Friday Favorites 6.1.12

It's the first of June, signaling that we're basically halfway through the year already. And there's nothing like welcoming the first of the month with a rainy and gloomy day here in Chicago. But nevertheless, I am in full summer mode. It will only get warmer and sunnier from here on out. Whether you're planning summer vacations or staying in town, entertaining party guests or planning everyday meals at home, there's always something to look forward to with the coming of summer.

Friday Favorites 6.1.12

Photo courtesy of Kitchen72

Chicken, Chicory, and Parmesan Flatbread: Did I mention this had buttermilk dressing? If you’ve bought a rotisserie chicken and most likely haven’t finished it, you can use it in something other than a chicken salad sandwich. The only real prep-work is shredding the chicken and soaking it in lemon juice for a while before making this. Of course, if you don’t like the taste of chicory you can substitute whatever you’d like to adapt the flatbread to your taste. And ta da! You have a super easy weeknight meal.

Cut and Collect Cutting Board: Trust that you’ll find something awesome at Uncommon Goods. This cutting board from Joseph Joseph allows you to leave your cutting board with only the stuff you need. The rest? You can toss it in the crafty container below. After all of your cutting and dicing, you can slide the container out from under the cutting board and throw everything away with one fell swoop.

The Queen’s Rum: You’re throwing a party, it’s hot, maybe you’re at the beach or your newly varnished deck. You need alcoholic beverages for adults that don’t include beer. Maureen Petrosky shares a recipe on TheKitchn for your perfect life-saving cocktail. There’s undoubtedly a magical moment when rum and mint are mixed together and it just screams “summer!” If you’re heading off to the beach or a picnic, you can easily make this portable by shaking up the cocktail in a mason jar or any other glass jar you have at home.

Antique Taco: This new taco joint in Wicker Park has me drooling. Sure, I may be biased because I love Mexican food, but there is nothing better and more satisfying than a good taco. And usually, they’re cheap, which adds to the satisfaction. The menu is amazing. Items include: habanero popcorn, masa biscuits with lobster gravy (yeah, that’s the flour used in tortillas…with lobster gravy), and a pork carnitas taco with an adobo rub and a tamarind glaze for a little tangy kick. Don’t forget to order one of their agua frescas to go with your feast.

Maifest Chicago: Traditionally, Maifest is a German celebration of the coming of Spring. We’re pretty well past it but why not celebrate with food and drinks anyway? You can join in the fun in this Lincoln Square (4700 N. Lincoln Avenue) gathering that includes food, live music, dance, and a number of other traditional German performances. This is going on until this Sunday, June 3^rd.

Essential Picnic Equipment: While Spring brings about warmer weather for picnics, often allergies get in the way, leaving June to be a pretty perfect month for picnics. The temperature usually hasn’t risen too high that everyone’s at risk for a heat stroke and people everywhere are appreciating the change in climate and adjusting their plans accordingly. Before you pack your picnic basket of goodies, you need, well, a picnic basket. Saveur has included some essentials for planning your first picnic of the year.

Strawberry Lemonade Cupcakes: Imagine it’s a super hot day and all you want is a dessert. You don’t want anything too dense and you’d like something that can “cool you off.” What’s more perfect than a strawberry lemonade cupcake, combining the cooling effect of the beverage into a perfect cupcake. This recipe uses coconut milk

10 Easy Side Dishes: Whether you’re hosting a party or bringing food to a potluck, sides are always an important part of every meal or party. Sometimes it’s difficult to find something that complements a main dish or fits a theme, but TheKitchn has created a list of fool-proof sides for your next gathering. There are two important tips to remember: use what’s in season and use canned goods when appropriate to make your life easier. Some side dish ideas include a white bean and roasted vegetable salad (you can get creative with your dressing here) and a red potato salad with scallion and radishes.

xo,

k.