It rained between 6:00 and 8:00 as I laid in bed trying to convince myself I didn't need to pee. When I finally drug it out of bed, CaDiva had made coffee and tea, and was starting the potatoes for salad today. Actually it is for the early part of the week too. Something about potato salad, like so many others, tastes even better the second or third day.
I'm of the opinion that all people believe potato salad is best when made the way their mother made it. I know I adore The Mother's potato salad, even though it is not anything like CaDiva's. My memories are of her yellow mustard squirts into the tail end of a jar Miracle Whip until the color was right. Then sprinkles of sugar with periodic tastes to determine if the mustard bite had been mitigated. Sometimes, my opinion was solicited.
I don't care who you are, potato salad needs celery. You may be yeah or nay about eggs, but you must use celery. Ok, you should use onion too. The Mother always had yellow onions in the house. As I have matured, I found a taste for red. And CaDiva's recipe calls for cilantro, which is now one of my favorites, even though it was originally added by mistake. All that aside, The Mother's is the "right" potato salad. CaDiva's is still really very incredibly good.
Not to mention, The Mother only ever shares hers with HRH now days.
After 10 years together this month, I have to admit I prefer CaDiva's cooking to pretty much everyone else's. We all recognize she is an excellent baker. There is an ancient blog, circa 2007, where a woman described her cookies and people skills. You need to scroll passed a lot of undecipherable header nonsense since the blog is cached. It is a fun read if you know her, Anyway, back on topic, her cooking is equal parts precision (she is the Queen of Meticulocity), inventiveness, and care. She has exposed me to so many different types of food. Still it is her cooking that remains my favorite.
I'm not talking different cultures when I say different types. Although she is seriously Italian with Irish, compared to my German with Irish. (By the way, German Potato Salad is wrong, just wrong.) By different, I mean things like Angel Hair, Linguine, Fettuccine, and Thin Spaghetti pastas. Cheeses like brie and Havarti, (yes to the brie and no the Havarti). Sauces that don't start with meat drippings or Hunts tomato paste. Did you even know tri-tip was a meat? Or that Chef Boy-R-Dee ravioli isn't?
We don't both like the same things. I adore Swiss, she likes American, we settle on provolone. Still, I'll try anything three times, and not just to freak out HRH.
To compare this to my childhood you needed to meet my younger brother. His birthday is this month, along with HRH, mohrh, a cousin, a great aunt (who was actually the step sister of my grandmother) and an uncle (who converted to Jehovah's Witness so he didn't count his birthday). Next year, he would have had a speed-limit year. SQUIRREL! Anyway, I'm back. Seaneebo used to insist if it wasn't chili, it wasn't soup. If it wasn't red, it wasn't jello. If it wasn't grape, it wasn't jelly.
He also thought all cats were female and all dogs male. And when a cat had babies the boys were puppies and the girls were kittens. So I don't know if I want to live by his view of the world. I do often wonder how that view would have changed by now.
In any case, it is going to a hot, sticky Sunday. And I'll have potato salad while I apply for some different jobs. But that is a whole other blog. I'm going to hide inside and pretend Monday isn't as close as it is.
Showing posts with label Favorite Meals. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Favorite Meals. Show all posts
Sunday, August 2, 2015
Thursday, July 30, 2015
I think I have exhausted the pictures, but I still have opinions
I promised to talk about where we stayed and where we ate. Partially so that we would remember the places we like. But we wanted to make recommendations too. Sometimes TripAdvisor.com and Yelp.com just don't cut it, you know?
I'm about to rag on the Best Western Regency Inn Marshalltown, Iowa. But I didn't want to turn people off Best Western. I use BW second only to Hilton properties. They are clean, have great service, and are a lot higher end than you give them credit.
Our first experience, at least the first we remember is in Ogallala, Nebraska. I searched Bestwestern.com and I don't see the Wagon Wheel any more but that was our go-to-place. They didn't have an elevator and the complimentary breakfast was continental where they served Honey-nut Cheerios. A lot of people like Honey-nut Cheerios. But these were disguised as just plain Cheerios. Anyone who has glucose problems knows how sneaky they can be, so I don't need to explain the crash and burn you can experience with an undeclared cereal. Enough said.
All of that in account, you had to give them points for being there and in a place called Ogallala. I mean, who wouldn't stay in Ogallala if they had a chance. That, and it was in the middle of Nebraska, so unless you wanted to drive to Lincoln or Omaha, Ogallala was pretty much it. The first time we stayed there was when we brought CaDiva out to Des Moines via Lincoln Towncar. She wanted to stop in Cheyenne because it was dark and rainy. I needed to get home so I could rest before headed back to work, so I said push on. Besides, it was western Nebraska. Even dark and rainy, what could we hit?
We made it to Ogallala (that is almost as much fun to type as it is to say). We found it in the AAA guide book and called them on my old analogue cell phone. It weighed about a 150 pounds and was perpetually out of battery and signal, so finding a place to stay on the fly was a plus. (See all references to our honeymoon trip to understand what a perk that is). The Wagon Wheel had two rooms, one upstairs with queen beds and one down with a King. We put HRH upstairs and we took the king. She was lonesome but she had the shower to herself and a remote control in her hand, not to mention she wasn't on the fold-out, so we think she was happy.
We liked the place so much, we stopped there several time between Iowa and the west coast. The last time we were blocked by the College World Series of baseball. No hotel for a 100 miles in any direction. We ended up in Kearney, For some unaccountable reason they pronounce it Carney, but they had a room so, we were good.
The next Best Western I remember was in our trip up Highway 101 on the Oregon coastline. We wanted to stop at Newport. We had a whale-watching cruise booked and the room looked so posh. The hotel had a hot tub and we planned to seriously relax. This was not a great trip. Oh, we loved Oregon and would go again in a minute. But it was seriously last minute, like they told me Thursday to be in Portland on Tuesday for a month long detail. Add to that CaDiva was seriously not feeling good. And we were going to be gone so long, I wanted one final Saturday with HRH and The Mom before we left. We ended up at the Farmers Market as it was closing down and didn't get on the road until well afternoon.
So this trip to the coast was hopefully going to make up for CaDiva feeling trapped in the hotel, with a weird warning light on the Highlander, and a penchant for falling into Washington every time she tried to find the dealership. She picked the first of our Best Western Plus stays, this one was the Agate Beach Inn which promised us either ocean or lighthouse view and 1000 foot walk to the beach. I say supposed to because we didn't have Jillian yet, and I didn't read MapQuest that well. We should have taken the right fork, but we took the left. The right would have had us at the hotel in about an hour during the daylight. The left took us on a winding road through the deep dark of the woods, during which CaDiva insisted she saw a Jack-a-lope. I told her she was nuts. They don't live anywhere near the ocean. We got to the hotel around 10:30, beside a crying child and whining woman, in the midst of remodeling.
But the room was lovely, would have been nice to enjoy it longer. The food was great. And the service was excellent. We would stay there again any time.
Even locally, we have pretty good luck with the Canterbury Inn and Suites Best Western in Coralville, Ia. We had a going-away dinner for two of my coworkers in their restaurant. An absolutely wonderful Friday night buffet. CaDiva and I decided to stay the night so I could take her to the Amana Colonies and Tanger Outlet Mall the next day. We saw the information about the honeymoon suite and had fantasies about taking the suite for a Stretchy Pants Clan away game.
It is a two-floor suite with a private hot tub. Unfortunately, when we saw it in person, we found that it was up a tiny dark stairway most of our ladies couldn't climb on a good day. But the fantasy lives. We booked rooms for the trip with one group by the pool. This Best Western actually had doors from the room to the pool. We would do it again, but the pool side rooms were a little hot due to the heated pool. But the night with all of us sitting in the twin spas with wine and trash talk was a great.
But our all time favorite was a Best Western Premium, in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Yeah the same city Clint Eastwood was mayor of. We even stopped by his restaurant, the Hogs Breath Inn. We had a room with a balcony looking out onto the bay, a fireplace, and all at government rate. This was our first Premium and if you get a chance, try one. If you only get one chance, go to this one.
Ok, CaDiva doesn't take great pics of me, but this will give you an idea of the balcony without me stealing any more pics form the Best Western.com.
I'm about to rag on the Best Western Regency Inn Marshalltown, Iowa. But I didn't want to turn people off Best Western. I use BW second only to Hilton properties. They are clean, have great service, and are a lot higher end than you give them credit.
Our first experience, at least the first we remember is in Ogallala, Nebraska. I searched Bestwestern.com and I don't see the Wagon Wheel any more but that was our go-to-place. They didn't have an elevator and the complimentary breakfast was continental where they served Honey-nut Cheerios. A lot of people like Honey-nut Cheerios. But these were disguised as just plain Cheerios. Anyone who has glucose problems knows how sneaky they can be, so I don't need to explain the crash and burn you can experience with an undeclared cereal. Enough said.
All of that in account, you had to give them points for being there and in a place called Ogallala. I mean, who wouldn't stay in Ogallala if they had a chance. That, and it was in the middle of Nebraska, so unless you wanted to drive to Lincoln or Omaha, Ogallala was pretty much it. The first time we stayed there was when we brought CaDiva out to Des Moines via Lincoln Towncar. She wanted to stop in Cheyenne because it was dark and rainy. I needed to get home so I could rest before headed back to work, so I said push on. Besides, it was western Nebraska. Even dark and rainy, what could we hit?
We made it to Ogallala (that is almost as much fun to type as it is to say). We found it in the AAA guide book and called them on my old analogue cell phone. It weighed about a 150 pounds and was perpetually out of battery and signal, so finding a place to stay on the fly was a plus. (See all references to our honeymoon trip to understand what a perk that is). The Wagon Wheel had two rooms, one upstairs with queen beds and one down with a King. We put HRH upstairs and we took the king. She was lonesome but she had the shower to herself and a remote control in her hand, not to mention she wasn't on the fold-out, so we think she was happy.
We liked the place so much, we stopped there several time between Iowa and the west coast. The last time we were blocked by the College World Series of baseball. No hotel for a 100 miles in any direction. We ended up in Kearney, For some unaccountable reason they pronounce it Carney, but they had a room so, we were good.
The next Best Western I remember was in our trip up Highway 101 on the Oregon coastline. We wanted to stop at Newport. We had a whale-watching cruise booked and the room looked so posh. The hotel had a hot tub and we planned to seriously relax. This was not a great trip. Oh, we loved Oregon and would go again in a minute. But it was seriously last minute, like they told me Thursday to be in Portland on Tuesday for a month long detail. Add to that CaDiva was seriously not feeling good. And we were going to be gone so long, I wanted one final Saturday with HRH and The Mom before we left. We ended up at the Farmers Market as it was closing down and didn't get on the road until well afternoon.
So this trip to the coast was hopefully going to make up for CaDiva feeling trapped in the hotel, with a weird warning light on the Highlander, and a penchant for falling into Washington every time she tried to find the dealership. She picked the first of our Best Western Plus stays, this one was the Agate Beach Inn which promised us either ocean or lighthouse view and 1000 foot walk to the beach. I say supposed to because we didn't have Jillian yet, and I didn't read MapQuest that well. We should have taken the right fork, but we took the left. The right would have had us at the hotel in about an hour during the daylight. The left took us on a winding road through the deep dark of the woods, during which CaDiva insisted she saw a Jack-a-lope. I told her she was nuts. They don't live anywhere near the ocean. We got to the hotel around 10:30, beside a crying child and whining woman, in the midst of remodeling.But the room was lovely, would have been nice to enjoy it longer. The food was great. And the service was excellent. We would stay there again any time.Even locally, we have pretty good luck with the Canterbury Inn and Suites Best Western in Coralville, Ia. We had a going-away dinner for two of my coworkers in their restaurant. An absolutely wonderful Friday night buffet. CaDiva and I decided to stay the night so I could take her to the Amana Colonies and Tanger Outlet Mall the next day. We saw the information about the honeymoon suite and had fantasies about taking the suite for a Stretchy Pants Clan away game.
It is a two-floor suite with a private hot tub. Unfortunately, when we saw it in person, we found that it was up a tiny dark stairway most of our ladies couldn't climb on a good day. But the fantasy lives. We booked rooms for the trip with one group by the pool. This Best Western actually had doors from the room to the pool. We would do it again, but the pool side rooms were a little hot due to the heated pool. But the night with all of us sitting in the twin spas with wine and trash talk was a great.
Ok, CaDiva doesn't take great pics of me, but this will give you an idea of the balcony without me stealing any more pics form the Best Western.com.
Ok, maybe a few more.
We stayed there three days, had another whale watching cruise, during which we made a beloved niece sea sick but found a great place for lunch. We did, not Chance. She was VERY patient with her Aunt's desire to go out on the water in rough weather. This was the time I saw the side of the ocean, remember. Oh man. You can see the top of the ocean, and you can see the front of the ocean. But, until you are standing nose to nose with the ocean over your head and nothing but Mother Nature keeping it from falling down over you, you Have Not Seen the Ocean.
All of this is my way of saying, if I tell you never ever go anywhere near Best Western Regency Inn in Marshalltown, it has nothing to do with Best Western.
When we ate at O'Hungries that Thursday evening and CaDiva told the server her bottom bun on her burger was damp, her only comment was it looked that way last night too. But she didn't think CaDiva would want her to poke her food to see if it was that way again tonight. And when she mentioned there were mushrooms on half her burger, the same woman said, oh it comes that way. I called the front desk for third day to tell them there was a message light on my phone that went off at Midnight again. And the message button rang busy. The front desk, after she finally answered, tried to explain how message system works. And when I tell you the card keys took a dozen tries to open the door, not only am I not exaggerating, because HRH counted. The front desk knew about it, since another guest standing at the registration deks told me it would be a problem as I checked in.
There is a Hampton Inn just a block away. Try that one.
Tuesday, October 30, 2012
Planned Parenthood Book Sale weekend
It has been two weekends since HRH joined CaDiva, The Mom and I on a weekend. First HRH had a head cold and then she had to work. So the last time we got to play was a cold and rainy weekend at the Iowa State Fairgrounds. Above, you can just barely make out the wind turbine against the gray damp sky.
We started that weekend with the little hrh at Home Plate Diner.
They have a seriously family friendly attitude. Little hrh was in a fine mood until just before we entered the diner. But she had started a tiny tantrum as we approached the table. We weren't even seated before the server showed up with a Barbie doll and a My Little Pony to distract the little terror...excuse me, I meant the little hrh.
We went across the street after brunch and dropped the Mom, HRH, and the little hrh off at the book sale while CaDiva and I found parking. I have been going to the book sale since it was in the Ag Bldg (aka the old 4 H building if you are old enough to remember) and the parking is much improved over the years. But we are wienies and didn't want to park in the back forty And why should we when CaDiva can parallel park like she invented the concept. It is really quite sexy to watch, I should film it and load a video here. I could probably charge people to watch it.
We got out of the book sale on Saturday only $50 light. And we only dropped another 40 or 50 bucks on Sunday but that was a half-price day. And you really can't count the $30 we spent on Monday because that was 75% off day and we delivered over 35 books at the Mom's house that day. She is pretty much set until the spring sale.
We tried out the children's consignment sale but I wasn't really impressed. I did find a cutie pair of boots for the little hrh. They light up and looked adorable on her. And we did find a Christmas or Birthday present for her too. I'll explain later how grotesquely unfair it is to give anyone a birthday so close to Christmas.
Well, like always I started this too late and I need to get off to bed. I will give you an Dunkin' Donuts update tomorrow if I get home from work at a decent hour.
Tuesday, October 2, 2012
I'm hungry. Is there a Casino anywhere near here?
Today was the first day of my vacation. I haven't actually been to work since Thursday. The Mother sprang another leak and Herself allowed me time to stay with her at the hospital and still take my vacation this week. I can't count Monday as vacation because The Mother had a home health care representative scheduled to to follow up on her hospital stay.
However, today CaDiva had a great idea to deliver Thank-you baked goods to the hospital staff followed by a leaf-peeping and ice cream run.
I have been planning an autumnal blog so this suited me very well. During the run to Eagleville, we found the Happy Apple Orchard. It was closed but we quickly made plans to visit it this weekend. We checked out some scenic by-passes and took lots of pictures I'll share later. On the way home we realized the gas tank and our bellies were riding on the bottom half so we decided to make one last pit stop.
The only problem is between Bethany, Missouri and West Des Moines, Iowa, there just aren't that many places to stop for a sit down meal. Oh, there are Casey's General Stores every dozen miles or so. However, I may have mentioned that I already ate my lifetime allowance of Casey's food during our Ragbrai trip.
Fortunately Osceola has a fine dining establishment known as Lakeside Casino. It used to be Terribles. The Casino was Terribles not the dining establishment. Truth be told we only ate there once before so I can't say it wasn't Terribles. As I recall it was more mediocre than Terribles.
The restaurant wasn't opened until 4:00 PM. This wasn't as bad as the orchard. I mean it wasn't as if we had to wait until the weekend but we had to find some way to kill 20 minutes. Conveniently, the Casino restaurant was attached to a floating structure filled with slot machines. What with the $30.00 of free play Lakeside gave me us for being new players with e-mail and cell phones and $2.50 applied to the penny slots, we filled the time waiting for the restaurant to open.
We ordered the buffet because it was a Casino and that is the law. We paid $12.00 a piece for an all-you-care-to-eat buffet of Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and American fare. They also had salad and dessert stations. The American choices consisted of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and waxed beans, except chicken was on the Chinese station along with the fried calamari and scallops with the shrimp scampi. And no way would I list bread sticks, cheesy polenta, or pork loin with pineapple as Mexican.
I really enjoyed the scampi and the pork but I don't think I would pay $12.00 for such a narrow selection.
However, today CaDiva had a great idea to deliver Thank-you baked goods to the hospital staff followed by a leaf-peeping and ice cream run.
I have been planning an autumnal blog so this suited me very well. During the run to Eagleville, we found the Happy Apple Orchard. It was closed but we quickly made plans to visit it this weekend. We checked out some scenic by-passes and took lots of pictures I'll share later. On the way home we realized the gas tank and our bellies were riding on the bottom half so we decided to make one last pit stop.
The only problem is between Bethany, Missouri and West Des Moines, Iowa, there just aren't that many places to stop for a sit down meal. Oh, there are Casey's General Stores every dozen miles or so. However, I may have mentioned that I already ate my lifetime allowance of Casey's food during our Ragbrai trip.
Fortunately Osceola has a fine dining establishment known as Lakeside Casino. It used to be Terribles. The Casino was Terribles not the dining establishment. Truth be told we only ate there once before so I can't say it wasn't Terribles. As I recall it was more mediocre than Terribles.
The restaurant wasn't opened until 4:00 PM. This wasn't as bad as the orchard. I mean it wasn't as if we had to wait until the weekend but we had to find some way to kill 20 minutes. Conveniently, the Casino restaurant was attached to a floating structure filled with slot machines. What with the $30.00 of free play Lakeside gave me us for being new players with e-mail and cell phones and $2.50 applied to the penny slots, we filled the time waiting for the restaurant to open.
We ordered the buffet because it was a Casino and that is the law. We paid $12.00 a piece for an all-you-care-to-eat buffet of Italian, Chinese, Mexican, and American fare. They also had salad and dessert stations. The American choices consisted of fried chicken, mashed potatoes and waxed beans, except chicken was on the Chinese station along with the fried calamari and scallops with the shrimp scampi. And no way would I list bread sticks, cheesy polenta, or pork loin with pineapple as Mexican.
I really enjoyed the scampi and the pork but I don't think I would pay $12.00 for such a narrow selection.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Route 66 can't dead-end if there is a Whataburger just over the horizon
I'm sorry I have been gone so long. The office got my attention first and now it is family matters. But I did find one of my pictures which will make a good blog. Just talk among yourselves while I deal with this latest interruption.
So what is your favorite burger? I first found Be Bops. Their burgers got me through some serious IBS issues. (if you don't know IBS is a series of undiagnosed symptoms which may be treated but not cured.) And the fries are notoriously good. In KC, we pinned our hopes on Back Yard Burger and their onion rings but it went all McBK on me. CaDiva introduced me to In-N-Out Burger...the double double will eventually send you to cholesterol Hell I imagine but you couldn't complain about the trip. On the way back from The Brother's wedding we discovered Whataburger and found a new meaning to having it your way. I even tried out Jack in the Box for breakfast-all-day but found the meaty delight between soft white bread buns just as enjoyable.
Lately, however, with no roads to travel, I am limited to national chains and Saturday lunch with the ladies. The Tavern Burger at Red Robin has tickled my fancy of late. It is smaller than their normal burger and I actually have room to finish my fries (if I don't order the mushrooms or rings.)
I'm still dealing with family issues (keep a good thought for The Brother and The Mother please) and you can discuss among yourselves which is your favorite burger. I'll be back soon.
So what is your favorite burger? I first found Be Bops. Their burgers got me through some serious IBS issues. (if you don't know IBS is a series of undiagnosed symptoms which may be treated but not cured.) And the fries are notoriously good. In KC, we pinned our hopes on Back Yard Burger and their onion rings but it went all McBK on me. CaDiva introduced me to In-N-Out Burger...the double double will eventually send you to cholesterol Hell I imagine but you couldn't complain about the trip. On the way back from The Brother's wedding we discovered Whataburger and found a new meaning to having it your way. I even tried out Jack in the Box for breakfast-all-day but found the meaty delight between soft white bread buns just as enjoyable.
Lately, however, with no roads to travel, I am limited to national chains and Saturday lunch with the ladies. The Tavern Burger at Red Robin has tickled my fancy of late. It is smaller than their normal burger and I actually have room to finish my fries (if I don't order the mushrooms or rings.)
I'm still dealing with family issues (keep a good thought for The Brother and The Mother please) and you can discuss among yourselves which is your favorite burger. I'll be back soon.
Monday, August 13, 2012
1301 8th West Des Moines
Dunkin Donuts is supposed to be here as soon as September. They have been promising me Dunkin Donuts since Spring. But they have an address now and we checked, the property is no longer on the market.
Ok, that may seem like stalking but it really isn't.
I mean not in the way the Dunkin Donuts feels threatened by my adoration because DD and I have an understanding. I love their coffee and fantasize about being able to eat the donuts even though we know I can't eat their donuts, unless of course they have those double chocolate Boston Kreme. Which they only had the one time but I got one and it was WONDERFUL. But they still spell Kreme with a K and I was raised by the Grammar Police so technically this is a forbidden love and those so very rarely end well.
And you add to this that I have an on-again/off-again relationship with Donut Hut. I mean we haven't actually set a date or anything. It is just that when DD was way down in Texas, except the one in between the A and B concourses in O'hare, I had the Donut Hut. Even when they didn't have a Bavarian Creme they did spell it right but I made no secret of the fact that my heart really belonged to DD.
OK, when I found out they had Farmer's Brothers coffee maybe I might have said something about pledging my soul to them forever. But everyone says that don't they? Really I didn't open a vein or anything. It wasn't an actual blood oath.
So anyway, I am trying to think of the next story I should blog about. It is a toss up between Portland Oregon and Sunny Isle, Florida. They had DD in Florida I think, I'll have to go back and look at my notes. But definitely I need to come up with something to distract me from the DD. Because I just looked up the nutritional facts on a Boston Kreme - the regular one because the double chocolate isn't real, it is sort of a myth that I tasted and no one else ever did. Regardless, I could so afford a Boston Kreme on any day I went to the gym.
Ok, that may seem like stalking but it really isn't.
I mean not in the way the Dunkin Donuts feels threatened by my adoration because DD and I have an understanding. I love their coffee and fantasize about being able to eat the donuts even though we know I can't eat their donuts, unless of course they have those double chocolate Boston Kreme. Which they only had the one time but I got one and it was WONDERFUL. But they still spell Kreme with a K and I was raised by the Grammar Police so technically this is a forbidden love and those so very rarely end well.
And you add to this that I have an on-again/off-again relationship with Donut Hut. I mean we haven't actually set a date or anything. It is just that when DD was way down in Texas, except the one in between the A and B concourses in O'hare, I had the Donut Hut. Even when they didn't have a Bavarian Creme they did spell it right but I made no secret of the fact that my heart really belonged to DD.
OK, when I found out they had Farmer's Brothers coffee maybe I might have said something about pledging my soul to them forever. But everyone says that don't they? Really I didn't open a vein or anything. It wasn't an actual blood oath.
So anyway, I am trying to think of the next story I should blog about. It is a toss up between Portland Oregon and Sunny Isle, Florida. They had DD in Florida I think, I'll have to go back and look at my notes. But definitely I need to come up with something to distract me from the DD. Because I just looked up the nutritional facts on a Boston Kreme - the regular one because the double chocolate isn't real, it is sort of a myth that I tasted and no one else ever did. Regardless, I could so afford a Boston Kreme on any day I went to the gym.
| Nutrition Facts | ||||||
Serving Size
1 serving ( g)
| ||||||
Amount Per Serving
| ||||||
Calories
240
Calories from Fat
81
| ||||||
% Daily Value*
| ||||||
Total Fat
9.0g
14%
| ||||||
Saturated Fat
2.0g
10%
| ||||||
Sodium
280mg
12%
| ||||||
Total Carbohydrates
36.0g
12%
| ||||||
Dietary Fiber
1.0g
4%
| ||||||
Sugars
14.0g
| ||||||
Protein
3.0g
| ||||||
| ||||||
* Based on a 2000 calorie diet
|
Monday, March 28, 2011
The sun is out, the food is great and the Continental Divide is finally explained
The microwave clock at the Hampton in Kingman swears it is 12:52 AM but my body and brain are rtain it is almost 3:00 AM and they have a wrist watch to prove it. We started out finding the snooze function on my cell and sleeping in until 8:30. After showers and packing, not to mention the obligatory Venti No-Whip Mocha (hot until we get to warmer climes) we were on the road.
I watched the weather as CaDiva showered and it said there was a dense fog advisory with visibility down to a mile. A MILE???? seriously you call that dense. In the midwest we don't call it dense until you have to slice off hunks to see past your hood ornament. Well butter my butt and call me biscuit. Did you know fog could fall on you? I told CaDiva it was raining on me, and she said no that's just the fog. Well to me, calling drops of water hitting you fog is like calling anything over a 3.5 an aftershock.
But I digress. We drove out of the western Texas plains just as the "fog" started to clear. And BOOM we were in the western Texas hills. I tell you the changing terrain in Texas is like the spring and dusk, they don't take long when they are ready. We drove into the welcome center of New Mexico just as the sun broke free and the temperature climbed into the high sixties. I got pictures of the reproduction of a dinosaur bone bit by a bigger dinosaur. And we got the name of a restaurant three miles down the road with a car museum and well recommended food.
I'll post the pictures when I get to California, but the food was grand. CaDiva had chicken enchilada - spicy by her taste (of course I already told you she was a weenie) but still she finished every bite, with a significant amount of sour cream to cool the heat. I had a mushroom Swiss burger and rings. YUM! I also had some of CaDiva's refried beans - oh goodness they were rich and wondrous tasting.
The rest of the day was spent enjoying the views and the heat and the sun. But as the day drug on we realized how late we were going to be. This wore on us a bit but not so much that we stopped sight seeing. We pulled into the Continental Divide and historic Route 66 scenic view. Did you know that the Continental Divide means that rain fall on one side goes to the Pacific and on the other side goes to the Atlantic? Well I didn't either.
I'll tell you more tomorrow, but now, I'm going to collapse in a heap and sleep until, well until today.
Saturday, March 26, 2011
Getting on the Road and Custard Heartbreaks
It is vacation time at last. The last day of work was just as to be expected only slightly more heckish. Ok, it may not be a word but it wasn't exactly hellish either so we'll take the lesser of two evils and make up a word rather than resort to hyperbole.
I started out the day late because I couldn't find my office keys. When I got to the office my boss's boss, Herself, patiently listened to my tale of woe of lost keys. early spring snow storms and weather reports. I won't bore you with the details, Let's just say that CaDiva's report that the weather was clear from Muskogee on left me with that damn song running through my head and I'm going to have to sing three verses of Kung Fu Fighters to get rid of it.
I don't think Herself actually plots to tweak my day, but she has an unerring instinct about this sort of thing. So when she told me she had a brainstorm...I was afraid, very afraid. I should have just closed my eyes and dreamed of long drives and good food but instead I looked her straight in the eye and smiled as she told me of giving 1/4 of my staff another manager for an untold period of time.
I hear ya, but I'm a good little soldier and I said I thought it would give the employee a great chance of development and enrich my entire unit. OH put your feet down, you can't step in that just reading a blog. Sheesh!
Well my day started late, in the snow with a Merle Haggard song in my head. It made perfect sense to give one of my staff her annual appraisal. Yeah, it went just as well as you expected. See, we are a new team, everyone needs to get the feel for each other, oh who am I kidding, I am a notorious hard ass manager and I broke her heart.
Well the day continued as days are wont to do and I find out that I don't have nearly enough hours to get the work done. Yeah, I know I should have seen that coming but it tends to just catch my attention at the odd moment. And the moments became odder still when I somehow confused my 12:00 meeting with a 2:00 meeting and I didn't know it until my 1:00 meeting started in the same room and only to find the 12:00 meeting was still there...AWKWARD.
What can I do but finish my 1:00 and go see my boss, Kettle, to tell her I broke my employee's heart and missed my meeting and wouldn't be able to finish the approvals she assigned me before I left on my two week vacation.
This is the point at which we discover she was not aware she granted me two weeks, she thought I was only going to be gone a week. The conversation went something like this...Oh no, dear Kettle, I am on two weeks vacation. I beg to differ, Ms Pot, she retorts, I only granted you one. Well that's going to be difficult because on Saturday I'm going to the Wedding and Sunday Whale Watching so a Monday start time is going to be nigh on to impossible. Well, Kettle replies, I hope CaDiva has a nice time at the wedding.
At this point I haul out the "I'm the one who is covering the Holidays because I'm so loyal and you asked me" card. And that seemed to solve the confusion.
The rest of the day was a paper storm of approvals and designations and time sheets but I was ready to go almost on time. CaDiva arrived near 5:00, had me mail a few letters, pour my coffee as she began a litany of her day of packing, loading the car, paying bills, doing laundry, and perhaps a few minor furniture adjustments. There was something about weeping with fatigue, if we don't have it in this car we don't need it and amending the girl trip rules to cover one party doing all the packing and who has to drive during the dark, in the rain, and through mountains.
Well, for at least now, it was light and not raining. The snow even stopped.. BTW I found my keys, thank you for asking. All was right and we were on vacation. Onto 235 to west Mixmaster and south on 35. We drove about 50 miles before we needed to fill the tank and empty the bladders.We found the only gas station in 200 miles not charging $3.399 per gallon. Ah what's an extra dime a gallon on vacation, beside's along the drive I saw several hawks and one with a golden breast that I can't find in the pictures but I don't care, I just love driving through the Midwest..
We were on vacation, loving the early spring drive and we would be in Kansas City before bedtime which means only one thing...Sheridan's Frozen Custard. It used to mean two things, Backyard Burger and Sheridan's Frozen Custard. But things happen. Particularly favorite food places close or McBKize and break your heart. But I don't have to worry about that this time, no I'm going to get a five scoop cake cone chocolate custard.
Have you ever had frozen custard? You need to. I mean the first time I lapped a lip around that velvety smooth lusciousness I wondered why I wasted my life with ice cream. (sorry B&J but you know it is the truth). Even when CaDiva asked me to take up the driving, in the dark and the fog and the mist...See amendment to girl trip rule regarding leaving your partner to pack for two weeks all on her lonesome...I knew I was on my way to a six inch high cool sweetness (did I say something about avoiding hyperbole?)
Understatement or Embellishment, it doesn't matter...a foodie's heart breaks the same when the uncaring corporate structure decides to "improve" something. But I was blissfully unaware of this as I drove through the misty darkness in Friday night KC traffic, the interior of the Highlander lit only by my loyal GPS device, Jillian, as I made a legal u-turn at my next opportunity only to see a devastating vision...a "Coming Soon" sign where my Sheridan's drive through should be...Unforked Eats and Sweets, Sheridan's Frozen Custard...Yes, that's what I said, my Sheridan's Frozen Custard is becoming a healthful food choice targeting the new ecologically aware consumer...and they are three weeks late doing it.
After three and a half hour drive with nothing to eat except Bethany Country Kitchen's
Country Fried Steak & Eggs
We limped back to the Pear Tree hotel for the night. The way young dark-haired desk clerk told me where there is another proper Sheridan's but ... alas, they don't open until 11:00 on Saturdays and we'll be well into the Kansas Turnpike by then. Oh she also told us the KC Masterpiece closed too. What is this world coming to? This just proves what I have always said, Life is Uncertain, eat what you like first and don't tell your brother where you hid the last Ding Dong.
I started out the day late because I couldn't find my office keys. When I got to the office my boss's boss, Herself, patiently listened to my tale of woe of lost keys. early spring snow storms and weather reports. I won't bore you with the details, Let's just say that CaDiva's report that the weather was clear from Muskogee on left me with that damn song running through my head and I'm going to have to sing three verses of Kung Fu Fighters to get rid of it.
I don't think Herself actually plots to tweak my day, but she has an unerring instinct about this sort of thing. So when she told me she had a brainstorm...I was afraid, very afraid. I should have just closed my eyes and dreamed of long drives and good food but instead I looked her straight in the eye and smiled as she told me of giving 1/4 of my staff another manager for an untold period of time.
I hear ya, but I'm a good little soldier and I said I thought it would give the employee a great chance of development and enrich my entire unit. OH put your feet down, you can't step in that just reading a blog. Sheesh!
Well my day started late, in the snow with a Merle Haggard song in my head. It made perfect sense to give one of my staff her annual appraisal. Yeah, it went just as well as you expected. See, we are a new team, everyone needs to get the feel for each other, oh who am I kidding, I am a notorious hard ass manager and I broke her heart.
Well the day continued as days are wont to do and I find out that I don't have nearly enough hours to get the work done. Yeah, I know I should have seen that coming but it tends to just catch my attention at the odd moment. And the moments became odder still when I somehow confused my 12:00 meeting with a 2:00 meeting and I didn't know it until my 1:00 meeting started in the same room and only to find the 12:00 meeting was still there...AWKWARD.
What can I do but finish my 1:00 and go see my boss, Kettle, to tell her I broke my employee's heart and missed my meeting and wouldn't be able to finish the approvals she assigned me before I left on my two week vacation.
This is the point at which we discover she was not aware she granted me two weeks, she thought I was only going to be gone a week. The conversation went something like this...Oh no, dear Kettle, I am on two weeks vacation. I beg to differ, Ms Pot, she retorts, I only granted you one. Well that's going to be difficult because on Saturday I'm going to the Wedding and Sunday Whale Watching so a Monday start time is going to be nigh on to impossible. Well, Kettle replies, I hope CaDiva has a nice time at the wedding.
At this point I haul out the "I'm the one who is covering the Holidays because I'm so loyal and you asked me" card. And that seemed to solve the confusion.
The rest of the day was a paper storm of approvals and designations and time sheets but I was ready to go almost on time. CaDiva arrived near 5:00, had me mail a few letters, pour my coffee as she began a litany of her day of packing, loading the car, paying bills, doing laundry, and perhaps a few minor furniture adjustments. There was something about weeping with fatigue, if we don't have it in this car we don't need it and amending the girl trip rules to cover one party doing all the packing and who has to drive during the dark, in the rain, and through mountains.
Well, for at least now, it was light and not raining. The snow even stopped.. BTW I found my keys, thank you for asking. All was right and we were on vacation. Onto 235 to west Mixmaster and south on 35. We drove about 50 miles before we needed to fill the tank and empty the bladders.We found the only gas station in 200 miles not charging $3.399 per gallon. Ah what's an extra dime a gallon on vacation, beside's along the drive I saw several hawks and one with a golden breast that I can't find in the pictures but I don't care, I just love driving through the Midwest..
We were on vacation, loving the early spring drive and we would be in Kansas City before bedtime which means only one thing...Sheridan's Frozen Custard. It used to mean two things, Backyard Burger and Sheridan's Frozen Custard. But things happen. Particularly favorite food places close or McBKize and break your heart. But I don't have to worry about that this time, no I'm going to get a five scoop cake cone chocolate custard.
Have you ever had frozen custard? You need to. I mean the first time I lapped a lip around that velvety smooth lusciousness I wondered why I wasted my life with ice cream. (sorry B&J but you know it is the truth). Even when CaDiva asked me to take up the driving, in the dark and the fog and the mist...See amendment to girl trip rule regarding leaving your partner to pack for two weeks all on her lonesome...I knew I was on my way to a six inch high cool sweetness (did I say something about avoiding hyperbole?)
Understatement or Embellishment, it doesn't matter...a foodie's heart breaks the same when the uncaring corporate structure decides to "improve" something. But I was blissfully unaware of this as I drove through the misty darkness in Friday night KC traffic, the interior of the Highlander lit only by my loyal GPS device, Jillian, as I made a legal u-turn at my next opportunity only to see a devastating vision...a "Coming Soon" sign where my Sheridan's drive through should be...Unforked Eats and Sweets, Sheridan's Frozen Custard...Yes, that's what I said, my Sheridan's Frozen Custard is becoming a healthful food choice targeting the new ecologically aware consumer...and they are three weeks late doing it.
After three and a half hour drive with nothing to eat except Bethany Country Kitchen's
Country Fried Steak & Eggs
Breaded, seasoned beef smothered in peppered country gravy. Served with two eggs any style, seasoned hash browns and your choice of fruit, toast, bagel, English muffin or two of The Best Pancakes in Town.™
I took the pancakes but we didn't stop at the Russell Stover's outlet. And still I was to be denied my five scoop cake cone. Oh would the horror never end?
We limped back to the Pear Tree hotel for the night. The way young dark-haired desk clerk told me where there is another proper Sheridan's but ... alas, they don't open until 11:00 on Saturdays and we'll be well into the Kansas Turnpike by then. Oh she also told us the KC Masterpiece closed too. What is this world coming to? This just proves what I have always said, Life is Uncertain, eat what you like first and don't tell your brother where you hid the last Ding Dong.
Wednesday, October 28, 2009
Trattoria by the Sea
The morning had been so wonderful, I couldn't even imagine what we would do with the rest of the day. We squished pennies, shopped for souvenirs, including a t-shirt for brother from Crabby Jim's, and wandered around looking for someplace to eat that wouldn't involve HRH's lips touching a fish. I know we were on the seaside (literally, we were staying in Seaside, California) and it is kind of hard to find food that never floated.
I think I mentioned that HRH keeps fish as pets. Well, she calls them pets, it isn't as if they play fetch or walk on a leash, or anything. They sort of swim around in a large tank and stare at you if you drink too much. Not that I spend a lot of time at my sister's house, drinking, with the fish staring at me. But it would be really freaky if they did, so I don't. Anyway, she says I don't eat dogs (which are real pets, unlike fish) so she shouldn't have to eat fish.
She tends to give seafood nick names, like sea bugs and oh, icky don't kiss me after you eat that. Sometimes she just shudders and asks me to eat under the table cloth. She also does that when I eat rare beef or anything that looks like it did when it was alive.
But I digress. We had walked to the end of the wharf and were rounding the corner to start up along the boardwalk when we spotted a luncheon special menu board - Linguini Alio e Olio - well I don't speak Italian either but that sounded so good. And they did have a patio on the boardwalk. What more could we ask for?
Turned out, not a whole lot. This was Paluca Trattoria Authentic Seafood Restaurant, named for the owner's sons (or so the website says) Paulo and Luca. We were welcomed in by the owner/chef Salvatore Tedesco with promises of more on the menu. As we perused the menu he told us about the specials and how his family had fished the bay since before he could reach the cook top.
At first we thought a nice iced tea and appetizer would be enough to refresh us from the whale watching. We could have settled for that, if we just ordered the Parmesan Garlic french fries, or the lightly battered sweet onion rings. But we just had to try the beer battered artichoke hearts. Sal assured us these would all be great since we were in the garlic, artichoke, and romaine lettuce capitol of the world.
Wait, we didn't get anything with romaine. So we just had to get the rosemary chicken breast on a Francesca roll, with romaine of course and the aforementioned linguine of course. Not to mention the rock crab salad.
The sun was shining, the breeze was blowing in off the bay, and the food was delicious. This place is definitely going in our "let's go back there again soon" list.
I think I mentioned that HRH keeps fish as pets. Well, she calls them pets, it isn't as if they play fetch or walk on a leash, or anything. They sort of swim around in a large tank and stare at you if you drink too much. Not that I spend a lot of time at my sister's house, drinking, with the fish staring at me. But it would be really freaky if they did, so I don't. Anyway, she says I don't eat dogs (which are real pets, unlike fish) so she shouldn't have to eat fish.
She tends to give seafood nick names, like sea bugs and oh, icky don't kiss me after you eat that. Sometimes she just shudders and asks me to eat under the table cloth. She also does that when I eat rare beef or anything that looks like it did when it was alive.
But I digress. We had walked to the end of the wharf and were rounding the corner to start up along the boardwalk when we spotted a luncheon special menu board - Linguini Alio e Olio - well I don't speak Italian either but that sounded so good. And they did have a patio on the boardwalk. What more could we ask for?
Turned out, not a whole lot. This was Paluca Trattoria Authentic Seafood Restaurant, named for the owner's sons (or so the website says) Paulo and Luca. We were welcomed in by the owner/chef Salvatore Tedesco with promises of more on the menu. As we perused the menu he told us about the specials and how his family had fished the bay since before he could reach the cook top.
At first we thought a nice iced tea and appetizer would be enough to refresh us from the whale watching. We could have settled for that, if we just ordered the Parmesan Garlic french fries, or the lightly battered sweet onion rings. But we just had to try the beer battered artichoke hearts. Sal assured us these would all be great since we were in the garlic, artichoke, and romaine lettuce capitol of the world.
Wait, we didn't get anything with romaine. So we just had to get the rosemary chicken breast on a Francesca roll, with romaine of course and the aforementioned linguine of course. Not to mention the rock crab salad.
The sun was shining, the breeze was blowing in off the bay, and the food was delicious. This place is definitely going in our "let's go back there again soon" list.
Saturday, October 17, 2009
Serendipity for Dinner
I mentioned the breakfast we had in Santa Rosa at the Omelet Express had to count as one of our favorites, even if we hadn't encountered her friend. CaDiva had the french toast with orange juice (yeah, I know, I don't understand it either, but she swears it tastes fine together) and HRH and I each had omelets. HRH liked the flavored iced tea but I found the coffee a little overbearing. Overall, I would definitely go there again. I'm thinking we should stay at the Hotel La Rose. The little hotel was built right after the 1906 fire and refurbished in 1985. The prices are reasonable and it got great reviews. I'll let you know if we get out there again.
By far, one of our favorite dinners came after the sunset at Goat Rock. We had been traipsing about since breakfast at the Omelet Express, all subsequent meals had been on the run or Al fresco. However, CaDiva's old friend gave us a gift certificate to Latitude, the restaurant owned by an old business acquaintance. None of us were actually hungry but it was a long time before breakfast and we would need to check out of the hotel the next morning. Since Latitude was so close to the hotel, we decided to give it a try.
We choose to eat inside, although the patio did have heaters and I'm certain would have been fine had we not spent the early evening on the bluff by the beach. The server was not quite as attentive as he should have been after delivering our meals but the owner was most gracious. And the food was incredible.
HRH had the Chinese Chicken Salad, after certain assurances that the warm sushi rice had never actually encountered raw fish. I reveled in the roasted half chicken with garlic mashed potatoes and steamed veggies. I don't normally like dark meat chicken but this was uniformly moist and tender. CaDiva had the vegetarian penne and her eyes glazed over from the first taste until about three fourths through the service when she just couldn't eat any more. HRH and I made a much better job of our meal but the servings were definitely generous.
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