Ann Davis-Rowe

🍴:

Mon – Spanish garlic chicken with roasted carrots, arugula salad

Tues – Jaegerwust from Smoke City Meats with baked spaetzle and cheese, kraut, pickled beets, and arugula

Wed – NY strip with warm Brussels panzanella inspired by this. We had some leftover garlic bread (how) tore it into pieces and crisped it up in a pan instead of just using breadcrumbs.

Thurs – Neither of us could decide what to do, and I wanted something flavorful but light and not a salad. Asianish turkey meatballs with glass noodles and quickles FTW.

Fri – I wanted this to be a log more exciting than it was. Perhaps it’s because the chorizo we had in the freezer was a little boring? At any rate, something new and fun with which to send Hampton off to his second weekend of shows. (Arugula salad OTS, obviously.)

Sat – I gave Hampton two options for dinner. And should have been more specific about which one he should choose because who thought grilling and frying at the same time was a good idea. Chicken spiedini with amogio sauce, grilled mushrooms, and zucchini fries.

Sun – Hampton wanted something decadent to close out his run of Rosencrantz & Guildenstern Are Dead. No one is more shocked than he is that I managed that with frozen branzino, beans, and greens.

I was largely inspired by this recipe and made a pot of Rancho Gordo King City Pink Beans the day before to start. Instead of leeks, I sauteed some kale with some of the Italian butter sauce leftover from the breaded chicken skewers the night before, before following instructions to deglaze with white wine, add beans (and their broth, since I had it), and let it simmer away. To the mix went some truffle parm from TJ’s and balsamic vinegar for a little more umami and a touch of sweet.

I don’t love parsley, so for the gremolata, I just used the bit extra and the extra basil that Hampton harvested for me the night before. Since we had leftover black olives from Mother’s Day (again, how), I added a few of those, plus a little bit of diced roasted red pepper as well. So good and a great use for the Karen Akunowicz olive oil we won the other month.

TJ’s was out of cod, so Hampton brought home frozen branzino. I have had great luck crisping up the skin on this product before. Not so much last night. Hampton pointed out that he also brought home some prosciutto, so that got crisped up and layered in instead and everything was so hearty and rich and texturey with great acid and salt and it may be one of the best things I have ever made.

🐶: I don’t think this dog has ever seen a human baby, but she thinks she is one.

📚: As mentioned — or obvious if you read more than one of these posts — weekends are for white lady thrillers. Didn’t realize I had a theme going on this weekend until I went over my list for this post.

And in between was Lisa Jackson’s The Girl Who Survived, which, you know, close.

🎭: Sunday afternoon, I had the privilege of ushering for Triad Pride Performing Arts’ Ride the Cyclone. This show is a weird little delight and the cast was, too. Anytime someone wants to do a senior version, dibs on Ocean. You have another weekend to catch this one and definitely should!

Also Sunday afternoon, as mentioned — Hampton closed his show. Let the cleaning of the DVR (and these smelly dogs) begin in earnest.