I'm Baaack!

Howdy foodie friends!

Long time no see, right? Well, it wasn't an easy beginning to 2016 for us, but Spring has sprung (for the most part) in our neck of the woods and I'm finally beginning to feel a bit more like a human being. That being said and nasty old Lupus flares aside, I have been working on a few posts during my time away from the blog, so I thought I'd give you all a little sneak peek at what's ahead! Lupus might knock me out hard at times, but I refuse to let it keep this warrior down for good!

That being said... I hope you're all having a fantastic Spring so far and I thank you from the bottom of my heart, for hangin' in there with me! Let's get on with it shall we!? (and yes.... I have changed up the look of the blog. Again. A fresh start should be a fresh start all the way, amIright?) 

So... I hope you're looking forward to these upcoming recipes! I'm not sure right now, just what order I'll be posting them in, but you can expect to start seeing them in the next couple of days. And just so that you know, I'm working on even more yummy recipe posts than the ones you're seeing here, as you read this!


"Chow" For Now!

Mary


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It's St. Patrick's Blog Crawl Time! (with an update)

...And once again, I'm late. Late getting the word out and getting this year's dishes prepared. The days and weeks sure have been sneaking up on me. I can't believe that Spring is only a week away! (I couldn't be any happier about it, mind you) The snow has finally melted and I'm hoping with every fiber of my being that the last fluffy flake has fallen. At least until December rolls around again. (although I know from experience that in my neck of the woods, we could still get a surprise attack before the season is officially over)

As the day is progressing, the fatigue is grabbing hold of me, but I'll try to get an entry up at the crawl. If I fall behind too much, the good news is that I can always save things for next year's party! :~/ The really good news, is that you all can pop over tonight and check out all of the yummy recipes, the beautiful tablescapes and the festive St. Patrick's Day ideas! Just click on the leprechaun in my side bar and you'll be on your way to Kat'leen's party! With a little (Irish) luck, I might just see you there!

Long Time, No See...

Warning: This is a loooong one.

Hmmm. Not the most inspiring or informative post title, is it? Yeah. I didn't think so either. So, where do I begin? Well...

First, please know that I never expected or intended to be MIA for such a long time, especially without any kind of explanation.

The Sandwich Board ~ Roast Beef with Creamy Horseradish Sauce

Let's face it... There are nights, especially during the "dog days" of summer, where a sandwich is just about all I have the energy to make or eat. But, that doesn't mean that it has to be boring or humdrum. As simple as a sandwich can be, each ingredient is important. Everything from the bread you choose to the way you cut your masterpiece (or not) can make the difference between a simple weeknight supper or the centerpiece of an elegant afternoon tea. Even a little "doctoring" of the basic condiments you might normally use can make a big difference. There's more to building a great sandwich than just slapping two pieces of bread around a filling.

Our local grocery store has a great on-site bakery department and the ciabatta rolls are amazingly good!

To start building the perfect sandwich, you'll need bread. Or a hard roll, or wrap, or croissant, bagel, biscuit, etc. Choose carefully though. If your filling happens to be subtle in flavor, (say, maybe cream cheese with a tiny bit of snipped chive) a heavier bread or one that has added flavors (like olives or garlic) can easily overpower that delicate filling. Now, should you add veggies or maybe a slice or two of cheese? Are you looking for the savory flavor or added moisture of a sauce or spread? To butter, or not to butter? Phew! It's a lot to think about, no?

Hubs and I are both pretty fussy when it comes to cold cuts. Especially, roast beef. It's probably the one deli item that we'll cross right off of the shopping list, if what's available in the case doesn't live up to our expectations. 1) it must be lean, with just the right amount of added seasoning. 2) it should be sliced quite thin, but not so thin that you can't pull it apart from the rest of the slices and 3) {this is a big one for us, folks} it has to be just this side of mooing. OK, OK... for those of you who just thought Eeeeewwww! it's really just a personal taste thing. By all means, go right ahead and choose the deli brand with the doneness that best suits your taste.

The "meat" of the sandwich... Literally!

OK, So we've covered the bread and meat for this sandwich. The next decision to be made, is what to use by way of condiments and/or "fixin's".

We enjoy all types of sandwiches, but when it comes to roast beef, we usually prefer the more highly seasoned versions, (like Italian style) that are generally bolder, with a blend of zesty herbs and spices. That kind of flavor can stand up to a serious sauce or spread and in our house, that translates to creamy horseradish sauce.

It's super simple to make at home and is delicious with a sprinkling of crumbled bacon as a topping for baked potatoes, or as a zippy little dip for crispy homemade french fries or crunchy fresh veggies.

Creamy Horseradish Sauce

• 8 oz Sour Cream
• 1/4 Cup Mayonnaise
• 2 Tbls Prepared Horseradish (mild or hot)
• 1 Tsp Kosher Salt
• 1/2 Tsp Fresh Ground Black Pepper

(***if you want a little added heat/flavor, you can add a teaspoon of Dijon mustard or a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce)

Next, just throw in a handful of leafy greens and pile it all on your bread of choice, or a savory whole grain wrap, or a thick slice of crusty Italian bread and that's all you need for a delicious and satisfying summer supper. Oh, and make sure you have plenty of napkins on hand. A few crunchy potato chips and a crisp kosher dill pickle never hurt, either.

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Don't forget that you can print this (or any) recipe using the "Print Friendly" button at the foot of each post. It's a great little feature that allows you to remove any pictures (or any text that isn't relevant to the recipe) before printing. That can save on ink and paper & in today's economy, who doesn't want to save a little cash when you can?!

I've Received A Lovely Award!

Hiya Kids! Sorry I've been MIA for a bit. Between all that was going on with our friend's dad's wake and funeral and the two+ day migraine that hit me late Monday night, I've been flat out. Unfortunately, that also meant there was no romantic day or dinner for us on Valentine's Day. I'm not even really sure what hubbs ate for dinner that night, cuz I was holed up in a dark bedroom, doing my best to try and keep the migraine meds down. Yeah... good times.

Anywhooo, I did get a chance to check in here a couple of times (when I could open my eyes enough to see straight - computer screens and migraines don't mix well) and the other day I found a wonderful surprise!  A new blog friend has given me the Versatile Blogger Award! Her name is Susie and her blog is Little Susie Home Maker. Thank you Susie!

Another Bad Spell AND Something To Ponder

Hello Friends,

First.... Many, many thanks to everyone for such a wonderful and heart-felt welcome back to the blogosphere. You guys truly are the best of the best!  I just hope that you'll accept my apologies (yet again... sigh) for the amount of time that it's taking for me to get back into the swing of things. I've been a bit slow adjusting to some new medications, including dealing with a few of the (hopefully temporary) negative side effects that come along with the benefits they provide. It's a mind numbingly slow process getting back into some sort of day to day rhythm, but I remain cautiously optomistic. At the moment, the word "Lupus" is being tossed around. I don't even know how to wrap my brain around that one.

Over the years it's become quite clear to me that just when I think I'm finally in a better place with my health, well...  you know the drill, right?  Murphy's Law and all that. With the way that my luck's been running lately, I probably jinxed myself  in my last post. Hmph! I suppose I should make a concerted effort in future posts to avoid mentioning that I'm feeling better or that I'm actually functioning. ;~) Recovering from a bad spell is not only extremely inconvenient and physically unpleasant... It's beyond frustrating.  I guess the best way to describe it is to say that it can leave you feeling like you've been grabbed by the shoulders and tossed (rather unceremoniously) into this kind of "limbo" where you start to see yourself as, well... useless.  Some days you feel as if you've lost your purpose for being here. Then, as if to add insult to injury, nobody ever warns you about this sad little reality. You just have to (hopefully) learn how to deal with it as you live it.


Some of what I've learned between my own experience and from meeting other folks who live this life, is that the primary goal when diagnosed with a chronic illness is to reach a place where you can 1) accept your limitations and 2) be at peace with the idea that life as you've known it has been forever altered. The next goal that you should strive for is to be able to consciously choose to make the best out of what you've been dealt, in order to live life to the best of your ability. Frankly that's what I'm attempting to do... but sometimes the fates simply don't appreciate any of the progress that I make.  Hmph!

So... Where do I go from here?  Well, considering the above apology and my recent long absence(s) from the blog, what I'm about to say might have you scratching your heads, wondering if I've totally lost it. BUT,  believe it or not, I've been considering starting a second blog. Yes, you read that correctly. I'm sure the majority of you are thinking "What?? Has she totally stepped off the edge? Is she seriously going to attempt to handle a second blog when she can barely post regularly to this one?"


OK. I don't blame you. But here's the thing... When I started thinking about it, I kept coming back to the way my life has been lately. Because my health has been less than stellar in recent months, I haven't been cooking much. (if at all)  For this reason, I really don't have many recipes or pictures of recipes to post.  Aaaand, since this has basically been a "food blog" from it's inception, that silly little detail leaves me a bit lacking when it comes to posting material. The more I thought about it, the more I realized that it could be possible to also do something more in line with my "old" blog format, which was more of a journal style or personal blog. Sans the "heart-felt letters", of course. (If you aren't familiar with my "previous blog life" or if you just got to know me when "Go Ahead Take A Bite" was launched and have no idea what I mean by that last remark, trust me... it's better that way. LOL)


Anywhooo, All things being what they are and even though I've sort of started the process of creating a second blog, it's by no means a done deal as of this post. And, because I truly value and appreciate the feedback that I receive from all of you, if  anyone has comments, suggestions, or an opinion on the matter, I certainly welcome them with open arms (and ears).  I promise that I'll happily take all thoughts under careful consideration.  Also, even if I do start a new/second blog, I still plan to keep this blog active and to continue to post recipes and other things food related. Just not as often. (Well, at least not right away)

Finally, since I do have a couple of photos (and the recipe) from one of the few meals that I (with my awesome hubby's collaboration) actually prepared over the summer, I've posted it today. (This one's for you, George) It's a grill/barbecue recipe and generally suited more for summertime cooking, but since many parts of the country are still experiencing relatively mild temperatures, most everyone should be able to prepare and enjoy it on their outdoor grill or smoker. Plus, it can also be prepared in the oven with pretty similar results as well.

Please scroll down to the previous post (or click here) for the rib recipe!

That's all for today folks! Have a blessed day and a great weekend!

~Mary

Where Have I Been?? And Why?

Howdy Friends!

In the spirit of full disclosure, I first have to admit that it feels a bit strange to be back.  Don't get me wrong... I've seriously missed the blogosphere and all of the amazing people that I've come to think of as my cyber family. So... Why have I been gone for so long??  Well, it comes down to the fact that life has been quite a roller-coaster ride these last few months. I'll do my best to fill you in without writing a novel.

OK.... Without going into the long list of diagnosis' that have been thrown at me over the years, I've been living with a myriad of health issues for over a decade now. Let's just say from a medical standpoint that I'm a hot mess and this past year has been, by far, one of the most challenging I've had so far. Sadly, it's been equally as hard on my family and friends.  I can't even begin to express how unbelieveably grateful I am for the people in my life and the sacrifices that they lovingly and selflessly make, day in and day out, in the process of adapting to and putting up with my ever changing and not always pleasant state of being.


When pain mercilessly inserts itself into your daily existence, it eventually changes who you are at your very core. (and not necessarily in a good way) Chronic pain is generally accompanied by periods of anger, frustration, depression and anxiety.  It doesn't matter how long you've been living with it. Imagine the worst headache you've ever had... Now, imagine that no matter how much rest or medication or positive thinking or prayer that you throw at it, it refuses to go away. Sure, there are tools that can help to manage chronic pain, but 90% of the time any break that you get is minimal and temporary. More often than not, these tools (especially medications) come with their own equally nasty side effects, including the stigma attached to narcotic pain medication. Believe me, I have a whole lot to say about that little issue, but I'll spare you all that rant til another day.

In a nutshell, my health suffered some major blows over the last year, and that caused me to have to stop and take several steps back so that I could make some serious changes. With God's Grace and a lot of love and patience from the amazing people in my life, I feel that I might finally be on a path back to some sense of "normal" and it's going to take baby steps.  If there's one major lesson that I've learned during the last several months, it's how important it is to try to make the best of the good days and to push through the bad days in the best way that I can. None of us can predict when life might rise up and knock us into next week, but I plan to continue to fight back with all that I've got when it does.

All that being said, I hope you'll stick with me as I find my way back and that you'll forgive the lack of original recipes that I usually post.  Unfortunately, one of the things that this pain robs me of is the ability to prepare a meal more than say, once every week or two. (The Hubbs and I have been eating a lot of sandwiches, salads and take-out lately! LOL )  Luckily there's a plethora of great recipes and videos to accompany them out in cyberspace, so I'll compensate by posting some of my favorites here and there. (I do have a recipe and photos of some incredible Baby Back Ribs that Hubby and I collaberated on a couple of weeks ago, but I have to upload the pics from my camera)

I have a few other things that have happened, like the blogoversary that passed while I was gone. (I'm working on some surprises in that regard, so stay tuned!) I also celebrated my 50th birthday in September, and I have new garden/floral photos from the Summer as well as pics and video from our yearly trip to Maine.  As I mentioned above.... baby steps. ;~)

Thank you all for hanging in there with me. I hope to be spending more time with you as the days and weeks pass.  If I haven't stopped by to visit you yet, I promise that I'll do my best to pop in and say hello soon.

Anyway, I'll start today with a video from Ina Garten (The Barefoot Contessa) and her recipe for Grilled Tuscan Lemon Chicken.  It's easy and can be done just as beautifully and deliciously in the oven if the weather isn't conducive to using an outdoor grill. Enjoy!

See You In September!

Hello Friends.....

Yes, I'm still alive.  So.... Where have I been??  Well, those of you who have known me for some time or from a "previous life" may recall that I have a laundry list of health issues that unfortunately come with a significant amount of pain.  Especially when/if I overdo it to any degree. The cold and snow of the Winter months here in the Northeast usually means that I'm at home and a lot less active and that tends to help keep any major flare-ups to a minimum, but when Summer finally rolls around in my neck of the woods, I have a tendency to push myself well beyond my limitations, trying to cram as much activity as I can into a pretty short period of time. 

The first half of the Summer has been an extremely busy one for me and I've found myself struggling to get heightened pain levels under control and my overall health back on track. Sadly, it's become necessary for me to have to put much of my life on hold in order to achieve that. Why haven't I posted at least once or twice over the last few weeks? Well, you might not think that spending time on the computer would be much of a problem, but due to some pretty severe joint inflammation and muscular stress and strain, even a small amount of time spent typing can be quite painful. (I began composing this post at around 1:00 pm and it's now after 5:00 pm... 'nuff said?!) Add in some pretty intense back pain and spasms and just the thought of sitting here poised over my keyboard makes me cringe. Of course there are medications and other therapies that can be a true Godsend, but with the plethora of unpleasant side effects that come with both prescription and over the counter drugs, I do my best to keep the amount of medication that I take to a minimum. Kind of a "Catch 22" situation, I suppose...


So.... with all of that being said and with a big old sigh, I've realized that I have little choice but to take an "official" break from blogging.  I'm hoping that I'll be back to my old self by the beginning of September, but it's possible that it might be sooner or even (God forbid) later. Sadly, one of the most frustrating aspects of living with chronic illness is that you never really know what to expect... good or bad.  I'd love to at least be able to do a little reading and catching up around the blogosphere during this time, but I'm going to have to decide if that's gonna happen on a day to day basis.

I've seriously missed the heck out of you all and I hope this post finds you all well and enjoying your Summers! Who knows?  I might be back before my projected return date or I might surprise you with a visit and/or a comment or two, but for now I thank you so very much for your patience and understanding and I wish you health, happiness, peace and blessings....

Warm Summer Hugs,

Mrs B

Great Food In An Unexpected Place

Due to some ongoing health issues, I have the occasion to take a trip into Manhattan a few times a year to see a specialist at NYU Medical.  As much as we'd love to stay right in the city, it can be more than a bit cost prohibitive, especially when the doctor I'm seeing doesn't take ANY health insurance.  Yep.  None.

We generally stay just over the river in New Jersey and drive into the city the next morning for the appointment, but this time Hubbs decided he'd like to try driving just to Poughkeepsie and then take the train into the city instead.  Parking, even at places like the major hospitals can be a nightmare and very costly. The last time I had an appointment, they had us double parked in the parking garage!  You should have seen Mr B scanning the car with an almost cyborg like precision for dents or dings when we went to pick it up. I think it was just more than his heart could stand!  

Anyway..... The point of my story is less about parking and more about the amazing Food Concourse at Grand Central Station.  The building itself has been a Manhattan treasure and a stunning example of the Beaux-Arts style of architecture, since it's current structure first opened officially as Grand Central Terminal in 1913.  It's gone through dozens of renovations, additions and restorations during the years since, but has remained  the central hub of all train travel activity leading in and out of New York City.

One of the many levels and wings of Grand Central is the Food Concourse.  Now, when one thinks of "travel food" or food you would most likely get while on the road, it generally isn't anything that could be considered fine dining.  If anything, the words "fast food" usually come to mind.  At Grand Central's Food Concourse this is definitely not the case. There are dozens of casual dining restaurants as well as some of the finest dining in Manhattan right there for you to enjoy.  The world famous Oyster Bar Restaurant and Campbell Apartment Cocktail Lounge are prime dining and socializing destinations for both locals and tourists alike.



The Oyster Bar Restaurant at Grand Central Terminal

 

The Campbell Apartment Lounge at Grand Central Terminal



As much as hubby and I would have loved to have sipped on a cocktail or two (well, micro-brewed beer would probably be more like it) at The Campbell Apartment and dined on succulent oysters at the Oyster Bar, we were a bit worse for the wear. Between a restless night's sleep (the hotel bed was not our blissfully comfortable Tempur-Pedic) and the train ride into the city, followed by my 2 hour appointment and some crazy cab rides to and from place to place, we needed something satisfying that would still allow us enough time to catch our train back to the station and our car in Poughkeepsie for the 3 - 4 hour drive back home. So we opted for one of the "Casual Dining" restaurants in the concourse instead.  We chose a place called Zocalo because it gives the diner the option of either going to the counter and ordering, then taking your food to one of the hundreds of (quite lovely) seating areas that are open to the patrons of any/all of the restaurants/vendors OR their own seating area where you can grab a table and be waited on in a more relaxed setting.  Needless to say, after the long day that we'd had, we were definitely happy to sit down and have someone wait on us! 

(We didn't have our cameras with us, so I had to find some pictures that looked as close as possible to what we had)  Both of our meals were absolutely delicious and it was obvious that they were prepared with fresh, quality ingredients. I adore a good Cuban sandwich and this one did not disappoint. The roasted and shredded pork was moist, tender and beautifully seasoned. The ham was carved right off the bone, as opposed to the standard deli sliced ham usually found on most Cubans and the cheese was a perfectly stringy and slightly salty delight.  Now, I don't want to give the impression that there's anything wrong with sliced deli ham..... This version was just a very pleasant surprise. The fries that I ordered to accompany it were piping hot and the perfect combination of soft inside and crispy outside.  

Hubbs proclaimed that his Tostada was one of the best he's ever had and that it was spiced well. This most likely means that it would have been considered in the "medium hot" range for the majority of people, which is a little too spicy for me, but I simply don't have the asbestos tongue that he does. (Our fridge and pantry are never without a supply of different sauces made with a plethora of chili peppers from Jalapeno to Habenero) I'm not ashamed to admit that I'm a total wimp when it comes to hot and spicy food.  He was also quite happy with the Cholula Hot Sauce that was provided on each table. 

We really only had a few minutes to look around at the many offerings available in the concourse, but I would have loved to have had the time to sample just a little something from each one. There is a choice of cuisines for pretty much every taste, from Indian to Barbecue to Kosher Deli. The list is too long to include here, but there is a directory online here, if you're planning to be in the neighborhood of Grand Central Terminal in the future.  Believe me, if we hadn't been all fat and happy from the yummy meal at Zocalo, I'd have seriously considered a slice of cheesecake from Juniors. There's also the Magnolia Bakery, Zaro's Bread Basket, Neuhaus Chocolatier and sooo many other places to indulge even the mightiest of cravings for anyone with a sweet tooth.

Next time, I think we'll factor in a couple more hours to our trip, just so we can spend more time roaming around (and possibly nibbling our way through) the wonderful restaurants and shops at Grand Central Terminal.  We never even had a chance to peruse the famed Grand Central Marketplace, and I have a feeling that could take us half the day!

Live Well,  Eat Well