Sunday Night Dinner April 22, 2012


Usually when we try new recipes, there is at least one we either don't want to make again or we completely messed up (more likely, the latter!)  We got lucky this Sunday, and all the dishes were brilliant. I cannot wait to make them again!

Music
For me, listening to great music while preparing a meal is incredibly relaxing, so this Sunday we chose one of my all-time favorite Pandora stations - Ellie Goulding.  Along with Ellie, you get a mix of artists like Florence + The Machine, Lykke Li, and Adele.  What I love most about these women is that their music has a poetic edge.  Also, the beats aren't overwhelming to the point where the music becomes the main guest at the dinner table!

Table 
Setting the table for an evening with your sister and her boyfriend should not require more than 5 minutes of prep.  Otherwise, you're doing something wrong!  I can't tell you how many times I've spent thirty minutes (and the same amount of money) on flower arrangements that I just ended up removing from the table to make space for food.  I've learned that the key is to have classic, quality tableware that is versatile for both formal and informal occasions.

CLASSIC, QUALITY TABLEWARE LIST

• WHITE PLATES - White is the best background to showcase the food, and it is incredibly versatile.  You can eat foie gras off of white plates one night and pepperoni pizza the next!

• WINE GLASSES - I can't tell you how disappointed I am when I order an expensive bottle of wine at a restaurant and have to drink it out of a cheap glass.  Classic, quality wine glasses should be light but not thin, and the cup should be large for some drama.  Also, keep it casual.  Save your crystal for the holidays!

• TUMBLERS - I'm a huge fan of using old-fashioned tumblers.  They are great for both sparkling water with lemon and after-dinner scotch.  Unlike wine glasses, tumblers should be very heavy (l recommend Made in Poland).

• FLATWARE - I think flatware should have some personality.  I like to use brushed silver with an antique finish.  It gives the feeling that you're using your grandmother's silverware. 

• KNIVES - This Sunday we needed some quality steak knives.  We use Laguiole knives, which are from France.  They come in several colors, but I love the red.

Take a look at these place mats because they are my absolute favorite (Pottery Barn).  The quality is very thick and requires no ironing.  Life is too short to spend time ironing place mats!  These place mats feel really earthy (somewhat French country), and since I love food with an earthy vibe, this table setting is the perfect complement. 

I don't worry about everything matching.
An eclectic mix represents our style.

Wine 
We consumed two bottles of wine last Sunday.  In all fairness, we opened the white at lunch!

The white was a 2003 Chardonnay from France.  We're not huge fans of Chardonnay, but this bottle was already chilling in our wine fridge, and it was starting to get old for a white.  The color was a deep gold (very French), but it wasn't too oaky.  I always feel that French Chardonnay is much better than California Chardonnay, which is not how I feel about other wines such as Pinot Noir.

The red wine was the real treat of the night. Justin received this bottle of Chianti as a gift from a friend who has great taste in wine (and everything else!)  Chianti is such a classic wine that goes with so many dishes, and this was one of those bottles that you wish were bottomless!

Food 
If you don't already know, Justin and I have a life-altering obsession with Ina Garten.  This weekend we decided to try a couple of her recipes that we'd never made before, and I'll be honest, there aren't many Ina recipes we haven't tried!

A Le Creuset frying pan is perfect for searing tuna.

The first was Guacamole Salad, and I'm kicking myself because I forgot to photo the finished product (just a picture of Justin passing it to me!)  Oh well, I guess I'll have to make it again.  Basically, this is guacamole in salad form, and it is marvelous!!!  I've copied the Food Network link below.  One note is that I plan on adding corn next time like I do in my guacamole.  Also, this dish does not keep, so don't make too much.

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/guacamole-salad-recipe/index.html

The second new dish was Honey Ginger Carrots, which were delicious.  The good news about this recipe is you can make a large batch and re-heat during the week.  I couldn't find a link to this recipe, but it's super easy to make.

Cut the carrots diagonally in 1-inch-thick slices. You should have about 5 cups of carrots (2 lbs). Place 1/2 cup water, 2 tablespoons butter, 2 tablespoons honey, 2 teaspoons of salt, and 1 teaspoon minced giner in a large saute pan and bring to a boil. Add the carrots, cover, and simmer over medium-low heat for 5 minutes. Remove the lid and continue to cook for 15 minutes, until all the water has evaporated. 


Add 1 teaspoon orange zest and 1/2 cup freshly squeezed orange juice to the pan, tossing with the carrots. Simmer uncovered for about 5 minutes, until the carrots are al dente and the sauce glazes the carrots. Add 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper and another teaspoon of salt.

- Ina Garten Barefoot Contessa At Home

Honey Ginger Glazed Carrots

The main course was tuna, and while Justin often makes tuna steaks, we served them with chunky mango relish this time.  We got the idea for the mango relish from Ina's Seared Tuna with Mango Salsa recipe (see link below).  We could have made the mango salsa, but we had enough to do already, so we used Harry & David's chunky mango relish.  What a great complement to the tuna filets!

http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/ina-garten/seared-tuna-with-mango-salsa-recipe/index.html

Seared tuna coated with sesame seeds

Dessert
I'm so excited to tell you about the new Jeni's ice cream flavors we tried this Sunday.  The first was Plum Sake Sorbet.  We all felt that it was good but a bit too tart to buy again. The real gem was the Icelandic Happy Marriage Cake.  I'm sure your asking, "what in the world is Icelandic Happy Marriage Cake?"  or  "Corey, do you just like this ice cream because you're obsessed with Bjork?"   First of all, my love for this ice cream has nothing to do with my Bjork passion.  Although, it does re-spark my desire to go to Iceland.

Icelandic Happy Marriage Cake is actually a frozen yogurt and is described as "grass-grazed cream with skyr - a soft, yogurt-like, Iceland cheese.  A nutty, homemade, toasted oat-cake soaked in sugar syrup and crumbled.  All of it shot through with a roasted, ruby-red rhubarb compote.  A made-in-heaven matrimony of flavors and textures."  This is the creamiest frozen yogurt I've ever had, and we all loved it!  Who would guess that Ohio is home to the world's best and most creative ice cream?

Jeni's ice cream can be ordered through Dean & Deluca (they ship it in dry ice), so you don't have to live in Columbus to experience the unique flavors.

Jeni's Plum Sake Sorbet & Icelandic Happy Marriage Cake Frozen Yogurt

Sunday Night Dinner April 15, 2012

This Sunday night was special because it was our first dinner outside of the year. The weather was phenomenal with the temperatures in the mid-70s, a slight breeze, and sunny skies. Mother Nature only sends so many gifts Ohio's way, so an evening out on the patio was a must!

Music
A casual evening called for our 80s Pandora station. 80s Pop always feels so optimistic to me - Whitney Houston, Cindy Lauper, and Michael Jackson to name a few. Honorable mention goes out to Patty Smyth's The Warrior, which will forever be an 80s favorite of mine. You'll come to find that I have an affinity for strong, "take-on-the-world" type, female singers.

Table
We kept the table setting casual since we were having the ultimate casual food - pizza! However, casual definitely does not mean boring, and it most certainly does not mean paper plates or napkins (at least not at the Robinson-Flowers household).

In fact, the napkins are a crucial piece for setting the tone of the evening. Since it wouldn't make sense spatially or financially to have a closet full of napkins, I like to fold the napkins in ways that make the setting feel different (even if I used the same napkins last weekend!) Instead of perfectly folding the napkins, I pull them through the napkin ring from the napkin's center. This way you get a dramatic, modern shape, but it adds to the casual ambiance because the napkins aren't clean and crisp.

Red napkins not only matched the outdoor sofa, but they also brought some much-needed color to the table. For a whimsical touch, I used my elephant napkin rings. Unlike napkins, you can never have too many napkin ring options. They are the table accessory with which you can be the most playful.

Candles are always crucial to the table setting, regardless of how casual or formal. For this dinner I used  candles that look like tree bark (Pottery Barn) and placed them in lanterns (also Pottery Barn). The lanterns were necessary to block the breeze, but more importantly, they served as the fun, outdoor-appropriate center pieces.

Wine
We drank a 2005 Hall Cabernet Franc. The first time I tried a true Cabernet Franc was at the Hall winery during a barrel tasting, and I immediately fell in love. All Hall wines are incredible, but the Cabernet Franc is really special.

What a beautiful label too! I love how the Halls showcase their art collection on their wine labels. I think it's a genius branding technique, whether intentional or not.

Food
Justin makes great pizzas, and normally he makes his own dough (most store-bought doughs are a waste), but he found a Brooklyn-style dough at Whole Foods that he wanted to try. We made two pizzas - pepperoni and roasted Roma tomato. They were both delicious, but I have to give him kudos on the Roma tomatoes - fantastic!

Roma tomatoes are super easy and make great snacks.

Cut plum tomatoes in half, length-wise, and drizzle with good olive oil (the kind you fall in love with when you are using it as a dip for bread). Don't be shy with the olive oil. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, minced garlic, and a bit of sugar. Roast them at 275 degrees for 2 hours, and let them cool before eating. Just keep an eye on them and make sure they don't dry out. Now you have them for pizzas, salads, and simple snacks! I would highly recommend them with slices of mozzarella and basil leaves for a beautiful Caprese salad.

Noelle and Kyle brought over a classic romaine salad. This time Kyle had the idea of adding Kalamata olives, which as Ina Garten would say, "turned up the volume" on a classic salad. I am constantly amazed at how one ingredient can make all the difference.

Dessert
We had Jeni's Wildberry Lavender ice cream. It has a light, floral taste and is honestly the perfect way to end an evening outdoors.  I also love supporting our local Short North businesses.