Hi I'm Paul
If you are reading this, chances are you have read my other blog at www.achefsmusings.blogspot.com.
While "musings" deals with my culinary adventures or my "Life without recipes" I want this blog to explore the times spent with family and friends relaxing and unwinding on the deck.
I hope to be able to relay the deck lifestyle and the good times associated with spending time above the backyard. If I find a new accessory or furnishing for the deck I will pass it along. I am also going to ask you to pass along your comments, photos, recipes etc.. anything to help us enjoy the limited time we have each year to enjoy our "outdoor room"
A little about our deck - the dimensions are 18 x 24 and is 8 feet over the backyard. It comfortably fits a large gas grill ( charcoal is not legal on wood structures in our neck of the woods), a table that seats 6, several planters, bird feeders, and gravity chairs. So we have some space to play. I would post a photo now but this is one of the 2 days of the year that the giant cedar tree that protects our space by from the direct sun happens to be pollinating.
We like to celebrate the end of the week, weather permitting, with our Friday night - deck night. There are no invitations sent, no set menus, and no real rules other the standards set by at 5 or 6 of the ten commandments.
As I mentioned earlier, there are no set menus other than stuff on the grill. We have done pizzas, kebabs, shrimp, sausage, cool cheeses, mojitos, wine, craft beers, basically anything goes. As we go I will post photos and cooking guidelines(not recipes) of things we've tried and liked.
As this is early spring in Minnesota and the weather really hasn't actually been favorable, we have only had one real Friday night - deck night, although we did do a Monday night deck night - just because it was too nice out not to.
This was from the first Friday of the year - the weather hit the 70's and we needed to be out side. The menu was simple - 3 cheeses( brie, Havarti w/ dill, and a white cheese flavored with jerk seasoning called "No woman"), 2 kinds of olives, fresh fruit, roasted pepper salad, marcona almonds, fresh baguette, and a bottle of Vouvray.
For tonight I did a few different items -
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I call this a Mexican Capri salad - a semi soft Mexican cheese, Roma tomato, avocado, a cilantro leaf, a drizzle of spicy olive oil, and some salt & pepper
This is a grilled vegetable salad - zucchini, portobello mushrooms,yellow pepper, gold,rose, and purple fingerling potatoes, and shallots. grilled with fresh rosemary and dressed with a simple vinaigrette.You could just as easily use Italian dressing. Grill the veggies, dress while hot and let cool down to room temperature.
Mojito shrimp - raw shrimp tossed with a little lime juice, mint, olive oil and rum.
oh and we had Margaritas as well! :)
Next time , who knows ? maybe pizzas or piadinas, prosciutto wrapped asparagus, or mussels in coconut curry sauce.
Just a side note these little tapas and small plates are known locally as schnibbles.
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