Dinner at the Diner

Friday night.  What do those two words mean to you?  For me, it was the end of the work week, the start of the weekend and it seemed the first night in a long while that I would be able to have dinner with the Mr. and both of our sons.  I was so tired when I got home from work I took a little nap and after a month's wait, I was happy to finally have my new glasses so we went out to celebrate.

When we walked in to the Cup and Saucer Diner in Pine Bush I was able to quickly scan the white board specials and the first thing that caught my eye was the French Martini drink special.  Yes, at the diner.  

Absolutely perfect.  Though I wouldn't find out until later, the drink was a few dollars more than my dinner, but happiness knows no price tag.  

The only issue at hand with having all four of us plus my older son's girlfriend eat together was timing and scheduling.  My younger son had made plans to visit with friends and was already behind schedule.  To help smooth things over we placed our orders and asked our lovely server to please bring his meal as soon as it was ready rather than with our entrees.  She was quite helpful and our plan did come together in the end.

Our younger son did not have to wait long for his crispy chicken ceasar salad and though he ate fairly quickly, it did seem like he enjoyed it.  Ceasar salad is not something I enjoy, mostly because I can not stand parmesan cheese, but the components of this one seemed fresh and well prepared.

The dinner salads also appeared crisp and clean.  The Mr. enjoyed his with Bleu cheese dressing.

The French Onion Soup.  It is a beautiful and savory example of how this soup should be prepared and served.  The broth has a depth of flavor, the onions are a nice size, the plating is practical, the cheese was hot and melty and though the Mr. is the expert, I thoroughly enjoyed my taste.

           

Older son ordered the chicken fajitas and when it was brought to the table in the sizzling pan, all eyes were on this fragrant and hot entree.  The dinner plate held the warmed shells with salsa, cheese and sour cream cups.

The Mr. went out on a limb and ordered a seafood special.  I was worried when the pasta arrived naked.  It may just be personal preference, but it seems pasta is better when it is at least coated in sauce and then I would have understood the seafood piled in the middle of the plate.  Either way, I tried a scallop and it was sweet with a hint of crust.  The Mr. was happy.

What else would I pair with my fancy cocktail but a classic grilled cheese sandwich with fries?  I know, I could have at least ordered a "Happy Waitress" and included some sliced tomato.  It was actually very well executed.  The bread was crisp, the cheese quite melty as you can see it ooze onto the plate and the fries were perfectly crispy.  The French Martini was the perfect compliment to the meal.

Older son's girlfriend arrived in time to only see our younger son for a few minutes which seemed to work out quite fine.  She ordered a grilled chicken sandwich which she said was delicious and I already knew her fries were going to be amazing.

The conversation train had many starts, stops and detours but one common topic was about our older son applying for a "grown up job."  The position would require training in another state which the Mr. completed over 25 years ago as well.  He told a few stories about his adventures and I wondered if our son was off on the same path for now.  Moving and shaking, his adult life is taking shape and we will celebrate the happy moments together, Fed Well.

Important Life Choices THEN Ice Cream

During the week, 3 women discuss what another stated about being a "loser" in life.  If you are single at the age of 45 - she believes you are a loser.  If you have not had children by the age of 45 you also must be a loser.  Well, funny thing is, she was talking about one of her husband's male friends to a woman who could be of a certain age who is neither married nor a mother.  Is she a loser?  She just bought her own home, has her own health insurance, is a tax-paying, law abiding, employed person who could even be described as "nice."  Is she a loser?  One of us is married with no children.  Is she 50% loser?  I am married with children, but the marriage has had some extreme bumps in the road.  Points off?

Three of us went out for Chinese food for Friday lunch and though we gave up trying to figure out the definition of a loser, we did talk over the merits and pitfalls of online dating.  I have heard from single friends some tips and stories including checking the driver's license of your date the first time you meet in person.  This tip was given long before the birth of MTV's "Catfish" show which reveals horrible internet impersonations or lying.

We shook up our ordering this week and so I am going to show the meal in reverse.  What is more fun than pistachio ice cream in February?

It was super creamy, a more than healthy size serving and had no ice crystals.  Presentation was lovely and it simply felt wonderful to eat!

Tai Chien Chicken

I avoid spicy foods and meals that are identified on a menu with a red pepper or other red icon are typically off my radar.  One member of the lunch group simply loves spice and found a new favorite with the Tai Chien chicken.

 

For the last six months or so I ALWAYS order the shrimp with rice noodles from this particular restaurant so switching things up was overdue but confusing to the staff.  I had the Pepper Steak and it was tender beef with crisp peppers and onions.  The sauce was full bodied, not salty and enough to coat the food without smothering it.  A welcome change, but I did not need the spoon the server brought me out of habit.  I originally threatened to balance it on the tip of my nose, but I've never been able to pull off this trick.

One in the group stayed with her usual, General Tao's Tofu.  She also enjoys a bit of spice and has been quite happy with this particular tofu dish.

Yes, we had a full selection of foods as we talked over the definition of a loser.  The crisp scallion pancake is one of those foods that can be eaten whether you are hungry or not.  Sort of like Jell-o, you always have room.

It all begins with hot tea and soup.  Nothing more traditional than Won-Ton for me.  We realize none of us are losers and everyone has their own journey.  The strange part was hearing some one's opinion and definition of a "loser"... especially from a woman in 2013.  Why bother spending time judging and categorizing people for lifestyle choices that do not have anything to do with you?  Every one's milestones are unique and what one person chooses are as unique as what one may consider a good meal.  How we define being Fed Well is up to us. 

Take Out Rice Fixes Dinner

Sometimes I just make up a recipe as I go.  It may be based on an actual recipe or simply an idea and a hope that flavors will work together.  The list of ingredients reads:

Kielbasi

Shrimp

Celery

Red Beans

Rice

Chicken stock

Various spices - I went through the cabinet so I cannot be 100% accurate on this but I believe in addition to salt and pepper I used:  garlic, Old Bay, a bay leaf and a sprinkle of chili powder.

The kielbasi was carmelized in my dutch oven on the stove (Click here for the post about the Magic Pot) then add the celery to soften.  Deglaze with chicken stock, add the beans then oh, the rice...the rice is an empty spot in the pantry.  How did this happen?

Well, the same way it happens with anything else.  It was eaten and not replaced.  Argh!  I have already started to prepare the meal.  Substitute?  Think  Think.  Think.

I texted the Mr. on his way home and asked him to stop at any Chinese restaurant and purchase a quart of white rice.  Yahoo.  Problem solved.

Continue adding the remaining ingredients and turn off the heat.  When I can add the rice, I add a bit more chicken stock and heat the meal through.

The funny part is, the Mr. felt a little odd just picking up rice so he did accept a few fortune cookies and....

ordered two egg rolls.  One for himself and one for our older son.  It was a multi-cultural, multi-culinary experience in our kitchen.  Is it sheer irony that the fortune regarding good planning was not mine?
 

Missing all the excitement, when my younger son arrived home a few hours later and simply heated what he knew were the evening's left overs, he began to eat and simply said, "Dinner is good, Mom."  A little help from the Chinese restaurant and we are all Fed Well.

Carrot Cake is Fine for Breakfast

For me, eating begins not at home but at work.  I take medication in the morning that requires an empty stomach and so with just under an hour commute it works out perfectly to eat once I am here.  However, my  food choices are my own and of course some days I make healthier selections than others.  I do want to point out, I feel helpless to say no to the endless supply of goodies we are constantly surrounded with as I have explained in the past:

Link to previous post regarding food at work

Also, part of our office culture is birthday snacks.  If it is your birthday and you would like to celebrate with a treat, it is up to you to bring it in for the group.  This method is so no one feels left out when someone forgets to bring in cake for their birthday.  Yes, it happened once to someone I work with and though we are all adults, she was quite upset.  This rule also helps if you decide you do not want to celebrate or do not recognize your birthday as a cause for celebration - whether it is an age or religious reason, doesn't matter.

When birthdays collide as in the the case of myself and another in our department (she is the day before) we work it out and last year we both split the cost of a few pizzas for our group.

One of my coworkers was away on vacation for her birthday a few weeks ago and so she brought in an amazing, slamming, king of the hill carrot cake from Jones Farm (click for their website).  This gorgeous and exquisite baked good should be in a hall of fame.  The cake itself is moist and you can see the finely diced carrot, raisins and nuts.  The icing is sweet heaven.  Reading the ingredient listing and discovering pineapple makes one's tongue say, "hmmm?"  So wonderful.  And, yes, the breakfast of champions.

The photo above is from a visit I made to Jones Farm to do research for an article in Hudson Valley Parent magazine.

In the afternoon, more snacks were placed in our common area and I overheard someone remark, "It is so strange to see healthy snacks here.  I am so used to seeing chocolate and goodies."  Is that sad or just honest?

The healthy snacks were left overs from a group pot luck Super Bowl party.  So does that mean we only housed the rejected goodies?

Honestly, which would you prefer?  I confess, I had two slices of carrot cake.  One for breakfast and a second later on as a snack.  I am gloriously Fed Well.

A Scene from a Mexican Restaurant

Lunch with lady friends from work at the Mexican restaurant.  I have photographed and blogged about our meals and since we are creatures of culinary habit, we do not veer away from what we know so instead, I will share a bit about the experience.

A total of 4 different groups of coworkers were in attendance on this particular day.  We knew we would have to keep any conversations about our place of employment on stealth mode.  However, I also found the booth of 3 men behind me quite entertaining at times.  They must have all either worked together at one time or went to school together and now one had moved away.  He was quite happy when the other two arrived and for a few minutes they were quite enthusiastic...

"It's so good to see you."

"I'm so glad you could get away and make time for us."

"It's been forever, hasn't it?"

We are celebrating one of my friend's birthday while one of the tables are honoring a pregnant coworkers final days before birth.  Every table has a story.

Looking around the restaurant, every wall and mural also likely tells a story.  For some reason I think of the Billy Joel song, "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant."

Click for a Billy Joel "Scenes from an Italian Restaurant" video 

 

Life.  

The stories that make up a life and how our lives intertwine... all over a simple plate of Mexican food.  

"I'll meet you anytime you want...at our Italian (Mexican) Restaurant...."

The shrimp tacos and guacamole were delicious.  It was the hour with friends that left me feeling Fed Well.

Venison Sausage in Tomato Cream Sauce over Ziti

Winter storms are now being named and Luna is here in the Northeast.  I left work this morning and the roads deteriorated as I drove until less than a mile from home the car in front of me did a complete 180 spin and I carefully tapped my brakes but still slid just enough to the right to avoid the oncoming vehicle.  Behind the vehicle was a school bus full of children being dismissed early.  Heart pounding I maintained a ridiculously slow speed until I reached my driveway which the back end of my car thought would be fun to fishtail past.



Once home, I gave the sidewalks a quick shovel, let the dog run around and then parked myself in front of the computer until I thought it a better use of time to finish reading a book a friend had lent me.

Dinner tonight was crumbled venison sausage with garlic and oregano.  Once the meat was browned and drained, a marinara sauce mixed with about a cup of half and half was added to the pan.  The ziti was cooked and coated lightly with just the marinara.  For a moment, the thought of melted mozzarella was entertained then dropped.  Safe, sound and Fed Well.

Sunday Night Pork Sliders with Fries

The trick to keeping dinners fresh and new may not be in switching up ingredients as much as serving them a different way.  A Sunday night pork roast was sliced as thin as possible then served with pillowy soft slider rolls.  Notice the cucumbers three ways in the middle of the table?  Raw, in a cucumber salad and jarred sandwich pickles - I simply knew I wanted cucumber with my pork.  The watermelon balls are the result of taking a chance on the supermarket sale on mini-melons.  Have to admit, they exceeded expectation were sweet and the perfect texture.  The small glass bowl is a sour cream garlic sauce which I used on my slider and dipped a cucumber slice or two as well.

As the pork roasted, I prepared traditional fries in a pan with oil.  Sometimes the standards are preferred.   

Crispy, salty potatoes...

The roast pork was well seasoned and roasted without incident.   The worrisome part was knowing my son's girlfriend is not especially fond of pork.  This meal may have converted her and for that, I am enjoying my ability to feed others well.

We talked about childhood meal memories.  What our mothers made, what other mothers made and some unusual pairings we've eaten in other people's homes.  The Mr. has strongly stated his case against stuffed peppers and I will try to avoid stuffed cabbage at all costs.  How lucky are we to pick our foods based on what we like rather than simply what is available.  We are fortunate to be Fed Well.