Party Time!

Last Saturday we were invited to out friends' place for a hockey party. Since the game started at 3 or 4 pm, we decided to be fashionably late and showed up at 7pm. Perhaps a little too late... but just in time for dinner! Colin showed off his skills as he grilled chicken outside (this by the way makes the first grilling party of the year)! Lacey baked a delicious meringue,which went quite smoothly with the 33 year old bottle of port and numerous bottles of teeth-staining red wine...The meringue was so delicious and light I also attempted to make my own...

...and what I got this flat white egg omelet instead. Perhaps I should be taking cooking lessons from Lacey!

The best pizza I ever ate

What is a good pizza place, you ask? It's where they make the pizza you want, even if it's not on the menu.
Last Saturday Jacob, Jeff and I (after a long time of pondering the flavor we would like to try) ordered a half Buffalo Chicken pizza and half Blue Heaven; or blue cheese and steak. The Buffalo Chicken pizza is not on Rhombus Guys menu but the cook agreed to make it anyway. The phone call followed the feast:
Rhombus Guys person: Hello?
Jeff: I just ordered a pizza from you and I have a comment...
RG person: Uh-oh...
J: The pizza was not on the menu. It was the best thing we ever ate. (Insert applause from Jacob and myself). Can you make sure that whoever made it will write down the recipe; we will be ordering it again!
Can't wait for next time!

The weirdest pizza you've ever had

Not only did it work, it was delicious!
I fried quartered bella mushrooms in some olive oil along with my favorite spices (basil, thyme), and poured some balsamic vinegar over it. Spread it on a pizza dough and slapped some ricotta on it. Sounds pretty safe, doesn't it? But...When it came out of the oven I put a fried egg on top of it... An egg fried in balsamic vinegar. Don't judge until you try it yourself.PS This isn't my weird and tasty invention, but it is borrowed from Ask Aida on the Food Network.

Going, going, gone...

Encouraged by the most beautiful weather outside (50 degrees) I went downtown to see the Red River flooding progress and to stop by one of my favorite stores, the Amazing Grains, a natural foods grocery store. Along with some spices needed for cooking Indian food, I purchased a vegetarian German sandwich for lunch. I wanted to take a photo of it, but it was so good I ate it too fast and this is what I have to show for it now...
Amazing Grains offers SNAG, or Saturday Night at the Grains, where the chefs cook a six course meal of usually ethnic foods. Embarrassed to admit, I have never been to SNAGS... But I just made a resolution to go to at least one before the summer is over, how does that sound?
Visit amazinggrains.org to see what they have planned for lunch! Cheap, interesting and delicious sandwiches are always on the menu!

Anna's Favorites List:

• Favorite food: The vegan "egg" salad sandwich. Have not had it for a while, may have to watch the menu online in case it comes up.
• Favorite spice: Whole cloves. There isn't a better smell than that. You should know that it is used a lot in Polish compotes, or dried fruit drinks.
  
• Favorite drink: The kefir. If you don't know what it is you're missing out, go and buy one now.

Pizza kick

I am definitely in the pizza stage of my life. Going through food stages is kind of fun, except other people think you're crazy for eating the same thing every day for a month or so (for example pancakes for lunch). I probably won't be eating pizza every day, but who knows - I just learned how to make some very interesting and delicious looking pizzas...
Not even 9 am yet and I have the Food Network channel on as my "noise background" while studying for the boards. Wish me luck with that exam as I will need it - the test book was suddenly put to the side when a pizza making tutorial came on. How lucky am I! Ask Aida's Aida Mollenkamp just showed me how to make a baby bella mushroom pizza with balsamic vinegar and... a fried balsamic egg on top, yes, I said balsamic egg. I will let you know how well this one works out, as I will be sure to make it; it is just too weird to pass up!
Meanwhile, I made a salmon pizza last night. The photos don't do it justice, but you be the judge. I didn't use any pizza sauce, but instead I used olive oil mixed with fresh garlic, salt, pepper and dried basil. Toppings consisted of baked salmon, capers, red onion, tomato, red pepper, mozzarella cheese and some queso fresco.Too bad I don't have any leftovers for lunch today. Might just have to make another one!

Scrumptiously Spanky Spinakopitas

I decided not to go anywhere for my last spring break of my life, so that I can study for the boards exam late this spring. To cheer me up, Jeffrey proposed a trip to nearby Fargo for change of scenery (just kidding!), some good ethnic food, as we are unfortunately lacking it here, and some shopping. After visiting an antiques store we remembered the real purpose of our trip and made our way to the Alladin's Cafe for delicious gyros and spinach and feta filled spinakopitas, which we decided would be a great snack later that night. They did not survive the ride home...

In a pickle

Every self-respecting Polish girl loves pickles. But do you know what is even better than a pickle? A fried, cheesy pickle! My new favorite at the local restaurant, The Toasted Frog. Now, I get it as an appetizer, dinner or dessert.
I just HAVE to have it.