Girls' Nights are Good Nights

In the last two years I have learned the value of good girl friends in a capacity I had not truly understood.  Chatting about life, gossip, relationships, silly tv, family, and whatever else comes up over dinner has become a favorite activity.  I've had two good ones in the last week or so that have helped to keep me grounded as work seems to be swirling around like crazy and life is in high-speed.  

Night #1:  Libby (roomie) and Molly L. (favorite friend to unload emotional crises/former colleague) and I had a Vegetarian Asian night at home.  Paired with reality tv, it was a fantastic Tuesday.

Menu:

Shiitake Mushroom Spring Rolls (#191)

Rice Paper Spring Rolls (#192)

Salad with Carrot Ginger Dressing

So pretty

Making these rolls was so easy, - and they looked so pretty!  Moby got to meet Molly's dog Caroline, and that was fun, too.  Even though they basically spent the night politely ignoring one another, and competing for pets, scratches and other expressions of love.  It would be remiss if I didn't mention that Libby did so much of the work for this meal, and it was so fun to work with someone else in the kitchen in between wine and talk.  Certainly it was a night in which I was grateful to have such a wonderful roommate.  

Chef Libby

Molly letting us know we're on bottle...#2. 

A bit crispy, but not too shabby.

Night #2:  Beth came over for a midweek supper that falls into a category of meal-making that I absolutely love:  one dish.  Yes, friends, this meal is so easy and delicious, and it is baked in one dish.  Less clean up, more fun.

Menu:

Chicken with White Beans and Tomatoes (#193)

Step #1

Step #2

Step #3

As I often do, I thought some heat was needed, so a good dose of crushed red pepper (about 1 tsp.) did the trick.  This is an excellent meal to make a couple extra servings of for lunches in the days following dinner.

Ladies, thanks for being there.  I am always reminded of how good it is to have you after a meal together.  

107 to go...

Another year.

Happy New Year, dear friends.  I hope you rang in the new year exactly as you wished.  I had wished to get out to count down and cheers the new year at midnight after a perfectly delicious meal in DC with Schaeffer and his lovely (visiting) mother.  Most of that happened (the delicious meal part), but alas, midnight found me asleep on my pillow with my newest acquisition in my arms.  And, honestly, it turns out, that was exactly how I'd wished to ring in 2011, I just didn't know it until after the fact.  Meet Moby, my new dog.

Menu:

Tomato, Fennel, & Crab Soup (#188)

Crispy Garlic Bread (#189)

Salad with vinaigrette 

Growing up, my mother always made pork on New Year's Day.  Tradition has it to be good luck.  In fact, Epicurious explains this to come from pigs symbolizing progress.  Apparently pigs push into the ground to root themselves as they move forward.  Who knew?  This year, I scratched that tradition.  Luck had it that Schaeffer's sister, Meagan, and brother-in-law, Possum, (both pescetarians) were coming through DC for the day as they traveled home from New York City to Knoxville.  Schaeffer hosted everyone at his new apartment for New Year's Day dinner.  We went with crab and called it good luck!

The recipe was simple, and quite perfect.  Nearly perfect.  I thought it needed some heat, so I added a minced serrano chile.  Then it was perfect.


We ate dinner at Schaeffer's new apartment, and that was certainly a toast-able moment, with or without it being a new year.  I started this blog over a year ago in a different time and state of my life.  It has served me in several areas, some harder than others to express here.  But, trust that I am looking forward to cooking, sharing meals and tell you about them throughout the new year.  Along the way you may see a paw or two next to my feet. 

I think they liked it.

111 to go...


The next night I made up a couple crab cakes with the leftover crab.  Next to a salad is was yummy.  The table for two was also quite special.  


Menu:
Crabcakes (#190)
Simple salad with vinaigrette

sizzle sizzle.

I substitute an egg instead of mayonnaise to glue it all together, and it worked nicely. Oh, and I nixed the butter...sadly.


110 to go...