on is simple, it’s what we leave behind that’s hard” which should actually read “Moving on is simple, it’s what you leave behind that makes it so difficult.” (See, that is a perfect example of me “Nancifying” something!)

What I find even more telling of my love of quotes, is that unlike in many school yearbooks, we were not required to have a quote. In my husband’s senior biography section of his yearbook, he had to provide specific information including activities, awards and a quote. In contrast, the senior biography section of my yearbook was a free for all. Reading through the biographies is like a cryptic puzzle of initials and inside jokes and memories between friends. However, I am one of a handful of people who added a quote to my bio. At that point in my life I was excited to begin the new adventure that college brought but also sad about being separated from the only friends I had ever known, as well as a serious boyfriend.

Fast forward almost twenty years and this quote doesn’t quite resonate with me the same way. Instead, this quote seems more appropriate for where I am today.

I ended up deciding while in college that I wanted to be a teacher. I went on to graduate school and earned my Masters Degree in special education. After spending over ten years as a teacher, I realized that I did not want to continue teaching. After a couple of years dabbling in some other fields I have decided to take some time off. Now, I am basically a stay-at-home mom, while also assisting my husband with his business. Career-wise, I am not quite sure what or where I am headed. For now though, I am embracing this quote, and believe that where I am now is where I am meant to be. This means spending time with my kids and enjoying our summer together, creating memories. I believe that everything will end up working out and come together in time.

So, now it’s your turn! What was your yearbook quote? And what is your current quote?!!

Weekly Meal Plan {Week 46}

Posted on July 25, 2016 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

It’s Monday, which means it’s time for another weekly meal plan. Last week included a dinner date and some lazy, but tasty dinners. We are supposed to have another super hot week here in New York this week, which I am NOT looking forward to. Today I am planning this week’s menu and am looking for easy recipes that require little to no heating elements! Hope everyone has a great week filled with tasty food!

Saturday: We spent the day at the Victory Polo Match. We had this amazing Lobster Grilled Cheese Sandwich as well as an Asian Pulled Pork Sandwich both from the Clocktower Grill’s food truck, Fork In The Road. We were hot and tired so when we got home, we ordered a pizza and some garlic knots from a local pizza place.

Sunday: We celebrated my son’s 8th birthday with the family. We grilled hamburgers, hotdogs and chicken. We also made a Mediterranean Tortellini Salad, Broccoli Salad, a Blue Cheese Potato Salad, Marinated Cucumbers and Slow Cooker Baked Beans. Can you believe I took not a single picture of the food?!!!

Monday: The kids were at their grandparents, so my husband and I got a date night in. We went to The Hudson Room. It’s a local restaurant that made OpenTable’s Top 100 Restaurants. They have a special Prix Fixe menu Monday through Wednesday, where you can get an appetizer, entrée and dessert for $29.95. So we of course had to do that! This Sriracha Seared Gulf Shrimp appetizer was my favorite of the night!

Tuesday: I made Spicy Grits with Chorizo, Leeks and Corn. Look for my adapted recipe in Wednesday’s CSA spotlight post!

Wednesday: I cooked up some ham steaks and served with roasted purple and pink potatoes (from the CSA) and roasted purple eggplant (from the CSA). My husband sautéed Swiss chard (from the CSA) as well. The kids didn’t particularly enjoy the eggplant or Swiss chard, but tried some of each.

Thursday: I made spaghetti and meatballs. I used jarred sauce but made homemade meatballs. I didn’t use any particular recipe. I sautéed some onion and garlic and added that to some ground beef along with Penzeys Pasta Sprinkle, an egg, salt, pepper and bread crumbs. I thought they turned out tasty enough.

Friday: It was so hot on Friday and I didn’t feel like cooking. But I had already defrosted the pizza dough to make homemade pizza. I used a white eggplant from our weekly CSA which I roasted to make this Roasted Eggplant, Fresh Mozzarella and Basil pizza. No recipe, just put the fresh mozzarella and roasted eggplant on the pizza dough. After it was cooked on the pizza stone for 12 minutes I then sprinkled fresh basil on top. It was very good!

Five on Friday {Week 2}

Posted on July 22, 2016 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

Happy Friday! What a crazy week it has been. We had a jam-packed, fun-filled weekend and then my kids spent a couple of days at my in-laws house for a visit. The visit was cut short by a day and a half when my son started breaking out in an itchy, bumpy rash. They brought the kids back and I of course took my son straight to the doctor, where we learned that he has contact dermatitis (an allergic reaction to something he came into contact with). After some discussion and research, my husband and I think that the allergic reaction may have been caused by a new seersucker type button-down shirt that he wore on Saturday. Allegedly, blue dye 106 and 124 are known to cause allergic reactions. So, while not contagious, his bumps are not pretty to look at. Plus, the poor guy is so itchy. Hoping for a quick recovery for him. And we learn something new every day! Well, onto some brighter parts of the week:

1.Watching – This week I watched the romantic comedy How to Be Single. It was an okay movie that my husband was happy to let me watch by myself. We are one episode away from finishing the latest season of Orange Is the New Black. Pretty crazy stuff going on at Litchfield! I have watched a couple of episodes of Scandal and am almost caught up on the Real Housewives of Orange County.

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2. Reading – I most recently finished Turn Up the Heat by Kimberly Kincaid. This is a romance book that I read for a goodreads reading challenge I’m in. Otherwise, not really my type of book. I am currently reading First Comes Love by Emily Giffin. I’m a fan of Giffin’s books though and am enjoying this one.

3. Dining Out – While the kids were away, my husband and I got one date night in. We went to a local restaurant that made the Open Table top 100 Restaurants list. While the food was good, I’ve honestly had better at many other nearby restaurants. This Sriracha Shrimp appetizer was my favorite dish of the night.

4. Family Fun – Last Friday evening we went to a local, minor league baseball game (see below for details!) and a fireworks show after. Saturday I saw my first polo match when we went to the Victory Cup Polo Match. Then Sunday we had a family party to celebrate my son’s 8th birthday. It was a busy but fun weekend! Then last night we went to the movies to see The Secret Life of Pets. The kids had been wanting to see this movie since it came out a few weeks ago. It was pretty cute!

5. Highlight of the week: While we were at the baseball game Friday night, we were chosen to get upgraded seats behind home base. I have never seen any professional type of baseball game that close up! Even my daughter, who commented that she doesn’t even like baseball, had a great time and was so excited for our closer seats. In one of the mini games that they play on the field between innings, our new seat section won tickets to another game! Unfortunately, the game is for Sunday and we already have plans. The kids were so amazed at our luck that night it was so cute!

ICYMI on the blog this week:
Monday I shared our weekly meal plan.
Tuesday I posed Part 2 of my daughter’s The Tween Reads June 2016 post.
Wednesday I spotlighted watercress in my CSA Challenge recipe post.

Have a great weekend! Linking up with Tif, Amanda and Andrea!

CSA Challenge: Watercress and Red Pepper Quiche

Posted on July 20, 2016 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

Today I am linking up with Johanna and Heather for their monthly Recipe Club linkup. This is a new linkup and my first time sharing a recipe with them.

This is also the second week of my CSA Challenge. In this new series, I am spotlighting vegetables from my weekly CSA and how I use them. Last week I showcased escarole and how I used it in Penne with Escarole and Sausage. Today, I am spotlighting watercress. This is a leafy green that I’ve eaten at restaurants but had never cooked with, prior to receiving it in my CSA. Raw, watercress has a slightly bitter taste. I have found that cooking “bitter” greens tend to lessen the bitterness, as this recipe did. Since joining the CSA, I have been stocking up on frozen pie crusts. I am not a baker and don’t have the patience for making my own pie crust. However, using the pre-made pie crusts makes making quiche a breeze. I’ve made several different quiches and my husband and I enjoy them for breakfast. The kids don’t especially enjoy the veggie filled quiches. However, if it has bacon and cheese, they want in! Since there’s no meat in this quiche, my husband and I enjoyed this Watercress and Red Pepper Quiche.

Watercress and Red Pepper Quiche
Recipe adapted from Allrecipes UK

Ingredients:
1 frozen pie crust, thawed as directed
1 teaspoon olive oil
1 large onion, sliced
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon salt, plus a pinch
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
4 eggs
1 cup milk
1 bunch watercress, stalks removed and leaves chopped
1/2 cup mozzarella cheese, shredded
1 large red pepper, diced

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees F, placing a baking sheet in oven to warm.

2. To make the filling, heat the oil over low heat in a large, nonstick pan. Add the onions, brown sugar and a pinch of salt, mixing them together. Saute for 25-30 minutes, stirring frequently, until the onions are softened and lightly caramelized. Remove from the heat and set aside to cool.

3. Crack the eggs in a large mixing bowl, add the milk and salt and black pepper and whisk well. Then stir in the watercress and mozzarella cheese.

4. Spoon the cooled onions into the pie crust, spreading them out evenly. Pour the watercress mixture and sprinkle the diced pepper over the top.

5. Place the prepared quiche on the hot baking sheet and cook for 35-40 minutes until the filling is set and the topping is lightly browned. Serve it hot or at room temperature.

The Tween Reads June 2016 Part 2

Posted on July 19, 2016 by nyfoodiefamily@gmail.com

My 10 year old daughter is an avid reader. She wanted to write posts for the blog and thought she could share book reviews of some of her summer reads. This is the second part of The Tween Reads June 2016 book review post. You can read part one here.

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Ava and Taco Cat by Carol Weston – Ava Elle Wren is a girl into palindromes. She first hears about an injured cat from her mother who works at a vet. She really wants the cat and gets it for her birthday. She names her new cat, Taco Cat. Get it? Taco Cat is a palindrome! For a school assignment Ava has to write a haiku on anything she wishes. She chooses Taco Cat! In the meantime, Ava and her sister Pip are making a fish picture book. They try to send it to a reporter who is coming to Ava’s school, but he says no because they don’t want picture books. He says that Ava should make a book on something she would want to write about, something that she is passionate about. Ava really wants to write a book about Taco Cat, so she does! I give this book about 3 and a half stars because I think that this book is a good sequel to Ava and Pip and the love between Ava and her cat.