Kayak

I went kayaking today! It was so fun. Kayak Pittsburgh lets you rent kayaks for $15 for the first hour. We had a great time. I am hoping to go again soon. We did lunch at Atria's at PNC Park... seriously horrible service and food. I don't know if restaurants on the North Shore think that because of their location they can disregard service and quality of food. Really though they shouldn't. 

I also called 911 today and maybe saved someone's life or stopped a crime or something. I thought my new neighborhood was safe but now who knows. My roommate is gone for a few days. I decided not to go to the the beach because just about everyone backed out. Damn marrieds. And I ordered my books for grad school! I am starting to get excited about starting classes and nervous about the work. I know it will be a challenge and I am a bit crazy, I just hope I am strong enough to handle it. 

blueberries

My parents have had just a few blueberry bushes for as long as I can remember. Some years the crop was good and other years not so good. Some years my dad would create this crazy net contraption to keep the bird and deer away. For this the whole family would need to help in the yard. With the net thrown over us like trapped animals, waiting for my dad to secure it in place.

My dad is famous for his blueberry pancakes, growing up the neighbor kids always wanted to sleep over on the weekend, just so that they could be here for breakfast. Even as a teenager this was still true. We still have pancakes on a weekend morning but now babylove is old enough to have them and this morning I tried my hardest to out eat the baby of 19 lbs. I was only successful because her mother cut her off and we were able to tie at 3. But if she had her way I wouldn't have stood a chance. 

Independence Day

I like my independence. When I think about how I live my life as a 26 years old single female. I know I have more freedom than many women around the world or throughout history. I am thankful. 

East Aurora always does their fireworks the night before. My aunt and uncle have the perfect spot and we always know right where to find them. A bunch of the cousins were in from out of town so we started last night and continued the party today. It was good. 

Our picnic was a collaborative affair however my aunt and uncle carried most of it, wonderfully. My uncle did ribs- slow cooked, they were fall off the bone melt in your mouth delicious. I think I need to try making them, I never have. We played badminton, silly relay races and watched fireworks from the front yard. It was one of the best Independence Day's in a long time. 

grilled pizza

I have wanted to make grilled pizza for some time now and since I have been cooking so much this week it seemed like a good thing to try on the family. I did my research and felt ready, however my dad wasn't so sure, it took some convincing for him to follow my process but the results won him over. He might never make pizza in the oven again. 

Homemade Pizza Dough

1 1/2 packages of yeast

1 1/2 cup warm water plus more if needed

1 1/2 Tbsp. sugar

1 1/2 tsp. salt

1 1/2 Tbsp. oil

4 1/2 to 5 cups flour 

Combine the first three ingredients and let set for 5 minutes. Mix with a whisk. Add oil, salt and flour. Mix with a wooden spoon, then knead with your hands until dough is soft and smooth. If dough is sticky, add a small amount of flour. Put dough in a greased bowl, cover with a towel and put in a warm place for 45 minutes. 

While dough is rising. Prepare your toppings. I choose a variety. If you don't want to turn on the oven many of these can be done on the stove top or grill. 

Toppings List:

Mini sweet peppers - grille with a little salt, pepper and olive oil, just until they are soft and starting to blacken. Or roast in the oven with olive oil, salt and pepper until starting to blacken and become soft. 

Grape tomatoes and garlic - Separate garlic cloves, I used about 6, keep at least one layer of skin ~ this condenses the flavor but speeds the roasting process. Place in an oven safe container with grape tomatoes and cover with olive oil, salt and pepper. This can be placed in the oven or off direct flames on the grill. Tomatoes will burst and garlic will become soft. 

Onions - Slice onions and rub with olive oil, place on grill or in saute pan. 

Garlic infused olive oil - cloves of garlic, smashed with 1/2 cup olive oil, slowly heated. 

Browned Italian Sausage, pepperoni, mozzarella, fontina cheese and parmesan cheese. 

Separate the dough into a small section about the size of a baseball. Roll and flatten the dough using a rolling pin or your hand on a lightly floured surface, turning and flipping the dough will help shape the dough and prevent it from sticking. Continue separate and rolling the dough stacking the flattened dough  on a baking pan. 

When finished, set out toppings, if possible put them out on a table near the grill. 

Have 2 baking pans ready, tongs and a brush along with the garlic olive oil. 

Grill should be warm on medium low heat. 

Take the first flattened dough and brush one side with olive oil and place on the grill oil side down. Close the lid and let sit for 1-2 minutes. Check to see that it is done, grill marks should form. Using the tongs and an upside down baking pan remove the pizza, sliding it onto the pan. Brush the top side with olive oil and flip. On the now cooked side place your choice in toppings, sauce and cheese.

Using the tongs place back in a low heat area on the grill for about 4 to 5 minutes. The bottom should be grilled and the cheese melting. Repeat the process, doing more than one at a time if possible. 

My favorite was when we took the garlic, remove the skins, tomatoes, the oil from the roasting, peppers, onions and cheese (no sauce) and made a pizza. My dad loved the onion, (I used purple onions by the way) sausage and pepperoni with sauce and cheese. 

Truly amazing. They were seriously delicious and I cannot wait to make them again!

Famous Chicken

Summer is so great. My day consisted of reading a book about writing- which is really inspiring me to write more, taking 2 walks, playing with squirt guns and sitting by the kiddie pool in the back yard. Pretty rough. 

So this is my famous chicken marinate. It could be called Western New York Chicken because there are a few ingredients that you can only get in Western/Central New York. I am still in New York and since I really have nothing else to do mom asked me to make dinner again, more specifically my chicken. 

Super simple... super delicious. The problem is I don't have any measurements for this. It's more about how you feel it should be. 

Ingredients:

Chicken breasts - bone in, skin on (This is a cheaper, juicier option.) 

Basting Oil from Wegman's (It is actually grapeseed oil with herbs.)

Olive Oil (I prefer Virgin and Organic) 

1-2 Lemons

Balsamic Vinegar from Four Chimney's on Seneca Lake (It's not balsamic by any means, its very much red wine vinegar- but works perfect.) 

salt and pepper

Garlic - smashed and rough slice whole cloves

Salt and pepper the chicken well. I find it easiest to do the marinate in a plastic zipper bag. Place in bag. Place in cloves of garlic (1 per breast), zest the lemon- place in bag, quarter lemons and squeeze into bag. Throw lemons in bag. Coat with vinegar, grapeseed oil and olive oil. Your ration to acids ( including lemon and vinegar) to oils should be 1 to 2. 

Let marinate in the fridge for an 30 minutes to 2 hours. Bake in the oven at 375 for 45 minutes. Then put on the grill or under the broiler to crisp the skin.