Corn and White Bean Soup

What happened to April showers bring May flowers?? The past few days have been so gray and chilly here in Arlington…perfect weather for a big pot of soup. I found a recipe for Summer Corn and White Bean Soup on Cooking Light's website and made a few changes. The recipe calls for fresh corn, but I was feeling hungry and lazy so I used canned corn. Also, I used Italian chicken sausage instead of ham for a little spicy kick that will remind you of what the weather's supposed to be like!

Corn and White Bean Soup:

(adapted from Cooking Light)

1 tablespoon olive oil

1 cup sliced green onions

2 links Italian chicken sausage, chopped

2 (15 oz.) cans corn

2 (15 oz.) cans white beans

2 (14 oz.) cans low sodium chicken broth

2 (4.5 oz.) cans chopped green chiles, undrained

Heat oil in a large pot over medium heat. Add the onions and the sausage and cook until sausage is slightly browned, stirring frequently. Stir in the corn and the remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil; reduce heat, cover, and simmer for 5-10 minutes.

Gimmick...with a Side of Sushi

When I go out for sushi I am looking for fresh and crisp flavors like cucumber, crab, and avocado. Do I want my sushi to taste like a Philly Cheesesteak? Absolutely not. Will I be ordering sushi at Sushi Rock any time soon? Doubtful.

Okay, okay…I didn't walk into Arlington's new sushi bar with a very open mind. I figured it'd be like a Japanese Hard Rock Cafe and I wasn't completely off base. I was greeted by Steve Perry and Journey blasting from the speakers. To the left of the entrance are zebra print booths and on the right is a bar backed by black and red drum sticks. This place has kitsch written all over it. It gets worse when you open the menu. Every item…from cocktails to main courses…has a rock and roll inspired name. You'll find the "Light My Fire" roll (with panko crusted shrimp) and the Bowie (an entree with salmon and potatoes). What you won't find are many classic sushi combinations. I ordered the "Wild Thing" roll which pairs tempura scallop and bacon and my friend ordered the "Satisfaction" roll which is steak, onion, and a spicy cheese sauce. Essentially a cheesesteak wrapped in rice instead of bread. Sushi Rock goes a bit overboard with the creativity.

While the sushi leaves a lot to be desired the drinks are a totally different story. From champagne cocktails to exotic fruity concoctions there's something for everybody. During happy hour (which lasts until 8pm…yay) cocktails are only $6 so you can enjoy a couple of the funky libations without breaking the bank! I'd love to hear what you think of the place so you should check out its Grand Opening Party coming up on May 26th from 6pm until close. I've heard rumors of karaoke and if those rumors are true you can bet I will be there…ready to sip and sing!

Basil Pesto

Sorry everyone, I've really be slacking with the posts. But, I didn't think you'd want to hear about how I had popcorn for dinner one night last week or how I overcooked the flank steak last night AND set off the smoke alarm. So, here's a very simple and delicious recipe for pesto. Well, it's simple if you have a food processor. If you don't then you should go buy one and make this. It's perfect over pasta or on a tomato and mozzarella sandwich. MMM.

Pesto:

(recipe in the style of my mama, which means no measurements, only approximations)

fresh basil leaves (enough to fill up your food processor)

2 garlic cloves

a few tablespoons of toasted pine nuts (optional)

a handful or two of parmesan cheese

olive oil

Throw the first three ingredients into the food processor and start pulsing. Once the ingredients are chopped, start streaming in the olive oil while the food processor is on. When it's totally pureed and combined, add the parmesan cheese and give it one last whir. Your house will smell like basil and garlic for days…yay.

Monday Meatballs

Did anyone else have a serious case of the Mondays yesterday? You know what I'm talking about. You wake up on the wrong side of the bed, wishing you had just one extra day in the weekend and needing numerous cups of coffee to get through the day. Yeah, yesterday was rough.

Fear not, dear readers (and by readers I mean my parents), I have found a cure. Here's what you do: on Saturday invite a friend over for dinner on Monday. On Sunday make a steaming hot pot of homemade meatballs. It's that easy. When you wake up feeling blue on Monday morning you will remember that you have a delicious meal and great company to look forward to and then Monday won't seem so bad.

Meatballs:

2 lbs. of ground beef

3/4 of a yellow onion

3 garlic cloves

2 handfuls of parsley

1 egg

2/3 cup of Italian breadcrumbs

2/3 cup of grated Parmesan cheese

Place beef in a large bowl. Use a food processor to finely chop the onion and garlic. Reserve 2 tbsp. for the sauce and add the rest to the beef. Chop the parsley in the food processor and add it to the bowl. Add the rest of the ingredients and use your hands to combine everything. Once all of the ingredients are evenly distributed throughout the meat form uniform balls using a soup spoon to measure.

Heat a little olive oil in a pan over medium high heat. Brown the meatballs on all sides. This imparts a great flavor and helps the meatballs keep their shape in the sauce (recipe below). When they are browned add them to your pot of sauce, bring to a slow boil, cover and let simmer for at least two hours.

Sauce:

2 tbsp. of diced onion and garlic

1 12 oz. can of tomato sauce

1 small can of tomato paste

1 cup of chicken stock

salt, pepper, and oregano for seasoning

4 basil leaves

Saute the onion and garlic in a little bit of olive oil until soft. Add tomato paste and enough chicken stock to liquify it. Season with salt, pepper, and oregano and add the can of tomato sauce as well. Bring to a boil over medium heat then lower to simmer. Before you serve it add some fresh basil leaves.