Pittsburgh Bottleshop Cafe

So Fashion G and I did a little back to school shopping for teacher stuff- nothing fun like clothes. Then decided to stop at this great place in Bridgeville for a late lunch. The Pittsburgh Bottleshop Cafe is your typical local bar. Clean and well decorated, nice bar and excellent choice on drinks. Menu was just right not overwhelming, with a good selection of bar food. Fashion G got the Veggie Wrap which had this really great hummus. I had the Chicken Salad with Buffalo style chicken. I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't breaded. Food was delicious, service was good. Even though we were there in the afternoon I am sure they get a decent happy hour and weekend crowd. I'll visit again. 

The Pittsburgh Bottleshop Cafe

1597 Washington Pike

Bridgeville, PA 15017

Not ready to start back to work in a week. Just hoping to enjoy my last few days of vacation. 

Shish Kabobs

I haven't cooked for just me all summer long. But I was feeling a little hungover from Friday night and decided to make dinner. Friday night Queen Kittanning and her hubby were having a picnic and since she is 6 months prego I drove up to help with the food and hang out. I love their new house and being around them, definitely two of my favorite people in the world. So we had good food and drank way into the wee hours of the morning, well not prego but her husband and his coaching buddies.

But that's that. I figured my hangover meal should be shish kabobs. Picked up a nice hormone free round top steak and some rye bread from the market. 

Cube the steak 

Marinate for 45 minutes- I love Adolph's meat marinate but it's hard to find. 

Sliced into large chunks peppers and onions. 

Skewer and grill until cooked. 

With it brown rice, tablespoon of butter, 1/4 cup of chopped onion and organic chicken broth. 

Sat on the back porch and enjoyed. My neighbors I am sure can't figure us out. We have only lived here a month and a half but being summer we're rarely here and especially at the same time. I swear I felt their eyes upon me as I sat on my porch eating alone. Oh well, the night was nice and the food simple and filling.

Later went to Tilt in Gibsonia, crazy local bar with the roomies sis. Amusing to say the least.

Camping

Headed up to Breakneck Campgrounds in Portersville for a few days of wilderness fun with some girls from college. We did well despite some of the girls husbands believing we couldn't handle ourselves. The first night we cooked chicken marinated in italian dressing, on the fire and baked potatoes with onions, sour cream and cheddar cheese. A simple green salad and garlic bread completed the dinner. Smores for dessert. I love cooking on an open fire. Something about being in the woods, crouching low, avoiding the smoke and hoping that the flame stays consistent as you cook your food, just love it. We did eggs, hashbrowns and bagels for breakfast. Biking, swimming and a picnic lunch at Moraine State Park. Even Stacy 6 months pregnant got on the bike and did 6 miles. She probably did better than the rest of us. Hot dogs, green salad, and potato salad for dinner. I will only eat hot dogs when I can roast them over the fire on a stick. They just taste better that way. And once again smores for dessert! We did a cold breakfast of pop tarts, grapes and bagels before packing up camp and heading to McConnell Mills for a hike. 

It was nice just to reconnect with women who were such a big part of my life for four years. We supported each other through everything. Even though we now live far apart and our lives seem to be headed in different directions I appreciate the fact that we each made it a priority to be there. I love these girls and am so thankful for them. 

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!