29 April 2007

Hola mis amigas y amigos!

For tonight's Sunday supper, I ventured to ole' Mexico for some fresh and spicy summer sensations. Don't you just love alliteration? Seriously. Even though I am too gay to grill, I managed to do the chicken thighs pretty right, but I should have listened to Lori about my grill always being too hot! The Chicken with Escabeche Sauce recipe is from one of my favorite Mexican chefs, Rick Bayless in Chicago. He has two amazing Mexican restaurants, Topolobampo and the more casual Frontera Grill. The rocking Guacamole recipe is from Rosa Mexicano in New York, and now Atlanta. It is one of Jim and I's favorite restaurants in NYC. We always order the chicken in molé sauce, an earthy yet divine, combination of peppers, spices and Mexican chocolate! Yes, it is unusual, but amazing. You either love it or hate it. I CRAVE it constantly. Every time we order it, they ask "have you ever had molé sauce?" We must look like a couple of gringos who have never been out of Georgia! I spent an entire weekend making molé sauce a year or so ago. It was very therapeutic, but I used some of the water from the pot where I rehydrated the dried peppers because it was such an interesting color, but it made the sauce to bitter. Not bad for a first effort however. So here are some photos from tonight's south of the border comfort food. We are having rice krispy treats for dessert because there is a new episode of Brothers & Sisters on tonight!

Adios,

Bill

The menu:

• Grilled Chicken in Escabeche Sauce - adorned with pickled red onions
• Grilled Fava Beans with Chile and Lemon
• Rosa Mexicano's Rocking Guacamole
• Nora Walker's Rice Krispy Treats

22 April 2007

Well, I can not take credit for tonight's gourmet meal! Jim and I went to Chattanooga yesterday for the 4 Bridges Art Festival. Our colleague, Matt DeFrain, was showing some great new work there! We spent the night in Chattanooga with Matt and his fiancé Millie, and went out on the town! We ended the evening at our favorite joint, Lamar's Motel and Lounge, where we had some killer fried chicken around 1 am...

Today when we got back home to Canton, we had an emergency meeting for the Historic Canton Homeowners Association. We are filing a lawsuit tomorrow on the East Main Street zoning battle! So tonight, I had no time to cook, but we needed some comfort food! We wound up at one of our favorite spots, Jiffy Freeze! Yes, it is an old drive in diner, and they still come to your car, or picnic table, and take your order! They have great fries and milkshakes. Well, the milkshake machine has been broken the last few times we were there, so we let the waiter know how upset we were about this ongoing saga! The owner is afraid that she won't be able to "pay-off" a new machine before she dies, so there you go...

We ordered shakes anyway in protest, and would you believe the little ladies working in the kitchen made us both milkshakes by hand? Way! The actually hand whipped the shakes, and they were fantastic! Just what we needed after a zoning meeting where we discussed the continuing demise of our local culture and small town character! Thank you Jiffy Freeze ladies!!! You ROCK! All is well in the world, today...

Here are a few photos from our excursion, and here is what we ordered:

Jim:

• Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Lettuce, Mustard and Pickles
• Fries
• Diet Coke
• Vanilla Shake

Bill:

• BBQ Pork Sandwich with Pickles
• Fries
• Sweet Tea
• Chocolate Shake

15 April 2007

Jim's sister, Monna, is visiting for a couple of days, so I made a semi-healthy dinner tonight. Well, at least for the main course!

The Menu:

• Fresh line-caught Halibut poached in a Thai coconut curry sauce served over rice with baby Shanghai bok choy

• Organic thin pear tart with cream cheese crust served with organic Ben & Jerry's vanilla ice cream

08 April 2007 - Easter

Last Sunday, we were in Puerto Rico. Today is Easter Sunday, but it was colder today than Christmas! Last night, we visited our friends Steve and Amado in Blue Ridge. We had a great time but slightly over did it! I leave for LA tomorrow morning for a photoshoot for our client, Geiger. So, tonight called for comfort food! Plus, I needed to cook something that Jim can reheat this week so he won't starve while I am away...


The menu:

• Chilled Iceburg Wedges with Simple Vinagrette

• Chicken Pot Pie with Biscuit Crust

• Rice Krispy Treats (Jim's favorite!)

Cheers!