A Very Happy Birthday Boy

I’m always curious to hear what the munchkins request for their birthday Fam Din menu…. mostly because I’m so entertained by their choices of such impressive dishes.

Dishes like salmon sushi, prime rib, dumplings, crab.……

We sure as heck don’t get away with making them “kids menu” items like chicken nuggets or fish sticks.

Though one year, Nina did ask for chicken wings and mozzarella sticks — but even then the entree was sous vide and then grilled ribeye sandwiches!

Guess you can’t blame them…we did train their palates.

So when it came to Leonidas’ birthday meal, it wasn’t too big of a surprise that he once again requested “fatty steaks” and fish tacos.

Typical 7 year old dinner, right?

V and L gathered all the goodies for Leo’s two requests and set us to work.

Since fish tacos were on the menu, L prepped blue corn masa that Maya and I rolled and pressed into tortillas.

Brother then cooked the pressed tortillas in a cast iron skillet.

They also made some awesome salsas – tomatillo and roasted guajillo.

As for the fish, they chose to sear ahi that was crusted in crushed coriander and sesame seeds.

The coriander imparted such a perfumed flavor to the fish – so good!

In fact, if you didn’t want to go with the tacos route, it would be awesome in a sandwich or just on top of a salad.

In addition to the salsas, there were also sliced avocado and fresh corn to top the tacos with.

HELLO LUV-AH!!!

Seared Ahi Tacos in Homemade Blue Corn Tortillas

They were ridiculous!

SO. DAMN. SCRUMPTIOUS.

T and I agreed that it’s one of our favorite dishes they’ve made.

Incredibly flavor packed!

After the tacos were inhaled, I went around to snap a few pics before the evening got away from us.

I’m a sucker for a pretty wine bottle….isn’t that how you pick out wine, too?

C and his two girls.

With both of them in college now, he and seester N are practically empty-nesters!

Okay…remember that “no cell phone during Fam Din” rule?

Yeah…we let them break it after they’ve helped out.

AND as long as they’re gaming together.

I know….it’s a stretch.

Then Bella will walk by them with this look on her face and they’ll stop to give her some cuddles.

Having a permanent “emo” face has its perks.

When the menu was being crafted, N decided that she wanted to add paella to the mix.

Her rationale was that it’s such a festive dish….

…. I think it’s because she got new paella pans.

But hey–I love paella so I wasn’t going to complain.

Look at all of that seafood goodness piled into that pan!

Her Seafood Paella was not only pretty, it was darn delicious.

Leia 1000% agreed.

Now back to the birthday boy’s other request – fatty steaks!

Yup…the smart kiddo likes his steaks marbled and fatty — no lean filet mignon here!

V dry aged these beautiful boneless ribeye steaks (uncovered) in the fridge for a few days to get rid of some moisture and intensify that beefy flavor.

He rigged the below chopsticks-in-a-tray situation to lift up the steaks which helped aerate and dry out all sides of the beef.

And then it was seared in cast iron skillets to get that nice crust.

While the steaks rested, I got working on the salad.

Leo didn’t actually ask for a salad but we needed some veggies.

I called it a Lentil-Arugula Salad …but it was so much more.

It was packed with lentils, slow roasted tomatoes, goat cheese and pistachios.

Not your average salad!

Then it was time to slice the steaks.

Bella could barely contain her excitement.

And the same could be said for Nina.

In fact, V did such a great job on the steaks that C wanted to give him a big ol’ thank you smooch!

We’re definitely a family that prefers our beef on the rare to medium-rare side. Though, growing up, we were “well done” people.

THANK GOODNESS we grew out of that phase!

Dry Aged Ribeye Steaks ….

Excuse me as I lick the computer screen.

Our Dudes!

Steaks and Paella?

COUNT ME IN!

The Munchkins Table … with a little sassy look from R in the background.

And the Oldies!

ps. Why didn’t I get the plaid memo?

Now it wouldn’t be a birthday fam din if we didn’t have a birthday dessert!

Leo’s last request that night was to have a Roblox Mint Chip Ice Cream Cake.

The kid knows what he wants, right?

And guess what? T made it!

T is not a fan of baking although she is usually down to make a panna cotta or crème brûlée. So this was a big deal!

L and Luna also pitched in on the cake by making the marshmallow fondant Roblox logo.

Needless to say, we had a VERY happy birthday boy.

And not just Leo – we ALL had an awesome time that night.

R was still feeling sassy. Must be the steaks.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LEONIDAS!!!

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This Month’s Family Dinner Menu

Cocktails: Various Wines
Appetizers: Seared Ahi Tacos in Homemade Blue Corn Tortillas
Entree: Dry Aged Ribeye Steaks, Seafood Paella
Sides: Lentil-Arugula Salad
Dessert: Roblox Mint Chip Ice Cream Cake