Friday Fives 5/23/14

I had this post all ready yesterday, but never got a chance to post it. So here are a few of my favorite things from this past week…

Chilaquiles- I love to try different versions of this yummy mexican brunch dish. This was made with green chilies, jalapenos, grilled chunks of chicken, tortilla chips, jack cheese, topped with sunny side up eggs, and avocado. Would have been even better with a spicy bloody mary!
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Talenti- My new favorite frozen treats! I have had a few kinds in the past and LOVED them!This past week I got the roman raspberry sorbetto. This week, I am trying the mango sorbetto and the black cherry gelato.
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I like the red ones the best.
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Hot dog night!
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Date Night- Sushi!
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Malbec- This one caught my eye, because my girls are obsessed with Elsa from Frozen. It was yummy!005

Farmer’s Markets… I went this morning and got a bunch of treats! I have thinking about radishes for a while, so when I saw some this morning, I knew I had to snatch them up! One of my favorite combos is salted butter and radishes. I love making butter and radish sandwiches
during the summer! 008

Beet and Rainbow Chard Pasta

Who doesn’t love a good farmer’s market? We have one that opens up a couple of times a week in the early summer to early fall. It is great! They have a variety of veggies, fruits, breads, honey, etc. Every Sat. morning and Tuesday evening I look forward to seeing what yummy things the farmers have grown. There is this one lady that I always go to. She even remembers me and gives me a few things for free. Last year, she would throw in a couple extra red potatoes, a bulb of garlic, or some other fresh home grown goodness. This Sat. she gave me some extra peas and a wilting head of lettuce =) It was still tasty as a fresh salad with tomatoes and homemade honey mustard dressing for a side. I always go through the market first. I see what each vendor has. Then I go back through again and buy some of my faves. I went back to my lady and bought beets, rainbow chard, and green pod peas. Can’t wait until next week!

p.s This was a mommy meal. My husband was at hockey and the girls gobbled up Sloppy Joes, peas (that they helped shell), and some cheesy pasta. 003

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Beet and Rainbow Chard Pasta

Ingredients
3 beets- bulb and greens- I had 1 white and 2 zebra striped (red and white mixed)
bunch of rainbow chard (or regular chard would be fine)
2 cloves of garlic, minced
2 servings of angel hair (leftover from last night’s scallop dish)
olive oil
Salt and pepper
a dash of red pepper flakes for a kick

Directions

Wash your beets and greens VERY thoroughly! The first time I made some greens from my farmer’s market I ended up tasting more dirt than expected. A little dirt won’t hurt you, but it does take away from the deliciousness of the dish. The farm to table movement should include less of the dirt from the farm. =)

Take the bulbs of beets and put lots of olive oil, salt, and pepper on them. Wrap them in aluminum foil and cook until tender at 500. It takes a good 30 minutes, maybe more.

Separate the leaves of the beets greens and red stalk. DON’T throw them away! They are delicious!!!
Separate the leaves of the rainbow chard form the stalk. Cut up the stalks of the chard.
Heat 3 tablespoons of olive in a large pot- I used my dutch oven
Add half of the green leaves. Cook them down for a few minutes. Add the rest. Add salt and pepper. Mix and cook until wilted. Take them out and add your chopped stalks. Put in a bit more oil and salt and pepper. Mix and cover. I cooked it down for about 15 minutes.

During this time, your beets should be almost done. When they are, carefully peel them and slice them in thin pieces. stack them up and slice them again.

I had some leftover pasta from last night, so I mixed it with all the greens. I added a tad bit more olive oil, lemon juice, and mixed well. Then I added my sliced beets on top! Add some parmesan cheese and a glass of Rose! Perfection! 006

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Seared Scallops with Garlic Brown Butter on Angel Hair

Epic cooking night, ya’ll. I love scallops. I mean, I really love them. Whenever we go to a restaurant that has a scallop dish, I usually order it. They usually serve you like 3 huge sea scallops and the dish is at least $20. I went to Whole Foods today and got 10 scallops for about $19. That may seem like a steep price, and it is, but much cheaper than eating out at a fancy restaurant.

It may seem scary to cook seafood at home. People who I have talked to about it are scared. It is not hard, I promise! I have cooked a lot of seafood on this blog; salmon, tilapia, shrimp, mussels… I think it is about time for more. I present to you my Seared Scallops with Garlic Brown Butter on Angel Hair.

Seared Scallops with Garlic Brown Butter on Angel Hair (serves 2)

Ingredients

1 shallot, chopped
3 large cloves of garlic
1/2 stick of butter
1/2 container of cavatelli (angel hair)
1/2 cup of white wine (I used a lovely Chardonnay)

Directions
Boil water with lots of salt.
Heat pan to EXTREME HEAT!!!!
Pat scallops dry and season with salt and pepper.
Put in pasta.
Brown 1/2 stick of butter.
Put in scallops on first side for 2 minutes. Stir pasta.
Turn scallops over and cook for 2 more minute. They should be perfectly seared on both sides. Take them out and put them on a plate.
Add shallots and garlic. Add wine. Mix well and cook down for a minute or so. Add the pasta. Mix well. Plate and add scallops on top. Serve with a side veggie.
Enjoy!

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Meal Plan 5/17/14

LAST WEEK OF SCHOOL!!!! So excited! This may be my last meal plan for the summer. In the summer it is all about laid back, cooking on the fly, eating out of my garden, and shopping at the local farmer’s market for fresh ingredients kind of planning. Everything is more chill, so I don’t need to go to the store and get everything in one or two trips. I can go when I want and need to. We sleep in, hang out by the pool, play in the sprinklers, eat popsicles for breakfast, watch too much TV, and pretty much have ZERO plans. It is so awesome! Summer is my favorite season! Hope you guys get to spend time with family, relax, and eat some amazing food!

Sat- Date Night Meal- Seared Scallops with angel hair pasta

The girls are spending the night with my parents tonight, so I splurged at Whole Foods and bought some beautiful sea scallops to make for dinner. I also got some peas at the farmer’s market today, so I may incorporate them in the pasta.

Sun- Sloppy Joes
Something kind of like this…
https://funfoodiefamily.com/2014/04/13/pimento-cheese-sloppy-joes/004

Mon- Hot Dogs, baked beans, and macaroni and cheese
Tuesday- Sesame Teriyaki Pork Tenderloin, Roasted Corn, Rice
https://funfoodiefamily.com/2013/12/02/sesame-teriyaki-marinade/
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Wed- Katie’s Graduation…I am thinking Chinese takeout afterwards…

Thursday- Chicken Montery- Recipe to come…

Friday- Last day of school for Mama!!!!! Girls are going to grandparents, and I am having a Games of Thrones marathon. I might ingest lots of pizza, beer, and sour patch kids.