bettyjoan

Haven't been cooking as much as I would like lately, but I did throw together some enchiladas and lasagna. The former had lots of cheese and even more cilantro, which I really enjoyed. I just wish I liked corn tortillas more--maybe it's because I've never had them homemade? The lasagna was really good--the sauce had ground beef, Italian sausage (sweet--next time, I'll use spicy), onions, carrots, garlic, oregano, basil, crushed red pepper, and crushed tomatoes. Very tasty. I just layered it with noodles, a ricotta/parm/spinach filling, and some shredded mozzarella. As with most tomato-based pasta dishes, I thought it tasted better leftover, when the flavors had a little more time to mingle.

We still haven't made it to Watershed for fried chicken night, but we did really enjoy our recent dinner at Wisteria. Located on North Higland Avenue in the Inman Park neighborhood, Wisteria has a very warm and inviting decor - there's some great exposed brick, and lots of cool artwork on the wall. The space is big enough to feel hip and happening, but it's not so big that it becomes deafeningly loud at full capacity. There is a small bar where (I believe) you can order from the full menu. My fiance ordered a gimlet at the bar, and he said it was very well-made, but it harkened us back to DC with its $12 pricetag. We asked our lovely server to bring us a dry white wine in the $30-$40 range, and she did just that'I just wish I could remember what it was! In any case, it played very well with the food and was reasonably priced. For appetizers, I couldn't resist the Kumamoto oysters flown in from the Pacific coast, and they were as briny and delicious as I expected. They were served with some sort of cocktail/mignonette hybrid, but to be honest, I didn't use a drop of it because the oysters were so tasty. Fiance ordered the seared sea scallops over braised pork belly, radicchio, and a bourbon-molasses reduction. Yum! The scallops were just underdone, which is exactly how we like them, and the pork belly gave the dish some salty, slightly crispy contrast. For entrees, fiance went with the pan-seared skate wing, which was served with lemon brown butter, stone-ground grits, and asparagus. The fish was delicious and perfectly cooked, and the accompaniments suited the dish very well (though the asparagus were a little scrawny, and I was surprised to see them on the plate out of season). I opted for the roasted half duck - and I probably shouldn't have. Don't get me wrong, the flavors were spot-on (it was glazed with an orange ginger sauce and served with a Napa cabbage and julienne pepper saute), and it was prepared exactly as it was described. However, I really prefer my duck cooked rare, and roasting forced the bird to be more like medium. The good news was, the skin was perfectly crispy, and it was a delicious treat. Desserts are more like tastes, and the idea is to mix and match and try a number of them. We opted for three for $10, and we chose the carrot cake (which I don't like, but which Jason thought was very good), the pecan pie (a good, solid rendition), and the balsamic strawberry and mascarpone tart (stellar - I could have eaten three more). I like the concept of dessert "tapas," so you can sample a bunch without feeling totally bloated. Service was excellent - friendly and attentive, but not annoying and overbearing. Our waitress really knew the menu, and she made excellent suggestions. With a bottle of wine, two apps, two entrees, three dessert "tastes," a glass of port, tax, our Open Table gift certificate, and tip (on the pre-discounted amount, of course), we walked out for less than $150. For what we received, we both felt that Wisteria was a good value - and certainly a wonderful neighborhood destination.

The good news is, I did go to Knoxville last weekend. The bad news is, I didn't get to sit down and eat at Hong Kong House, but rather had to order take-out and drive it three-and-a-half hours back to Atlanta. The good news is, when reheated properly, the food starts out so awesome that the journey down I-75 doesn't kill it. I have NO idea if Chef Chang is still working at Hong Kong House (there are no indications to the contrary), or if he was in the kitchen when I ordered. However, this was the best Szechuan food I've had in a LONG time. I ordered exclusively from the "Chef's Specialties" or "Favorites" side of the menu (in other words, I avoided the Americanized items), and I was incredibly impressed. Fish and cilantro rolls, which I reheated in the oven, were intensely flavorful, crunchy, and not at all greasy. The order came with 6, and I ate 5 before my fiance even knew they were there. I could have eaten twice as many, they were that delicious. Crispy shrimp with scallions was incredibly spicy, but also tinged with a glorious sweetness. Fried, but not oily at all. Shredded pork with eggplant probably traveled the worst, turning into a bit of a mushy mess. Still very tasty, but definitely not as spicy or interesting as the other dishes. Too bad Hong Kong House is so far away...I would KILL for decent Szechuan food a little closer to home.

Going to Knoxville this weekend, and am looking forward to FINALLY tasting Chef Chang's magic. Is he still there (to the best of our knowledge, anyway)? Are there menu items not to miss, or should I just say "bring me your best" and enjoy? Squeals of excitement!!!

One of the best parts of living in Atlanta is that there is a Chick-fil-a on nearly every corner. I indulge far more often than I should. I wish they'd put the pickles on the breakfast chicken biscuits--the pickle is crucial to the nirvana-esque quality of the chicken. Drooooool...

I will admit to frequenting "the Goat," but I usually didn't eat anything until I was AT LEAST a pitcher in. Frankly, I feel like the biggest reason for its survival is its proximity to the Georgetown law school. I was a member of the Georgetown Gilbert & Sullivan Society, and we'd ALWAYS party at the Billy Goat after our performances. Good bar + rich law students = lots of drunk food consumed and money exchanged.

My sister was visiting last weekend, so we decided to try Restaurant Eugene (we were going to try Home, as she is a Richard Blais fan, but we learned a few days prior that he had moved on). I had high hopes, but unfortunately, the experience was average at best. We were definitely the youngest table in the room, which may have been why we waited so long, once seated, to be addressed. Seriously, we sat at our table, without water and without menus, for a good ten minutes. Then, our waitress brought us wine and food menus, and wanted to know if we would care for a specialty cocktail. When I told her that we'd have to see a cocktail menu in order to make such a decision, she had to retreat to the bar to get one. None of the cocktails looked particularly yummy to me, so sis and I decided to order some wine. I told the waitress that I wanted dry and white, and that I wanted to stay in the $50-$60 range (which is high for me, but that seemed to represent practically the bottom of Restaurant Eugene's wine list barrel). She brought a bottle of Chablis, and we enjoyed it with our meal, but there was NO WAY that it was worthy of its $61 pricetag. I expect a certain amount of markup, but there's definitely a point where I start to feel taken advantage of. I would have ordered something by-the-glass, but they were all quite expensive as well (I noticed a lot in the $16-$18 range). Restaurant Eugene has a "Sunday Supper" 3-course, prix fix dinner for $29.50. Jason ended up going that route, and for his appetizer he was given "ham and biscuits" with lots of homemade fixins (such as mustard, chow-chow, and bread and butter pickles). It was tasty and nicely presented, and there was plenty to share. Sis and I split the appetizer sweetbreads, which were pan-fried and served with sweet corn relish. The meat was cooked nicely and had good flavor, but there wasn't anything amazing about the dish. I should note that we scarfed down our apps, not because they were so delicious, but because we were STARVING after waiting upwards of 40 minutes to receive them. For two relatively straightforward opening courses, that is entirely too long. For entrees, Jason's Sunday supper came with two huge pieces of fried chicken. The breading was salty and crispy, and the chicken was fresh and moist. It came with some thick-sliced "fries" that were nothing terribly special, and a VERY celery-heavy cole slaw. Sis ordered squab, which was cooked very nicely and served with faro and arugula, but was unremarkable in its presentation. I ordered snapper over a sweet corn risotto; both components were cooked correctly, and the crispy skin of the fish was very flavorful, but the rest of the dish was incredibly underseasoned. Again, nothing was bad, and the ingredients seemed to be high quality, but I didn-t feel like I was experiencing chefly creativity. Jason's prix fix menu came with a brownie a la mode, which he ate a few bites of (it looked like it was way too dense). Sis ordered a "s'mores" concoction, and she thought it was good; the butterscotch sauce was a bit much for me, but the plating was cool. The server did present me with two homemade cookies on a plate that said "Congratulations!" in chocolate (my sister had previously mentioned our recent engagement), and the chocolate chip variety was sweet and chewy. With wine, two cocktails for my fiance, one Sunday supper, one appetizer, two entrees, and one dessert, the total (with tax and tip, too) came to about $275. I had a little bit of sticker shock, I'm not gonna lie. I mean, I expect to pay a price for fine dining. But for nearly $100 a head, I expect something a little more intriguing, thought-provoking, mouth-watering, etc. In sum, when the thing that jazzes me the most about a meal is the room-temperature butter (don't get me wrong, an important point, but not exactly what should be at the top of the highlight reel), I probably won't be returning in any hurry. Too bad, as I was hoping to be able to brag about fine dining in Atlanta. Oh, well. Guess I'll have to save my pennies for Bacchinalia!

For the regular "sickies," I always gravitate toward ginger ale and soup. I know I'm feeling better when I can put crackers in the soup without feeling wonky. Strangely enough, after EVERY surgery I've had (and I've had MANY), my first impulse is, "I want McDonald's!" There's something about waking up from anesthesia that makes me jones for greasy fast food and its strange comforting qualities. Sadly, I never seem to remember that there's a reason the nurses warn you to go easy on your stomach after being put under--I usually end up feeling nasty a few hours later and then not eating again for a while. Slow learning curve. :-)

Last night was broiled salmon and tomatoes with garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and fresh thyme. Glad I didn't pay attention to the recipe's time guidelines--it said to cook the salmon for 8-10 minutes, but it took almost 20 in my oven! Delicious, though...followed up with a Bruster's milkshake!

Last night was chicken thighs with creamy spinach and shallots (from Real Simple magazine). The chicken was just okay (the skin could have been a little crispier, not sure why it wasn't), but the spinach was awesome--first I sauteed the shallots in some of the leftover chicken oil/fat, then I added a bit of dry Chardonnay and some sour cream, and then I briefly wilted the spinach. It gave the normally ho-hum greens some flavor kick. I also made key lime cupcakes to send with my fiance (still weird to say that) to work--YUM! Homemade cream cheese icing, too. I'm slowly getting over my fear of baking.

Some yummy dinners before and after my trip to Texas: * Shrimp and grits with red and green bell peppers, corn, canadian bacon, green onions, and cheddar cheese. * Shrimp quesadillas with onions, corn, garlic, tomatoes, jalapenos, lemon juice and cilantro. * Gnocchi (not homemade, sadly) with basil pesto and ricotta cheese.

Thanks for the tips about Parish and Belly. I've passed both while walking/jogging, and they're definitely on my to-do list. Jason and I had a nice dinner last night at Pura Vida, a local tapas joint that has been garnering very positive reviews. They have a nice selection of Spanish/Latin wines, both white and red, and they're all reasonably priced. They also have some specialty drinks that looked good, like a caiprinha (bad spelling, I know) and various mojitos. We started with yuca croquettes with a spicy avocado-chile sauce, and they were very good--light, crispy, not at all greasy. We also had hanger steak skewers with chimichurri sauce. When the waitress didn't ask how we wanted the steak done, I got worried, but the meat was tender and juicy (hanger is such a great cut) and the sauce was fresh and flavorful. For our second round, we tried "Mi Media Noche," which were 4-6 little pressed sandwiches with adobo pork, ham, house-made pickles, and spicy homemade mustard (think of a Cuban, only miniature). The meat and fillings were good, but the bread was a little dry. We also had a salad of local heirloom tomatoes (season's almost over, couldn't resist), which was perfectly salted and very refreshing. For dessert, we had a chocolate and ancho chile flan brulee. Aside from a slight layer of liquid at the bottom, this was very good--nice consistency, and the ancho chile didn't so much make the dish spicy as it brought out a new angle of the chocolate. The bill, including 4 tapas, dessert, one mixed drink, three glasses of wine, a coffee, and a port came to about $88--which, in my opinion, makes Pura Vida the kind of place that doesn't have to wait for a special occasion. But speaking of special occasions...while we were waiting for dessert, Jason proposed and I said yes! :-)

I think I've posted this elsewhere on the board, but one of my favorite make-ahead meals is chicken with tomatoes and thyme. You don't even have to thaw this one. Slice 1 lemon into rounds, and combine in a small bowl with a 28-ounce can diced tomatoes, 8 sprigs thyme, and 1 tablespoon capers. Season 4 small chicken thighs and 4 small chicken drumsticks with Kosher salt and pepper, and place 1 thigh and 1 leg in each of 4 quart-sized freezer bags. Divide the bowl mixture among the 4 plastic freezer bags. Freeze, for up to 3 months, until ready to cook. To cook, heat oven to 400° F. Remove the bags of chicken and tomatoes from the freezer (you’ll need 1 bag of chicken and tomatoes for each serving). Empty the contents of each bag into a baking dish. Drizzle with olive oil, using 1 1/2 teaspoons for each serving. Roast until the chicken is golden brown and cooked through, about 50 minutes. Again, you don't have to thaw before cooking, and it comes in individual portions in case you're only cooking for 1-2 people. I use the same freezer bag technique for fajitas, too, slicing up beef and peppers/onions and then just throwing it into a skillet when I'm ready to eat.

Hosted a small dinner party last weekend, and it was quite successful. For a cocktail-hour munchie, I prepared skewers of cantaloupe melon, prosciutto, and fresh mozzarella with basil-shallot oil for dipping. The main course was chicken and sausage cacciatore with grape tomatoes, mushrooms, red wine, rosemary, and basil. For dessert, I opted to make key lime cupcakes, and they were probably the hit of the evening. All recipes came from Bon Appetit magazine--and I was really pleased that such an impressive-tasting spread could be so easy and relatively affordable to throw together.

Boyfriend and I have been checking out a lot of local breakfast joints, so here's the report from the past few weeks... Highland Bakery: Our first visit was a Saturday around 11 AM. The place was crowded, but we snagged the last two seats at the counter. Coffee was fresh, though it could have been a tad stronger for my liking. I ordered the quesadilla benedict, which was just okay--the beans were cooked a little too al dente, and the hollandaise sauce was a bit thin. The eggs were cooked nicely, though, and the tortilla had a great crunch at the edges. Boyfriend got peanut butter french toast, and good LORD was it decadent. He also got some turkey sausage, but it was pretty standard. Service was fine, and while I appreciated the waitress' menu recommendations, they would have been more helpful if they had come at the BEGINNING of the meal instead of the end. Prices were fair for the portions, I think. We returned (with our new puppy!!!!) this past weekend, more like 9 AM on a Saturday morning. It was really nice to sit outside and watch the people and dogs go by. OJ tasted fresh-squeezed, and boyfriend enjoyed the peanut butter french toast as much as he did the first time around. This time, I went for the cilantro corn pancakes, and they were delicious and spicy and incredibly rich. Gato Bizco Cafe: This place is DEFINITELY going into my regular breakfast/brunch rotation. While the atmosphere might scare the tourists (and probably some locals), isn't that a good thing when all you want is to eat your yummy eggs in peace? Another bonus is you get to watch the hordes lined up in front of the Flying Biscuit and laugh, since you'll get the same biscuity goodness without the hellacious wait! We went at about 10:30 on a Saturday, and we only had to wait about 10 minutes for a seat. My boyfriend and I both had omelettes--his was the Felix (with ham and cheese and a few veggies), and mine was the garden (with peppers, onions, tomatoes, cheese, and cilantro). Both were perfectly cooked and very fresh-tasting, and they didn't skimp on the fillings. Let me put it this way--my dad's omelettes are my benchmark for perfection, and this is the closest I've found to that mark. We also split some Paris Texas Toast, which was good but fairly standard. The biscuits were AWESOME, since they were sliced and then thrown on the griddle with butter. The beans were good, but I didn't care for the taters--I just really like my breakfast potatoes to be crunchy, and these weren't. Coffee was strong and refilled frequently. Service was friendly and fast. Speaking of the Flying Biscuit: I never went before it "sold out" to the folks who own Moe's, but I had a decent breakfast experience at The Flying Biscuit. Went at about 10 on a Saturday, and since we were a party of 5, we waited about 30 minutes. No biggie, it was a nice day, and there's a cute little art shop to poke around in right down the block. Once we sat down, service was friendly and attentive, and food came out fast and hot. My egg white omelette with spinach, mushrooms, and goat cheese was fluffy and full of flavor. The potatoes were just okay, and the biscuit was actually kind of disappointing (it tasted good, but it wasn't warm and actually seemed a bit stale). Sweet potato pancakes were gobbled down by the toddler at the table, and everyone else seemed to enjoy their egg variations. Java Vino: I jogged by a few times and thought, "That's weird, is it a coffee house or a wine bar?" Lucky for me, it's BOTH! So far, I've only tried the coffee house side of the business, but I was certainly pleased with my breakfast experience. The variety of coffee is impressive, and the dedication to quality is evident. I'll definitely be returning to buy beans for home consumption. Boyfriend and I both had breakfast burritos in addition to our cups of joe, and they were tasty and filling. The atmosphere definitely has a local feel to it, and there were lots of regulars--I would normally find this fabulous and charming, but many of the folks were acting as if they were in their own living rooms (i.e., taking up tons of space and talking VERY loudly) instead of a public place. Perhaps I'll like the uber-social atmosphere when I come back to try the wine bar, but at 9 AM on a Sunday, I prefer things a little more chill. In any case, it seems like a great neighborhood place.

Quickie meals have been the theme in my house lately. Such as: Chicken salad with potatoes and arugula, using store-bought rotisserie chicken and a homemade Dijon vinaigrette. Honey chicken with grilled corn salad (with a homemade "BBQ" sauce of ketchup, soy sauce, white wine vinegar, garlic powder, and Tabasco)--I learned with this meal that grilling corn on an indoor grill pan is not such a great method. I should have either boiled the corn or roasted it in the oven. Potsticker salad with snap peas--sadly, I didn't have time to make my own dumplings, so I used frozen. Still very tasty. Chicken breasts sauteed with grape tomatoes, white wine, scallions, and tarragon--simple, but really yummy. Great acidity. I'm finding that "Real Simple" magazine is a great starting point for weeknight recipes, when I don't have the time or brainpower to be creative in the kitchen. It gives me a great canvas to work with, and with a few ingredient changes/additions, I have something that's really my own.

Went back to TWO urban licks with my parents earlier this week. The atmosphere felt very different on a Monday at 7 PM than it did on a Saturday at 9 PM--it wasn't as busy, of course, and the light hit things differently and made it seem a lot less hip. In fact, my dad even said he was expecting the space to be more "shi-shi." For appetizers, empanadas and calamari again. Instead of oxtail, the empanadas were filled with shortribs. Also, I asked for the crumbled queso on the side, since I remembered it overpowering the dish. The shortribs seemed a little less flavorful than the oxtail, but the meat was every bit as tender. Also, the smaller amount of cheese let us really taste the crust and the chipotle sauce, which was definitely a good thing. The calamari were, again, cooked perfectly and spiced nicely. I love that great balance between spicy and sweet. For entrees, mom went for the bronzed scallops with Gouda grits and smoked tomato broth--it got a wonderful review. Perfectly cooked scallops and creamy cheese grits? How can you go wrong?! Dad got the Maple Leaf Farms duck breast, which was stuffed with italian sausage and served with cayenne sweet potato puree and ancho BBQ jus. By far the best dish of the night, the flavors and textures were just amazing, even though the duck itself was just a touch overcooked. I went for the wahoo with summer squash and sunchokes; it was light and tasty, but the fish was a little dry. Our server was friendly, engaging, non-intrusive, non-awkward, and just generally a fun and interesting human being. He made great recommendations and chatted with us about other restaurants we've enjoyed (notably, The French Laundry, where my parents just dined last month). He talked about his travel to Asia. We debated about food blogging and molecular gastronomy and whether or not cupcakes have jumped the shark (they have). He was such a pleasant part of our dining experience, and I will certainly ask for him when I return. I only wanted to order one or two desserts, but because we were all in disagreement about what to choose, well, we went for three. Mom got the chocolate mousse rice crispy treat, and she really loved the chocolate malt ice cream. Dad got the bread pudding and said it was good but not great. I got the cupcake plate (previous conversation with the waiter be damned), which had three varieties: chocolate on chocolate, carrot cake and cream cheese icing, and banana caramel with (I think) lemon icing. The chocolate treat went right in the doggie bag for later, and I don't really dig on carrot cake, so that one went to my parents and they reported that it was one of the best versions of carrot cake they'd ever had. The banana lemon cupcake was incredibly moist and delicately flavored, and I liked it a lot more than I thought I would. The brown sugar ice cream that accompanied the cakes was absolutely amazing. So, another very nice meal at TWO. I don't know why people bash this place. It's tasty food in an interesting atmosphere with (in my experience, anyway) attentive service. It's not necessarily a dining revelation, and it definitely has small flaws that keep it out of the top rung of ATL restaurants, but it's a reliable and fun neighborhood joint and I am not ashamed to be a fan.

Last night brought meatball subs--made with homemade turkey meatballs! They were really good, with ground turkey (a mixture of 93% and 99% lean), breadcrumbs, dried basil and oregano, chopped red onions, minced garlic, milk, Egg Beaters, and some grated Parmesan. I just smooshed them with my hands, formed them into big spheres, and roasted them in a 400 degree oven for about 25 minutes. I finished them under the broiler (to brown the tops), placed them on whole-wheat hoagie rolls, and smothered them in marinara sauce (not homemade this time). Yum!

Heading to SA over Labor Day weekend--it'll be my first trip, but my BF spent some time there when he was in the Air Force, and he really loves the area. He is DYING to go to Mi Tierra, since it was one of his old favorites, but otherwise he's letting me take the lead on the restaurant search. I know we'll find plenty of good Tex-Mex, and probably some BBQ, but can anyone recommend a fine dining experience? I don't want to jinx anything, but there might be a ring appearing on my finger over this trip, and I thought it might be nice to celebrate somewhere a little fancier. Thanks for the feedback!

Last weekend, I made a really good "homemade" pizza (I was craving it, but GOOD pizza is both hard to find in Atlanta and NOT a part of my low-fat lifestyle). I didn't make the crust, opting instead for the more efficient pre-made whole wheat variety. I topped it with marinara sauce, grated fontina and parmesan (in modest quantities, I'm afraid), sliced red onions, and some turkey tenderloin that I had previously roasted, shredded, and tossed with a bit of balsamic vinegar. After baking that for about 12-14 minutes at 425 degrees, I topped the pie with arugula leaves and some shredded prosciutto. Yum! Last night was more roasted turkey tenderloin, teriyaki rice, and steamed broccoli. Not too creative, but healthy, tasty, and satisfying.

Wolverine, where did you end up going while you were visitin Atlanta? I'd love to hear your report!

After a few days off from cooking, I guess I was a little rusty--this dinner (seared scallops with lemon orzo) should have been a breeze, but it didn't go as planned. The orzo was cooked risotto-style in chicken broth and white wine (and some lemon juice, dried thyme, and sauteed chopped red onions), and I guess it turned out alright. It called for fresh chives, though, which I think would have added some nice flavor--but the ones I thought I had were actually past their prime, so I didn't end up being able to use them. The scallops were just supposed to be seasoned with salt and pepper and then seared for a few minutes on each side. Well, doofus that I am, I forgot to drizzle my stainless steel skillet with olive oil, so the first batch (at least I remembered to cook scallops in batches) completely stuck to the pan and were destroyed. I threw the second batch in my non-stick skillet, and they were fine, but they didn't get that nice browning effect AND I got distracted and overseasoned with the pepper. Grrrrrr. Par for the course this week, unfortunately--hopefully I'll be back on my game soon!

Not sure this satisfies plunk's requirements, and it's certainly not fancy, but whenever I need apps for a large group I gravitate toward one of my signature finger foods, "Hanky Panky." Funny name, but seriously tasty. And SO easy. Cook 1 lb. of ground beef and 1 lb. of hot pork sausage; remove from heat and drain fat. Add 1 lb. of cheese (I use Velveeta because it melts really well and, hey, I'm classy like that, but you could really use any non-oily cheese you prefer) and stir until melted and mixed well. Add salt, pepper, garlic powder, and oregano to taste. Split 8 English muffins (so you'll have 16 halves); spoon meat/cheese mixture onto muffins and freeze overnight on a baking sheet covered with foil. Whenever you're ready to serve (and these can keep in the freezer for quite some time, which is part of their magical wonderousness), bake at 350 for about 20-30 minutes. Then, switch from baking to broiling (on high) for a few minutes to brown the tops and make the cheese all bubbly. Cut into 4ths and serve to oohs and ahhs. I get requests for this ALL the time, so it seems to be a crowd-pleaser. I mean, meat and cheese on bread, how can you go wrong?!

The "Knoxville rubes" (and I won't take that personally, even though I lived there for three years--lol) might not appreciate Chang, but Atlanta food fanatics (like Rowdy) are all atwitter about driving the 3.5 hours north to re-experience the magic. I've never come across a chef with a more loyal and devoted following! If gas wasn't so $&%#@ expensive, I'd be taking a road trip this weekend. I never got to taste Chang's food (my time in DC and Atlanta didn't overlap much, if at all, with his), but based on everyone's reactions, I really need to. I can only hope that he stays put long enough for me to get to K-town for a football weekend.

This week has shown me that low-fat cooking can also be yummy... Monday: broiled salmon with herb mustard glaze (with Dijon and whole-grain mustards, white wine, fresh rosemary and thyme, and some other goodies), served with steamed broccoli. Moist and delicious, it was a tasty new way to spruce up my old standby fish. Thanks, Giada! Tuesday: One of my summer faves, Asian chicken thighs (marinated in soy sauce, sesame oil, honey, garlic, ginger, etc.) with minted cucumber salad (marinated with sesame oil, honey, seasoned rice vinegar, shallots, and serrano peppers). Alternates between spicy and cool--yum. Last night: An Emeril recipe. Grilled pork loins (rubbed with olive oil, salt, pepper, oregano, garlic, and chile powder) with grilled pineapple salsa (which had jalapenos, red onions, red bell peppers, cilantro, olive oil, and salt and pepper). I made a similar pineapple salsa with halibut recently, but grilling the fresh pineapple--as opposed to using canned--made an ENORMOUS difference in flavor. Duh, I know.