In this latest episode Donna remakes her mother-in-law’s cheesecake, but with a coconut sugar twist on the old no-bake classic.
I go with a simple taco salad of iceberg lettuce, jicama, roma tomatoes, black beans, and plain corn chips; topped off with a spicy Mexican inspired faux ranch dressing. I also attempt a no yeast, no flour bread that I am sure will be a crowd pleaser in some diet circles.
http://youtu.be/O7CR9jxURJU
I was feeling chipper this morning and decided
to make a mid-week breakfast, which is unusual for me. Blueberries and
Cream Stuffed Waffles, then topped them with the stuffing…a ridiculous
way to start your morning. If this isn’t enough to fuel you through
lunch and into dinner, then nothing will. It is one of those things that
are so delicious that you actually crave the next bite while you’re
eating it.
“The Family” is a heartwarming tale of a mafia family hiding out in witness protection in Europe after the dad (played by De Niro) turns state’s evidence against the mob; well as heartwarming as a mobster and family can be.
The dad doesn’t take crap from anybody, the mom is just as bad, and the son and daughter are tougher than your average suburban teenagers; which has the FBI moving the family every few months because they can’t stay out of trouble, but still trying to stay one step ahead of the mafia who is looking to kill them.
Robert De Niro and Tommy Lee Jones’ characters have this love hate relationship/friendship that adds a great underlying chemistry to the film; the film is worth watching just for their portrayal of these roles while together on the screen.
De Niro’s character starts to write his memoirs and starts becoming known as an American writer, who is asked to review/debate an American movie, which happens to be “GoodFellas”. I found this quite amusing, and so will anyone who is a fan of “GoodFellas” or of De Niro’s work.
Another great De Niro throwback is when he grabs a baseball bat and says, “Al Capone always said, 'Asking politely with a gun in your hand is better than just asking politely.'" Al Capone never really said that, or was at least was never quoted as saying that. What Capone really said was, "You can get much farther with a kind word and a gun than you can with a kind word alone." The throwback part is that Robert De Niro said those exact words while playing Capone in “The Untouchables”; so “The Family” in a way is playing homage to De Niro’s gangster past, which to me is fantastic.
This movie is a great gangster flick without it being a gangster flick. I liked it a lot and I give it two thumbs up, but even with that I recommend you wait to see it when it is released on DVD.
Panda Express claims to be “Gourmet Chinese Food”, but I’m sure that they are more Asian inspired then actual Chinese, gourmet or not.
However, I have never been to China or any part of Asia, so in all honesty I do not actually know what traditional Chinese cuisine should taste like.
I do like Panda Express’ take on Asian food, and find it better than a lot of other similarly priced Chinese restaurants, which would be the buffets. I like that you can sample food before you buy it, and I like the different choices of food (a burger joint gives you different versions of a burger). Panda Express is different than other fast food restaurants because it gives you a break from burgers, sandwiches, and tacos, but stays within the same price range and speediness of a traditional fast food joint.
I enjoy Panda Express and go there whenever I am in the mood for orange chicken and don’t feel like making it myself. Plus who doesn’t like the American take on Chinese food by cracking open a fortune cookie and ending every fortune by adding the words “in the bathroom” (fortunes are so much funnier that way, especially if you have kids like I do).
McDonald’s is the king of fast food, and they are untouched as the # 1 fast food restaurant chain in the world.
You get what you pay for, and that is okay in the MCD’s world because you get exactly what you would expect; no bells and whistles and no cup holders. Meaning that McDonald’s is just as advertised; if you want something healthier, better tasting, fancier, big loaded up burgers; go somewhere else, and McDonald’s is fine with that.
Are their burgers the best? No, and sometimes that is what you want; a cheap eat-em-up burger. The fries are the best in the fast food category (and maybe reaching into some other restaurant categories too), and that is a given with solid numbers to back up the data.
McDonald’s is good at what they do, and I cannot fault them for that. They don’t pretend to be something they’re not, and they don’t try to hide it behind high prices. McDonald’s is cheap eats, but you’ll see business men in suits talking about work, a dirty homeless guy eating off the dollar menu, and elderly guys meeting for coffee all in the same restaurant, all at the same time. I hate to say it, but that is world unity.
McDonald’s is here to stay and I am happy that they are.
“The Classic” burger at Killer Burger…Vancouver, WA location is a fantastic choice when you’re needing to get full with fresh made in house burgers and fries.
I LOVE THIS PLACE!!!! Killer Burger is the place to be…always eating is the life for me! The taste is out of this world! I highly recommend the Vancouver, WA and the Portland, OR locations.
Side note: All you can eat fries!!!!
Eating at Dairy Queen will cost you as much as eating at a casual sit down restaurant, but without the comfort or atmosphere of a casual sit down restaurant.
Their food is on the lower end of fast food quality standards, and their prices suck (if I didn’t mention that before).
I know that DQ is famous for its Blizzard ice cream treats, and I am sure that the price point is somewhat similar to other famous ice cream chains, but is it good? YES…ice cream is good! There is nothing bad about eating ice cream in my book of logic, especially with added toppings. So DQ has the ice cream right, but everything else is so wrong.
My advice to Dairy Queen is to get over yourself, drop your prices, and be happy with who you are; you’re a fast food restaurant chain and that is ok, so start acting like it.
Kentucky Fried Chicken seems to be on a downhill slide, at least in the city where I live in because the restaurant chain has been closing its doors.
KFC’s food always smells good, and it tastes good too, but it is so greasy that it bothers me to eat it. I feel as though I need a shower to wash all the grease oozing from my skin after eating just one piece. Their grilled version is worse because it is like eating chicken jerky, no flavor and too much texture.
However, their chicken wings are delicious and I can take on a bucket full by myself. The wings are spicy and flavorful, plus the price point is right on the mark with other wing places.
So other than the wings I never choose KFC as a go to joint, but my family disagrees and so every once in a while we end up going just to feed the family’s craving. Since most of the stand-alone stores are closed in my area I get a break when choosing KFC because the newer restaurants are a combo unit with Taco Bell, A&W, or other places owned by the same company. We go in, and at the same counter I’ll order a taco and my family can order chicken…”winner winner chicken dinner”.
So if you’re in the mood for chicken I would recommend that you spend the same amount of money at a deli somewhere and get twice as much for the price and have a party.
Jack In The Box has some great commercials, but unfortunately their food doesn’t back up the hype.
Don’t get me wrong because I like them; I like them a lot, probably more than most fast food joints but there is still something off about the restaurant chain.
I know what the problem is, but I cannot truly explain it. The problem is the employees. I have been to Jack In The Box establishments up and down the West Coast, from new and modern to old and beat up. No matter where it is, the look of the structure, or the cleanliness of the restaurant itself; I cannot get past trusting the employees with my food. I have to make sure that I stand up near the counter and watch them make my food no matter if I’m dinning in or out (I would never go through the dive up window).
I have never had tampering with my food (that I know of), I have never had a messed up order, nor has anyone ever been impolite. I have no reason to mistrust Jack In The Box employees, but I do. And there lies the problem because I like their food (for the most part).
Correction: I have had a rather large sharp bone in my food before, but it was not the employees fault, the stores fault, or even the company’s fault for that matter. It was explained to me that Jack In The Box buys all of their meat from a meat processor and it is already cut and formed before they get it. The company did give me some free food vouchers to come back as I was not hurt in the least bit. I never used them however; not because I am above free food, but because I forgot about them and then they expired.
Jack In The Box is okay, but I haven’t been able to shake that feeling of trusting any of their employees in any of their locations. So for that they get one thumb up for their food in the fast food category, and one thumb down for their untrustworthy employees.
Tacos and fries are delicious and should always be served together.
Voodoo Doughnut is a Portland area staple by being fresh, tasty (not to be confused with tasteful), and so very much standing for everything that the Rose City is.
I don't love their doughnuts, but are they anything special?
They have some crazy toppings that got them in a little hot water (like their Nyquil doughnut), but it seems that everyone is now copying their iconic Maple Bacon doughnut as well as their cereal topped fried delights. I can get Voodoo type doughnuts anywhere it seems these days. So why pay Voodoo prices for something cheaper and just as tasty…or is it just as tasty?
Taste wise I am not a super-fan because in a taste test I don’t think that I can tell the difference between their doughnuts and the other guy’s product. They’re good, but not great.
What puts Voodoo Doughnut ahead of the competition isn’t their product, service, or price; it is the iconic look, the doughnut names, the gimmicks, the weirdness (“Keep Portland Weird”), television features, being a local business in an area that embraces “buy local”, and of course Kenny Rogers (you’ll have to visit Voodoo Doughnut to figure that one out).
Voodoo Doughnut is not great, nor do I particularly like them; so then why do I occasionally crave them and spend the ATM fee to take out cash (cash only business) to buy a box of fried confusion? I have no idea, but I’m eating one right now.
Fried Red Tomato Sandwiches. The firmer the
tomato the better because they need to hold up to the breading and
frying processes to be edible (I should say effective). Green tomatoes are
hard to find depending on the time of year and where you live; so this
is a great substitute, but can hold its own as a 1st class fried tomato.
Yes you can make a simple quesadilla with
tortillas and cheese…a Mexican grilled cheese sandwich…OR…you can kick
it up by adding some great ingredients like flavorful grilled chicken,
sautéed mushrooms, fresh cilantro, black olives, and of course lots of
cheese that melts perfectly all over the place. Your tortilla will love
you…up to the point that you consume it…then your stomach and taste buds
will love you.
Horchata is a delicious drink that I
personally prepare 3 different ways, but it always starts the same.
Growing up I called rice milk, I still call it rice milk, and I will
always call it rice milk. I combine cooked rice with milk, sugar, and cinnamon.
1st way: eat it just like that…hot in a bowl
2nd way: blend it up smooth and drink it hot
3rd way: blend it up smooth, chill it, pour it over ice, and drink it cold
Note: if you are ordering this most delicious drink from a taco truck
it will be called rice water or agua de arroz. Try it and you’ll love
it!!!
Is Subway’s “eat fresh” claim to fame just hype or the real deal?
I like a big sandwich as much as the next guy, especially when it is toasted on some sort of specialty bread…yum. Their $5 foot long specials are a good price for what you get once you add on all the free vegies.
Is it fresh though? Do you ever see a person chopping vegetables in the back? Perhaps they prep and fill up those little metal dishes before the store opens? A while back the “fresh” vegetables grossed me out. When I got to the part of the assembly line where I was able to pick my toppings, one of the things that I wanted was tomatoes. The lady pulled out a few slices and started laying them on my sandwich. I noticed that a couple of those “fresh” slices were moldy. I pointed it out to the lady making my sandwich because she either did not see it or did not care. She did not look shocked, but agreed I was right. She removed the tomatoes from my sandwich and grabbed a few more sliced from the veggie bin. I stopped her because I wanted a brand new sandwich, not one that was graced with rotten produce. She seemed annoyed, but a new sandwich was made for me without losing my place in line because I wasn’t moving. New sandwich, same problem. We got to the tomatoes and she goes to reach in to the same bin. I stopped her, and she “informed” me that the tomatoes were fine and those were a fluke. I pointed to some other hairy tomatoes in the tray. She pulls the tray out and pulls all the moldy items out. Then she replaces the tray in its spot. I told her that I wanted fresh tomatoes from a new tray. She seemed pissed off, until the guy behind me in line (standing next to me and knew what was going on) started yelling at her. The manager on duty came out from the back to inquire on the yelling. Both of us explained what was going on and that there was no way that these tomatoes were fresh that day. The manager had the sandwich lady toss out the tomatoes, and get a “fresh” tray from the stack of new vegetable trays. I asked the lady to change her gloves and make me a new sandwich again, so did the angry guy behind me, and everyone else who was having a sandwich made or had already started eating. The manager complied and the customers watched everything as their new sandwiches came out.
The moral of the story is don’t believe everything you see or hear because it is not always true. I think that “eat fresh” doesn’t mean fresh vegetables, meats, etc. prepared that day, but a “freshly” made sandwich made in front of you rather than a pre-made deli sandwich sitting on the shelf somewhere. False advertising? No! They just don’t explain what they mean and leave it to interpretation.
Is Subway a bad restaurant? No, and that extreme example only happened once. Every other time we have gone has been A-OK. If you are looking for something that is not a burger, a taco, greasy, or fried then Subway is a great alternative; just watch to make sure it is “fresh”.
Little Caesars is not the same pizza joint as when I was a kid, but it is still inexpensive and you get what you pay for.
I am not a huge fan of their pizza, but I am a fan of chewy crispy corners that you can only get from a square pizza. What I like about the place near my house is that they will cook it a little longer, which ensures a beautiful non-soggy crust. Little Caesars went away from the huge square pizzas years ago, but recently reintroduced a smaller version of what made them famous. Pizza! Pizza! (remember that Little Caesars dude?).
On our latest visit, we were helped by no other that the franchise owner himself. I walked up to the counter and told him that I wanted a deep dish square pizza with light sauce. He confirmed light sauce and walked off without a word! I stood there at the counter in awe, thinking he was going to tell the pizza guy in the back about my special request; but no that is not what he did. The restaurant is carryout only and so it is very small, so small in fact that I could see pretty much the entire kitchen. I could see the owner himself making my pizza instead of taking the rest of order. Is he qualified to do this?
I looked back at Kari and told her what I saw, and we both laughed; which brought over the guy who was making other pizzas (not ours of course). I told him that I started to place my order, but the guy walked off before I could finish. The pizza maker was great and offered us cookies on the house, which we did not take, and said to sit down and take a break because the owner was trying to help out today (I knew how the guy felt).
After our pizza was placed in the oven, the owner came back up and took the rest of my order and I paid. As we waited for our food, the owner graced us with his presence by describing a new menu item that he can’t sell yet, but other stores are finding it a big seller. He explained his favorite menu items and how he adds things to make them better; a true pizza lover. Kari made a joke about how he had to buy the place to feed his cravings.
Luckily we were the only people in the place, because I don’t know what he would have done with two customers.
Is the food great? No, but it is better than some other fast food pizza type joints offering food for similar prices. Their Crazy Bread is the best thing on the menu, but even that is not saying a lot. If you’re craving pizza, need it now, and have little cash…perhaps you should check out Little Caesars to fill your cravings.
