Shrimp Biryani

Check out the Blah Blah Birds for my post on this delicious dinner meal.  Simple, quick and flavorful.  

You and your family won't want to miss this!

Click here for the recipe!

Summer Sandwich

A yummy Summer Sandwich

Head on over here for the simple recipe.  And while you're there, don't forget to share it with everyone,  "follow" us, bookmark it to stay updated on all the latest goodies.

Hope you enjoy.

I'm still Alive...

and still cooking!!!  

I know it has been a while. Almost a year to be exact. But I'm coming back in a brand new style. A fab new collaboration with my dear friends, J.P Archie and Toni.  

Head on over to Our new blog, Blah Blah Birds and see what we have in store.  Style, fashion, travel and of course more yummy food.  Here's a little preview of what you can expect:

guacamole & pico de gallo; stovetop popcorn w/ za'tar; 

chocolate chip cookie dough, sauteed asparagus w/ poached egg 

black bean & tomatillo tostado; green monster smoothie

spinach and feta risotto; fruit & cheese plate

Don't forget to sign up and follow along while you're over there.  We are too excited and look forward to sharing more with you.

End of Summer

Where oh where did the summer go?? We experienced low 70 degree weather with clouds and rain the day after Labor day.  It was like the switch was flipped to coincide with the last official weekend of the summer which announced that Fall was upon us, ready or not!

I've been a little M.I.A around here the past month or so but I have enjoyed the long days of summer. I've done a lot of reading.

I read this, this, this, this and this.

I told you I've been doing a lot of reading.  But to be fair this was over the entire summer, not just August.

I've also been playing tennis.  I was on two teams this summer and both of them went to the playoffs.  Even better than that, my woman's team won the city championship game.  We are CHAMPS!!!  We get to go to state playoffs next but for whatever reason that is not scheduled until May 2012.  Oh well.  That just gives us that much more time to practice and advance even further.

That's me on the left in the blue holding our metal bag tag. Those bag tags are coveted :)

Mr. Foodie and I went to Chicago for a quick visit (for me 36 hours to be exact) for my MIL's bday.  I really do enjoy Chicago in the summertime when the weather is nice, everyone is outdoors and the people are super friendly.  It is such a great city with delicious restaurants.  I feel obligated to show you a few pics of some tasty dishes we had.

Fried Bacon at Wiener and Still Champion

No pic of the chicken because it was devoured but a must have neighborhood staple for delicious fried chicken

Where we took my MIL for her birthday brunch. The best brunch I've ever had

Shrimp, Avocado & Feta cheese eggs benedict with an AMAZING sauce

Red Velvet Pancake...TO.DIE.FOR

great family times with the niece and MIL

And even though I should maybe be ashamed for sharing this as a 34 y/o woman, I indulged in 4 slurpees from 7Eleven during my 36 hour visit.  I know, crazy. But I love them!  A die hard fan since elementary school and we don't have 7Eleven's in Atlanta so I get them whenever I can.

Of course, some things have stayed the same.  Still browsed the blogs for inspiration and created meals for the husband.  Amongst all that I have discovered my new favorite cocktail to make at home (post coming tomorrow).  Bought some fresh corn and made this (thanks jiggy) and this.  Both fantastic. Fresh corn has been so sweet this summer that I just bought a few more ears to shuck and freeze for some winter soups and chowder.

Confetti Corn

Funny story to go along with my incessant blog browsing.  I saw these cute salt and pepper dishes on Heather's blog.

They looked kind of familiar. I did a quick search on Etsy and found them here.  Ordered them and they were in my kitchen a week later.

Mr. Foodie: So where did you get these?
Me: I ordered them
Mr. Foodie: Why?
Me: Because they're cute.  See! It says salt and pepper
Mr. Foodie: I can look at it and see that one is salt and one is pepper. I don't need to read it.  You could have put these in one of those little white dishes you have so many of (he's referring to my mini ramekins).  You probably just saw these on some blog and felt like you needed to have them.

It's so great that my husband knows me so well and that I can just laugh at his sarcasm.

It's also a good thing that I am in charge of home decor!

STAPLEHOUSE: take 2

If I was thinking properly, I would have played the lottery last Thursday since I had such winning luck.  But honestly, I was perfectly content with scoring two reservations for last weekends Staplehouse dinner.  If you recall, I wrote a post here about my first visit to Staplehouse and how achieving a reservation is literally about who can respond to their invitations the fastest.

Well last Thursday I responded pretty quickly.  So fast in fact, Jen (the chef's wife), was shocked when I replied asking for a reservation since she hadn't even sent out the invitation yet.  I can't reveal my secrets of how I knew so quickly 1.) so then maybe it will work for me again 2.) because there really was no method. Just the right place, right time and extreme luck!

When I added Staplehouse dinner to our weekend agenda, the husband was impressed and looking forward to it, but after first eagerly reminding me that I am obsessed.  He didn't tell me anything I didn't already know. Once you get a look at the photos below (cellphone quality but still mouthwatering) you will get an idea of why.

Menu

First Course

The fruit salad was delightful.  Cantaloupe, prosciutto, figs, blueberries, Parmesan cheese and purple basil. I've never seen purple basil and I would have never thought of this combo.  But a forkful of the basil, blueberry and prosciutto was so flavorful, I helped myself to the remnants of the husbands plate since he doesn't eat pork.

Second Course

Next up was the Staplehouse version of a grilled cheese...with peaches!! Whole grain mustard and Peaches! The lightly buttered bread, creamy soft cheese and fresh peaches was an excellent balance of the different flavors.

Third Course

After 1/2 a sandwich, I could feel my little tummy expanding but my taste buds were alive with anticipation.  Carbonara with housemade pasta and big, meaty chantrelle mushrooms.  I love homemade pasta although I have never attempted it in my kitchen.  It needs to be my next mission because I can definitely taste the difference. Although there were many bites of flavors I enjoyed throughout the meal, this was my favorite course.  You can't blame a girl for loving good pasta.

Fourth Course

Technically, the fourth course was the "main" course. Duck meatballs served on a bed of lentils with housemade tomato marmalade. They served this dish during a previous dinner so I had seen a picture of this dish on the website and thought it looked appetizing.  Looks didn't disappoint.  The marmalade was spectacular.  Spicy and sweet and beautifully paired with the meatballs.  An extremely close runner up to my favorite course of the evening.

Fifth Course

And last but certainly not least, Mr. Foodie's favorite course, the dessert.  Shortbread cookies with chocolate ganache drizzled with salted caramel sauce, pecans and sea salt. The chocolate was a little much for me but the cookie and the caramel were divine.  We were served such a huge portions that we were able to take the leftovers home.  The husband devoured some that night and the remaining cookies Monday morning.  He has declared this the best dessert he has ever had.  And has assigned me the task of learning how to make it.
 
But I think I will leave that up to Staplehouse.  Ryan and Jen are doing such a fantastic job as is.

Follow them here to try and get in on one of these dinners. They also have some better pics of the food
Oh and stay tuned for the opening of their restaurant!