George Foreman is my hero. Take that, Martha.

I had first thought to just go through and do the recipes in order. But there are three soups in a row to start off summer, and I still have corn soup in my fridge. And in my freezer....

I had some chicken breasts defrosting, so I found the one summertime recipe that used plain chicken breasts—Garlic-Marinated Chicken Cutlets with Grilled Potatoes. And actually, you make asparagus too. And Martha's Favorite Vinaigrette. Oh, and did you see where it says GRILLED?

I live in an apartment. So I don't have a grill. But I do have the George Foreman Lean Mean Fat Reducing Grilling Machine. In your face, Martha! That would work for the chicken, but I didn't think the potatoes and asparagus would hold up. And I only have the one. I am not like that crazed lady in those infomercials with six of the things going at once, whipping up breakfast burritos and corn bread and steaks and apple turnovers and ...

Anyway, back to Martha and George. I figured I could just roast the potatoes in the oven, which I'd never done, but please, how hard could it be? Aren't they pretty?



I whipped up Martha's favorite vinaigrette. It was pretty easy and basic, white wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, salt, pepper, pinch of sugar and olive oil. I really need more measuring spoons. Put that in container and popped it in the fridge. Then it was time to tackle the marinade for the chicken. One tablespoon of olive oil and two of the vinegar. Again, I need more measuring spoons. Now here is where I knew wine would not be wise when cooking today. Usually, I am very good about my prep. Chris trained me well. I do the chopping and all that before I start. Well, after I dumped the oil and vinegar into the baking dish, and looked at what I had to do next... garlic? thyme? Yeah... not chopped. WTF??! Where is my head?! And I hadn't had a drop to drink. That is what I get for not eating any protein all day. ARGH!

I snapped off three cloves of garlic and ... shit!!! The vinaigrette called for garlic, too! FOUR cloves. (In my defense, I made the vinaigrette correctly, the garlic is one of the four or five "add-on" flavor options Martha offers you. She's so versatile.)

I felt like Giada with the Big Head, peeling the thyme leaves right off the stems. Yep.. cooking right along I was...



Since the recipe called for cutlets, and I had breasts, I made them cutlets by cutting them in half horizontally. Very carefully and slowly, with the big knife, and popped them in the marinade. Then I washed my hands thoroughly, which is important when working with raw chicken. And, unlike Paula Deen, I removed my rings beforehand. I love her, but God only knows what lurks in those rocks of hers....



Again, no grill for the asparagus. I could have steamed them like I usually do, but my cast iron skillet rocks, and gave them a nice bit of burn. So kind of like grilled...



Or slightly charred. Just call it extra flavor.

My George Foreman is not huge, so I had to cook in waves, but since they were cutlets, they cooked right up in no time. Now, if I had been grilling at home with my dad, he could have put it all on at once, but you have to watch him. When you take the raw stuff out to him, you have to stand right there and snap the plate away. If you don't, he'll put the cooked food right on top of the raw food plate, or pour the old marinade all over it. You've got to watch him like a hawk.



The potatoes just got tossed with butter (again, real, unsalted butter) and the asparagus was tossed with a couple tablespoons of the vinaigrette. And then it was ready! My counter was covered in bowls, and my sink was piled with knives, measuring cups and spoons (well, not too many spoons...)



Can I just tell you, that it's now called Michelle's Favorite Vinaigrette. That stuff is so damn good, I drizzled a little on my potatoes, too. I almost did a shot of it. How does she do it?? She's Martha Stewart, Super Evil Genius!!!

Until next time, here is the Garlic-Marinated Chicken Cutlets with Grilled Potatoes play list. I need a glass of wine...

Explosions The Mary Onettes
Lava Lamp Duran Duran
The Girl I Knew Somewhere The Monkees (oh yeah, you read that right!)
Me and Paul Willie Nelson
If I Could Turn Back Time Cher
Spinning the Wheel George Michael
Looking For a New Love Jody Watley
Add it Up Violent Femmes
June Bug B-52s
Telescope Graham Colton
Around the World in a Day Prince and the Revolution
Just Like a Pill Pink
Glamorous Fergie (I know, I know..)
Goodbye Yellow Brick Road Elton John (It'll take you a couple of vodker and tonics to set you on your feet again...mmmm voddy tonics...)
They Dance Alone Sting
I Feel Fine The Beatles
Love Doesn't Last Too Long The Weepies
Talking to my Angel Melissa Etheridge
Pop Life Prince and the Revolution
Valotte Julian Lennon
Everybody Knows Concrete Blonde (Hey, this was on the last list, too!)

Knee-High by the 4th of July

Corn, that is. Well, not quite. I mean, I know it isn't in Bingo-town, but it probably is here in south Florida. Or wherever they got the corn that was at my Publix. Why was I buying corn, you ask....

I need a project, and thanks to Martha Stewart (did I just say that?), I found one. I get her Everyday Food magazine every month (shout out to Chris!!), and last time I went to Costco for "just water," I found this book.



I was inspired. It's broken down by seasons, so I made a vow that after I came back from my Atlanta trip, I would make at least one recipe a week, starting with summer, until I had made them all. (ED NOTE if it's a recipe for lamb or veal, which I don't eat, I will substitute a recipe from the magazine.)

Any-who... the first recipe of the summer is.... Creamy Corn Soup!! It has four ingredients. Corn, salt, butter and water. Well, five if you count your garnish of choice (I went with scallions). And I get to use my fancy pot!



You will get some strange looks buying 16 ears (!?!) of corn at the store. I will be the first to tell you, by the way, I have no idea what I am looking for when it comes to buying corn. I mean, you pull the skin...no...that's not right... HUSK away a little and what?? I didn't see any bugs, so it went in the bag. This is what 16 ears of corn looks like:



I suppose I could have bought frozen, but that is not the Martha way, so it's not mine either. Plus, I love to cook. Love the prep work, love the chopping, love the smells. Love it all. Well, except the clean up. Someone else can do that part. I just plug my iPod in, put it on shuffle, and I'm off (Today's song list to follow). So I started to shuck 16 ears of corn.

This is the glass of wine I had to pour when I realized that shucking corn was not fun:



Notice I had done FIVE out of 16. No wonder our parents made us do that when we were kids. It's the shit job. And even shittier when there is no promise of spiedies and salt potatoes later, am I right Bingo-town people??!?

So I shucked on, sometimes using an ear as a microphone to sing, sing out loud. Which was a little awkward when Darling Nikki came on, but it's Price, so I belted it out! When all were shucked and done, I had to cut all the kernels off the ears. Thank you Jenny, for letting me take back my massive pasta bowl, because it was perfect for this task.



You'll notice the rather large chef's knife there. I started with that. Well, I held it in one hand, with an ear standing up on end in the other. While I have exchanged pleasantries with the county sheriff that lives below me, I didn't think our first real meeting should be me pounding on his door, sliced off fingers in (the other) hand, asking him how much first aid he knew....

So a much smaller knife it was.

Next up, pureeing. Here, I am a step in front of Martha, because I have an immersion blender. You just smoosh it in, press the button and BZZZZZZZZZZZ. OK, that doesn't sound right at all, so here is a picture.



And here is the glass of wine I had to pour after cleaning BZZZZZZZZZ'd corn off the cabinets. And the wall.



Thank God for Lysol wipes. And cotton shirts that can go right in the wash. Is that corn in my hair?!?! (COOKING TIP: It's called an immersion blender for a reason. Keep it immersed.

Now it's time to cook! First add the butter. Four tablespoons of it, cut into little pieces. First off, when cooking, I always use real butter. That fake stuff is fine to make a grilled cheese, but seriously, real butter. And always unsalted (another shout out to Chris!). I had part of a stick that was a little more than 4 Tbsp., so, to honor another cooking icon, I put it all in. (Love you, Paula Deen!!)



As the soup was cooking, I thought... hmm... a tablespoon of salt is really not much seasoning to go with. I like a little kick. Sooooo.... in honor of Paige (my other cooking guru).....



there is some of the black pepper and red pepper I added. Sorry Martha, but I have to live my own life, and some like it HOT!

And so here it is, the finished product. I served it along with a salad (I need some light meals after the beer and food filled weekend that was my trip to the ATL). I must say, the pepper blend added a nice bite.




1 down, 249 to go. It's on, Martha. On like Donkey Kong!


As promised, this is the Creamy Corn Soup playlist
Everyday I Write the Book Elvis Costello
Banditos The Refreshments
More Than Words Extreme (I know, I know...)
Darling Nikki Prince (again, awkward when shucking corn. But it's PRINCE!!!)
I've Got a New Girl Now Honeymoon Suite
Goodnight, Goodnight Maroon 5
Hunter Dido
Something to Save George Michael (ah, my boy, George)
Last Man Standing Duran Duran (ah, Simon.......)
This is the Time Billy Joel
Computer Blue Price (Purple Rain again!! Rock it Prince!)
Sell, Sell, Sell Barenaked Ladies
Time After Time Cyndi Lauper
I Want Your Sex George Michael (again, awkward when working with corn)
Be With You The Bangles
Everybody Knows Concrete Blonde (love, love, LOVE her voice)
Like the Way I Do Melissa Etheridge (ROCK STAR!!!!)
Shoo-Bee-Doo Madonna (That's right, I kick it old school)
Nothing Lasts Forever Maroon 5
Last Dance Donna Sommer (Nope, not done cooking, but almost!!)
One Week Barenaked Ladies
She's to Good For Me Sting
Strip Adam Ant
Foolin Def Leppard
Living in Twilight The Weepies
This is Where it Ends Barenaked Ladies (Almost done!!!)
Anotherloverholenyohead Prince (I know, he takes up lots of iPod space)
Pancho & Lefty Willie Nelson & Merle Haggard

And dinner was served!!!!