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From the category archives:
Travel
can’t. find. time. to. blog. do anything.
still. not.packed. moving. in. 3. days. eek.
sad. to. leave. some. happy. to. be. home. soon.
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Dulles at 4:30 am
3:00am Thursday to 11pm Sunday: non-stop doing something and now I’m tuckered out and wishing I wasn’t at work. It was a whirlwind trip: DC-Detroit-Champaign-Paw Paw-Champaign-Detroit-DC. Between all the driving and the flying, I sat a lot. The rest of the time I ate, including at the best restaurant in the entire world, twice. I also discovered that an everything bagel with smoked salmon cream cheese, swiss cheese and tomato is a very nice sandwich. Unfortunately, there were 1.5 donuts in my diet this weekend. Now that I’m back, its Odwalla Superfood and other healthy things for me.
The next few months have a lot in store and I’m not sure how much real cooking I’ll be doing. I grabbed a bunch of goodies from Trader Joe’s last night – including some 7 layer dip with veggie & flax chips and some cilantro poblano fish tacos. The tacos were frozen and I was skeptical, but they were easy and tasty-enough. I have a veggie+fish house guest for the next two weeks, which works well for trying to get back into a good-food routine. Tonight I have my infamous BBQ wraps planned. Hopefully I’ll remember to take a picture.
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I’m in Memphis all week for work. I’ll post photos as I can… like the room service I ordered tonight. Featured below are fried green tomatoes, wings and ribs – yum!
While I am oot and aboot here on the Mississippi, think about what I can make on Thursday night with a chicken breast and cream of celery soup (97% fat free). Fresh ingredients on hand include eggs, onion, scallions, parsley and cheese. As for everything else, I’ve got it all – frozen veggies, dry goods, spices galore. Give me your best ideas and you shall be handsomely rewarded.
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Longing for America’s Heartland? Or are you just so enamored with your home that you wish to share it with others? The Midwest Holiday Gift Guide provides easy ideas for that last-minute holiday shopping. These suggestions will tickle the senses and warm the hearts of all your loved ones.
1. Real Wisconsin Cheese
The Wisconsin Cheese Man is practically a member of our family. He’s one of those relatives you may not ever see, but we faithfully exchange gifts every single year. I send him a check and he sends me an extraordinary selection of cheeses and summer sausage.
One of my favorite gifts, especially to receive, is the Wheel O’ Cheese. To me a “variety of pasteurized process cheese products” is just pure heaven. Paired with a steady supply of Wheat Thins and you’ll be in the recipient’s good graces all year long!
2. Chicago Pizza
There is nothing quite like a trip to Giordano’s or the original Pizzeria Uno! For those too far away to enjoy these delicacies, why not give a gift that keeps on giving? Homemade deep dish pizza will satisfy that hankering for one-slice-and-I’m-stuffed goodness. This professional-style deep dish pizza pan is sure to make that crust turn out buttery and perfect. Check out the reviews on this cookbook! While there are no ‘secret’ recipes, these selections are definitely the next best thing.
There is nothing quite like a trip to Giordano’s or the original Pizzeria Uno! For those too far away to enjoy these delicacies, why not give a gift that keeps on giving? Homemade deep dish pizza will satisfy that hankering for one-slice-and-I’m-stuffed goodness. This professional-style deep dish pizza pan is sure to make that crust turn out buttery and perfect. Check out the reviews on this cookbook! While there are no ‘secret’ recipes, these selections are definitely the next best thing.
3. Midwest Living Magazine
Like its sister Southern Living, Midwest Living captures the essence of the region through food, decorating, travel and stories. Give a monthly trip to the heartland with this subscription.
Like its sister Southern Living, Midwest Living captures the essence of the region through food, decorating, travel and stories. Give a monthly trip to the heartland with this subscription.
4. Midwest Modern: Sewing Inspiration from Amy Butler
This wonderful coffee table book is the perfect gift for any lover of handmade, and especially hand-sewn, items. Butler’s beautiful style puts a contemporary twist on folk art, particularly in her fabric line.
This wonderful coffee table book is the perfect gift for any lover of handmade, and especially hand-sewn, items. Butler’s beautiful style puts a contemporary twist on folk art, particularly in her fabric line.
5. Skyline Chili
For lovers of this infamous Cincinnati chain, please run-don’t-walk to these chili kits. Using fresh ingredients, you can create some of the best chili in the world. Do you want yours 5-way?
For lovers of this infamous Cincinnati chain, please run-don’t-walk to these chili kits. Using fresh ingredients, you can create some of the best chili in the world. Do you want yours 5-way?
6. Comfort Food Restaurant Guide
Taking you into the soul of each restaurant, Best Food in Town, does what no internet review even attempts. Share this ticket to down-home-goodness-as-good-as-mom’s with everyone you love.
Taking you into the soul of each restaurant, Best Food in Town, does what no internet review even attempts. Share this ticket to down-home-goodness-as-good-as-mom’s with everyone you love.
7. Great Midwest Country Escapes
Want to get away from it all? Retreating to rural American brings peace and simplicity to a vacation. Especially perfect for couples, this book shares ideas from across the region.
Want to get away from it all? Retreating to rural American brings peace and simplicity to a vacation. Especially perfect for couples, this book shares ideas from across the region.
8. College Sweatshirt When the air is turning crisp, Midwesterners spend Saturdays rooting for their favorite college team. Warm up the favorite alum in your life with this Nike sweatshirt. And don’t forget to watch the Rose Bowl!
Visit all of these suggested gifts at the Midwest Holiday Gift Guide store. From there, you can see other selections for invoking that Midwestern goodness!
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My parents continue to be amused with my fascination of all things vintage. They should be proud that I paid attention to their music, their traditions. On my recent visit to Houston, we spent an afternoon in the Houston Heights.
The Heights seems to be the Takoma Park of Houston. It is past the up & coming point and is now downright trendy (read: expensive). Beautiful craftsman homes of old and new line narrow tree-covered streets, crisscrossing their way through an area on the outskirts of Houston’s inskirts. This was the suburbs of yesteryear. Just like people commute to DC from Frederick, folks are now commuting to Houston from Magnolia!
The Beatles
To be fair, these sculptures are on the south side of I-10, so therefore in the “West End”. But, we found them only because a news article on the Heights mentioned 36′ tall Beatles and 17′ tall president heads. The artist is David Adickes – also known for the banana and the formerly the anthropomorphic phone along I-45 (perhaps the origin of ring-ring-ring-banana-phone?).
Is this Herbert Hoover?
The highlight of this excursion was the core of downtown, home to more than a sprinkling of antique shops. I spent well more than hour scoping out some hot buys, particularly on the prowl for my favorite pyrex wares. Well these dealers sure know pyrex is hot-hot-hot as the prices were insane. I couldn’t resist this pyrex Hamilton Beach batter bowl, but the other very beautiful items were just way overpriced. (I’m not paying $40 for a primary colors mixing bowl!)
Vintage Kitchen Goodness
More on the Heights
Technorati Tags: art, house, kitchen, vintage
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For the next 5 days, Shepherdstown, West Virginia is my home base. I’m encamped in the Clarion Hotel & Conference Center for a work-sponsored leadership thingy-dingy. I am taking this forced retreat as an opportunity to enjoy the beauty of early fall.
The above photo was taken at a scenic overlook along I-270, just before Frederick, MD. I got into Shepherdstown just past 6 pm , with a good chunk of daylight left to explore my surroundings.
I had grabbed supper on the way up, so ice cream seemed like the natural conclusion. My satellite navigation system, affectionately known as Map, said there were 3 places nearby – McDonald’s, Nutter’s Ice Cream and Dairy Queen. Hmm, such a hard choice!
Driving 4 miles along Duke St., crossing the Potomac from Shepherdstown, WV to Sharpsburg, MD, I ventured back into time. It seems that every other person in the area had the same idea as me! While I sat on the front porch lapping at a pumpkin cone, I counted no less than 50 people out for a Sunday ice cream. I watched families with little kids, couples, old people, teenagers – seemingly everyone in Sharpsburg – taking a break for Nutter’s dairy specialties.
“You ate ice cream?” you ask. Well, yes I have been eating low carb-ish this week. But, life is just too darned short not to eat homemade pumpkin ice cream at dusk in Small Town, USA.
With my belly full of sugar, I drove a little further past Sharpsburg, across the Antietam Battlefield. I’m not a huge history buff, but it was interesting to stop and snap a few photos.
See the first round of photos from my Shepherdstown trip on flickr.
Technorati Tags: country, ice cream, small town, tradition, travel
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Get away and simplify in a country corn maze! See more photos from Amish country at my flickr.
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I am finally starting to feel settled in my new place. I have many stories and photos to share, as I ease back into blogging. It’s odd to think I spent so much time here, to suddenly have no time. I’m eager to reconnect and share my neurotica with everyone.
I think the move has been harder on Annika than me. She’s been a little needy in the past week. Poor girl has had her world turned upside down!
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I’ve been away from home since Monday morning – now halfway through my trip. As I sit in ABQ, I wanted to reflect a little on my western expedition thus far.
A few observations:
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Denver is flat!? I had no idea. I imagined that Denver was on top of the mountain, not next to it.
New Mexico mexican food is much different than Texas mexican food. While the endless sopapillas are just amazing, the red chile is just too spicy for this girl.
Cookies & cream is a fabulous ice cream flavor
The best times aren’t on the agenda.
I am off to beautiful California next, where I am at the mercy of many friends. I will be handed off a couple of times. Wish me luck that no one loses me!
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