Thursday Night Supper: Thai Peanut Pasta

Jenna got a job at Portland Lutheran (yay Jen!) and, even though kids won't be there until the 31st, has been going to her classroom to do lesson planning, create her syllabus', meet their staff and prepare her classroom. With busy schedules last week we wanted something quick and settled on one of Jen's mom's recipes that we tend to crave.

Our Menu:

Fresh Spring Rolls
Thai Peanut Pasta

Fresh Spring Rolls

In place of a salad we opted for Spring Rolls. We already had a lot of the ingredients, it fit with the peanut style pasta, and I made them at my Thursday Night Supper so I knew they would be fast!

Click here for the ingredient list and instructions.

Thai Peanut Pasta - written by Jenna

This recipe has long been a Jenna and Kelly favorite. Although Felicia (my mom) and Vicki (Kelly's mom) always traded recipes and the made the girls their favorites, Vicki is allergic to peanuts so I always invited Kelly over on Thai Pasta nights (affectionately called Peanut Butter Pasta when we were younger). This was our first time making it ourselves and it went pretty well! 

Ingredients:

- 1/3 c. hot water 

- 1/3 c. peanut butter 

- 2 tsp. soy sauce

- 2 tsp. rice vinegar

- 2 chopped green onions
- 2 cloves chopped garlic
- 2 tsp. sugar
- 1 pkg linguine pasta
- 2 chicken breasts
- splash of olive oil
- any desired veggies, we used broccoli, peppers and carrots

Instructions:
Cut chicken breasts into strips and cook over med-high with a little splash of olive oil. Stir and turn chicken regularly until golden colored and cooked through. Should cut easily into pieces and show no pink when cooked.

While chicken is cooking, boil water for pasta, and mix peanut butter, hot water and soy sauce in a large mixing bowl. In a smaller bowl, mix rice vinegar, chopped garlic, sugar and green onions.

Cook other veggies until unthawed if frozen or cooked to desired consistency over med-high heat with a splash of olive oil. While doing this, cook pasta according to package directions.

Finally mix all ingredients together and serve. Enjoy with white wine or the cocktail of your choice!

This recipe serves 6, so double for larger parties or it your want delicious leftovers for lunch!

Thursday Night Supper: Picnic in Washington Park

Washington Park hosts free concerts throughout the summer, so last Thursday we decided to pack a picnic and hit up a concert in lieu of a more traditional supper. 

Our Menu: 

Curried Chicken Salad with Lettuce Wraps

Hummus with Carrots, Cucumbers and Pita Chips

Crostini with Caramelized Onions

Fresh Grapes

Fresh Cherries

 

Oh yeah, and lots of wine...

Curried Chicken Salad (adapted from Epicurious.com)

 

Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups chicken broth
• 1 1/2 lb skinless boneless chicken breast
• 1/2 cup mayonnaise
• 1/3 cup plain yogurt
• 5 teaspoons curry powder
• 1 tablespoon fresh lime juice
• 1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
•  salt
•  black pepper
• 1 medium red onion, chopped (1 cup)
• 1 firm-ripe mango (3/4 pound), peeled, pitted, and chopped
• 1 cup red seedless grapes (5 ounces), halved
• head of lettuce, washed 

Instructions:  

Bring 4 cups water to a simmer with chicken broth in a saucepan. Add chicken and simmer, uncovered, for 6 minutes. Remove pan from heat and cover, then let stand until chicken is cooked through, about 15 minutes.

Transfer chicken to a plate and cool 10 minutes. Chop into 1/2-inch pieces. 

While chicken is cooling, whisk together mayonnaise, yogurt, curry, lime juice, ginger, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Add chicken, onion, mango, grapes, and cashews and stir gently to combine. 

Serve in washed lettuce cups. 

Crostini with Caramelized Onions: 

Ingredients: 

• butter, melted
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 onions, sliced
• salt and pepper
• 1 baguette, sliced

Instructions:  

For crostini: Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Brush baguette slices with melted butter. Salt and pepper to taste. Bake 15-20 minutes.

For caramelized onions: Heat oil in skillet on medium-low. Add onions, cover and cook 20 minutes, stirring frequently. 

And the rest is pretty simple. Just pick up some of your favorite hummus and pitas chips as well as fresh cucumbers, baby carrots and cherries. Use your leftover grapes from the chicken salad too.

And don't forget some paper towels or napkins. Those chicken salad wraps can get a bit messy! 

Enjoy!

Portland Beer Events You Shouldn't Miss!

Yep, that's right, more beer events this summer in Portland...I know you're all super surprised since BrewFest just happened and that was enough beer and crowds to last you until next summer, but get over it and don't miss these upcoming brewtastic events!

What: Beer 'n' Burgers!
Where: Hollywood Fred Meyer, 3030 NE Wiedler
When: Saturday, August 20th, 12-3pm

Beer and burgers, the perfect combo! Portland Monthly and Fred Meyer are hosting this event to benefit Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. Pay $17 for beer 'n' burger sampling in advance online or $20 at the door. If you don't, or can't, drink beer pay $12 in advance or $15 at the door.

Taste beer from these 10 local breweries and be sure to try the burgers and vote for your favorite. Seven local brewhouse chefs will be competing for the best burger title!

- Deschutes Brewery

- Burnside Brewing Co.

- Bridgeport Brewing

- Henry's Tavern

- Widmer Brothers Brewing

- Laurelwood Brewing

- Alameda Brewhouse

- Full Sail Brewing

- Buckman Brewing

- Ninkasi Brewing

A little more on the nonprofit, Partners for a Hunger-Free Oregon. Their mission is to support the Oregon Hunger Task Force with a goal to end hunger by focusing on the root causes, primarily build families' economic stability so that all Oregonians can have the ability to provide and access to a balance, healthy meal. 100% of the net proceeds are going to Summer Meals Program, so sip on beer, sample burgers and know that while you're filling up, you're helping Oregonians in need do the same!

What: PDX Beer Week
When: August 19th - 28th

Apparently Portland has the most breweries in the world, and a lot of enthusiastic beer drinkers, so what is a great way to explore the craft beer community? Dedicate a week to events that help you do just that. PDX Beer Week is basically a 10-day party celebrating Portland and the surrounding region's achievement, and downright passion, for beer!

Start the party off right by hitting up the PDX Beer Week Kick Off Party on August 19th at The Horse Brass Pub (4535 SE Belmont St.) Show up at 5pm and stay until close!

Some other events that we might suggest checking out:

- Katie has had a few of the unique, and amazing, creations from Salt & Straw, an Alberta Street favorite and I'm sure the 5 Beer Ice Creams they have developed for this event will not dissapoint! Check them out Monday through Friday.

- As ladies, we have to promote the August 20th, "The Love of Beer" Premier at Bagdad Theater. This documentary showcases the women of the craft beer industry. Enjoy $3 beers from Deschutes Brewery and Bend Brewing while hearing from a panel of awesome women in the Oregon craft beer scene, followed by the film!

- Ok, we love sushi and Jen has got us hooked on sake bombs, but mix it up with a Beer and Sushi Pairing at Roscoe's on the 22nd. YUM.

- We are totally fans of a good brunch and typically enjoy it with a mimosa, or two, but in honor of PDX Beer Week we suggest hitting up East Burn on the 28th for Ninkasi Brewers Brunch. Brunch is awesome, beer is awesome, so enjoy them at the same time! Tickets are $30 and you get three brunch plates and beer pairing.

There are a TON more events so check out the entire schedule here at the PDX Beer Week website.

Of course, all good things come to an end, so don't miss the Closing Street Party at Bazi Bierbrasserie on Hawthorne Street on the 28th. Lots of different brews, some Salt & Straw ice cream and a damn good time. Have fun!

Portland Restaurant: Dan & Louis Oyster Bar

What: Dan & Louis Oyster Bar
Where: 208 SW Ankeny St.
When: Mon-Thurs, 11-9pm, Fri-Sat, 11-2am, and Sun 12-9pm

As an early celebration for my Papa's 82nd birthday my parents took Mimi, Papa, Adam and I out for dinner at Dan & Louis Oyster Bar. After fighting downtown Portland traffic, parking, walking through, and consequently breathing in, some serious Portland Old Town garbage/street smells, and taking ibuprofen for my never ending headache, we arrived at our destination.

Dan & Louis Oyster Bar is an Old Town landmark that opened it's doors in 1907. Over 100 years later, it continues to be family owned by the fifth generation of the Wachsmuth family. With quite a reputation and over 100 years in the biz we expected something exceptional.

Dad, Papa, Mimi, Adam and I all started with Oysters On The Half Shell ($21.50 dozen). My mom is not a fan, but the rest of us were pleased with our Nisqually oysters. They are on the smaller end, but not as tiny as the kumamoto oysters I had during my previous visit.

Oh, my Mom, Mimi and I also started with Lemon Drops ($7). Nothing compared to Perry's, but enjoyable.

Adam ordered a bowl of the Clam Chowder ($7.50), which seems appropriate since it's his most recent food obsession (other than nightly sushi). Served with oyster crackers and bread, Adam's clam chowder hit the spot!

Papa, like Adam, wanted a sure favorite and ordered the Oyster Stew ($7.50 single portion). He had been looking forward to it since this is a stew you can't get just anywhere and he had no plans of making at home, but ultimately he felt the stew was "not bad, but not quite as good as I thought I remembered. Neither was the restaurant as a whole."

Overwhelmed by the menu my mom and I decided to each order different things and share. I went for a cup of the Clam Chowder ($4.50) and the Dungeness Crab Cakes ($15.50) off the appetizer menu, while my mom ordered the Calamari ($16.50) with asparagus and shrimp salad. The calamari was alright, but I don't think my mom or I felt like, for $16.50, it was the best plate of calamari we'd ever had.

The clam chowder was hearty and delicious. The crab cakes were good, and by that I mean fried, but I tend to like chunks of crab meat so I feel like I'm getting some serious, real, crab. Also, they were in the most perfect round, smooth, balls. They seemed unreal and I can't help but wonder how they get them that perfect?

The shrimp salad came with the calamari and was really simple. Like the Dungeness Crab & Bay Shrimp Louis ($13.50 half, $22.50 full) that my dad and Mimi opted for, the mixed greens were of a bagged nature. The menu states that the salads are served with "Fresh Romaine," but they instead they were an overwhelming amount of mixed greens that overpowered the less than generous amount of crab. Unfortunately, not the best crab or shrimp louis' this group has had.

Here's the deal. The first thing Mimi and my dad said when they sat down was that this is the place their dad's each liked to come for a delicious specialty that they didn't get at home. So, the history is definitely there, but they need to step it up. There are so many restaurants in Portland that turn out great food at great prices and this isn't living up the expectations of people that used to go there. The consensus was that there is a feeling of nostalgia around Dan & Louis, but it just wasn't as good as everyone had hoped, or remembered.

Still, it could be worth checking out for a cup of chowder and oysters. Maybe hit up their HH Monday through Friday from 4-6pm.

HAPPY HOUR MENU

Oysters on the Half Shell

$15.95 Dozen

Cajun Fried Oysters

$3.95

Garlic Parmesan Fries

$2.95

Oyster Sliders

$1.95 Each or $4.95 for 3

1/2 LB Cheeseburger

$3.95

Fish Tacos 

$1.95 each or $2.95 for 2