Chocolate Pie
Peanut Butter Pie
The cafe where it all goes down…
Well, almost all of it.
Foot-high Pie at the Blue Springs Cafe
Author: sfarrisyoung
Favorite meal from yesterday? ALL OF THEM!
…and I just noticed they were all on trays. What does that mean???
Breakfast: Thursday Morning Pancake.
Lunch: Leftover Veggie Pad Thai with rice and homemade Cashew Rangoon on my snazzy new tray.
Dinner: Finger Foods (including an amazing Lemon, Mango Stilton Cheese) while catching up on our reading.
(The idea of reading our books during dinner was inspired by Ana. Thanks for the new tradition Miss!)
My Favorite Meal from Yesterday…
As you might remember, I love The Village Deli in Bloomington Indiana (my sweethearts hometown).
The Village Deli…
My sweetheart…
I usually get the VVD sandwich with homemade potato chips, but this time we showed up before they were serving lunch. At first I was disappointed, but then I realized it was a chance to try something different. I always get the same thing because I only get to eat there once or twice a year, so I told my self to seize the opportune moment (as Captain Jack Sparrow would say) and order the veggie Eggs Benedict.
I was not disappointed. The meal didn’t come with potatoes, and I love to smear hollandaise sauce on a crispy hash brown, so I ordered a side of home fries. I was thinking a scoop on the side, but no….a whole bowl.
We also had fabulous crunchy ice…strange thing to note, but not if you enjoy crunchy ice.
John had his standard eating out breakfast fancied up a bit with an English muffin…
Thank you Village Deli for bring out the pirate in me.
Grocery Store Adventure
Sunday I was just starting my bread on its first rise when the power went out for no particular reason. There was a moment of panic…but then I remembered Julia’s cookery bookery advice on slowing down rising bread (stick it in the fridge and get it cold).
With this thought in my head I went for a walk and hoped the electricity would come back on before I came home so I wouldn’t have to open the fridge. I also needed a few things at the store and I decided to walk there too. It’s just around the corner and great for all of my forget-me-not ingredients.
Do you see the flaw in my logic yet?
The store is so close to our house that their lights were off. Customers were allowed to shop if they didn’t use a debit card (luckily I had brought cash). It was exciting and slightly scary, like a grocery store haunted house.
There were a few emergency lights, just enough so the cashiers could count the money, but whole sections, like the frozen area, were almost pitch black. Just as I was grabbing my last item the electricity kicked on with the mighty roar of industrial refrigerators. I got home in time to punch down my bread for the second rise.
Even though I didn’t have to try Julia’s cooling method for slowing down a bread rise, it was still a good grocery store adventure (and you know, I don’t have as many of those as I have bread baking adventures).
I (heart) the Chicago Diner- More travel food!
I know I’ve sung the praises of The Chicago Diner before, but every time we go I am reminded about how amazing the food is and how special it is to eat at an established vegetarian/vegan restaurant. I just don’t take that for granted because it’s harder to find than you think.
One of the other things I love about eating there is the inspiration I get for my own cooking. For instance, this time I had the Cornish “beef” hash with an egg sunny side up on top.
I’ve got to figure out how they make that seitan- it slices perfectly and seems to absorb marinating juices really well. I think they use it in their signature Reuben dish too. The egg on top of this dish was a brilliant touch.
John had the black bean burger.
Josh had a spicy breaded “chick” sandwich which despite the good waitresses fair warning was not too hot for ol’Josh.
If I am truly honest with myself I would admit that it isn’t just the amazing, hearty meals that bring us back every time we visit Chicago…it’s that mind-blowing chocolate chip cookie peanut butter vegan shake. I think I’ll let the evidence speak for itself…
Spring Field Cashew Chicken?
This just sums up ex-pat Springfieldian’s deepest cashew chicken woes.
Yeah…more Disney food.
More leftovers from our winter vacation…
When you’re in the land of Mickey, how can you pass these up?
And finally after years of walking by the never ending line of tried kiddos, we ate at the Lady and the Tramp Italian Restaurant in Magic Kingdom.
Yes, the food was too pricey for the quality of the meal, but how can you pass an opportunity like this up?
Epcot Eating
John and I love to go to Disney World. We like the different parks for different reasons, but the main reason I love Epcot is for the food. During our stay we try eat one meal a day at the World Showcase. We do this to detox from the crowds in a more adult themed park and because we love the whole “visit another country all in one place” idea.
Here are some of the countries we ate in:
Italy…
I had a homemade pasta with pesto that was the best meal at the park and a Nutella polenta dessert that was surprising good. Half our meal we spent listening and spying on the massive fireworks display behind us.
Mexico…
From previous experience we knew we could ask for a veggie menu at the all meat establishment. It was very limited (we both had black bean and gelled veg soft tacos), but lets face it when you are eating inside a Mayan temple with a river, “active” volcano, and another Mayan temple sitting inside of it , you’re not really there for the food.
Norway…
Sweet almond pretzel. I want to learn how to make these now!
Germany…
France…
And finally our beloved England!
Yum.
Oreo Parfait…
A cup and mug state of mind
I own a lot of teacups and mugs- that’s a fact. Do I have to stack them to shut the cabinet door? Yes, yes I do. Does this stop me from buying a teacup or mug as a souvenir from anywhere I go?
Only slightly.
Each morning the first thing I do is make a pot of tea and pick out my cuppa for the day (I average a daily 3-4 cups of tea a day). With so many to choose from I realized recently that I was picking my tea mug based on what I wished my day to be like or representing my mood when I woke up.
So here are my choices for this week
(Read into them what you like)
Sunday with Yorkshire Gold Tea
This has been my Sunday teacup for the past few years. Nothing like a little good luck for the week ahead.
Monday with P&G Tea
When I woke up I realized I had been dreaming about explaining the plot of “Alls Well That Ends Well” to co-workers in a dream and decided I might need a little London at my waking work that day.
Tuesday with P&G
Tuesday is the hardest day to get up. This morning I needed a little help from Tall Paul and the Gemini Giant, old roadside attractions we saw during a road trip to Chicago during March. Nothing like vacation longing on a weekday.
Wednesday with P&G (apparently my go-to-weekday tea).
I picked my bluebird mug because I woke up feeling hopeful and calm (plus all the snow is supposed to melt today).
Thursday with P&G
Woke up trying to decide if I was going to try and visit my grandparents and Aunt this weekend in Boonville. If I read the mug signs right, they seem to point to yes.
Friday with P&g
Friday felt like a good day for a little happy ever after.
Saturday with Yorkshire Gold.
On my way to Grandmother’s house with a Time Lord by my side!
Hearty Eaters 