A Video For Breakfast!

Yes, I had a video for breakfast!   Truth be told, I indulged in one of my favorite breakfast treats, blintzes, (see related link to Shavout), and supplemented it with a banana.  Not just any banana.  A Del Monte banana with a QR code!  Being curious, and having a few minutes to let my breakfast settle in my stomach, I picked up my cell phone and scanned the code.  I retrieved a video with a delightful tropical music in the background.  A storyteller presented a Del Monte commercial and walked through pictures of the fruit production supply chain.  My favorite part of the video?  A man with a resemblance to Andy Reid appears at 1:04 cradling a pineapple!

Book Review: Design Is In The Details: Outdoor Spaces

This is a review of the book "Design is in the Details: Outdoor Spaces" by Brad Mee.   I recommend the book to anyone who is looking for a unique feature for his or her outdoor garden, patio or porch.  It is a book to help you put your finger on the detail that will make your home stand out.  I would like to comment that there were very few ideas for decks and yards.  Unfortunately, that makes the book inaccessible to the majority of Americans.  It's a specialized book for a specialized audience.  For those fitting in the category of owning a grand manse, this is the book for you.  (And certainly there are more than plenty mansions to be found here in the Brandywine Valley!) You will find inspiration in lush pictures of fountains, masonry and garden accents.  The author shows how a significant effect can be achieved by changing the lighting, furnishings or accent plants in your outdoor wonderland.

Restaurant Review: Logan's Roadhouse

Logan's Roadhouse is a laid back place to hang out.   It is a chain of restaurants that's making its way gradually to our area.  Presently there are locations in PA in Allentown, Hamburg, Wilkes-Barre and York.  You will also find them throughout Virginia and West Virginia.  The company is a grown up, less-frills version of Texas Roadhouse.  You'll still find the rustic atmosphere, peanuts, and beer.  The quality of the food falls somewhere above Old Country Buffet and below Texas Roadhouse.  Accordingly their menu has a bigger selection of burgers and sandwiches than the competition.  The prices therefore are very do-able for even those on a budget.  The meat is cooked properly by the kitchen, but the cuts of meat are very fatty, which is why I give Logan lower rating than TX.  The dinner rolls are very good.  Potatoes were about average for potatoes.  I liked the selection of appetizers and saw a few more fresh items like salad on the menu in comparison to Texas Roadhouse where even the vegetables have bacon in them.  I like bacon, but I also think that folks with a healthy lifestyle or dietary restrictions deserve equal options and Logan does that.  The kids menu at Logan had a good selection of non-steak items.  The music and decor were a rockin' modern country style.  There is less flash and pizazz than Texas Roadhouse, but the dining was more comfortable, and from my perspective, I enjoyed the visit and know I will enjoy my next visit.

The author is not compensated to provide restaurant reviews.

Fancy a kangaroo burger tonight?

Then have I got the place for you!  Kangaroo, alligator, elk.... Or you can bring in your own deer for processing.  Hershey's Farm Market in Parkesburg. The meat section has the freshest of (everyday) meats at unbelievable prices.  You can walk away with several pounds of meat for $29.99 or $39.99.  You get the best deal when you buy the specials, but a la carte is available too.  There is a seafood section that is nothing to sneeze at, either. And take-out BBQ.  Oh, and they sell yak and bison dog treats, too.  The place must sound like the oddest Farmer's Market you have ever heard of, but it's truly operated in a quite normal fashion, carrying a very wide selection!  Been there myself, and lived to tell about it! (Got a nice freezer full of goods while I was there, too!)  Located at the intersection of Route 10 and Route 30.

Wine Review: Give me the Red Guitar Sangria

Sangria is a heavy wine, a hearty wine for enjoying with cherished friends and loved ones. To me, Mother's Day seemed like just the occasion for an outdoor barbecue with a side of sangria.  (Although it's likely raining when you read this, it truly was a spectacularly sunny Mother's Day last weekend.)  Yes, the sangria paired nicely with fresh sliced tomatoes and spicy grilled corn on the cob!  The burgers weren't bad either.

Red Guitar is a Spanish brand of table wines, and who better to sell you a Sangria than a Spaniard?  The Red Guitar Sangria lives up to its description. It tastes like grapes, oranges, cherries and lemons.  It is a summer sipping wine.  Too heavy for fine dining but perfectly suited for casual, close-knit occasions like making mom feel special.  You can find it at Wegmans and PA liquor stores.

The Red Guitar Satisfaction Chart

Buying a Gibson Les Paul red guitar costs approximately $1600.00

Buying a bottle of Red Guitar Sangria comes in a lot cheaper at around $10.00

Recipe: Spicy Grilled Corn on the Cob

Do-ahead:  Boil the corn on the cob and set aside in a covered container directly after cooking.

Note: Boiling the corn before grilling will produce a softer, less crisp kernel of corn.  If you prefer a crunchier kernel: Try grilling the corn in the husk or else wrapped in aluminum foil.

Ready to cook:  Peel back the top inch of the wrapper of a brand new stick of butter.  Butter the corn with the stick of butter like you were applying lipstick.  Then rub the corn in the spice mixture before grilling.  Grilling will take a lot less time if the corn was boiled ahead of time, about 10 minutes.  If you are cooking fresh corn, allow 30 minutes.

Spice mixture:  Mix the spices in a bowl:  Salt (kosher), Smoked Spanish Paprika, Sugar (white), Cayenne Pepper or substitute red pepper flakes if you must, Dill and/or Chopped Cilantro else substitute chives if you must, Thyme