For those of you who don't know, I have been up to a lot these last few months. The most important of which being our wedding. The planning involved in an event like your marriage can be overwhelming and very time-consuming. From the minor details like placecards, to the major ones like dental floss, everything leading up to July 8, 2011 has left me unable update the blog.
But after finally having the day Suzy and I have been waiting for for almost two decades, and spending a week in Jamacia, I'm ready to resume normal life. Not that I haven't been cooking/eating(except the week before the wedding), I just haven't been writing down recipes. So while this latest post will be full of pictures, if you want a specific recipe just request it via email or facebook.
The last couple months have been a lot of fun. One memory I will always cherish is my bachelor party weekend... well it was supposed to be a weekend. I would explain but I wanna keep this kid friendly! We started the day on the Chesapeake fishing for Rockfish. All the guys had a great time and we caught over 30 lbs of Rockfish. They clean and filet the catch on the boat so we divided up the bounty before heading home the next day. That night I grilled some over the Heckert's house while watching a US soccer match. The girls were still in D.C. for Suzy's bachelorette party so I had to make a special dish for her the next night.
I pan-seared the Rockfish with lemon and a sprig of thyme. It was very tasty and gratifying to know the fish was pulled out of the Bay by yours truly!
The week prior to Suzy and I getting married, I lost my appetite completely. And what a terrible time to do so. We had a fabulous rehearsal dinner, hosted by my Dad and his wife. After the rehearsal at Lighthouse Sound, we ate at Hooper's Crab House. All you can eat crabs, fried chicken, steamed shrimp, hush puppies.... and I had a wing and 2 pieces of shrimp. Our wedding menu was fantastic, but other than a LARGE handful of bacon-wrapped sea scallops, I had none of it. I couldn't even eat my prime rib that I dreamed about for months after the tasting. I had it boxed up but so much goes on in the 15 minutes you get to clean up in a thunderstorm. We missplaced the marriage certificate so the leftovers had no chance of making it. Thankfully, our semi-annual Bartenders Ball @ Flemings was last week so I got my fill of Prime Rib!
My appetite came back just in time to enjoy the 7 restaurants that the All-Inclusive Sandals Resort our Jamaican honeymoon had to offer. The food was incredible! The options were abundant and very well prepared. My only so-so meal was a baked lobster dish that was a little overcooked. There was a buffet night one evening with a grill station that had lobster skewers. That more than made up for it!!
Shortly after returning from Jamaica, I felt like getting back to the routine of making Sunday dinner. We invited Toni over since she said she was itching for some good eats. As always, Toni is down for whatever when it comes to my cooking. So after a little input I decided on a Almond Crusted Haddock stuffed with Herbed Goat Cheese. I made a creamy lemon butter sauce for the fish and made vegetable rice pilaf as the side dish. The meal was yummy but the highlight of the evening was busting a groove playing Michael Jackson: The Experience on the Wii.
It has been a whirlwind since June. So many things have been accomplished but I know the journey is just beginning. Suzy and I have plans for the immediate future and plans for down the road. I was explaining to her the other day that as incredible as our life and relationship has been to this point, it's time to kick it up a notch. My first attempt at this is to get more serious about my cooking by starting a notebook with the recipes I use, getting more organized in my technique, and perfecting flavors.
I am also committed to compete in and win Masterchef in the next 3 years. Suzy and I are addicted to the challenge the show presents to the contestants. I was prepared to apply for the next coming season but I realized how much work I needed after watching the amatuer cooks from this season. I need more work with desserts but we don't eat sweets so I guess my friends, family, and co-workers can reap the benefits of my practice. The wedding registry was loaded with cooking utensils so I am well prepared for the task at hand.
So stay tuned as I start my quest to become the next Masterchef. Or burn down the house trying....
