Crunchy Mustard Baked Salmon

Recipe: Crunchy Mustard Baked Salmon // Serious Eats
Side Recipes: Couscous (not pictured), Corn, & Roasted Broccoli

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I burnt the salmon topping a little bit in the broiler, but we still liked it. The corn was delicious for being so early in the season. We'll use this recipe again.

Vodka Cream Sauce, Pasta & Fresh Salad

Recipe: Vodka Cream Sauce // Serious Eats

Rating:

This was my most favorite vodka cream sauce that I've ever made. Seth is more talented at making them than me, so I used a recipe for success.

The salad was my first harvest from my tiny container garden. There is a 100% chance I ate a bug. Oh well. Fresh & delicious!

Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce

Recipe: Chicken Gyros with Tzatziki Sauce // Basil

Rating:

We liked these gyros very much. The chicken was flavorful & tender, and the tzitziki complimented it well. We also made hummus to snack on while we were cooking, but I thought it tasted good with the pita, too. I'll definitely make this again and I think it would be good for entertaining.

Tequila & Lime Turkey Chili

Recipe: Tequila & Lime Turkey Chili // Slow Cooker Revolution

Rating:

We made this for Cinco de Mayo. It was alright. I didn't love the texture of the turkey. The overall taste was unique - sweet for chili. It was an entirely edible meal, just not a favorite. I made Seth eat all the leftovers.

Braised Sweet Potato

Recipe: Braised Sweet Potato // How to Cook Everything

Rating:

This was an excellent side dish. Flavorful & healthy. I highly recommend.

We Recreate a BBQ Experience at Home

Recipe: Pulled Chicken in the Slow Cooker // Jesse Cardozo
Rating: 

Side Recipe: Macaroni & Cheese with Black Beans and Chipotle // Serious Eats

Rating:

Side Recipe: Roasted Russets with Chipotle Aioli // Moosewood Restaurant

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Appetizer: Fried (Baked) Pickles (not pictured) // Full Flavor Food

Rating:

In spite of the varied kitty ratings, this was a favorite meal! The chicken was superb, and not actually cooked by Seth or myself. Our friend Jesse was the master chef there, and we enjoyed it with smoked apple cheddar.

What Seth and I did make was all the side dishes. I enjoyed the idea of the mac & cheese, but our pasta ended up being overcooked because it finishes cooking on the stove. I would have preferred if the dish had been baked. But it was creamy, and I liked the addition of the chipotle and black beans for something a little heartier.

We've enjoyed the original roasted russets with chipotle aioli at Ithaca's Just a Taste Wine and Tapas bar. Ours were not as delicious as the original, but not a bad homemade attempt. I especially liked the chipotle aioli.

The fried baked pickles were edible, but nowhere near as tasty as the steaming-hot fried pickles we've had at varous pubs. I wouldn't make it again. Because they were baked, ours ended up dried out, and covered in an even dryer coating of panko and breadcrumbs. We ate them all because we were hungry, but not because we particularly enjoyed them!

Also pictured is some refreshing fruit salad that helped to lighten up the meal, and some store-bought cole slaw.

French Bread Pizza

Recipe: The Best French Bread Pizza // Serious Eats
Bread Recipe: French Baguette // Local Breads

Recipe:

Our French Bread Pizza turned out truly amazing. I started the bread in the morning, and by the afternoon we had some fresh, soft loaves. We didn't have crushed tomatoes, so we whizzed a can of whole peeled tomatoes around in the food processor. The pizza wasn't soggy in the least; our sauce cooked up nicely and we loved the garlic butter base. If I could give this five kitties, I would.