It's Back to School Eve!

Tomorrow LBA will start 7th! grade and SoBA will enter the 4th! grade.  I'm not exactly sure when the boys got that old.  We had quiche tonight, which Mrs. BA makes very well, albeit made last night.  I didn't have a recipe queued up for tonight, nor did I have any recipes worth sharing for tonight's recipe until, VIOLA! BuzzFeed to the rescue again.

I made a simple easy, chicken parm the other night, which both boys ate voraciously.  LBA even had some the next day as a sandwich, and then again for leftover dinner the next evening.

Crispy Chicken Parmesean

INGREDIENTS

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• 1 teaspoon salt
• ½ teaspoon pepper
• ½ teaspoon onion powder
• 1 cup flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup seasoned bread crumbs
• 2 cups marinara sauce
• 8 slices of fresh mozzarella
• ½ cup grated Parmesan
• Basil, thinly sliced, to serve 

PREPARATION

1. Preheat oven to 450°F (230°C).
2. Cut the chicken breasts in half widthwise to make 4 thin breasts.
3. Season the chicken with salt, pepper, and onion powder.
4. Coat the chicken in flour, then egg, and then bread crumbs.
5. Heat oil in a cast iron skillet and fry the chicken on both sides until brown, about 4 minutes each side. Transfer to a paper towel-lined plate to drain.
6. Place the fried chicken breasts in a baking dish. If they don’t fit side by side, gently overlap them.
7. Pour the marinara over the chicken and top with mozzarella slices and Parmesan.
8. Bake for 10-15 minutes, or until the cheese is browned and bubbling.
9. Serve with freshly chopped basil.
10. Enjoy!

Creamy Lemon Chicken

I made this a few weeks ago for the Clan.  It was well received - even by SoBA is a little bit picky.  He just needs to remember there is more to life than Pasta and Peas. Via BuzzFeed.

Creamy Lemon Chicken

INGREDIENTS

• 2 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
• Salt, to taste
• Pepper, to taste
• 1 cup flour
• 1½ tablespoons butter
• 1 tablespoon olive oil
• 1¼ cups chicken stock
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon pepper
• 1 lemon, juiced
• 1 lemon, sliced
• Parsley
• Salt
• Pepper

PREPARATION

• On a cutting board, cut the chicken breasts in half, widthwise.
• Lay chicken flat and season both sides with salt and pepper.
• Gently coat the chicken pieces in the flour, shaking off any excess.
• Heat a skillet on medium heat and add the butter and oil, swirling together to coat the pan.
• Place the chicken breasts into the pan and cook for 3-5 minutes or until golden brown.
• Flip the chicken and cook the other side, another 3-5 minutes, or until chicken is cooked through.
• Remove the chicken from the skillet and set aside.
• Pour ¼ cup of the chicken stock in the pan and scrape up any bits that may have stuck to the bottom of the pan.
• Add the rest of the stock and the cream and stir.
• Season with salt and pepper, and add the lemon juice.
• Simmer for 5 minutes. Add the chicken back to the pan and top with sliced lemons.
• Spoon the sauce over the chicken.
• Remove from heat. Sauce will thicken as it cools.
• Serve with parsley and extra sauce.
• Enjoy!

It's August - Let's Get Drunk!

The Brave Astronaut Clan is sans a summer vacation this year - although we are getting away for a few days to visit the Brave Astronaut's sister in North Carolina, where the boys will spend the week, though Mrs. BA and I will only be there for about 36 hours.

We will have to try and fit in the drinking into that period of time (via BuzzFeed).  This is my favorite of the five from the link.

Raspberry Mojito Punch
Serving: 1

INGREDIENTS

• 1/2 lime, cut into wedges
• 5-6 raspberries (a nice handful of 'em)
• 1 spoonful of sugar
• 10-12 mint leaves (a good bunch)
• 2 ounces white rum
• Club soda

PREPARATION

1. Throw the lime wedges, raspberries, mint, and sugar into a glass.
2. Using a muddler or wooden spoon, press down on the ingredients to mush them all together and get all of the juice out of the lime wedges.
3. Add ice and pour in rum (you can just eyeball the amount, if you don't have something handy to measure) and then top the glass off with club soda.
4. If you want it a little more or less sweet, you can always add slightly more or slightly less sugar. It's also delicious with less rum, or no rum at all. Play around with the recipe and find the right ratio for you and your friends.

I'm Bored! Let's Do Something!

Welcome to the August doldrums.  There's no more camp for LBA and SoBA (that will come as good news to SoBA, who did not have the greatest summer camp experience this year - not sure about LBA though).  Mrs. BA and I are working on various plans to keep LBA and SoBA occupied until school starts later this month.

Here's a list from DCist of "14 Places to Go With Kids In and Around DC."

NATIONAL CAPITAL TROLLEY MUSEUM: This could be fun.

ANACOSTIA SKATING RINK: We tend toward indoor skating at the SkateZone, but this would be a different perspective.

THE FREER AND SACKLER GALLERIES:  Museums are usually a good way to go when it's either too hot or raining, something it does a lot in August.

KENILWORTH PARK AND AQUATIC GARDENS:  This is a popular destination from our little corner of the world.  I should really go there.

NEWSEUM: Been there before and would go back - but it's always hard to reconcile paying for a museum in a town where all the museums are free.

ROOSEVELT MEMORIAL: Definitely in my top 5 of the many memorials around the city.

2 AMYS: Although I might opt for the new Pizza Paradiso that just opened closed to home.

NATIONALS PARK: We've only been to a few games so far this season - but SoBA and LBA are going to a clinic there on Saturday morning and then we are all going to the game on Saturday night.

EAST POTOMAC GOLF COURSE: I would play more golf.

BUREAU OF ENGRAVING AND PRINTING: This was one of my favorite stops on my 6th grade trip to DC.

DUMBARTON OAKS: A nice place to take the air, which in August can be questionable.

GRAVELLY POINT: The Clan has done this.  If it's a nice day and the wind is in the right direction, you can see lots of planes and have a nice picnic by the river.

MARIAN KOSHLAND SCIENCE MUSEUM: This might be too much like school for LBA and SoBA - but that doesn't mean we shouldn't do it.

Marcus Samuelsson's Ribs

Of all the Chopped judges, he is not one of my faves, but I think his food would be more than tasty.  Via BuzzFeed. You can even get the recipe right now!

Block Party Ribs
by Marcus Samuelsson
Servings: 12

INGREDIENTS
RUB

• ½ cup soy sauce
• ½ cup dark brown sugar, packed
• 3 tablespoons smoked paprika
• 2 teaspoons salt
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cayenne
• 1 teaspoon ground allspice
• 1 teaspoon powdered ginger
• 1½ teaspoons garlic powder
• 4 thyme sprigs
• 1 lemon, zested
• 2 slabs pork ribs 

SAUCE

• 1 tablespoon grapeseed oil
• 1 poblano chile, chopped
• 1 red onion, chopped
• 2 garlic cloves, chopped
• 1 1-inch ginger, peeled and chopped
• Salt
• 1¼ cup chicken broth
• 1 cup ketchup
• 1 12-ounce bottle beer
• ½ cup coffee
• ⅓ cup apple cider vinegar
• ¼ cup molasses
• ¼ cup soy sauce
• 1 lemon, juiced

PREPARATION
Whisk together all the rub ingredients in a small bowl.

1. Spread the rub evenly over the pork ribs and place on a wire rack set over a baking sheet with meat side up. Cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate overnight.
2. For the BBQ sauce, heat oil in a large pot or dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add poblano chile, red onion, garlic, ginger, and a pinch of salt, then cook until onions begin to soften. Add the remaining sauce ingredients and bring the mixture to a simmer. Turn the heat down to medium-low and cook at an active simmer until the mixture is reduced to about 2 cups, about 30-45 minutes.
3. Once reduced, cool slightly then transfer mixture to a blender. Puree until smooth.
4. Preheat oven to 275˚F/140˚C.
5. Uncover the ribs, keeping them raised over the baking sheet on the wire rack.
6. Pour 2 cups of water into the bottom of the baking sheet.
7. Spread 1 cup of the BBQ sauce over each rack of ribs.
8. Bake in a preheated oven for 3-3 ½ hours.
9. Remove ribs from oven and preheat the broiler to high.
10. Broil the ribs for 5-10 minutes to finish, until the sauce caramelizes.
11. Cut into individual ribs.
12. Enjoy!