Sunday, October 21, 2012

My first post in a very very very...long time

I am not afraid to admit it, breakfast is not my favorite. Although the options seem endless, I don’t find satisfaction in eating a stack of pancakes, or a fresh omelet,. If I am going to eat breakfast, I might as well find something that will keep me happy.

This morning the popular bagel place in my town was barraged with customers, and my mom was unable to buy us some food. Instead, she moseyed on down the shopping center to Shop Rite, and found some alternatives for us.

Since she refuses to eat bagels from anywhere but the bagel store, she purchased some fresh rolls, potato salad, cucumber salad, and of course, white fish salad, along with salami for yours truly.

Since it seems my weight has rapidly been increasing, I opted just for the sandwich, (salami, deli mustard on the roll). Later that afternoon, my dad had taken out the rest of the foods, opened the containers and began digging in. Once he mentioned the potato salad was good, I couldn’t resist.

I am a huge fan of potato salad. The creamier, the better. And that is exactly how this potato salad was presented. Bits of carrots and celery ran throughout, along with some cheese. It was seriously delicious.

The cucumbers added an extra tang, tasted more like pickles but it did the trick. As soon as my parents left the house, I found myself eating straight from the container.. Totally worth it!

Saturday, July 28, 2012

After almost 6 months, I finally decided to fine tune the article I wrote for the school newspaper discussing the different dining options offered on campus.


Senior Sarah Wompler finds it convenient to eat in the Dining Commons, given her demanding schedule.

Senior Lindsay Dutton stops over at Hoot n’ Scoot multiple times throughout the week to pick up food before work.

Senior Lauren Wallace enjoys walking through the Student Center and picking out something to eat before her strenuous day of classes.

Keene State College students could find that the meals offered on campus are either a balanced one or a quick fix that will keep them energized throughout the day.

The school offers a variety of options to choose from when students find they are craving something to eat: The Zorn Dining Commons, Hoot n’ Scoot, Bean and Bagel, Sizzlers, and Lloyd’s Marketplace.

The DC  made up of large glass windows doesn’t stop students from going to eat on a regular basis.

“It is hard to make a balanced meal, so it’s easy to come to the dining commons,” Wompler said. “I like eating here. I can read a book, and check my email.”

The DC has a number of stations, offering a salad bar, vegan station, sandwich station, and a grill section, along with a main line.

“It is easily accessible,” said Junior Ryan Fay. Fay acknowledges the short distance between the DC and his dorm room.

Sophomore Victoria Patt adds “It is a good gathering place.”

Patt brought the attention of the themed meals the DC hosts once per semester. A chef from another country shares different cuisines that are from his native home. She also likes the annual Italian dinner along the main walkway of the school at the start of each fall semester.

Hoot n’ Scoot offers a place to get a meal on the go, which students appreciate when they are hustling and bustling throughout the school day. “There are a good number of options to choose from,” Dutton says.

Besides taking an entrée, a snack, side, and drink are offered as well.

The marketplace, located at the heart of the Student Center, provides different stations, from different grilled options, to soups, sandwiches, along with Italian classics.

“It is easy to find something healthy like a sandwich or salad,” said Wallace.

Drinks and prepared sandwiches are also offered on the side in the refrigerated section. “I like the late night options and the food selection in general there,” Dutton said.

A unique combination of pita bread, a choice of meat, veggies, and an array of sauces draws in a rather large crowd during lunchtime. Sizzlers are served to students from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, on the second floor of the Student Center in the Night Owl Café.

Senior Lauren Wallace adds, “They are a good alternative to the DC.”

Whether students find themselves in the DC, eating a sizzler, or buying something from the marketplace, they will always have their options opened to them. It is just a matter of what they may be in the mood for that particular day.

Sunday, July 15, 2012


        Who doesn’t love peanuts!? Okay, okay, I retract. It is unfortunate the severity peanut allergies cause, because they are delicious! The saltyness, and creaminess of the nuts makes for an excellent treat. And have you ever noticed how versatile it can be, found anywhere from trail mix to pasta sauces to Reeses, served either warm or cold, any time of day, with any meal or snack. It’s hard to turn them down.
So back from my rant. Yesterday I traveled with my friend’s family up to visiting day to see her at camp. It is her first summer as a counselor there, and I wanted to see how everything was going.
After visiting day concluded, I went with her mom and aunt to the outlets. The walking seemed endless, but it was all worthwhile. The shopping trip proved successful as I walked away with a Vera Bradley laptop case for almost half the price.
Next stop was Palisades Mall. Wow! Never have I seen a mall of this magnitude. Four floors with one dedicated to eating. All different restaurants were offered, even Tony Romas, which I haven’t seen in almost a decade.
It’s a tradition in their family to eat at Stir Crazy after visiting day. (Her brother has been going to camp for 9 years now). Since the wait was supposedly forty minutes, we sat ourselves at the bar and enjoyed a cocktail.
My friends aunt and I ordered Pineapple mojitos, while my friends mom opted for the mango one. I was a bit disappointed, as the mango seemed bright and vibrant, while ours was pretty much clear and the pineapple flavor was obsolete. This could also be because pineapple wasn’t on the menu, so we specially ordered it.
Once we sat down we were ready to feast in. We started off with two appetizers, wings and chicken satay. The wings couldn’t fall off the bone any easier, and the sweet, salty sauce, made a nice glaze for the chicken. Topped with sesame seeds, it was definitely was a treat for the palate.
The tenderness of the chicken made the satay all the more flavorful. I dipped the poultry in the peanut sauce, which had a crunchy consistency, bursts of cilantro with each bite. I knew peanuts were the direction I was heading for the night.
For the main course, we all ordered stir fry. We were handed a bowl, and a mini size bowl for the sauce. We went to the back, and picked our vegetables that we wanted in the dish.
After that, there was a display of sauces to choose from. While choosing from the vegetables, I had an inkling that peanut sauce was going to be offered.. Once I finished filling the bowl with broccoli, cauliflower, water chestnuts, scallions, spinach, zucchini, snap peas, and of course peanuts, I found my match. I filled the cup with the peanut sauce, unsure of what measurement I should do.
After woking the beef, vegetables, my rice noodles, and mixing in the sauce, my dish was ready. I sat down and delved right in.
The saltiness and creaminess from the peanuts made for a fantastic flavor mixed with the vegetables and pasta. I find vegetables to be bland sometimes, but when cooked with sauce, the flavor infuses onto the vegetables. The noodles were flat and thick, so they held a good amount of peanut flavor. There was an extra crunch to my dish with the water chestnuts, and peanuts. Since the noodles are soft, they made an excellent pairing.
Before we went to pick our vegetables, my friend’s mom was telling me that the first time there she “saw a lady fill her bowl up so much we stared.” I had to stop myself while filling my bowl or else I would have received that same attention.

Tuesday, July 10, 2012


Oftentimes, a person may judge a places based off of how crowded it is. Mixed Grill is not one of those places. It may be overshadowed by La Piazza next door, or just the unawareness of the restaurant, but when I told my friend we were going to meet there for dinner, she let me know she never heard of it. Ironically enough, it is located a few stores over from the bagel place we often attend.
Although we ate early, the place was nearly empty. There was one other family present, and all the other tables were just another piece of furniture in the restaurant. The Mixed Grill offers everything from gyros to hamburgers. Their fries are outstanding, along with other sides listed on the menu.
I ordered the Spinach Pie platter, which I have eaten before. On the plate, a giant square with a crunchy, flaky phyllo dough crust lay. Inside, what seemed like an inch thick of spinach filled the dish. The flavor of the spinach was not overpowering, and sautéed with garlic and onions, it made for a perfect match. It has a great savory flavor, and it keeps you wanting more.
On the side, more than a handful of very well done French fries were served, crispy and delicious, along with three long broccoli spears. The broccoli tasted as if it was placed in a pool of garlic oil, and sat overnight. The softness of the broccoli florets strengthened the garlic flavor. I kind of wish they served me more of the greens than the French fries, an odd request, I know.
The dish cost $13.00, and there was more than enough served. I wasn’t able to finish, so I brought the rest home and enjoyed it for late evening snack.

Friday, June 22, 2012


I can’t think of a better way to relive my childhood other than going to Hershey Park. The other day, that is exactly what I did.
My friends and I traveled to Hershey, P.A. to kick off the summer. On the way up, we stopped over in Lancaster. Little shops were lined up and down the streets, a good place for tourists to come and check out.
We noticed a place at the corner called the Tomato Pie Café. After mocking the name, we decided to give it a try. The café resembled a coffee shop and seemed welcoming to all. The man behind the counter greeted us, and told us to sit wherever we pleased.
After browsing the menu, I decided on ordering a chicken pesto Panini, and everybody else opted for the Turkey pesto.
Since the place was called the Tomato Pie Cafe, we felt we needed to experience the dish. When the waitress brought the pie out, we were surprised at what we saw. It was in the shape of a pie, dark red dollops of tomato filled the pie crust, which had a crunchy, consistency and was a faded yellow color. When we took a bite, bursts of hearty marinara filled our mouth, mixed with the creamy cheese flavor that was the crust. The flavor was unexpected, but delicious. We were excited with our order, and ready for our main course.
The Panini was served hot off the griddle. Chunks of white meat chicken were sandwiched between two thick slices of crunchy bread. The fresh and garlicky pesto, glued the sandwich together and paired nicely with the mozzarella cheese and roasted red peppers. The sweetness from the peppers gave the sandwich an extra kick.
We did not regret our decision to stop off at the Tomato Pie Café. The food was delicious, affordable, and a new experience for all.

Thursday, June 21, 2012



The other night a we got a group together to celebrate our friend’s birthday. We entered Kodiaks Restaurant and Bar of Farmingdale with a reservation on hand. At 7:30 on the dot, the hostess showed us to our table.
The waiter brought over the drink menu and we started to browse. Whenever I go out to dinner, I have a difficult time deciding which drink to order. The choices seem endless, and I start to feel overwhelmed.
Fruity cocktails are my drink of choice, and if they are being offered, I jump at the chance. After spotting a kiwi mojito on the menu, I didn’t need to look any further. Unfortunately, they didn‘t have kiwi on hand, so I settled for strawberry. There is something magical about the combination of fruit and mint. The refreshing mint leaves incorporated with the sweetness from the fruit complement each other, giving it that vibrant taste.
Their seafood options were limited, but once I saw they had salmon, my mind was set. The waiter mentioned it came with mash and smash (mashed potatoes and spinach). Instead, I opted for an unhealthier choice, creamed spinach. I saw onion straws were listed as one of the potato options. I instantly knew it wasn’t going to be a mashed potato kind of night.
After quickly receiving our food, I delved right in The crunchy bites of the garlic breadcrumb topping meshed well with the delicate salmon. It was a perfect match, and between the herbs and the garlic, the salmon steeped with flavor. The creamed spinach was served in a soup bowl, and ironically enough, it had a soupy consistency. Generally when I am eating creamed spinach, I enjoy a thicker texture.
I know they are not the classiest, but the onion straws hit the spot. They mirrored the shape of angel hair pasta, and could easily be picked up with a fork. Unfortunately, the strings were on the cold side, but the onions bursted with flavor.
After finishing my plate, I couldn‘t help myself, promptly ordering fried Oreos. I haven‘t had this delicious treat in years, and when they were set on the table, I was not disappointed.
Six fried Oreos were spread out on a plate, sprinkled with powdered sugar, and chocolate syrup drizzled on the bottom. I felt as if I was eating a freshly baked donut, with the Oreo as the filling.
I was pleased with the meal I received at Kodiaks. They did a great job presenting their food, and definitely won over my heart. I cannot wait to return, and see what else they have to offer.

Monday, June 18, 2012


The saying you haven’t experienced it all often applies. Friday night, was one of those times. After going out to dinner, I witnessed something new, strange, and a bit peculiar.

Chinese food is a staple in my house. We eat it almost every Sunday, finishing the leftovers throughout the course of the week. My friend goes to school upstate and the Chinese food up there just doesn‘t cut it for her. When she came down this past week, she told us that she was having Chinese for dinner at least once during her visit. When Friday rolled around, we found ourselves eating dinner at Hunan Cottage.

After we entered the restaurant, we were directed towards a table in the corner. The waiter brought over the menus, placed a bowl of crispy Chinese noodles on the table and walked away. After we placed our order, he looks down at my friend and says, “you must be very hungry.” My friend did order a good amount of food, but I didn’t see a reason for the remark.

He brought over my friends BBQ spareribs and she began to eat. Every time he came back, he would make comments, which we didn’t find humorous. Although he wasn’t harassing us, I don’t think it is polite to poke fun at your customers.

Anyway, onto the food. My friend handed over one of her spareribs to me and without hesitation, I took a bite. The tender ribs melted in my mouth, as I tried to savor the delicious flavor of the pork. I continued to eat the crispy noodles on the table, finishing off the first bowl and asking for a second. The waiter asked if I would like a third, after giving us the second bowl, but didn’t accept.

The noodles are basically chips; deep fried, crunchy, and oily all the way through, just as they should be. There was also a small bowl of cabbage on the table, which I guess is their version of coleslaw. The cabbage held a pickled flavor, as well as a sweetness to is. It went well with the acidity of the vegetable.

For my main course, I ordered chicken chow mein. I wasn’t exactly sure what that consisted of. I knew it had chicken (obviously) and some medley of vegetables. The meal also came with fried rice, and your choice of either an egg roll or soup. I decided on hot n sour soup, since I was told it was a popular choice.

The thick soup had a generous amount of flavor. Cooked vegetables we included in the soup, ranging from a few shredded carrots to mushrooms. It was slightly spicy, but leaned more towards the mild side.

I was excited to receive my main course, although surprised to see what the dish looked like. It resembled lobster sauce, but instead of shrimp, allotments of chicken were folded in. The sauce was a bit gelly, but it was a great pair with the vegetables.

The rice was also a better version of what my family usually eats when we take out from Golden China. The rice was a dark brown color, comprising of peas, egg, onion, and of course fatty pieces of pork. There was a great soy sauce flavor, not minding the saltiness. As somebody once told me, “there is nothing better than salt. I like salt on top of salt.”

As we ended our meal, the waiter handed us the check, which happened to read in Chinese. Unfortunately, the Chinese we learned back in elementary school didn’t carry us through paying the bill. We had to call a waitress over, and ask her which was what.

Now this is the part I found curious. After handing over the money, she proceeded to count it right in front of us. She was telling us we didn’t give enough tip, individually telling us how much we should give. I have never seen a waitress/waiter haggle for a tip. We weren’t too pleased with the service after some of the comments so we didn’t give as much money as we should. However, I didn’t find it right for the waitress to tell us how much more money we should take from our pocket, and put into his.

Monday, June 11, 2012

    There is nothing like spending the day in the city, especially when you don’t  have anything planned out. My mom and I ventured into the Big Apple yesterday and we were aimlessly walking around. When we noticed there was a street fair, we hopped off the bus and started walking. Vendors lined the streets, selling various items. Of course, I had my eye set on the food.
    I didn’t want to eat too much, since I was having dinner in a couple hours I did notice though they were selling falafel. When I mentioned to the lady I didn’t want too much to eat, she pointed to the kabobs. Now I have seen kabobs of course, but never falafel. I was excited to try them and she started stringing them on the skewer. It was like an art project. A falafel ball, peperoncini, another falafel ball, pickle, falafel ball, tomato, and for the grand finale, another falafel ball.
    When I took my first bite, there was an abundance of flavor. Although on the cold side, the falafel had a good amount of spices, with a crunchy exterior and an smooth inside. Dipping it in the creamy Tzatziki sauce was a plus. I can’t think of a better way to enjoy a snack in the greatest city in the world. (well I think it is at least)

Thursday, June 7, 2012

    Since Jimmy Dean sausage was a no-go, I decided to fight my stubbornness and purchase a different kind of sausage. In reality, it all tastes the same.
    Tonight I started cooking up the sausage I bought, and after it was finished, I drained it and threw it in a bowl. Then I took a mixture of monterey jack, and cheddar and mixed it in with the meat. I took a half cup of ranch dressing and mixed all the ingredients together. After heating up wonton rappers for five minutes, I filled them with the mixture.
    It took around eight minutes, but it ended up being perfect. The mixture turned out to be creamy, cheesy, and delicious! And you can’t go wrong with sausage. It isn’t the healthiest of dishes, so I wouldn’t count on making them weekly. Although I may crave it, I will have to fight the urge and settle for something a little more healthy. Like, celery sticks.

Monday, June 4, 2012

    Okay okay, I’ll admit it. When it comes to food, I am a little spoiled. But hey, it could be worse.
    There is a saying, the world is your oyster. For me however, the supermarket is my world. Every time I walk in, it’s a new experience. I browse up and down through the aisles, and see what there is to buy.
    I always start off looking for the same thing, seltzer. That is my drink of choice, and I must say, some grocery stores are much more stocked than others. I was disappointed today when I walked into King Kullen. The seltzer aisle didn’t have much to offer. They had the basic cherry, lemon, lime, but that was pretty much the extent of it.
    Another issue I have been having, is its been difficult for me to find Jimmy Dean sausage. I looked in four grocery stores now, and I can’t seem to find it. I settled for another brand, which I can’t recall the name. I don’t know if it will do Jimmy Dean justice, but we shall see.
    The cart filled up pretty quickly tonight, but it was missing some. Doritos. Our kitchen has been lacking snacks, and I could go for a good munch. I picked up a bag of baked nacho Doritos, and called it a night.

Thursday, May 31, 2012

I have noticed two things about cooking that determine the outcome of a meal: creativity and laziness., Last night, I experienced a little bit of both.
My dad had brought home some steak from Fairway, along with some other foods that included sun dried tomatoes in oil. My dad threw on a pan put some oil on the bottom and set the stove to heat up. When I asked him what he was doing, he told me he was cooking the steaks. “Plain?” I asked. He replied yes and continued to cook.
For me, the best part of my dads steak is the marinade he makes. If he wasn’t going to use the marinade, then what is the point of eating steak?
I asked if he could make some of his steak for me, which he had no problem doing.
I noticed the sun dried tomatoes on the table, and I got an idea.
I have been the grilled cheese queen lately, so I went up to the fridge and pulled out the fresh mozzarella. I proceeded to make a sandwich, with sliced mozzarella and the sun dried tomatoes- Yum.
My dad offered to cook it for me, and unfortunately, the grilled cheese burnt. Thank god we have more mozzarella and tomatoes or I would have been pretty upset.
When I finished with the sandwich, I was content. It wasn’t cooked as much as I would have liked, but it was still very tasty from the spices and garlic on the tomatoes and the fresh mozzarella.
My dads steak was phenomenal. He put them in the broiler until they were done. They weren’t dry at all. The end result consisted of crispiness, but moist and juicy at the same time. The flavor of the marinade makes the steaks taste so much better than some that have nothing on them at all.
See? There really is a difference when you use some creativity, and not just throwing some steaks onto pan.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

    There is nothing like the summer. Warm days, poolside, BBQ, and baseball games of course. Last night, I attended my first Mets game of the season, and it was great-they won!
    Whenever I go to the ballpark, I get really excited about the food I am going to eat. Even since Citi Field opened, the food options are endless. Tacos, French fries, pizza, sushi, it just doesn’t stop. Every time I go, I always end up getting the same thing.. A hot dog.
    Last night, I decided to start off with Nachos. Yes, the choice is a bit boring, but it is delicious. The warmness of the cheese with the fresh chips. After finishing them off, I was still hungry,
    When I went down to the first level, my friend and I were searching for something else to eat. She opted for fried dough, but I was feeling more food. When I saw the grilled sausage stand, I knew what I wanted. I ordered the sweet Italian sausage with the works. The meat was huge! I swear it seemed over a foot long.
    I am not sure how I feel about my choice. Although the sausage was good, I wasn’t completely satisfied. It was chewy, and had a bit of a crunch to it. It did pair well with the cooked peppers and onions. I went over to the toppings bar, and added some braised onions to the mix. I ended up not eating a lot of the bread, but after soaking in the sauce from the braised onions, I had to give it a bite. It was good, sweet from the sauce, and it bursted with flavor.
    Now I am not upset about what I decided to eat last night, the cost however, seemed to irk me. I spent over $20 for sausage, nachos, and hot chocolate. (Yes, even though it was warm out, we got stuck sitting on top under the air.) Next time, I am going with a budget!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Even if it means waiting around an extra half hour, so be it. I would rather heat anything in the oven over the microwave any day.
    Today, I searched throughout the freezer to see what I could dig up. All I found was a lean cuisine. Done. I set the oven for 350 and proceeded to gallivant throughout the house.
    Although it took thirty five minutes to heat up, it was worth it. The dish was delicious, cooked through and tasted homemade. I am not usually a fan of tomato sauce, but this one was up there on the list. I love the tomato chunks that run through the pasta sauce, it really enhances the tomato flavor. The texture isn’t so bad either. The only complaint I have is that the angel hair doesn’t hold the sauce as well as other pastas do.

Saturday, May 19, 2012

    Whenever I go to the movies, I always order the same thing. Nachos. I do enjoy popcorn, but there is nothing like a good salty crunch mixed with the warm cheese dip. Last night a couple of my friends and I went to see What to Expect When Expecting, and of course, I made sure to get my chips and cheesy bite.
    I never understood why they jack up the prices at the movie theatres. I do however, notice a significant difference between the movie theatre at home and the theatre up at school. Nachos here are double the price, and if you want more cheese, they charge you extra. Whenever I got to the movies with my roommate, the vendor always throws in extra cheese, no matter how many piggish times I go up there, at no cost.
    It was disappointing for me to see the chips served last night in a bag. That just means there is a limited amount, and they aren’t getting warmed up first. The cheese was good, but it did have a kick to it. Although I did enjoy the $6.25 snack I purchased, I wish they would serve a larger portion of cheese, more chips, and cut the cost in half.

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

    If you enjoy mashed potatoes, and are a fan of honey mustard, my simple yet delicious creation is one I recommend. Since buying the bag of potatoes, I felt the need to come up with different ways I can create mashed potatoes. We don’t have too much in the house, but I felt there was something that could be done. I don’t know about you, but I am very picky about my honey mustard. Some have too strong of a mustard flavor, while others over do it on the honey. In Shop Rite a couple years ago, I finally found my perfect honey mustard.
    Since we have two bottles of it, I decided that I should possibly use some on mashed potatoes. At first when my dad tried the dish, he wasn’t sure how he felt. But after heating it up for 55 seconds, he had a different perspective. “I love the potatoes Linds,” he said, and I knew I had a winner.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

    I have a love for bacon. It is such a versatile food, and I could eat it with almost anything. Well, not almost anything.. I have heard people put bacon in their ice cream. If it was up to me, I would save it for something I really enjoy and not have it in a dessert I do not care for.
    Cooking bacon is very difficult. When I put it on the skillet, I end up standing their the entire time, constantly checking to see if it burns. Not only that, but you have to keep flipping it. Not to mention the oil and grease flying everywhere.
    When I went home with my friend to Easter weekend, I saw her mom cooking bacon in a way I never thought about. She set the oven for 350, and after five minutes, she took the bacon out and flipped it. The bacon ended up coming out really good. It was crispy, but fatty as well. Plus she didn’t have to stand their the whole time making sure it wouldn’t burn.
    So today, I did the same. I placed the bacon in the oven, and then went upstairs to watch TV. The bacon did take a little while longer than I thought, but when I took it out, I couldn’t ask for a better outcome. The bacon was crispy and delicious. It wasn’t too fatty, but I do enjoy it that way. I proceeded to put the bacon in the grilled cheese I was making. The sandwich came out delicious. However, next time I go to cook grilled cheese, I definitely will be adding more bacon than I did today.
    I love sides. Whenever I am out for a meal, I hope the dish I order comes with at least one side. I don’t know what is so special about them, but I always am satisfied with a side of broccoli or rice.
    Last night I decided to make chicken. The chicken came out alright, after I dipped it in honey mustard. But the kicker was the side. I made mashed potatoes, and they were delicious.
    After boiling the potatoes, I drained them and placed the starch in a bowl. I added some half and half and cheese. This wasn’t just ordinary cheese, it was boursin cheese garlic and fine herbs. This soft cheese adds a real depth of flavor to the dish, and it is just what the potatoes needed.
    Not only did I enjoy it, but my dad and brother found the side tasty as well. I thew some cooked bacon pieces on top. I was very content with what I had cooked up, and I can’t wait to make them again.

Sunday, May 13, 2012

    Mothers Day is not a big event at the Ross household. Passover and Hannukah are our holidays, while the rest are held usually at our cousins.. Although we were supposed to make our way to another set of cousins today, it didn’t work out. Instead, we stayed home.
    My dad and I did our food shopping today, after he mentioned to me he wanted to cook up a pot roast. Ironically, I have just received a gift from my cousin that contained pot roast seasoning that I have been eagerly awaiting to use. When we arrived at the store, we scanned the vegetables looking for the ones we wanted to include. We picked out carrots, onions, celery, and mushrooms. As we were looking for the meat, we couldn’t seem to find what we needed. We asked around and the butcher informed us the store was out. So, we headed over to the other grocery store in town.
    When we arrived, we knew exactly what we were buying, so we didn’t waste any time. Well, my dad didn’t, I found myself wandering the aisles for Jimmy Dean sausage. (I will explain at a later time). After my dad found what we were looking for, along with some other items we picked up along the way, we headed out. After paying of course.
    I was excited to use my crock-pot. I haven’t used it since December break I believe, and it has been a long time coming. A couple hours ago,, we prepped tomorrow nights dinner. My dad took the liberty of peeling the potatoes and carrots, and quartering the onion. I was in charge of handling the meat, so I started to season.
    What I did with the meat is the same as I would be doing for any brisket. I mixed all the seasonings together. (These included onion powder, garlic powder, Emeril’s steak rub, and a few Mrs. Dash spices.) Afterwards, I took the meat and placed it on the plate, hoping to cover the entire thing. I then placed the meat into the crock-pot, and tossed in all of our vegetables. Next, I poured the sauce on top, and placed on the lid. We set it on low for 8 hours, and checked in for the night.
    I cannot wait to try the dish tomorrow, hoping it does not disappoint. I was thinking about making mashed potatoes to go alongside, but since I will be making them the night after, maybe I will find something else to go with it. Or maybe not. Our family doesn’t often do sides, we are a one dish type of clan.

Friday, May 11, 2012

    I don’t care what people say, I love Rachel Ray. She has a love for food, as do I and I enjoy watching her on TV. I have learned a great deal from her ranging from different spices to different cooking techniques. I can’t say I am as good as her, but I try my best.
    The other day, I was looking through a cookbook I made. When I say cookbook, I mean recipes I have gathered from various places and put them into a binder. Many of these recipes are Rachael Ray originals. I noticed I have made many of her dishes, and they don’t fail to impress.
    Although I am not as efficient as her, and I still have ways to go, with time, I hope to be half as good as her. But for now, her thirty minute meals will still be my hour and a half.

Thursday, May 10, 2012

You know, I never minded hanging out. I could sit in my house all day and watch TV with no complaints. But after going on day 5 you start to get kind of antsy.

I lounged around all today without a care in the world, and plopped myself in front of the TV for endless amounts of hours. When 3:00 rolled around, I realized I hadn’t eaten yet and I started to grow hungry. I put up a pot of water to boil and reached in the cabinet for a box of pasta. After pouring the pasta in, and putting the timer on, I started to notice something. The expiration date on the box read May 2010. Whoops. I turned the stove off, threw the pasta in the colander, and proceeded to move it to the garbage.

So I was stuck. I had my heart set on the tri-colored rotini that I was going to dip in buffalo sauce. So I searched the refrigerator, and then the freezer. I saw we had a box of pizza rolls, and decided why not. I haven’t had pizza rolls in years., They were never my favorite. But these caught my eye. Not only did they have pepperoni in them, but they included sausage as well. When I took them out of the over I was ready to eat.

As I started to eat them, I was satisfied. They weren’t great, but they weren’t terrible either. They were crispy on the outside, and spicy in the middle. There was a lot of sauce, so I couldn’t necessarily taste the sausage, which is my favorite part. I finished half a box, and I was still hungry. Instead of making the rest, I grabbed a thing of Pringles and went back to the den to watch Friends.

Although it was a lazy day, I have no complaints. It will be better once my friends start coming home from college and start to face the real world with me.

Wednesday, May 9, 2012

I was excited to finally be able to go to the grocery store yesterday after three days of sitting around in my house. This is the first time though that I went without an idea of what I was going to buy. Usually I head over to the store with a list of foods that I want to purchase for that week. Yesterday, I decided to wing it.

Unfortunately, I haven’t been feeling that great for the past couple of days. Yesterday I was feeling rather sluggish, and didn’t have all too much energy. When I went to the store, nothing seemed that appealing. I headed to the deli counter and ordered a selection of cheeses. I chose gouda and Vermont cheddar. I also picked up American cheese and honey maple ham for my dad. Then I started to browse through the aisles.

I wasn’t hungry, It was strange. Usually when I am at a grocery store, everything looks delicious and I can’t stop putting items in the cart. Yesterday, however, I seemed lost. I headed straight for the aisle that had drinks. Often, I stock up so I have multiple different beverages to choose from. I started off with the teas. I picked up 2 peach iced teas and one sweet tea. I love the peach teas. I love the flavor of peach, the drink is sweet and refreshing.

Next, I went to the seltzers. Polar Seltzers are my favorite brand. They have a wide variety of different flavors to choose from. I saw online a couple months ago they came out with an orange vanilla. When I saw that was in stock, I jumped at the opportunity and pulled on off the shelf. Then I picked two grapefruit seltzers (my favorite), and an orange mango. I love fruity drinks, and these seltzers seem to do the trick. I don’t have to feel guilty after drinking them either, which is always a plus.

Tuesday, May 8, 2012

    My next couple of days are going to consist of the following: laundry, watching TV, relaxing, more laundry, eating, oh and did I mention laundry? I always complain to my mom that I do not have enough clothing. However, when it comes time to do the wash after the end of every school year, the laundry seems endless. I already have a pile of clothes building downstairs and that is only from a couple of loads.
    Although I am stuck doing chores for the next couple of days, there are many upsides to being home. One of them is the food that I get to eat. My dad is no Emeril Lagasse, but his effort doesn’t go unnoticed. He seems to be cooking often recently, and the meals he makes are very good. Last night, he made sushi.
    I have been anticipating going to the grocery store for days now. Even before I come home, I tend to think about what I want to pick up when I head over to Shoprite or Fairway in the next week. Yesterday I thought I would be heading over there, until my dead came home with some groceries of his own. “I’m making sushi,” he said. Now, I have heard that his sushi was impressive, but I never was able to experience the cuisine.
    After an hour of waiting for the meal to be finished, I happily made my way over to the dinner table for the meal. There on the table, was a plate of sushi. He cut it into six pieces, and it looked like it came out of a restaurant. Tuna and crunchy pieces were wrapped inside rice and seaweed. The roll looked awesome, if I must say so myself, and it tasted just as great.
    He also made shrimp tempura, and I felt as if I had gone out for a nice Japanese cuisine. The tempura was great, it was crunchy, and it tasted like tempura should. It had a buttery kick to it, but I am not complaining. Who needs to go out for dinner when I have my own Japanese chef right here in my own home.

Monday, May 7, 2012

I haven’t blogged in over a week and apologize deeply for that. It has been a crazy couple of days and I am looking to get back in the swing of things. Two days ago I graduated college, and now I am back home and not sure which direction I am heading. It’s scary to think about, but it is something I am going to have to face soon whether I want to or not.

Food wise, however, I have eaten a lot, and I mean a lot. I have gone out to more meals in the past couple of days than I have in awhile and I have taken full advantage of it.

My roommate and I have been saving change since last September. We agreed that at the end of the year, we would cash it in and order a big fancy pizza from Dominos online. Forty one dollars later, we changed our minds.

There is a new hibachi place that opened a couple of weeks ago in town and we tried it out a few weekends ago. I was very impressed and my roommate and I decided that we should venture back there one last time. On Thursday, we took our savings and headed over to the Wal-Mart shopping center.

Usually lunch time is the more ideal time to go out for meals. They are always running specials, and you generally get more for your dollar. My roommate and I followed through on that.

We started off with sushi, and I was impressed right off the bat. The waitress brought over a big white plate, and on top, were three rolls that were nicely presented. Presentation is key. When food is presented nicely, it is more often times more appealing. We ordered spicy tuna, a California roll, and a shrimp tempura roll.

I have to say, there is nothing like fresh shrimp tempura. The crunchiness paired with the warmness of the outside pairs beautifully with the shrimp. With the rice wrapped around outside of that, it is perfection. Spicy tuna is always a good choice, the softness of the tuna is the way to go. When it is mixed with the crunchy fried pieces, you know you are getting a great meal. I am not a fan of California rolls, mostly because I do not like avocado. My roommate seemed to enjoy it greatly, and was sad we finished off the plate.

Next, we ordered a side of hibachi fried rice, and a side of hibachi lobster. I know lobster is a rather pricy fish, but when you saved up your money, you go for the best. We didn’t get a lot of lobster, but it was just enough. It tasted a little fishy, but cooked with sauce, and then cut up into bite size pieces, it was a nice accompaniment to the side of fried rice.

Fried rice is one of my favorite foods when I am eating either Chinese or Japanese food. The rice was cooked up with an egg, and some soy sauce. It sounds simple, but that is generally all you need. We finished off our plates, and I was content. My roommate was still hungry and wanted to order dessert. She decided on the cheesecake, and thoroughly enjoyed it.

I was very happy with our decision to have hibachi. It was one of our last meals together and we wanted to make it special. Not only was it that, but it came out to $38.00. I can’t think of a better way we could have spent our money.

Thursday, April 26, 2012

                Throughout the course of college, you develop relationships with those around you. Even classmates share a special bond. My public affairs class has been together for a year now. Since we are in the same major, we see a lot of each other, and we have become relatively close. I have had my professor for four classes now. We consider her our journalism mom.
                She wanted to take the class out to dinner, since we will soon be leaving each other and heading out into the real world. Last night, most of the class met up at Fireworks, an Italian restaurant located on Main Street. It is relatively new, and I heard the food was fantastic.
                When we walked in there, I was amazed at what I saw. The restaurant used to be a hotel, so the room is huge. Tables are far enough away from each other where we get our space. One of the students from our class worked at the restaurant, and happened to be our waiter.
                The room was darkly lit and in the back you could see the over where they made the pizzas. There was also a bar in that vicinity as well.
                I wasn’t sure what to order as we sat down at our table. We each started off with drinks. I always have a difficult time deciding what I would want, so I ordered precco, which is sparkling white wine. My friend ordered that and said I would like it.. I did. And to be honest with you, I don’t usually like wine.. at all.
                Usually at restaurants, you are started off with bread. At Fireworks, it isn’t just ordinary bread. It was a braided loaf, cooked with garlic, parmigiana cheese, and parsley. It was delicious. It was basically garlic bread. It was served with both olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
                To start off, my professor ordered two risotto cakes. I once told my mom that when I ate the mac n cheese from Panera, I started to cry because it was so good. This was one of these moments. The risotto was creamy and cooked with mushrooms. After, it was fried and it looked like a cake. The creamy inside and the crunchy outside made a good pairing.
                For dinner I ordered an individual pizza. I got the bianco, which is a white pizza. It was cooked with mozzarella, and ricotta cheese, along with garlic. There were caramelized onions on top, and I added on wild mushrooms to the dish. As you can see, I love mushrooms.
                The pizza was delicious, along with the risotto cake. My friend and I were going to order dessert, but we realized we were too full. I give the place two thumbs up. Although it is pricey, it’s nice to treat yourself once in a while, and Fireworks is definitely the place to go.

Tuesday, April 24, 2012

It always sucks when you realize you have no snacks in your apartment and you are looking for something to much on. Thank god for Easter and all the candy I received. After eating my swedish fish and almost finishing off my nerds, I realize that I am down to only chocolate. For most people, that would be a great thing. But for me, I am more of a candy connoisseur. All I am left with is some lifesaver sucking candies.. but there are only two more in the bag. Maybe I should stop being cheap and go pick up more candy from the school store.

Monday, April 23, 2012

              I know I haven't been keeping up with my blog recently.. between school work and classes, and figuring out how I am going to spend the rest of my life, it is difficult to keep everything in tact. This is not an excuse. I love food, and I love writing about food. So here it is.. I will start blogging everyday.                    This is not just for me, but for those who read my blog as well.

             It's nice to have a break in between classes to sit down and enjoy a meal. Today I was fortunate enough to have lunch with a couple of my good friends without having to rush. The DC was serving chicken tacos. I was rather excited with this selection, given I love being able to create my taco the way I would like.

            My soft tortilla was filled with salsa, sour cream, shredded lettuce (of course the best kind in my opinion), and shredded chicken. Oh and of course cheese.

           Good? Not so much. Halfway through enjoying my taco, I bit on something hard. When I realized it was a bone, I grew disappointed. It was a small bone, but nonetheless... who likes finding those in your food. I reluctantly finished my taco, but was not satisfied in the end.

Friday, April 20, 2012

School has taken over my life, which inhibits me to blog as often as I would like to. Although I have not been blogging, I have been eating.. and eating some more. Last weekend, I tried chicken croquettes for the first time, and I must say.. I was impressed.
As my friend described them, they are a ball of chicken. And literally, that is what they were.
My roommate's friend was up for the weekend, so we wanted to take him to the best places in town. So naturally, we went to the diner.
The chicken was shredded up, put into a ball, and then fried. They were served with two sides, which had me excited. I decided on ordering mashed potatoes, and turnips. Yes, that is a strange side to order, but my mom makes them back home and they are delicious.
The gravy that was served over the food was delicious. It was thick, and it had a buttery taste to them. The turnips tasted like they were cooked in butter  as well. I like turnips because they remind me of potatoes, but they are lighter and they kind of have the consistency of zucchini.
Anyway, I was impressed with the meal.. and the whole thing came out to less than $5.00!

Thursday, April 12, 2012

It's bad when you have been craving nothing but McDonalds for the last 3 hours. I have been on a McDonalds kick for weeks now, and I am sad to say it is not getting better. Whenever I go, I can't seem to stop eating. I always start off with a double cheeseburger and end the night with a snack wrap. That's not including the chicken nuggets and fries I get in between. Tonight I was supposed to go with my friends, but unfortunately, that did not happen.
There is something about McDonalds burgers that I love. I don't generally like burgers as I seem to find them dry, and not a good texture to eat. With all the grease that the double cheeseburger consists of, I somehow find that extremely appetizing.
As I start to read Fast Food Nation for class, I realize that I have to get all my McDonalds consumption in. After I read the in and outs of fast food, I may be repelled to eat anything from the golden arches for quite some time.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

It was my third time in a row celebrating Easter, and I have no complaints about that. The food seems to be the same every year: ham, potatoes, and a vegetable. I have heard other families eating fish, or eating lasagna, but for me ham always seems to be served.
Growing up, my family never really ate ham. We would eat chicken, steak, and brisket. Ham never really seemed to be of interest. After eating it three years in a row, I may want to bring it to the family table.
The ham is thick cut, and it is generally not tough, nor too chewy. It cuts easily, which comes in handy for somebody who has trouble with the knife and fork.
Along with the ham this year,  we had a side of mashed potatoes. The mashed potatoes were good, but I like adding butter to them. They also had seasoned salt that was put on the table, and I threw that on as well. It adds extra flavor, and makes the dish pop. Carrots were the vegetable of choice, and although they were just steamed, they were good.
Next year i want to bring Easter traditions back home. When I meantioned to my family that I would like to have an Easter egg hunt, they didn't seem to keen on the idea. Probably because the youngest person in my family will be a freshman in college next year, and I think they may have other ideas of fun.

Friday, April 6, 2012

This is my first year missing Passover, and instead of celebrating, I will be partaking in Easter dinner. 
I came home with my friend for the weekend. I get to enjoy four nights of home-cooked meals. Last night, I almost finished off the dish. Her mom made sausage cups, which were out of this world. 
The cups consisted of Jimmy Dean sausage, cheddar and monterey jack cheese, and ranch. The cups were made out of wonton wrappers, which were thin crispy cups. After they are baked in the oven, they are reading to be eaten. 
They would make the perfect appetizers for a party, and I can't wait to make them when I go home. Unfortunately, they are little heart attacks in a cup, so eating twelve in one night may not be the best idea..

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

It's getting closer to graduation, which means time to see everybody before I walk across the stage. Oh, and it also means hit up as many restaurants as I could. So, I started with Applebees.
My friend who I haven't seen since last year was going Easter basket shopping, and she invited me with her. Before we had the chance to go to the store, we decided on eating dinner beforehand.
Making decisions on what to eat is the worst. I could never decide, and I sit there forever second guessing what I should get.
I finally decided on getting the 2 for 20 with my roommate. We split the Spinach and Artichoke dip. The chips that came with it were extremely warm. They went great with the dip, which was filled with cheese through the dip as well as melted on top. There was enough chips to fill 3 or 4 people, but my roommate and I polished it off.
I also ordered clam chowder, which was extremely creamy. I don't often eat clam chowder. Actually, I don't even remember the last time I had it. The chowder consisted of clams which were good and not to chewy. The soup also had potatoes. The potatoes were a little to big, but that's just me.
For my main course, I ordered steak. I love ordering steak because it comes with 2 sides. One is a starch, in which I chose mashed potatoes. They were creamy and garlicky, and there was a good amount there. It also came with cole slaw, which was mounded inside the container. That was also creamy as well, but it went well with the steak and potatoes.
I recently started eating steak, and I never know how to order it. Since my family always orders it medium well, that's what I went with.
The steak was a little bit chewy, but I mean, what steak isn't. It had a nice flavor to it. The fatty parts of the steak are my favorite parts.
Overall the meal was good, and it wasn't expensive either. This however, didn't stop me from making a box of macaroni and cheese later that night.

Monday, April 2, 2012

It's always the worst when you are stuck in class and you suddenly become extremely hungry. For some reason, right when I got to my class this morning, I was really in the mood for a panini. I have no idea where the craving came from, but it was hard to concentrate it class. Well that and the fact that it was at eight in the morning and I as half asleep. 
After my second class of the day, I finally had time to go eat some food. I met my friend in the dining commons and we sat down for a nice forty five minute lunch.
The DC didn't really have much to eat today, so obviously I went straight to the vegan station. I helped myself to two servings of ravioli. I can't explain it, but there is something about vegan cheese that I love. After finishing the second plate, I was still hungry. I chose to eat a salad.
The salad consisted of everything from cheese to chickpeas to sunflower seeds. The salad was good, but it definitely is not my idea of a well rounded meal.

Sunday, April 1, 2012

                There is something very valuable to college students regarding food: leftovers. Since we don’t have a lot of money to spend on meals, we look to be resourceful. The other night a couple of my friends and I ordered Dominos. We went all out, and the three of use split two large pizzas and cheesy bread.
                The first pizza we ordered was one of their specialty pizzas, which was chicken bacon ranch. We requested for it to be deep dish, which makes it all the unhealthier. The other pie we ordered was the Wisconsin 6 cheese. If you ask me, it seemed like regular pizza, and if I was going to order a specialty pizza the next time, I would choose something different. It wasn’t bad, but somewhat boring.
                The chicken bacon ranch pizza was delicious. It was creamy from the ranch, and it had bacon and chicken running through it. There were also tomato pieces running through the pie, but if you ask me, I wouldn’t mind if those were left out.
                Since we left so much over, yesterday I found myself reheating the pizza multiple times throughout the day. The first time was a couple hours before dinner and the second was late night snacking. There is nothing more exciting than opening up the fridge to find boxes of Dominos waiting to be reheated.

Thursday, March 29, 2012


    I knew I reached an al time low when I was finishing off my fifth slice of pizza at dinner last night. Granted it was thin crust pizza and the slices weren't as big, they display I put on was pretty embarrassing. The vegan lady had mentioned to me the night before that she was going to be cooking up pizza, and I couldn't wait to try it. Five slices later.. I was happy.
    There is something about vegan cheese that I love. I don't know what it is. It doesn't really have much taste, but when it melts, it is very creamy. Throw that on top of sauce and roasted vegetables and you have yourself a dish. She also included seitan, which some people refer to it as "wheat meat". They were cut up into little bits, you can easily mistake it for chicken. 
     Well anyways, by the time I was finished with the fourth slice, I had my friend go up and get me some more. I couldn't show my face again, the person serving the pizza already recognized me and it was getting embarrassing. So, I had my friend pick up the fifth slice.

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

   For the first time in what like months, I was able to eat lunch between classes. It is often a rarity that I have the chance to sit down with friends and enjoy a meal. Today, I had the pleasure of doing both, with time to finish my homework and blog.
   Whenever I walk into the Dining Commons, the first place I go to is the vegan station. Since today was sesame nuggets, I decided to see what else was being offered. I noticed in the main line they were serving enchiladas which contained spinach and jack cheese.
   I did enjoy the enchiladas very much so, I ended up eating almost 5 of them. They were crunchy on the outside and creamy in the middle, filled with what seemed more of onions than the spinach. Although I enjoy spinach more, I wasn't complaining about this. The worst part about the meal? I couldn't figure out how to cut my enchiladas and had to have my friend cut them for me.

Monday, March 26, 2012


    Since I never have time to cook, and I am too cheap to spend my money, I find myself at the dining commons most of the week. Although I complain about the food fairly often.. well all the time, I have realized it isn't too terrible.
    There are many different stations to choose from: Pizza station, pasta, stir fry, grill, salad bar, vegan station, there are quesadillas every night, and a main line. More times than not, I find myself going to the vegan station. My roommate said it and I have to reiterate it, the vegan station is the closest thing you will find in the DC that is homemade. 
    The lady who mans the station during the week is a really nice woman who you could tell cares that students eat healthy. She also makes the food, chooses what she wants to serve, and is always willing to talk to you.
     Tonight however, I chose to get a veggie burger from the grill station. The good thing about the veggie burgers are that they make them right in front of you. Yes, they are frozen, but they are pretty good quality. After they make the veggie burger in the grill press, I go to the front of the station and pretty my burger up. I put shredded lettuce, sauteed peppers and onions, and mushroom. I use ketchup as the glue to hold my sandwich together, and it is a great meal to have The burger isn't mushy, it is kind of crunchy. That may sound weird, but I enjoy it. 

Saturday, March 24, 2012


      You would think that my favorite alfredo dish would come from an italian restaurant, but that is so far from the truth. The best linguini alfredo I have had comes from a little diner in Londonderry, New Hampshire. You would never think that would be the case, but once you try it, you will want to go back.
     Around two years ago, I went to a restaurant with my friend and her family for the first time when I went home for the weekend. I had no idea what to get and I opted for the alfredo, a strange choice I know.. but one of the best food choices I have made.
      The diner has a homey feel to it, as you walk inside, you can sit at any table you would like. That's the difference I notice between NH and NY. Whenever you walk into a diner, you don't have to wait to be seated, rather you can choose wherever you please. 
      We sat down and the waitress handed us the menus. I didn't even have to look at one, since I order the same dish every time. Dishes come with soup or salads, so I request the corn chowder each time I am there. 
      The chowder is thick and creamy, with pieces of bacon and potato running through it. The restaurant makes their own seasoned salt., and it compliments creamy dishes very well. I sprinkle some on and I am good to go. 
        For the main course, I decided to order the usual, linguini alfredo. It comes with chicken and broccoli but since I find chicken dry, I ask for extra broccoli. My friend and I ordered the same dish. When the entrees were served, I noticed that she had more broccoli present in hers than I did. I must be the only person who would get upset about not having enough broccoli. 
       The plate was filled to capacity with pasta. What I like about the dish is that it is very garlicky, and sometimes you find pieces of garlic inside. People may find that strange, but cooked garlic is very good, and with alfredo sauce all over it.. what could be better?
        I was sad that this may be my last time at the diner, given I am graduating in a month and I live four hours away. I could never forget a place like this, and I mean, how can I when I have leftovers to last me another week.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Whenever you have 80 degree weather in March, you have to go out and enjoy it. So, that is exactly what I did.
 A couple of my friends and I went out shopping down Main Street yesterday, soaked up the sun, purchased some items, and enjoyed lunch at a place where everything is homemade. Lunch at this restaurant is a perfect way to kick off the weekend.
My friend and I split a sandwich, which consisted of freshly baked focaccia bread, chicken, a portabella mushroom, cheddar, tomatoes, and homemade pesto. (The best pesto you will have.) The sandwich is rather large, but when you finish you always want more. (Well, unless you are full, but later on in the day, it keeps you thinking about the sandwich.)
Along with the homemade sandwich, we each got our self a freshly made drink. The best part of the beverages is that they come with homemade cubes, so with my black tea, I chose to get blueberry cubes, and with her freshly squeezed lemonade, she opted for the strawberry cubes.
The place is small in size, but there must have been at least 25 people eating outside yesterday as we walked up to the restaurant. I told my friend that it is one of the best places in town, and after finishing our meal, she couldn’t agree more.

Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Back to school

           Being back at school presents it's upsides and downsides. Upsides are that I get to see my friends, enjoy the college life, and be independents. Downsides however, not having time or money to cook meals and longing to be back at home in my new kitchen. Tonights theme, leftovers, and whatever we find in the pantry. I went out for pizza the other night with my father and for some reason, he ordered the large all to himself. I don't quite know what he was thinking, but it worked out for the best. I had the benefit of bring back the leftovers. His order consisted of half side being an everything pizza, including peppers, onions, sausage, ground beef, pepperoni.. basically the work. The other half had meatball and bacon. (A bit strange, but tasty nonetheless). 
          I had my friend over tonight so we finished off the pizza by eating the last two slices. Still hungry, mind you we both already had dinner at the dining commons earlier tonight), my friend is cooking up pre-packaged pasta. It is parmesan flavored, and I find it to be quite satisfying. Let's see if I finally become full after I finish!

Thursday, March 15, 2012

    A friend asked me tonight if it was pathetic that what they ate for dinner was the highlight of their break. When I saw this, I laughed. Not because I think it is pathetic, but because it is the story of my life. Every time I am about to go home for break, I think about where I would like to eat, and what I would like to make. Now I don’t always eat everything on the list, but some of them I am able to cross off.
    Tonight was definitely not a list item. We don’t have much food in the house that I would like to eat, and so my options are limited. I heated up French fries, and then melted cheese to eat my version of cheese fries. It wasn’t bad, but I wasn’t satisfied.
    There are some foods that are always on my list. Sushi is definitely on the top, and then Town Bagel is usually on there as well. I usually yearn for my dads homemade Philly cheesesteaks, which is my favorite meal that he makes. He also makes eggplant parmesan once a week, but that is the one food I cannot eat. For some reason, every time I eat eggplant, I go on a choking rampage, and I cannot stop.  I also enjoy my dad’s stir fry, and chicken salad.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

    Fresh Mozzarella. There is nothing like it, and every time I eat it I crave for more. There aren’t many grocery stores that I have been to that make the mozzarella right there in front of you. Fairway, however, makes it right there on the spot and then places it on the counter to be sold. You could choose either salted, or non-salted.
    Although there are many different ways to eat mozzarella, I eat it straight from the package. I take it out of the plastic, cut slices up and pop them into my mouth. . There is no need for bread, or frying it, placing it in salad, because the mozzarella alone will be satisfying.
    Tonight however, I discovered the combination of prosciutto and mozzarella is perfect. The salty, chewy, meat goes great with the softness of the cheese. Unfortunately, I only had a couple pieces because we finished the mozzarella very quickly.
    With leftover mozzarella, a great option is to make homemade mozzarella sticks. Although you could make is with any kind, to me, the greatest way is with the fresh cheese. Just mix it in egg wash and then breadcrumbs, throw it in some oil in a pan and you are good to go.
    “Be creative,” is what my dad said to me yesterday referring to dinner. I have been home for a week now and I have already made a couple of meals. I bought pizza dough the other day in the store in hopes of making a pizza. Unfortunately, I didn’t realize that we were out of tomato sauce in the house so I wouldn’t be able to make pizza sauce. So instead, I opted to make a calzone.
    There is a restaurant up at school that makes fantastic calzones. I knew I wouldn’t be able to make one equally as good, but I figured I would try. I looked in the pantry in our house and grabbed a can of mushrooms. I went into the refrigerator and took the turkey pepperoni. I then proceeded to mix the two toppings with mozzarella, which is what would be the filling for the calzone.
    I took the dough out of the fridge and went to work., After retrieving the pizza stone from downstairs I was ready to go. I didn’t realize how difficult it would be to manage the dough., We didn’t have a rolling pin in the house so I took a glass cup and began to stretch out the dough. It was very frustrating at first since the dough was difficult to roll. It kept getting stuck to the cup. Finally, I managed to roll the dough out big enough to make a decent size calzone. I put the stuffing on one side and then I folded over the dough to form the calzone.
    I then proceeded to melt butter, mix garlic powder, parsley, and parmigiana cheese into it, took a brush and spread it out over the dough. I put the calzone in the oven for 20 minutes until the dough became brown. After letting it cool, I cut into the calzone and took a bite.
    The calzone wasn’t bad, but there was a lot of bread. I thought there should be more filling inside, but other than that, I didn’t have any complaints. My parents seemed to enjoy it, so all in all, I call it a success.

Monday, March 12, 2012

    Breaks from school are usually a time to reconnect with friends, along with relaxing and not having to worry about school work. For me, it’s a chance to see people that I don’t often hang out with and catch up with them. I went out to lunch with my friend from high school today, and it was good to fill each other in on what has been going on with our lives. We agreed to go to Town Bagel, which is a bagel place in my hometown.
    Usually when you think of going to a bagel place you would think that the person would order a bagel. However, that is not the case for my friend and I. Town Bagel is known for their chopper salads. You pay one standard price and you could put whatever you would like into the salad. That is not including any meats.
    I opted to go for a wrap, since I wanted to try something other than the usual salads. I decided to get chicken cutlet, mozzarella cheese, and lettuce, on a wrap. It came with a side salad where I obviously chose macaroni salad.
    I was very excited to eat my lunch, as I had not eat Town Bagel since going back to school for my last semester. The wrap was warm, which made it all more appetizing. The macaroni salad was creamy and delicious. Whenever I go to Town Bagel,. I make sure to get an iced coffee. The pricing on their coffee isn’t bad, as I pay $2.10 for a medium. All together, the meal cost me less than eight dollars. I was satisfied with what I got, plus I had the opportunity to spend a couple of hours catching up with an old friend.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

    My appetite has been off the charts. The amount of food I have consumed this week is rather disgusting. I have been home for the past three days due to spring break. Well I have not exactly been home, but I have been in Ohio visiting OSU with my family. My brother wants to be a big business man, which lead him to the Midwest part of the country.
    If you want my opinion, I loved the school. It is exactly what a college campus in my eyes should look like. The college holds about 35,000 students, which is a rather large number compared to my schools 5,000. But I liked it. It has that college feel to it. Students walking around looking all studious with their backpacks and headphones on not wanting to be bothered,
    But let’s get to the most important part, the food. When you ask me what there is to eat in Ohio, I am stumped. I never heard of a specific food that many residents of Ohio eat, and I never really thought about it. Our first meal down there was at the Waffle House. The Waffle House is a chain restaurant like any breakfast place like IHOP. The kick is though, they serve waffles instead of pancakes, and they are open 24/ 7.
    I am not the biggest waffle person, so I opted for a grilled cheese. There is just something about this American Classic that has me enjoying it every time I eat it. I wanted something besides the grilled cheese, so I chose to get hash browns, which were smothered and covered. Smothered and covered means it was topped with sautéed onions and melted cheese on top. Delicious. The hash browns were crunchy on the outside and cooked soft on the inside. It was a great combination and I loved it. I enjoyed the grilled cheese as well, it was cook ever so with butter and it crunchy just the way I liked it.
    The next day, I was hoping to end up at some restaurant that Ohio is known for, or has delectable food. Instead, however, we ended up at Five Guys. Who would have thought. I opted for the little cheeseburger and the regular size comes with two patties. The two patties are too much for me, but the one patty hit’s the spot. I love being able to choose my toppings, and I opted for pickles, lettuce, sautéed mushrooms and sautéed onions. Obviously I added ketchup to the burger. The burger was a little dry for me, but I did enjoy it. The fries are always the best part of the meal, as they filla a cup full, which they call a regular size. This regular size fed my mom, dad, and me, who eats for atleast two people. We finished the fries and we were satisfied with the meal we had chose for dinner.
    I was very excited to return home, as I could finally cook in my kitchen. I chose to cook my pasta dish, and I couldn’t wait. The dish consisted of turkey sausage, onions, mushrooms, cubanelle peppers, pepperoni, tomato sauce, and mozzarella cheese. My family thoroughly enjoyed it. I was a little disappointed as I thought the pasta was undercooked, as was the peppers and onions. However, the only complaints on my dish had come from me.,

Saturday, February 18, 2012

My very first post

From the time I was young I have always had a love for food. When I wake up in the mornings, one of the first thoughts that pop into my mind is "what am I going to be eating for dinner tonight?" I have never been a huge breakfast person. It takes me a couple of hours to adjust, but once I start eating, I cannot seem to stop.
My mom has always commented that I should write about food, since I enjoy eating so much. I was skeptical at first, but I started to like the idea more and more. I recently had the pleasure of meeting Sherry Hughes, who is the food columnist for the Keene Sentinel. Seeing what she gets to do on a weekly basis made me realize that I could possibly do something like that as well. I decided to start a blog, hoping to share my passion for food, and how it impacts my life… in a good way.
 I don't cook as often as I would like to, and when I say often, I mean never. Living at college with a budget is difficult to manage. I also am occupied throughout most of the day by work I have to get done for school. That equals no time for cooking.
I actually haven’t made a single meal since Thanksgiving break. My family had the kitchen redone by the time I was home for winter, and unfortunately, I wasn’t able to cook in the kitchen, well actually I couldn’t even enter it. We spent many meals in our dining room with only a toaster over to spare. We did manage to bring the fridge into the living room as well, but the food we were able to eat was limited.
Many of our meals that we have eaten were brought in from restaurants. Mainly pizza, Chinese food, and food we have brought back from Fairway. I was getting tired of this pretty fast, and I wished I was able to cook. Of course, the kitchen wasn’t finished until a week after I returned to school. My dad texts me from time to time saying that he is cooking in our new kitchen, and cannot wait for me to come home and prepare dinners with him. I haven’t decided what I my first meal will be yet, but it probably ends up being the pasta that I have made from time and time again this past summer.
My pasta dish seems to be a hit in my household. The dish consists of turkey sausage, an abundance of mushrooms and onions (requested specifically from my brother), and tomato sauce. At the end of making the sauce, I would throw in cut up pepperoni to give it that extra kick. Pasta is then thrown in with the sauce followed by a healthy amount of cheese. Sometimes cheddar, other times mozzarella, depending on what we had and what I was in the mood for. The dish was a big hit, and I would like to bring that back into our lives once I hit home for spring break.
But for now, it is meals from around campus, and frozen dinners that are found in the freezer. Around once a week I find myself venturing off to Main Street, or eating out at an Applebee’s or diner. I do not like to spend money often, since I am on a budget. But when I do, I make sure it is worthwhile. I will fill you guys in on what I am eating, and give you some places that should be tried out. But for now, I have to go finish my homework, and get ready for the evening.