Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Coffee in Helsinki, Dinner at Home



After a full day in Helsinki with Mette, Ida, MrsLittleJeans, coffeeaddict,
Patricia, seeyouthere, Kathy Peck, Sulky Kitten, LCP, Patricia J., Susan Partlan, Jacqueline and J.W., just a short note for tonight. Sorry His Way or Her Way could not attend.

Thanks, all of you, for a really fun visit. You looked stunning in the outfits 
you chose. You are an extremely fashionable and beautiful group of ladies.
Ida, you were so nice to bring Veuve Cliquot, but I just read that Mette was forced to return home via taxi! Oh, and Valerie and Kris so enjoyed getting to know your lovely dogs and they thank you for the treats and gifts!

I realize that most of the bloggers hitched a ride home on Secretary of State Hillary Clinton’s plane, but I decided to return home on my own to make dinner for my husband. So glad I made that decision, as Mette informs that Hillary is going to make a stop in St. Petersburg before returning to the States.

Home by mid-afternoon, I had time for a quick rest before deciding on the dinner menu. Grilled boneless chicken breasts slathered with John Boy and Billy Grilling Sauce (hot); rice; zucchini sticks and a tomato-based sauce for the rice.


I found the zucchini sticks recipe on Pinterest and knew I had to try it while I have zucchini from the potager garden. This recipe is quite good; will definitely try it again (recipe below). The tomato sauce was made yesterday from vegetables from the garden (tomato, zucchini, bell pepper, plus onion and garlic). I cooked it thinking it would become spaghetti sauce, but then it looked so tempting as a way to dress up the rice.


Crispy Zucchini Sticks – from Pinterest via My Daily Randomness

Ingredients
1 large, fresh zucchini, cut into sticks
1 egg
1/4 cup Italian seasoned bread crumbs or Panko bread crumbs
Salt & pepper
2 tbsp pizza sauce

Method
1. Preheat oven to 375.
2. Spray baking sheet with cooking spray
3. Dredge zucchini sticks in egg, then bread crumbs, then place on baking sheet.
4. Bake for 20 minutes until outside is crispy.
5. Serve hot with pizza sauce for dipping.


 I can never leave a recipe along, so I sprinkled the zucchini liberaly with parmesan cheese before baking. I think that gave it added zest!

I'll be anxious to hear from the other bloggers what it was like to be with Mrs. Clinton on the plane and what they thought of St. Petersburg!

.

6 comments:

  1. Your meal looks wonderful. I'll check my local store for that John Boy and Billy Grilling Sauce. Something new to do to chicken is always welcome. I wonder if I could use all cheese instead of bread crumbs on those Zucchini Sticks?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Beryl, not sure but you could give it a try
      1 Let me know if it works out OK. But I do like the crunch the bread crumbs provide. I used a combination of season bread crumbs and Panko.

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  2. What fun with we had with Mette yesterday,your darling Valerie & Kris got on so well with Morty.

    Wonder woman you are to have managed to cook such a delicious meal after our hectic day. Ida

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Smiles. We need to do that again one day soon!

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  3. I´ll skip the chicken, but maybe try the zucchini sticks + rice.
    By the way, my therapist ( yes born in Russia, but married to a Finn ) suggested a visit to St. Petersburg for my hb and me. Why go to Venice, when the former is just 3 hours away ( fast train ) and just as beautiful, she suggested.
    I´ve been there, when it was still Leningrad, on a c o l d ( -27°C ) period in January. Ice cream was sold on the streets, we school kids bought pink champagne from the tourist shops.
    I brought home caviar and a mandolin.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. That must have been exciting, but oh my, the cold was something! Do you think you'll go back? That would be an adventure!

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