Archive for February, 2010

Quick and Easy Chicken Parmesan

Posted by Rex on February 27, 2010 - Print This Post Print This Post
Chicken, Italian, Recipes, Sauces / 1 Comment

Italian food is one of my vices.  I love the sauce, the pasta and the bread.  The main problem is that my favorite recipe chicken Parmesan takes a while to cook, it requires a full chicken breast per person.  Doesn’t seem like that big of a problem, but when you start cooking a bunch and half of your guests only eat 1/3 to 1/2 of the chicken because they don’t require a full chicken breast along with salad, pasta and bread then it starts to become a waste.  Plus, pounding out 6-8 chicken breasts can be quite burdensome.  So I decided to make everything a little bit easier.  Bite sized chicken pieces that can be scooped out so that everyone gets only as much as they want.  Saves on time, saves on money and makes everyone just a little bit happier.

Quick Chicken Parmesan

I topped this concoction with strips of mozzarella cheese that were broiled to melt perfectly over the whole dish.

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What to do this Weekend in DC
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Posted by Rex on February 26, 2010 - Print This Post Print This Post
Things to do in DC / No Comments

This weekend is full of great events.  You can dine at the National Harbor for cheap or meet up with Ty Pennington and remodel your kitchen.

National Harbor Restaurant Week – Feb. 26-28

Three Course Meals at the Harbor Restaurants, $20 for lunch and $35 for dinner.  Includes Bond 45, Cadillac Ranch, Grace’s Mandarin, Ketchup, McCormick and Schmicks, National Pastime, Moon Bay Coastal Cuisine and Public House.

Click here for the menus.

Capital Home and Garden Show - Feb. 26-28

At the Dulles Expo Center in Chantilly Virginia.  They will have over 500 exhibitors and Ty Pennington.  Who could ask for more.  The will have everything that you will need to remodel or improve your kitchen.  Plus kitchen tools and appliances.  This is the place to be.  Tickets are $12 at the door or $9 if you purchase them online (Click here).

Hours:

Fri Feb 26 - 10:00 am – 9:00 pm; Sat Feb 27 - 10:00 am – 9:00 pm; Sun Feb 28 - 10:00 am – 6:00 pm

Location:

Dulles Expo Center
4368 Chantilly Center
Chantilly, VA

Have a great weekend!!
-Rex

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Braided Garlic Bread

Posted by Rex on February 25, 2010 - Print This Post Print This Post
Baking, Bread, Italian, Recipes / 4 Comments

I am a huge fan of garlic bread and I am always looking for a new way to make it.  I took this idea from the bread at the local grocery store.  They make a tear apart cheese bread that is pretty good.  The concept however, is awesome.  No need to cut the bread and you can serve it family style.  Plus, since the bread is braided, there is garlic butter throughout the whole loaf of bread.

Braided Garlic Bread

The braids allow for the center of the bread to be light and fluffy.  So darn tasty!

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The Rumster

Posted by Rex on February 24, 2010 - Print This Post Print This Post
Cocktails / 2 Comments

Last week I picked up some different rums to make the hurricane cocktail for Mardi Gras.   Since I had some extra lying around I decided to make another cocktail.  This one combines my two favorite juices, orange juice and cranberry juice.

The Rumster

I served it straight up in a Martini glass but also enjoyed it on the rocks.

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A Sugar Cookie

Posted by Rex on February 23, 2010 - Print This Post Print This Post
Baking, Cookies, Recipes / No Comments

I have been on the lookout for a good recipe to re-create the smiley face cookies that I had as a child.  These are the large sugar cookies that had the hard glaze over them.  I discovered the glaze but the cookie always seems to evade me.  I have been making sugar cookies over the past couple of months to try to re-create them.  Although the sugar cookie in this post isn’t the right one for the smiley face cookie, it is super tasty.  It is light and fluffy with a great flavor, a perfect sugar cookie.   The one that I strive for, is harder and crunchier and a tad bit sweeter.  Not the definition of a perfect sugar cookie, but the perfect cookie to recreate my childhood memories.  Anyway I had to post about this cookie, because out of the bunch, it tasted really good.

The Smiley Face Cookie

As you can see, I painted the eyes and mouth before the first glaze completely hardened.  Thus, giving me a not so perfect smiley face.  :(

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French Onion Soup

Posted by Rex on February 22, 2010 - Print This Post Print This Post
Recipes, Soups / 1 Comment

The other day I was strolling through the Crate and Barrel Outlet when I saw French Onion Soup Crocks for $1.99.  I had to pick up a couple.  Since then I have been on the hunt for a tasty French Onion Soup recipe.  Most called for cooking the onion over the stove-top until they were caramelized and tasty.  But after finding this version from Cookography via Cook’s Illustrated I had to make it.  This version roasts the onions in the oven to help build a nice complex flavor.  It is extremely tasty.

French Onion Soup

Topped with homemade croutons and Provolone Cheese this was the best French Onion Soup I have ever had.

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Tuna Pot Pies

Posted by Rex on February 21, 2010 - Print This Post Print This Post
Baking, Pies, Recipes, fish, tuna / No Comments

I am always trying to expand my repertoire of recipes.  The one thing that I do not cook a lot of is fish.  Fresh fish is not the first thing you think of when you think of the Nations Capital. So I decided to slowly expand my repertoire with some canned tuna.  I know it is not that big of a step, but it is a step to say the least.  My pot pies use a standard pie dough and a large muffin pan to make individual pot pies.  The recipe makes 3 individual pot pies and can be easily doubled to make six.

Tuna Pot Pie

The large muffin pan made perfectly sized pot pies.

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What to do this Weekend in DC

Posted by Rex on February 19, 2010 - Print This Post Print This Post
Restaurant Week, Things to do in DC / No Comments

This weekend is full of great events.  You can celebrate the lunar New Year or try your hand out at curling.  Yep, you can go for gold.  Plus, there is the Maple Syrup Festival.  Who doesn’t love Maple Syrup.  So read on to see the highlights from these amazing events.

Saturday

Rockville Lunar New Year – Feb. 20

Come out to this free family-friendly cultural event and

  • Practice Chinese character writing;
  • Learn traditional paper folding and clay sculpting techniques;
  • Watch educational and entertaining demonstrations and performances; and
  • Sample a variety of free Asian foods supplied by local restaurants.

F. Scott Fitzgerald Theatre and Social Hall at Rockville Civic Center Park
603 Edmonston Drive, Rockville MD

More Events after the jump…

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