The Sides of Patriotism

As much as I love playing the hostess with the most-est, I really enjoy playing the guest and getting the invitation to see what other people serve on special occasions. This July 4th was no different; I was invited to Yonkers by a good friend of mine for a patriotic picnic.

I was incredibly inspired by her attention to detail: from providing goodie bags for the children filled with activities (so their parents could socialize with the "grown-ups") to her red, white, and blue dessert (see the picture! It was delicious!). And I was also floored by her choice of sides. She had the BBQ staples lined up on the table–potato salad, tossed salad, chips and dip– but cushioned in between were some surprises I was dying to try.

These dishes have inspired me to compile a new kind of post you'll see: the winning dishes served to me at various dinners and events. This July 4th was a two-dish tie between Jen's Minty Melon Balls and Rich's BLT Pasta Salad.

I don't have the complete measurements on the dishes because they were both made to the amount of people you will be serving, but you can most definitely estimate! If you need help, give me a shout!

Jen's Minty Melon Balls:
Watermelon
Cantaloupe
Fresh Mint Leaves, chopped
Fresh Basil Leaves, chopped

*Special Note: This was a juicy alternative to the heat and the most interesting flavor combo option.

Rich's BLT Pasta Salad:
Elbow Pasta
Red Pepper, chopped
Yellow Pepper, chopped
Mayonnaise
Onion, chopped
Carrots, shredded
Bacon, chopped
Hard Boiled Egg, chopped

*The Secret is in the Sauce: Rich reduces the amount of mayo he uses, and substitutes ranch dressing!

A Pretty Sweet Deal!

It’s been hot here. Hot and humid. And in the city, it’s worse. The heat from the cars leaves me feeling sticky with urban film. YUCK!

My one saving grace is the McDonalds down the block. I can hear all you reprimanding me now¬¬- it’s not great food and it’s certainly not good for me. But I’m not going in for fries and nuggets. It’s the iced tea I’m after!

I don’t know if it’s the sweet deal or the sweet taste that keeps me feeling refreshed, but it’s working. For the very low price of $1 (plus tax), you get a bucket’o’tea, sweetened with sugar and served with a slice of lemon. It’s a sure bet on a humid day!

Dog Wars

Preface: It's no secret I'm partial to my hometown, Syracuse, NY. It doesn't compare to where I'm living now, but there's always going to be that part of me that will defend the 'Cuse until the end. But I honestly put all hometown pride aside when I took my first bite of a Nathan's hot dog.

Yesterday I had the opportunity to travel down to Brooklyn for an event my company is planning with the Brooklyn Cyclones. Just a hop, skip, and a jump away from their field is Coney Island, and within spitting distance of that is the original Nathan's hot dog stand.

Everyone who knew I was going down for the visit told me I couldn't go to BK without going to Nathan's. So I couldn't really resist.

(Read preface again here!) 

I was really disappointed. Instead of biting into a hot dog, I felt like I was eating a heavy beef sausage. And on top of that, the sauerkraut  drowning my dog was stringy and tasteless at best. I really, truly wanted the hot dog to be great. My hometown favorite hot dog, made by Hofmann's, is really tough to get down here (unless I place an order with my parents...). 

I can already count the e-mails and posts I'll get from this. And I understand- it's the hometown pride talking. But trust me: try a Hofmann, and you'll be singing a different tune! 

Dinner's on the Table

My obsession with food started years ago, one evening when my mom was working late. She never really enjoyed cooking-well, until recently- so the pantry was always stocked with the beginners’ basics: Hamburger Helper, dry spaghetti, and pasta sauce. I decided to cook her dinner, mainly because I felt she would enjoy coming home to a hot meal as much as I did. It all started with a box of Velveeta Macaroni and Cheese.

I don't know if it was the expression of gratitude and surprise on her face, or the joy of boiling water, but I was hooked. I cooked dinner from then on. I picked up what I could from cookbooks, and entered an "experimental" phase. I created a lot of stir-fries, smelling the dry herbs to figure out what went with different vegetables and meats. Some of my meals were complete flops (I could always tell by the look on my mom's face as she tried to swallow my f ailed attempt!). But some of the meals turned out to be delicious repeaters.
Tonight, I returned to my culinary roots, cooking up a hot meal for myself after a long day. I recently saw a recipe for Thai Peanut Chicken, and decided to modify it for what I had in the fridge:

Beef and String Bean Stir-Fry
Ingredients:

1 8 oz. steak, cut in thin strips
3/4 lb. green beans, cut into thirds
1/2 c. chopped onion
3 cloves of garlic, minced
1 carrot, sliced into thin strips
1/2 c. bean sprouts
2 tsp. pepper
1 1/2 tbsp. peanut butter
2 tbsp. vegetable oil
2 tsp. honey
3 tbsp. soy sauce (I prefer the reduced sodium)

1. Heat the oil in a skillet or wok over medium heat. Add the green beans, onion, garlic, and carrots. Sauté until the onions are transparent.
2. Add the steak, pepper, peanut butter, honey, and soy sauce. Mix the entire contents well so the peanut butter melts, covers the vegetables, and thickens the sauce.
3. After the steak is cooked thoroughly, add the bean sprouts. Serve!

I opted not to eat this quick and easy meal without rice or noodles, but you could certainly add them to the dish. If you're not a fan of red meat, chicken would most certainly work in this meal. Other veggies to add: snow peas, broccoli, or mushrooms would be great substitutes!

Joe's Italian Deli

This weekend, I decided to take advantage of the amazing weather we've been having, and plan to do something outside. My original plan was to visit one of the farmers' markets in my area, pack a picnic lunch with my delicious goodies, and take a nice hike in Bear Mountain. My plans changed; instead I took a jaunt down to the Bronx to check out the new Madagascar exhibit at the Bronx Zoo.

I still wanted to "picnic" out, so my boyfriend and I stopped at Joe's Italian Deli in the Arthur Avenue area of the Bronx to pick up some sandwiches made with their fresh (made daily!) mozzarella. We asked Anthony, who was working the deli counter, to surprise us with his best. 

We left with our sandwiches wrapped tightly, mouths watering. We couldn't wait to get to the zoo and taste the sandwiches. We barely went through one exhibit, found some benches in the shade, and unwrapped our goodies.

Anthony most definitely delivered. The smell of the fresh Italian bread hit me first. The mozzarella spilled out the sides, along with shaved slices of Prosciutto, marinated mushrooms, and roasted red peppers. It hit the spot for a perfect picnic lunch!

• Joe's Italian Deli; 685 E. 187th Street; Bronx, NY; 718-367-7979

• The Bronx Zoo

Katie Eats A Lot: Revised and Revamped

To get things off on a true culinary note, I'll pass the dish to the experts: the chefs from the Culinary Institute of America. Sign up for the new online version of Taste, an e-newsletter chock full of information, classes, and some mighty tasty recipes. I'm dying to play hostess, just so I can try the perfect pairing of salty and sweet: Prosciutto and Melon Canapé (page 7).

Here's the link to the current issue of Taste, and click here to sign up for the e-mail version.

Cover courtesy the Culinary Institute of America