We All Need a Creative Outlet
From the desk of: Amy Goldberg… with a hint of the whole AE Team
CREATIVITY…it’s a big word and can be daunting to many who may not be in a more straight-forward seeming creative occupation like an artist, designer or decorator.
However, I would argue that we all have creativity inside of us, even if we can’t draw an accurate stick figure when playing hang-man or paint an Easter egg without turning our hands all sorts of pastel colors. From the way we pick our clothes in the morning (or afternoon…during quarantine days) to the bedspread and toss pillows in bedroom, to the food you prepare each day in our kitchens.
Now, many of us are not shopping for new spring clothes or redecorating our homes at the moment, but we all need to eat…and I have been utilizing my creativity in the kitchen, since we now have the time and the bandwidth to do so.
Our team at AE Events has challenged one another to share new recipes as well as how we can be useful in preparing from our pantry and evolving what was last night’s deliciousness into something new for today…even if last night was take-out to support our fellow friends in the restaurant and hospitality business!
To be honest, some of us like to work from a recipe – there is a certain science to this and I have included some of our favorites.
Then, others (including myself), like the freedom and creativity of cooking with ingredients we love and putting them together with whichever technique, or lack thereof, that keeps the smoke detector in your home from going off. It’s using the leftover vodka sauce from your penne a la vodka as a spicy little mix to splash into your bloody mary or as a base for a delicious flatbread on the grill. How about taking your almost too ripe salad veggies and roasting them for dinner and then including them in a frittata for breakfast!
Of course we will get back to our days of utilizing our creativity for joyous weddings, meaningful non-profit galas and thought provoking corporate conferences, and not to mention the most creative VIRTUAL EVENTS out there…but for the moment, my kitchen is calling and I finally have time to spend in it…even if it includes cleaning up after myself!
Some things we have been cooking up - feel free to share and make your own!
Christine and Amy’s take on Chicken Piccata
Ingredients:
2lbs – Chicken Breast (pounded) (Christine’s mom’s recipe was for Veal but we chose chicken!)
Salt and Pepper
1/3 cup flour1/3 cup olive oil
2 tbs butter
1 cup water
½ cup of dry white wine
1 chicken bouillon
2 med lemons
1 tbs capers
Parsley
Directions:
Mallet and pound chicken breast 1/8” thick
Sprinkle with salt and pepper
Coat with flour
In skillet – medium high -in hot olive oil & butter
Cook chicken till lightly brown
Remove pieces - add more oil if necessary
Heat to low – stir in drippings water, wine and chicken bouillon, ½ tsp of salt – scrapping to loosen bits
Return Chicken to the pan – cover and simmer for 15 minutes
Cut 1 lemon in half – squeeze to remove juice – thinly slice the other lemon
Overlap cooked chicken on a platter
Stir lemon juice into liquid – heat to boil
Garnish with lemon slices, capers and parsley
Courtney’s Creamy Parmesan Chicken Spaghetti
Since Phoebe has a major sweet tooth - she chose cookies! Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies to be exact.
Recipe from Well Plated - you can find it HERE
Caitlin’s Scones AND Avocado toast, because why not do a little cooking and baking at once
Scones - Baking these scones are always a hit and I am required to make them for my neighborhood brunch every year at Christmas time! Recipe found HERE
Avocado toast - Simple but seriously my favorite thing to make. I toast bread, then mash up avocado on top, add everything but the bagel seasoning from Trader Joes, top with a fried egg and sriracha sauce
