Category Archives: Because I’m In A Mood

Cast Iron Skillet S’mores

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Super easy. Both adult & child friendly.

Several variations exist for this dish – but they all essentially say the same thing.

  • 1/2 tablespoon butter
  • 1 1/2 cups chocolate chips (semi-sweet, milk chocolate, or a combo)
  • 15 jumbo marshmallows, halved ( use larger scissors to cut them)
  • Graham cracker squares

Heat your stove to 450 degrees and use a good solid heavy pan – Cast Iron is perfect, put the pan in the middle of the oven while it is heating up! This is important – you want the pan good and hot.

Once oven lets you know it has hit 450, wait 5 more minutes. Then using a pot older or mitt (Don’t even ask me why I need to mention this…) take the pan url of the over and place on the stove.

Place a good pat of butter in the center of the pan and as it sizzles, move it around so the bottom and sides are covered with melted butter.

Pour chocolate chips in an even layer into the bottom of the skillet to form a good layer.

With out touching the pan or the melting chocolate, arrange the marshmallows to cover and fit (much like biscuits)  – essentially cover all the chocolate.

Bake for 5 to 7 minutes or until marshmallows are toasted to your preference (watch closely!). Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 5 minutes. This is important.

Serve with graham cracker squares or sticks, pretzel sticks, biscotti – you name it. …but be careful, because the dip (and the skillet) will be very hot!Notes

A few collected notes from the recipes:

  • One of our pals suggested adding bananas to the pan after the butter then adding chelate – but I am thinking that might not get the chocolate fully melted – but I bet you could add them on top under the marshmallow.
  • You may use another type of oven-safe baking dish, but it should be noted that the chocolate will probably melt more evenly (and stay melted more consistently) using a heavy cast iron skillet, which retains heat better than other types of dishes.
  • Be sure to let the skillet rest for 5 minutes before serving so that the residual heat from the skillet can finish melting the chocolate chips. Some of the chocolate chips may retain their shape, but once you dip a graham cracker into them, they should be fully melted (in the same way that chocolate chips melted in the microwave hold their shape until stirred).
  • Adjust the proportions of chocolate and marshmallows to your liking or to the size of the skillet or baking dish that you use, but don’t make the layer of chocolate chips too thick or they may not fully melt.
  • You may use whatever type of chocolate or marshmallows you have on hand…finely chopped chocolate, mini chocolate chips, regular chocolate chips, mini marshmallows, (halved) jumbo marshmallows, etc.
    Here is the one we used ; http://www.fivehearthome.com/2014/08/10/smores-dip-baked-in-skillet-oven/

 


Just an last minute grill day

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After several bday meals out last week, including a great dinner at our local Espetus, dinner & a movie night @drafthouse I fugured it was a cook at home day.

Using a new find, cherry bbq sauce ( picked up on my recent trip to Traverse City, Mi) – the menu called for grilled chicken thighs, an adapted  vegan adapted spicy sweet mango-jicama salad, homestyle baked beans, coffee-cocoa nibs rubbed eggplant planks, roasted broccoli and a few pals willing to bring string beans, patato salad and some sweets for after. Friend added green beans and potato salad..

I will post the recipes for the Jicama & Mango salad shortly, and well share more on the Baked Beans fiasco too

Sundays the way they should be..oh wait it’s only Saturday.

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imageEnjoying a summer memory

From sweet to savory.. much like it’s staff, my morning visit at Joe’s Coffee is how I start my days in ptown. With the everchanging, yet consistant range of people watching, parade of “walk of shamers” to the local dishen up “care” with the daily menu of  “did ya hear about”, I can say I wouldnt have it any other way.

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On the Saturdays when the Farmers Market is in; you never know what specialty awaits. Today it was fresh local  jared tomato sauce from Foss Farms.  My order, which will be arriving in San Francisco by mail soon after my return

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Relish isn’t just a summer goto place – here comes “santa”

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Let’s face it  – every so often, you just need a good cupcake. Sometimes you want to get creative with the fancy flavors and icing – but more often than not, I want plain, good, deep dark chocolate with a slightly gooey, sweet chocolate frosting.image

While it Ptown of the summer, one rainy day I knew just where to go! Relish. Down in the west end, this little but highly fast and efficient sandwich, snack & bakery shop not only puts out some great sandwich and sides – they do some incredible desserts. I would say I eat three several times eat stay.image

A new feature I noticed this year was that your an order xmas cookies!! A pretty great idea – what better way to treat friends and family than with food products you already love. they have an entire holiday menu of options to choose from.image

Over on the website – I notes posting from the past that indicates; they do Thanksgiving Pies and Cupcakes and kick off  a workshop for Christmas cookies.  Orders for Christmas need to be placed by December 1st.

imageFor more information, give them  a call at 508-487-8077.

you can find them at:

93 Commercial Street (at Cottage)  Provincetown  MA  02657

p: 508-487-8077

e: [email protected]

 

Angel Mornings @ Gifford House

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I have been lucky to have the generous tasting of these folks from the different locations in Ptown over the last few years – so was excited to check them out at the Gifford House in a traditional dinning room setting.

I am so glad we did. A great menu – actually pretty large by Ptown standards for breakfast fare. It’s not going to rock your socks off  “ambiance” wise – the room is basic to what it needs to be – but the flavor and food quality is where it is at. They make basic ingredients, taste the way they are supposed too and they invite you to “kick it up a notch” with the graceful punch of seasoning and combinations. From the egg scramble with sausage to the omelettes.. I could eat here every morning.imageCheck out the full image

menu. They are open 8am to 2pm and the entire Menu Served All Day

508-487-8600

 

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Jimmy’s HideAway simply can’t be beat

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Really is no way to get creative when place is simply “always good”. Jimmy’s Hideaway  is that for us. No matter when we go – it is consistently working at the top levels of quality. From the subtle flavors of the Avocado & Cucumber soup or the Watermelon, Tomato and Feta appetizer to the equally as filling and rich entrees. For our last visit, we ended up ordering the same two app’s we did in previous year – but did realize we did until we tasted them and the memories flooded back. For our Entree, we went with the Organic Statler Chicken Breast, dressed in herbed lemon and sage with a roasted shallot au jus, piled high over a sinfully good smoked gouda corn bread pudding and grilled broccolini. Like with the apps, I ordered for the nights specials menu and selected the Lobster Fra Diavolo. Rich and spicy this plate is not for those with sensitive tummy’s with i’s complex spices, sauce and cooked lobster.

Jimmy’s HideAway

179 Commercial  St. Provincetown, MA. 02657

Reservations recommended 508 487-1011

on Facebook, or visit them on the web: www.jimmyshideaway.com

 

 

It’s happening again! #Ptown24

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I got a chance to participate in this last year and I have to say it was really a lot of fun. Seeing other folks images that had been in similar places over the course of day, taken over different times and angles.

It really resonates with the diversity and history that Provincetown offers and how we all saw things differently, but when packaged together for those 24 hours create a cohesive story.

Any of you local peeps or those of you planning to be on vacation in town August 24th think about taking part #PTown24 . It’s really easy to participate and you help build a part of local history as well as capture moments in time.
Share the word

Sponsored by Provincetown Community Television and LIPTV, special thanks to the #Ptown24 folks whose contributions appear in this video!

The Canteen is not to be overlooked

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Canteen was one of the suprises when they first opened in 2013 that has managed to keep it a favorite casual meal spot. With its rough and simple “shake-like chaos” to the incredible fresh and vibrant flavors – Canteen is always a perfect way to each and people watch. One of the signature dishes is the fried brussels sprouts. In fact that was was usually brings us in. They manage to do make the smoky, crispy and tender all at the same time. It’s like “vegetable crack”. 1001572_10201541924447545_1570023088_n-2

But on this trip it was all about the hot  “lobster roll”. While some folks prefer the cold kind blended with mayo – I much prefer my warm (barely cooked) and dressed with butter.  In this Canteen blew us away. Often time we here people refer lobster meat as being “sweet’. Generally it’s not and an imagebe rubbery and tough. Canteen manages to bring the sweetness out, kisses its with butter and lovingly scoop it into the grilled role. This is a “not to miss” dish.  Note: they have a back eating area that often time people miss.. so don’t be turned away if you don’t see seating in the front.

Check them out on Facebook or visit them on the web at thecanteenptown.com or Yelp

225 Commercial Street
Provincetown, MA 02657

Open lunch and dinner
11 AM-11 PM
No reservations