Tag Archives: food

Prayer Shawl and Pork Dinner

Posted on October 15, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

All week as I drove by Trinity Lutheran Church, on the corner of German and Henry streets in Herkimer, NY, I had been noticing a sign for a Roast Pork dinner on Oct. 14 from 4:30 to 6:30.  I did not think I would go, though. Pork isn’t really my favorite, we’ve been eating out too much anyways, Steven probably worked till 6:30 or something stupid… etc. etc.

Then today, as I drove by on my way home, I remembered something: I needed a prayer shawl blessed.  Father Abe, the pastor at the church in Chadwicks that I go to, when I go to church (I CANNOT remember what saint or saints the church is named for; my bad), is having some health problems. I heard about them two Sundays ago, when I went to church.  Father Abe has blessed a couple of prayer shawls for me for other people, so I thought it would be quite appropriate for me to bring one to him.  I did not feel I could ask him to bless his own prayer shawl so was wondering what to do.

I could only hope the pastor would be at the dinner.   I thought I would have the best chance if I showed up early, so shortly after 4:30, I walked to the church, which is very close to where I live. Oh, did it smell good!  I began to re-think my dinner plans.  I walked in and explained to the lady at the table what I wanted.  Another lady who I knew from Coffee with a Cop was standing right there and introduced me to Pastor Ann.  She blessed the shawl with a lovely prayer.

When they asked me was I also going to eat, I said I may return with my husband, if he was into it.  He only worked till 5:30, as it turned out.  He was totally into it.

We had a WONDERFUL dinner!  Roast pork, baked potato, squash, roll, apple sauce and dessert.  YUM!  On the table were little cards that said, “Save the date: next dinner Nov. 11, 2016, Ham and Scalloped Potatoes, Trinity Lutheran Church, 443 Henry St., Herkimer, NY”.  I took one, saying I would write a blog post and mention it.  I will also save the date.

 

3 Comments

Posted in Community Events, humor, personal and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Cooking Without a Vague Idea

Posted on October 14, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

Well, I had thought about doing a cooking post for Non-Sequitur Thursday, but I am not convinced that what I cooked tonight is all that blogworthy.  Then again, I got nuthin’ else.   It’s been a rough week, especially for a short one.  But my purpose here is not to bitch but to blog.  So on with the blog.

I have not been cooking lately, because Steven comes home so much later than I do and I go to bed so early, I usually just eat something when I get home, then he eats something when he gets home, and then I write a run-on sentence about it.  Today I had thought all day about cooking something.  I even had a vague idea of what to cook.  I won’t tell you what it was, though, because I didn’t do it and I might yet one day.  Then I’ll have another blog post.

When I got home, I felt down.  Oops, slipped in a little bitch.  Eventually I got myself to do a couple of things: showered, put in a load of laundry, took the dog for a walk.  I thought it would cheer me up to cook something.  I have long been an advocate of the therapeutic benefits of chopping vegetables.  Accordingly, I looked to see if I had a yellow onion in the refrigerator (I knew I had a red one).  I did have one great big yellow one.  I only cut up about a quarter of it, which I put in my cast iron frying pan with some canola oil.

Next I crushed some garlic and set the timer so it could breathe for 15 minutes.  Regular readers will realize that this is how most of my recipes begin.  Onion and garlic in oil, first letting the garlic breathe.  How dull.  This is why I almost didn’t write a blog post about it.  After the 15 minutes, I put the garlic in the pan with the onion.  I had covered the pan, by the way.

When the onion was pretty much cooked, I added some miniature kielbasas we had leftover from pigs-in-a-blanket Steven had fixed recently.   I found some frozen spinach in the freezer (where else?) and a can of mushroom pieces and stems in the pantry.  Should I add anything else, I asked myself.  A search of the cupboard and refrigerator did not result in any ideas.  After a while, I cooked some twisty macaronis to add to the other mixture.

Steven was pleased to come home and find dinner almost done.  We both thought it tasted pretty good.  At least it was good enough to have seconds and no leftovers.  Was it a good enough blog post?  Only you, dear reader, can be the judge of that.

 

3 Comments

Posted in cooking, humor, Non Sequitur Thursday, personal and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Yummy Start to the “Weekend”

Posted on October 6, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

It is prior to 6:30 a.m, which may be the earliest I have ever posted.  I find that interesting.  My plan is to compose a quick shout-out to a local business we were at last night, then pack for our fabulous weekend away.

You know, I know news format, and that is a lousy lead.  Then again, this is not a newspaper, it is a silly blog (emphasis on the “silly” I’m afraid).  No matter.  I’m not editing; I’m posting on the fly, so here goes.

Last night I knew the sensible thing to do would be to start cooking dinner before Steven got home, frugally dine at home and get all our crap done for an un-frantic morning of departure.  Well, sometimes we do not do the sensible thing, do we?  Hence, we went to dinner at Sorrento’s Pizzia in Ilion, NY.  Our original plan had been to go to Froggy’s Take-out, also in Ilion, and, you know, take out.  That way we could potentially get some stuff done at home after we ate.  Additionally, Froggy’s is closing sometime soon for good, so we wanted to have a farewell meal from the place.

Unfortunately, by the time we got to Ilion, Froggy’s was closed for the night.  Sorrento’s is right down the street from there.  We love Sorrento’s!  And by now we were far too hungry to go home and cook.  There were plenty of spaces in the parking lot.  This would be great.  As we were entering, some ladies were leaving.  One said, “They don’t have any more food; we ate it all.”  I was understandably concerned but told Steven to hold the door open for the ladies anyways.  We were happy to learn the lady had exaggerated.

I got an appetizer of Bruschetta.  Yum!  Steven got a BLT.  The menu said it was on white bread, but when he asked if something else was available, the waitress offered marble rye. Again, Yum!  I almost changed my order to that.  We both had a glass of Pinot Grigio.  After all, it was a Friday for us.

We were quite delighted with our meal.  I made a fast blog post when we got home (an extremely lame one, by the way, but you’ll have that) but did not get a whole lot else done. Still, it made an excellent start to our five day weekend.

Sorrento’s Pizza is located at 86 Central Ave., Ilion, NY, phone number 315-894-9991.  Froggy’s Take-Out is at 4 W. Clark St., 315-894-1400.  You can Like them both on Facebook.

2 Comments

Posted in humor, local business, personal, Restaurants, Uncategorized and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Mystery Squash for Sunday Supper

Posted on September 12, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a Sunday Supper post instead of my usual Wrist to Forehead Sunday?  Is that a category?  If not, it is now.

I have some squash my lovely friend Kim gave me from her garden.  She had also given me some cucumber, but I used that in a salad I’ve been eating for lunch all week.  I thought it would be a good idea to use the squash tonight.  I consulted Joy of Cooking, an excellent  resource.  I did not remember what kind of squash she said it was.  By the pictures in the book, it looked like a butternut.  Only Joy of Cooking said that was a winter squash, and it is clearly NOT winter (although the weather did get nicely cooler today; not really cool, but definitely more comfortable).  I was confused but just glanced through a bunch of recipes before deciding to wing it, as I usually do.  For one reason, I thought it might make for a good blog post (of course, you, my reader, will be the judge of that).

I know, I just could have called or Facebooked (I just love that word as a verb) Kim and ASKED what kind of squash it was.  I preferred to let it remain a mystery. I do love a good mystery.

I began my cooking by peeling and crushing several cloves of garlic then setting the timer for 15 minutes (you know, to let it “breathe” in order to reach its full health benefits; I put that in for new readers as well as previous readers who may have forgotten).  I chopped up a small onion and put it in a frying pan with some red wine.  You see, sometimes when I cook with wine, I actually use it in the food (full disclosure: I also had a glass while I was chopping etc).  Then I pulled out the squash.

First I washed it, then I chopped in in half.  What a chore!  Some squashes are pretty damn tough, let me tell you.  Then I peeled it with a potato peeler.  This did not go as swiftly as peeling, say, a potato or a cucumber (further disclosure: I rarely peel potatoes and only peel cucumbers when they have that waxy stuff on the skin).  However, I managed to get all the skin off, then chopped it into bite-sized pieces (depending on the size of your bite; I can’t accommodate everyone).  I added the squash to the pan and covered it, so the wine wouldn’t all cook out and make the stuff burn.

After letting all this cook for a while (what, you thought I was going to keep track of how long this all took me?), I added a can of diced tomatoes and a can of tomato paste.  I put water in both cans to get all the tomato stuff out.  I sprinkled in dried basil, oregano and hot peppers.  After a good stir, I put the cover back on, cracking it to let the steam out.

After this had cooked for a bit, I covered it all the way and turned it off so Steven and I could take Spunky for a walk.  One must walk one’s dog, after all.  When I returned, I turned the sauce back on and put on water for pasta.  While the pasta cooked, I grated up the last of some Parmesan-type cheese I had on hand (can’t remember exactly what; the label is long gone.

Our dinner was quite yummy.  I really like that unknown squash.  Imagine my delight when I discovered there is another one in my refrigerator.  I forgot Kim gave me two.  Thanks, Kim!

 

Leave a comment

Posted in cooking, humor, personal, Sunday Supper and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Too Tired to Toot

Posted on September 7, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

I thought this morning that I would not make a Tired Tuesday post today. For one reason, I went back on eight-hour days.  I got up almost an hour and a half later than usual. Yes!  It put me in quite a jaunty mood as I went into work this morning.  I even thought I might go back to a seldom-used feature I have and make a Toot My Horn Tuesday post. As it happens, however, I am getting tired and I have very little horn to toot.

No matter.  One must make a blog post (one being me, of course; I realize other ones do not feel this compulsion).  I just made myself a salad, so could I make a Tasty Tuesday post?  Unfortunately I am quite disappointed in my salad.  I did not have any macaroni to make a macaroni salad with, as I had intended.  Still, the salad I did make was healthy and perhaps lighter in calories than the mayonnaise-drenched vision I originally cherished.  And I ought to feel pleased with myself that I did make a salad.  Ooh, could that be a reason to toot my horn?  Hmmmm…. just not feeling it.

I spent a great deal of today being happy that it is a mere four day week for me.  I looked at the calendar and saw that I have only three five-day weeks before my next long weekend (I’m using vacation days for that one).  These are the things that make me happy.

What else will make me happy?  Writing a better blog post!  Alas, I spent my breaks at work studying my lines for my upcoming dramatic role.  I’ll see if I can’t come up with something better for tomorrow.  Happy Tuesday, everyone.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in blogging, humor, personal, Tired Tuesday and tagged , , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Dinner Before Movie

Posted on September 4, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

How about a quick cooking post.  Never mind why; I’ve had kind of a stupid day, but I will not burden my readers with that right now (no promises for the future).

Steven suggested sending out for food, but I REALLY wanted to cook something.  But something not too long and involved, because I was hungry and it was already late.  We had some bacon (somebody gave Steven a coupon).  I suggested bacon and eggs.  We did not have much bread for toast.  Oh dear.  I was not up for a run to the store.  I looked in the refrigerator for inspiration.  I saw some hot dog buns.   And grape tomatoes. Well!

“I’ll cook some bacon, toast a couple of hot dog buns, cook eggs with broken yokes and make sammiches,” I said.  “With tomatoes.”

Steven readily agreed.  He even helped me keep an eye on the bacon while it cooked.  Why does bacon take so damn long to cook, anyways?  I put mayonnaise on the buns when they were toasted.  I love mayonnaise.

Our BET (Bacon, Egg, Tomato) Sammiches were delicious. And I was SO pleased with myself that we did not send out for food.  Of course I love to support the local economy and we have some delightful restaurants that deliver. However, sometimes one must save money and consume fewer calories (bacon and mayonnaise notwithstanding).

Now we are on the movie-viewing portion of our evening.  We are going to watch Young Frankenstein.  We would have watched it soon anyways, as a favorite Halloween movie.  Sadly, we watch it tonight in tribute to the recently departed Gene Wilder.  What a comic genius. Really, not a bad end to my Saturday.  Hope to see you all on Wrist to Forehead Sunday.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in cooking, humor, personal and tagged , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Chopping for the Blog on Tasty Tuesday

Posted on August 17, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

Just because I no longer have a lot of rehearsals to go to does not mean I have had any blog-worthy Mohawk Valley adventures to write about.  So my difficulties continue.  I could not think of anything to write about while on breaks at work today, but I remembered that I once instituted a feature called Tasty Tuesday or some such nonsense.  Since I did plan to do some, well, fixing not cooking (still too hot to slave over the stove), I thought I might be able to get a blog post out of that.

A few factors were at play here.  My lovely friend, Kim, gave me some cucumbers from her garden.  I had neufchatel (that is a fancy word for light cream cheese, I think) and flat bread.  I could make cucumber sandwiches, a recipe I stole from my sister Diane (in my defense, it was not a secret recipe, especially since she recruited me to make said sandwiches before one wine-tasting tour).  Additionally, I have had a craving for real, old-fashioned macaroni salad, with tomatoes and lots of mayonnaise.  MMmmmmmm….

I stopped at Hannaford on the way home yesterday.  The main thing I wanted was hot dog buns (that’s a whole other delicious story), but why just buy one thing when you have a whole grocery store?  I went to the cart labeled Local Produce and got some tomatoes and green peppers from Juliano’s Produce in Schuyler. I also got some envelopes of Italian salad dressing mix, which I needed for the sandwiches.

I had no energy for any chopping and mixing last night, but I was determined to do some tonight.  For one reason, I needed a blog post.  For another reason, I needed some low fat, diet type stuff to eat.  I have not completely given up hope of reaching my weight-loss goals.  Accordingly, the first thing I wanted to do was to chop some radishes to put in my lunch.  Steven had nicely gotten the radishes for me when he picked up groceries last week.  You see how prompt I am about these things.  Judge me if you’d like.

Before I actually started chopping, I put some water on to boil for the macaroni (shells) (which were not easy to find, because the new canisters I got at a rummage sale are opaque) and put out the neufchatel to soften.  The box on the cheese said it was so easy to soften, just 30 to 45 seconds in the microwave.  I decided to use patience instead.

To make the cucumber sandwiches, I mixed an envelope of the Italian salad dressing into the neufchatel and spread the mixture on two pieces flat bread.  Then I put slices of cucumber on one piece of bread, topped it with the other and cut it into pieces. It makes a very delicious sandwich.  I already ate about four pieces.

I remembered I wanted to put chives in my macaroni salad so went out to my backyard and got some.  Chives are a most excellent thing to plant in your yard.  They come up every year with no further effort on your part beyond planting them the first time, and you can put them in all kinds of things.  I washed the chives and as they dried, I chopped a tomato and a cucumber, and put them in the bowl with the macaroni.  After adding the chives, I added mayonnaise and stirred.  Then I tasted.  Yum!

So that is my story of chopping and mixing.  I’m wondering if my readers find it better or worse than my more foolish posts.  No matter.  I can only write what comes out of my fingers at the time and hope somebody likes to read it.  Happy Tuesday, everyone.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, personal, Tasty Tuesday and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Next Time with the View

Posted on August 5, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

Today I shall give a brief, slightly belated shout-out to Cucina Berto in Frankfort, NY, where Steven and I recently enjoyed lunch. We had heard about the place some time ago from Mohawk Valley Living. I’m thinking we just do not eat out often enough, or we would have eaten there sooner, because, yum.

Cucina Berto is located at Frankfort Marina, so there is a lovely view of the water from the tables on the deck.  However, we opted to sit inside, because it was raining.  Inside seating is more limited, but we found a seat with no problem.  The waitress brought us menus.  We both asked for coffee and a glass of water.

We got cheeseburgers.  Steven got fries with his, which he graciously shared with me.  I’m trying to lose weight so should stay away from such things, but sometimes I cannot resist.  They were very good french fries.

I noticed some good-sounding breakfast items on the menu.  Cucina Berto serves breakfast all day, so I can return at any time to try those.  I probably will.

Cucina Berto is located at 143 Marina Park Dr., Frankfort, NY, phone number 315-717-7724.  For more information you can visit their website at https://cucinaberto.wordpress.com/.  You can also Like them on Facebook.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, local business, personal, Restaurants and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Post-Parade Pizza

Posted on July 28, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

Last Friday after the Doodah Parade in Ilion, some of us were quite hungry (yes, I am pretty much always hungry, what’s your point?).  We adjourned to Salvatore’s in Herkimer for some food and drinks.

I think the waitress remembered me from other visits, because she asked right away if I was thinking of a glass of wine.  I ordered Pinot Grigio.

“And a glass of water?” she asked.  It’s nice to be a regular.

I ordered a cheeseburger (I know the headline says “pizza,” but I wasn’t thinking about alliteration when I ordered).  I asked if I could substitute pasta salad for french fries.  I could.  Steven got fries with his burger, so I got to try a few anyways (diet?  What diet?).  I also tried a couple of sweet potato fries that one of our friends ordered.  Yum!  Other friends got pizza and wings.  We have enjoyed Salvatore’s pizza and wings many times, usually getting them delivered.

We ended up pushing a couple of tables together as more friends showed up after we had sat down.  Nobody minded.  The dining room was not busy, perhaps because it was later than the normal dinner hour.  The place continued to do a large take-out business, as usual.  It sure is good food!

We always have a good time when we eat at Salvatores, and have a great meal when we order delivery.  Salvatore’s is located at 650 1/2 W. German St., Herkimer, NY, phone number 315-866-2600.  For more information you can visit their website at http://www.salvatores-herkimer.com/. You can also Like them on Facebook, where they usually share their daily specials.

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, local business, personal and tagged , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

Return to the So Sweet

Posted on July 7, 2016 by mohawkvalleygirl

I’ve talked about my friend Margaret’s shop, the So Sweet Candy Cafe in Utica, NY.  I thought I’d give her another brief shout-out, in lieu of the Wuss-out Wednesday post that has been lurking in my brain all day.

Ever since I went to the So Sweet once, I’ve been looking for an opportunity to bring my husband Steven there.  He would love it!  However, when I got the opportunity to go without him, I did not hesitate, because, yum.  My older sister, Vicki was in town, and she had not visited the So Sweet yet.  Vicki and Margaret were best friends back in the day (we did not use the term BFFs nor yet besties).

It is the cutest little shop. Once again I noticed candies remembered from my childhood:  Boston Baked Beans, Lemonheads, bubble gum cigars.  I could not resist a few of the caramels with sugar in the midde:  3 for 75 cents, who could argue?  For Steven, I got a large brownie and two chocolate chunk cookies (full disclosure:  according to my evil plan, I ate one of the cookies and half the brownie).  These tasty delights were made by Margaret.  What a great talent!  I also grabbed a bottle of water, because, you know, hydration.

I still have not gotten a cup of coffee or tea and sat for a while.  I hope to do that one day soon.  Either I will bring a notebook and write (as Hemingway used to do in cafes), or I will bring Steven and visit.  Either way will be, you guessed it, so sweet.

The So Sweet Candy Cafe is located at 531 Varick St., Utica, NY.  Phone number 315-765-6463.

 

 

Leave a comment

Posted in humor, local business, personal and tagged , , , , , , , . Bookmark the permalink.
← Older Posts
Newer Posts →