Kitchin's Kitchen: June 2014

Friday, June 27, 2014

Summer Bucket List: Watch a sunrise

Watched the sunrise AND ran 2.15 miles. All before 7:00 am. Go me!

June Supper Club: Appetizers!

Two years ago my girlfriends and I started a Book Club. After a few months of realizing no one was reading the books and we all just wanted to drink wine, we decided to switch gears and start a Supper Club! We meet once a month at someone's house and each girl brings something to contribute. Appetizers was the theme for June and I'm so glad that's what we decided on! I made a cheese plate and prosciutto wrapped asparagus! Other apps included: BBQ sliders, Caprese Skewers, Mac N Cheese, Quesadillas, Southwestern Egg Rolls, Fruit Pizza, Cheddar Cheese Ball and Sausage "Crack" Dip!

You will need:

One bunch of asparagus, washed and trimmed

About 20 thin slices of prosciutto

olive oil

salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350. Drizzle asparagus with olive oil and sprinkle a little salt and pepper. Wrap each stalk with prosciutto. In this case, I did two asparagus per prosciutto. Place seam side down on a rimmed baking sheet. Bake for 15 minutes, the turn the oven up to 400 degrees and bake for an additional 5 minutes.

Enjoy!

Cheese platter!

Technically not "girls only" anymore!

Monday, June 16, 2014

Perfect Summer Weekend

This weekend we crossed off more items on the bucket list!! The weather was perfect and I was able to spend time with my friends, family and Joe!

Thomas loved Joe!

We started off by making Strawberry Cake Cookies for a cookout at our friend's house. Britney and James' had a few friends over for burgers and Cards Against Humanity. James was deployed today and won't be return until October. It was a great way to see him off.

Boardwalk Art Show 2014

Saturday we hopped on our bikes and went to the Boardwalk Art Show! I've been dying to go over the last few years. While we didn't buy anything, we saw a ton of great pieces to put on our wish list.

Fried food anyone??

I wish I had taken more pictures!!

We picked up Hilltop sandwiches from Taste and went back to the farm to wash the boat in preparation for the summer. We finished off the evening with a dip in the pool and homemade grilled pizzas. Similar to our homemade pizzas last summer, but we put these on Naan and grilled them for about 10 minutes. Delish!!

Father's day was spent on the boat fishing for who knows what with my parents. My sister and her man came later and we indulged in potato salad, burgers, grilled squash and homemade Italian cake made my sister, the baker.

Happy Father's Day!

Strawberry Cake Cookies

My amazing, fabulous coworker made these cookies for us at work one day and she forwarded me her altered recipe. They are so soft and moist, and were literally gone in an instant. To me, strawberries scream summer time, so I used this flavor for the cookout.

You will need:

2 boxes of cake mix, any flavor

3 eggs

1/2 cup of vegetable oil

1 tbsp of extract (we used vanilla)

sugar

Preheat oven to 375. Combine first 4 ingredients in a large bowl. Roll into small balls and dip the tops into the sugar. Place on a greased and floured baking sheet. Bake for 10 minutes. Centers will be soft and may fall a bit.

HOW EASY IS THAT?

For more recipes click here!

Friday, June 6, 2014

Chicken Parmesan Meatball Casserole

After way too much eating and drinking last week on vacation, I was craving a delicious homemade meal! This was really easy to make and I didn't feel too guilty eating it. Plus it's a great excuse to pair with a nice red wine :)

You will need:

For the meatballs:

1 pound ground lean chicken

1 cup panko bread crumbs

1 egg

1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning

1 tablespoon of minced garlic

1/4 cup of milk

1/2 cup grated Parmesan

For the casserole:

1 pound of ziti type of pasta

2 cups shredded mozzarella

1 jar of tomato sauce

Preheat oven to 450. Meanwhile in a start boiling a large pot of water for the pasta. Combine all the meatball ingredients together with your hands and form small 1 inch meatballs. Place on a parchment paper lined baking sheet. Cook in the oven for 10 minutes or until cooked all the way through. Reduce oven to 350 degrees. Once pasta is cooked (I used whole wheat organic fusilloni pasta), drain, and return to pot. Add cooked meatballs and the jar of sauce (I used organic Classico tomato sauce). Stir until consistent. Layer the meatball/pasta combo in a casserole dish and top with half of the shredded mozzarella. Top with the rest of the meatball/pasta combo and finish it off with a top layer of mozzarella. Cook on 350 for 20 minutes.

I should have added some salt to the meatballs but that's just my preference. Enjoy!

For more recipes: click here!!

Tuesday, June 3, 2014

Weddings Are Better in Flipflops

We spent the last week at the beautiful Dreams La Romana Resort in the Dominican Republic to celebrate the wedding of one of my oldest and dearest friends! Ashley and Travis kicked of their relationship our junior year of high school at my 17th birthday party on Cedar Island. They met on an island and fittingly got married on an island.

Ashley and I met in first grade at Norfolk Academy and immediately became friends. As kids we were often mistaken as twins (sometimes the Olsen's). Fortunately for me we have remained friends since then and I will always have a special place in my heart for her.

Travis and I met when we were in ninth grade at a middle school crew regatta. After dating another one of our friends for a few months, Travis and I still remained friends.. It was only fitting that I invited him to my island birthday party, because I obviously knew that he and Ashley would hit it off immediately.

The trip was one of a lifetime. Ashley and Travis's friends were the best ever. I miss them already. We spent our days in the sun drinking, reading, eating and lounging. Occasionally we would bust out a game of water polo or beach volleyball. When sober enough (or not) we went sailing or kayaking on site.

In lieu of a traditional rehearsal dinner, we traveled to Punta Cana for the day for a private catamaran cruise and snorkeling excursion. The crew was not prepared for our group, as we literally drank the boat dry. Luckily a skiff full of more alcohol arrived just before we started to plan a mutiny.

The wedding was Friday evening under a beautiful waterfront gazebo. The bride and groom wrote their own vows which coincidentally both mentioned "two legged and four legged children". Following the ceremony was a cocktail hour on the pier with entertainment from a local mariachi band. Dinner was a seated buffet, topped with a much needed rain dusting to keep things cool. We danced all night and continued the after party at the resorts discoteca!

With last week being Memorial Day weekend, that also meant the start of my 2014 Summer Bucket List! I was also to check off a few items already!!

Enjoying a frozen lemonade and modeling our flower crowns from Fairview Place

Swimming in the Natural Pool in Punta Cana

Just a handful of our group enjoying the beach!

Bride and Groom playing floating beer pong in the pool

Joe and I snorkeling in Punta Cana

I can't get enough of this

Congrats to Mr. and Dr. Powell!!!

For details on Ashley's bridal shower, click here!
For more on the 2014 Summer Bucket List, click here!

2014 Summer Bucket List

That time again!
Much like my attempted 2013 Summer Bucket List, I have created another for this summer (limiting it to only 50 items). Some items from last year have been repeated, but there are also many new things to try before Labor Day! Wish me luck!!