Dinner for Date Night

I imagine that many of my fellow moms are no strangers to the perennial problems of babysitter  and budget - not enough of one and too much of the other! I want to share with you a dinner date idea that won't take hours of prep, lots of dollars, or even a babysitter. Here goes.

THE MENU 

4 Minute Spicy Garlic Shrimp

Angel Hair Pasta

Steamed Broccoli

Baguette with Sweet Cream Butter

paired with Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut Cava

To make this night of magic happen, first put the kids to bed early and then pop the cava into the freezer. Next get started on the shrimp. I follow this recipe pretty closely, except for the following changes. I often buy 1 lb bags of raw medium shrimp (deveined but unpeeled) and keep them on hand, then defrost and peel (tail included) myself. It doesn't take that long, and they are usually much less expensive than the jumbo. I may or may not zest the lemon, depending on time constraints, using just the juice instead. Also, fresh parsley is cheap at the grocery store and farmers market, but if I don't happen to have any on hand, I don't let that stop me. 

While the shrimp is cooking, get the pasta (two servings) going. Aim to have them finish at about the same time. I usually use my dutch oven on the stovetop to cook the shrimp, and then remove them to a separate dish.  You will find that much of the seasoning and even some bits of shrimp are still in the pot. Drain the pasta, reserving a little bit of liquid, and place it in the dutch oven with some of the liquid. Stir to coat. The pasta will have a nice delicate flavor as long as you don't overdo it with the amount. Now just steam some broccoli (when I'm in a hurry I just use one of the steam in the bag brands) and warm your "take and bake" baguette in the oven (follow the directions on the package).

Now all that is left to do is plate the food and uncork the cava*. For the enquiring minds among us, cava is a Spanish sparkling wine that is named for the cool cellars where it ferments. It is made by blending a variety of wines, the product of which is fermented, and then fermented a second time via the méthode champenoise. This method is, as its name indicates, the same method used to make Champagne, and involves introducing sugar and yeast into the individual bottles, which interact to create carbon dioxide. Bubbles.

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Jaume Serra Cristalino Brut Cava is a great dry (as brut indicates) budget cava. It is crisp, clean and a bit citrusy. The flavors and effervescence are perfect for balancing the spice of the shrimp, and the price (usually around $8/standard bottle) to flavor value can't be beat. So get some bubbly and get the party started!

*Note: If you don't have champagne flutes, serve the chilled cava in a tulip shaped wine glass, or really anything with a stem. The stem prevents the warmth of your hand from affecting the temperature of the liquid.

Friday For Fifteen: Football Edition

About time for another Friday for Fifteen, don't you think? This one is for your good man, the one who joined you for all the foreign film Fridays. For those who don't know, this Sunday is Super Bowl XLVII, Ravens vs. 49ers. To get warmed up for that event, today is going to be a football Friday. So here we go:

The Entertainment: A football movie. I heartily recommend Invincible (2006), the true story of a south Philly bartender who defied the odds to become a Philadelphia Eagle at the age of thirty. As a thirtonian myself, it's nice to have a little "anything is possible" story pick-me-up. If you don't know what I'm talking about, you probably aren't thirty yet, but you are probably human so you will probably love this movie despite any age defects. Some other good choices are We Are Marshall (2006), Remember the Titans (2000), and Radio (2003). Rudy (1993) and the Blindside (2009) are also good films, but is it my imagination, or has everyone already seen both of those?

The Food: Buffalo Chicken Wing Dip. I associate football with pizza, wings, and dips that feature cheese and cream cheese in prominent roles. This dip is the best of most of those worlds. My husband, who is something of a wing expert (isn't everybody who is born and raised in Buffalo a wing expert?), gives it his hearty approval. I, on the other hand, am not crazy about wings and I also give it my approval. A real winner. There are many slight variations of this dip floating around out there on the internet. I recommend that you make it like this:

Preheat oven to 350. 

Mix together 2 (eight oz.) packages of cream cheese and 3/4 cup pepper sauce (you can definitely go generic, as long as it is in the style of Frank's Red Hot, and less if you're not a fan of spicy). 

Then add 1 cup bleu cheese dressing (again, generic is fine), 2 cups diced, cooked chicken, and 1 cup shredded cheese (both cheddar and mozzarella work great, or a mix of the two). 

Mix. 

Spray a 9x13 baking dish with cooking spray, spread in the dip, and bake for 30 minutes. 

Serve with crackers or tortilla chips, and fresh carrots and celery.

The Drink: Sierra Nevada Torpedo Extra IPA ($8.49/6pk). Now I know that you don't come here to with my sisters for beer education, but just know that this is a great American style India Pale Ale that brims with citrus and hop flavors. You may think you don't like the flavor of hops because of the bitterness, but give it a chance! Bitter compounds open the tastebuds, causing you to salivate in anticipation of food, really whetting the appetite. The strong flavor also, paradoxically, tempers the spicy intensity of the Wing Dip.

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Now doesn't that make you thirsty?

What is your favorite football, food, drink combination?

Friday for Fifteen

It's about time for another Friday for Fifteen, don't you think? For the newer readers on the block, Friday for Fifteen is a semi-regular feature in which I give you a food, a drink, and a bit of entertainment that come together to create a cohesive, pleasant experience for two, and for $15 or less. I'm putting a new spin on it this week, though, because it's a season of multigenerational gathering and cozy evenings with visiting family. So this is the first Family Friday for Fifteen. I'm gonna make this short and sweet, because I'm short on time with last minute Christmas preparations, and maybe you are, too.

If you've been out slogging through the slush, fighting traffic and hordes of shoppers at every turn, burning the midnight oil making candies and cookies, read on, this is for you.

The Drink: Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout ($9.50/4 pack - at 10% ABV you only need one!). This Russian imperial stout style beer was made for cold nights! It's thick and chocolatey (without being cloying) goodness in a glass that will warm you from the inside out and give you a glow to rival that of your Christmas tree. For the underagers among you, try this superbly satisfying [literally] hot chocolate.

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The Food: Christmas cookies. Don't have any on hand? Whip up these 3 ingredient shortbread cookies in 20 minutes!

The Entertainment: The Adventures of TinTin (2011). Based on the comics by Belgian artist Herge, this film is packed with adventure and foreign intrigue. Check out a fuller synopsis here. I'm not usually one for computer animation, but this movie is truly entertaining (and appropriate) for viewers of all ages, so go ahead, watch it with your nieces and nephews!

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Friday for Fifteen

Before my husband and I were married, we really enjoyed dates at  Sharp Edge in Pittsburgh, which offers a wide variety of craft and import beers. We enjoyed trying new things and broadening our knowledge and palette (and that lovin' feelin') at the same time. This week's Friday for Fifteen is a sort of take home version of that date; if you don't have a date, do this with one or more friends. It's a lot of fun! 

us on one such date to Sharp Edge

The Drink: Sampler 6-Pack of Beer. I have several recommendations based on value to quality ratio, availability, and accessibility in the sense of taste (pun completely accidental). Try the Saranac Adirondack Trail Mix Variety Pack ($7.99/6, $13.99/12), The Dundee Craft Pack ($10.99/12), or the Great Lakes Sampler Pack (I'm having a hard time pinning down a price online, but its not an expensive brand). These beers are gateways out of the land of Bud Lite and into the land of the connoisseur. Another option is a "choose your own" six pack, which some grocery stores offer (usually around $9.99, depending on the brands). Whatever you go with, you want to make sure that you have at least four different styles (such as IPA, Porter, Stout, etc, you get my drift) represented in the mix. 

The How-To: Pour a bottle of each of the different beers in the pack. Put them on a tray, unlabeled, moving from least to most intense in terms of flavor (you might have to take a nip in the kitchen if you don't have enough experience to make an educated guess based on type - life is so hard sometimes...) Make sure to keep the bottles in the same order and out of sight.  Smell a beer, and then sample it, letting it swirl around the inside of the mouth and over the tongue. Sample the beers, seeing who can guess the style of the particular beer and pull out some of the key flavor components (e.g. citrus, chocolate, coffee, etc.). And finally, drink the beer!

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The Food: True beer experts like Michael Jackson (the other one), recommend just nibbling bland crackers between beers to avoid influencing how you experience the beer itself. If you plan on drinking the [at least] four beers that you just opened, you will definitely need something more substantial. Try this simple nacho recipe (under $7). 

Preheat the oven to 425*. 

Spread a layer of tortilla chips on a cookie sheet. 

Spray with cooking spray and sprinkle on some garlic salt. 

Add any extras you like, such as chopped (and drained) fresh tomatoes, olives, hot peppers, or whatever sounds good to you. 

Cover liberally with shredded cheese. 

Bake until cheese starts to melt and then switch to broil to brown the cheese. 

Remove from the oven and squeeze a lime over the nachos. 

Enjoy.

7 Quick Takes and Friday for Fifteen (#2)

1

Hello all, I hope this week treated you well, and if not, at least its almost over!

2

If you want to turn yesterday's "L'Apero" into a Friday for Fifteen, I suggest a half bottle of Noilly Prat dry vermouth ($3.99/ 375 ml bottle), a loaf of fresh bread ($3), 1/4 lb olives ($2 grocery story olive bar), a wedge of camembert ($4), and 1/4 lb charcuterie of your choice ($2 for sopresetta, salami, mortadella, you get the picture). Also, if you have an apple, grapes, or some fresh veggies (lightly salted) add that in to complete this little repast. And for the entertainment, check out Paris, Je T'aime (2006). This film is a compilation of five minute shorts by twenty diverse filmmakers, including Gus Van Sant, the Coen brothers, Gérard Depardieu, Isabel Coixet, and Sylvain Chomet to name just a few.   The two themes that unite these films are love and Paris; beyond those points they diverge greatly (and some are a bit more risqué than others, consider yourself warned!). Some are great and some are quite weird, but enjoyable overall, and totally worth it for "Bastille" alone. Here is the preview:

3

My favorite quote of the week, from Stephen Covey paraphrasing the amazing Viktor Frankl, "Between stimulus and response, man has the freedom to choose." How profound a thought; no matter what occurs around you or to you, you have the freedom to choose your response. Ponder it.

4

Have you all heard of the website Apartment Therapy? If you haven't, check it out! Lots of inspiration for making your home (however small or humble) a beautiful, welcoming space. You will love this site. I promise.

5

I'm not too much of a clothing Do It Yourselfer, but there is one project I would love to attempt for this fall / winter season. It is a fur snood, or neck warmer (don't worry little bunnies, I'll go faux). Not totally convinced by the name and/or my impeccable fashion record? Check out the inspiration pic below and this DIY, then judge.

Celine Fur Neck Warmer
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6

I was recently asked about my take on everyday fashion for busy moms. I intend to devote at least one post to the subject; until then, here is a great resource.

7

I want to thank you all for reading, and for sharing with your friends! Thank you for following via GFC (see right hand column) and interacting via comments. I love each and every comment and bit of feedback. Please get in touch; let me know who you are, what you like, and what you want to read about. Also, if you have any questions about me, feel free to ask!

And back to you Jen!

Friday for Fifteen

Some weeks seem to fly by, while others couldn't go any slower.  Though busy, this week is crawling. I find that such a week deserves a little special something at the end, a little celebration, a little homage to the fact that it is Friday, and one's work is well done. Now, I know that many of you good readers are students, and you indulge in something of the sort on Thursday. I also know that some of you are busy with work and children, and Saturday night is more the night of celebration. Whatever your week end, here's a suggestion to make it a bit special - a theme.

I'm a sucker for a theme. I don't mean that I had a Star Trek wedding or that Thanksgiving at my house this year will be the Hunger Games, not that at all. What I mean is using overlapping and complementary elements to create a specific ambiance, a sense of specialness and occasion. So, the idea is to pair a food, a drink, and a movie to create a cosy and pleasurable evening for two. Could be your husband (as in my case), your boyfriend, or your best friend. Whatever the case,  the food, drink, and movie should be something special, either because they are old favorites, long awaited, or off the beaten path. Furthermore .... I suggest that this is possible to do with only $15 for food and drink. Here is my drink, food, movie combo for your weekend pleasure:

The Drink: Lindemans Framboise lambic style beer (around $10 for 750ml bottle), served in a champagne flute, if you have it. This raspberry beer is from a farmhouse brewery in Belgium. Unlike most beer styles, a lambic is created using wild yeast. The windows are thrown open and the fermenting liquid is exposed to the wild yeast and bacteria in the air, which is said to give the lambic its characteristic sour bite. The effervescence, sweetness, and acidity provide a nice complement and balance to the richness of...

The Food: Flourless Chocolate Cake (around $4 for the chocolate, you probably already have the other ingredients). This flourless chocolate cake is decadent and has a surprising depth of flavor for such a simple, easy dessert. I usually use a Ghirardelli Bittersweet Baking Bar, which is available in most grocery stores and is good flavor/value combination. I hear that Callebaut baking chocolate is also a good choice. Find the cake recipe here. The chocolate ties into this movie...

The Movie: Les émotifs anonymes (Romantics Anonymous). This romantic comedy is about chocolate, awkward people, and love (just when you thought my movie descriptions couldn't get any more vague). And, for your viewing pleasure I have included the movie trailer. This movie is not graphic or obscene in the least, but before you write a letter to the editor (it won't do any good, one woman staff here), I give the disclaimer that I do not approve of or encourage premarital relations. Enough said. One more thing, this movie is available on Netflix instant view if you have a subscription. If you don't, you can try the free one month trial by clicking here. Enjoy!

P.S. Lindemans is widely available wherever beer is sold. The label looks like this:

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