tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-23698377146092044542024-03-04T23:36:15.007-06:00Consuming CroissantsA unique perspective on everything I devour from food to drink to books and beyond.Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.comBlogger17125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-83564256717567596322011-07-13T16:29:00.000-05:002011-07-13T16:29:45.342-05:00Make Me Something: Day #2 Drink #2The Long Island Iced Tea, a classic. Many restaurants and bartenders claim to have been the first to invent the Long Island. Per Wikipedia: Long Island Iced Tea, a <span style="color: black;">summer</span> drink, was first served in the mid 1970s by Robert (Rosebud) Butts, a <span style="color: black;">bartender</span> at the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oak_Beach_Inn" title="Oak Beach Inn"><span style="color: #0645ad;">Oak Beach Inn</span></a>, in the Town of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Babylon_(town),_New_York" title="Babylon (town), New York"><span style="color: #0645ad;">Babylon</span></a>, <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long_Island,_New_York" title="Long Island, New York"><span style="color: #0645ad;">Long Island, New York</span></a>. <br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">I used what I had, some top shelf, some not so much.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here's what I know about Long Islands: #1. They don't have any actual iced tea in them people! They're named as such because of their color when you mix the alcohol, sour mix and cola. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">#2. They mess you up...bad. In my 13 years bartending, I've seen best friends fight, couples break up, unassuming sweet guys turn into total douche bags and the occasional innocent shy librarian type transform into the worst kind of Cougar. You know the type, just a little too old to be wearing a skirt that short and a top that tight. She's had enough liquid courage to dance, but she's not really pulling it off. She's flashing back to her mid 20's, and assumes she still looks as such, but it's more like a hurt bird with a broken wing. But I digress. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Long Islands have a sweet/tart way about them that goes down easy and you don't realize what hit you, and that it was a bad idea, until it's too late...like broccoli before date night. This recipe was next on my list and I'm not really sure what the 3-Mile has to do with it beside someone trying (and failing) at being clever. Being that 3 Mile Island is where a nuclear meltdown happened, perhaps they're claiming this drink is "nuclear"...whatever. Below is the classic Long Island recipe, with the exception of the bitters. I'm seeing a lot of bitters in my list of recipes which makes me think these have all come from a European source as bitters aren't as widely used in the States. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">3-Mile Long Island Iced Tea</div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Shake it up with my handy dandy black metal shaker.</td></tr>
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Ingredients:<br />
1/2 oz Gin <br />
1/2 oz Light rum <br />
1/2 oz Tequila <br />
1/2 oz Triple sec <br />
1/2 oz Vodka <br />
Coca-Cola <br />
Sweet and sour <br />
Some dashes Bitters and Lemon</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>Mix all ingredients with the exception of the the last 3 in a shaker tin w/ ice. Shake, pour into pint glass, top with cola and enjoy...but make sure your skirt is long enough if you're in public.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ahh Yes. Looks like tea huh?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">That's my Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson tasting face.<br />
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</tbody></table> <div style="text-align: left;"> Next Up: 3rd Street Promenade</div>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-17983490698679947632011-07-06T11:02:00.000-05:002011-07-06T11:02:17.248-05:00Beer Makes Everything Better<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFm7LANJP5ksLDZjsH1BliZZzT2U_HOG1ojUTplkVTK9xgiHLVBvy3QAmwgiCtuWAUADO6aChBkZOMWa4NK0-_qlZyvfFaCL7lu3ouYOtNTb9PH06qjxIhXH-TK_tPB_Zl4oQl8R7aXyg/s1600/027.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" m$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFm7LANJP5ksLDZjsH1BliZZzT2U_HOG1ojUTplkVTK9xgiHLVBvy3QAmwgiCtuWAUADO6aChBkZOMWa4NK0-_qlZyvfFaCL7lu3ouYOtNTb9PH06qjxIhXH-TK_tPB_Zl4oQl8R7aXyg/s320/027.JPG" width="320px" /></a>July 4th weekend 2011. We were not about to brave the crowds downtown on Independence Day so instead we went to a smaller festival in Greer, SC on Sat. July 2nd. Pronounced Grerrr (mumble it) by the locals, Greer is a small town outside of Greenville, SC that has recently gone through a revitalization and has quite a pretty downtown area with a beautiful new park. Knowing we'd need a little strength (and a little beer) to handle 3 excited kids we headed to our favorite (and only one we know) restaurant Wild Aces. It's a pizza and beer joint with lots of craft beer on tap. I didn't photo the food but rest assured we consumed lots of wings, salad and pizza. We didn't choose this eatery for the food...oh no...it was for the beer. Enjoy the picture montage.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rogue Dead Guy Ale - yum</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nothing like having your kid sit at the bar. We call this "Early Training".</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Notice the matchy shirts. They won't let me do this for much longer.</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Things were getting a little silly</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Waiting for the fireworks. What's that smell?</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Awesome. We found our fireworks watching spot right next to the pet waste area.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-7443975895831359822011-07-01T17:32:00.000-05:002011-07-01T17:32:10.306-05:00Make Me Something<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5maz8nroV7cUD7mSrq9_5n4ZkrTH3usCnI2mRti0VY3NpQYG7fjyNCHef_pAf4Y4WaXPvS1TFdb9T4e3pXyZNnOdzXaLhAH5OB3KWC3md5wuCzjvqt_EUQS1x1PExJhGRx-ZXgT2YUAQ/s1600/mixology-periodic-table.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5maz8nroV7cUD7mSrq9_5n4ZkrTH3usCnI2mRti0VY3NpQYG7fjyNCHef_pAf4Y4WaXPvS1TFdb9T4e3pXyZNnOdzXaLhAH5OB3KWC3md5wuCzjvqt_EUQS1x1PExJhGRx-ZXgT2YUAQ/s400/mixology-periodic-table.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><br />
<em>Make Me Something</em> is my new series of posts where I'm gonna "Julie and Julia" the heck out of a list of 2000 cocktails my father-in-law was <strike>jerky</strike> kind enough to send me. If you recall my post about <a href="http://consumingcroissants.blogspot.com/2011/05/mixin-it-up-crowjito-style.html">Crowjito's</a>, you'll see where I got the title from. <br />
<br />
I thought long and hard about doing this challenge, weighing the pro's and con's, the cost involved and the sheer pain of having to try 2000 drinks, (cough cough) but....I'll do it! I'm going to start at the very top of the list and work my way down (the first drinks begin with number and number names, and then we'll get to the A's). If I find some to be repetitive we'll just skip em. <br />
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**<em>Please note that the bartending/service industry world is a scary, scary place filled with little more than foul language and sexual harassment. I will do my best to protect you from the raunchy names of most of these drinks but please look away if you get embarrassed *blush*.</em> <br />
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<div align="center"><strong><u>Day 1 - Drink #1 The 2"x 4"</u></strong><br />
I did a little research and per Southern Comfort recipes this is also called a BearF*cker or a Jumpstarter for those faint of heart.</div><div align="center">OMG. I had to read the text underneath this drink several times to make sure I saw it correctly. Let's begin with the recipe first and then we'll all have a good guffaw.</div><div align="center"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><em><u>Recipe</u></em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em>2 cl* whisky</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em>2 cl* Southern Comfort</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em>3 drops Angostura bitters</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><em>Ice Cubes</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><em>* a cl is a centiliter which no one uses in the states...that should've been my first clue as to where this drink was originally from. For our purposes, I used .5 oz. for a tasting.</em></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><strong>Here are the directions that followed the recipe:</strong></div> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtUSp4YTN4lgGOnr_uDoNLNBV8jHjl6tH6XoKVRBdj95EeADTURHc8NRYdQZ5Cgeh7uSg9RzxXpHuW4oU0_nk61fd1D1Hkl8uM1Y8gctd3bbJHsmOF08X_35IHDu3cJPkRxuC5r7EkOc/s1600/blog12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhtUSp4YTN4lgGOnr_uDoNLNBV8jHjl6tH6XoKVRBdj95EeADTURHc8NRYdQZ5Cgeh7uSg9RzxXpHuW4oU0_nk61fd1D1Hkl8uM1Y8gctd3bbJHsmOF08X_35IHDu3cJPkRxuC5r7EkOc/s320/blog12.jpg" width="240px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Somebody needs some botox.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>First put the ice in the glass. Then pore the whiskey and the Southern Comfort <br />
into the glass. Drip with the Angostura. Stir it together. <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">The drink was originally invented in my home town Arendal. Me and a friend was <br />
looking for something that really gave a "kick". The name 2" 4" was given, <br />
because its like to be hit in the head with a 2" 4". <br />
------------------------------------------------</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;">Holy crap. I'm crying because I'm laughing so hard. I'm not sure what's funnier, the poor spelling or the poor grammar. So I looked up where Arendal is, the Deliverance banjo playing in my head, praying it was some back woods town in a southern state (calm down, I live in a southern state, I'm allowed to say things like that) and it's in Norway! What?! Alright, alright. I forgive you and give you a pass for the grammar. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Getting back to the drink, I give it a 2.5 out of 5. I love me some SoCo but whiskey is not my poison of choice. Tastes like it would put hair on your chest and I'm having enough hormonal problems at my age. I could see myself in Vegas, at a blackjack table with a cigar drinking something like this. But I stink at blackjack and cigars are gross (but I heart Vegas!) so nope, won't be having this one again. <br />
<br />
SN: As I reach the end of my review I have surprisingly found myself with an empty glass and a buzz, guess it wasn't all that bad :) Cheers! <br />
<br />
Coming up next: 3 Mile Long Island Iced Tea (which I seriously may get to tonight)</div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-33122700897186088032011-07-01T08:47:00.000-05:002011-07-01T08:47:09.964-05:00What's For Dinner? Asian Glazed Salmon, Crispy Potato Cake and Cucumber Radish SaladMost of my Facebook friends see my daily status updates of "What's For Dinner" where I describe what I'm cooking that night. I get lots of comments like, "Stop teasing us." and "When can I come over?" and "How about a recipe?". I thought I would share some of my (better) dinners on here so you can maybe try them for yourselves or just take away a little inspiration.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9T4Bp6THQfoig-yEkeK0fsJGgSfia2v2qNpHo6duzcbbGRgfuV0g1ZS5Z7RG2VixXZz42au83fCrPROqHydmUFILk6KVTdbcdAASO6DWZaz2ekYdt_YtbXYLCedBcxvYBIqKL7iAHXM/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgV9T4Bp6THQfoig-yEkeK0fsJGgSfia2v2qNpHo6duzcbbGRgfuV0g1ZS5Z7RG2VixXZz42au83fCrPROqHydmUFILk6KVTdbcdAASO6DWZaz2ekYdt_YtbXYLCedBcxvYBIqKL7iAHXM/s320/001.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This night I made one of my favorite lighter summertime dinners using salmon. I prefer to buy fresh salmon but frozen will do, especially for our busy schedule. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I first took 4 skinless salmon fillets (you can keep the skin if you like that) and marinated them in a terriaky glaze. You can buy it bottled or just simply throw together a sauce of soy, ginger, garlic and pineapple juice. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-UxNpnyQ4ILtkEIZrT_Yd5KEfKcXMhr2k8jxKSpv9t0KxUOa3mJqWGCJdB7wGLlNcviuhfB185bZ6hS2txmkg8J98znjnrSbubaWRB5Drv1mdoH0j4_U3I1n7JejKi2MXpSb1P_SR3k/s1600/002.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw-UxNpnyQ4ILtkEIZrT_Yd5KEfKcXMhr2k8jxKSpv9t0KxUOa3mJqWGCJdB7wGLlNcviuhfB185bZ6hS2txmkg8J98znjnrSbubaWRB5Drv1mdoH0j4_U3I1n7JejKi2MXpSb1P_SR3k/s200/002.JPG" width="200px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQFkPQV_6DiKRkeTG_GG72j4x6Fe1hoFb0gKaFGtBS7uS-euO3L62B9mzniCbOUUZTI2XoFROKz4eEuplffW73Pfu2p8I83cqbjOV_XLiOVlF3dXGEifgJ46NmxFpAmFYCI3a4bS-zj0/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYQFkPQV_6DiKRkeTG_GG72j4x6Fe1hoFb0gKaFGtBS7uS-euO3L62B9mzniCbOUUZTI2XoFROKz4eEuplffW73Pfu2p8I83cqbjOV_XLiOVlF3dXGEifgJ46NmxFpAmFYCI3a4bS-zj0/s200/003.JPG" width="200px" /></a>While those marinated, I thinly sliced a cuke and a few radishes. I then add white wine vinegar and a Tbs. of sugar which makes a pallet cleansing salad, like you would find in most Thai restaurants. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8CLkp9ZizDQEmpZA7sdrkPT6Saf4SccBcyfWVQjmRTdP8jB4f5mKT8Z9h6J5I3jXW-bNrPK-pMVpsYWgAbbZeZS8ZXr6_sOm-Dn0ysjGnd5E1rmh2CwRPFvyonRFPV0S5D2iFAXqnr0/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="178px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgq8CLkp9ZizDQEmpZA7sdrkPT6Saf4SccBcyfWVQjmRTdP8jB4f5mKT8Z9h6J5I3jXW-bNrPK-pMVpsYWgAbbZeZS8ZXr6_sOm-Dn0ysjGnd5E1rmh2CwRPFvyonRFPV0S5D2iFAXqnr0/s320/004.JPG" width="320px" /></a>While the cukes and radishes were soaking in their tangy, sweet pool of goodness I got started on the potato cakes. I happened to have a bag of shredded potatoes used for hash browns which works awesomely as a time saver. I swirled a small amount of vegetable oil in a non-stick skillet, let it heat up to med - high and placed piles of the potatoes inside. I squished them down with a spatula and seasoned with salt and pepper. These actually take quite a while to get a good brown crisp on them but it's worth the wait.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwC09vO-otRoTU5oQ-Rtb7pl1hEw5_t5pVoWWjAyhwB_vKQq1SGaNqLk1D0jdiXWk4xmCHSb7XA1zlwTAfte_bmONORfko_s3K0zZLSj-R4ed05AOcedS1s8m1YQi1acqAxzl41OQKvIY/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwC09vO-otRoTU5oQ-Rtb7pl1hEw5_t5pVoWWjAyhwB_vKQq1SGaNqLk1D0jdiXWk4xmCHSb7XA1zlwTAfte_bmONORfko_s3K0zZLSj-R4ed05AOcedS1s8m1YQi1acqAxzl41OQKvIY/s200/006.JPG" width="200px" /></a>I have a handy, dandy grill pan that gets used almost every night of the week. I heated up a bit of olive oil in my grill pan and cooked up my salmon. Now some people like their salmon cooked hard but I like mine just done through so about 5 min. one side and 3 on the other.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I plated my salmon, my salad and my potato cake, adding a dollop of sour cream and some green onions from my garden to make a delicious, fresh, healthy, whole food meal. Bon Appetit!</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawI1-x9uCLx4rN9MkpPLv9Qy5F8X3prpOA37TWWaGueLPGx8fRQ9uGsOpTKcwjMAOFqwR5T3waTu8GFbRtRA5wVwqOg68NCWjWoCsgdUD8Qp1WWi5lFgI8KB5qNAnmRPCLkcUkLDZFe8/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiawI1-x9uCLx4rN9MkpPLv9Qy5F8X3prpOA37TWWaGueLPGx8fRQ9uGsOpTKcwjMAOFqwR5T3waTu8GFbRtRA5wVwqOg68NCWjWoCsgdUD8Qp1WWi5lFgI8KB5qNAnmRPCLkcUkLDZFe8/s400/007.JPG" width="400px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-6115832789402898332011-06-29T13:16:00.000-05:002011-06-29T13:16:59.333-05:00Beach BummingWhat's one of the perks of living in the south? A short drive to the beach! I LOVE the beach. I love the sand, the surf, the crabs, the seagulls, the shells, the sound of the ocean, the blaring sun, the cliche, neon, filled with junk "one on every corner" souvenir shops. But most of all I love people watching. I love that some of these people actually tried their bathing suits on in a store, looked in the mirror and thought to themselves, "yeah, I look good in this". Shameful, but I digress. Well maybe that's not my <em>absolute</em> favorite thing to do, that would be making happy memories with my family.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">This past weekend, Cory, the kids and I went to Myrtle Beach, SC to meet up with some old friends Mike and Kristy and their 4 year old Nicholas. We sunned, we ate and we drank. Here is a little overview of it all.</div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcXkDOfow_N_w91x7dkkfFZ0jnTe72B5CrvhUlYI82cPf4LrJI70AItD152KJidsaMXrcRXnQLq5Wg1WaztU20LlxVM4T6nEdkNx4_dbXXOlUedT01wYLj3HEZcO79SS74KKTU8UfytM/s1600/delorean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcXkDOfow_N_w91x7dkkfFZ0jnTe72B5CrvhUlYI82cPf4LrJI70AItD152KJidsaMXrcRXnQLq5Wg1WaztU20LlxVM4T6nEdkNx4_dbXXOlUedT01wYLj3HEZcO79SS74KKTU8UfytM/s200/delorean.jpg" width="150px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXcXkDOfow_N_w91x7dkkfFZ0jnTe72B5CrvhUlYI82cPf4LrJI70AItD152KJidsaMXrcRXnQLq5Wg1WaztU20LlxVM4T6nEdkNx4_dbXXOlUedT01wYLj3HEZcO79SS74KKTU8UfytM/s1600/delorean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>The first awesome thing we saw was a Delorean. How often do you get to see one of those? <br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4shZ7MVGTlRTQkqpB5_FR-EfAH8fOHRJMCbN1zbIrSchWDUYEMtTfo6fYMvY-8urNCftN7pk2KSGFdSPva_neR4u1tFX_zbzGEBGT5nzIzuUR8wzWRRbSaNiaeNtC1RTIDQ_TkHYdPVs/s1600/beach.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4shZ7MVGTlRTQkqpB5_FR-EfAH8fOHRJMCbN1zbIrSchWDUYEMtTfo6fYMvY-8urNCftN7pk2KSGFdSPva_neR4u1tFX_zbzGEBGT5nzIzuUR8wzWRRbSaNiaeNtC1RTIDQ_TkHYdPVs/s320/beach.jpg" width="276px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9g0qmI5fE-8REdPYUrPsfy-GYye98pM_pCNnc_jVOdb5QgHZiPohLFZc_pAKBq1UrBmGzbyNi7VkLLlqWOf7NTtvGjnT4-Pxvc2avDSnZsaPnzw0WylJYhy913HBWEY94mN80U25Ah28/s1600/018.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="189px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9g0qmI5fE-8REdPYUrPsfy-GYye98pM_pCNnc_jVOdb5QgHZiPohLFZc_pAKBq1UrBmGzbyNi7VkLLlqWOf7NTtvGjnT4-Pxvc2avDSnZsaPnzw0WylJYhy913HBWEY94mN80U25Ah28/s200/018.JPG" width="200px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUXV4nPCDvO5dxwKr8f6aP-nbc7jRwCm2NJwv-f0WUWmbSwpcYUoToTWTmrlxxxJyaieQj_gYH5LNB7s88jFcPWLDkDsdJjqjfWBR2sx-Xa8kPKIILNXh948PdiQ7ufEMIwVJ9IISF-A/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjUXV4nPCDvO5dxwKr8f6aP-nbc7jRwCm2NJwv-f0WUWmbSwpcYUoToTWTmrlxxxJyaieQj_gYH5LNB7s88jFcPWLDkDsdJjqjfWBR2sx-Xa8kPKIILNXh948PdiQ7ufEMIwVJ9IISF-A/s200/023.JPG" width="200px" /></a>We were only going to be in Myrtle for 2 days so we had to make the most of it. We hit the sand first thing, with a stocked cooler of beer and juice boxes. After baking for a few hours we headed to dinner to one of our favorite restaurants, The Flamingo Grill. Now, Myrtle is full of chain places to eat but we don't subscribe to that. We prefer the family owned, eclectic places with awesome food. It was (Yes!) happy hour when we got there. I, of course, sampled the martini menu, and Cory, of course, had beer.</div><div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> <br />
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When vacationing near the ocean you just have to take advantage of the fresh seafood. <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPfI_yz49f2_ADY-od9rdj9bs-thZd81kA7L4Qc5f9cBQo_IkgSe0XmZ677yYLlXiNWH3uttRokLrtZUqRZVWWEU2NLhO_pvQaH2-s5AP0Jzb-HQ0TN6C8TeyYOTCJzM_Vm6R2v0z8rk/s1600/020.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHPfI_yz49f2_ADY-od9rdj9bs-thZd81kA7L4Qc5f9cBQo_IkgSe0XmZ677yYLlXiNWH3uttRokLrtZUqRZVWWEU2NLhO_pvQaH2-s5AP0Jzb-HQ0TN6C8TeyYOTCJzM_Vm6R2v0z8rk/s200/020.JPG" width="200px" /></a>I started with a cup of She Crab soup. For those of you not familiar, She Crab is a thick, rich bisque-like soup finished with sherry. The names comes from the fact that it's only supposed to be made with female crabs, which today doesn't always stand true. I make sure to try it in every SC restaurant. This one was in my top 5 favorites. We all shared a big ol' fried plate of calamari, crab cake and fried lobster bites. For my entree I had a half portion of their Scallop Pasta which was super flavorful and plenty of food after that decadent soup.</div></div></div></div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Appetizer</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpXyMvSKhJyyV7vFYC2kyL68QpxACyVXGR_iykvaNquIbnf4vnWDsBVdXqJYLF8Qr17GpRFlEFf6Y8MJtIVEcPp7VyVWxWPS9VgSIBXs7l2G0ZPPeYCy6F83iMIsBd2BElku_dcL6jUw/s1600/029.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="205px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYpXyMvSKhJyyV7vFYC2kyL68QpxACyVXGR_iykvaNquIbnf4vnWDsBVdXqJYLF8Qr17GpRFlEFf6Y8MJtIVEcPp7VyVWxWPS9VgSIBXs7l2G0ZPPeYCy6F83iMIsBd2BElku_dcL6jUw/s320/029.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Scallop Pasta</div></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeKoBUsU9_Q4nojXtYxpfSB8aPzcv1mCp3aMSghCHLykWoEAEcaK-XnTKZyU_eCW0lue58SEXV7lL7sh7t5ZJ-yHvH4Dhe7ljHNRMEMXIF9wQ4lJPhA2ttQ7hU1oC7LeDRW40Abqjies/s1600/025.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="192px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGeKoBUsU9_Q4nojXtYxpfSB8aPzcv1mCp3aMSghCHLykWoEAEcaK-XnTKZyU_eCW0lue58SEXV7lL7sh7t5ZJ-yHvH4Dhe7ljHNRMEMXIF9wQ4lJPhA2ttQ7hU1oC7LeDRW40Abqjies/s320/025.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">She Crab</td></tr>
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWTZeQ984GqtCbPITSfzSCSwYO9hluCL8U9ZZfnTPnRhLIFxn2LOiiiM1VshFU7ZZmJiQNucxU1OiySAILDj_z8uSdGuPFFKdkE95Q4VWUiPr_vNx0KqGg-BNscUYvQGW7KYpGsg3Nqw/s1600/032.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="319px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYWTZeQ984GqtCbPITSfzSCSwYO9hluCL8U9ZZfnTPnRhLIFxn2LOiiiM1VshFU7ZZmJiQNucxU1OiySAILDj_z8uSdGuPFFKdkE95Q4VWUiPr_vNx0KqGg-BNscUYvQGW7KYpGsg3Nqw/s320/032.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div>After filling our bellies with delicious local seafood and a couple cocktails, we retired to our friends hotel room to take in the 16th floor view.</div><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGh_XbUIC91A3nJzg-6T33ynxrIzT5izmDKN57rgb4zAnOg1mMKxhUm9oT9h6OnfT0ZGgldWJ1OCPKOgMCdNV6Z1DltLpDeu9OSxQFP2hHki2CBhJtaxwRWchWYP4YpskbLGCy6DxeEV8/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGh_XbUIC91A3nJzg-6T33ynxrIzT5izmDKN57rgb4zAnOg1mMKxhUm9oT9h6OnfT0ZGgldWJ1OCPKOgMCdNV6Z1DltLpDeu9OSxQFP2hHki2CBhJtaxwRWchWYP4YpskbLGCy6DxeEV8/s320/037.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Nicholas & Quinny</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGeeGI7bvwKzQK4NGNTTHbic0BW2LUBLDKW8Ys9XsxM-xm8M0vEzLORym1D7FA8GS3_WpsguIJZFGd14njszJjd5njNu5xPEjhWrRtZcarPYLR0aYdEv4cIehGTulkzfNY31yQtRrSE4/s1600/033.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="297px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIGeeGI7bvwKzQK4NGNTTHbic0BW2LUBLDKW8Ys9XsxM-xm8M0vEzLORym1D7FA8GS3_WpsguIJZFGd14njszJjd5njNu5xPEjhWrRtZcarPYLR0aYdEv4cIehGTulkzfNY31yQtRrSE4/s320/033.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mike & Cory</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHW4uvXn8D7dUXCbiLyrrPuEztZr2rLdgwa6voX2XGxHND92ZoJ42FIL69OQk-vuHOhj_cJqRByYy2SR5FA_PWUIXNaaVdzH2Fycmbo7IVe6mQZc4JdwgCYkghkYiybGu0iaBrQkuPkQk/s1600/041.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="309px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHW4uvXn8D7dUXCbiLyrrPuEztZr2rLdgwa6voX2XGxHND92ZoJ42FIL69OQk-vuHOhj_cJqRByYy2SR5FA_PWUIXNaaVdzH2Fycmbo7IVe6mQZc4JdwgCYkghkYiybGu0iaBrQkuPkQk/s320/041.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kristy and Me</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">The next day we hit the hotel pool where surprisingly there were many other activities besides swimming. The kids kept themselves busy playing a game of giant chess, and Quinny not only had a few shallow kid areas to play but we also got to tye-dye a little canvas beach bag for her.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVNrxfwBFG92yN5KsfwjPoxh_ij5y275MuA2lG6w4y62QSGdMSSXqeXaqW5n4RBVNpHdS6RPORz_r_tdUKYQKiDP_uQQFWgxHULKOYn1jch0_mjr0TWa7Nvznk6exVwsWvLTu8plMO4c/s1600/047.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizVNrxfwBFG92yN5KsfwjPoxh_ij5y275MuA2lG6w4y62QSGdMSSXqeXaqW5n4RBVNpHdS6RPORz_r_tdUKYQKiDP_uQQFWgxHULKOYn1jch0_mjr0TWa7Nvznk6exVwsWvLTu8plMO4c/s320/047.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVgrcnLSos2Sl3eNnBL0FEGQxTVBjtobUJ9ek-vQjQF73fuH4KrM43NIEUZUxjkRjHEFVPzSWFR-4DOvgKCYVzrDS8nTT1QRcQuYhxVN5tvDa6QUsPddmOWmDiP1PO1ZMooZ3pO1E504/s1600/052.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVgrcnLSos2Sl3eNnBL0FEGQxTVBjtobUJ9ek-vQjQF73fuH4KrM43NIEUZUxjkRjHEFVPzSWFR-4DOvgKCYVzrDS8nTT1QRcQuYhxVN5tvDa6QUsPddmOWmDiP1PO1ZMooZ3pO1E504/s320/052.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLFsz8AbKpyxt5b3rWJXuHeHqqXbifrEhVPciWtXAEsjZk8CbA3_ehV8cR0MHf0MKx5vFKyM1EGERhio3mdintyl1EY68yNzXEsWYFDC5X6KWJJynvIn0VC48RopxB7xMPu_yUYLygzE/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWLFsz8AbKpyxt5b3rWJXuHeHqqXbifrEhVPciWtXAEsjZk8CbA3_ehV8cR0MHf0MKx5vFKyM1EGERhio3mdintyl1EY68yNzXEsWYFDC5X6KWJJynvIn0VC48RopxB7xMPu_yUYLygzE/s320/054.JPG" width="180px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5N_Ig9AhskP0Ts-lWJMwS_tdVhO1qd_1ZaIypra4qMdsXb4HcxlAHQisdifV7LwJ0Z0HyjJxechM-U2mqk7gnFC-O295K5iY0uUX83cgqvz9KGbt3LcGdrcGjCzwUHetkmwzyKak_geE/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5N_Ig9AhskP0Ts-lWJMwS_tdVhO1qd_1ZaIypra4qMdsXb4HcxlAHQisdifV7LwJ0Z0HyjJxechM-U2mqk7gnFC-O295K5iY0uUX83cgqvz9KGbt3LcGdrcGjCzwUHetkmwzyKak_geE/s320/056.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">No trip to Myrtle would be complete without a stroll around Broadway at the Beach, a big ol' pier around a man-made lake with every shop, restaurant and tourist trap you could imagine.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-5ybeqFMjrEreB_lLgA5syuyFWRRDrS0uimm2JWb_qdrdO3NMrYTE5PYVvwl6ZwL87taqgZxc9HE-4yQ3j__UleHx0Fp-Qi-oTRsz72XzUOr2_mkbnH6cmVRVX_q59hj9d2kZMiLr8I/s1600/065.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjZ-5ybeqFMjrEreB_lLgA5syuyFWRRDrS0uimm2JWb_qdrdO3NMrYTE5PYVvwl6ZwL87taqgZxc9HE-4yQ3j__UleHx0Fp-Qi-oTRsz72XzUOr2_mkbnH6cmVRVX_q59hj9d2kZMiLr8I/s320/065.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GahXxs4DsFKM34ZRDxLTUrjsu90TkOvpGILmdJ5jf9FfXio9nHBNk2ltXZ6IqwsVvdP-2CS55E3TmQJExJP6Q0E_Ozw8BowlyAv1PKf92Ed2BY3lIVVO63QLEMm8ACRxxboYuY5AVOs/s1600/070.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg9GahXxs4DsFKM34ZRDxLTUrjsu90TkOvpGILmdJ5jf9FfXio9nHBNk2ltXZ6IqwsVvdP-2CS55E3TmQJExJP6Q0E_Ozw8BowlyAv1PKf92Ed2BY3lIVVO63QLEMm8ACRxxboYuY5AVOs/s320/070.JPG" width="180px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">On our departure day we had promised the kids they could spend their "vacation money" on something and they chose to take a ride on a trampoline jumper. Abby was the only one who managed a flip - see pic.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfH3yQVDhsrkHVdcbzUsshJB75ct-Ln0v4kREqIi8j_fBlJSYpMCAr4LlFZedJNpAoYVczIzoYY-F7yB3-kLEpPE9Vn7IzdS2H791wgCg7q_EaGCuFWS_1cCI5BqxnWnAnRchAk86R8k/s1600/097.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" i$="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTfH3yQVDhsrkHVdcbzUsshJB75ct-Ln0v4kREqIi8j_fBlJSYpMCAr4LlFZedJNpAoYVczIzoYY-F7yB3-kLEpPE9Vn7IzdS2H791wgCg7q_EaGCuFWS_1cCI5BqxnWnAnRchAk86R8k/s320/097.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">I also got a few quick videos of the kids taking their turns: (Sorry they're sideways!)</div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwDnm7g42uln_af-z8dB1AreVrnlpSbRdKjN-ayIwP1EYiW5gLb7phGNg4EYGrjZELnk1H-dj2qkqYsyNRk9A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div align="center" class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dydNJBhnsltr409AzEKqbMQaDPNQdQ7UkFPxqvWqQn63mpYbID5zi2xPLJkdoYRUeIM6ZAWOe4OYIyx_a8bzA' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe><br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dwq4qyvYDwiX7OOW3lRjnlHJUx03oHsj5AfWDCPpH8moSvQ3uy3rIwDIRrMee9JDyk5WN9SQFudL0GdKbdN0A' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-16938144940246161902011-05-31T16:09:00.000-05:002011-05-31T16:09:41.880-05:00Delicious Irony<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Memorial Day Weekend 2011. A trip was planned to visit Cory's sister Jenifer & fam, and to meet their new baby Lucas. Always on a quest for a blog-worthy culinary experience, I attacked Google head on during our 9 hour car ride. I was on a quest to find what delicacy was indigenous to Indianapolis and determined to try it and write about it. Upon first search it seemed steak houses were the #1 most popular food destinations amongst Hoosiers. While I love a good steak, it was certainly not the gem I was looking for. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here in the story is where my title "Delicious Irony" is born...with of course a little back story for entertainment. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><em><u>The Back Story</u></em></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBv7iUQQQAUA4lsJ1NyR5Z6kz6UTUYoDWb50Iaz-i9sNF8OZEMUE8Kp1PkG4zkFdP-1BW22nzRFiD4KbiVVZ00lfMwvJwm0ZR7tPhLDblJeeiTFigDvzg2FOfpsubI_HBLTAJeBv-IQKE/s1600/igloo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiBv7iUQQQAUA4lsJ1NyR5Z6kz6UTUYoDWb50Iaz-i9sNF8OZEMUE8Kp1PkG4zkFdP-1BW22nzRFiD4KbiVVZ00lfMwvJwm0ZR7tPhLDblJeeiTFigDvzg2FOfpsubI_HBLTAJeBv-IQKE/s200/igloo.jpg" t8="true" width="150px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RKd_vvDCkp6eWk9kHCL0ltdBniwMCfZofpXdnNBoiBXUUBAduzr0Ozd3XwMYYRKGW3v_Xbq4YLno1Zd9YIC5BCBcymkSQyAVTp3ZSsqrGfxvgmRnTsTy6YGvIvIVY2XSsdtbFjupwvw/s1600/map_of_lasalle_il.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7RKd_vvDCkp6eWk9kHCL0ltdBniwMCfZofpXdnNBoiBXUUBAduzr0Ozd3XwMYYRKGW3v_Xbq4YLno1Zd9YIC5BCBcymkSQyAVTp3ZSsqrGfxvgmRnTsTy6YGvIvIVY2XSsdtbFjupwvw/s1600/map_of_lasalle_il.jpg" t8="true" /></a>My corn-fed mid west husband grew up in the small rural Illinois town of LaSalle/Peru lovingly referred to as LP. (SN: I've often wondered if the two town names are combined due to the small size.) I've been to this town numerous times and the locals have very strong (positive) opinions about the restaurants found there. I've been lucky enough to have had the super crispy fried chicken at John's Northstar, the Buttermilk Dill salad dressing at Uptown Grille and even a drunk 3am post wedding chow down (with the bride and groom still in full dress) at the Steak N' Shake, but there is always one place I refused to go. The Igloo. (see above right) The Igloo is categorized as a "Drive-In" although I'm not sure why. It's a small white concrete building that serves (apparently) awesome food. They serve their food on wax paper and Febreeze seems to be the principle cleaning agent. Being that we didn't get too many opportunities to visit Peru, I was <strike>forced</strike> happy to eat lunch here because Cory <strong><em>had</em></strong> to have a "pork" while in town. A "pork" is a flattened, fried pork tenderloin sandwich that sticks out about 2 inches in every direction, served on a hamburger bun with your choice of condiments. Never in my life have I heard of this, and I was nervous about the restaurants condition so I was unwavering in my refusal to try one...it just sounded gross and I highly doubt an "A" sticker would be placed on the front door if visited by DHEC. I now know that the smallest, dingy-est dives are where you usually find the best food but I digress. Here is where we connect the first part of the entry with the now. </div></div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<strong><em><u>The Now Story</u></em></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><em>Ironically,</em> the #2 most popular food in Indianapolis is...you guessed it...a fried pork tenderloin sandwich!! What?? I've been shunning it all these years (10 to be exact) and here it is, I now know I have to try one. Indianapolians (not sure if that's a real word) have very strong opinions about where to get a "pork". Mug N' Bun (best name ever) seemed to come up as the most favorable. After arriving at our destination, I asked our hosts where this place was and OMG! It was only 5 miles from their house!!! It seems the tables had turned and I was the one <strike>forcing</strike> urging everyone to go get a "pork" for lunch. Well after about 6 hours of impromptu yard work, we were ravenous. We headed dirty, tired and hungry to the Mug N' Bun and as we pulled in the clouds parted, the sun shone through and I'm pretty sure Angels started to sing somewhere in the background. </div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;">A true Drive In, the carhops still place trays on the your car window (half rolled down!) . The air was thick with the smell of something, <em>everything</em> frying in hot oil. It smelled like...well...nostalgia. The Mug N' Bun is over 50 years old and I guarantee not much has changed in that time. The "pork" is their most popular menu item but coming in a close second is the house-made root beer which was cold and frosty and vanilla-ee. I surveyed the area, camera clicking away and the anticipation of impending artery clogging was almost too much to bear. Not wanting to stay in the car there was also a second option to dine on picnic tables around the side of the building. We went for the third option of eating inside a small building with about 10 tables. Being that it was not only a holiday but also the weekend of the 100th Indianapolis 500, the place was packed! Even at 2pm! I will reiterate that we were all very very hungry when I tell you we ordered $77.00 worth of $4.00 items. Obviously we all had a "pork" as well as the fries, colossal onion rings and the second most ridiculous sweet potato fries ever, the first being in a previous post which you can read about here: <a href="http://consumingcroissants.blogspot.com/2011/04/eggs-and-helicopters-and-beers-oh-my_26.html">Duck Fat Fries</a>.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Monster Onion Rings as big as your head!<br />
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They served them with cinnamon sugar! Genius<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPr9rzGdB2gIDhiJUr-N0hl2Bmstf0ik-5WrjKwcUqySTOVZm7wZ0ObRHFlBPZcj0Ep_Ql91s4JIxT6Js_7vtjVuKUs7Flzb4HEnQeJLpkrH-sJDa4cOVmGO_y8LG2eM3cFGbLHnAgW4/s1600/054.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNPr9rzGdB2gIDhiJUr-N0hl2Bmstf0ik-5WrjKwcUqySTOVZm7wZ0ObRHFlBPZcj0Ep_Ql91s4JIxT6Js_7vtjVuKUs7Flzb4HEnQeJLpkrH-sJDa4cOVmGO_y8LG2eM3cFGbLHnAgW4/s320/054.JPG" t8="true" width="320px" /></a></div>Yeah, yeah...I know. I look terrible. Just remember this was after 6 hours of yard work. </td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPWDzPTFlReqpW2TSOU9U_qG3FVEFh37tC2WR1n-F-vYs4g1tgXZI1kJi5yMF_LELfjW5q_PgH-kHvf5YoYmFLKQtChs3Fv8BdjtStMGzy351NHQvMb3vhLNfhX9LTi7WrJO4_cmz0Xk/s1600/pork.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="149px" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSPWDzPTFlReqpW2TSOU9U_qG3FVEFh37tC2WR1n-F-vYs4g1tgXZI1kJi5yMF_LELfjW5q_PgH-kHvf5YoYmFLKQtChs3Fv8BdjtStMGzy351NHQvMb3vhLNfhX9LTi7WrJO4_cmz0Xk/s200/pork.jpg" t8="true" width="200px" /></a>The "pork's" were tasty. I asked everyone what their condiment preference was and everyone was different! Not even the waitress could tell me what was "typical". I really wanted the complete experience so I tried a little of everything. American cheese, lettuce and tomato on the whole thing and then a bite with mustard, a bite with ketchup and a bite with pickles. My only complaint is that the meat itself was breaded (not floured like in LP) and it was a little on the bland side. I'm thinking that may be by design since people add so many salty condiments. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">What else can I say? Those LP'ers know their food! I was delightfully surprised and I can now cross a "pork" off my <strike>never have</strike> must-try list. I hope you've enjoyed my <em>deliciously ironic</em> story :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">PS - For all you LP'ers reading this, I may just devote another entry to Rav's vs. Tortellini...you know who you are.</div>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-44105662398841013972011-05-24T13:53:00.000-05:002011-05-24T13:53:09.230-05:00Mixin' It Up - Crowjito Style<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I know, I know. I keep talking about it but I haven't written a post for it. Well here ya go! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGToOaHE5m5dyporZzfCLE1LL6HdwZjqDisRcvpniD0y2j3a5iKZeuhApe29dgOIVWYf-SLUKgf4l6u2yWSjVzoV9zgDQgmCQB-PMHVqpdzQ1TN2CUnkQSuiukQ_9rNC7pMxk5Lryyby4/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGToOaHE5m5dyporZzfCLE1LL6HdwZjqDisRcvpniD0y2j3a5iKZeuhApe29dgOIVWYf-SLUKgf4l6u2yWSjVzoV9zgDQgmCQB-PMHVqpdzQ1TN2CUnkQSuiukQ_9rNC7pMxk5Lryyby4/s1600/images.jpg" t8="true" /></a>Let me begin by saying I have been a bartender for 13 years and I just now really started putting together my own concoctions. Why? I don't know. Maybe because no one wants to bring their job home or to a party. "<strong><em>Make me something</em></strong>" - I can't tell you how many times I've heard this from friends and family members. It's not that I don't want to, it's more like I freeze, my mind goes blank and I don't want to disappoint. It's like asking a comedian to tell a joke, "Common funny guy, make me laugh". Also, you've got to remember that I've always worked in chain restaurants where I've made basically the same 40 drinks over and over and over and I don't have the necessary ingredients at my disposal. With that rant said and done, I have finally come up with a cocktail that I will put the Croissant stamp of approval on. </div><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">2010 Bartending Competition - Making my "waterfall" glass stack</td></tr>
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Now, in this day and age everything has been invented. Every food recipe, every drink recipe. Someone somewhere has made it, which is why the better, more modern thing to do is improve on an existing recipe, give it your own spin. Before I give you the drink and the recipe I will go into one more informational section on where the name comes from.<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><em><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;">Cro issant = Cro = Crow</span></em></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMY24Z-gqAgUJz3-Dse55ak4ihH4bGodWUbTADaGWgZAUcsZVQe-QSmXVn9EZKUGFfFZmJoJasx8x7pj246sofjqtlU0qxaj5jBdIDwIWjyEz6Ro6pRqIH-VsAyP4j8cgQOa8pLj4DXk/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCMY24Z-gqAgUJz3-Dse55ak4ihH4bGodWUbTADaGWgZAUcsZVQe-QSmXVn9EZKUGFfFZmJoJasx8x7pj246sofjqtlU0qxaj5jBdIDwIWjyEz6Ro6pRqIH-VsAyP4j8cgQOa8pLj4DXk/s1600/images.jpg" t8="true" /></a>This nickname was given to both my husband and my brother-in-law Adam ages ago. Needless to say it's pretty darn cool so they've both held on to it and we <strike>shamelessly</strike> use it as often as possible. Adam even went so far as to get a very large Crow tattoo (much to the chagrin of his mother). </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Being married into the Crow name, I feel an attachment to it and cleverly twisted it in naming my drink:</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><em><u><span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: large;">The Crowjito</span></u></em></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My friends are all quite aware of my love affair with the Mojito and this is the one drink I <em>will</em> make them. There's nothing not to like about it. It's sweet and tart and refreshing and light and you can do a million things with it.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkI6OlOERUzUtXrzuMv2d6-XMW5qbRUGlyzXBEUjNan8ZFg1O8NU9d3jm_hIOA0dF4MlezitSgKZMc6nwDIdCZ1hrT-6CxucMWECsoSUt8V1src3P2agR_AVC8bLcbSNBZ1_E_X6TInlY/s1600/blog5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkI6OlOERUzUtXrzuMv2d6-XMW5qbRUGlyzXBEUjNan8ZFg1O8NU9d3jm_hIOA0dF4MlezitSgKZMc6nwDIdCZ1hrT-6CxucMWECsoSUt8V1src3P2agR_AVC8bLcbSNBZ1_E_X6TInlY/s1600/blog5.jpg" t8="true" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3i6uuLAzmpROPqFkH2tg_32chyphenhyphenJodRRrh3LvwD_U9f2Ya8XXRTz-eEpoaGFH50r9PMxbU1YsY0wbj8Acpn0b0rUX43dEZM1sXVnBdjqQDlscDpvoDkHGjD87J0WINd-Q1mE389pZA8cg/s1600/blog6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3i6uuLAzmpROPqFkH2tg_32chyphenhyphenJodRRrh3LvwD_U9f2Ya8XXRTz-eEpoaGFH50r9PMxbU1YsY0wbj8Acpn0b0rUX43dEZM1sXVnBdjqQDlscDpvoDkHGjD87J0WINd-Q1mE389pZA8cg/s1600/blog6.jpg" t8="true" /></a>For my version I have chosen to swap out a few ingredients.<br />
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<strong><u><span style="color: #93c47d;">Recipe</span></u></strong><br />
<span style="color: black;">2 oz. Captain Morgans Spiced Rum</span><br />
7-10 mint leaves whole<br />
4 oz. lemonade<br />
splash soda water<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJclfrLXWr08-D5qxodpCEfPBz4HalCG4a29wEsULBX3QuPS1INI8UwzA29_cm6UPCvNjFeazRGbpS4ZkePRAVghdDsORhk4HJxwh5ucIzbyVrMZYO4IcqShmBxR_3QiQUDqidM6kqhw/s1600/blog7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMJclfrLXWr08-D5qxodpCEfPBz4HalCG4a29wEsULBX3QuPS1INI8UwzA29_cm6UPCvNjFeazRGbpS4ZkePRAVghdDsORhk4HJxwh5ucIzbyVrMZYO4IcqShmBxR_3QiQUDqidM6kqhw/s1600/blog7.jpg" t8="true" /></a>In a shaker tin combine first 3 ingredients with a pint glass amount of cubed ice. Shake like hell until the mint leaves are broken up. Pour into pint glass. Top with soda water and enjoy! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdndOm3S3NJfnv23y4l1CegVWGpCYEi9s9garHFDlgFi4Q1olpXvaBEn2aeCJ-iAaygyssXyJMIlNRHK1jutLZNbPp5v6Ice3Gchn6kdwpIaXGcFlUm7pcrtPbVBe8B8VgHB1CLV6TXmM/s1600/blog8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdndOm3S3NJfnv23y4l1CegVWGpCYEi9s9garHFDlgFi4Q1olpXvaBEn2aeCJ-iAaygyssXyJMIlNRHK1jutLZNbPp5v6Ice3Gchn6kdwpIaXGcFlUm7pcrtPbVBe8B8VgHB1CLV6TXmM/s1600/blog8.jpg" t8="true" /></a>*Helpful hint* - Use a straw, it will cut down on mint-in-the-teeth.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now here is why my version rocks! I have not only cut the ingredients down but I have also cut the preparation time and cost. I replaced the regular rum with spiced rum and also replaced several fresh limes (or limeade, not as good) with lemonade. Using a frozen concentrated lemonade will also eliminate the tablespoon of sugar used in a classic mojito because it is more sweet, less tart than limeade. Don't skip the soda water! <br />
It's the final touch, giving the cocktail it's signature light fizzy goodness.<br />
<br />
*Helpful hint #2* - If you use a Crystal Light Lemonade your drink will be almost carb free!<br />
<br />
Try it for yourself and let me know what you think! Or just stop by my house any day after 5pm and chances are I'll be sipping on one. Cheers!</div></div></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-55491363225179093092011-05-22T18:52:00.000-05:002011-05-22T18:52:15.873-05:00Team Boccismo<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFW1obGapNutLfXSr50I45veLJ2vV2ivkw-dZAuS_I9y-Ylgw1ZviVxvYSCEq-On9rb4iPDD2c8Yaj87HwQPBIBR1t16S7hkO0HoxSzDthlZKPkEGDMHSj0ZVFd4SOmNj0GGTT5HPBIcM/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFW1obGapNutLfXSr50I45veLJ2vV2ivkw-dZAuS_I9y-Ylgw1ZviVxvYSCEq-On9rb4iPDD2c8Yaj87HwQPBIBR1t16S7hkO0HoxSzDthlZKPkEGDMHSj0ZVFd4SOmNj0GGTT5HPBIcM/s1600/images.jpg" /></a>As you know, Cory and I do our best to seek out different, fun things to fill our weekends. So when he came across a Bocce Ball Tournament, a game we've been playing for years, he was crazy excited to form a team and gather the entrance fee which is how Team Boccismo was born. Not only was this a fantastic way to spend an afternoon but it was also for a good cause, The Special Olympics.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>Bocce - </em></strong></span><span style="font-size: small;">(boch-ee)</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fHP2lhfGB_gW9DVQHhoMRtd0vhAw2FhIoMYuykiOgdQDTXGiVprcmHfzv6GWJNYKq7LzN0MpXLwQJCM8bKWz2nvjBV_az0wE6a4GsWGm5dHLJId9gO78cdW9i3kXoKroJkmGOCK13uo/s1600/bocce.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5fHP2lhfGB_gW9DVQHhoMRtd0vhAw2FhIoMYuykiOgdQDTXGiVprcmHfzv6GWJNYKq7LzN0MpXLwQJCM8bKWz2nvjBV_az0wE6a4GsWGm5dHLJId9gO78cdW9i3kXoKroJkmGOCK13uo/s1600/bocce.jpg" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">- noun</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <span style="color: red;">A</span><span style="color: red;">n Italian variety of lawn bowling played on a dirt court that is shorter and narrower than the rink of a bowling green</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><em>Machismo - </em></strong><span style="font-size: small;">(mah-cheez-moh)</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: large;">- noun</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="color: #38761d;">A</span><span id="hotword"><span style="color: #274e13;"> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">strong</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">or</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">exaggerated</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">sense</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">manliness;</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">an</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">assumptive</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">attitude</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">that</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">virility,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">courage,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">strength,</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">and</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">entitlement</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">to</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">dominate</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">are</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">attributes</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword">of</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">masculinity</span></span></span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;"><strong>Behold</strong></span></span></div></div><div align="center" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: black; font-size: large;"><span name="hotword" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;"><strong>Team Boccismo</strong></span></span></div></div> <div style="text-align: right;"></div> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CZcubfwX773CZWnJIPrQqMTkML_deMnxzcNe6H99wgQU0cXdU4prWA3pydAVq5g-D-0L_jB5aTqo1hz8LoQ4Ku0GPzWaavSDajZwbhOdldSXB0VQ4LuUF3wuqUuxHbR5k7JXBzbSChY/s1600/014.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="225px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8CZcubfwX773CZWnJIPrQqMTkML_deMnxzcNe6H99wgQU0cXdU4prWA3pydAVq5g-D-0L_jB5aTqo1hz8LoQ4Ku0GPzWaavSDajZwbhOdldSXB0VQ4LuUF3wuqUuxHbR5k7JXBzbSChY/s320/014.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Dennis, Jeff, Cory & Brian<br />
<br />
<div align="center" class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKmvByJ759tNvO-pqxasd-DD68C0bicMs7-_SKAb92PMdMIYBrnsIt6JlotbvmnApTkwvqZ8ImqGXqpFGFj7nrUkLoI5CexGSXIah5T4VxT0i0SkifY9W9nha_6GNdVcXr14zWCxeuQc/s1600/015.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOKmvByJ759tNvO-pqxasd-DD68C0bicMs7-_SKAb92PMdMIYBrnsIt6JlotbvmnApTkwvqZ8ImqGXqpFGFj7nrUkLoI5CexGSXIah5T4VxT0i0SkifY9W9nha_6GNdVcXr14zWCxeuQc/s320/015.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Dennis made the shirts (super awesome job Dennis!) and even added a special touch on the back representing each members last name. From L to R: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Dennis = Dot R R - Dotterer</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Jeff = A heart with blood vessels -Vessell</span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Cory = A Croissant (do I need to explain?)</span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">Brian = Turtle - Mertel</span></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">They began very early, 8:30 am, with a round robin consisting of 52 teams. I received regular text messages with updates. First game won...second game won...third game won!! They earned their way into the actual tournament beginning with 16 teams. With about 9 beers and 4 sandwiches each in them, they were ready to start the real competition. I made my way to Legacy Park to see the action first-hand.</span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;">I was very excited for the guys! Here they went, the first single elimination game against a team they barely beat before. I stood by like a good little wifey, rooting them on...and then oops, they started to falter. My heart stopped. "Oh my gosh", I thought. "It's my fault!" What you don't know is that I am a perpetual jinx to my husband. Whatever game he's involved in, the moment I come around he instantly starts a downward spiral. Be it bags or poker, blackjack or darts...it doesn't matter. We've actually had lengthy conversations regarding this topic. I assume this is because I am so breathtaking that he can't help but be distracted...right? Well I certainly didn't want to claim responsibility for this one so like the good little wifey I mentioned before...I hid. See below.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqo8ZYoVbDZxtWmv_PPPAk2BYz5-WD4CzQ5Xcr6qPwbGNv_QGpuN-CN32-I3UdbKxw_z3mqgnDmFoqO7ycXxYf2XSn9tgP4HV-u_-V68jx7nZKCylWm8k7HoCez0xCrvREasybzPyecE/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="221px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFqo8ZYoVbDZxtWmv_PPPAk2BYz5-WD4CzQ5Xcr6qPwbGNv_QGpuN-CN32-I3UdbKxw_z3mqgnDmFoqO7ycXxYf2XSn9tgP4HV-u_-V68jx7nZKCylWm8k7HoCez0xCrvREasybzPyecE/s320/022.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">I literally found a seat on a rock and hid behind the brush. And guess what? They won!</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCt3ygGYamWdu3elKul7sQdTVvbFjRwdBnuWptlkdEx3QsULRMqiyVWd4CySgTs8scoOc_ZhH0UXlgJAfDThsCPLvVjCTvxAYyHNepkptjIguM-n6EBF-x3YygMm-sfIzErDKTFeTzcbM/s1600/024.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhCt3ygGYamWdu3elKul7sQdTVvbFjRwdBnuWptlkdEx3QsULRMqiyVWd4CySgTs8scoOc_ZhH0UXlgJAfDThsCPLvVjCTvxAYyHNepkptjIguM-n6EBF-x3YygMm-sfIzErDKTFeTzcbM/s320/024.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><br />
<span style="font-size: small;">Elite 8! Learning my lesson I found my way to the playground to join the kiddos as the next game was beginning. Alas, they lost that game due to a very bumpy court, but at least they couldn't blame it on Delane (insert Milli Vanilli song here). Out of 52 teams they finished 5th! Not bad for one day of practice!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">They all had the best time, got to drink many pints of beers and consume lots of awesome BBQ, received countless compliments on their shirts and raised a good bit of money for charity. A day well spent.</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;">Long live <span style="background-color: white; color: red;">Team <span style="color: #38761d;">Boccismo!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="color: black; font-size: small;">**I think next year I may gather a ladies Bocce team :)**</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div> <div class="" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-13230852147685956322011-05-17T10:01:00.000-05:002011-05-17T10:01:22.299-05:00The Nose Dive...Again!Recently I had some out-of-towners passing through (Hi Chelsea! Hi Alyssa!) and I took them for a tour of beautiful downtown Greenville. The hosting duty afforded me a great opportunity to revisit my favorite restaurant Nose Dive. Here is a review of the <strike>interesting</strike> tasty bites we tried. <br />
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<span style="color: red;">*Please note - While you all know I worship unique food, these girls are young college students who would be more apt to dine at Applebees so they were very brave to join me on this culinary experience and I thank them for it*</span><br />
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<strong><em><u>The Beer</u></em></strong><br />
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I tried a Bear Republic Ryevalry - <span style="font-family: Arial;">American-Belgo-Style Double IPA</span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkKqkit0t7GaJoA9pLKMoMGjvroWk20Ej2YB724TLlI0qQuBdgxj-aPt41Q6O9kB5A_xpyhMAy-kkf3b0Cdpr37khtUTOWPk9rkLEe_qMf4fZ_A_K_vv28fBN4bIcL5irWyC7dYdKeQ4/s1600/053.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYkKqkit0t7GaJoA9pLKMoMGjvroWk20Ej2YB724TLlI0qQuBdgxj-aPt41Q6O9kB5A_xpyhMAy-kkf3b0Cdpr37khtUTOWPk9rkLEe_qMf4fZ_A_K_vv28fBN4bIcL5irWyC7dYdKeQ4/s200/053.JPG" width="112px" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial;">It was super good. Light in color. Cloudy in consistency. Tons of citrus followed by a very herb-y taste, I'd say like basil. It wasn't too heavy but one was enough for me. Bear Republic Brewery hails from CA - you can "like" them on FB here: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/bearrepublic">http://www.facebook.com/bearrepublic</a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><strong><u><span style="color: #351c75;">Side note alert! </span></u></strong></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">For those of you in Greenville, there is a small craft beer store The Community Tap where they specialize in having rare and craft beer on their growler pouring station. What's a growler you ask? It is a 64 oz. refillable glass jug used for draft beer takeout. They change the selections daily. They had the above mentioned Ryevalry just yesterday!...and I missed it. Like them on FB here: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Community-Tap/104211012961122">http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/The-Community-Tap/104211012961122</a> or visit their website here: <a href="http://www.thecommunitytap.com/">http://www.thecommunitytap.com/</a></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Back to the food! I am determined to try everything on this menu, so here are four new dishes I can scratch off my list.</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><em><u><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: large;">The Appetizer</span></u></em></strong></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Prince Edward Island Mussels in a Lemongrass and Chili broth served with crusty bread.</span></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxCDj_XHbCDx699ovoEnOF5h0k_bmmySGAsX7FnIFoc_ExXmJB8LwNmdwXaagn3lWfwpt1QCeJVPgtzhcoTUErmtx225ukxHJTbYd3YlIn2MPnXjmDM7UolDxgajT9OtfoAkfgmiPM04/s1600/055.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhdxCDj_XHbCDx699ovoEnOF5h0k_bmmySGAsX7FnIFoc_ExXmJB8LwNmdwXaagn3lWfwpt1QCeJVPgtzhcoTUErmtx225ukxHJTbYd3YlIn2MPnXjmDM7UolDxgajT9OtfoAkfgmiPM04/s320/055.JPG" width="320px" /></a>Broth was amazing. Fragrant, spicy, I almost asked for a spoon. The mussels were...hmmm...ok. I hate not giving a stellar review to my beloved Nose Dive but I admit I lost a little faith in the food this trip. They were a little overdone and rather stringy. Don't get me wrong, I sopped up all the goodness at the bottom of that bowl with the bread.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Main Course(s)</span></u></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRY1_6imyZgqUPBfJhyBok4iRrl0SUVcxNMrBg4UHO7UP1kuNvg6eRkyV_RPQOitJiWXelzJB6tnOnVNYhxXQp7OdQwHMivZi3M_IjXH1NNNJgtmWSQ1mnjLJfCgl_l7ZV9ONSEo9HvU/s1600/056.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRY1_6imyZgqUPBfJhyBok4iRrl0SUVcxNMrBg4UHO7UP1kuNvg6eRkyV_RPQOitJiWXelzJB6tnOnVNYhxXQp7OdQwHMivZi3M_IjXH1NNNJgtmWSQ1mnjLJfCgl_l7ZV9ONSEo9HvU/s320/056.JPG" width="320px" /></a>First up, I had another appetizer, a Scotch Egg. A scotch egg is a classic pub dish containing a hard boiled egg wrapped in a ground meat mixture (in this case pork) and deep fried. They are commonly eaten cold, although mine was more room temperature and they elevated the dish by pairing it with a celery remoulade, roasted red pepper puree and a little slaw. Sigh...it was just eh. Rather dry, pretty bland. But it too, is scratched off of my list...forever.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmEm9MqF5-oIh1HYnjSmVOYbIYSOxl1D1ywaCiXpdIgKM01bF1mjgIPB_cC_je0m7y-brDQNJKy9mTZ88OJ950PemWW6zvi5T_3iZC_RnvybJVqU1hMuWPCq9oK3uDU7487OLNc65BLs/s1600/059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivmEm9MqF5-oIh1HYnjSmVOYbIYSOxl1D1ywaCiXpdIgKM01bF1mjgIPB_cC_je0m7y-brDQNJKy9mTZ88OJ950PemWW6zvi5T_3iZC_RnvybJVqU1hMuWPCq9oK3uDU7487OLNc65BLs/s320/059.JPG" width="320px" /></a>Next comes Alyssa's Chicken Sandwich. This leans toward the more normal side of their offerings but it was magic just the same. Tender chicken served on a french baguette with caprese salad fixings in the middle (basil puree, fresh mozzarella, roasted cherry tomatoes and arugula). She of course got it with the duck fat fried sweet potato fries which may be the only item I revisit over and over again.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIzqHYRh_ODbJBenEdNgy67Yrh_QVfkTkLqt6KmQK_MbEkAB8ZHdltrytYqAHLvbxqv8BkkY9S1_NuBcTT3TpNtP8kQhQqiAOmJfGs_2FPeYy9XBcrsM3gRRQGqUBxArj6YROqfb4A1Q/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkIzqHYRh_ODbJBenEdNgy67Yrh_QVfkTkLqt6KmQK_MbEkAB8ZHdltrytYqAHLvbxqv8BkkY9S1_NuBcTT3TpNtP8kQhQqiAOmJfGs_2FPeYy9XBcrsM3gRRQGqUBxArj6YROqfb4A1Q/s320/057.JPG" width="320px" /></a>On to Chelsea's meal, the Croque Madame. The Madame is the female counterpart to the Monsieur, a fancy grilled ham and cheese. What makes it a Madame is when you add an egg on top - delish!!! It was pretty ridiculous. Ham, Gruyere, Lusty Monk mustard, Mornay sauce and a fried egg. Rich, creamy, bread-y...an Atkins nightmare. Paired with the ever popular sweet potato fries it was a feast worthy of 3 extra days on the treadmill.</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><strong><em><u><span style="font-size: large;">The Dessert</span></u></em></strong></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCWKSn8QWj32XoEBnGBKY4q2Wi2d2S8gTXZ1gyhMnaY8mhT3Q7hyphenhyphenGGdMXrDQvkjhwY7sFISuClUcxLp0wyEL6-OVhnXJgcaQaRK_4T25lqEvvVSY4GPuFOfTZpADx5nq9v6Bxgpy_wlE/s1600/060.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="312px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtCWKSn8QWj32XoEBnGBKY4q2Wi2d2S8gTXZ1gyhMnaY8mhT3Q7hyphenhyphenGGdMXrDQvkjhwY7sFISuClUcxLp0wyEL6-OVhnXJgcaQaRK_4T25lqEvvVSY4GPuFOfTZpADx5nq9v6Bxgpy_wlE/s320/060.JPG" width="320px" /></a>Ok, I have to apologize to the girls on this one because before the waiter could even ask us if we wanted dessert I was foaming at the mouth as he crossed the room towards us and I verbally tackled him with my order. Dark Chocolate Candied Bacon Brownie with Oatmeal Porter ice cream. It was....well...different. Some bites had very little bacon which gave you intense chocolate flavor but other bites were chock full of very smokey crunchy bacon bits, which, when mixed with the soft brownie tasted like a little acrid campfire in your mouth...but in a good way. Then when you paired it with the sweet, bitter ice cream it was a confusing tangle of tastes. It was like The Matrix. I didn't really understand it, yet I know I liked it, but yet I wasn't sure why. Will I have it again? Probably not any time soon...unless I get more visitors :)</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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</div>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-16649057086539906682011-05-05T09:08:00.000-05:002011-05-05T09:08:18.342-05:00I tried something new #2. Grade: A-<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVah0K1VvoLYXZkgDhmlG4a7gfmsxsQd2ROoT9tsQwz1fqxslyP2SwpmyYksp-S9nv-ZiQllw7hraV0X9u63z4-aj67ObLWRXPYDvAUvuttAkGzLxV5hwag7RMBqf5k7g-ivccGaY8YoE/s1600/blog11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVah0K1VvoLYXZkgDhmlG4a7gfmsxsQd2ROoT9tsQwz1fqxslyP2SwpmyYksp-S9nv-ZiQllw7hraV0X9u63z4-aj67ObLWRXPYDvAUvuttAkGzLxV5hwag7RMBqf5k7g-ivccGaY8YoE/s1600/blog11.jpg" /></a>So it's 9:00am. The twins have been sent to school and Quinn has been fed, cleaned, clothed and sent to school as well. I find myself alone at home (insert relaxing sigh) and I'm hungry. I start to search the cabinets but there isn't too much to find. No cereal. No pop-tarts. No frozen breakfast sandwiches. Those of you with kids older than 5 will surely appreciate this next reference. You know the Nematode's from Spongebob? For those of you not familiar, they are a group of ocean organisms that travel in fast moving herds consuming everything in their path...well...that's what my family is like. I buy food, the food is gone. Sure I have eggs but they're not suiting my mood. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div>I reluctantly get out the box of frozen waffles. Eh. I need something better than this. Hmmm...I have banana's. And strawberries. And brown sugar! So this is what I did for a "something new" breakfast.<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOtyp0ZAGnKaFkZBz-OXzY9o_Xry8KmEfQu13O70tF-NHjIWubqXyyu1SXi70AEL0mtM50qCsOcEaqytKRnYLUL-XvHFZHfct0pN8EJk3zhNcQ3p9WPV8YlV-Mg784O4RqiIjU4bojZk/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyOtyp0ZAGnKaFkZBz-OXzY9o_Xry8KmEfQu13O70tF-NHjIWubqXyyu1SXi70AEL0mtM50qCsOcEaqytKRnYLUL-XvHFZHfct0pN8EJk3zhNcQ3p9WPV8YlV-Mg784O4RqiIjU4bojZk/s200/034.JPG" width="200px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I melted a Tbs. (or two) of dark brown sugar in a small sauce pan with a few teaspoons of <strike>butter</strike> margarine making a "sort-of" caramel. I then added a half of a sliced banana and sauteed for a quick minute. I sliced a few strawberries fan style and toasted my waffles. I then topped my crisp waffled with the banana's and the sliced strawberries and drizzled the dark caramel over the top. Yum!! No syrup needed here! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwI-yXx7p7lpgGDJfIE9FPw8P8V4XxdTy2SC8GyrX5dsFeHxed1ECQpptCG3k8ovFCqJvPLSfLE0IREYjTiVKYuQSvNNzmSZZj-hz0s05zTjhL6VuCxGZFsZIrqe20dqDU1RGzqDdQZE/s1600/035.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVwI-yXx7p7lpgGDJfIE9FPw8P8V4XxdTy2SC8GyrX5dsFeHxed1ECQpptCG3k8ovFCqJvPLSfLE0IREYjTiVKYuQSvNNzmSZZj-hz0s05zTjhL6VuCxGZFsZIrqe20dqDU1RGzqDdQZE/s320/035.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclBQdpLjQuIXj7ACWdM6zpDd2NMFUDE3d6Eaw8zlA9tDfuHWcQWgkU3R07n65Py898C1UOCl94O2q73TcCMomnL9XNtOI85x0aKFsbqd7IH1szh1HyGmTxRlK7c7Hr0lFLPmXOsOXxcM/s1600/037.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjclBQdpLjQuIXj7ACWdM6zpDd2NMFUDE3d6Eaw8zlA9tDfuHWcQWgkU3R07n65Py898C1UOCl94O2q73TcCMomnL9XNtOI85x0aKFsbqd7IH1szh1HyGmTxRlK7c7Hr0lFLPmXOsOXxcM/s320/037.JPG" width="320px" /></a>I give it an A- because I overcooked the banana's just a bit and some fresh whip cream would've made it that much more special (and made me have to stay an extra 15 at the gym today). </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Next I Tried Something New: Fruit salad with fresh basil and mint.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-22156760827641354992011-05-03T10:21:00.000-05:002011-05-03T10:21:19.335-05:00Short and Sweet Book Reviews - Book #1Apologies for the lapse in time between postings, it's been a busy week. To make up for it here is number one in a series of Short and Sweet book reviews I will be doing. <br />
<br />
<strong><span style="font-size: large;">Book #1</span></strong><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIv6QK83cS8UQwXvp60T6WXC9z1suc0gwqRonxbmA6PEMScIp0GGilYzddO8RySTLY26xlTScINWSYtV1KCUe1J5EELRXdneIWBoKFGsvjIASVHXb3TtYiel7WcgIf3__tE0sfOXEX2wo/s1600/blog9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIv6QK83cS8UQwXvp60T6WXC9z1suc0gwqRonxbmA6PEMScIp0GGilYzddO8RySTLY26xlTScINWSYtV1KCUe1J5EELRXdneIWBoKFGsvjIASVHXb3TtYiel7WcgIf3__tE0sfOXEX2wo/s1600/blog9.jpg" /></a><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><strong><em>Are You There, Vodka? It's Me, Chelsea</em></strong><span style="color: black; font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #741b47; font-size: large;"><span style="color: black; font-size: small;">by Chelsea Handler</span></span><br />
<br />
<strong>Grade: B+</strong><br />
<br />
You love her, you hate her. It really doesn't matter because clearly she doesn't care what you think, but I personally love her. I want to be her. <br />
<br />
Chelsea was born in Jersey as the youngest of six children to a rather dysfunctional family and she's willing to tell you every hilarious, if not uncomfortable, moment from her childhood to now. <br />
<br />
The book is a series of tall-ish tales beginning when she was about 10 that seem to be a little much to believe, but if you've ever read her or seen her show you know it's all true. <br />
<br />
Her antics begin in elementary school when she convinces her class that she will be playing Goldie Hawn's daughter in the sequel to Private Benjamin. They continue into her teen years and early adulthood where she ended up in prison. They then conclude in her 30's where she basically spent her days and nights drinking, doing stand-up, engaging in gratuitous one night stands and ending up famous. <br />
<br />
<em><span style="font-size: x-small;">Excerpt from pg. 65 (A few hours after sitting in jail, arrested on DUI suspicion)</span></em><br />
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</div><div align="center"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><em>My name was called rather quickly and I went into the office, sitting down across from a Latino woman in her forties. "Hi," I said, with a bounce in my step. "Hi, Miss...Handler?" she said, looking up at me with what I took to be sympathy. Finally. "Yup, that's me," I said, shaking my head at the injustice of it all. "Okay, there are a couple options. Do you have any special skills?" "Skills? Not really, no. I'm good at reading, I can type pretty fast...I'm not sure what you're asking me?" i asked confused. "Well, you're here for work placement, so there are different things to choose from: You could work in the kitchen, or anything from license plate to wooden wind chimes, or you can enroll in school and get your GED." "What are you talking about? No, no, no...I'm not working here, you don't seem to understand. First of all, I am supposed to be getting bailed out this morning. I do not want a job making wind chimes or fixing cars and I already graduated from high school...barely, but I did, so I don't need a GED! I want to go home! I just want to go home! What exactly is the problem with you people?" "Listen, Miss Handler, everyone thinks they are going home. But the reality of the situation is that eighty-five percent of the inmates booked end up spending a minimum of six months here, and if you want to start earning money, the thing for you to do is get a job." "That was it. I stood up and placed my hands on her desk. "Listen up, miracle ear," I told her. "I spoke with my aunt last night , and she has already paid the money to get me out, okay? I am waiting for them to release me any minute. That is the situation. So for all I care, you can put my name down to plant prison flowers, or style inmates' hair, or head up the womens' f*cking field hockey team. I am not staying here!" "Next." she said. I looked up at the ceiling. "Are you there, vodka? It's me, Chelsea. Please get me out of jail and I promise I will never drink again. Drink and drive. I will never drink and drive again. I may even start my own group fashioned after MADD, but I'll call it AWLTDASH, Alcoholic's Who Like To Drink and Stay Home."</em></span></div><br />
<br />
I will sum it up like with an analogy. The beginning was like the waiter forgetting to ring in your appetizer so your entree comes and it's really good so you forgive him. The middle was like an amazing dessert, rich with character. The end was like getting that appetizer your waiter forgot about but now you're full and you don't want it anymore. <br />
<br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> The funny just wasn't balanced throughout. It's like she had stroke of comic genius days writing and then "it'll do" days writing. I will say her 80's pop-culture references were probably the best part because I completely identified with them and could place myself in the scene with her as she told her stories. Which brings me to my last and final point. It has nothing to do with the book but when I looked up some facts of imdb.com I found out her birthday is 1975. That means she's only 1 year older then me. Huh? </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgif178CFXvDvN_yBw6ZHYxCqmsomMK3sv9WOE3dKVHGTCwK9OdLMI_WZD4ibgVFFe2rybzJflcvsJImlI77kue0Ms_gXBoIjI66cVWITIExpoG29RzRCemVD9C2DWCxKAcOYt77Uf-VLI/s1600/IMG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgif178CFXvDvN_yBw6ZHYxCqmsomMK3sv9WOE3dKVHGTCwK9OdLMI_WZD4ibgVFFe2rybzJflcvsJImlI77kue0Ms_gXBoIjI66cVWITIExpoG29RzRCemVD9C2DWCxKAcOYt77Uf-VLI/s320/IMG.jpg" width="250px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday: Sept. 21, 1976</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi5cVyQNOsL_iaMWo04XTK7r1JkbNq0ePy91HO8Uz-svROC21k7uxY0dCKz2WEMpqHdO610MYxvAldqRAJH9Fvfy4yM49raBXnJtucudO9iQz4qNDq6Y9LYfZdbk0JS5M7d94jzVoIJc/s1600/blog10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTi5cVyQNOsL_iaMWo04XTK7r1JkbNq0ePy91HO8Uz-svROC21k7uxY0dCKz2WEMpqHdO610MYxvAldqRAJH9Fvfy4yM49raBXnJtucudO9iQz4qNDq6Y9LYfZdbk0JS5M7d94jzVoIJc/s1600/blog10.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Birthday: February 25, 1975</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ok, ok. Maybe that was my senior year high school yearbook picture but common! Am I that wrinkly???</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; text-align: center;"><strong><em>Next Short and Sweet Book Review: Kitchen Confidential by Anthony Bourdain</em></strong></div>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-82933430401037184882011-04-29T08:46:00.000-05:002011-04-29T08:46:25.915-05:00I Tried Something New. Grade: D-<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbXDLUWYo8A5dw2a1btaOYuCSB8vn3VEjjU1ew39mebS79TlbYQ4s8_sAdKLwSufCvF6LpcmkrUJvy417vKc07epoTIJfHifnfwH240dj7F2jQme3hPoavBgwHbMH1KgETQJuY9BatYs/s1600/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbXDLUWYo8A5dw2a1btaOYuCSB8vn3VEjjU1ew39mebS79TlbYQ4s8_sAdKLwSufCvF6LpcmkrUJvy417vKc07epoTIJfHifnfwH240dj7F2jQme3hPoavBgwHbMH1KgETQJuY9BatYs/s200/cake.jpg" width="200px" /></a>I guess they all can't be winners. But I had really high hopes for this one. Quinn found this recipe at Bloom (our local grocery store) and asked me to make it. <em>Angel Food and Grapefruit Lush Cake</em>. It sounded intriguing, the ingredients were few and simple and the calorie count was pretty darn good. Here is the recipe and a picture of what it was supposed to look like >>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>></div><br />
<div class="recipeColumn grey14" nodeindex="1" sizcache="8" sizset="43" style="width: 250px;"><span class="gillSansBold purple18" style="line-height: 30px;">Ingredients</span><br />
+ 5 cp Grapefruit<br />
+ 8 oz vanilla flavor instant pudding and pie filling<br />
+ 2 cp non dairy whipped topping<br />
+ 10 in angel food cake<br />
+ 5 Strawberries</div><div class="recipeColumn grey14" nodeindex="2" sizcache="8" sizset="44" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="gillSansBold purple18" style="line-height: 30px;">Preparation</span></div><ul class="numbered" sizcache="6" sizset="11"><li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Mix grapefruit sections and dry pudding mix in medium bowl. </li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Gently stir in whipped topping. </li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Cut cake horizontally into three layers. Place bottom cake layer, cut-side up, on serving plate. Top with one-third of the pudding mixture. </li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Repeat layers two times. Refrigerate for at least 1 hr. </li>
<li style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Top with grapefruit sections and strawberries just before serving. </li>
</ul><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here are my pictures as we went and my end result:</div><div class="recipeColumn grey14" nodeindex="2" sizcache="8" sizset="44" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div align="justify" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><ul class="numbered" sizcache="6" sizset="11" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpQ0a6iU1C2d3EDMHWkh1GqG1gJlP2PJSUw0qypn8oxIaUSrL_k2v6lO9QI_mmw4moCfk0scSI5D2NLLSbyjHQiQnpkl4SMSkh6NAk9iClazsRY7sj8on4bZ1qhbx05rBmVgxApYLYqQ/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkpQ0a6iU1C2d3EDMHWkh1GqG1gJlP2PJSUw0qypn8oxIaUSrL_k2v6lO9QI_mmw4moCfk0scSI5D2NLLSbyjHQiQnpkl4SMSkh6NAk9iClazsRY7sj8on4bZ1qhbx05rBmVgxApYLYqQ/s320/001.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">We started off good....</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQACFII25d9dzjKv8I0QKyDcfwtur1jAHcnX3bY3d7z_yNjnXzsqcdf1MJpwrB5CMYZYNsvEKiB5ULTnmsbdoooXNjc6FT2CWuKXOfJbL7Do8E13t-La70425uP6B7gjcQD0ySwswVfs/s1600/003.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQACFII25d9dzjKv8I0QKyDcfwtur1jAHcnX3bY3d7z_yNjnXzsqcdf1MJpwrB5CMYZYNsvEKiB5ULTnmsbdoooXNjc6FT2CWuKXOfJbL7Do8E13t-La70425uP6B7gjcQD0ySwswVfs/s320/003.JPG" width="180px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cooling...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0fADR765bewYJst5wSzEo3kFNXQUblku-d1SZpxD1LIGD_FqWhbrvdRHogaHMqnKEFTNMesfCihSFAECVKPfzQ5cx07RS-0Zf4HWQppx2aHlw6sAD7tqdRcn8EXc0PBr1yy3UEz5NAo/s1600/004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiN0fADR765bewYJst5wSzEo3kFNXQUblku-d1SZpxD1LIGD_FqWhbrvdRHogaHMqnKEFTNMesfCihSFAECVKPfzQ5cx07RS-0Zf4HWQppx2aHlw6sAD7tqdRcn8EXc0PBr1yy3UEz5NAo/s320/004.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Looking good...</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pqxqwtUHqhIho9S70FisEEpKXhERBtnX5fEy_Bx6tl0BY7cX9A3PNC6QL9oaQYAjZEbLueBaRrMW3vdoonce6F-FuBz9rIBVIo53dDbcJEPz9sm-0K93axY2JS4XotV_EpWRKGhz95A/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9pqxqwtUHqhIho9S70FisEEpKXhERBtnX5fEy_Bx6tl0BY7cX9A3PNC6QL9oaQYAjZEbLueBaRrMW3vdoonce6F-FuBz9rIBVIo53dDbcJEPz9sm-0K93axY2JS4XotV_EpWRKGhz95A/s320/005.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Uh oh. It's leaning. This was the beginning of the end.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF03oOM_bN7GgRqxiaBdY34DHniMjvNlX7kEQ3nsEl5iVb9qZ8xzc9GCe_EvtR9ca0hk6Icbvu6laZAYxxw8MW7t7sHjWBD5KrVvBR0sOYdkH4XN_Sr-X1fBrLwf7lL0KBveAfSkPLHJY/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF03oOM_bN7GgRqxiaBdY34DHniMjvNlX7kEQ3nsEl5iVb9qZ8xzc9GCe_EvtR9ca0hk6Icbvu6laZAYxxw8MW7t7sHjWBD5KrVvBR0sOYdkH4XN_Sr-X1fBrLwf7lL0KBveAfSkPLHJY/s320/006.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The filling looked "ok".</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uDUNdhU1dmYq4yFs3vew6jtcMr5bp8HmEKFUKEMPYXYI8tGCfvyTMTYzRsOgXbbvJz7HsbuyKD9J6WpTSyKJIi7N4WlKKCf1sFp_dJknO6wsyy4P2_0xi9Mxrtq08D3IWb3z0xcGBRc/s1600/007.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi5uDUNdhU1dmYq4yFs3vew6jtcMr5bp8HmEKFUKEMPYXYI8tGCfvyTMTYzRsOgXbbvJz7HsbuyKD9J6WpTSyKJIi7N4WlKKCf1sFp_dJknO6wsyy4P2_0xi9Mxrtq08D3IWb3z0xcGBRc/s320/007.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><div align="justify">Oh geez. It was so ugly. I actually took this pic from the good side. </div><div align="justify">Look at mine next to what it was supposed to be. Shameful.</div><div align="justify"><br />
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</tbody></table></ul><ul class="numbered" sizcache="6" sizset="11"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbXDLUWYo8A5dw2a1btaOYuCSB8vn3VEjjU1ew39mebS79TlbYQ4s8_sAdKLwSufCvF6LpcmkrUJvy417vKc07epoTIJfHifnfwH240dj7F2jQme3hPoavBgwHbMH1KgETQJuY9BatYs/s1600/cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYbXDLUWYo8A5dw2a1btaOYuCSB8vn3VEjjU1ew39mebS79TlbYQ4s8_sAdKLwSufCvF6LpcmkrUJvy417vKc07epoTIJfHifnfwH240dj7F2jQme3hPoavBgwHbMH1KgETQJuY9BatYs/s200/cake.jpg" width="200px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> I thought, "Maybe it will still taste good." Nope. The kids each took a bite and after a moment of yum, their little faces squished up they were like, "What is that taste?!" It seems the grapefruit took on a metallic, soapy flavor after being mixed with the other ingredients. Abby said it tasted like hand sanitizer. So alas, it's in the garbage now which means the quest continues to find another beautiful, delicious, healthy dessert for my family. </div></ul>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-72318211547850100172011-04-28T15:03:00.000-05:002011-04-28T15:03:39.443-05:00Kitchen Tips #1 - Little Touches Go A Long Way<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIICKFyvVLKazdiLknn4pwREBP-PvpEby0sdKJ4Eh17yQdKTVDiqpXVjRkoK92hjTQUGuYjU2IBXgDngqhBneYK_FZRA_fscDRP1bDPHgStC57l_M0juM0TvzlZdX79CZ3GJLbvuDGCMg/s1600/giada.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIICKFyvVLKazdiLknn4pwREBP-PvpEby0sdKJ4Eh17yQdKTVDiqpXVjRkoK92hjTQUGuYjU2IBXgDngqhBneYK_FZRA_fscDRP1bDPHgStC57l_M0juM0TvzlZdX79CZ3GJLbvuDGCMg/s200/giada.jpg" width="153px" /></a>I love to cook. And so do you I bet. I like to try and make things outside of the norm but there's one problem. I have this romantic notion in my head that I'm going to look like Giada and don my pastel v-neck blouse with my costume jewelry, hair perfectly coiffed and not a single smudge or smear of any type of sauce on me. I'm going to slowly and beautifully chop and slice just like a pro all the while narrating how luscious the marscapone (and I'm going to pronounce it mer-SCA-pone-eh) sounds as I fold it into my cavattapi. But we all know that's not how it's going to go down.</div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The reality is that I'm going to scramble for ingredients, loose my recipe countless times and dirty up more pots, pans, spoons and utensils then I care to clean. My kitchen and myself will look like a bomb blew up and the end result will just be "ok" since it takes many times making a particular recipe to really get it right. So now I've spent more money on groceries then I would've to go out to eat AND I'm stuck cleaning up the mess. But with a few encouraging words from Cory (ALMOST every time I make something new. If he's quiet I know to throw that one out.) I feel proud that at least I tried. With that said, I'm going to reference yet another Food Network "chef" (used loosely for her, sorry) but Sandra Lee has the right idea with Semi-Homemade. On this night I needed a short-cut. </div><br />
<blockquote>Do you ever eat in restaurants and wonder, "Why doesn't my food taste like this?" Simple. Fresh ingredients and special touches make all the difference. Here is an example of how I put that into practice just the other night.</blockquote><br />
I purchased a pack of Grilled Chicken and Mozzarella Ravioli from Costco. I boiled it. I opened a jar of marinara. I nuked it in the microwave. But here is how to turn an ok dinner into OK It's Dinner! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tea0u0kkqeMFb4T2BRv74BnUGP27EPS5uB7fiNEWCuhK-4bW1KiHaHIXyp9C2jBJ5Z_20rbRukupPoT4p670jTAjcIVYG9XQBwfJKFxWLvSP_7P3dGWNT__E9F-7eCGKV6YFsW1aRUo/s1600/001.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_tea0u0kkqeMFb4T2BRv74BnUGP27EPS5uB7fiNEWCuhK-4bW1KiHaHIXyp9C2jBJ5Z_20rbRukupPoT4p670jTAjcIVYG9XQBwfJKFxWLvSP_7P3dGWNT__E9F-7eCGKV6YFsW1aRUo/s200/001.JPG" width="150px" /></a> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H4dGI2angAxpMhFbfDhnhltyEvh1NNfwlP9P_Zr6ELrModCI0bSdKn1vslQ-ADCGJKWupnziXeN0xhslYknkmvHtQ-mQuli7fiQ8j7QBPXVgkLp_IqpF8BM71BOUZtT6-NkzIyb9M0g/s1600/chiffonade.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="168px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_H4dGI2angAxpMhFbfDhnhltyEvh1NNfwlP9P_Zr6ELrModCI0bSdKn1vslQ-ADCGJKWupnziXeN0xhslYknkmvHtQ-mQuli7fiQ8j7QBPXVgkLp_IqpF8BM71BOUZtT6-NkzIyb9M0g/s200/chiffonade.jpg" width="200px" /></a>Alongside my beloved mint plant stands my basil plant. <br />
If you've never grown basil it's simple and it takes off like a mofo. I plucked a few basil leaves off and cut them into a chiffonade. >>>>></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I then took a wedge of delicious Parmesan cheese (not the powder you buy off the shelf people) and grated it finely.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0YOhS2EBvjpzefEBkSrSl9KPElXG-QOCAK6LJu7hww6e6x2N-QRVJEs4qydiLidkYFPgxIJh4vwHCX5TeVuX5PP6xYx7R-FgNRAFDIEw3MezhvuE_v1bI_7At_Owr90M1fvKGPI6Mv4/s1600/005.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhE0YOhS2EBvjpzefEBkSrSl9KPElXG-QOCAK6LJu7hww6e6x2N-QRVJEs4qydiLidkYFPgxIJh4vwHCX5TeVuX5PP6xYx7R-FgNRAFDIEw3MezhvuE_v1bI_7At_Owr90M1fvKGPI6Mv4/s320/005.JPG" width="240px" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WjoDdq-k0eAr1KMtzLeuAXgGr5un-ZtcWP6Q6LtbaQG-s8mJXbUkW5JqXyFHLU0TKVEHt2LDTEvbF5i8bEyjxbY8q5x441VckRHLjNjtRvdKyskXbloMgyv2v5Ei9smmtlXQDTn81vc/s1600/006.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240px" j8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0WjoDdq-k0eAr1KMtzLeuAXgGr5un-ZtcWP6Q6LtbaQG-s8mJXbUkW5JqXyFHLU0TKVEHt2LDTEvbF5i8bEyjxbY8q5x441VckRHLjNjtRvdKyskXbloMgyv2v5Ei9smmtlXQDTn81vc/s320/006.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Whallah! These two minor touches on top of my 5 </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">minute dinner elevated it to restaurant quality. It looked professional and tasted heavenly. Home-grown basil is so fragrant and fresh and the parm is salty and nutty and wonderful. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Tip: If you don't want to grow your own herbs you can find small packages of them in the produce section of your grocery store.<br />
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Sadly I was eating alone this night but I were to serve this to company I would pair it with a classic crusty garlic bread and Pinot Grigio. I hope this inspires you to try adding a special touch to your next meal! PS - If you want to borrow some basil, come snip it off my patio :)</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-51739715335266428472011-04-26T08:59:00.000-05:002011-04-26T08:59:20.924-05:00Eggs and Helicopters and Beers! Oh My! Part 2 - Duck Fat and Krispy Kreme<div class="" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><strong><em></em></strong></div><br />
...I take you now outside our egg adventure and into our culinary quest of the day...<br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">The egg scavenging was done and after the exhausting 3 minutes it took to get our eggs we were all famished. I cannot wait to introduce you to my new all time favorite restaurant. I can't explain it. It just screams ME! I am on a quest to try every single item on the menu and write about it all! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKIv9OKUgVqcutI-PWiJiMqic6JuUFqCH8PHYmn64wdV-UIwzV__0Do_DwD_vesJ1GpYuPY-_ocC-x7mRnPL07JxBN863PnM3xhi5qrJowGcBBNSK96yR9y0k6IpVS2ZDpXtyxurHXMY/s1600/blog+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="cssfloat: left; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="131px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjwKIv9OKUgVqcutI-PWiJiMqic6JuUFqCH8PHYmn64wdV-UIwzV__0Do_DwD_vesJ1GpYuPY-_ocC-x7mRnPL07JxBN863PnM3xhi5qrJowGcBBNSK96yR9y0k6IpVS2ZDpXtyxurHXMY/s400/blog+5.jpg" width="400px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><strong><em><span style="font-size: large;">Behold - The Nose Dive</span></em></strong></div><br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong>NOSE:</strong> With all things food and drink - the first sense involved is the sense of smell.</span></span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Helvetica;"><strong>DIVE:</strong> A rare place where high and low rub elbows - bums and poets, thieves and celebrities.</span></span></div><br />
Chef Joey rocks and I know first hand. Not only have I had the pleasure of sampling a few things this past weekend, Cory and I were also guests at the Thomas Creek Beer Dinner which will receive it's own blog.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0Wbum6-TGny3U0o0VNXapEZph89lCHWXA9BZEw_CnFzVTwwZh_nW0K3yeeGdM-MbAAlf_HADYQ2L8OfBl1Q2QptC4kxGbAzBnLrEkgAL0aa9Vs4cScL69Sub21LolL7ygc94Gqq7bTk/s1600/039.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="251px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEho0Wbum6-TGny3U0o0VNXapEZph89lCHWXA9BZEw_CnFzVTwwZh_nW0K3yeeGdM-MbAAlf_HADYQ2L8OfBl1Q2QptC4kxGbAzBnLrEkgAL0aa9Vs4cScL69Sub21LolL7ygc94Gqq7bTk/s320/039.JPG" width="320px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">L: Thomas Creek Pilsner R: Ballast Point Big Eye IPA</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCi7zYB-R6uLWMfCEi3vnUVhvjj-2k9uT5ryKuWX684l09Dziec3FB4On11krltaNNpvBwFGcBC2P36v14KoEiEzu5XPp5cCGlap0nTEd-OLYk4qOLOV8JtoDirevIylJUIk2N4r3nzmo/s1600/blog8.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCi7zYB-R6uLWMfCEi3vnUVhvjj-2k9uT5ryKuWX684l09Dziec3FB4On11krltaNNpvBwFGcBC2P36v14KoEiEzu5XPp5cCGlap0nTEd-OLYk4qOLOV8JtoDirevIylJUIk2N4r3nzmo/s200/blog8.bmp" width="138px" /></a></div>So what did we eat? Try to not short out your computer by salivating on the keyboard. Let's start with some beer. We began with a Thomas Creek (a local brewery, literally right up the street) Pilsner and a Ballast Point Big Eye IPA which hails from San Diego. All their beers are named after fish. <br />
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The Pilsner hit the spot after sitting in the sun for a few hours. Cold, malty and a little skunky, but in a good way.<br />
The IPA was also tasty. It had a really nice reddish carmelly color with lots of citrus notes and that distinct hoppy twang that makes an IPA an IPA.<br />
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They have a magical assortment of appetizers and just as I'm about to order something unusual Cory busts out with "We'll have the calamari." I roll my eyes and mutter "Oh geez" under my breath knowing full well I can order boring calamari in any bowling alley, let alone restaurant. Well, the actual calamari isn't much to write about. It was a little pale in fry color and a little chewier than I like. But the sauce! Gasp! The sauce is something to write about!<br />
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It came with a drizzle of what I thought was a balsamic reduction but no! It was sweet soy - delightful surprise! And then there was a ramekin of a speckled orange-y sauce that turned out to maybe be the best thing about the whole meal. It was a spicy aioli and it was <strong>amazing</strong>. Creamy, salty, sweet, spicy. Which brings me to maybe the most decadent thing I've ever eaten (maybe even better than the Duck Pizza at The Lazy Goat). <br />
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<strong><em>Sweet Potato Fries Cooked in Duck Fat</em></strong><br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidE_M9vjdMLUOZU77LnPCWiwZS463ikEgoYlrbpggibE9a0-CJdqi-QDIPNMump-MJVvNPexHUMDs0sGIFqxmbjAVK9RqC17z9V0eYR0ROWrot6U4tbR0gsgJJglfP7YNMfTVae3DohX8/s1600/044.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidE_M9vjdMLUOZU77LnPCWiwZS463ikEgoYlrbpggibE9a0-CJdqi-QDIPNMump-MJVvNPexHUMDs0sGIFqxmbjAVK9RqC17z9V0eYR0ROWrot6U4tbR0gsgJJglfP7YNMfTVae3DohX8/s320/044.JPG" width="320px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">You read it right. These fries were a cross between heaven and a funnel cake which are almost the same thing. I'm not kidding. They were so rich it was like eating dessert. The deep sweet and savory flavor of the potato enhanced with the sprinkle of salt were like all the smells at a state fair on the most beautiful day...minus the carnies. And the best part? Like uncivilized cavemen we dipped the fries in the spicy aioli!! Stop it! I'm pretty sure I invented the 8th wonder of the world. </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVLwh_W2qizJzha9ia1lQ1dQ1wfvPFov6NQ3plO5fY-c5_hBdivoAPwfevfDAwpDufbuwZ_47w04-lY498y5ZA7gQ2ptVjBYZ2SlACieMQwBN_9eSf9DinveHxpxHExGlbwPtqN88-Ok/s1600/043.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWVLwh_W2qizJzha9ia1lQ1dQ1wfvPFov6NQ3plO5fY-c5_hBdivoAPwfevfDAwpDufbuwZ_47w04-lY498y5ZA7gQ2ptVjBYZ2SlACieMQwBN_9eSf9DinveHxpxHExGlbwPtqN88-Ok/s200/043.JPG" width="112px" /></a></div>What did we get the fries with? Something (some of) you never heard of. We had a <strong><em>Vietnamese Banh Mi</em></strong> (baan - mee). It was in one word - ridiculous. A banh mi is a sandwich on soft bread with pork, pickled vegetables and cilantro. I feel as if there is a little part of me that is complete now that I've had this perfect partnership of meaty, tangy, fresh goodness. <br />
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On to the lobster roll! Yeah I said it. We had a lobster roll too. So? Don't judge us, I told you I was on a mission. It was delish. Totally authentic toasted square hoagie roll, lots of fresh lobster barely dressed with a touch of mayo and served with a lemon wedge that I squeezed the heck out of. I don't have a picture of it because I was so excited and I've been waiting so long to have one that Cory and I couldn't get our faces on it fast enough and before we took a breath it was gone. <br />
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And then came dessert. Try not to squeal with delight as you read:<br />
<strong><em>Krispy Kreme Creme Brulee with Espresso Chocolate Chip Cookies</em></strong><br />
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</div>Oh my goodness. Are you kidding me? I read it and had to have it too. Creme brulee is easily in my top 5 favorite desserts and this one was no disappointment. I literally took notes on it at the restaurant. Here is what I wrote: Super satisfying. Rich, creamy, sweet. My only complaint was that the hard sugar shell on top was compromised by them jamming the cookies in but I guess I would've ended up dipping them in there eventually. But I do hold cracking the sugar and having a little crunch on it very sacred. The cookies were stoopid good. A light espresso flavor which made them a little more special but not so much that the kids wouldn't eat them.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from the Liberty Bridge at Falls Park</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Come visit! I'll take you here and to all my favorite joints.</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0EGmQefQn6H0hDpPBWiSi3Z4MVR5EVOdfOl4aMXIpJwOp-Fl2XMtIYEaeprMS30EecDEnhZCc7RO2OVIPRs0WV00gLA0Y45RsG4oq9WElsaVUVMSraakccW-g2ySSjnFc1uagYhL0oU/s1600/057.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhT0EGmQefQn6H0hDpPBWiSi3Z4MVR5EVOdfOl4aMXIpJwOp-Fl2XMtIYEaeprMS30EecDEnhZCc7RO2OVIPRs0WV00gLA0Y45RsG4oq9WElsaVUVMSraakccW-g2ySSjnFc1uagYhL0oU/s200/057.JPG" width="112px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_pGJ5DhrxzJKL-pOAfhgOj_NJA_LQfZvoSAno-wBPH32d-fMXeqYROF1DgEf12bKwVa1nalcqplDteXWOhiur3DLZzInwDFylzfFjUKczy8Yz_rWVZlozXs2R0pScNL86M-ZOz5ySxw/s1600/blog6.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="102px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjx_pGJ5DhrxzJKL-pOAfhgOj_NJA_LQfZvoSAno-wBPH32d-fMXeqYROF1DgEf12bKwVa1nalcqplDteXWOhiur3DLZzInwDFylzfFjUKczy8Yz_rWVZlozXs2R0pScNL86M-ZOz5ySxw/s200/blog6.png" width="200px" /></a>After a little stroll downtown to view the falls and digest our coma inducing lunch we hit the Carolina Ale house. I enjoyed a Sweetwater Blue (a blueberry beer from Atlanta, GA)and Cory got something that was around 10% alcohol and smelled awful, yech. He's welcome to write about his beers that smell and taste like dirt.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">That completes one 3000 calorie food adventure around town. I'll be putting my gym membership to good use this week getting ready for the next. Cheers!</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-16304236685136373272011-04-25T09:41:00.000-05:002011-04-25T09:41:35.007-05:00Eggs and Helicopters and Beers! Oh My! Part 1 - Egg Chaos<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Let me begin with an OMG. The Croissant family packed more fun and calories into one Saturday than should be legal. With that said, I will begin with Part 1 - Egg Chaos.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaJsPcCNMnmDuHbDPJ_PkJLiRUiHiIPz1fKDIB93iAhFHvCjCTcZ_b22FblQjJgZgR5AXDk1fEgxSNo8_B9h30kqslTmUeBzudZBi5lOKy9gC2ng3fVFwRN0MZb-aPxtKcR02ss-EX2A/s1600/016.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="132px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLaJsPcCNMnmDuHbDPJ_PkJLiRUiHiIPz1fKDIB93iAhFHvCjCTcZ_b22FblQjJgZgR5AXDk1fEgxSNo8_B9h30kqslTmUeBzudZBi5lOKy9gC2ng3fVFwRN0MZb-aPxtKcR02ss-EX2A/s200/016.JPG" width="200px" /></a>Easter weekend 2011. Saturday. It was an exceptionally beautiful day here in Greenville, SC. 75 degrees with a cool breeze. The Crow's had a full day planned. First we started with the ever popular "get up too late, yell at the kids to hurry and make a mad dash out the door. Let's go! Let's go! Let's go! Dammit! Get in the car!". You know, the typical way we start out a wonderful day of family-ness. We raced downtown, zipped into a parking lot, where a convenient trolley was waiting to take us, and the other 10,000 people, to our event. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePhdTR2aoclS8CIQVstOjOpgjcHEQ0I7kNfQKhgtue294LPf5_4GXuhAaifLulKwx9X_Ar2q-nStZdPwJdDAQ5naPfBNxQE9-Xe_t84Ga2IxfISlfO9XZl5pQj3Iv0tTevQo_MMusE_U/s1600/026.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhePhdTR2aoclS8CIQVstOjOpgjcHEQ0I7kNfQKhgtue294LPf5_4GXuhAaifLulKwx9X_Ar2q-nStZdPwJdDAQ5naPfBNxQE9-Xe_t84Ga2IxfISlfO9XZl5pQj3Iv0tTevQo_MMusE_U/s200/026.JPG" width="200px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrKlgYo9gcRNHBIct3oihAgf3uGnwnhAuteNe5V6FWXXKqNeogjdLqVgGFQZmlJijGDl9Ioacu5W1xks6XWhfRI1zflM2E3FndewAP2Vv23YSF96bzVWIG1_LrvRi7fqsgTq-7FnWp0Y/s1600/028.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="112px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghrKlgYo9gcRNHBIct3oihAgf3uGnwnhAuteNe5V6FWXXKqNeogjdLqVgGFQZmlJijGDl9Ioacu5W1xks6XWhfRI1zflM2E3FndewAP2Vv23YSF96bzVWIG1_LrvRi7fqsgTq-7FnWp0Y/s200/028.JPG" width="200px" /></a>One and a half minutes later, (guess we could've walked) we pull up in front of Fluor Field, our local minor league baseball field for a big ol' egg hunt! There were 7,000 kids registered and 50,000 eggs on the field. The coolest part? Not one, but <strong><u>4</u></strong> helicopters came and dropped the eggs on the field! </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghD21PjVa7GCDeo5hSAngIjQ3WVFCvtQFsmu4gWYI2YDtSXsN8HpSzATua0gDjFz1GG24S85s6b_FQifWR601uHwjvy2XS7wipNmrkZNme8IlNdAdxY4TmVurgKXidSp-6F3JnbiyAFSU/s1600/034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghD21PjVa7GCDeo5hSAngIjQ3WVFCvtQFsmu4gWYI2YDtSXsN8HpSzATua0gDjFz1GG24S85s6b_FQifWR601uHwjvy2XS7wipNmrkZNme8IlNdAdxY4TmVurgKXidSp-6F3JnbiyAFSU/s320/034.JPG" width="320px" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WjlUvsW4sn1l1bK33L13kRJFW0ml6GESvhHe-SQjo9Grj0XzAhT8kUQnFDnPxwxJUIAux6qHlYAC4Se9bkIdsjrI5WntaOgXRAZNQzUuu3NV-DEmuIF72se-H5XNRT_AYcxCyAJdQ54/s1600/030.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; height: 188px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 201px;"><img border="0" height="112px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WjlUvsW4sn1l1bK33L13kRJFW0ml6GESvhHe-SQjo9Grj0XzAhT8kUQnFDnPxwxJUIAux6qHlYAC4Se9bkIdsjrI5WntaOgXRAZNQzUuu3NV-DEmuIF72se-H5XNRT_AYcxCyAJdQ54/s200/030.JPG" width="200px" /></a> They had the field roped off for different age groups. Cory and I divided and conquered, him taking the twins and me taking Quinn. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEdFeYOrLxJFqILpK2tLS4-2H1A60aPtHth0OmL3tkVLLWwsCoMNHuSi3Zq_bS-L3DMso-mlVEzVn2VChAyOtGK1hgiKWIv832QCB9LQNkykL4WmBp_MKv-wddLiQQEpxvM0R0cYR0Ts/s1600/023.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihEdFeYOrLxJFqILpK2tLS4-2H1A60aPtHth0OmL3tkVLLWwsCoMNHuSi3Zq_bS-L3DMso-mlVEzVn2VChAyOtGK1hgiKWIv832QCB9LQNkykL4WmBp_MKv-wddLiQQEpxvM0R0cYR0Ts/s200/023.JPG" width="178px" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Now, we've been to these events before. We are no strangers to the cut-throat world of adolescent Easter egg hunts, <em>especially</em> when big ticket prizes are being given away. They had a multitude of flat screen T.V.'s, Wii's, Playstations and Go-Carts. Now I'm not here to judge (you know I will anyway), but you should have seen the people telling their kids to shake the eggs and if there was candy inside to drop it and move on to the next (looking for the prize tickets). Let's just say if you've ever been to Walmart on Black Friday you've seen what I saw. Never the less, there were also plenty of people who were just out there to give their kids a special Easter experience. </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8tOw48yck01n2f9MVl-gmIB7GwOSzvXQL6F2c808CcnWaYHOCbhUDica56ZL5uXRbgASGQFCo2FZGsbDnK41BX0bXLFB_HoCxUADuc8nOH2YB9HAr0qYoJcWXzHFGystZxkmD3jzfTU/s1600/022.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy8tOw48yck01n2f9MVl-gmIB7GwOSzvXQL6F2c808CcnWaYHOCbhUDica56ZL5uXRbgASGQFCo2FZGsbDnK41BX0bXLFB_HoCxUADuc8nOH2YB9HAr0qYoJcWXzHFGystZxkmD3jzfTU/s200/022.JPG" width="145px" /></a></div>I have a treat for you. I took a short video of the chaos that ensues when you let 7,000 kids run out onto a field at one time, their eye's mad with anticipation. Their little Mary Jane's and boat shoes matched perfectly with their ridiculous smocked jon-jons and ballet skirts, quivering in excitement, ready to burst through the gate, longing for that fun-size Twizzler! Let me also add that parents were <strong>not</strong> supposed to go out on the field with the kids and as soon as they let them go, fear shot through me as I watched Quinn disappear into the crowd, assuming I would never see her again. I just hoped she got enough candy to keep her full until she ended up in Vegas where she would launch a one <strike>woman</strike> toddler show.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
Please to enjoy, notice the guy at the very end with the rat-tail...I'm just saying.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.blogger.com/video.g?token=AD6v5dz4DsXcWKbBVVZxldbJcBnF_TcHPYPTG8YlLAWg2VvDP_oSth4pZ5j8Orm52YeUopbBcStw3j26D5-oNwYnVg' class='b-hbp-video b-uploaded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Stay tuned to Part 2 where I will review all the wondrous eats and drinks we consumed after the hunt.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-75381527964788410832011-04-23T20:33:00.000-05:002011-04-23T20:33:47.375-05:00Ode to Mojito's<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2r6xpXlcNawQXtCbhGxxjXYKsbapHp3BBR3N9liEcJY0i4__CGwT1LYNDxOqP9sK4di_I4rwiRDe_BHf5SwROdbXYhghrYIgCVMc4odUvS2lcibmSi3l1CjbiKB7cncLiNeWzMGBv_Q/s1600/061.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhR2r6xpXlcNawQXtCbhGxxjXYKsbapHp3BBR3N9liEcJY0i4__CGwT1LYNDxOqP9sK4di_I4rwiRDe_BHf5SwROdbXYhghrYIgCVMc4odUvS2lcibmSi3l1CjbiKB7cncLiNeWzMGBv_Q/s200/061.JPG" width="144px" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">My mint plant. My phone is at the bottom to show scale.</td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="color: #38761d;">Ahhh, the mojito. So fresh. So tart. So sweet. So perfect. I'm devoting an entire blog entry to the mojito because it is the most perfect drink <strike>ever in the whole wide world</strike> to me. I even planted a good bit of mint (see above) this spring as to not have to pay the ridiculous price at the store and/or have a nervous breakdown when I run out and need "mommy's relaxer".</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;"> Let's start with a little history lesson. </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdLRZSXYMUWP6eGJyiTyiJgwqBSMlRGjZiwVsFJI7wxaL83q7pAbmIuxWkqaM7Czx9NrzoH16c5gWWTtk_ity0un47IMlEIXY9kQDTcyrSZIYAu5w5UA4sY5wATZnPmGvV6C0UrqB08A/s1600/blog+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdLRZSXYMUWP6eGJyiTyiJgwqBSMlRGjZiwVsFJI7wxaL83q7pAbmIuxWkqaM7Czx9NrzoH16c5gWWTtk_ity0un47IMlEIXY9kQDTcyrSZIYAu5w5UA4sY5wATZnPmGvV6C0UrqB08A/s1600/blog+4.jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVdLRZSXYMUWP6eGJyiTyiJgwqBSMlRGjZiwVsFJI7wxaL83q7pAbmIuxWkqaM7Czx9NrzoH16c5gWWTtk_ity0un47IMlEIXY9kQDTcyrSZIYAu5w5UA4sY5wATZnPmGvV6C0UrqB08A/s1600/blog+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span style="color: #38761d;"></span></a><span style="color: #38761d;">The mojito (moe-hee-toe) is a traditional Cuban highball consisting of 5 ingredients. Rum, lime, sugar, mint and sparkling water. There are several theories as to where the name Mojito came from. One relates the name to "Mojo", a Cuban seasoning made from lime and another is it's a derivative of the word "mojadito" which is Spanish for "a little wet". I assumed it meant "a lot sloshed". </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;"></span> </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;">A recipe will follow but please note I have a little short cut. </span><span style="color: #38761d;">A traditional recipe will have you muddle (squash together) the sugar and mint to allow the mint to release it's oil, not unlike cooking strawberries with sugar to make a sauce. Feel free to do this but it's a tad time consuming and when I need a drink, I need a drink like now. </span></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><br />
</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;">What's special about a mojito is that it has a unique drinkability in that you can have quite a few and feel <strike>invincible</strike> great! The following is a list of why I choose this drink over the others, perhaps you'll identify with me:</span></div><ol><li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Beer fills me up</span></div></li>
<li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Wine gives me a headache</span></div></li>
<li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Foo-foo-ier drinks are all sugar and will make your belly hurt eventually</span></div></li>
<li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Tequila makes me regret decisions I'm sure are a good idea at the time</span></div></li>
<li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Brown liquor makes me fight</span></div></li>
</ol><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1TPURLDevQtRv0vXJ2ZGbV4m5HDKeikE3lhaKI7HDWanMu61YLXOoPmlRmCycnkhzn1X7AEpwu8jnwlC7wxAxa58YUzFapwOF6MzOiEuQ3I_gUSdUpQcGz24iav3z3tHQa8nvPoQv-E/s1600/blog3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiC1TPURLDevQtRv0vXJ2ZGbV4m5HDKeikE3lhaKI7HDWanMu61YLXOoPmlRmCycnkhzn1X7AEpwu8jnwlC7wxAxa58YUzFapwOF6MzOiEuQ3I_gUSdUpQcGz24iav3z3tHQa8nvPoQv-E/s1600/blog3.jpg" /></span></a><span style="color: #38761d;">I want everyone to try to make their own mojitos! You really can't get them wrong and you can always tweak as you go. This is my recipe for the perfect mojito (Sorry about the cheat):</span></div><ul><li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;">1 jigger = 1 1/2 oz. rum - really any will do although I don't love citrus rums</span></div></li>
<li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;">7 mint leaves - you can find mint amongst the produce in your grocery</span></div></li>
<li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;">2 oz. of Limeade - the frozen kind but made w/ 2 cans of water, not 3...and yes I know this is a cheat but to cut and use a billion fresh limes for as many mojitos as i consume would make us go broke</span></div></li>
<li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;">1 Tbs. granulated sugar</span></div></li>
<li><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Sparkling water - any kind</span></div></li>
</ul><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="color: #38761d;">Fill a glass pint glass with ice. Transfer ice into a shaker tin. Add all ingredients except soda water, place pint glass back on shaker and shake like hell until the mint is broken up. Pour into pint glass and top with soda water. ALWAYS use a straw to drink a mojito or you will look like a boob as you <strike>unsuccessfully</strike> casually try to pick mint out of your mouth over and over. You may notice the sugar doesn't completely dissolve. Don't panic! That's the best part. Something about crunching on the sugar is divinely satisfying. </span><br />
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<span style="color: #38761d;">I truly hope you enjoy this crisp, refreshing, champion drink as much as do...maybe just not quite as often as I do. Cheers!</span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="background-color: #a2c4c9; color: #274e13;"></span></div>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2369837714609204454.post-29999628852998700642011-04-22T11:46:00.000-05:002011-04-22T13:13:20.848-05:00So What's the Point?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7rb4ajWKbaPAeAbQ2zXO6XtPthyphenhyphenm_hk80vH1ZwEAunOkZb-Uk2nAt7IpY7nIew97rfltsmTVqRD7zHZ5rdzMEg3E5FvyKf9WSBQl0lcEkDGU_m2pgNanEP0IlVdncHk_i8nsKj_mnu4/s1600/blog1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZ7rb4ajWKbaPAeAbQ2zXO6XtPthyphenhyphenm_hk80vH1ZwEAunOkZb-Uk2nAt7IpY7nIew97rfltsmTVqRD7zHZ5rdzMEg3E5FvyKf9WSBQl0lcEkDGU_m2pgNanEP0IlVdncHk_i8nsKj_mnu4/s1600/blog1.jpg" /></a>So here we are. The beginning. The maiden voyage. But the question is why? Why create yet another blog in the vast internet sea? And why do I keep making nautical references? That's neither here nor there but the answer is because I need a project and I think I have some interesting knowledge to share. Apparently a part time job, three active kids, a household to run and a home business don't keep me busy enough. Contrary to what my family will believe, based on the fact that they will always see me as an extremely lazy teenager, I find myself unable to sit still. I often find myself multitasking (like picking bits of glue off used jewelry bails) when I do sit down to watch one of my beloved <strike>cooking</strike> <strike>traveling</strike> Anthony Bourdain shows. But something is missing. A creative outlet to share my relationships with eats, drinks and experiences.</div></div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqr6XQYmsQK6X76R-Km_uVS9L79KcwFCEoc3PoboWrVy5sHLIo1ndvm-6_jcEYRh0NxwCaUD3Sk7u9KIWN5eXdJZEggLNVr4rV0_CNNgEN2eeXfr25q-gwD5s7RL4A8vgy3cXk6LBwHcQ/s1600/P1070561.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="171px" i8="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqr6XQYmsQK6X76R-Km_uVS9L79KcwFCEoc3PoboWrVy5sHLIo1ndvm-6_jcEYRh0NxwCaUD3Sk7u9KIWN5eXdJZEggLNVr4rV0_CNNgEN2eeXfr25q-gwD5s7RL4A8vgy3cXk6LBwHcQ/s200/P1070561.JPG" width="200px" /></a> <<<------ My very artsy and well-traveled sister-in-law Kristin Croissant started writing a blog (<a href="http://croissantcraic.blogspot.com/">http://croissantcraic.blogspot.com/</a>) when she and my brother-in-law Adam recently moved to Ireland. Awesome right? Clearly she has a ton to write about and we hang on her every word and picture. So when brainstorming for my blog I had to think to myself, "What should I write about? What will people want to read?". The answer stems from my friends and family. When I'm at work or socializing and conversation turns to food or drink or restaurants <strike>or politics or religion</strike> or books I always have too much to add (especially after a few delicious Captain and diets...with lime). The proverbial light bulb above my head had been lit.</div></div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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It all started about 3 years ago. Cory and I were doing some extensive pallet expansion and realized that there is a whole world of new tastes and textures...shoot, I guess that means we're officially grown-ups. No more hot dogs, macaroni and cheese and Bud Light. It's more like a spicy fennel chicken sausage, stout braised onions, farfalle with gorgonzola and an IPA. Also, we are constantly on the hunt for something unique and fun to do around town and I feel like I'm always being told how great it is that we go do these fun things, make these bizarre recipes and generally try new things. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">With that said, I want to write them down, share them, remember them and keep the good times coming!</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Don't worry, this blog will not become a daily overview of my eating habits, not unlike a Weight Watchers journal. It will encompass everything we as humans are supposed to appreciate and indulge in to make life well...livable. I am going to do my best to <strike>saturate</strike> enrich myself with all things great for mind, body and soul and search for truly interesting finds that you will all appreciate learning about and hopefully have a laugh or two.</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">My second post will kick off with one of my favorite topics and something I consider myself to be an expert in: The Mojito. I will also be posted the long awaited and anticipated recipe for the Cro-jito. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I hope you follow me along my journey of consumable happiness!</div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span id="goog_303423124"></span><span id="goog_303423125"></span></div>Delane Croissanthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16415532124317668113noreply@blogger.com1