One less thing to think about...

Oh. My. Goodness! I believe I have saved myself! I finally placed an order for Acme Farms and Kitchens Locavore box. I ordered the one with double protein. 

And guess what?! Almost everything I need to fix FIVE meals for my family is included in the box. Plus, the meal plan!  Half (if not more) of my trouble comes every week when I have to think of what I'm gonna cook! Now, somebody has figured out what to feed my family and has done most of the shopping for me! All I have to do is go pick up my box -- unless I don't want to and then, I can pay an extra $4 for them to deliver it to me.  Some weeks, it might be TOTALLY worth $4.00 for someone to bring it to me.

See?! My menu + recipes (there are more on back)
And, it tells me what else I'm 'onna need to fix the meals.

I can order all sorts of things from here... Dairy, eggs, breads, etc., etc... You should check 'em out.

I'm already gettin' ready for next week!!!

Acme Farms and Kitchen -- savin' your life one box at a time.

Blog REPOST

I'm re-posting 'cause I keep going back to this place. I just went there today to get a sandwich for me and Harv and I also picked up a bottle of Washington Rosé. 

One of my favorite things about Old World Deli is that it seems like the owners actually LOVE what they're doing. And, when people LOVE what they're doing, they do it very well. They make their customers ENJOY coming back again and again. 

I love Bellingham and am thankful for so many delicious eateries...and so many GREAT people who make them happen.

GO TO OLD WORLD DELI. Today. Or maybe tomorrow while you're shopping at the Farmer's Market.

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REPOST: This blog post originally published in Feb. 2013

Yesterday, Sarah and Hannah had an early release day so Harv and I decided that the four of us should go out for lunch... (I told you I like to go out to eat!)

So, we picked the girls up and we drove to.... 

  

When you walk in, it just kinda FEELS "old-world." The wooden floors look like they have endured some historical foot steps. The brick walls look like they've heard some interesting conversations. (Perhaps they still are!)

While I was waiting for my sandwich, I perused the wine section. The owner asked if I needed help and I replied that I'm on a rosé kick...even if it's NOT the season. He told me that they're on their way over from France and it'll be soon-ish. We had a fairly intelligent conversation about rosé (he was intelligent; I was fairly intelligent) and our preference for light colored rosés. I am lookin' forward to the  arrival of the French rosés and I will be headin' down to Old World Deli to check them out. 

As for the food, they have quite a few choices on the "regular" list and then they had these daily specials.  (And, oh my goodnesss! Look in the bottom right-hand corner of the specials board! I just noticed it...a happy hour! Doesn't THAT sound fun?!!!)

 

I had the House Sausage with Braised Kale sandwich. Yes, it was delicious!

 

Harv had the Italian Sub sandwich. He really enjoyed it, too.

 

And, we got funky, fun sodas.  One must also have good chips with a good sandwich. So we got those, too.

  

 Sarah and Hannah shared a Chicken Pesto Panini. 

They seemed pretty happy with their choice, too, don'tcha think?

Next time I go, I'm 'onna check out the grocery items a little better. There's quite a selection of those, too.

Old World Deli -- it's just the place for people like me who like the adventure of good food.

Thai Tom

Most of my friends and family know that Harvey's in the hospital. We've been in Seattle for five days so far. I've tried all the food that I want to within walking distance.

As you might guess, the cafeteria food is not anywhere near the top of any list I've ever made of delicious food. However, the hospital espresso isn't bad at all. Pretty good, actually. And, to be fair, cafeteria breakfast was just fine...but breakfast is hard to mess up, I think.

All the meals I've had outside of the hospital have been within walking distance. I've eaten a couple of meals at University Village (Elemental Pizza and Boom Noodle) and I had a couple of meals at Agua Verde Cafe. All were good...my favorite of those was Elemental Pizza, but I would happily go to all of them again.) 

Today I decided to venture a little further than walking distance for a good meal. I did a phone search and found a couple of places that piqued my curiosity, but ended up at Thai Tom (they apparently don't have a website of their own.)

When I found it, I saw that the sign said open, but it was dark and I couldn't tell much from the outside. When I opened the door -- there was a-whole-nother world inside!

The restaurant was long and narrow. It held an L-shaped counter with bar stools. Behind the counter was a stove, a table, a fridge and there must've been a dishwasher and sink that I couldn't see from where I sat. Against the other wall were four tables for two. 

The host greeted me quickly and motioned for me to sit at the counter. Being sensitive to "space issues," I asked if I could sit on the smaller end of the "L"... He said "yes" but looked as if he questioned that decision. As soon as I got there, I realized why. I could feel the flame from the stove. The cook was flingin’ pots around and pouring sauces and throwing ingredients. I moved back to the recommended spot – squished between two people.

The cook didn’t stand still even for a moment. The flames on the stove leapt left and right calming down only every-so-often. The cook's assistant did his own dance as he prepared condiments and took away dirty pots (which he passed to the dishwasher/drink-maker/refrigerator-loader/retriever)... All three people behind the counter had developed a rhythm and things were flowin’.

I had entered an entirely different universe than the one I left at the hospital. And, it was a wonderful escape. I lost myself in the mayhem and almost forgot that my husband was in the hospital.

After not-very-many-minutes, I received THE.VERY.BEST Pad Thai I have ever eaten -- not to dry, not too wet. It held within it the perfect combination of garlic, peanuts and spice. My mouth was happy.

A small crowd gathered outside the door and worked their way inside. The host fussed at them and said, "Wait outside!" When questioned, his reply was, "Get out! I will call you."

Sure enough, seats opened up and those "youngsters" found a spot at the counter or at a table. They must’ve known that the food was worth the scolding.

In the meantime, people, who I guessed to be the owners, came in with supplies. The hustle didn’t stop. Food ordering, flame hopping, people gathering continued. And, it all happened in a teeny tiny space.

When it was all over for me, I left and, as I was walking out the door, the host called in the next party. I turned to the other two people waiting outside and said, "That was fun!" They laughed. I figured they knew what I meant.

If you're ever in the U-District, FIND Thai Tom (4543 University Way). Be prepared to wait if it's "prime time." Take cash.  Savor the food. Enjoy the show.

Recently, I started buying eggs that come from locally-raised, pastured chickens fed with non-GMO feed. 

This is the poached egg I get because of that.

Isn't it beautiful?!

Pound Cake and Fish Packets

Yesterday I made my favorite pound cake. It is RICH, RICH, RICH and OH! so delicious.  I got the recipe at a recipe shower before I got married from one of my mother's friends. Mama used to make a really good pound cake, but (don't tell Mama) I like this one better.

But the very sad thing is, it didn't really turn out so well. I think I over-mixed it. Sarah says that the flavor is good and she didn't mind the texture, but I know it's not quite right. But who the heck wants to try again and use six more precious eggs and another 1/2 pound of butter and a 1/2 pint of cream? Not to mention the valuable White Lily flour.

So I guess we'll eat it anyway. It'll probably do well toasted.

ANYWAY!

I also made some fish packets for dinner. The title of the recipe says "tuna" but it says you can use other types instead. I used Lummi Island salmon.

This dinner was yummy I thought. Served it with brown rice and we were all satisfied. ☺

I got this recipe from my Eating Well magazine -- and I also found it online here.

It was really pretty before I cooked it.

I forgot to take a photo when I plated it. And, when I remembered, it wasn't pretty anymore. But, everybody liked it. Always feels like a successful dinner when everybody eats what I cook without making faces or leaving a ton of food on their plates (this includes the 50 year-old little boy I married). ☺

Not sure what's for dinner tonight, but I want sumpthin' good.

Have a happy day!

Sunday Lunch and Dinner

When I was a child, my mother fixed three meals everyday. Sometimes they were small meals, but she fixed three meals and we all sat at the table for each meal.

I'm different. 

Food is provided for three meals a day, but most days everyone is responsible for putting breakfast and lunch in their stomachs. I take care of dinner. Sometimes we sit at the table together for breakfast and lunch, but often we eat when we feel hungry...and it's not always at the same time. 

It's not very June Cleaver of me, but it's the way I roll.

So, yesterday, when everybody got home from church, people started comin' up with their lunch plans. S & H made ramen and Thai iced tea. I had leftover ful (Here's a recipe...slightly different, but similar to the one I prepared) with pita crackers. Harv decided on a grilled cheese sandwich. Not just ANY grilled cheese, though. It was a grilled cheese with an extra layer of cheese on top of the sandwich, too. 

He was very pleased with his creativity and wanted me to take a photo for the blog. (I added the parsley for some food stylin'.)

The colors are nice, huh?

For dinner last night, I had a craving for a lamb burger. I had never had a lamb burger until I had one a few years ago at Boundary Bay Brewery. It is so yummy! One of the great things about their burger is that it's served on a pretzel bun from Ralf's. One of the other wonderful things is that it's prepared simply -- lettuce, tomato, onion and a little mayo. They don't have a deep fryer so the burger can come with either a salad or some chips. I always get chips, but I have always believed that it would be delicious with sweet potato fries.

So, anyway! Last night that's what I wanted, but I didn't really want to go to Boundary Bay to eat it. So! I bought some ground lamb and made my own. Here's the thing, though. I went to the Co-Op to get some pretzel buns, but they were out. MUST HAVE LAMB BURGER ON PRETZEL BUN. 

Now, most of the world realized that yesterday was St. Patrick's day. And, evidently, all bars/pubs/etc. pretend that they're Irish on March 17th. But, I kinda forgot. I suppose especially since it fell on a Sunday and students didn't have to worry much about gettin' pinched for not wearing green.

And, like I said...I had to have some pretzel buns. So... I went to Boundary Bay to see if they'd sell me four of 'em. It was a little bit shocking to find the place unbelievably crowded. Men in kilts, lots of green, lots of green beads, wonderful music and a fair bit of beer.  But I forged ahead and found a waitress. I asked if I could just buy 4 buns "to go" and she said I could! (I think they must be more expensive that way than if I had bought them directly from Ralf's, but I NEEDED 'em.)  I'm not sure that BB would want to get into the business of selling pretzel buns "to go" so I encourage you to plan ahead and either buy from the Co-Op Tuesday - Saturday or go directly to Ralf's...fresher there anyway!

My lamb burger did not disappoint. And, I served it with sweet potato fries (did not cut my own) and a ranch dipping sauce for the fries. I LOVED it. Everybody else liked it fine. And, they even ate some fries.

I will be making this again. You can count on it!

Last night's pizza

Last night, we had pizza again. I used this crust recipe again except I divided it in half and put it in round pans...and I saved one crust to make into a pizza later.

Then I made it almost like I always do with Trader Joe's pizza sauce, sausage and red bell pepper. Didn't have red onion so I used a shallot. Was worried I might not have enough meat on the pizza so I added chopped bacon sprinkled with brown sugar while cooking it. I topped it with Italian blend cheese and, for color, added chopped parsley.

My girls thought it was the best one yet out of that crust.

The big, fat drag about making your own crust is that it takes a couple of hours for the dough to rise -- once in the bowl, once in the pizza pan.

But... we ate at home. With what was in the house. 

I like it when that happens.