Wednesday, August 26, 2009
Thursday, August 13, 2009
Oh my god . . .
Did I get your attention? I've been saying that to myself for the last hour - thanks to a fantastic meal I just finished. I was thinking about how many times I order a meal due to one ingredient. If I see capers or artichokes and the next words aren't kidney beans, liver or beets, I'll probably order it.
I have been disappointed once when I did this. I saw a wonderful pasta with artichoke hearts so of course ordered it. When it came, I couldn't find an artichoke heart anywhere. When I mentioned it to the wait person he nonchalantly said "we're out of artichokes". What???? They couldn't give me that bit of information a little sooner since it was one of the main parts of the description "pasta with artichoke hearts". I ate it (of course) but sighed in disappointment with every bite. I could hardly finish the plate.
The other thing I've noticed is that my last 2 great meals have either been in an airport or near an airport. I'm not sure if my taste buds are losing their taste or if the food in and around the airport has gotten better. It would probably be best if my taste buds were losing their ability to tell good food since I have to eat my own cooking.
But today, I stopped at a restaurant called Bertucci's across from the Providence airport because I was early for my flight. I often choose a restaurant based on how full the parking lot is (and I have been fooled by finding that the full parking lot belonged to all of the families and employees of the restaurant) but this time the restaurant was crowded. The menu was pages long and I finally found the lunch section. My eyes stopped on "Piccato with chicken, capers and lemon sauce over pasta" and immediately stopped reading. When my food came, cute little capers were sprinkled all over the chicken and spaghetti - I was in heaven. And I love the name capers - it makes me smile. Anyway, it didn't take me long to realize that it is almost impossible to eat capers and spaghetti on the same fork. Capers are about as big as 4 grains of pepper and just about always roll off a fork on the way to the mouth. It's not like you can "fork" a caper either. I did finally balance a few on my chicken and loved the salty taste. I'm not sure what a caper is - and I'm not sure I want to know, but I do love them. After "2 handing" my capers onto my fork and lowering my mouth to about 6 inches from the plate I managed to get quite a few of them into my oral cavity.
I began quietly (I hope) moaning as I finally finished most of my food. I'm sure it wasn't just the capers; in fact I think the real winner was the butter, but this meal had me saying "oh my god" over and over. As I got into the airport, I tried really hard not to moan out loud but sometimes it just slipped out. I noticed a couple looking back at me as I was licking my lips and moaning - semi-silently. I don't know what they were thinking but I hope it was better than the real reason for my pleasure.
Ahhh, love me some capers!!
I have been disappointed once when I did this. I saw a wonderful pasta with artichoke hearts so of course ordered it. When it came, I couldn't find an artichoke heart anywhere. When I mentioned it to the wait person he nonchalantly said "we're out of artichokes". What???? They couldn't give me that bit of information a little sooner since it was one of the main parts of the description "pasta with artichoke hearts". I ate it (of course) but sighed in disappointment with every bite. I could hardly finish the plate.
The other thing I've noticed is that my last 2 great meals have either been in an airport or near an airport. I'm not sure if my taste buds are losing their taste or if the food in and around the airport has gotten better. It would probably be best if my taste buds were losing their ability to tell good food since I have to eat my own cooking.
But today, I stopped at a restaurant called Bertucci's across from the Providence airport because I was early for my flight. I often choose a restaurant based on how full the parking lot is (and I have been fooled by finding that the full parking lot belonged to all of the families and employees of the restaurant) but this time the restaurant was crowded. The menu was pages long and I finally found the lunch section. My eyes stopped on "Piccato with chicken, capers and lemon sauce over pasta" and immediately stopped reading. When my food came, cute little capers were sprinkled all over the chicken and spaghetti - I was in heaven. And I love the name capers - it makes me smile. Anyway, it didn't take me long to realize that it is almost impossible to eat capers and spaghetti on the same fork. Capers are about as big as 4 grains of pepper and just about always roll off a fork on the way to the mouth. It's not like you can "fork" a caper either. I did finally balance a few on my chicken and loved the salty taste. I'm not sure what a caper is - and I'm not sure I want to know, but I do love them. After "2 handing" my capers onto my fork and lowering my mouth to about 6 inches from the plate I managed to get quite a few of them into my oral cavity.
I began quietly (I hope) moaning as I finally finished most of my food. I'm sure it wasn't just the capers; in fact I think the real winner was the butter, but this meal had me saying "oh my god" over and over. As I got into the airport, I tried really hard not to moan out loud but sometimes it just slipped out. I noticed a couple looking back at me as I was licking my lips and moaning - semi-silently. I don't know what they were thinking but I hope it was better than the real reason for my pleasure.
Ahhh, love me some capers!!
Thursday, August 6, 2009
Money Saving Tips
I just got an email ad from Glade products. You know the ones, air fresheners, air sanitizers, insect repellents and plug-ins. In the middle of the ad for all of these products, they put a recipe for a refreshing watermelon salad. What? All I can think of is stinky stuff spraying everywhere over my salad. Ahhh, thanks but no thanks. Who in the world hired the person who pulled together that web page? It probably wasn't even a real recipe because they knew no one would have the stomach to download it.
Then I started thinking - what a good way to save money on food. It's like when you go to a restaurant and just as the meal is being served, someone at the table starts talking about vomit (and you know who you are). Now, I can eat almost anything, any time and anywhere but during that conversation, my brain said "Appetite gone, doggie bag, please".
Here's a money saving tip. Let's say you are having a party and don't have a lot of food out. The hungry group starts gathering around the buffet table. Instead of worrying if you'll have enough to feed them all, start talking about - diarrhea or the gross pimple you just popped. I guarantee you will have plenty of left-overs.
My favorite money saving tip is for mothers of babies . You know how much disposable diapers cost - outrageous! All you have to do to stretch that box of diapers is to buy a box of kitty litter. When you change your baby, add a cup or two of kitty litter to the diaper. That diaper will last for a day or two before you'll have to change them. In fact you can probably scoop out the clumps and use it another day or so. I don't know why no one has thought about that before? The other benefit of the kitty litter is that a young child can sit up by themselves if you position them just right - bigger base for balance.
My last money saving (and water saving) tip involves showering / laundry. I don't understand why more people don't shower with the clothes on? If you shower with your clothes on and bring one other piece of laundry into the shower with you - like a bed sheet or blanket, you will save water, save on laundry detergent and save time.
I know I should write a book on money saving tips - and someday I might - but I felt it was my duty during this downturn in the economy to share (for free) my useful and unique tips.
Really, you don't have to thank me!
Then I started thinking - what a good way to save money on food. It's like when you go to a restaurant and just as the meal is being served, someone at the table starts talking about vomit (and you know who you are). Now, I can eat almost anything, any time and anywhere but during that conversation, my brain said "Appetite gone, doggie bag, please".
Here's a money saving tip. Let's say you are having a party and don't have a lot of food out. The hungry group starts gathering around the buffet table. Instead of worrying if you'll have enough to feed them all, start talking about - diarrhea or the gross pimple you just popped. I guarantee you will have plenty of left-overs.
My favorite money saving tip is for mothers of babies . You know how much disposable diapers cost - outrageous! All you have to do to stretch that box of diapers is to buy a box of kitty litter. When you change your baby, add a cup or two of kitty litter to the diaper. That diaper will last for a day or two before you'll have to change them. In fact you can probably scoop out the clumps and use it another day or so. I don't know why no one has thought about that before? The other benefit of the kitty litter is that a young child can sit up by themselves if you position them just right - bigger base for balance.
My last money saving (and water saving) tip involves showering / laundry. I don't understand why more people don't shower with the clothes on? If you shower with your clothes on and bring one other piece of laundry into the shower with you - like a bed sheet or blanket, you will save water, save on laundry detergent and save time.
I know I should write a book on money saving tips - and someday I might - but I felt it was my duty during this downturn in the economy to share (for free) my useful and unique tips.
Really, you don't have to thank me!
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