Crazy Week

Last week was a bit crazy, and there was not much time to post......So alas here is what I was up to at the dream house......

Monday

Greek Night
Grilled lamb chops with χωριάτικη σαλάτα Horiatiki or Greek salad, τζατζίκι Tzatziki (Greek yogurt and cucumber dip), and grilled Greek pita.  This is one of my all time favorite meals!!  It is very rare that you get an authentic Greek salad here in the states..... NO Greek salad does not have lettuce, nor does it have gloppy Italian dressing, rather it is simple, plain, and easy.

Greek Salad
-1 large hothouse cucumber 
-5 large ripe tomatoes
-1 large red onion
-2 green peppers
-1 handful good Kalamata olives
-2 large slices good feta (Greek, French, or Bulgarian)
-good Greek olive oil
-red wine vinegar
-sea salt
-dried oregano
Cut cucumber, tomatoes, onions, and green peppers into one inch pieces and place into a serving dish with olives.  Place slabs of feta on top and sprinkle with sea salt and oregano, and drizzle with two parts olive oil one part vinegar.


Tuesday

IICD house cooking competition Mexican style...... Secret ingredients : Snapper, fresh corn, cilantro, lemons, lime, mango, pineapple, tortilla chips, coconut milk, and chili.  Each person drew from a hat and could only use one cooking method..... The stove, the BBQ, the oven, or as in Ben's case no cooking at all.  Check out what they created.  Ben won with his Snapper and pineapple ceviche!!!

Wensday 
Grill night.  There weren't many people in the house so I made super simple grilled steak with grilled onions, fresh green beans with sea salt and butter, and an endive and blue cheese salad with pecans and a simple red wine vinaigrette.

Thursday
Ben's B Day and Tyson chicken finger subs..... No need to explain the picture says it all.... Needless to say I enjoyed myself and think I could eat these about once a year.... On Ben's birthday.

Friday
Idol night with Big Mike.  Big Mike was great and along with all the other guests loved my simple pasta with peas and pancetta.  This is one of my all time favorite pastas and was one of the first things I learned to cook while living in Italy.  I served it with a simple garden salad and a berry tiramisu. 

Pea and Pancetta Pasta
-1 box spaghetti
-1 large white onion
-2 large shallots
-1 bag frozen peas
-1 pint heavy cream
-salt and freshly ground black pepper
-1 teaspoon chili flakes
-olive oil
-grated pecorino cheese

Bring a large pot of salted water to the boil.  Finely dice onion and shallot and saute in olive oil and salt over medium heat making sure not to brown, until onions are translucent.  Add cream and over low heat simmer until reduced by half.  Add black pepper, chili and peas, cooking until the peas are just heated through.  Add pasta to sauce mix well over low heat, transfer to serving dish and liberally sprinkle with cheese.

Berry Tiramisu
-1 1/2 pints whipping cream
-24 oz mascarpone 
-2 teaspoons vanilla
-4 tablespoons sugar
-30 ladyfinger cookies
-4 cups fresh berries (whatever is fresh and in season)
-1 cup sweet white wine
- 1-2 oz dark 80% chocolate

With an electric mixer whip until fluffy, cream, mascarpone, vanilla, and 2 tablespoons of sugar.  In a separate bowl mix berries (if using strawberries slice them) sweet wine,  remaining sugar, and let sit for ten minuets.  In a large shallow dish with sides, place half the cookies in the bottom of the dish covering the surface in a single layer.  Next spoon half of the berries and their liquid evenly over the cookies, followed by half of the cream mixture again in an even layer over the berries.  Repeat the process smoothing the cream so it looks nice.  Finally with a grater, grate the chocolate over the cream in a thin layer.  Cover and let sit in the fridge for an hour before serving.