***Thank you so much for your patience.  I’m back and I finally have pictures (and boy, do I have pictures!).  Did you miss me?***

Do you have anyone in your life that is tough to shop for?  Someone who has impeccable taste and great style and has one (or more) of just about everything and anything? A person who is so beautiful that nothing you buy her will compare to her beauty? But this human being is very near and dear to your heart and you love her so much that you want to give her something but you just don’t know what?  Well, ladies and gents, let me introduce you to that person.  That person in my life is Mother Healthy Chow (or MHC for short).

As you might have read from my posts a couple of weeks ago, MHC recently had her birthday.  She turned 39 (*ahem-ahem, cough, cough*) and doesn’t look a day older 25.  Being the good daughters that we are, Michelle and I wanted to get a nice gift for MHC.  But we just didn’t know what?  The woman has too much a lot of clothes, more handbags than she ever can carry, fanciful jewelry, mucho make-up, a collection of shoes that can rival Imelda’s or Mariah’s and two amazing daughters (*pats herself on the back*).  What more could she want or need?

Can’t get enough of this pic!

However, even if a person has just about everything, the person’s gotta eat.  So, instead of taking MHC to the latest and greatest resto in the Boston area, we decided to shake-n-bake things up a bit and do something we haven’t done in awhile and should do more often.  Michelle and I decided to cook MHC a birthday dinner! And because MHC just moved in with her boyfriend, Darrell, we decided to make dinner at their newly renovated home.  There’s nothing like cooking in a brand spankin’ new kitchen!

Because Michelle and I were going to be responsible for cooking the whole dinner and bringing dessert, we had to plan in advance what we were going to make and thus, bring the ingredients.  I’m not quite sure how we decided, but we divvied up the courses as follows: sides, salad and dessert – Healthy Chow and main course and dessert – Michelle.  Yeah, I know dessert is mentioned twice.  That’s no mistake!  We wanted a birthday cake-ish treat for MHC, for candle blowing and wish making, as well as some other goodies, for variety and pigging out’s sake.

Image Credits – fundraw.com

While I was planning the few days prior to the dinner party, I chose to make sides that I felt would go with just about anything.  Because Michelle hadn’t told me what she was making as the main course and I didn’t want to keep annoying asking her, I just went with my gut (lame pun intended)  and selected recipes that were tasty and on the ‘healthier’ side.  Thus, I chose to make two recipes I found from Cooking Light - Creamy Parmesan Orzo and Mustard-Dressed Asparagus.  Both recipes received at least 4 out of 5 stars and very good reviews and comments from readers.  In addition, I had made the orzo recipe a few times before and it was delicious and easy and the asparagus recipe seemed healthy and easy.  Done and done! For the salad, I decided to bring mixed greens (baby spinach, arugula, radicchio and frisée) and the ingredients to make a homemade vinaigrette dressing.  So easy-peasy lemon-squeezy!  And for dessert, I just stopped by the store and grabbed brownie bites and chocolate chip ice cream.  You can’t go wrong with warm, soft chocolate baked goods à la mode, right?

I was so excited for this night!  Not only did I want to show off some of my much improved culinary skills, but I also love spending time with my family and I could not wait to see my mother’s new place.  MHC had just moved into Darrell’s condo, which they recently renovated and enlarged by acquiring the adjacent condo unit.  I’ve always loved seeing the interior of people’s homes, but ever since we gave our place a face-lift, my interest has reached a whole new level of appreciation.

Oh my stars!  I thought the ocean view from the outside of their building was incredible; the interior of their home was absolutely gorgeous! I tried not to have any expectations or visions in my head before arriving in order to be totally surprised and when I walked in, I was blown away.  Not only was their condo ginormous, but every detail was carefully paid attention to and flowed seamlessly to the next.  I felt as if I was flipping through the pages of an interior design magazine.

I lurrrrvvve those bamboo floors!

Absolutely beautiful…

Sparkle, sparkle…

I think the food might taste better coming from this kitchen…

Even the spices are cool, or should I say, ’sah-pie-say’!

Now that’s a closet!

My dream come true!

Even the washer and dryer are stylin’!

Darrell loves his shoes, too…

This closet would suit me just fine

An ocean view…

Simply breathtaking…

After receiving the grand tour and getting my groceries for dinner settled, I nibbled on some shrimp cocktail and chips and salsa.  While we told our mother she didn’t have to do a thing, she naturally put out a spread of appetizers and snacks.  What a good lil’ doobie.

It’s a good thing I had to cook or else I’d be full before dinner…

Snacks and sports…

I was having so much fun chatting it up with the party goers that I almost forgot that we were in charge of preparing dinner.  I could see the hungry looks growing, so I stopped munching (for a few minutes) and got started on cooking.  Since all of my dishes were relatively simple to prepare, I picked the one that would take the longest to make and would be the easiest to reheat.  So, I started on the creamy parmesan orzo.  Having Michelle and MHC (she couldn’t stay out of the kitchen for long, nor did we want her to) by my side in the kitchen was so much fun and so helpful.  While I would read off the instructions, one would hand me the needed ingredient and the coordinating utensil.  It was like having my very own sous chefs!

Stir that orzo, Michelle!

Even the birthday girl isn’t safe from kitchen duty!

Love that green!

Once the orzo was about done, I began on my asparagus dish.  Even though the recipe was for asparagus, I decided to add some zucchini since it would give the dish some variety and because I had some just sitting idle in my fridge.  I know, your girl is so resourceful! The recipe called for the asparagus to be boiled, but because MHC had a crazy-arse steamer built into the stove top, I just had to steam versus boil.  It just seemed so cool and high-tech; I had to give it a whirl.  The vegetables took only minutes to cook and the sauce took an even shorter time to prepare.  The key ingredient to this recipe was no doubt the mustard seeds.  They’re little, but they’re powerful (does that remind you of anyone you know?).

I gotta get me one of these…

The Yellow Wonder…(tee hee)

While I was cooking the vegetables, Michelle and her boyfriend, Jonathan began cooking the main dish – chicken saltimbocca.  Jonathan and Michelle make a great team both in life and in the kitchen.  They love cooking together and testing out new recipes.  I was told by the dynamic duo that the trick to making their recipe was to brine the chicken in salt water the night before.  I guess I’ll take their word for it.  It looked dang good! And just as the chicken was about to be taken out of the oven, I whisked together a simple salad dressing using Trader Joe’s Orange Muscat Champagne Vinegar, dijon mustard, olive oil, some chopped shallot and salt and pepper.  As I’ve said before, Trader Joe’s never lets me down and he came through for me again that night.  The Orange Muscat Champagne Vinegar was divine! It gave the right amount of citrus and zip to the dressing without making it too sweet or weighing it down.  Another winner from TJ’s!

That’s some kickin’ chicken!

I heart TJ’s

Veggie Might!

Finally, dinner was served! MHC did a fabulous job setting up her dining room table for her first dinner guests and her first dinner guests did a fabulous job of dining.  I couldn’t believe how well everything turned out.  Everything was cooked to perfection and tasted wonderful.  Michelle and Jonathan’s chicken saltimbocca was moist and juicy (must be that brining action) and the prosciutto that enveloped it was flawlessly crisped with just the right amount of fresh sage.  Ah-may-zing! And like the chefs who played off of the synergy that was overwhelming the kitchen, the dishes co-mingled with each other fantastically and complemented each other perfectly.

And while I don’t like to brag much, I just want to say that my dishes came out quite well.  MHC loved the creaminess of the parmesan in the orzo recipe and said that the fresh basil was the perfect complement to the dish.  And everyone seemed to really like the mustard sauce on the vegetables.  They said it gave the vegetables a unique flavor.  As for the salad, everyone wanted to know what I used to make the ‘fruity’ dressing.  They truly seemed to enjoy my new found secret weapon from TJ’s and the fact that the salad was tasty without being too greasy or heavy.  Success!

And what would a birthday dinner party be without birthday cake and dessert?  Not a good one in Healthy Chow’s book! Jonathan made a key lime pie that was so light and refreshing, I thought I was having a cocktail.  There was just enough lime to cleanse my palate and the airiness of the filling coupled with the flaky crust was enough for me to want to have seconds.  However, because there were other desserts to sample, I stayed with having only one small (ish) piece and had a scoop of ice cream along with a mini fall-inspired brownie.  I think MHC honestly loved every bite of her birthday celebration.

While receiving a luxurious cashmere sweater, the latest bottle of perfume, a new pair of fall boots, or some fancy handmade jewelry may be a wonderful birthday gift, it’s no match for the gift of time.  Being able to spend time with my mother and sister in her new kitchen laughing, cooking and simply enjoying each other’s company was my favorite part of the night and by looking at my mother’s face, she felt the same way.

Oh, he’s such an angel! Hahahahaha!

Gotcha!

“Isn’t she lovely? Isn’t she wonderfuuuuullll?“

MHC is always appreciative of any gift she receives, but I could tell that this time this gift meant the world to her.  She was so excited for us to finally see her new home with Darrell and to be able to see how our culinary skills had developed.  I think it’s always a gift for a parent to see how their children have matured and blossomed, but it’s also a gift for the child to see their parent being happy in their new life.  While it may have been MHC’s birthday, I feel as though I was the one who was showered with presents.  It was a spectacular night filled with giggles, good times and great food.  While it might have been easier to go to the mall or hop online to buy our mother a birthday gift, it definitely would not have been as much fun, nor would it have been as special.  Being able to create a memorable night, such as our dinner party, is something that everyone should try – it may require a bit of time and energy, but what you get back is immeasurable and certainly priceless.  For the person who has everything, it’s definitely something of which they could use more.

What’s the best gift you’ve ever received?  Or, what’s your favorite secret ingredient to use?

Namasté,
Nicole

People seem to feel badly when they forget your birthday or when they can’t celebrate with you on the very exact special day.  They always say things like, “oh, is it OK if we celebrate it next weekend?” or “sorry, I forgot to wish you a happy birthday on your birthday, but I hope you enjoyed it anyway.“  Now I know I mentioned in a previous post that I’m not one who likes to make a big deal about her special day and I’m not one for celebrating for the entire week prior.  However, if someone wants to take me out and shower me with gifts, Healthy Chow says, “heck ya, bring it on!”

That said, my mother and her boyfriend, Darrell, wanted to take me and my twin sister, Michelle, out for a belated birthday dinner.  We’ve all had quite the busy summers, but my mom and Darrell just finished moving and having some home renovations done.  This past weekend was literally the first weekend we were all available.  So, we made the most of it and went to a restaurant that I’ve been dying to try.  Score one for Healthy Chow!

Gaslight is a brasserie located in the South End of Boston.  According to their website, Gaslight:

offers its guests French brasserie cuisine of impeccable quality and improbable value in an informal, old world, is new again setting. With its hand crafted Parisian zinc bar, reclaimed wood floors, mosaic tiles, beamed wood ceilings, nicotine stained walls and antique mirrors, Gaslight’s decor is warm and inviting.

We had 7:30 pm reservations and it’s a good thing we did have reservations because this place was hopping!  When Patrick and I first arrived, we were one of the few guests at the bar area.  But by the time our whole party arrived (which was only about ten minutes later), the brasserie was swarming with diners.  I really liked the vibe and pretended that people were out because they knew it was my belated birthday dinner.  Hahaha!  Full of myself, much?

The atmosphere at Gaslight was really different.  Not that I’ve ever been to France, but the restaurant definitely exuded a funky, hip and French feel.  While the lighting was quite dark (sorry, some of my pics might not be so great), it definitely set the appropriate tone for the ambiance of the restaurant.  Because we had a party of six, we were seated at a large table that was semi-sectioned off from the rest of Gaslight.  However, as my eyes made a quick scan as we were seated at our table, I noticed there were various types of seating such as cafe tables, booths, bar stools and larger tables like ours.  It was quite the eclectic mix and indicative of the menu.

Because I like to be prepared, I looked at the menu online before arriving at the restaurant.  Thus, I had an idea of what I wanted to try and what I was probably going to order for my entrée.  The menu had a vast variety of hors d’oeuvres (appetizers), plats du jour (dishes of the day) , les fruits de mer (seafood), assiette du fromages (plate of cheeses), plats principaux (entrées) and garnitures (trim/sides).  I really enjoyed seeing the selections written in both French and English.  And I think I enjoyed trying to pronounce each item even more (I just want to apologize to the country of France for butchering their lovely language)!

Darrell is the king of appetizers and since he and my mother have dined at Gaslight before, we let Darrell take the lead on ordering our hors d’oeuvres (say that three times fast!).  Plus, Darrell speaks French, so it was nice to hear someone actually pronounce the selections correctly (ahem, ahem).  To start,we had two orders of the fried mussels a la greque (Greek style?), two orders of shrimp cocktail and an order of escargots de bourgogne (French Burgundy snails served with garlic and parsley butter).  But before the hors d’oeuvres even arrived, we were promptly served their house bread.  But this wasn’t just any old bread, it was a pipin’ hot fresh baguette served in its own little paper bag.  I usually try not to partake in the bread basket because as you all know, I <3 carbs and can literally inhale a loaf in a millisecond, but this bread I could not resist!  It was crusty, light and airy and probably some of the best restaurant bread I’ve had in a long, long time.  And forget the butter, the bread was so tasty, it was fine au naturale!

Because we were all having such a great time chit chatting with one another and catching-up, we were almost shocked when our hors d’oeuvres arrived.  They seemed to appear on our table within seconds of us placing our order.  I guess time does fly when you’re having a good time.

The fried mussels were delicious.  I think I was expecting more of a mussel in the shell type of dish, but I was not disappointed when I tasted it.  It was quite similar to fried calamari, but not as chewy in texture.  The remoulade sauce had the perfect amount of creaminess and a little bit of a kick and the bed of greens the mussels were served on gave the dish a refreshing and light feel.  Plus, the extra sauce gave me something to dip my heel of bread into.

These were some of the plumpest shrimp I’ve ever seen!  Sometimes, in my experience, the big shrimp can be less tasty and sort of bland tasting.  Not these babies!  Patrick, who could live on shrimp cocktail, was in heaven.  Needless to say, we sat one of the orders directly in front of him.

The escargot were also quite tasty, but nothing spectacular.  I like anything cooked with garlic and herbs, so this little dish was right up my alley.  However, while I’m not a connoisseur of snails, these were just mediocre.  I dipped my bread into the snails and it tasted just like garlic bread

Here’s a picture of my sampling of hors d’oeuvres.  I had maybe one or two more of the the fried mussels.

And if we weren’t full enough just yet, our entrées were then served.  You know there’s a lot of food, when a table that seats six needs to condense plates in order to make room.  I ordered the roasted salmon fillet, which came with garlic braised escarole and vinaigrette of lemon confit.  It was just the right amount of food for my main meal.  Because I had already had a healthy sampling of the hors d’oeuvres, I didn’t have too much room left for my dinner.  Plus, I knew I wanted dessert, so the real estate in my belly was getting tight.  My salmon was roasted to perfection and not the slightest bit greasy.  I’ve ordered salmon that has wronged me on occasion due to the grease factor (sorry, TMI) but fortunately, this was not one of those times.  The escarole was quite simple and served as a light and citrusy accompaniment to my fish.  I really enjoyed the fact that my dish was not served with a rice, potato or some other carb.  If that were the case, I know I would have eaten it and that would have overfilled me.

My mother ordered the rotisserie chicken with sauce moutarde violette and garlic herbes frites.  She said the chicken was delicious, but the herbed french fries stole the show (or plate).  I’m so glad that I was able to sit next to her because it gave me the chance to steal them from her share them with her.

Darrell ordered my second choice, which was the rock shrimp tagliatelle with green onions, smoked ham, and cantal beurre fondue.  He also loved his dish and was happy as a clam (or shrimp) with both the hors d’oeuvres and his selection.  I told Darrell that the sauce in his dish would be great to scoop up with the heel of the bread.  And while I knew that that meant ‘scarpetta‘ in Italian, Darrell informed me that that meant ‘fondue‘ in French.  Merci beaucoup, Darrell! (Funny enough, I told our waiter ‘gracias‘ after he took my order and the whole table cracked up.  Hahaha!)

This picture is going to kill three birds with one stone.  Patrick, Michelle and Jonathan (Michelle’s boyfriend) all ordered the bar steak with caramelized shallots, mustard cream sauce and frites.  While Jonathan seemed to love his meal (he cleaned his plate – atta boy!), Michelle claimed that the sauce was a bit too salty for her taste.  Patrick really enjoyed this selection as well, but thought there were a few too many shallots for his liking.  He also wondered why he had plain frites while my mom’s were herbed.  Don’t worry, Healthy Chow slid him over a few!

Dinner was quite delightful overall.  We all seemed to thoroughly enjoy our meals, but not as much as each other’s company.  I honestly can’t think of a time when I wasn’t laughing or someone else wasn’t cracking up.  The conversation flowed and the relaxing vibe of the restaurant must have seeped into the food.  We were all in such a mellow mood and sat around that table for six for nearly two hours.  What a fantastic way to spend my belated birthday dinner!  I love being able to try new restaurants, and it’s even better when they turn out to be a hit and when I can enjoy them with my loved ones.

Goodness, my mom just doesn’t seem to age – ever!

And finally, what would be a birthday dinner without dessert?  Well, it wouldn’t be complete in my book!  We ordered two for the table to share: gateau aux pommes (apple and caramel cake with vanilla ice cream) and molten chocolate cake with crēme chantilly.  While I wouldn’t kick either out of bed for eating chips (hehehe), the apple and caramel cake definitely reigned supreme.  I think I’m really a sucker for anything à la mode.  But the buttery caramel sauce and the soft cinnamon-y apples was what took the cake (I’m on a roll…).  The molten chocolate cake wasn’t bad, it just wasn’t ‘molten-y’ enough in the center.  I think if we had another scoop of vanilla ice cream for the molten chocolate cake, it would have been much better!

This was our waiter for the evening.  He told me my French was ‘absolutely melodic‘.  I think he might have been lying to me…

And if hors d’oeuvres, dinner, dessert, lotsa gabbing and tons of laughing weren’t enough, I also managed to get a few belated birthday gifts.  My sister and I have had the recent tradition of exchanging ‘mini’ gifts on our birthday.  Rather than buy each other fancy presents on our day, we just give each other a little somethin’, somethin’.  I gave her a cosmetic bag, a toe separator for home pedicures and some trail mix on our actual birthday and that night, she gave me some Trader Joe’s goodies (raw almonds, wasabi, wow! (wasabi peas, nuts and dried fruit mix) and fruit leather – she must think I’m nuts and a bit fruitty).  My mom gave me a cute paisley top along with a card with love (aka cash).  Decent haul, Healthy Chow!

Dinner at Gaslight definitely gets the green light!  It was the ideal place to have a carefree, yet delectable meal.  The brasserie had fast and friendly service, delicious food that was moderately priced, many options to choose from and free parking.  Now that’s a true find in the city of Boston!  I guess that helps to set the tone for your dinner.  If you don’t have to stress about parking, you’ll walk in relaxed, in a good mood and ready to eat.  I was relaxed and in a good mood because I truly treasure the time I spend with my family.  I am so blessed to have such extraordinary people in my life.  These are people I honestly love and adore and want to spend time with.  I’m not sure if it’s my age that’s making me sappier, but I went home pleasantly pleased.  My belly was full, as well as my heart.  While the evening was meant to celebrate my birthday, it was really a celebration of my family.  I may have received some great birthday presents, but it’s the time I have with my loved ones that are my true gifts and ones I’ll cherish forever.

What’s your favorite French food?  Or, French dessert?

Namasté,
Nicole

When I was a little girl, I wasn’t quite sure about the avocado.  I mean, it had this ugly dark green hard shell and then it was mushy on the inside with this honkin’ pit in the middle.  I remember having to bring the pit into school for a class project.  We stuck a bunch of toothpicks in it and then let it hover over a jar of water.  I think it was supposed to sprout a plant or something but I don’t think mine ever did.  Or maybe it did?  Like I said, I never was too thrilled with the avocado.  Plus, growing up in a household where my Chinese grandmother did most of the cooking, this fruit didn’t play much of a role.  I mean, if you couldn’t stir fry it in a wok, what good was it?  (OK, kidding, that was a joke!).

Now that my age is Larry Bird’s jersey number, I’ve become quite fond of the avocado.  I love guacamole, sliced up on salads, in a grilled cheese, and the list goes on.  But even more recently, I’ve discovered that the avocado doesn’t just have to be part of a spread or filler in a sandwich or salad.  Yes my friends, I found that this lovely fruit can be the star of the show.

An avocado sandwich, you ask?  Yup.  And you won’t be missing the tortilla chips…

Pass Me the Hass Sandwich

• 2 slicesof whole wheat bread (I used Trader Joe’s – obvi)
• half of an avocado, should be pretty ripe (doesn’t have to be Hass )
• few shakes of red chili pepper
• few shakes of dried cilantro (fresh cilantro would be even better)
• few shakes of garlic powder
• TBSP of lemon juice
• s&p
• TBSP of real bacon bits (or more if you <3 bacon)
• cucumber slices
• tomato slices
• few baby spinach leaves

Carefully remove the meat from the avocado half (discard the pit or keep it if you’re doing a class project) and place into a small bowl.  Add all of your seasonings and the lemon juice and then mash with a fork until well blended.  Spread the mixture onto one of your bread slices.  Then, sprinkle with your bacon bits (thanks Roni for giving me this idea).  Please note that I know these bacon bits aren’t necessarily the ‘healthiest’ thing in the world but we’re only using a tiny bit here and the smokey flavor it adds to the sammie is kick-Hass (see what I did just there?)!  Layer the other slice of bread with your baby spinach, tomato and cucumber slices.  Sandwich the two pieces together and then place in your George Foreman grill or panini maker (or you could heat it on the stovetop in a pan with something heavy like a tea kettle on top of it).  Wait a few minutes and it’s done when your bread starts to get toasty.

Serves 1

The creamy avocado mixture goes great with the crisp cucumber slices, coupled with the warm toasty bread and salty, smokey bacon bits – it’s pure bliss.  When I first made this sandwich, I thought it was going to be more of a snack versus a meal.  Not true.  This sandwich is filling!  I’m sure that has much to do with the high fat content of the avocado (it’s the ‘good’ fat and it’s rich in vitamins and high in fiber) – but don’t let that throw you.  This is sandwich is worth every calorie!

So come out of your shell and Hass yourself some avocado already! (sorry, I just couldn’t resist)

How do you like to eat your avocado?  Ever grow a plant from the pit?

Namasté,
Nicole

When I think of foods that must be eaten in the summertime, especially in the New England area, there is only one thing that comes to mind. And that is…the lobster roll.  If the months of July and August could have a taste, it would be lightly seasoned chilled lobster meat dressed in a thin coating of mayonnaise on delicately toasted and buttered bread.  Period.

Now I know this may not be the ‘healthiest’ meal, but the summer days are coveted here (especially the ones that are hot and rain free this year).  Also, I’m a firm believer in enjoying life’s indulgences and satisfying an undying craving.  So if you’re going to splurge, you might as well do it right.  That said, Patrick and I ventured out a couple of weeks ago to find the perfect lobster roll…and boy, did we find it!

Alive & Kicking Lobsters in Cambridge, MA is a tiny little storefront/market that sells fresh seafood.  You’d almost walk by this little shanty if you didn’t already know it was there.  The only reason Patrick and I knew of its location is because we had just seen Alive & Kicking featured on the local restaurant and food review tv show, Phantom Gourmet.  It’s one of those places you’ve walked by and driven by 1000’s of times but never really knew what it was or thought too much about it since it’s so obscure.  But now that you know it’s there, you ask yourself why you’ve never been there before?

Fresh seafood on ice…

When we first walked into Alive & Kicking, I was a tad thrown off by the fact that the restaurant looked as if it was part of a house.  I mean, we were going to eat seafood so quality and freshness were somewhat key factors.  Well, you can chop that one up as another thing I was worried about that was completely unnecessary (as you come to learn more about me, you’ll see that there are a lot of those).  The seafood is delivered fresh daily and Louie, the owner, walks around talking to the patrons making sure everyone’s appetite has been completely satisfied.  He even recommends you try some of his famous root beer!

Lunch is in the blue buckets…poor little lobsters, lucky little Nicole!

As we sauntered up to the counter, we were greeted my Gina.  She’s a friendly and vivacious person who immediately wins you over with her charm.  When she noticed that I was a bit confused by the fact that they only had one item on their menu, she quickly helped to dissolve my hesitation by saying with a huge smile, “Don’t worry, I know you’ll like our lobster sandwich.  Everyone does.  Trust me.  Some people even order two at a time.”  How could I not believe those words?  With that, Patrick and I placed our orders for two lobster sandwiches (notice they are not the usual lobster ‘rolls’) and looked for a table outside.

The outdoor eating area (actually, the only eating area) is really cute.  There are picnic tables with rolls of paper towels and charming beach-y/seafood-y/crustacean-y decorations strewn about.  If Alive & Kicking was going for a casual, dining al fresco on the Cape’s beaches kind of atmosphere, they nailed it.  The only thing that was missing at our picnic table was a big seagull looking for any dropped morsel of food.

Doesn’t this cry ‘beach’?

If you listen closely, the lobster is saying, “eat more chicken…”

Within minutes, the lovely Gina walked over with our lunches.  The sandwiches came toasted on buttered scali bread with a side of potato chips on these kitschy plastic lobster plates.  It was too adorable! I think I had more fun staring at the plate than I did eating.  Ok, that was a complete joke!  Once I bit into the sandwich, I was on cloud nine.  WOW!  It was incredible.  The sammie was packed with large chunks of succulent lobster meat that was softly coated in mayonnaise and salt and pepper.  The scali bread was airy and crispy and just dry enough to soak up the lobster goodness.  On top of that, you got a nice little complimentary bag of potato chips.  How can a summer lunch get any better than that?  Oh wait, it can get better.  The sandwich was only $13!  Insane in the membrane!

Love the plate!

Rated XXX (food porn joke)

So, I got my ‘taste of summer’ in and it was well worth it.  The service at Alive & Kicking was fast and friendly.  The dining area was comfortable, shaded and so apropos for the meal.  But, the food steals the show.  Usually, when I get a lobster roll (or sandwich), it’s overpriced, skimpy and way too greasy.  And, my tummy doesn’t feel 100% afterward.  Not with this sandwich.  I felt good.  I was full and I didn’t feel weighed down (maybe it was because I still had money left in my wallet – cha cha cha cha cha!)

Are there any foods that signify ’summer’ or any of the other seasons to you?

Namasté,
Nicole

Do you know how they say you shouldn’t go grocery shopping while you’re hungry?  Well, I shouldn’t go grocery shopping while I’m hungry and while I’m on a full stomach.  I luuuuurrvvvee food!  If it looks good, smells good and and tickles my fancy, then it’s coming home with me (oh wait, that didn’t sound quite right…haha!).  Anyways, the produce aisle always seems to get the best of me.  I know fresh fruits and vegetables are great for me but I have to be realistic and understand that I while it’s BOGO right now for a pint of fresh blueberries, I can’t eat an entire shopping cart full of them.  I know freezing these lil’ gems of sapphire bliss can fix my overabundance issue, but you can’t beat the taste of a fresh blueberry.  That said, a few weeks ago I came up with this wacky little creation when Patrick was hungry for lunch.  He wanted a turkey sandwich that ‘wasn’t going to taste like a regular turkey sandwich’.  Funny, isn’t he?  So, this is what I made him.  The summer-sweet blueberries are a perfect match for the herb turkey and the yogurt adds the right amount of creaminess while the greens give it a cool crisp.

I present to you…The Cool Blue Turkey Sammie…

The Cool Blue Turkey Sammie

2 slices of whole wheat bread (I used Trader Joe’s)
3 slices of Applegate Farms Organic Herb Turkey Breast
1 slice of provolone cheese (I used Sargento Reduced Fat Deli Style Provolone – Swiss would be good, too)
small handful of baby spinach leaves
8 fresh blueberries, cut in half (think meatball sandwich – things that are round have a tendency to roll out)
2 heaping TBSP of nonfat yogurt (I used Trader Joe’s European Style Plain Nonfat)
1 TSP of dijon mustard
s&p to taste

Place your bread in the toaster (or toaster oven) and begin to toast.  Mix the the yogurt with the mustard in a small cup and set aside.  When your bread has met your desired level of toasty goodness, take out of toaster and start compiling your sandwich.  Layer 2 slices of turkey (add salt and pepper here if you wish) and spread some of the yogurt mixture over the turkey.  Then, add the halved blueberries (the key here is to make sure the blueberries get stuck into the yogurt mixture so they have better staying power in the sandwich and not on your plate or lap).  Layer the baby spinach next.  Then, add the last slice of turkey with some more of the yogurt mixture spooned on top (I had some yogurt mixture left over after the sandwich was made but I know some prefer a ‘wetter’ sammie).  Finally, top it with the cheese.  Cover with the last slice of toasted bread.  All done!  Enjoy!

Serves 1

Patrick loved this sandwich!  He said it reminded him of a post-Thanksgiving Day sandwich (think turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce) but only lighter and ’summery-er’.  Woot!

I like mixing around ingredients that you wouldn’t normally put together.  It’s fun to see what I end up with!  What’s the most inventive food combination you’ve ever come up with?

Namasté,
Nicole