Friends are the most wonderful gift of life. I am a very fortunate person to have very long lasting friendships, that after so many years we have become family to each rather than friends.
I am also very happy when my friends come to spend time with us. You know your friends love you when they come to Phoenix in the scorching heat of August. After all it is a dry 110 degree day…
To me it also mean that I get to have more fun in the kitchen preparing new meals. Yes, I do use my friends as guinea pigs.
This week end a very dear friend of mine is here visiting from Northern California. Love it!!! not only we get to speak French all day long, but I get to prepare new dishes for her. And I have a fun menu planned….
Champagne in hand we started dinner.
We started her visit last night with a new dish adapted from Food and Wine cookbook: flank steak with herbed salsa. Very new territory for me, as it was my first time using cilantro and raw jalapeno in my cooking. The lime juice gave it a nice uplift, the scallions were gentle to the palate and not overpowering the flavor of the tomatoes and lime lemon juice. We enjoyed a crisp green salad on the side.
The result was delicious, but I am going to let you be the judge of that.