Balsamic & Soy Glazed Steaks, Chicken and Beef Sliders, Shitake Mushroom Ragu, Caprese Salad and Strawberry Cupcakes--All in honor of our Birthday Girl!

Andrew and the Birthday Girl

Last week was the 12^th birthday of our godchild, Olivia.  Now since Andrew and I saw her within her first hours here on earth, it’s sometimes unbelievable that all those 12 years have passed with the speed of summer lightening.  And that for all twelve of those birthdays we have celebrated with our own Birthday Party with her other two ‘Uncles’, Shawn and Terry.   This year was no exception except that this year we spent a whole weekend celebrating because Olivia and her parents stayed with us.  If the title of this post terrifies you for its size, this issue of Chewing the Fat is really an amalgamation of several delicious meals we had last weekend.  The food was wonderful and Olivia got to bake alongside her Uncle Andrew to produce delicious Martha Stewart-inspired Strawberry Cupcakes.  

Daniel Boulud’s Stovetop Lobster and Clambake

         I have to admit, I don’t publish a recipe that doesn’t turn out right.  My whole premise is that if I can cook it perfectly, you can cook it perfectly.  So with all the 200 plus recipes on Chewing the Fat, if you can follow the directions, you can end up with something tasty.  That being said, sometimes I completely hit one out of the ballpark.  And today’s dish is a home run from the first morsel you put in your mouth to the last bit of broth that you’ll zealously sop up with the last crust of baguette.  It is that good.