24th Birthday Bash Menu: Pulled Pork and Brownies

One of the birthday gifts in our house is being able to choose the menu for your celebration dinner.  For me, as cook, this is one of my favorite ways to show my love for the birthday person in my life.  Having a love for preparing food makes it a win-win for me.

This year, Ken requested pulled pork so to begin, I salt and pepper the pork and cook it low and slow in my magical red pot (a classic Dutch oven).

Hours of cooking later, the meat is allowed to cool before it is pulled with 2 forks on the cutting board.  My preference is to simply eat the meat dry mixed in with some well seasoned rice.

However, the birthday request is for sandwiches and so the pork is slowly simmered in a mixture of his favorite sauce (Sweet Baby Ray's) with a few splashes of chicken broth to loosen things up a bit.

In addition to a tossed salad, a huge pot of sweet corn on the cob is served.

Though many stories were told and shared, I may always remember learning that when my brother-in-law was growing up he used his mother's cruet set to play Priest.  So original and unexpected!

After dinner my sons played catch outside for a little while with their young cousins while the kitchen was cleaned up and the birthday brownies were prepared (cut up) for serving and a few candles were strategically placed in Ken's.  An original rendition of Happy Birthday was sung, complete with musical instrument impersonations, and once the wish was made and flames blown out, the brownies were served with a choice of mint chocolate chip or vanilla ice cream.

Which do you think the birthday guy chose?

Fed Well, he seemed to have a more than 24 reasons to be happy and celebrate.

Not just any pizza - Kinchley's!

The Friday Co-Worker lunch typically involves myself and two of my favorite work buddies.  We usually alternate between the Chinese and Mexican restaurants, but I suggested we branch out. 

Kinchley's Pizza

no website available but a link to the menu

( http://www.allmenus.com/nj/ramsey/15343-kinchleys-tavern-inc/menu/)

is normally reserved for special occasions at work, but who doesn't want to simply celebrate Friday?  A work week has ended and the weekend is about to unfold.  A frosty cola to start the festivities.  I love the retro style glass and am reminded of a childhood visit to a diner... ah, but I digress.

What to have on our tissue thin pizzas?  How many pizzas will we need?  We consult with the waitress who recommends one large and one small for our threesome.  We talk over toppings and decide on the vegetarian as our small and plain cheese for the large.

I love the somehow traditional feel of the place.  The red and white checkered table cloth.  The silver pizza stands.  Even the dark wooden booths add to the ambiance.  It is easily evident that one is in a pizza joint and shouldn't even think about ordering a burger (though I've never had one there - maybe they are awesome).

We talk about work and weekend plans and quite a bit of time is given to simply paying compliments to the delicious and fairly ridiculously thin crust pizza.  One of us briefly debates if the slices should be eaten by hand or sliced up with a knife and fork.  We quickly agree they should be eaten by hand and I am reminded of a story from the past. 

Our school took an 8th grade 4 day field trip to Washington, DC.  Part of the experience was a sort-of, semi-formal, well honestly boys just asked girls to sit with them, dinner.  Nerves were stretched thin and hearts pounded.  I never thought about the food until we received plates of fried chicken.  Really?  Were we really going to cut it up with knives and try to be civilized?  Well, for the first few minutes until one brave soul confessed they always ate fried chicken with their hands and the rest of us felt comfortable enough even in our Sunday best to follow the casual diner's lead.

Feeling Fed Well, we went back to work and though we always hope we stretch our hour on Friday's, we often find we are back at our desks within a too reasonable amount of time and watch for the click to tick to weekend o'clock.

Gifts from the Garden - a Super Tuesday!

My sister has the most beautiful garden and yes, I am openly jealous.  I know it is a lot of work and maintenance, but it is simply wonderful to look at as well as enjoy the bounty it provides.  It is even more joyous when I receive wonderful food gifts; both prepared and raw from my sister and her family.

The homemade, award worthy, bruschetta is my sister's specialty and was given with a loaf of French bread.  The zucchini bread was made by my younger nephew with pride and we decided to try it topped with the bruschetta as well with the theory that tomatoes and zucchini are a natural pairing.

Fresh zucchini were a lovely gift as well as a bag of fresh beans.  I remember when growing up we used to have a family garden and I would eat the beans raw while I was supposed to be picking.  The snap and something about eating fresh veggies under the sun...

All of the offerings are and were so appreciated.  They were perfect accompaniments to simply grilled chicken breasts and a red potato salad and cucumber salad, fresh corn on the cob, and for me a section of sweet potato I had been craving.

Here's how it looked for Ken -

and my plate before the ear of corn -

And what did I do with my bags of tomatoes you may wonder?  As I write this post they are simmering into sauce after being blanched, peeled then pureed with the immersion blender.  Meatballs are also in the pot and after grilling later, sausage will be added as well.  A two meal food experience and memories from these fabulous gifts from the garden.

Fed Well with freshness, food gifts, a visit and hugs on a plate.   Sometimes the hardest part is finding new ways to say Thank You!  Maybe tradition is best - Thank you for making sure my family and I are Fed Well from the inside out.

Racino Buffet with Mommy!

While going through a personal crisis I have lost about 12 pounds unintentionally.  I know, I know, some women are thinking they would love to have this problem, but trust me - you wouldn't. 

During times of trouble we reach out to friends and family and so I called my Mommy to see if she wanted to meet for a bite to eat and a bit of "gaming" at the local Racino (http://www.monticellocasinoandraceway.com/)

First, we will try the buffet because after all, who can gamble on an empty stomach!  At first I worry I won't like anything, but then I decide on a plate of may favorites; white, starchy carbs!  Garlic mashed potatoes and penne pasta topped with red clam sauce, a slice of chicken marsala for the taste and a splash of protein.  Buffet or not, it feels fairly rich and decadent and compared to the portions I have been eating, it feels like I have bellied up directly to the silver chafing dishes.  This meal is not about physical health, it is about comfort, healing and hoping to hit it big,

Mommy has a slice of the roast pork, the potatoes bathed in gravy and a sample of chicken marsala and wait, what is that I see on the edge?? Salad??  Who would have thought?

Yes, I monopolize the conversation.  Can't help it.  I pause long enough to ask about her personal computer repairs (not going well - Best Buy will in no way ever be endorsed by my mother) and of course her opinion on whatever it is I am sharing with the hopes she will certainly agree with me and validate all of my crummy thoughts and feelings.  It's part of the job description of a mother.  I believe I have read it myself in the handbook.

Dessert?  Why, of course.  While I am indulging, I should experience everything.  I actually first looked through the sugar free offerings.  No idea why.  I selected this slice of cheesecake with a carrot cake crumb topping.

Now, for the news you have all been waiting for... how much did we win?

Not a single dime. 

But an evening meal with my Mommy certainly gives many reasons to feel Fed Well.

Sweet Treat from my love, Lucy!

One of the best feelings in the world after an hour and ten minute commute home on a summer Friday is stopping to get the mail and seeing a package that is for you!  THIS NEVER HAPPENS - well, until now.

I peel open the outer envelope and know I need my cell phone to photograph this momentous event.  I already know who it is from and am super-dee-duper excited!!!!

A lumpy envelope!?  What could be inside???  It is early for my birthday, but anything could happen...

Oooh, it's going to be funny and I am positive it will have confetti or glitter or something inside so I carefully lay it down on the table before opening.

Yes, I am definitely feeling like throwing those damn lemons back at life.  Bully!

Mailbox love!  What could be better?  A mini-teddy bear and ...

a dark chocolate candy bar!  What woman doesn't want to be thought of, receive a mystery package, a motivational/funny card AND chocolate! 

Although the card was signed "Lucy" (I'm Ethel) - I know who loves me and wants to ensure that I am Fed Well!  Life wouldn't dare throw a lemon over here.  Thank you my friend -

I Love Lucy!

As Sunday Dinner Morphs...

Growing up, Sunday Dinner meant my grandparents came over and my grandmother would bring a bag of goodies including coupons and a Pepperidge Farm cake.

On a recent Sunday, my younger son and I joined my sister, her family and my mother at my sister's house for a wonderful Sunday supper.  Toasted bread rounds with a coating of olive oil were the base for...

homemade Bruschetta using the freshest of vine ripened, organic tomatoes, straight from her garden!

 

An additional appetizer included a cheese plate including port wine and muenster...

which I enjoyed on crackers along with my Bruschetta!

A beautiful main course rested on the island before being carved and was not shy in the least in having a mini photo shoot for the blog.  The chicken was roasted beer can style - succulent meat with a crispy and seasoned skin made everyone drool just a bit.

A fresh and satisfying Sunday meal also includes baked potatoes (though not from the garden, they are not from a bag or a box) and super snappy green beans.

While dessert was not photographed, homemade brownies and a cheesecake were luscious endings for a satisfying Sunday gathering.

The best part of this Fed Well meal?  In the style of a David Letterman Top 10 - ok, 3 - list:

#3  Fresh Bruschetta

#2  Roast Chicken

and the # 1 best part:

Being with family who love you and want to share a wonderful meal in your company.

Feeling the love...

Tomato as Symbol

Symbolism in food - Adam and Eve along with Snow White come to mind immediately along with an image of a highly polished, red, ripe apple.  While the literary and social references to individual foods are arguably endless, I am experiencing one of my own this growing season and it is not all pleasant, but rather reflective of life.

In May, on the day before renewing my 25 year wedding vows, my estranged husband took it upon himself to weed one of my flower gardens though I had quite explicitly requested he leave it alone and assured him I would take care of it if it bothered him.  The gardens were my project - or so I thought.  He persisted and proceeded to "weed" numerous perennial flowers.  Plants that I enjoyed for years, he thought were weeds and simply removed them and threw them in the woods.  Our son made a reference to the argument in his toast to us and people laughed.

The following week we celebrated Mother's Day and along with some flowers, I bought my Mommy a few tomato plants and kept 3 for myself.  My estranged husband planted them in the garden in place of the missing flowers.  We had a second argument when I stated the plants were too close together.  The marriage appears to be over and I watch the plants bloom flowers that magically turn into tomatoes. 

The weight of the growing fruit pulls the branches down and a recent storm blew the thin metal supports over.  I told my older son the plants need wooden stakes driven into the ground but that I had no wood.  He said he would find me some.  Within minutes he had the circular saw out and shaped scrap wood into stakes while I retrieved twine and supported the heavy plants as best I could.

I daydream about these plants and the food they produce;  how will I eat the tomatoes, who will I share them with and what will life look like on that day?  Simple food, grown from the earth, tended to by family - basic and purely Fed Well.