My Weekend in Maryland!

I got to spend a weekend in Maryland this summer. Although it was a bit dreary the entire time I was there, the weather couldn't keep me down. First stop after a I touched down was G&M Restaurant in Baltimore. This place was packed and they are supposedly home of the best crab cakes in Maryland. They had a large menu with a great seafood selection, but there was only one thing on my mind...the crab cake! It was served simply, on a bare plate with slices of lemon and a garnish of parsley. No sauce, no frills, just CRAB. This was the most amazing crab cake I've ever had. Never have I seen anything like it. It was literally full of jumbo lump meat and I'm not even sure what was holding that heavenly mound of crab together because there were no breadcrumbs or filler, JUST CRAB. It was so moist and flavorful, plus I could sprinkle as much Old Bay seasoning on as I wanted because they keep it on the table right next to the salt and pepper shakers.

We happened to get ever so lucky and scored some tickets to the Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture. It really was awesome: so much history, artfully and carefully displayed. Taking you on a journey throughout time with amazing artifacts, videos, and experiences. I also got to see Oprah Winfrey's new exhibit while I was there (Yay!). One of the best things about this museum that I think makes it so unique is that they have a restaurant called Sweet Home Cafe that features African American themed cuisines throughout the United States. Of course I couldn't resist. After waiting in what seemed like and eternal line, I ordered from the "Agricultural South." They could barely keep up with the demand for food because the museum was packed full of people. Luckily, I was able to try the fried chicken, mac n cheese, collard greens, and sweet potatoes. That is my favorite soul food combination by the way, and yes it tasted as authentic as it looked. This cafe is the real deal! Everything was absolutely delicious. It took us about 4 hours (every moment well worth it!) to explore the museum but there was still so much we didn't see. If you are in the area, have the time, and are fortunate enough to get tickets, this museum is a must see.

  

Well, that was my weekend in a "crab shell" ;-)
I also got lucky at Maryland Live Casino, had some fun with Old Bay Themed Scratch offs, and I have to give a quick shout out to The Bagelry in Silver Spring...so good!

  

Garlic Parmesan Zucchini

Summer squash has been really yummy lately. For dinner tonight I made some beautiful zucchini. The colors are just gorgeous when they are grilled and they taste so good. This is a simple and easy recipe that has great flavor and takes no time at all. I used a grill pan but you can totally use a real grill especially if you're already grilling other things. Also, in this recipe I use garlic powder--normally I'm not a huge fan of substituting fresh when it comes to garlic, however in this particular recipe I think it just makes sense. You can cut the zucchini however you want but when grilling I like to cut them lengthwise because it looks so darn pretty.

  

Ingredients
serves about 2-3 people
1 large zucchini or 2 small
3 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon pepper
1 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 cup freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano

Preparation
Preheat grill pan over medium high heat. Wash the zucchini well then pat dry. Slice the zucchini lengthwise cutting it into 1/4 inch slices. Drizzle the zucchini with olive oil, then sprinkle each side with salt, pepper, and garlic powder. Grill the zucchini in the pan over medium high heat for about 1 minute on each side. Careful not to move the pieces too much so they can have nice even grill marks. Remove the zucchini from the pan and top with the freshly grated Parmigiano Reggiano. Serve warm or room temperature.

The Best Cookies Ever!

A few years ago a good friend of mine introduced me to the most delicious gluten free oatmeal chocolate chip cookie clusters I've ever had...and I've been obsessed ever since! Everyone loves these cookies. You can't even tell that they are gluten free! They are so moist (I know, I used the word moist :) and chewy with the perfect amount of chocolate chips, with little bites of walnuts. When I asked her for the recipe, she told me that she got it off the back of a Trader Joe's Gluten Free Oatmeal bag--I couldn't believe it! I found the recipe and it is so simple and straight forward. All you need is a spoon and a bowl and these cookies practically make themselves-- no stand mixer required. I guarantee this yummy, protein packed snack will become your new fav!

  

Ingredients
makes about 48 cookies

1/4 cup salted butter, softened

3/4 cup brown sugar

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 cup of peanut butter (or any nut butter, ie. sunflower, cashew, almond)

3 cups of Rolled Oats

6 ounces of chocolate chips

1/2 cup of chopped walnuts (or any nut you prefer)

Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a medium bowl, cream the butter and both sugars until well combined. Add in baking soda, eggs, vanilla, and peanut butter. Finally, stir in oats, chocolate chips, and nuts. On a baking sheet spoon out 1 1/2 inch clusters of cookie dough on baking sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes. Let cool before removing from cookie sheet.

Fruit and Nut Chicken Salad

This delicious protein packed salad is a lunchtime favorite in my house. Its full of juicy grapes, apples and sweet golden raisins. I usually make a huge batch at the beginning of the week and that takes care of all our lunches and snacks for the week (unless we gobble it up the first day!). Whether all by itself or in a sandwich--its so convenient to have this yummy salad on hand. Oh yeah, and its paleo too!

  

Ingredients
makes about 1 quart of salad
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 Tablespoon country Dijon mustard
2 roasted chicken breast, cubed
15 red seedless grapes, halved
1/2 of medium Fuji or Gala apple, small diced
1/4 cup golden raisins
1/4 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1 Tablespoons lemon Juice
1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Preparation
Remove roasted chicken from the bone and cut into small cubes.
In a medium bowl whisk the mayonnaise and mustard together until well combined. Add the chicken, grapes, apples, raisins, and nuts to the mayonnaise mixture. Mix until all ingredients are well coated. Stir in lemon juice and salt and pepper. Serve chilled or at room temperature.

Perfectly Roasted Chicken Breast

This is an easy way to make juicy white meat chicken--perfect for salads, soups, pot pies, etc. or even as an easy main entree. I love set-it-and-forget-it recipes and this chicken comes out golden brown, juicy, and delicious every time!

    

Ingredients
2 split chicken breast with ribs
2 Tablespoons of olive oil
2 teaspoons of kosher salt
1 teaspoon of pepper

Preparation
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. On a sheet pan lather chicken breast with olive oil. Sprinkle both sides with salt and pepper. Place in oven and roast for about 50 minutes until chicken is cooked through or juices run clear.