Brunching on Boston Harbor

I’m on a boat…

Actually I was on a boat twice in the past 4 days!  I had some great opportunities to really enjoy the beauty of Boston harbor.

My first boating adventure was Thursday night.  It was my company’s summer outing and we took a ferry to Spectacle Island for a clambake!

I didn’t take any food photos, but got some great shots of the sunset. 

Summer Shack caters these events, and Jasper White was even at this one!  There he is below, piping whipped cream onto the strawberry shortcakes (which were really good btw).

   

Coming back into the city in the dark was gorgeous too!

  It was a fun night with my new co-workers!!

The next trip out to sea was earlier today!

I was lucky enough to win a spot on the Boston Bruncher’s July brunch on The Odyssey…a Boston harbor cruise. 

We also each got to bring a guest!  I was so excited to finally bring Brian along to one of these awesome brunches!

We started on one of the lower levels of the ship, where we had 4 tables to work with and a large buffet of food at our disposal!

Usually with brunch buffets I always start with “breakfast” and then have “lunch”. 

Started with a mimosa and coffee of course.

Bloggers!

 

My first plate was filled with breakfast goods to try out…  I only ate about 2/3 of this.

Here we have some:

• pastry
• bacon
• homefries
• scrambled eggs
• waffle piece
• salmon/capers/onion

It was your standard breakfast fare.  I really liked the potatoes, bacon, and smoked salmon with capers. 

I was REALLY excited to see chocolate chips as a topping option for the waffles…I grew up putting choc chips on my waffles and pancakes, and you never see that at restaurants unless they are cooking into the batter.  However I was a bit disappointed that they only had fake “maple” syrup, and the whipped cream was more or less Cool Whip…not my thing. 

Breakfast is usually my thing, but I actually enjoyed their lunch foods way more. 

Plate 2:

• fruit
• Caesar salad
• Penne primavera
• grilled veggies
• Maple-glazed chipotle chicken
• a slice of sirloin from the carving station

Again, classic buffet items, but I was really enjoying this plate!  I think my favorite was that maple-glazed chipotle chicken!

The best part was that after we ate, we had almost another 2 hours to go up to the open air decks, grab a drink, and enjoy the views as we cruised around the harbor.

I was also excited to catch up with some of my favorite local bloggers.

Elizabeth!!  Brian and I had a great day chatting with her and her boyfriend!! 

Also got to see Megan, Daisy, Bianca, Renee, and meet Stephanie

There was also a boat parade going on…anyone ever heard of a boat parade??

More views…

After spending enough time in the heat of the sun, a few of us headed back down to our tables for some AC, drinks, and dessert. 

I had a few bites of a chocolate cake that hit the spot, and a really yummy lemon poppy seed cake!

Overall it was such a nice and relaxing day, and beautiful weather to spend some time outside in the sun with the sea breeze.

The food wasn’t anything spectacular, but I think The Odyssey would be a great idea for a special night out, or a fun event with friends!  It’s a different way to enjoy Boston, and I think for their dinner cruises you can get dressed up :) 

Disclosure:  This brunch was provided free of charge for me and my guest!  We only paid for any drinks we consumed on the other decks of the boat. 

Thank you SO much to The Odyssey Boston and Boston Brunchers for such an enjoyable Sunday!

Eversave Giveaway – Tommy Doyle’s

Hey did you see today’s Eversave for Tommy Doyle’s??

For just $15 you can purchase a coupon worth $30 worth of food from this popular Irish-American pub.  There are even 3 locations to choose from… Harvard Square, Kendall Square, and Hyannis!
I’ve never been to the Hyannis location, but the other two have always been a really fun place to go after work or on the weekends!  I’d love to try it out for lunch if I worked in Cambridge!
Ok, enough small talk…  I’m sure you have guessed by now that you can WIN one of these awesome Eversave’s for Tommy Doyle’s!
2 Ways To Enter:
Leave a Comment for each.

1. Leave a comment letting me know your favorite pub food! Also what location you’d want your Eversave coupon for if you won!
2. Tweet about the giveaway! 
   “I want to win a free Save to Tommy Doyle’s from @yogurtberries and @EversaveBOS!”

I’ll pick a winner by Saturday morning at 9am E.S.T.!!  Good Luck!
You can also check out Eversave on Twitter and Facebook! 

Whipped Feta & Roasted Red Pepper Dip

This dip was the first thing that came to mind when I was contacted about trying Euphrates Feta cheese!

First, the cheese.  I’m sure you’ve all tried, and most of you love, Chobani Greek yogurt!  I know I do, and I was lucky enough to receive a whole box of it last winter to enjoy and try out in some baking!

Well, did you know before Chobani, its founder started a cheese company making some delicious feta!??  This was news to me, but I perked right up when I saw the word “FETA”.  Mmmm. 

So, when asked if I’d like to try some out to develop a recipe, I jumped at the chance!

Little did I know how much feta I’d have to work with ;)

Not one, but TWO

BLOCKS!!!  No joked, I weighed them….about 9lbs total!! 

Not that I’m complaining, but it just surprised me :)  In a good way.

I have a few recipe ideas, but this is the first I’m sharing.

I know I’ve mentioned it before, but one of my all time favorite restaurants is was on Martha’s Vineyard, until we learned this summer that it had closed :(   Sad, sad day.  Well the restaurant, The Mediterranean, had my friend and I’s most favorite dish ever… The Whipped Feta Rouille. 

We’d dream about it, and talk about it all year leading up to our trip. 

It was that dip which inspired me to try to re-create something with that same delicious flavor we loved so much. 

Not going to lie, I cam REALLY close!  I know it’s not exactly the same, as I definitely did not have the “urfa” and “Maras” in the menu description, but it had that same great flavor and slight kick. 

Whipped Feta & Roasted Red Pepper Dip

• 14 oz Feta Cheese
• 7 oz jar of Roasted Red Peppers (drained)
• 1 clove garlic
• juice from half of a lemon
• 3/4 cup chickpeas (canned)
• 3 T bread crumbs
• 1/2 tsp crushed red pepper flakes (more or less to taste)
• 1 tsp paprika (more for dusting)

Basically, you just combine all the ingredients into a food processor (or blender) and blend until smooth.  It will have a similar consistency to hummus. 

Feel free to play around with the quantities to your liking.

This also makes a lot of dip, about 3 cups.  I’d say a good amount to bring to a party, but if you’re just making it for home you might want to half the recipe. 

Serve at room temperature.  It will thicken a bit in the fridge, still good just thicker. 

HEATED!  I tried heating a little serving for myself the other day.  10-15 seconds in the microwave…divine.  The feta gets all melty and delicious :) 

I bet it would be delicious served as a baked dip!

Enjoy!

**************************

Now for the winner of the “Summer in a Box” giveaway…

Elizabeth!!  Her response to staying organic this summer:

“Managing a farmers' market, it's pretty hard for me not to. ;) All the stuff looks fabulous! “

Congrats!  Email me your mailing info and I’ll have the package sent along to you! :)

Shiny Copper & Quick Veggie Dishes

Hey Guys! 

I’m so glad you guys want to win that “Summer in a Box” giveaway!  Pretty sweet right?  We’re all suckers for free desserts and products!!  You still have until Wednesday to enter!

Hope everyone has had a great weekend! Mine was pretty busy, but also really fun.

I’m still working my way through our garden full of zucchini and now also this PILE of feta cheese! (I weight it too, almost 9lbs total!!)

I’ve never seen so much feta cheese in one place before, not even when I was in Greece!  I can’t complain though, I love the stuff and so far have really been enjoying coming up with recipes.  I’ll be sharing those with you in the near future :)

This feta comes to you from the same people who brought you Chobani Greek yogurt, so you know it’s good!  Real good.  

One easy way to use up is obviously on salad.  I was invited to a Pig Roast at Tina and Mal’s house yesterday and so I made my favorite party salad, but substituted feta for the Romano cheese!

I also brought a dessert, but I’ll get to that later.

Another fun weekend surprise was a FANTASTIC deal my mom found for me at an estate sale!

See, my grandmother (the most), and my aunts…LOVE garage/yard/estate sales.   I usually lack the patience to try and find something great at those things, but I’m always grateful when someone ELSE finds something for me ;)

Like this beauty:

Oh yes.  My mom snagged me a GORGEOUS Ruffoni copper casserole!   I  drool over those acorn handled pieces of art every time I go into William Sonoma. 

This must be an older model as I can’t find it online anymore, but I’d be willing to guess it would cost around $300-$400 brand new. 

She paid $5!!!  FIVE DOLLARS!! 

Seriously!  Thank you mom!!!!  She also found some other great items for me at this sale…it was one of the better sales they have been to in a while, and somehow I made out like a bandit :) 

And you want to know how she polished it up?  Ketchup!  Yup, just rub some regular old Heinz ketchup all over your copper for a few minutes, wash off and it’s shiny and beautiful.

($5!!!!)

Now I just need to figure out a nice spot to showcase it.

Ok onto the veggies!

The first was a tasty green bean side dish I enjoyed while I was on Nantucket.  My aunt made it, and it was so simple I re-created it when I got home. 

Vinegar Green Beans (you’ve got to like vinegar for this one)

Now this is more of a recipe by description, not exact measurements.

• Simply steam up some green beans (she boiled them, but I went with steaming) 
• I had the steamer basket full.

 

• While your beans cook.  In a shallow serving dish/bowl combine:
• Red wine vinegar (2 parts)
• 1 clove minced garlic
• olive oil (1 part)
• salt & pepper
• As you can see, I definitely used more vinegar than oil, but feel free to adjust.  You just want enough to dress the beans, and using a shallow bowl is great because you want the beans to sit in the vinegar.

 

• Once the beans are cooked to your desired level of doneness, immediately transfer the hot beans to the vinegar mixture

• Toss the beans, and let them sit for 5-10 min.   Or let them marinate overnight! 

 

I thoroughly enjoyed them the next day, cold, after they have marinated in the vinegar :)

Next…

BBQ Broccoli Slaw

This was one of those random snacks I made myself that I kept going back for more and more, and in turn at almost an entire bag of broccoli slaw!

It was all this hot weather making me crave cool foods, and I had a bag of Trader Joe’s broccoli slaw in the fridge.

This is pretty much a typical slaw, topped with BBQ sauce.

• approx 8 – 10 oz broccoli slaw
• 1 T olive oil mayo
• 1 T plain yogurt
• 1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
• 1 1/2 tsp sugar
• 2 tsp apple cider vinegar (more or less to taste)
• 1/4 tsp celery seed (or few shakes)

So I whisk up the dressing, add in my broccoli slaw until I achieve my desired slaw to dressing ratio and serve myself a bowl. 

Then it hits me!!

One day in Nantucket (yes a lot of good food ideas came out of my 3 days there with family), one of my cousins was making herself some coleslaw for lunch.  I wasn’t really paying attention, but I do recall her adding some Sweet Baby Rays to her mixture.

Didn’t think twice about it, until I made mine!

GENIOUS! 

Obviously BBQ + Coleslaw go hand it hand, but I’ve never thought to add BBQ sauce TO my slaw!

So so so good! 

Super fast and healthy snack!  I literally ate what you see above X3!   Almost an entire bag of Broccoli Slaw! 

Ok that is all!!

This girl needs some sleep…  First day of work tomorrow!

Yes I got a new job :)  I’ve actually also had some time off lately which has been really REALLY nice, and making it real hard for me to want to go back.  Yet all good things must come to an end…oh and those pesky things like bills and mortgages need paying. 

The FUN part is that I am now working in downtown Boston!  I’ve always wanted to have my chance to work right in the city, so I’m excited it’s finally happening.

Wish me luck…I feel like it’s the first day of school.  What to wear, what to wear ;)