Monday, August 19, 2019

French Macarons 5.8.2019

MA France, 46 Massachusetts Ave, Lexington, MA

My favorite.  French Macarons. They had a heart shaped one that I really liked.  These are not made in house, but since MA france is waking distance from my house, it's so convenient when I need a real french macaron or other french fix.


Baby Eggplant 4.21.2019

I picked these up at the Haymarket outdoor market.  I roasted the halved pieces, then topped them with tomato salsa, pine nuts, goat cheese, and lime-tahini dressing.



I heart sashimi 4.21.2019

I'm a sake sashimi lover.  I had good luck at Wegmans and found this very fresh salmon.  I wouldn't pick up any sushi fish ready made like this normally, but noticed how fresh this looked and went for it.

It came in one whole piece, but sliced up was enough for a sake don and more!  All it needs is an edible flower and a bed of seasoned rice.





GF crepes 4.15.2019

Best GF crepes that only use 3 GF flours (white rice flour, potato starch, and tapioca) and no xanthan gum!  I used avocado oil instead of butter.

I really need to make a crepe cake next, for a decadent GF dessert.






I heart tacos 4.12.2019

Carrie Nation Cocktail Club, 11 Beacon St, Boston, MA 02108



Salad Niçoise 6.11.2019

Les Zygomates Wine Bar & Bistro, 129 South St, Boston, MA

I love this place.  It's like a hidden French treasure behind Chinatown.

This is the niçoise salad.  It's a little too fancy for me, I like the traditional version with canned tuna.  But I do love the perfectly cooked hard eggs and anchovy fillet.


Blue crabs 6.10.2019

L.P. Steamers, 1100 E Fort Ave, Baltimore, MD

Medium size crabs.  A lot of work, but super delicious.



Best ginger ice cream 6.8.2019

Blackwall Hitch, 700 E Pratt St, Baltimore, MD

Eat dessert first!  This ice cream really was the best.  Does food taste better when you're hungry?

House made ginger ice cream.  Looks simple, but oh so delicious.



Best Burger in Baltimore 6.7.2019

The Abbey Federal Hill, 1041 Marshall St, Baltimore, MD

The best burger in Baltimore, tucked away on a side street.  The servers were very helpful in describing to me how to pick out my burger.

I ordered a normal burger, with lettuce tomatoes and fries.



Best Hazelnut Gelato Ever 4.30.2019

Amorino Boston, 249 Newbury St, Boston, MA

For some reason, when I go here I have to get three different flavors in my small size cup.  But I know all I really want is the hazelnut gelato.  I couldn't resist trying the lychee and stracciatella, and a pistachio macaron.




Buttermilk & Bourbon 4.30.2019

Buttermilk & Bourbon, 160 Commonwealth Avenue, Boston, MA

Something about the atmosphere at this place makes me want to stay and dine for hours.  Buttermilk fried chicken and smothered corn were amazing.  So were the biscuits, but everything was a bit carb heavy for me.  Good for visiting once, but certainly a treat.



The fried chicken was so delicious, it was all gone before I could take a picture!

Infused Olive Oil 4.28.2019

Salt & Olive Market, 36 John F. Kennedy St, Cambridge, MA

I finally visited the new store location in the Garage.    I got a stomach ache after tasting the oils there, so I'm hesitant to taste again.  But I do love the Tuscan Herb Infused OO.  I bought a small bottle and drizzle it on salads, and especially like it on my mozzarella and tomato salad.


I can't seem to figure out how to pour from the bottle with out oil getting all down the sides of the bottle. 

EH Chocolatier 4.27.2019

EHChocolatier, 145 Huron Ave, Cambridge, MA

The most delicious chocolates in greater Boston! These chocolates are made with love.  There are so many delicious bon bons.


Bars are amazing!


Branzino 4.18.2019

Scampo, 215 Charles St, Boston, MA

Branzino for lunch with delicious sides.


Bao 4.1.2019

Tom's Bao Bao, 84 Winthrop St, Cambridge, MA

Two sweet bao bao, but a bit bready for me.  And I'm not a huge fan of red bean paste.




Sunday, August 18, 2019

Homemade chicken tacos 2.16.2019

I think I'm always in the mood for tacos.  I use Trader Joe corn tortillas (gluten-free).  They are topped with sliced grilled chicken, coleslaw (shredded cabbage, mayo, vinegar, dijon, S&P), cooked corn kernels, sauteed onion, chopped tomato, cilantro, and lime-tahini sauce (tahini, lime juice, dijon, salt, water).



Egg crepe 3.8.2019

La Madeleine Country French Cafe, The Galleria, Houston TX

This was a delicious egg crepe, served open-faced in a deep bowl.


Sparkling Water and a Macaroon 3.7.2019

This is Waterloo Sparkling Water that I bought at a Whole Foods in Houston.  Waterloo Sparkling Water is based in Austin TX.


Also, here's a yummy macaroon from a kiosk in the Galleria.


New England Clam Chowder 2.15.2019

Omni Parker House, The Last Hurrah, 60 School St, Boston, MA

This chowder was very thick and heavy.  I prefer a soup that is more liquid consistency.




Vegan Crispy Rice Hearts 2.14.2019

These crispy rice hearts are made with Dandies marshmallows.  They don't melt to as liquid of a consistency as regular marshmallows, which makes it difficult to stir in the crispy rice.

The flavor was delicious and I didn't notice any difference from the regular recipe.  The marshmallows also taste great straight out of the bag.  They also dried out very quickly.  The day after made (even wrapped) they were quite dry.  


Sake Don 2.14.2019

Sono Asian Cuisine, 471 Summer St, Arlington, MA

When this sushi place opened around the corner from where I lived, I waited about a year and a half before trying it out.  Because you know, new sushi place.  But since then it's become the place I get takeout sushi from most often.

Here's the Sake Don, which comes with miso soup and house salad (with that amazing ginger dressing).


They have amazing vegetarian meat substitutes (but not GF) that I will also often get.  I asked the staff and they told me the meat substitutes are soy-based.  Try General Gau's Chicken!

Perfect custard 2.10.2019

This is the custard that forms the bottom of a crème brûlée.   The bake was superb in this last batch and I forgot to take a picture until I was down to my last one (and had eaten half of it already)!

The recipe is paired down from Gisslen Professional Baking.    I heated the cream before adding to the eggs and baked in a bain marie.

I love this custard.  It has the silkiest, creamiest texture. Picture doesn't do it justice.


Scallops in butter sauce 2.9.2019

I love scallops.  These are in a butter sauce with lemon, white wine, and herbs.  I prefer a lemony butter sauce over a brown butter sauce. 

Next time, I'd like to get a better sear on the scallops.




Whiskey and Squash 2.8.2019

What do whiskey and squash have to do with each other?  Absolutely nothing!  But they spent time together on my kitchen table. 

I really love the Macallan.



Chocolates from Switzerland 1.17.2019

Swiss Bon Bons!  What more can a girl ask for...

First box



Second box





Burger at Flat Patties 1.16.2019

Flat Patties, 33 Brattle St, Cambridge, MA

Double cheeseburger and fries.  Classic.  Well made and cheap eats in Harvard Square.  No veggies here, definitely a treat!


Vegan salad at Whole Heart Provisions 1.15.2019

Whole Heart Provisions, 298 Massachusetts Ave, Cambridge, MA

I went to the WHP close to Central Square.  This is the Miso salad.



Chickpea Salad 1.13.2019

Mediterranean Chickpea Salad from Martha Stewart's Meatless

The recipe calls for sherry vinegar, which I replaced with red wine vinegar.  I used canned chickpeas and grated carrots.  The salad really soaked up the dressing (I wonder if this is due to the canned beans).

Here's the mise en place.



And the final salad.




Gluten Free Takeout Pizza

Stoked Wood Fired Pizza Co., 1632 Beacon St, Brookline, MA

This is mushroom and spinach pizza with gluten-free crust.  My favorite GF pizza in boston. I can eat the whole thing!


And it comes with crispy rice bites!


Office Holiday Party 1.11.2019

Wreath shaped crispy rice treats

Color the melted mashmallows with green food coloring.  Shape the rice krispie wreaths while still warm and sprinkle with red sprinkles.



Cheese Log with Dried Cranberries and Chopped Walnuts
Adapted from 5 Minutes for Mom



INGREDIENTS
Cheese Log
8 ounces cream cheese (softened)
4 ounces sharp white cheddar cheese (grated)
1/4 cup dried cranberries (roughly chopped)
1/4 cup toasted walnuts (roughly chopped)
1 green onion (finely sliced)
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
Coating
1 green onion (top only, finely sliced)
1/4 cup toasted walnuts (finely chopped)
1/4 cup dried cranberries (roughly chopped)
INSTRUCTIONS
Add the cream cheese, cheddar, cranberries, walnuts, green onion, salt, and pepper to a large bowl. Mix until well combined.
Form cream cheese mixture into a log shape, wrapped in plastic wrap, and place in the refrigerator.
To make the coating, spread the green onions, walnuts, and cranberries on a large plate.
Remove the cheese log from the refrigerator, and pick it up with your hands. Place it directly on the plate with the coating, and roll it to coat all sides. Most of the topping will stick immediately, but you can use your hands to press on any that falls off, filling in the bare spots. Store wrapped in the fridge.
Sprinkle additional cranberries, walnuts, and green onions around the platter for garnish.
Serve with gluten free crackers, or sturdy veggies (like carrots and celery).