Hello, Sunshine - Summer Morning Popovers

 Everything goes with bacon. Have you ever noticed that? It's never really that difficult to put a fabulous breakfast together when you have bacon. It pretty much makes itself.

Oh, this wasn't supposed to be about that at all... I've gotten a little off track.

I was wanting to talk about popovers, but someone mentioned bacon, and that's the direction my brain went.

Sorry.

These are wonderful, easy and great for breakfast (if you're English, or just a fan of afternoon noms, these are great with tea.) although I have yet to have them with anything but butter and maple syrup, I'm told by the rest of my little family that they are amazing with honey and jam. Personally, I can't get over the syrup, so I'll have to take that at face value. 

Now, by all means, go out and buy a popover pan, they are just like muffins tins, only a little deeper. but why would you when you can use a muffin tin? They wont rise as much as they would in a popover pan, but really, you're only going to smother them with butter and jam (SYRUP!) so I have decided that it doesn't really make much of a difference.

Summer Salad Series - I Left (my heart in) San Francisco

 Salads inspired by songs?
Maybe... But mainly I love music. I love food. Why not marry them? Even if only briefly.
I was in San Francisco a few years ago and nearly died of over indulgence from all the crab cakes I ate. It would have been so worth it. This recipe makes six cakes, and serves as more of a larger appetizer then a true side. But I've never had any complaints regarding that. Plus, it's totally easy to put together when company arrives, since it can be made pretty much ahead of time.

Midnight Cravings - Easy Banana Bread

I'm weird with bananas. I always buy them, forget to eat them, then dump them in the freezer when they get brown. Srsly. I have a freezer full of brown, rock hard bananas. Which, I suppose is a good thing when I start having mad cravings for banana bread! 

Photo Post - Sunshine & Tunes

Summer Salad Series - Florida Sunshine

This salad came into being while I was rocking out to one of my favourite obscure indie bands, As Fast As. They have the most awesome song called, wait for it, Florida Sunshine (ha - you didn't see that one coming did you). I wont torture you with a rendition myself (Google it yourself, it's fantastic) but it's everything this salad is, punchy, catchy and little fresh. 

Veggies in Man Food Heaven - Grilled Cheesy Tomatoes

 I've been looking for something that's easy. I know, that's a rather a broad statement.

What I mean is, I've been in search of an easy side dish which can be popped onto the BBQ to accompany steaks, chicken, ribs, whatever. I have the tendency to serve the same garlic bread and salad with corn ears when BBQing in the summer. Not that I have any objection (obviously) to making new and different things, it`s just, well I love salad, garlic toast and corn on the cob. And really, who will fault me for that? Anyway, despite all of this, I went looking anyway.

And I have finally found one.

An Oldie, But a Goodie - Chocolate Chip Cookies

These cookies are the cookies helped Michelle create the phase "Complex Sharing".
DEF: Complex Sharing - When one person (me) brings homemade cookies and the second person (Michelle) eats all of them. 
To be honest, it's a lucky day then these are even made into cookies. The dough is so good, that's not always the case. These cookies are great for a last minute dessert or for a quick pick-me-up. They disappear fast at an office party and are generally loved where ever you decide to share them.

Can I Get an OPA!? - Chicken Souvlaki

This is srsly so easy I can't believe I've never made it before. Everything but the chicken and warming the pitas can be done ahead of time and kept in the fridge. Super easy, super awesome, super messy! Have fun!

Little Bubba - Coconut Shrimp

 I had the best coconut shrimp in Miami a few years ago at Bubba Gump's.
These are almost just as good, plus totally easy and inexpensive (and a great party dish!).

Photo Post - So Many Toys...

One Drunk Night - Totally Easy Rhubarb Strawberry Crumble

You know those boxes of wine you can buy? The ones that are the equivalent to four bottles of wine, and cost about $12? The boxes you pick up and scoff at, turning to your friends you say, I could drink this - easy! The box whose label claims it will stay fresh for up to six weeks after opening, (srsly, six weeks? Who has wine that lasts that long?) and again, you scoff, I can drink this tonight, easy!  You say.

I know that wine. And trust me, no one should want to or attempt to drink that much bad wine in one night. Think about it, you just paid $3 a bottle, you don't srsly expect it to be good, do you? 

In any case, if you do decide drinking a box of wine while listening to classic 80's rock is a great idea (it's truly fun that night, the next morning - not so much) then I suggest doing what I did. Make this (before too much wine) and eat it warm out of the oven with vanilla ice cream while swaying happily to Hootie and the Blowfish. Good times. 

Quick! Start the BBQ! - Pineapple Porkchops

I ask you, is there anything better than BBQ'd pineapple?
No, no there isn't.
So, to that end, I try to pair everything with BBQ'd pineapple.
This dinner idea is totally easy and wonderfully quick - perfect for the days when the sun can;t decide if it wants to shine or not. So in-between splashes of sunshine, you can add a little Hawaii to your day.

Kidneys vs Feathers - Rosemary Lemon Roast Chicken

I will not be bested by a bird. Especially a dead bird wrapped in cellophane.

In my continued search to try new things, I have decided that instead of simply going to Safeway and buying a pre-roasted ready to eat rather greasy chicken, I would attempt my own (again). This though came to me in bed the other night. Do you ever do that? Lay in bed thinking of food? I do. It’s easier on the waistline and you can let your mind wander. I digress. Yesterday, I happily picked up the cutest 2lb chicken at Safeway along with a couple lemons (grab fresh rosemary too, I grow it at home, but grocery stores will carry containers of it in the fresh isle.)

I should to point out, I’m less concerned with never having actually successfully cooking a bird before then I am about the sticker on the package which in bold capitals warning me there may be the birds kidneys left inside. Gross. Although as Brittany pointed out, kidneys are better than feathers. Agreed.

Photo Post - Ruby Reds

Fishin on the Bow - Halibut Fillets

May was a good month. Everything worked (well, everything except my attempt to make brussel sprouts more appetizing - truth is, sprouts are about as good as they are ever going to get.)
Anyway, I digress, this herbed butter works well with pretty much every white fish, but I like it with halibut best. If you're into wine paring (I drink pretty much whatever really. I'm not fussy) then light white would go well, try a Pinot Gris from Argentina or Chili.