HungryChris

Zucchini crostini pizza HC

Dinner last night was baked boneless chicken leg quarters that had been stuffed with garlic cooked spinach, pine nuts and crumbled blue cheese and baked in tomato sauce. Fresh local corn on the cob. HC

Stir fried zucchini and onions, bruschetta, mango and blackberries. HC

Cheeseburger with pickles and onion on a portabella "roll". I had to let the bun cool off before I could pick it up, HC

Another breakfast for the "zucchini files" that I have a feeling I will be putting together. These were thin sliced and stir fried in a screaming hot wok with garlic, tajin, salt and pepper. Dusted with parmesan cheese on the plate. I remembered the hot sauce this time. HC

I have a shrimp and pasta combination that is in the works, minced garlic, butter, olive oil, fresh basil and oregano, chopped green onions, chopped fresh tomatoes, crushed red pepper flakes, capers, fresh peeled shrimp and dry sherry and a couple of bay leaves. It gets a little better each time, but like I say, it's in the works. Now lets talk a little more about fresh tomato. After my first tomato sandwich, first BLT, I have a next up on the horizon: Bruschetta. I had my first bruschetta late in life, but it was a game changer. Chopped fresh tomatoes, sweet onions, fresh basil and oregano, a little minced garlic, the best olive oil I can find, a bit of kosher salt, all dished out on garlic rubbed crostini at the last minute. HC

It got to 94 F here today. Time for an Irish coffee. HC

I have gotten rid of most of the weeds, but because I left the plants untended for so long, there is way too much fruit sitting right on the ground, which is asking for trouble. Those are the ones I use for fried green tomatoes or pick as soon as they start to turn. I grew the cucumbers outside of the garden, this year for more space. They are doing OK, but need more sun, I think. Still, I am happy with the way things have turned out. HC

It was so hot yesterday that we decided to have a cecchetti dinner with cold leftover chicken, TJ's shrimp puffs, and breaded mozzarella, along with crackers and TJ's sheep milk brie, potato salad and my own gardiniera. I must admit, that I pushed the limit on the breaded mozzarella because I cooked them with the last of the TJ's shrimp puffs, that I wanted crisp and the cheese leaked out a bit, oh well. HC

The Aldi nearest to me is across the way from a super Wallyworld too. The prices will take care of things, in time. Would you rather pay $5.49 for a small watermelon or $3.49 for a bigger one? There are many things in Wally's that just are not that cheap, plus it is often a real pain to go in. Often, the smallest package at Wally's is huge, say chicken wings at Wally's often are in packages of a dozen at $3.29 pp, and I can get a package of 6 at $1.99 pp at Aldi. The smaller package, alone will win me over, but the lower price just frosts the cake. HC

Toasted BLT, some pickled zucchini chips and marinated artichoke hearts. HC

FTDBLT's (First Tomato Day Bacon Lettuce and Tomato) tonight on warm, homemade, bread. When I saw Deb tuck into the third half sandwich, I knew it was a winner! Once again, we never made it to the potato salad. HC

I do like my fried zucchini, what else can I say? I'll be planting some more before it gets too hot, today, as my current plants seem to have peaked. HC

I bought a 4 1/2 lb chicken at Aldi and spatchcocked it, then removed the breast bone and cut it in half. I poked little holes in the breast skin (Julia Child episode I happened to see) and poked the drumstick ends through and cocked the wings per Julia. Both halves were marinated over night in Korean BBQ sauce(I now get my gochujang from Amazon). Grilled them for 45 minutes over indirect 350 F heat. Made a few nice salads. And called it dinner. HC

I went to my local Aldi this morning. I got 2 pkg of baby backs @ $1.99 pp, a watermelon, @$3.49 each and a few other items. But... they now have a permit application for selling beer and wine posted, which caught my attention. I was just wondering if they stock any interesting items in that category. Burman beer, perhaps? HC

East meets west. Aldi Beer Brat with onions, mustard and kimchi. HC

Fried eggs with breaded fried zucchini and fruit. HC

Crab cakes with lemon and garlic aioli, corn on the cob (under the towel) and potato salad. We never got to the potato salad. HC

We have had one or two in salads, but there is really only one way to celebrate FTD (first tomato day) and that is with a proper tomato sandwich. The zucchini chip pickles help, but only a little. HC

Watermelon sticks. This is the last of it, so the longer ones are in "short" supply. HC

Taco night. Shredded lettuce is an add on that does not go into the oven. Deb's orders. HC

As a second course, stir fried zucchini with garlic powder, tajin, S&P and served dusted with parmesan cheese. So good, I forgot the hot sauce. HC

Potato and cheese pierogis with onion and sour cream. HC

Fried green tomatoes topped with crab meat (a take on Superior Seafood, New Orleans) and Caesar salad. HC

Thin sliced sautéed zucchini, fresh tomato, mozzarella cheese broiled on a no knead bread crostini with a dash of tajin and a bit of kosher salt on the rest of the tomato. HC