frittata, father’s day, and the e street sadness

Greetings food lovers!  Today’s post will be is a little “all over the place,” but a lot went on this past weekend and I want to graze over a few of the happenings in both words and photos.

First, I want to share a recipe from the breakfast Joe prepared for me Saturday as I celebrated the first anniversary of my 29^th birthday (A.K.A. 30).  We started the tradition of lavish home cooked birthday breakfasts when we first moved in together and have kept it up ever since.  (We’ll see how this plays out when we start a family!)  Along the way, we’ve uncovered some stellar recipes that we might not have discovered otherwise and hoarded them away in our go-to arsenal.    While these meals are usually significantly more involved than our weekday breakfasts, they are the perfect time to get creative or to simply blow the dust off your favorite cookbook and try the recipe that’s been earmarked and patiently waiting for your consideration far too long.

Well, not to be outdone by his aspirational chef and food-blogging wife, Joe raised the bar this year with a spectacular internationally inspired multi-course presentation.  We both came back drenched from a daunting 5-mile run and he knew breakfast was going to take a little time, so he kept our stomachs at bay with an amuse–bouche of toasted Anniversary Bread followed by a cold appetizer of local strawberries lightly dusted with powdered sugar alongside thinly sliced prosciutto di Parma.  Now that’s what I’m talking about!  Cured meats before noon is my kind of day…  The second and third courses were both chock full of our favorite ingredients and loosely inspired by cuisine we’ve come across in our travels:  a rad chorizo, leek, and cheese frittata followed by warm and flaky chocolate stuffed croissants.  Needless to say, it was a great way to begin my 30^th year.  Click here for the fritatta recipe.

The remainder of the weekend was filled with all of the things that bring sunshine into my life.   I was able to enjoy a perfectly sunny day relaxing on the beach followed by an insanely overindulgent and delicious meal with the family, and finally a beautiful Father’s Day out on the boat with four generations of family!  Here are some pics from our Father’s Day fishing expedition with my dad, brother, grandfather, husband, and niece.

Last, I hate to end on a somber note, but I couldn’t stomach writing this week’s post without mentioning the passing of the legendary Big Man, Clarence Clemons, at age 69.  There were heavy hearts along E Street and all throughout the world this weekend when the news broke that he entered into eternal rest after suffering a severe stroke one week ago.  I found out the tragic news late Saturday night via text message and still haven’t been able to wrap my head around it since then.  Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band have been a part of my life as long as I can remember knowing what music was.  By age 4, I was rocking out to Bruce’s Born in the USA album alongside our family’s jukebox and dutifully reciting all of the words from the backseat of my parents’ car when they popped in a Bruce tape.  As I got older and found myself identifying with their message more and more, I dug up the Band’s older albums, bootlegs, and collected any new material they put out.  I’ve gone to countless shows and chased Bruce around the Jersey shore whenever there was a fleeting rumor of his whereabouts only to finally meet him and receive a birthday kiss last summer at the Wonder Bar.  So, I guess you can say that Bruce and the Band have touched my life in a special way. And, if you’ve ever attended a show and observed the fans as the band takes the stage, you can see that this sentiment is not unique to me.  This is a band that clearly understands their fans, their struggles, their victories, and their dreams.

The loss of Clarence is a tremendous blow to the music community, his family, the fans, and especially to Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band.  While Bruce brought passion of titanic proportion in his lyrics and composition, Clarence undoubtedly matched it every time his lips touched the saxophone, producing utterly soulful solos.  These two icons performing together is synergy at its finest and they most certainly shared an irreplaceable chemistry.    The loss of Clarence has left a gaping hole in the hearts of fans and all who knew him on a personal level, and I extend my sincere condolences.  The Big Man has certainly left some big shoes to fill and we will all miss him dearly.

Here’s one of my personal favorites where you can witness their magic together:
Bruce Springsteen- NYC Serenade

Chorizo, Leek & Cheese Fritatta

2 Tbsp. butter
4 cups thinly sliced leeks, white and light green parts
Salt and freshly ground pepper
6 ounces chorizo sausage, chopped
6 large eggs
3/4 cup mixed parsley, basil, and cilantro
1/4 cup grated Locatelli Pecorino Romano cheese + more for garnish

Melt the butter in an ovenproof 10-inch frying pan over medium heat.  Add the leeks, season to taste with salt and pepper, and cook, stirring often, until softened, about 10 minutes.  Reduce the heat, as needed, to prevent the leeks from browning.

In the meantime, heat a medium-size dry skillet, add the chorizo, and saute for 10 minutes or until slightly crispy.  Transfer chorizo and any accumulated juices to the leek pan.

In a large bowl, whisk the eggs.  Stir in the herbs and cheese, and season to taste with salt and pepper.  Pour the egg mixture over the leek-chorizo mixture and stir gently to distribute evenly.  Cover and reduce the heat to low and cook until the eggs are set, about 15 minutes.  Remove lid, sprinkle with cheese, and place approximately 6-inches under broiler until the top is puffed and golden brown, about 1 minute.  Cut into wedges and serve immediately.