It is difficult for me to pass over pad thai to order something different if it is on the menu. I love how each restaurant creates a slightly different flavor but one that always pleases. It never occurred to me that I could make it at home. Maybe that was a good thing; it certainly isn’t the healthiest of dishes. But as my turn for NHN dinner drew near, I had the craving and finally put two and two together. I would create a pad thai masterpiece!
Before I start, I have to make a confession. When I first made this dish, I used orange roughy. Lesley and I were in Florida, and the word “orange” in a type seemed appropriate for our Florida NHN meal. I also have never had it, so it fit nicely in our framework of trying out a food we have never made. (more…)
May was busy. Very busy. This one month held Riley’s preschool graduation, Maddie’s third birthday, a full weekend work event, and a family vacation. Phew. Not to mention it was the first full month of good weather and my parents’ newly built lake house. We didn’t slow down for much. The whole month seemed to take only a week to go by. As we got around to our June dinner at Lesley’s house last night, I was a bit surprised to realize that I hadn’t posted our May dinner yet! (more…)
I love paella. I’ve had several different versions, and each was as tasty as the last. However, I’ve always been too intimidated to try making it. It’s a controversial dish, for sure, with everyone seeming to have his or her own “authentic” recipe. But more than that, I’m not the greatest cook, and there is a lot that goes into any paella recipe. For me, that reads as “there are a lot of opportunities to screw up.” I don’t know if I suddenly had a burst of self-confidence or just too much coffee, but I decided to make paella for our NHN family dinner this month. I’m happy — nay, ecstatic — to say that it was not only edible but pretty darn good. We had rice pudding for dessert — yum. And a dance party topped off the fabulous evening.
Summer is on it’s way! It seems like much too early to say that, but this past weekend boasted temperatures of 60 degrees and that trend is holding strong for the upcoming week. I’ve tried not to get too excited. There is certainly plenty of time for another cold spell or two, but I just can’t help it. The clouds have let the sun through, and it feels amazing! I want to plant the garden, shop for summer clothes, and spend all waking hours outside. I also want fresh summer meals full of flavor. (more…)
