A perfect day

So yesterday was my birthday, making me officially "in my 30s." I don't usually bemoan getting older, and I didn't this time either. Maybe it's because I'm still relatively young, but I've always believed that every birthday is a cause for celebration. Every day of every year is a gift and I think they should be celebrated as such. This particular year I started celebrating on Saturday night with my friend Laura. We went to the Sugarland concert together and our husbands were kind enough to volunteer to drop us off and pick us up so we took full advantage of our designated drivers =) (although my husband insists hers got off easy drawing drop off duty). Sunday morning, on my birthday I decided Waffle House was most definitely on the agenda for breakfast so my husband, brother and I jumped in the car sans showers for some greasy hangover helper. For me, nothing cures the morning-after better than hashbrowns topped with cheese, chili and eggs, and this morning was no exception. Add in a fountain Diet Coke and I'm on my way to recovery. The remainder of the day was spent lounging on the couch and opening presents. Tough, I know. The gift pile contained

• A Garmin GPS, round 2, from my husband Robinson. I say "round 2" because he got me one for my birthday two years ago, which I absolutely loved, but was stolen when my car was broken into back in January. Rest assured, this one will be guarded very closely.
• A generous check from my parents to apply towards an upcoming trip Robinson and I are taking to Austin. One of his cousins, Frances, is getting married and we're taking an extended trip to make a little vacation out of it.
• From my sister, Jamie, and her boyfriend Eric, a subscription to Atlanta Magazine (which I requested), and a subscription to Food & Wine magazine. I've never read this one before, but as Jamie put it, "If it's about food, and about wine, it's got to be good!" I'd tend to agree.
• A memory foam pillow from my brother, Tyler (another request), and a Big City Slider Station (yes, As Seen On TV!). My brother can always be counted on for thoughtful, unique gifts and this is no exception. Can't wait to try this bar-food favorite at home.
• From my in-laws, an Oxo Mandolin and a subscription to Cooks Illustrated, both of which I'm super excited about. I specifically asked for this mandolin because it's able to cut french fries and crinkle/waffle fries, and I make a lot of homemade fries. And Cooks Illustrated was a total surprise but just goes to show how well they know me as it's such a great technical resource, especially for a "whys and hows" person like myself.

We rounded off the day with sushi for dinner - one of my absolute favorite things to eat. We did have to drive to 3 different places to find a sushi restaurant that was open on a Sunday, but it was worth it. Once you get that craving...

So all in all it was pretty much a perfect day. When I recapped it on Facebook, one of my old sorority sisters, Jenny, commented, "You haven't changed a bit since college!" and I laughed out loud because she was so right. It may not be for everyone, but for me, good food, a comfy couch and good company adds up to a perfect (birth)day every time.

Blue Moon Pizza

Last night we decided to try Blue Moon Pizza, in the Smyrna West Village off Atlanta Road. We had considered just having it delievered, but it was a Friday night and we felt like a few beers with our pizza so we decided to just go there, and check out the environment while we were at it. It was busy and just loud enough to be casual and welcoming, and the smells coming from the open pizza kitchen were equally welcoming. My brother and I grew up eating at places like this - the beer, wing, pizza places enjoyed by Little League teams, families, and single guys alike. I think pizza and wings were actually a food group in our house we ate them so often (along with fast food and Publix rotissiere chicken - it's a miracle we're not all 400 pounds).

So at Blue Moon we settled immediately on a dozen hot wings and a large "Classic" pizza (pepperoni, sausage, mushrooms, peppers and onions). If my dad had been there, he probably would have ordered 50 wings and 2 large pizzas, because my family always orders obscene quantities of food (Dad has been heard more than once saying, "do you think ____ will be enough? Better double it." But in their defense, they always take home and eat all of the leftovers, so when they shrug and say, "it won't go to waste" they really mean it).

We did have a laugh when our wings arrived all laid out and presented on a pizza platter - we're used to them always being in some sort of basket or bucket - but they were steaming hot and had just the right amount of sauce. The sauce itself was not hot by our standards (it usually isn't as eating spicy food is a sport in my family), but it had excellent flavor.

The pizza arrived 15 minutes or so later, and we immediately noticed the generous amount of toppings that liberally covered it. A few silent minutes later after we'd each had a few bites we all agreed "it was really good pie." My husband is quite picky about his sauce and he proclaimed Blue Moon's "very good" (along with Johnny's pizza and Domino's, but he dislikes Papa John's). Of the eight slices, we ended up with one left, which we happily brought home to savor and enjoy later.

We left full and happy, knowing it would not be long before we indulged ourselves again. Perhaps next time we'll try a stromboli, calzone or one of their more unique pizzas (the Sante Fe and Luna sounded good as well).

Laura's Cheesy Bread

My friend Laura brought this to a party years ago, and I remember thinking, "it's a good thing it's an edible bowl because I can't stop eating this!" It's great for Game Day (which is a holiday in the south and thus deserves capitalization), or any other time hot cheesy dip in a breadbowl seems appropriate... yep, pretty much whenever!

Ingredients
2 loaves White Mountain bread, unsliced
1 (8oz) pkg cream cheese, softened
½ cup sour cream
¼ cup hot salsa
1 ½ shredded cheddar cheese

Preheat oven to 400.

Cut ¼" slice from top of one loaf of bread and reserve. Remove center from bread leaving ½" thick shell.

Beat together cream cheese, sour cream, and salsa until smooth. Stir in cheddar cheese and spoon into bread shell. Place top back on bread, wrap entire loaf in foil and bake for 1 ½ hours.

Tear up the the inside pieces of from the bowl loaf along with the remaining loaf for dipping. Serve on a platter along side the hot dip.

White Chicken Chili

This is one of my favorite recipes. I started making it a few years ago and have recently tweaked it to what I consider its best potential. It's a nice change from traditional red chili, and my husband Robinson actually prefers it and requests it on a regular basis.

It's pretty versatile too as my mom has taken to adding diced tomatoes and spinach, and mixing in black beans with the white. I say this means its no longer "white" chili, but hey, whatever floats your boat!

Makes about 8 servings

Ingredients
~8 cups chicken stock
~2 lbs boneless, skinless chicken breasts
6 (19oz) cans cannellini beans
2 (4oz) cans chopped green chilis
1 medium-large white/yellow onion, chopped
2 T evoo
2 T minced garlic
2 T dried cumin
2 T chipotle chili powder
1 T chili powder
1 T dried oregano
1 T seasoned salt
1 tsp crushed red pepper
salt & pepper to taste
handful of fresh cilantro, chopped

*also needed: immersion blender, food processor or blender

In a large stock pot (I use an 8qt), saute onion, garlic, crushed red pepper and green chilis in evoo until onions begin to sweat and become tender. Add about 7 cups of stock and bring to a boil. Add chicken breasts and poach about 10 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through. Remove chicken breasts and set aside to cool.

Drain 5 cans of beans and add to stock. Using immersion blender (or food processor or blender), blend remaining can of beans with remaining cup of stock to make a thick bean puree (about the consistency of a thick gravy). Add to stock (this will help thicken the chili so it's more like a chili and less like a soup).

When chicken is cool, shred and return to pot. Add remaining seasonings except cilantro and simmer over about medium heat 20-30 minutes or until liquid reduces and thickens to desired consistency. Add cilantro about 5 minutes before serving.

Garnish with shredded cheese, sour cream and Fritos (or not, that's just how I like it =))

Quick & Easy Risotto

I know the words "quick & easy" don't usually come to mind in regards to risotto, but I have convinced more than one skeptic that it can be done. Recently my mom was making this with friends who were risotto veterans and who kept trying to convince her she had the instructions wrong. But, after a few convincing phone calls she took my word for it and everyone was, once again, pleasantly surprised.

This can be made into so many variations, and served as a side or a main dish. Below is my favorite side-dish version for Wild Mushroom Risotto.

Makes about 6 side-dish servings

Ingredients
2 ½ cups chicken stock
½ cups sherry or dry white wine
1 cup arborio rice
½ cup chopped onion (or shallots)
~6 oz mixed wild mushrooms (cremini, oyster, shitake, porcini, etc.)
1/2 cup parmesan cheese
1 T evoo
1 T butter
1 T minced garlic
fresh or dried thyme to taste
handful chopped, fresh parsley
S&P to taste

In a medium sauce pot with tight-fitting lid, melt butter with evoo and add onions and garlic, sauteing over medium heat until onions start to become soft and translucent. Add rice, increase heat slightly to about medium-high, and stir constantly for 1-2 minutes to coat and "toast" all of the rice. Add the mushrooms and the sherry and simmer, stirring for another 2-3 minutes, or until most of the liquid is absorbed.

(I know, sounds like regular old risotto up until now, but here is where it gets easy). Add stock, stirring to combine. Return to a simmer, cover and reduce heat to low for 20 minutes. Just like making regular rice.

After 20 minutes, uncover and stir, adding thyme, salt and pepper to taste. (You can adjust the consistency here if needed - if too wet, turn heat up and stir for a few minutes until more liquid is absorbed; if too dry, add more stock/water a few tablespoons at a time).

Stir in parmesan cheese and parsley and serve immediately.