Food and Recipes while under Coronavirus quarantine #2

[mickey2942]

DH and I discussed this over dinner (salmon steak with honey and white wine), rice, and salad). He figures if I buy the grill, it will be my device, not his! Hmmm. The best thing about him grilling is that I just have to deal with the sides.

I like it, because I can "multi task" while cooking. And, it turns itself OFF after it is set, cooks, auto shut off. So, food stays warm, but you don't have to worry about it, like an oven. I can put stuff in there, go do something, come back, it is not all burned...maybe I have done that...

I pretty much have zero patience for cooking. Unlike @PayrollNerd, with her beautiful items.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

So hot here, not even interested in eating. I had some melon earlier, with Tajin, chili-lime seasoning.

Tajín Clásico Seasoning - TAJIN a unique blend of mild chili peppers, lime and sea salt.

We had early Michigan corn with swordfish last night. I mentioned Tajin and said that it would probably be good on fish and corn. I think Tajin would work well with Tequila marinade for fish and chicken. I didn't put Tajin on this week's Nino's list because DH stopped there yesterday after his swim. I showed him HKP's photo, and he will look for it next time he goes to Meijer.

 

[mickey2942]

White Balsamic Blueberry, Corn and Feta Salad

Had this salad tonight at a barbecue. It was absolutely delicious.

 

[PayrollNerd]

White Balsamic Blueberry, Corn and Feta Salad

Had this salad tonight at a barbecue. It was absolutely delicious.

I wouldn’t have thought to put those ingredients in the same dish! Interesting.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I goofed up the Blueberry Cheesecake Bars today. I hope they’re edible. I forgot to add the 1/3 cup of sugar to the cream cheese mixture. I’m taking them for dessert tonight with friends.

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars | Sally's Baking Addiction

 

[mickey2942]

I goofed up the Blueberry Cheesecake Bars today. I hope they’re edible. I forgot to add the 1/3 cup of sugar to the cream cheese mixture. I’m taking them for dessert tonight with friends.

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars | Sally's Baking Addiction

Oh oh...maybe bring some honey for a drizzle garnish. Might be better that way.

 

[PayrollNerd]

So my friend and her parents liked my goofed up blueberry cheesecake bars. Her Dad adores anything lemon so he said “Whatever you did wrong, keep doing it!”

Today I made another pan with diced strawberries instead.

 

[Shamrock1]

I wouldn’t have thought to put those ingredients in the same dish! Interesting.

Watermelon/feta/mint salad was popular a few years ago. I’ll take all three, just not together!

 

[mickey2942]

Watermelon/feta/mint salad was popular a few years ago. I’ll take all three, just not together!

Agreed. I am not a fan of Watermelon and feta. But, Watermelon and Tajin! Yum!

We have a ton of mint, I need to make something with it. Just been too busy to cook lately.

 

[BetteDavisEyes]

We went to Picano's for dinner on Saturday. We hadn't been out to dinner since our anniversary (June 25). We went out for breakfast last week and had takeout a couple of times, but we've been mostly cooking and eating at home in recent weeks. Since our last visit in early June, Picano's has changed their menu, hours of business have been trimmed, and they are no longer going to be open for lunch. When we arrived at 4:30PM, almost every parking space was filled. It seems that all three banquet rooms were in use with one gathering concluding at 6:00PM so the large Caesar room could be used for evening diners. We're happy that our favorite restaurant is thriving once again.

On our way home, we noticed that the parking lot at the very popular Alibi restaurant was packed, and there were many patrons seated in the new outdoor dining area. Alibi had been closed for indoor dining for many months, but they continued to do active takeout business (mostly their awesome pizza). We used to go to Alibi frequently when we were younger. DD liked it, and our niece and nephew enjoyed going there when they were younger. It's not a place where DH and I would go for a "quiet" dinner together because the place is always bustling and very noisy. The interior is very rustic, and the venue has an amazing two-way fieldstone fireplace. Food is always very good, and Alibi has long been known for their outstanding pizza. We were pleased to see that the restaurant is open again and seems to be doing well. We will go sometime soon or at least get takeout. I've often thought about recommending Alibi for Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on Food Network.

Take-out Tuesday - Alibi Restaurant on Live in the D (clickondetroit.com)

Michigan restaurants struggle with staffing amid pandemic (clickondetroit.com)

Almost forgot! Turns out that Meijer has Tajin. It is in the Mexican section of an international foods aisle - not with regular herbs/spices. I'm going to use it in my black bean and corn salad tonight with turkey burgers.

 

[anneg]

We went to Picano's for dinner on Saturday. We hadn't been out to dinner since our anniversary (June 25). We went out for breakfast last week and had takeout a couple of times, but we've been mostly cooking and eating at home in recent weeks. Since our last visit in early June, Picano's has changed their menu, hours of business have been trimmed, and they are no longer going to be open for lunch. When we arrived at 4:30PM, almost every parking space was filled. It seems that all three banquet rooms were in use with one gathering concluding at 6:00PM so the large Caesar room could be used for evening diners. We're happy that our favorite restaurant is thriving once again.

On our way home, we noticed that the parking lot at the very popular Alibi restaurant was packed, and there were many patrons seated in the new outdoor dining area. Alibi had been closed for indoor dining for many months, but they continued to do active takeout business (mostly their awesome pizza). We used to go to Alibi frequently when we were younger. DD liked it, and our niece and nephew enjoyed going there when they were younger. It's not a place where DH and I would go for a "quiet" dinner together because the place is always bustling and very noisy. The interior is very rustic, and the venue has an amazing two-way fieldstone fireplace. Food is always very good, and Alibi has long been known for their outstanding pizza. We were pleased to see that the restaurant is open again and seems to be doing well. We will go sometime soon or at least get takeout. I've often thought about recommending Alibi for Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives on Food Network.

Take-out Tuesday - Alibi Restaurant on Live in the D (clickondetroit.com)

Michigan restaurants struggle with staffing amid pandemic (clickondetroit.com)

Almost forgot! Turns out that Meijer has Tajin. It is in the Mexican section of an international foods aisle - not with regular herbs/spices. I'm going to use it in my black bean and corn salad tonight with turkey burgers.

I'm glad your favorite restaurant is doing well! We had dinner with friends Sunday evening at a Malaysian restaurant, and there was a sign as you entered that said they were short on staff. It turned out to be a very leisurely meal, but we understood and had no complaints.

 

[PayrollNerd]

I'm retiring this recipe. I made the blueberry version and the strawberry version. It has entirely too much lemon for my taste. The blueberry one I did in a metal pan lined with pre-sprayed aluminum foil. It stuck really bad. The strawberry one I did in a glass baking dish lined with parchment paper. I'm still scraping paper off the bottom it stuck so bad. The crust has 6 tablespoons of butter, you'd think it would glide off. Nope.

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars | Sally's Baking Addiction

 

[Auntie Cipation]

I'm retiring this recipe. I made the blueberry version and the strawberry version. It has entirely too much lemon for my taste. The blueberry one I did in a metal pan lined with pre-sprayed aluminum foil. It stuck really bad. The strawberry one I did in a glass baking dish lined with parchment paper. I'm still scraping paper off the bottom it stuck so bad. The crust has 6 tablespoons of butter, you'd think it would glide off. Nope.

Lemon Blueberry Cheesecake Bars | Sally's Baking Addiction

Ironically, I might try this recipe, but I think I would make it a pie shape instead of bars, using a storebought graham cracker pie crust as the base. Think that would turn out ok?

My question is about the lemon zest -- I've never really understood zesting. Is it for the texture? What would happen if I leave out the zest? Should I adjust any other ingredient if I do leave it out?

 

[PayrollNerd]

Ironically, I might try this recipe, but I think I would make it a pie shape instead of bars, using a storebought graham cracker pie crust as the base. Think that would turn out ok?

My question is about the lemon zest -- I've never really understood zesting. Is it for the texture? What would happen if I leave out the zest? Should I adjust any other ingredient if I do leave it out?

I thought about that too. The Keebler Graham Cracker Crusts don't need to be baked. They typically pop right out when I use them to make my Chocolate Cream Pie. If you use one of those, I think you'll need the "Extra Serving" size because, I'm not sure a regular sized one will hold all the filling.

Zesting the lemon is just running it over a fine holed grater and it is a more intense flavor. I don't notice lemon or orange zest as far as texture goes, after I include them in a baked item. I think in this recipe, it's the consistency of the filling that will be most important. You'll need the juice but I feel certain you can leave out the zest.

 

[mickey2942]

Middle/end of July! Where has the summer gone?

Loving my Foodi Grill, made bratwurst last night. That thing is fantastic. They were crispy, no fat. And, yes, we have a Grill outside, but it is over 100 out there, with terrible smoke from all of the forest fires.

 

[PayrollNerd]

Middle/end of July! Where has the summer gone?

Loving my Foodi Grill, made bratwurst last night. That thing is fantastic. They were crispy, no fat. And, yes, we have a Grill outside, but it is over 100 out there, with terrible smoke from all of the forest fires.

Definitely safer to stay indoors if the smoke is in your area. We're having 80-90 degree weather but the "feels like" is almost always 10-15 degrees higher. The other day it was 106. I'd love to thaw some meat and grill it but I'd have to do it at sunrise just to be able to withstand the heat. This week it's club sandwiches and Cesar salads. I did make a breakfast sandwich this morning with eggs, bacon, cheese, spinach and tomatoes.

 

[SA55]

My creation for GS's 9th bday. Definitely overload

 

[HongKongPhooey]

My creation for GS's 9th bday. Definitely overload
View attachment 305511

Bet he loved it!

 

[anneg]

My creation for GS's 9th bday. Definitely overload
View attachment 305511

What a fabulous cake! Lucky grandson!

 

[SA55]

What a fabulous cake! Lucky grandson!

It was fun - the center I cut out for the Skittles, we made cake pops with. Let the kiddies do that. Surprisingly, neither of them are big on sweets. They ate a little, it was more the "surprise" when we cut and removed the first slice and all the candies fell out. They were here for 4 days, when they left this morning, I dumped 3/4 of the cake which was left. So not as much an overload as it looks.