food glorious food

We had our 2nd annual girls weekend recently which was just as fantastic as last year. New recipes to try which is much easier when you've got a kitchen full of experienced cooks to make everything go soo much faster!! Oh the food!

My ancient Chinese secret marinated chicken on the grill. Ok, not ancient but still secret, mostly because I toss all sorts of herbs and spices in it. So good!! :)

Cut up veggies with some balsamic viniagrette in a foil pouch on the grill.

My dinner plate-the grilled pineapple was our dessert, simple and sweet!

But the highlight for dinner by far was this amazing BLT pasta salad. I couldn't stop eating it, none of us could. I've already made it again for my family. The recipe is from Woman's Day and I added one step which is a concept I stole from Giada De Laurentiis' italian cooking. A lovely dish to bring to cookouts this Labor Day weekend or maybe you just don't want to share it so keep it at home instead. :)

BLT Pasta Salad
Ingredients
1 8oz. box of Debole's Brown Rice Penne Pasta (try it even if you're not g.f.)
1/2 lb. sliced turkey bacon (about 9 slices)
1 small red onion, sliced
1 pint grape or cherry tomatoes, halved
1 bunch arugula, thick stems discarded, torn into pieces (I bought arugula already in a container so didn't have to do this)
1 Tblsp olive oil
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper

Directions:
1. Cook pasta according to package directions. When draining, reserve 1/4 cup of pasta water (Giada step) then rinse pasta with cold water, drain. Transfer pasta into large serving dish.
2. Meanwhile, cook the bacon in a large skillet over medium heat until crisp, 6 to 8 minutes; transfer to a paper towel-lined plate. Cool, break into pieces.
3. Since you are using turkey bacon, add about 1 Tblsp of olive oil to the bacon grease. If using regular bacon, discard all but 2 Tblsp of drippings. Keeping skillet at medium heat, add onion, season with salt and pepper, cook, stirring occasionally until tender, 5 to 6 minutes. Add the tomatoes and arugula and cook, tossing for 1-2 minutes (until arugula is heated through and becomes smaller and tomatoes are softening).
4. Add onion-tomato mixture to the pasta. Return skillet to stove and add in 1/4 cup reserved pasta water, stir to loosen bits-30 seconds or so then add to pasta. Toss salad lightly and fold in the bacon. Serve hot or at room temperature.

The arugula gives a great "bite" to this dish. It's light but very filling. My favorite kind of dish!

For breakfast the next morning, my sister-in-law shared her recipe for these wonderful mini-frittatas. Mix up eggs with some water or milk, grease muffin tins, pour in eggs then add your favorites: peppers, onions, sausage, bacon, cheese...Look how cute they are!

And it was a beach theme this year, oh ocean, how I love thee. It was a perfect day and just a perfect weekend!


I can't wait for next year which is slated to be during the Olympics so it will definitely be a games themed weekend. So fun!!