#grilled summer squash

[inthecityofgoodabode]

August & September 2024 : Labor Day Weekend

He's hard to spot but there is a Goldfinch enjoying our echinacea seeds in there:

All the scouting lakes & ponds finally paid off. We caught over thirty fish on Sunday but almost all of them, like this Green Sunfish, weren't keepers. It is a pretty fish all the same. My queen & I call them Green Meanies because, despite their size, they strike the bait like they were at least twice their size:

My queen & the lake. The lake is in an undeveloped section of a suburban neighborhood plot. We'll fish here until they put up the "no fishing. Lake access for HOA members only" signs:

Out of the thirty plus fish caught, this bream & green sunfish were the only ones that we harvested. The rest were released to hopefully grow bigger:

Labor Day dinner:

[poorly-drawn-mdzs]

There's nothing he can't do. Yet.

(Thank you to everyone who participated in the poll!)

[morethansalad]

Grilled Summer Vegetables with Easy Romesco Sauce (Vegan)

[sea-salted-wolverine]

Both me and my cats have eaten so much salmon that we are currently entering a nirvana like amateur of true enlightenment that is indistinguishable from a food coma and in fact I belive it might just be me and Toko in grilled salmon nirvana while Swix is just achieving a vegetative state and becoming one with the hat and glove bin. The neighbors kid just road by on her bike blasting sweet child of mine. There's a cool breeze and warm slanted sunshine. I have so much squash. The fireweed is blooming but its a long ways from the top. Its a good summer.

[beautyandlifestyleblog86]

These pairings not only highlight the natural flavors of the ingredients but also demonstrate the importance of using herbs to add depth and complexity to a dish. Whether it's a simple grilled peach dessert with honey and thyme or a classic pasta with basil pesto, the combination of seasonal ingredients and herbs can create a culinary experience that is both delicious and memorable.

Examples of delicious pairings -

1. Grilled salmon with lemon and dill: Pairing fresh salmon with the bright flavors of lemon and dill creates a mouthwatering dish that is perfect for spring or summer. The citrusy notes of lemon complement the richness of the salmon, while the herbaceous freshness of dill adds a pop of flavor.

2. Roasted butternut squash soup with sage: Butternut squash is a fall favorite, and when roasted and blended into a creamy soup with fragrant sage, it becomes a comforting and flavorful dish. The earthy sweetness of the squash pairs beautifully with the savory, slightly peppery flavor of sage.

3. Grilled peaches with honey and thyme: Grilling ripe peaches and drizzling them with honey and a sprinkle of fresh thyme creates a deliciously sweet and savory dessert or side dish that is perfect for summer. The caramelized peaches, sweet honey, and aromatic thyme combine to create a flavor explosion that will tantalize your taste buds.

4. Lemon rosemary roasted chicken: Roasting a whole chicken with lemon slices and fresh rosemary sprigs creates a mouthwatering and aromatic dish that is perfect for any season. The tangy citrus of the lemon complements the woodsy, fragrant notes of rosemary, infusing the chicken with flavor and creating a deliciously juicy and tender result.

5. Pasta with basil pesto: Fresh basil pesto made with basil leaves, pine nuts, garlic, Parmesan cheese, and olive oil is a classic pairing that creates a bright and flavorful pasta dish. The herbal, peppery notes of basil combined with the nutty richness of pine nuts and the salty tang of Parmesan cheese make for a deliciously satisfying meal that is perfect for spring or summer.

[rivetgoth]

Want to create a restaurant that’s like a fast food vegetable restaurant that sells like drive thru vegetable dishes only, salads and stir fries and summer rolls and tempura, or just like, bowl of steamed broccoli, bowl of grilled yellow squash and zucchini, bowl of gai lan with oyster sauce, etc etc. And it’s called Leafs In Front Of Me and it’s dinosaur themed with like statues of dinosaurs out front. Maybe animatronics dinosaurs inside. Maybe they have a daily “carnivore attack” where the lights turn red and the T rex animatronic awakens and roars and all the herbivore animatronics start crying or something idk. Anyway and we’d partner with local farmers to always have seasonal veggies so we’d be environmentally and socially concious too.

[kitchenwitchtingss]

WITCHY SAGE SKEWERS

They've got witches at the barbeque now????

I rarely ever see witchy grilling recipes for summer, so when in doubt, make your own!

The witchy part comes from the seasonings mostly, but also the intentions. Any food cooked with good intentions goes much farther than that with none.

That being said, sage, rosemary, black pepper, and thyme are kinda like the go-to bad vibes be gone type herbs lol.

I use bok choy and yellow squash in this recipe, but you can totally use whatever vegetables you have on hand at the time.

Oh! You could also try to spice the recipe up by subbing the butter for some sort of BBQ sauce. Sounds yummy.

INGREDIENTS (seasoning measurements are just suggestions):

4 chicken thighs, skinless + boneless (can be substituted for pork, tofu, or any fatty meats)

1 yellow squash, washed.

1 bunch of bok choy, washed.

1/2 tbsp Dried Sage

2 cloves Garlic, Minced

2 tsp Ground Thyme

1.5 tsp Black pepper

1 tsp Onion powder

1 tsp brown sugar (you don't need it if you don't really want anything too sweet)

1 tsp honey (or more brown sugar)

1 tsp salt (plus more for the chicken)

0.5 tbsp Paprika (plus another half for the butter)

1 tsp Dried Rosemary

1/4 cup (4 tbsp) Unsalted Butter

Zest of half an orange (if you don't like orange, you could use lemon instead.)

1 tsp orange juice (or more to taste)

You can add lemon juice if you like a little more tang along with the orange juice

PREP: Mince garlic, soak wooden skewers, wash veggies. Slice yellow squash vertically into thin slices, along with bok choy, slicing vertically across the center. Set aside.

DIRECTIONS

Cut chicken thighs into about one-inch pieces. Season chicken thighs with salt, pepper, paprika, brown sugar, ground sage, and onion powder. Massage chicken until coated nicely. I like them pretty seasoned but really it's up to you!

Soak wooden skewers in water for at least 12 minutes so they don't burn on the grill.

In a bowl, combine mix melted butter, minced garlic, onion powder, salt, paprika thyme, black pepper, honey, and rosemary together in a bowl. Add in orange zest and a tsp of orange juice. I also added a little bit of lemon juice. Set aside.

Toss chicken thighs, bok choy, and yellow squash in olive oil.

To assemble skewers, string on a piece of bok choy, gently folded over itself a couple of times, and pierced through to keep it folded on the skewer. Then, string on a piece of chicken. Next with your thinly sliced yellow squash fold that over just like the bok choy. You could also cut it into bite-size pieces and pierce right through it without needing to fold it over itself. Repeat this pattern until the skewer is full.

Heat the grill, clean the grates, and oil them. On medium high-ish heat, cook the skewers on each side for 5 minutes. Each time you flip the skewer, brush on your sage butter sauce. Make sure the chicken is done before taking it off the grill. It could take more than 5 minutes on each side to cook. To be safe, I cook them for another 3-4 minutes after flipping both sides.

Take off the grill and brush with more sauce if desired!

Enjoy! I made these with some herb-crusted potato wedges and grilled peach salad. They were delightful.

RECIPE NOTES:

I love skewers because you can put any fruits, veggies, and meat on it, and it works. A fun lunch idea is to skewer some peaches, cook them slightly on the grill, and throw it into some sort of salad. Very tasty lol.

I like using Bok Choy because it's very absorbent, and any marinade you put it in, it will soak up all the flavor. Just be careful not to share it on the grill.

Yellow squash is also what I use in this recipe, but the good thing about skewers is that you can use any vegetable. The more colorful, the more fun!

[airfryerburrito]

Erin Clarke's Summer Celebration Orzo Salad

I found this recipe in Erin's Well Plated cookbook and made some tweaks. The cookbook version includes roasted or grilled squash and corn, halved cherry tomatoes, arugula, orzo, chickpeas, feta, and basil pesto. I used less squash and added in a pepper, used store-bought sun-dried tomato pesto, and topped it with some parsley and avocado. The orzo (I used Jovial gluten-free cassava orzo) is a great blank canvas for a lot of different flavors.

Another plus: this salad works as both a main dish and as a side salad.

[mariacallous]

Shawarma eggplant is a satisfying plant-based dish that has all the spices and flavors of your favorite grilled meat. This vegetarian main is versatile and customizable, and can be prepared in advance, making it ideal for hosting. A slather of Michael Solomonv’s herbaceous, spicy Yemenite zhug on top adds necessary zing and heat. For a little extra protein, drizzle the roasted eggplant with tahini, serve it on a swirl of labneh or add roasted chickpeas on top. 

Olive oil is eggplant’s best friend, making it satisfyingly rich. First you’ll brush oil onto the eggplant before it’s roasted, then drizzle it mid-bake, and again when it comes out of the oven. Crusted with spices, the eggplant emerges from the oven browned and fork-tender. You can swap the homemade shawarma spice blend with your favorite store-bought mix; and if you’re not an eggplant fan, you can swap it for thick-cut cauliflower steaks or large zucchini and summer squash.

Note: Eggplant can be made in advance, stored in the refrigerator and reheated in a covered baking dish until warm.

[spine-buster]

To Sail Beyond the Sunset ft. Sidney Crosby | Chapter 4

gif credit @/9116

A/N: Surprisingly, no flashback scene in this one...but we finally get to figure out what June's hiding! And some interesting thoughts from Sid...

Lazy nights with June on the lake were Sidney’s favourite thing to do in the summer. Besides fishing, it was probably the one activity that brought him the most solace. It was the only time that his mind was completely clear from any worries, doubts, overthinking, everything – even hockey. Time with June was the best medicine in the world; it was the cure for everything, and the thing Sidney always wanted.

It was Canada Day, which meant that June was over. Sidney heard his screen door open as the sun set over Shubenacadie Grand Lake, and saw June carrying their drinks – a Jack and coke for him, a margarita for her – before she closed the door with her foot and walked over. “Thanks Junebug,” he said as she handed him his drink.

“Anytime,” she smiled, settling in right next to him, as she often did, the entire left side of her body pressed up against his right. She raised her margarita and he raised his Jack and coke. “To Canada,” she said.

Sidney clinked their glasses together. “To Canada.”

“And to Mr. Canada-who-scored-the-Golden-Goal.”

Sidney snorted. “You just had to, didn’t you?”

“Of course I did,” June put on an exaggerated smile, clinking their glasses together again for good measure. “Do the people across the lake still do fireworks?”

“Mhmm,” he nodded, taking a sip of his drink.

“Good, she said, leaning her head against Sidney’s bicep as they looked out onto the lake. “Nothing can beat this sunset, though.”

Sid smiled, taking another quick sip of his drink. They were quiet for a few minutes, just listening to the sound of the lake waves gently rolling. Sidney was thinking about the feeling of June nestled into him. This was far from the first time that they’d been in this position, but the feeling of her body so close felt…different now, especially when Andy’s words were still mulling around at the back of his mind.

Sidney thought about June as a wife. She’d been engaged before, to a man named Cameron Currie from Toronto. His family bred thoroughbred horses at a farm north of the city and had been doing so for generations – they socialized in very prominent circles and donated money to the arts, which is how June met him. He was a nice guy, well-to-do, great pedigree and all that, but they called off the wedding. June told him it was because they couldn’t work out some things, and that they could never find a resolution. While Sidney was happy for her, and wanted to see her happy, at the back of his mind, he would think about her life as a wife. Would they buy a new house together, or inherit his parents’ farm? Would June be a hostess to the social circles and put on parties with passed canapés and champagne flutes? Would she put all their commitments on a shared calendar? Would she visit him at work and support him in his business endeavours? Would she take off her robe at night, get into bed, put hand cream on, and read a book until she fell asleep? Would she kiss him goodnight? It was probably sick to think about, but Sidney did it anyway. And whenever feelings of jealousy would arise in him, he’d squash them down quickly, wondering why he was even feeling jealousy in the first place.

For the first time, Sidney’s mind wandered, and he let it go further, further than he’d ever taken it before. He thought about June as his wife. He thought about her teaching her classes and him dropping by more often and how her girls would probably giggle and call her Mrs. Crosby instead of Miss June just for fun. He thought about her being home when he got home from a game or a road trip and hugging him at the door. He thought about her running him an Epsom salt bath for him after a long road trip or gruelling game. He thought about her making him grilled cheese sandwiches when he missed home. He thought about her cuddling into him at night and holding each other as they slept, or being one of those couples that always had to be touching somehow when they slept, even if it was just a foot. He thought about her attending his games – more of them, obviously, since she’d be around all the time. He thought about waking up together in the morning and making coffee. He thought about hearing the sound of little feet running down the hallways and jumping into bed with them to cuddle underneath the covers.

He thought about June as a mom. He held his breath in his chest when he did, but his mind was running wild. He thought about breakfasts together in the mornings and dinners together at night. He thought about everybody helping out in the kitchen and throwing spaghetti against the cupboards. He thought about being at the table and doing homework together. He thought about school runs and birthday parties and hockey practice and dance classes. He thought about Halloween costumes and Christmas decorations. He thought about baking cookies for Santa and wrapping the kids’ presents and staying up to put them under the tree. He thought about June scooping their kids up in her arms and peppering their faces with kisses. He thought about her brushing and braiding their hair. He thought about them reading to their kids at night. He thought about them sitting out on the deck, with their kids in their lap, watching Canada Day fireworks over the lake.

Their kids.

Sidney could feel his heart skip a beat at the thought of having a family with June. To say he never thought about it would be a lie, but every time his mind wandered and it did come up, he would think to himself that it was impossible. They’d grown up together, they had been separated but still stayed close, they had entered into other relationships with other people and never once mentioned the possibility of being together. Being with him – was it something June even wanted? Being with him in that way? And more than that – she wasn’t just with him. She was with Sidney Crosby. He knew that he wasn’t “Sidney Crosby” as an abstract idea to her, as he was to everybody else, but she would be with Sidney Crosby and the idea of Sidney Crosby, and that was a lot to take on. He could understand completely if—

“Sid?”

“Yeah Junebug?”

“You were just sort of…out of it there,” she said, her tone having a bit of worry. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I’m fine,” he said, trying to play it off. Just thinking about you as my wife and the mother to our children. “Just had a rough workout with Andy.”

“He didn’t even give you the day off for Canada Day?”

“You know Andy.”

June laughed slightly. “I do. He never quits.”

When the sun had set, and the sky became pitch black except for the light of the moon and stars, the fireworks from neighbouring cottages on the lake began. The distant sounds of kids screaming every time a pop went off and exploded into the air made Sid and June smile. They were done their drinks by the time the fireworks finished, and they were both almost too comfortable to get up. But it was getting cold, and June’s feet were always colder than the rest of her body. When they moved inside, Sidney immediately got a blanket out of a pouf June made him buy for the family room and turned his TV on to Netflix. “What are we watching?” he asked.

June was bringing their glasses back to the kitchen. “I don’t know. Something patriotic?” she joked.

“I don’t think so,” Sid grinned. “Come on. What have you been watching?”

“Honestly? Selling Sunset.”

He burst out into laughter. “Seriously, Junebug?”

“It’s addicting!” she defended herself as she walked back to the family room. “It’s mindless and mind-numbing and I love it, okay? Forgive me for getting into a show like that after the doom and gloom of the last year and a half.”

Sidney rolled his eyes playfully. “Alright, fine. Selling Sunset it is,” he said, plopping down on the couch, into the corner of the sectional. June unfolded the blanket, sat on the couch next to Sid, and lay it at their feet. She leaned into him just as she’d done outside, using his bicep to rest her head against. He scrolled through Netflix to find the show, and played the episode and season June told him to play.

He had no idea what was happening, so he would ask June some questions. “What’s her name?”; “Her husband is how old?”; “Wait didn’t we just see her?” At some point, he noticed June’s voice get softer. Eventually, when he pointed out how ugly a house was and she didn’t respond, he looked down to see that she had fallen asleep against him, her chest rising and falling softly. She looked incredibly peaceful that Sidney couldn’t help but smile. Like many things, this wasn’t the first time, and it definitely wouldn’t be the last time. This time, he decided not to wake her. Instead, he let the TV show be background noise and allowed himself to fall asleep too.

***

Nathan MacKinnon and the Colorado Avalanche had, unfortunately, been defeated in the playoffs by the Las Vegas Golden Knights. That meant now that Nate was back home in Halifax, but it also meant that Nate was angry and trying to get over yet another second-round exit by his team. As one of his best friends, but more importantly his mentor, Sidney took the role very seriously. He had talked to Nate already – a long, emotional conversation – and assured him that he felt the same way about his own team’s exit. It took a while, but Nate did seem to get over it – superficially, at least – and was in the mood to work out on a consistent schedule with Sid and Andy. This was a positive, since Nate loved them. He took his diet, nutrition, and fitness extremely seriously – unlike Sid, who ate what he wanted to eat (like four grilled cheese sandwiches made by June) and drank what he wanted to drink.

However, despite the workouts being consistent and Nate’s typical responses of getting hot-headed and angry when he lost a race or a drill, Sidney was shocked to see that at this particular workout, Nate was paying more attention to his phone than he was the pylons for his lateral movement training. But when he saw the tell-tale answer – a smile from Nate – Sid knew he was going to rib him. “What’s keeping you on your phone?” he decided to start off light.

He clearly caught Nate off guard. Nate looked up quickly, pretending that he hadn’t just spent the last few seconds staring at his phone screen and smiling. “Nothing. It’s nothing,” Nate was dismissive.

“I don’t think it’s nothing,” Sid pressed, a grin growing on his face.

“It’s nothing. Just drop it,” Nate insisted.

“Stop pretending it’s nothing,” Sid countered, being an ass.

“Not pretending.”

By Nate’s tone of voice, Sid knew he had him right where he wanted him. “Then why were you smiling?”

“God, what are you, a private investigator?”

“Detective Crosby at your service,” he said. “Come on, man. Is it a girl?” he asked, already knowing the answer to the question.

“No.”

“Is it a guy?”

“No.”

“Is it—”

“—Sid, I’m asking you nicely. Please drop it.”

Sid could tell Nate was ready to explode by the playful line of questioning. Nate didn’t like to get called out on his mysterious behaviours and when he did, he went off. Sid was one of the only people who could call him out on it though. Though Sid wanted to take things further and aggravate Nate a little more, he dropped it. “Okay, fine. But if it’s a girl you should bring her around sometime,” he put in one last quip.

“Oh, you mean just like how June’s meeting us for lunch?” Nate decided to bite back. Two could play at this game.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

Nate rolled his eyes. “I don’t think I have to spell it out for you, do I?” he asked. “You guys are in love with each other. Always have been.”

Sid furrowed his brows. “Where’d that come from? Did Andy tell you to say something?”

Nate laughed out loud. “Andy thinks so too?” he asked. Clearly Andy hadn’t said anything to Nate, which made what he said all the more shocking to Sid. “Nobody has to tell me anything, Sid. I saw it the first day I met her, and I see it in you all the fucking time. We can all see how in love you guys are.”

Sid shook his head. He couldn’t take this from a guy eight years younger than him. “It’s not like that. It’s different with her. She’s my best friend.”

“Isn’t that the way it’s supposed to be?” Nate asked rhetorically. “You wouldn’t want to marry someone you’re not friends with, right?”

“Well, sure, but—”

“—But what? It’s not rocket science. You guys just don’t see it, do you?”

Sid couldn’t say anything back. He couldn’t talk back to Nate because he knew Nate made a good point. Just like Andy. But Sid couldn’t say that out loud, because he was still trying to grapple with his feelings, whatever they were. “Hey Nate?”

“Hmm?”

“I’m asking you nicely. Please drop it.”

Using Nate’s own words against him was the only way Sid knew to fight back at this particular moment. Nate understood that completely, but he wasn’t going to let Sid off the hook. And truth be told, Sid shouldn’t have let him off the hook either. They were best friends – they should be able to talk about this stuff. “Her name is Sorcha,” Nate revealed. “We grew up together. Went to all the same schools. But she was bullied really badly because of her size and her hair and all that stupid shit, and I was friends with the guys that did it. I saw her the other week in a café and we’ve been reconnecting. I don’t know exactly what’s happening but I know that I want to be spending almost all my time with her.”

“So you like this girl?”

Nate nodded. “I like her a lot. It almost scares me how fast I got really into her. She’s a sparkplug and she takes no shit from anybody, let alone me. She’s got this confidence to her and I—I’m just so attracted to her and I don’t know what to do.”

Sid nodded softly. He and Nate would always end up this way – being secretive before spilling their guts to one another. “June’s already been engaged. I don’t know if she’d ever want to do that again. And to do that with me. I mean I know—I know we’ve known each other forever, but nowadays, being with Sidney Crosby means something a hell of a lot different than if I was just some guy from Cole Harbour.”

Nate nodded his head now too, completely understanding where Sid was coming from. But Sid was still so blind, and Nate wanted to open his eyes. “Do you want my honest opinion?”

“Of course.”

“She’s always been with Sidney Crosby, bro. From Shattuck to Rimouski to the Penguins and the gold medals, she’s always been with you. I don’t think your question should be if she wants to do it with you. I think she has been doing it with you and will always do it with you no matter what. It’s just up to you guys to have that conversation about your future together.”

Fucking hell, Nate was right. He was exactly right. How could he be so dead-on about something? Sidney wondered what he and June looked like to outside eyes if this was the opinion of the majority of people around them. Did everybody think this? Was everyone just waiting on baited breath until they got together? “Since when did you get so mature?” he asked Nate,

“Since I started hanging out with you, bro.”

***

June said she was working late again tonight. So Sidney had a plan.

Late lessons meant that lights would be on in the studio. It meant June’s car would be in the parking lot. It meant that he’d see a parent’s car dropping off their daughter and coming back after however long to pick her up. It meant that Sidney was in his car across the street watching and waiting to see if all that happened.

It didn’t.

Once the lesson was over, parents did come to pick up their daughters. But nobody returned. Not after an hour. Not after two hours. Not even after three hours. It was only June’s car in the parking lot for the entire night – nobody else came or went, not even a cleaning crew. That’s when Sidney knew something was up, and that’s when he knew he needed to get to the bottom of it tonight.

When he saw from across the street that the lights in the studio were starting to be turned off, he got out of his car and walked across the street. When he saw June emerge, locking the front door behind her, he approached. “Junebug,” he called out her nickname so she wouldn’t get startled and scream.

She still jumped at the sound of her nickname. She looked up, clearly shocked to see him there. “Sid? What are you doing here?”

“You told me you had extra lessons,” he said. He didn’t want to make this too confrontational, but he knew that if he didn’t press things, he wouldn’t get anything out of her. “I saw everybody leave and then nobody came back.”

“You were watching?”

“I—right across the street,” he pointed over to his Range Rover in the parking lot across from them. “You’ve been acting funny and now all of a sudden you’re supposedly giving extra lessons when I know you want these girls to live a normal life outside of ballet. Why’d you lie to me, Junebug?”

June let out a sigh. She’d been caught – and of course she’d been caught, because her best friend in the entire universe was Sidney fucking Crosby. “Sid, it’s not what you think it is.”

“Really? Because I’m thinking you’re keeping a big secret from me, and we never keep secrets from each other.”

“Sid, I—”

Suddenly, it hit him. “Do you have a secret boyfriend you’re not telling me about?”

“Oh my GOD Sidney,” June rolled her eyes like she was a fourteen-year-old girl again. Why on God’s green Earth Sidney would ever think she’d get a boyfriend and hide him was a mystery to her. “I do not have a secret boyfriend and you know that.”

“Then what’s going on? Were you seeing anyone in there?”

“I wasn’t seeing—UGH!!!” she let out a loud, slightly angry, and exasperated groan at his jumping to conclusions. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down – so did Sid, waiting for her to answer for her secretive behaviour. She didn’t – couldn’t – even look him in the eye as she mustered up the courage to reveal to him what she’d been doing. She didn’t know what reaction to expect from him. “I’m dancing again, Sid,” she finally revealed.

He was shocked. June watched as his jaw dropped slightly, but he must have been aware, because he picked it right back up after a few moments. “You—you’re dancing again?”

“Yes. After the girls leave I just—I just sort of dance alone in the studio.”

Sidney felt so stupid that he accused her of having a boyfriend now. This was not what he was expecting given what had happened to her. “I can’t believe it,” he didn’t know what else to say. “I—pointe shoes and everything?”

“Mhm. Pointe shoes and everything,” she used his words, nodding her head slightly as looking down at her feet. “I’m just seeing if I can do it again. The pointe, I mean. And the movements and variations and grand pas and all that. I mean, it’s not like I’m going to become a professional dancer again or anything—”

“You’re still a professional dancer, Junebug,” he interrupted, his voice soft. “Nothing or no-one will take that away from you.”

June didn’t respond, looking away after Sidney’s words. If she did look at him, she was sure she would burst into tears. “Anyway, that’s what I’ve been doing. Not off gallivanting with some secret boyfriend.”

Sidney felt like an idiot. “I’m sorry.”

“It’s alright.”

“Can I watch you one day?”

June’s eyes focused on his. He’d seen her dance countless times before, but they had all been when she was in the National Ballet of Canada and their company. Every time he’d seen her, she’d been at the top of her game. She hadn’t danced in a proper ballet since her injury, obviously, and though she knew Sidney wouldn’t have an ounce of judgement in him, she didn’t know if she was prepared for him to see her dance after not dancing for almost six years. Especially since he was still at the top of his game, so talented and gifted despite his age. To her, he still played like a 21-year-old when he won his first Cup. The things he did on the ice still inspired her. Though she was still surrounded by ballet in her every day life, their situations were vastly different. “Maybe one day,” she said hopefully. She knew she would have to fight for the courage.

Sidney understood. June took a lot of pride in what she did. He bit his bottom lip slightly. “When you are ready to let me watch, can you tell me?”

“Of course.”

“Promise?”

June held up her hand, extending her pinky. Sidney let out a chuckle and he raised his too, locking their fingers together. “Promise.”

[dilf-din]

Something my mom always made a lot in the summertime is yellow squash, onion, and cherry tomatoes with basil. It’s quick and easy, you can use fresh or dried basil. she would usually cook it on the stovetop but you could also roast the veg for some couch cooking and I was just thinking of adding in tofu or chickpeas to make it a full meal

Another thing I like to do is veggie skewers. Any combo of bell peppers, onions, mushrooms, tomatoes, zucchini, and yellow squash will work. I usually make them with tofu but my brother-in-law uses chicken or shrimp. Marinate everything in Italian dressing and then grill or broil until done

SKEWERS AND KEBABS WOULD BE GREAT TO GRILL THIS SUMMER!! Those both sound great. I’m a big yellow squash girl

Recently I’ve been marinating any meat I can in lots of ginger, garlic, teriyaki or hoisin sauce, and some mirin with some stir fry veggies and steamed rice. It’s a nice way to do a sweet/savory balance

[iguessyouwonderwhereivebeen]

don’t wanna work, want a summer vacation, a week spent on a beach, a surfing excursion or a yoga retreat in Malibu, Costa Rica.. wanna go to Mexico City, Pueblo and Oaxaca, and drink fresh fruit smoothies, coconut water from a straw, and eat papaya and mango in the morning and squash blossom tacos and dark mole sauce and whole grilled fish at night

[nateslehky]

so instead of actually working on my restaurant au fic, i decided to write a review for the made-up restaurant in the fic, mostly as a writing exercise, but also to help me understand what a mackinnon-led kitchen would be like.

in all likelihood, this won't make it into the final product, so below the cut you'll find a review of a denver restaurant with a kitchen operated by a fictionalized version of nathan mackinnon <3

Restaurant Review: Twenty Nine on 29th 

A restaurant opening in a refurbished brick warehouse is nothing new for River North. Twenty Nine on 29th looks to be another standard, run-of-the-mill joint hoping to find its footing in the up and coming arts district, but what it lacks in curb appeal it more than makes up for with what matters the most for restaurants in the end: the food. 

In a kitchen led by head chef Nathan MacKinnon, you’d expect nothing less. Food and Wine lists him among the best up and coming chefs in the nation–and for good reason. 

Mackinnon’s cuisine, previously described as “like an uncut gem, yet still a rarity”, seems to have finally begun to polish. Everything I ate felt refined; MacKinnon’s mind and hands crafting some of the best food I’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting.

Not just in River North. Not just in Denver. But in all my life.

The appetizers and entrées rotate seasonally, so what I describe may no longer be available if you’re lucky enough to snag a reservation, but I’d be shocked if anything leaving the kitchen wasn’t carefully cultivated by MacKinnon and executed to perfection.

To begin, I started with something that came highly recommended by a friend and colleague: the summer soup. Other appetizers called my name, most notably the squash blossoms, but I promised I’d try what she described as “summer in a bowl” and I’m not one to break my promises. 

So shout out to Amy; the soup was an excellent call.

It perfectly encapsulates what it’s like to dine at Twenty Nine. Similar to the restaurant itself, the dish is unassuming both in its description (a medley of fresh vegetables) and its look (a smooth green blend swirled with cream, topped with charred sweet corn and cherry tomatoes, a whipped ricotta crostini on the side), but still managed to blow me away. It felt like velvet on the tongue and the flavors were simultaneously familiar and unexpected. It transported back to the late-Julys of my youth, sun shining high in the sky with my father at the grill.

Summer in a bowl, indeed.

I had not made any promises for what to order for my entrée, so I teetered between the home-made tomato pasta or the scallop skewers, but in the end I ordered neither. A plate sizzled by my ear as I deliberated my choice, and I was met with the spectacle of an entire spatch-cocked chicken on a plate, the smell of its herb-crust too tantalizing to pass up despite the menu indicating it was meant for two or more patrons. 

Boy, am I glad I went with my gut (or my stomach, I suppose). It had a simple yet striking flavor, the accompanying butter sauce coating my tongue with such luxury that I felt as though I was dining at a five star restaurant beneath La Tour Eiffel, rather than among my fellow Denverites between artsy brick walls. 

After the chicken I was nearly too full to try a dessert, but went with a classic: the tarte tatin. Like everything at Twenty Nine, it was executed well, the pastry flaky, the apples crisp, the caramel sweet. An excellent end to an excellent meal.

A soup. A roast chicken. An apple pie.

Three things I like to think I could make in my sleep, and yet, it’s one of my favorite meals I’ve had in a long, long time.

That is how MacKinnon thrives: executing simplicity with striking efficiency, delivering mouthwatering menus that appear on paper like something you’d find buried in the back of your mom’s recipe book, but on the plate come to life so vividly and with such bold flavors that they feel like something you won’t find or replicate anywhere else.

Reservations at Twenty Nine are becoming harder and harder to come by, the cozy booths and tables full nearly every hour from lunch through dinner. The bar is full service and first-come, first-serve, but good luck trying to find an open seat. Like the rest of the restaurant, it is busy at seemingly all hours of the day. 

Plus, you’ll have to work your way around me. I plan to plant myself there until I’ve tried everything on the menu myself.

[icleanedthisplate]

Dine-Out Meals of October 2023, Ranked

I ranked the following based on taste alone. I made no consideration for ambiance or the general dining experience or whatever. I included meals I got to go. I included food trucks, catered meals, and fast food.

I got into burgers this month.

Should you be interested in the pictures or reading the few words I had to say about each meal, click on the home page and scroll down or see the archives.

Apolonia ‘Classics’ Tasting Menu (Yellowtail Crudo, Roasted Mussel Toast, Fiorentini al Sugo, Mediterranean Branzino, The Pistachio). Apolonia. Chicago, Illinois. 10.1.2023.

Samantha’s Steak Salad. Samantha’s Tap Room. Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.9.2023.

Signature Sweet Hot Burger w/Fries. Copper Grill. Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.10.2023.

Half Rack of Ribs, Broccoli, Baked Sweet Potato. Corner Grub House. Sulphur Springs, Texas. 10.25.2023.

Chopped Sirloin w/Mashed Pots, Creole Salad. The Faded Rose. Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.23.2023.

The Ranch Salad w/Salmon. Standard Service. Heath, Texas. 10.27.2023.

Whiskey & Aged White Cheddar Burger w/Steamed Veggies. Yard House. Irving, Texas. 10.26.2023.

Fried Chicken Livers w/Pepper Jelly (shared), Eggs Benedict. The Second Line. Memphis, Tennessee. 10.22.2023.

Baleadas Con Todo w/Carnitas. El Sur Street Food Co. Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.9.2023.

Chicken Spaghetti Lunch Special, Side Salad. Cache. Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.16.2023.

Meatloaf w/Green Beans, Baked Potato. Samantha’s Tap Room. Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.30.2023.

Veggie Sandwich w/Potatoes. Blackberry Market. North Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.17.2023.

Angry Wife Roll, Hibachi Chicken Lunch. Wasabi. Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.6.2023.

Santa Monica Cobb Salad w/Chicken. Summer House (ORD). Chicago, Illinois. 10.4.2023.

Chicken Leg Quarters, Peas, Broccoli & Cheese Casserole. Platnum BBQ (River Market). Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.18.2023.

Chicken Leg Quarters, Green Beans, Broccoli & Cheese Casserole. Platnum BBQ (River Market). Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.5.2023.

Steak Sandwich w/Steamed Veggies. Huey’s (Germantown). Germantown, Tennessee. 10.21.2023.

Noodle Bowl w/Tofu. Three Fold Noodles + Dumpling Co. Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.19.2023.

Lunch Catering (tacos, chips, etc.). Blue Coast Burrito. North Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.22.2022.

Bangkok Noodles w/Shrimp. Bangkok Thai Cuisine. Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.24.2023.

Buffalo Tempeh + Sesame Cauliflower. City Silo. Memphis, Tennessee. Germantown, Tennessee. 10.21.2023.

White Bean & Ham Soup. Cache. Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.31.2023.

Catered Buffet (buffalo chicken chimichanga? Shrimp tacos, assorted pizza, fried chicken sliders, etc). Acebounce. Chicago, Illinois. 10.2.2023.

Breakfast Catering (Bacon, Eggs, Fruit, Pastries). Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center (Catering). Grapevine, Texas. 10.26.2023.

Catered Buffet (Pasta, Pasta, Pasta, Minestrone Soup, Doughnut). Hilton Chicago (Catering). Chicago, Illinois. 10.3.2023.

Catered dinner (Steak & Chicken pieces, butternut squash, Brussels, mashed potatoes, ice cream w/toppings). The Glass Cactus (catering). Grapevine, Texas. 10.25.2023.

Tacos (Tipsy Chick, Crossroads, Mr. Orange). Torchy’s Tacos. Rogers, Arkansas. 10.12.2023.

Chef Salad w/Turkey, Pizzas (Pineapple, Sausage). Vino’s Brewpub. Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.20.2023.

Chicken Wrap (?). Unknown Caterer. Irving, Texas. 10.26.2023.

Chicken Fingers w/Side Salad. Stickyz Rock’n’Roll Chicken Shack. Little Rock, Arkansas. 10.11.2023.

Oatmeal, bacon. Residence Inn by Marriott. Germantown, Tennessee. 10.22.2023.

Turkey Bacon, Cheddar & Egg White Sandwich. Starbucks. Benton, Arkansas. 10.25.2023.

Turkey Bacon, Cheddar & Egg White Sandwich. Starbucks. Chicago, Illinois. 10.2.2023.

Turkey Bacon, Cheddar & Egg White Sandwich. Starbucks. Chicago, Illinois. 10.3.2023.

Turkey Sandwich, Pasta Salad, Cookie. McCormick Place. Chicago, Illinois. 10.2.2023.

Chicken Sandwich, Pasta Salad, Cookie. McCormick Place. Chicago, Illinois. 10.3.2023.

[ccdcbruins]

Grilled Squash and Zucchini Zucchini and yellow squash are tossed with lemon, butter, salt, and pepper for a nice light summer side dish.

[stepdownonhell]

Spiders

I’m 6, sitting on the concrete outside of our open garage doors.

Criss cross apple sauce,

June sun setting,

And I let the cellar spiders crawl near me. On me.

Onto my hands, my arms, legs.

My parents in their togetherness, cooking on the grill outside. The air is easy to breathe and I can feel the setting sun on my skin.

I wonder, now, why I’m so fearful of spiders in my grown body.

It’s June, not the same June that it once was.

I’m 10, double digits now, a little less curious and a little more cautious.

The sun is beating on me, Im with my mom while she tends to chores, I’m playing with the water hose on the concrete outside of our barn.

She doesn’t know what happened to me 3 summers ago, I’d like to keep it that way.

The cold water feels nice, a relief from the burn of the sun and the burn of that summer.

I look down to the puddle below my feet and back up to my mom whilst she feeds the dogs.

Quickly, back down to my legs I look.

I have never seen a spider so large, so gone-unnoticed, and it was there, on me.

I don’t think. I scream, I kick, i feel my pulse in my chest.

A familiar feeling, nauseatingly familiar.

My mom comes in a hurry.

The spider seems to vanish into thin air.

Like it wasn’t there. Like it never happened, it wasn’t witnessed.

And my mom she laughs, but my hands are shaking, my heart is racing, I look down to see that I had kicked so hard I broke my flip flop.

I don’t know whether laugh or sob.

I wake up in my bedroom to the shouting of my parents, I’m 16. It’s 12:46 in the morning and my dad just came back from the bar. He’s drunk and I hear him slurring his words as they fight.

I move the sheets off of my warm body, to make my way to listen through the crack of my door.

Before I do my eyes pan to a corner of my ceiling, I see a shape. 8 legs and almost unnoticeable. Immediately I know what it is and panic sets in.

Spider, small really, barely bigger than a grain of rice.

And I’m scared of it, to where my eyes well up and my breath becomes shaken, my ears ring.

If I take my eyes off of it, the chances that it will disappear are too high.

I grab the closest thing near to me, a book, and before I go in for the kill, I hesitate.

What if it runs? What if it jumps toward me? What if I miss? What if I were minding my own business and someone took my own being from me? Squashed every amount of trust I ever had for anyone close me?

What if—

The book makes contact with the wall, spider in between.

I feel relief, I feel safer.

I peel my book from the wall, the ringing in my ears fades.

I no longer hear my parents yelling.