The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!
You might be thinking I'm going crazy and getting ready for Christmas. Nope. The most wonderful time of the year in terms of eating is when Doug and I have our annual dinner at Geja's Cafe.
Geja's Cafe
Chicago, IL
I was way too busy eating and savoring to take pictures.
This is a fondue restaurant and it is my favorite restaurant. Doug and I went here the night we got engaged and since then we have been going back every year. I can't say enough good things about this place. It's very dark and romantic inside. It's fondue and there's not much better than dipping your food in cheese, frying your food in oil, and then dipping more food in chocolate. The service we've had has always been great too. I guess the only negatives would be that it's expensive and when you leave all your clothes smell like oil. But, it is sooooo worth it!
FYI - If you ever go, you can usually get a Groupon or Gejas will usually be having some kind of promotion that they will advertise on their website.
Grades:
Megan - A+ (One word....amazing)
Doug - A
Noelle - Noelle won't be eating here for a long time...maybe like 16 more years.
Tuesday, March 7, 2017
Monday, March 6, 2017
February 27th
Lemons Love Fish
Lemon and fish go together like ketchup and mustard, like peanut butter and jelly, like macaroni and cheese, right? Well...usually I think that's true.
Lemony Scallop Risotto
recipe from: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/lemony-shrimp-and-risotto-recipe
Wow - I'm really sorry that looks so disgusting in the picture. It wasn't the greatest dinner, but it was better than it looks there!
This was another one I thought was going to be a winner. It's from Giada...how could it be bad? Oh, maybe because I changed the recipe from shrimp to bay scallops. And maybe because I forgot to buy the arugula that was supposed to be in it. Yeah, and maybe because I used vegetable broth instead of chicken. The shrimp would've been really good in it. Scallops, not so much. The arugula not only would've added a good taste, but would've also made it look less like a blob of vomit and more like food you would want to eat. And, I think you need the chicken broth - sorry vegetarians.
That being said, I have made this before without scallops and it was good. If I were you, I'd make it wish shrimp or just plain with no protein. I wouldn't use bay scallops.
Grades:
Megan - C (This was edible and had a good lemon flavor. The scallops were just a little weird in it and there was something off. Like I said, the arugula would've helped and so would the chicken broth.)
Doug - B
Noelle - C- (Noelle actually said while eating this, "I love scallops." It's so strange, but she really does love them. She was SO excited to see scallops on her plate and she ate them all. Quickly. She was not so excited about the risotto. A couple tries and she was done. She just kept saying, "scallops, where are you?" and refusing the risotto.)
Lemon and fish go together like ketchup and mustard, like peanut butter and jelly, like macaroni and cheese, right? Well...usually I think that's true.
Lemony Scallop Risotto
recipe from: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/lemony-shrimp-and-risotto-recipe
Wow - I'm really sorry that looks so disgusting in the picture. It wasn't the greatest dinner, but it was better than it looks there!
This was another one I thought was going to be a winner. It's from Giada...how could it be bad? Oh, maybe because I changed the recipe from shrimp to bay scallops. And maybe because I forgot to buy the arugula that was supposed to be in it. Yeah, and maybe because I used vegetable broth instead of chicken. The shrimp would've been really good in it. Scallops, not so much. The arugula not only would've added a good taste, but would've also made it look less like a blob of vomit and more like food you would want to eat. And, I think you need the chicken broth - sorry vegetarians.
That being said, I have made this before without scallops and it was good. If I were you, I'd make it wish shrimp or just plain with no protein. I wouldn't use bay scallops.
Grades:
Megan - C (This was edible and had a good lemon flavor. The scallops were just a little weird in it and there was something off. Like I said, the arugula would've helped and so would the chicken broth.)
Doug - B
Noelle - C- (Noelle actually said while eating this, "I love scallops." It's so strange, but she really does love them. She was SO excited to see scallops on her plate and she ate them all. Quickly. She was not so excited about the risotto. A couple tries and she was done. She just kept saying, "scallops, where are you?" and refusing the risotto.)
February 26th
Salt Baby Diet
When Noelle was a baby I was always really worried about her eating salt since I read somewhere that baby's kidneys can't process salt. Doug thought I was crazy and said he thought salt was fine. Then he joked that he was going to create the "Salt Baby Diet." This diet has been an ongoing joke in our house. However, tonight I think Doug really was cooking for the Salt Baby Diet.
No-Sear Beef and Chickpea Stew
recipe from: http://recipes.177milkstreet.com/recipes/no-sear-lamb-or-beef-and-chickpea-stew
This recipe seemed promising since it is from Christopher Kimball, who after leaving America's Test Kitchen (one of my favorite cooking shows and cookbooks), has started his own cooking blog.
I think it could've been great...if it wasn't so salty.
I don't think I've ever thought something was so salty that I couldn't even eat it. I like salt and usually can handle a lot of it. However, this stew was just too salty! Doug said he followed the recipe and put in the amount of salt it asked for. So, if you make this, be sure to add WAAAYYY less salt. Like only add 1/4 of the amount. Then I think it will be delish!
Oh, and it says you can make it with beef or lamb. Jewel's lamb wasn't looking so great, so we made it with beef. Good for me since I'm not the biggest lamb fan anyway.
Grades:
Megan - D (It only got this grade because the salt made it pretty inedible and also gave it the nickname "salty stew." If it weren't ruined by the salt it probably would've been a high B or maybe even an A)
Doug - B-
Noelle - F (Noelle didn't say it was too salty, but I'm pretty sure she was thinking it. She ate a couple chickpeas and a couple bites of beef and was thinking, "no more Salt Baby Diet for me!" Usually she loves chickpeas and that couldn't even entice her. )
When Noelle was a baby I was always really worried about her eating salt since I read somewhere that baby's kidneys can't process salt. Doug thought I was crazy and said he thought salt was fine. Then he joked that he was going to create the "Salt Baby Diet." This diet has been an ongoing joke in our house. However, tonight I think Doug really was cooking for the Salt Baby Diet.
No-Sear Beef and Chickpea Stew
recipe from: http://recipes.177milkstreet.com/recipes/no-sear-lamb-or-beef-and-chickpea-stew
This recipe seemed promising since it is from Christopher Kimball, who after leaving America's Test Kitchen (one of my favorite cooking shows and cookbooks), has started his own cooking blog.
I think it could've been great...if it wasn't so salty.
I don't think I've ever thought something was so salty that I couldn't even eat it. I like salt and usually can handle a lot of it. However, this stew was just too salty! Doug said he followed the recipe and put in the amount of salt it asked for. So, if you make this, be sure to add WAAAYYY less salt. Like only add 1/4 of the amount. Then I think it will be delish!
Oh, and it says you can make it with beef or lamb. Jewel's lamb wasn't looking so great, so we made it with beef. Good for me since I'm not the biggest lamb fan anyway.
Grades:
Megan - D (It only got this grade because the salt made it pretty inedible and also gave it the nickname "salty stew." If it weren't ruined by the salt it probably would've been a high B or maybe even an A)
Doug - B-
Noelle - F (Noelle didn't say it was too salty, but I'm pretty sure she was thinking it. She ate a couple chickpeas and a couple bites of beef and was thinking, "no more Salt Baby Diet for me!" Usually she loves chickpeas and that couldn't even entice her. )
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