There's a Newf in My Soup!: Step up to the Plate and Cook the Cover!

When TN came to town, I wanted to show him a good time at his first Concert in the Park. Bon Appétit had just Facebooked a slideshow link to its Most Mouthwatering Cover Recipes Since 2012, so I used that as the inspiration for our theme. I opened the challenge to Cover Recipes from any cooking magazine, and also requested that everyone photograph their dish with an iPhone. We all had a great time with this challenge!

I've participated in several of Bon Appétit's Cook the Cover challenges in the past, but it had been some time. I was all over the Sour Cherry Pie featured on the June 2014 cover, but also decided to try the Spicy Calabrese-Style Pork Ragù from the February 2013 cover.

I was able to find sour cherries at Trader Joe's ($2.50/jar). Three jars, drained, provided the six cups of cherries called for in the recipe. The filling was a little soupy because I didn't allow the pie to sit long enough after baking before serving. Next time, I will make it the night before.

TN and I prepared the pork ragù together on Saturday, and then let it simmer on the stove while we went over to Pt. Loma Seafood for calamari sandwiches and shopping for seafood to bring for our dinner with Jim and Holli. We prepared Grilled Oysters with Garlic-Chile Butter, Socca, and shrimp, and Jim and Holli provided the margaritas, steak, salad, wine and grilled pineapple dessert! It was an awesome evening on their patio!

On Sunday morning, we made a quick coffee run and then got out on the bay for some kayaking. We paddled under the bridge and over to the golf course, where we pulled the kayaks up on the beach while enjoying a leisurely breakfast stop at the clubhouse. Sunday night was Concert in the Park, and Monday morning was another great kayaking excursion, followed by an evening watching the Padres at Petco Park.

Whew! There was too much fun going on that weekend! I need to focus and get back to Concert in the Park....

Alec and Nina hit a home run with Butter-Basted Rib Eye Steaks from Food & Wine..."This steak is based on a recipe from Alain Ducasse. Halfway through the cooking, these bone-in rib eyes are basted with a mixture of butter, thyme and garlic, so they're crusty outside and richly flavored."

February 2014 Food & Wine Cover

Photo Credit: Alec & Nina

Jim & Carmen turned up the heat at the park with Bon Appétit's Sambal Chicken Skewers. I've made these before, and TN loved them so much he grilled them when he got back home for his July 4th celebration. Jim was very creative with his iPhone photo and Photoshop.

"Kebabs get a bad rap. (Decades of alternating zucchini coins and cherry tomatoes can do that.) But this Asian take, with a spicy, sticky glaze, makes for a very convincing comeback."

Bon Appétit's cover

Jim's Photoshopped cover!

Jim grilling table-side at the park

Bryan & Kelley replicated Cuisine's May/June 2000 cover recipe: Bobby Flay's Grilled Skirt Steak with Chimichurri.

Two of Bon Appétit's cover-worthy pasta dishes made the cut and complemented each other quite nicely...Michele's Spaghetti with Parsley Pesto and our Rigatoni with Spicy Calabrese-Style Pork Ragù