The Fruits of June

Not too long ago, I read Michael Pollan's The Omnivore's Dilemma. It's a great book that tracks back how four different meals are made. Michael discusses the benefits of eating with the seasons. Not only is the produce more fresh, but because they are in abundance, they're cheaper.

Tastes good and costs less!

For the month of June, check out: watermelon, strawberries, cantaloupe, cherries, blueberries, peaches, apricots, corn, lettuce.

Discover, month-by-month, the fruits and vegetables that you should buy here.

Beer-butt chicken

I'm a simple type of guy who likes to make food that's relatively simple. The other night, i made beer-butt chicken.

It's great, cheap, and super easy.

Ingredients
1 whole chicken fryer
Chicken Rub (any kind, Emeril, Lawry’s is especially good and local)
1 can of beer (1/2 – 3/4 full)

Directions

1. Remove the insides from the chicken
2. Wash inside and out with cold water, pat dry
3. Apply rub to the chicken (before you apply the rub, you can coat the skin with some softened butter if you want...mmmm butter)
4. Insert the can of beer into the chicken
5. Stand the chicken upright in a baking dish/pan, use the beer can to balance it
6. Cook at 350 for 1 ¼ -2 hrs (These are oven instructions. Also, if you have 3 hours It’s even better at a low heat on the grill or in the oven at 225-250)
7. Cook to internal temp of 180.

salmon onigiri

Chicago is starting to get festive. Despite the blizzard last night, people came in droves to K and my holiday party. We weren't expecting more than 5 people, but we had a healthy 20.

Since moving here I've felt always one-step off with the world. Last night spoke volumes of what can be. I'm excited.

K went crazy as usual whipping up a frenzy of treats. But not to brag or anything, but i rolled up my sleeves and contributed as well. We made salmon onigiri balls. We put the nori strips in a tall shot glass. The idea is to have everybody use it as a "napkin" to pick up the rice.


We also made mozzarella and cherry tomato halves:
Yummy! ok, well now we have a ton of clean up to do...

A meal in 30 minutes

I'm more of an eater than a cooker. When i saw a post in esquire about cooking four courses in 26 minutes, I knew I had to give it a shot.

After all, my fiance will be coming home at 9:30 pm from class tonight and what better thing to do than cook her a meal? From appetizer to dessert, this meal has it all:

• Sherry grapes
• Scallops with Boursin and radish spread
• Bourbon and Brown-Sugar Salmon
• Peanut Butter Cookies
  

Gourmet Meal in Half an Hour

Update: I'm happy to report that the Sherry grapes and Bourbon and Brown-Sugar Salmon are now part of my repertoire!