Reasonably So

Everyone warned me that I would be eating out and ordering in all the time after moving to New York–isn’t it funny that I’m inclined to call it a warning? As if it’s a bad thing! I think eating out is a LOVELY and wonderful and delicious treat. Especially here! Where there are so many world renowned restaurants and chefs in such a concentrated area! Certainly I can’t quite afford (yet) the elaborate meals, but after saving some more, I plan to eat out most heartily!

It’s more the ordering in part that gets to me. First and foremost, the steps I’ve taken and skills I’ve honed as a home cook have only made me more critical about ordering in (and sadly, sometimes, eating out, too). If I can make something equally well (if not better) I wind up disappointed by the experience. And almost completely unrelated, I would rather walk to the store and cook for myself because it means spending less and I don’t have to tip anyone.

So regardless of my opinions and feelings, I’m happy to pronounce that we have cooked LOTS since moving to NYC! We’re fortunate to have ample kitchen space (thank you Brooklyn!) and a patio where we keep our grill. Moreover, we are SO lucky to be near such a wonderful resource in the Bartel Pritchard Square Greenmarket just around the corner. I believe ALL of the meals below featured ingredients from there.

This was a grill meal. So tasty and simple. Twice grilled potatoes (leftovers from another meal you’ll see below), grilled pepper, and a grilled “Argentine” marinated steak. This was our serving plate, mind you. I did not eat ALL of that (though, in retrospect, I wish I had). We picked up the steak at the United Meat Market on Prospect Park West– a place Alex and I have both grown to love (it really didn’t take long!) The marinade was sort of a chimichurri style. It was fantastic, no matter what it was.

I saw a recipe for Zucchini Fries via The Kitchn which, I guess, had found it via Ceramic Canvas (beautiful food blog, I’m glad I discovered it!). I knew I had to try that, especially because the zucchini we’d been getting from the market had been fantastic.

Oh my heavens. So delicious. And we paired them with Mozzarella in Carozza (or Grilled Mozzarella Sandwiches), a Mario Batali recipe that I LOVE SO MUCH. It’s such an ultimate comfort food. So heavenly.

Mmmmm. Just looking at this picture is making me drool for it all over. I wish, on this day, I’d had some marinara sauce to dip, but I’ll just have to dream about it til next time.

Alex did this one on the grill. He made it for me after my first day at work. I came back utterly exhausted and only wanting to drink a beer and eat this delicious thing. Chicken breast with I can’t remember what on it, but it was tasty tasty. Grilled asparagus, grilled potatoes. So good. He’s such a champ.

Another Alex-grilled-masterpiece: pollock grilled in packets with lemon, zucchini and cherry tomatoes. Plus the best fresh corn (grilled of course!) I had all summer.

Just some examples that we’re holding our own. And these are only the ones I’ve remembered to photograph. We had an amazing grilled steak and summer vegetable fajita dinner last night with my sister. I made some delicious pork stir fry the other night for Alex after his first day of work. And that’s only scratching the surface! Once I get my act together, I’ll be back to hosting dinner parties in no time!