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Sunday, April 15, 2007

A Veritable Smorgasbord

It's been a busy couple of days food-wise so I thought I'd put everything in one post for your viewing pleasure.

After running errands on Saturday we got home well after lunch but too early for dinner. SP had a roast beef sandwich but I was jonesing for a quesadilla:


... stuffed with a mixture of pepper Jack and cheddar cheeses, salsa, scallions and cilantro. A dollop of sour cream for dipping and I had a mighty tasty snack. While we were eating we noticed our friend, Fat Rabbit, had returned. He stayed in our backyard for a couple hours.


Since we had both eaten a large snack we weren't too hungry for dinner, but we had a small brick of mozzarella cheese in the fridge. Last time I made mozzarella sticks I forgot to double-dip them in the egg and bread crumbs and they disintegrated once they hit the oil. This time they turned out perfectly:


I served them with marinara sauce and a dusting of grated Pecorino cheese.


We had planned to make Philly cheesesteaks for dinner last night so we had them for lunch this morning along with some homemade fries:


The fries weren't crispy enough and the Cheese Wiz we bought was a little overpowering, but overall the sandwiches were quite good. I also cooked some onion to go along with the thinly sliced beef. When the weather is dreary out (like it is today with the Nor'easter we're having) I like to bake. I don't know where I got this recipe for Chocolate Chip Coffee Streusel Cake (if you read my blog and it was you, let me know), but I decided to make it this afternoon.


I had a piece for a snack after it came out of the oven and it was really good. I don't have much experience with coffee cake and SP said he wished it had more cinnamon flavor, but I really liked it.


After the heavy lunch we had I didn't feel like making a heavy dinner, which meant my original plan for Smokin' Dave's Cafe's Fiery Cajun Shrimp Alfredo went out the window in favor of good ol' shrimp scampi:


I marinated the shrimp a la The Food Pornographer in about 10 cloves of minced garlic, oil to cover and some red pepper flakes. Then I cooked the lot in a hot skillet until the shrimp just turned pink and then I took them out so they wouldn't overcook. To the oil and garlic I added a 1/2 cup of white wine and the juice of one lemon. That simmered while the pasta cooked and then once the pasta was done I added it to the sauce and let it all cook together. Some chopped parsley was thrown in at the last minute and then the shrimp went back in to reheat quickly before serving. It was spicy, lemony and very, very garlicky. Yum!

8 comments:

  1. Mmm that all looks really good! I'm going to have to give those Mozzarella Sticks a go, they look delightful! :)

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  2. I am making those very mozzarella sticks for our game night this weekend! Can't wait, they look YUMMALISH!

    I saw a chocolate chip coffee cake recipe in the new RR mag.

    Fat Rabbit is cuuuuute! I wish we had one! All we have are squirrels!

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  3. Did you know that Rachel Ray linked to your blog? http://rachaelrayblog.blogspot.com/2006_11_01_archive.html

    I was at work last night and I had to google your blog because I don't have it saved in my favorites.
    Click on the link then scroll down to "Rachel Ray Roundup" and she links to one of the times you tried one of her recipes.
    It may not be news to you, but I was sure impressed! I think the date on the entry is November.

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  4. Mmmm...everything looks so good!
    I meant to send you this the day she posted, but with 2 boys, I forget everything-I am going to try this next week!

    http://www.thepioneerwoman.com/confessions_of_a_pioneer_/2007/04/strip_steak_san.html

    Her whole blog is a feast, but this sandwich takes the prize! Enjoy!

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  5. I've never made cheese sticks at home before. I might have to try it along with the Shrimp Pasta! That looks delicious!

    :)

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  6. Hey! I HAD to let you know, I'm in London with my family this week (school vacation) to visit my sister Allison who is studying here this semester; we went to Texas Embassy tonight and I thought of how it was YOU AND STEVE who first introduced me to it! Miss you. I'll be thinking of you! Love, Big Sarah.

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  7. Katie - they're really good! Just remember to use a dense mozzarella (the packaged stuff from the supermarket) and not fresh because the fresh has too much moisture.

    Anti Chef - I can't wait to see how yours turn out. They were so good! We love the rabbit - he is just too cute and fat.

    Erica - Sadly, that isn't Rachael Ray's blog. It's written by a woman who loves RR. :) But it's still fun to be mentioned on someone else's blog.

    Jessy - I was really disappointed the first time I made them at home because they literally dissolved in the hot oil, but this time I made them the right way and they were excellent. And the shrimp scampi...yum!

    Sarah - HEY!! I hope you're having a blast in London! I am SO jealous. Oooh...Texas Embassy! YUM! Write me when you get back!!

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  8. Chicky - forgive me...somethig is wrong with Blogger because I got everyone's comments sent to my email but yours. Weird! Anyway, thanks for the link. I love the photographs. I'll have to check this out more when I've got the time!

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