"It’s My Day!"

27 Wednesday Oct 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Beer and Ale, Flying Pie Pizza, Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Things To Do, What's For Dinner?

≈ 1 Comment

Who is this? Actually, it’s my brother, Alex (love those argyle socks!!), and me in Pilani, India in 1957. Ahhhh. Ok. So what? Just two angelic 14 and 15 year old boys.

Here in Boise, there is one awesome Pizza Shop – Flying Pie Pizza. (There is a hot link in the sidebar of this page.) Still. So what? Every day they have a program called “It’s My Day”. If your name is Robin, Christopher, Connie, Tom, or a thousand other names, it is your day! You get to stop by and make a pizza. From scratch. With guidance. Fresh ingredients. Fun. Fun. Fun! So today, 27 October, the sign said, “If you were in India, it’s your day!” You have to prove it. I did. With this photo and several others. It’s all in fun and it was fun! It was great to have Joe Levitch there with us to celebrate “It’s My Day”. Thanks, Joe. So look at these photos and enjoy. I will explain what kind of pizza I made. You make your choice, within reason!

Joe Levitch, Flying Pie Pizza, Levco Builders and Levco Properties. Joe did the remodel on our kitchen. We are in Flying Pie Pizza on State Street in Boise.

Robin at the Salad Bar.

Filling out the ingredients we want on our pizza. Chimay is a must with pizza!

Ok. Here we go. (Love those dreadlocks!)

Bob preparing the pizza.

And Joe says, “I see you!”

Oh yes, the fire roasted tomatoes.

And what is in this pizza?

It’s My Day Pizza

Original Dough
Flying Pie “Our Famous Red Sauce”
Fresh Basil
Tangy Provolone Cheese
Smoked Gouda Cheese
Italian Salami
Marinated Artichoke Hearts
Fresh Sliced Mushrooms
Sliced Onions
Chunky Pineapple
Fire Roasted Tomatoes

And here is the pizza all cooked and ready to devour!

Thank-You all of the Flying Pie Pizza workers who helped us do this. It was absolutely fun. And we were able to eat our delicious pizza. It was good! Loved those Fire Roasted Tomatoes that gave the pizza a wonderful under tone flavor that added to the overall taste. And Joe, what can we say. Just Thank-You for joining us on our Fun Day! And if you are in Boise or you are going to visit Boise, try the Flying Pie Pizza. You’ll love it. It’s one of the best in the Northwest. Cheers!

Game Day Handwiches

27 Wednesday Oct 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Classic Sauces, Gameday, Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipe By: Robin Young, Things To Do, What's For Dinner?

≈ Leave a comment

Let’s see. If it’s Blue and Orange it must be Game Day! And, because of the colors, it must be Bronco Game Day! And that it was. Cold. Rain. Sleet. Snow in the mountains. And LaTech was a good opponent. BSU won 49 – 20, but not without some scary moments. Thanks LaTech for a great game! And Kellen Moore – Not only a Quarterback, but also a Punter, a Defenceman (he made a good tackle) and a Wide Receiver for a Touchdown! Sorry to disappoint the BCS people and not play Auburn or Oregon or some school like that, but your time is coming!! Remember Oklahoma? Or TCU? The Bronco Nation does.
And for the game, Robin put together these wonderful Game Day Handwiches with a great Cabbage Soup and Sliced Tomatoes. Serve these with a good Stella Artois and we’ve got a great game meal. The recipe is below the photos and in the meantime, take a look at this –

The Filling

The Circles

Folding the circles

Oven ready and brushed with melted butter

Game Day Handwiches fresh from the oven

Cabbage Soup

Dinner is presented

And now, the recipe!

Game Day Handwiches

Source: Robin Young
Yield: 4 Dozen

Ingredients – Pastry
3 c All-Purpose Flour
1 c Lard
1 c Whole Milk
1 lg Egg
1 t Salt
1 t Baking Powder
1 T Sugar
3 T Butter, melted and for brushing tops

Directions:
Mix by hand all ingredients, except for the melted butter, until the dough comes together. The dough should not be sticky when rolled out. Use a little more flour, if necessary. Set aside to rest.

Ingredients – Filling
2 lbs Ground Beef
1 c Chanterelle mushrooms, chopped
1 c Cremini mushrooms, chopped
½ c Onions, diced
1 c Béchamel
1 lg Egg
4 T Cabbage, large shred
½ c Bread Crumbs, dry and plain
Salt and Pepper to taste

Directions:
Pre-heat the oven to 400°F

Make a medium thick Béchamel. Set aside. (This can be made 24 hours in advance. Just keep it refrigerated.)

Sauté the mushrooms and the onion until golden brown. Set aside. In the same pan, sauté the ground beef until browned. Add the cabbage until wilted. Add the mushroom mixture. Heat throughout.

Add the Béchamel. Mix thoroughly

Roll out the dough. Cut into about 3” circles. Roll the cut circles again. This makes it easier to work with the filling. Place about 1 Tablespoon of the filling into each circle. Fold over and pinch the edges to seal.

Place on a cookie sheet and brush the top with the melted butter. Bake for about 20 – 25 minutes or until the tops are golden brown. Serve warm with a good cabbage soup. Enjoy the game!

—————-————–

So there you have it. Enjoy the recipe. If there is any filling left over, just freeze it and use it at a later time mixed with about 1 can of Fire Roasted Tomatoes and some pasta. Cheers!

Halloween Bounty

24 Sunday Oct 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in East Indian Food, Miss Donna, Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Things To Do

≈ Leave a comment

Robin and I are so very lucky! Marnie is learning to create cakes from scratch. And doing a superb job, too! And then there is Donna. So very talented when it comes to cookies, cakes, flowers and gardens!!! She called me the other day and asked if we wanted some Cabbage (wait until you see the photo of this one. Below), Butternut Squash and Cilantro. Of course we accepted. When I got there this afternoon, she also had a plate of fresh baked and decorated cookies, candy apple, and from the garden fresh cilantro, carrots and onion. This was awesome. Thank-You Donna for all of the goodies and Marnie for taking the time to learn a new craft. And Mac? Thanks for making Marnie the wine rack! It really looks good.

Donna’s Caramel Apple

Cookies by Donna
Ghost
Amputated Finders
Eyes
Pumpkin
Black Cat
Witch

Garden cabbage. 12″ from top to bottom and I bet 24 pounds if it weighs an ounce. Sauerkraut here we come!

Her garden vegetables
Radish
Onion
Cabbage
Carrots

The wine rack Mac made for Marnie

Who could ever ask for more? Not us!

Homemade Pasta and Alfredo Sauce

16 Saturday Oct 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Recipe By: Robin Young, Things To Do, What's For Dinner?

≈ 1 Comment

Yes, homemade pasta! Such a treat. Easy to do and you can add whatever you want. Herbs, spices, vegetables. You name it … you can add it to your pasta. Or you can just take the noodles, cook them and smother in browned butter and that’s dinner!

Here is Robin making the semolina pasta, fettucini to be exact. After it gets mixed, let it rest for an hour or so and then run it through a pasta mill.

Rolling the semolina dough thinner and thinner!

Cutting the fettucini from the sheet of dough.

The fettucini on a plate and dusted with flour.

And the finality ….

Artichoke and Chicken Fettucini in Alfredo Sauce

Fresh Steamed String Beans

Fresh Homemade Herbed French Sourdough Bread

1971 Weingut Dr Burklin-Wolf Riesling Auslese

——————–

Alfredo Sauce

5 tablespoons butter
2 garlic cloves, minced
1 cup heavy cream
1/4 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese
1/2 cup pecorino romano
3/4 cup mozzarella cheese
12 ounces fresh fettucini
2 chicken breasts grilled or poached and cut into bite size
8 marinated artichoke hearts or a small jar

Directions:
Prep Time: 5 mins

Total Time: 25 mins

1). Melt butter in medium saucepan over medium/low heat. Add the garlic, cream, white pepper and bring mixture to a simmer. Stir often.
2). Add the Parmesan and Romano cheese and simmer sauce for 8-10 minutes or until sauce has thickened and is smooth. Add chicken and artichoke hearts
3). When sauce has thickened add the Mozzarella cheese and stir until smooth. STIR FREQUENTLY.
4). While the sauce cooks, boil noodles for 3-5 minutes. Place pasta on serving plates and spoon sauce over pasta

——————————

So there you go! Have fun with this. Think of all the pasta varieties you can make. Cheers!

Wine Dinner at "the Buzz Bistro"

13 Wednesday Oct 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Things To Do, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food

≈ Leave a comment

12 October – Another fabulous Wine Dinner at the Buzz Bistro! This was, by far, one of the best dinners that Debbie has prepared for us. Everything went so very well with the wines. Cristi also did a great job selecting the wines
and doing the education program. Look at the photos of the course plates and the wines that were served with them. My scores are in (20), twenty being the highest. Scores this month were generally pretty high and to pick a “winner” was a challenge. If you are going to attend one of these dinners, please call the Buzz Bistro for reservations and for $15.00 per person, you can’t beat this night out. Hope to see you at the next dinner. Keep checking this blog for updates. Cheers!
There are several programs coming up during the next several months, so I will post them here as they are sent to me. And don’t forget too, on Saturdays, or on Game Day, the BSU Broncos are on Tom’s Big Screen!

Involtini di Vitello
(Veal Rolls)

2008 Rocca di Montemassi Le Focale Sangiovese
13.4% alc, (19), $16.00

Pomodori Ripieni
(Stuffed Tomatoes)

2009 Zonin Pinot Grigio
12% alc, (19), $10.00

Pasta all’Amatriciana
(Roman pasta sauce – Traditional)

2009 Bella Sera Chianti
13.0% alc, (18), $10.00

Insalata di Arance
(Orange Salad)

2009 Kris Pinot Grigio
12.5% alc, (19), $14.00

Main Plate
Herbed Pork
Patate con Rosmarino
(Potatoes with Rosemary and Garlic)
Carote al Marsala
(Carrots In Marsala)
Funghi trifolati
(Truffle -Style Mushrooms)

2007 Mannina Sangiovese
14.5% alc, (19), $23.00

Zuppa Inglesa
(Italian Custard)

2008 Luma Pinot Grigio
14.5% alc, (20), $14.00

Tomatillo Gazpacho

30 Thursday Sep 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Cinco de Mayo, Party Time, Recipe By Buddy, Things To Do

≈ Leave a comment

Facebook really is good for communicating and getting recipes. Here is one I asked for and received from Kevin Holland, from, I believe, Greenville, NC. This looks wonderful!

Tomatillo Gazpacho

Source: Kevin Holland, Greenville, NC and Facebook

Ingredients:
1 (14 ounce) can Chicken Broth
1 lb Tomatillo, quartered
1 lg clove Garlic, minced
2 T Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 med Avocados, finely diced
1 sm Cucumber, seeded and finely diced
1 lg Red Bell Pepper, finely diced
¼ sm Red Onion, finely diced
2 T fresh Cilantro, chopped
1 T fresh Lime juice
kosher Salt, to taste
fresh ground Black Pepper, to taste

Directions:
1). Heat broth over medium-high heat. Add tomatillos and garlic; bring to boil. Reduce heat and simmer until tomatillos are cooked through but still hold their shape, about 1 minute. Let cool slightly, about 5 minutes, then carefully puree mixture in blender along with olive oil.

2). Cool completely, then stir in remaining ingredients. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Refrigerate at least one hour before serving.”

Harvest Under The Stars

28 Tuesday Sep 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Interesting Information, Local Farmers Markets, Local Harvests, Local Markets, Party Time, Things To Do

≈ 1 Comment

I received this information from Wes Malvini and he asked me to post it. Looks like it could really be fun.

Harvest Under The Stars

Visit us for a magical, night under the stars where innocence and imagination take you back to the time of being a child! Event organizer, Wes Malvini has brought together Idaho’s finest agricultural producers, local restaurants, businesses, citizens, musicians, and wineries to support the adoption of children from foster care! The event begins in the early parts of the day as a “Family Fun Day”–with games and booths to celebr…ate Idaho’s harvest. Get your children’s photos taken in the pumpkin patch or shop for local produce as your kids jump in the fun house and paint pumpkins! If you’re just passing by, come on in and eat some lunch from Brenda’s Foods and other local, fresh, and organic producers!

Later in the evening come back down and listen to the “joyful melodies, funky grooves, (and) soaring harmonies”* of Finn Riggins and rythmic, acoustic blues by The Quartertons. Fill your stomach muscles with laughter and eye sockets with wonderment as local comedian Heath Harmison and Mentalist, Mental Wes take you down a new kind of rabbit hole.

But that’s not all! The night is catered by Idaho’s Bounty delicious selection of local and sustainable foods! Also Idaho wineries such as Holesinsky Organic Winery, Davis Creek Cellars, and Woodriver Cellars!

Forget your adult shoes at home and become a kid again! All proceeds for A New Beginning Adoption Agency which is a non-profit, private adoption agency licensed in Idaho, Oregon, and Utah. They have been providing adoption services in Idaho for six years and have been involved with the placement of 250 children placed into adoptive families.

The mission of A New Beginning is to create healthy adoptive parents, children, and birth parents through education, preparation, and support throughout and after the adoption process. They have developed pre-placement adoptive training that all adoptive parents are required to complete. They have also developed support groups for birth parents and offered counseling to every birth mother that enters their doors.

When: October 23rd, 2010 from 12:00-4:00 (for children and parents) and 6:00-9:30 (adults ONLY)

Where: North End Nursery North End Nursery, North End Organic Nursery, 2350 Hill Road, Boise, ID

Cost: $20.00 in advance (email Wes Malvini) $25.00 at the door. Or enter our COSTUME PARTY and receive $5 off your tickets a the door and enter to win great prizes!

Sponsors: Idaho’s Bounty, North End Organic Nursery, Holesinsky Winery, Davis Creek Cellars, Woodriver Cellars, Brenda’s Foods, Heath Harmison, Mental Wes, Domestic Jones, BC-Creative.

——————————

This looks like it might be a really interesting and fun affair. Cheers!

Gameday At "The Buzz"

26 Sunday Sep 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Bistro, Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Things To Do, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food

≈ Leave a comment

It was a beautiful fall day/evening in Boise, except for the Oregon State fans. Even the sky reflected its support of BSU. Look at those colors! BSU won the football game 37 – 24. But it was a hard fought game for both sides. BSU is now 3 – 0 on the season. Normally, we would watch the game at home. But the hype started at 7:00am here in Boise and went right through 9:00pm. ESPN had the Gameday Program here. So, we decided to watch the game at one of the local bistros.

the Buzz
The Invitation Sign

BSU Cake

BSU Cup Cakes

Sausage Appetizer

2007 Peltier Station Petite Sirah

Tailgate Platter

Good food; Good company; Good game! Such a fun time. Hope to see you at the next one! Cheers!

Oven Fried Zucchini Sticks

22 Wednesday Sep 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Main Dish, Party Time, Photos By: Bob Young, Photos By: MJ's Cakes, What's For Dinner?, Wine and Food

≈ Leave a comment

Actually, this is very good. Robin adapted this from a recipe she found on the web. She also added some tomatoes. Here is what she did and some photos. Cheers and Enjoy!

Oven Fried Zucchini Sticks

I used a whole egg, some ~ tsp garlic Evoo and ~ water – blended with a fork.
Dipped sicks in the egg mix then rolled them in the panko / oregano mix. Sprinkled grated Parmesan on top and a small drizzle of EVOO.

otherwise – the recipe is http://www.cooking.com/recipes-and-more/recipes/Oven-Fried-Zucchini-Sticks-recipe-9434.aspx

used the same panko mix on tomato halves … Cheese, Evoo … baked at 450 – I am afraid of 475!

—————————–

Le Menu

Romaine Lettuce Salad

Maniccotti

Oven Fried Zucchini Sticks

2007 Parducci Petite Syrah

Here are some photos.

Oven Fried Zucchini Sticks headed for the oven

Oven Fried Zucchini Sticks after “frying”

Parducci Winery Petite Syrah – Great with this dinner

Brunch At Bella Aquila In Eagle, ID

12 Sunday Sep 2010

Posted by Bob and Robin in Party Time, Photos, Photos By: Bob Young, Restaurant Reviews, Restaurants, Things To Do

≈ Leave a comment

On 12 September, a beautiful fallish day here in Boise, Marnie, Mac, Chris, Robin, Carmel Crock and I all went to Bella Aquila in Eagle for brunch. Ken Harris was there playing piano. Marnie is looking for someone to play and sing at her wedding reception on September 10, 2011 – that’s 09/10/11! The waterfall to the left is one of two that are on the patio. Enjoy the view of the Boise River, the sound of the waterfalls and good company and good music.
We had a wonderful brunch and I would recommend it if you are in the area and want a good brunch. The Bella Aquila is definitely a 4-Star restaurant. Prices range from $11.00 to $15.00. You can eat inside or, as we did on this beautiful day, eat on the patio. Below are the entrees we had. All of them very good.