PLATES - Homemade Thousand Island and Russian dressings

Back in March I was making Rueben sandwiches with leftover corned beef and sauerkraut. I realized I didn't have any Thousand Island Dressing in my fridge, and after a search for online recipes I did have all the ingredients on hand (fridge + pantry = freshness). Yummmmmm ... !!!

But I had a friend who kept asking for my "Russian Dressing."

It's NOT "Russian Dressing." But when I go online to find a Russian Dressing recipe, a famous cook's Russian Dressing recipe was the same as MY Thousand Island. Seriously.

What's the difference?

It seems that Russian Dressing is spicier and yet sweeter. Here are my variations ... you decide ...


THOUSAND ISLAND DRESSING
It's a simple ... 2+1+1+1+1 (and then some)

2 Tablespoons mayonaise
1 Tablespoon chopped red onion
1 Tablespoon pickle relish (sweet or dill - your choice)
1 Tablespoon vinegar (I use cider vinegar)
1 Tablespoon ketchup

stir together, then add ...
1 teaspoon garlic powder or granules
1 teaspoon hot sauce
1/2 teaspoon paprika (I like the smoked paprika)

Mix and refrigerate ... goes great on hot dogs, hamburgers, sandwiches, as a dip, as a cole slaw dressing, well, you get the idea ...

NOTE - if you use Whataburger Spicy Ketchup, skip the hot sauce (or not). Many recipes call for a hard boiled egg. I'm not a fan of eggs so I skipped it.



RUSSIAN DRESSING
There's some common ingredients and another easy math formula ... 2+2 then 1+1+1 (and som spices)

2 Tablespoons mayonaise
2 Tablespoons ketchup
1 Tablespoon pepper relish (NOT pickle relish ... but you can skip this or use SWEET pickle relish)
1 Tablespoon horseradish
1 Tablespoon vinegar (again, I used apple cider vinegar)

stir together, then add ...
1 teaspoon garlic powder or granules
1/2 teaspoon paprika
Mix and refrigerate ... goes great on sandwiches and as a dip ... yummmm ...


Both recipes are easily doubled, tripled, or more! I usually do about a 4x recipe and put them in a container.

PLATES - No Sugar Added Banana Nut Muffins

Wow ... it's been almost three years since I've put a post here. Blame it on Facebook. Blame it on distractions. Blame it on changes in attitudes and latitudes.

 I've had a number of requests for my No Sugar Added Banana Nut Muffins. Rather than being a COG (Creepy Old Guy) who says "here's my email, drop me a line and I'll email the recipe," I can now say "here's my blog, it's there ... look for Banana Nut Muffin recipe." Hope the wait has been worth it.

How I developed this recipe ...
As a Type II diabetic, I was looking for something with lower sugar that would also satisfy my sweet tooth. I poked around on the internet and found this recipe, then tweaked it to make it my own (deleted the 1/2 cup of maple syrup, added some more bananas). This also works in the waffle maker (see notes below) ... !!!


Here's the basic recipe ... 

¼ cup melted oil (coconut, butter, or extra-virgin olive oil)

2 eggs, preferably at room temperature

1¼ cup packed mashed ripe bananas (about 5 bananas) ... extra is ok

¼ cup milk of choice (I've used cow's milk and almond milk)

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

½ teaspoon salt

½ teaspoon cinnamon

1¾ cups whole wheat flour

⅓ cup old-fashioned oats, >> plus more for sprinkling on top

1 teaspoon turbinado >> for sprinkling on top

Heat oven to 325 degrees Fahrenheit. If not using paper cups, grease 12 cups in a muffin tin.

In a large bowl, mix the oil and eggs and beat well. Mix in the mashed bananas and milk, followed by the baking soda, vanilla extract, salt and cinnamon.

Add the flour and oats to the bowl and mix with a large spoon, just until combined. If you’d like to add any additional mix-ins, like nuts, coconut, chocolate chips, or dried fruit, fold them in now.

Divide the batter between the muffin cups. Don't over-fill as the batter will rise. Sprinkle tops with a few oats and some turbinado. Bake 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean. Cool. Serve w butter or cream cheese.

NOTES  ... 

I have mashed the bananas by hand. Fresh ones give you big chunks, riper ones get mashed better. What I usually do now is combine the bananas and the milk in a blended and whir. I really don't measure how much this provides, but if the mixture looks too runny I'l add some extra oats.

Bananas ... I've used fresh ones and ripe ones. The fresh ones give a more neutral taste, the ripe ones give a stronger banana flavor. The choice is yours.

I use butter or oil to grease the tins. I don't use paper cups and I've never used a commercial spray. I do have a Misto sprayer which turns any oil into a spray. Search for it on line.

No, I have not made this Vegan by replacing the eggs. In years past eggs were replaced with bananas and oil, so you could add more, or even use some chia seeds for thickening.

Like I said, if it looks too thin, add more oats (I like the taste and texture of Old Fashioned style oats). I like oats and usually add up to half a cup.

Keep an eye (and nose) on your oven. At 20 minutes, check the muffins by inserting a toothpick or skewer. If you've added a lot of mix-ins you'll probably need some more time. Do this in 3 minute increments. Running a thin, flexible knife around them and flipping them on their sides keeps them from sticking to the bottom. Again, I don't use paper muffin cups. 

I thought sprinkling oats and sugar on the top was weird until I had breakfast at the local Hilton hotel, and there on some of their muffins were oats and turbinado sugar.

Mix-ins ... I usually use a half cup of chopped nuts and a half cup of shredded coconut. This will usually offset the varying amount of bananas (that's why I say extra is ok). You can add less of each. 

VARIATIONS ... I made these as CHOCOLATE a couple of times. I omitted the cinnamon, added half a cup of cocoa powder, along with nuts and shredded coconut. Once I added two teaspoons of chocolate raspberry coffee grounds (finely ground). They were delish! I've also used this as a waffle batter ... just grease the sides (I used butter), spoon in the batter and cook. To make this recipe in a SAVORY style ... delete the cinnamon and vanilla. I used EVOO (Extra Virgin Olive Oil) as the oil, added Italian style spices spices (garlic, thyme, rosemary, oregano, and basil). As mix-ins, I used almonds, some olives, and Italian cheese. You could probably do this Mexican style with appropriate seasonings, nuts, jalapeños, and cheese.

PLATES - National Taco Day 2013

Friday, October 4 is National Taco Day which means a ton of taco freebies (okay - not a ton, just a bunch of good stuff). Check out these great deals to celebrate National Taco Day!

Taco Bueno – At participating Taco Bueno locations you can grab a FREE crispy or soft Beef or Chicken taco by saying “Free Taco” today. One free offer per customer.

Tijuana Flats - Tijuana Flats will be celebrating National Taco Day with $2 tacos!

Calle Tacos - At Calle Tacos you can score 99 cent tacos and giveaways from 11-6 p.m. (Fish tacos do not apply to this deal.)

Taco Joint – At The Taco Joint  you can grab 3 tacos for $5 between 3-5 p.m. All tacos are $2 after 10 p.m. Score an extra deal of free chips, salsa and guacamole when you Instagram your tacos using the hashtag #tacoday!

Taco Cabana – The San Antonio based chain celebrated on October 1. But here’s a deal – donate $1 to the Warrior and Family Support Center and get coupons for  5 free Bean and Cheese Tacos.

El Torito – sat the word “secret taco” to your El Torito server and get a free soft or crispy taco.

If you’re in Austin, Texas … here’s your places to celebrate …

http://www.kvue.com/news/local/Our-top-10-picks-for-celebrating-thats-right-National-Taco-Day-in-Austin-226463571.html

PLATES - National Coffee Day freebies

It’s been a long month of celebrations.

So far, we’ve collected freebies for Labor Day on Sept. 2, International Literacy Day and Grandparents Day on Sept. 8, Cheeseburger Day on the 18 and Talk Like a Pirate Day on Sept. 19.

A few “holidays” we skipped (no freebies): Blame Someone Else Day on Friday the 13 (not my fault, no one told me), Elephant Appreciation Day on the 22 (I forgot), Dog in Politics Day on the 23, (they’re on to something there) and Ask a Stupid Question Day on the 28(who comes up with these?).

Just ahead on October 2 is a freebie from Panda Express.

Today, our cups runneth over. It’s National Coffee Day.

No hoops or gimmicks. Just go to Kwik Trip and get a FREE 12 oz Karuba Coffee. The lack of gimmicks might also be why the company is continually ranked as a top place to work in surveys.

Krispy Kreme is giving away free small coffees. No purchase or coupon is necessary. Stores also are selling small iced, mocha and pumpkin spice lattes for $1.

Shipley Donut stores offer a variety of specials. There's nothing from the corporate office for the Houston-based chain, but the various franchised stores have their own specials posted on Facebook and Google. Search. Ask.

Starbucks is giving tastes of its new Ethiopia roast. Yes, just a ‘taste.” Not a lot but just enough to count as a freebie. Get a free ceramic tasting cup with purchase of a one-pound bag, which sells for $13.95.

There’s always free sample of coffee (dark roast, special roast, decaf) at HEB Market stores, Central Market and Sweet Bay. Also, free cream. Be nice and leave some for others.

Dunkin’ Donuts is giving away free small cups of hot or iced coffee with a mobile coupon on the chain’s free smartphone app for iPhone or Android. After you download the app, click the “My Offers” tab to get meal and drink deals. Save two bucks on Dunkin’ coffee, on sale for $5.99 a bag or $7.99 for K-cups.

Want Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee but you’re not near the store? Get a FREE Small Hot or Iced Dunkin’ Donuts Coffee mobile coupon today with the free Hess Express mobile app.

Einstein Bros. Bagels is giving away free iced or hot coffees and lattes of any size when you buy one with a coupon. Get it at SunSentinel.com/Einstein.

APlus at Sunoco is going bigger on the free coffee. You’ll be able to get a free 16-ounce coffee from any of the gas station’s retail locations, and the offer will be available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Just get the deal through its Facebook page.

Say “Happy National Coffee Day” when you place your coffee order at Tim Hortons Cafe & Bake Shop, and you’ll get a free coffee with the purchase of another coffee

Enjoy a complimentary small coffee of the day at participating Caribou Coffee stores. You’ll need to download and print a special National Coffee Day coupon from Facebook, and bring it with you, or show it on your mobile device when placing your order.

You can get a free, piping-hot cup of coffee from Wawa Inc. thtodayis Sunday, but you’ll have to work for it first. The primarily East Coast-based stores (with a couple now in Orlando) are offering customers a free 16-oz. cup of their original brew this Sunday for customers who register online to receive a coupon. According to a spokesperson for Wawa on the chain’s official Facebook page, coupons will be accepted in stores only in printed form.

Plates - Sweet Jalapeño Recipe

I came up with this a number of years ago because I like the flavor of jalapeño peppers, I just don't care for the spice. I'm more suited for the mild Hatch peppers which are just now coming into season. The hatch peppers are an anaheim pepper grown in the Santa Rosa Valley of New Mexico. More on that later.

Take a jar (your choice of size and brand) of sliced jalapeño peppers. Drain the liquid save if for other uses/recipes).. 

Add 1/4 cup agave nectar to coat jalapeños and let is sit in the refrigerator for a day. Thennnnn ... add brown sugar (and more brown sugar) to fill up the jar. Agitate it lightly once or twice a day. This will make the peppers sweet and the sugar will liquify and you can use it in recipes.

I use the liquified brown sugar when making margaritas with freshly squeezed lime juice. Makes it sweet and tangy.

Use the chopped jalapeños on top of cream cheese (or blend it into softened cream cheese as a spread/dip).

If you get a larger container, make the sweetened jalapeños, but also mix in some chopped dried cranberries, raisins,  a jar of maraschino cherries, and some chopped, toasted pecans (or buy some trail mix and blend in).

Enjoy!

PixPlatesPlaces Margarita Recipe #1 ...

1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

1 ounce orange liqueur (like triple sec, Curacao, Cointreau, orangecello, or Grand Marnier)

2 ounces 100% agave tequila (in Texas, chose Houston-based Agavales as a value brand, or Stafford's Izkali Blanco as a premium)

1 tablespoon jalapeño sugar

Mix above ingredients. Pour over crushed ice (salted rim optional). Salúd!

PixPlatesPlaces Margarita Recipe #2 ...

1 ounce freshly squeezed lime juice

1 ounce 100% premium agave tequila (in Texas, chose Houston-based Izkali Reposado or Añjeo)

1 tablespoon amber agave nectar

Mix, then pour over crushed ice. Shake. Strain into glass (don't sale the rim!). Enjoy!

Plates - St Arnold releases Divine Reserve 12

The day is almost here! Saint Arnold Divine Reserve No. 12 will be released tomorrow, July 31. 

You will be able to find it in the Houston area at the larger Spec's, Kroger, H-E-B stores and at Whole Foods and Central Market. Not every store will get it tomorrow. It may take the entire week before everybody gets their allotment. 

Also, while the kegs will be delivered this week, not all bar accounts will put it on draft right away. Some may even age it. You can search Twitter under #DR12 to see where people are finding bottles and draft.

For some, getting a six pack (or two) of Divine Reserve is a great adventure; an adult Easter egg hunt. Some will be late to work, standing in line and waiting for Spec's to open at 9:00am. Others will scour the customer service counters at grocery stores for "returns" (people leave it when they find out it cost about $15 a six pack). DR12 hunters will call and text one another with finds and misses. Still others are on "the list" at special places and all they have to do is walk up and ask.

DR12 is an old ale and was inspired by David Rogers' winning entry in the Saint Arnold 2011 Big Batch Brew Bash. There are two definitions of Old Ales. The first is an ale in the old style, which refers to an ale bigger than regular ales. This was the more common definition up to 15 years ago. Saint Arnold Christmas Ale is an example of this style. The newer definition is a very high alcohol ale that has been aged. This is what DR12 is, except that YOU have to supply the aging. Saint Arnold did condition DR12 in the fermenters for over 2 months.

DR12 is a very big ale with the high alcohol (10%) creating a spicy malt and hop flavor. Aging will allow the alcohol to oxidize and create sherry flavors that will round out the beer. It will age best if stored cold. This beer will come into its own in a year and should be drinking great 5 years from now.

I had a tour and some samples a few days ago at the brewery. When pouring this beer, Saint Arnold's brewers highly recommend decanting it, pouring it slowly and smoothly and leaving the last ounce or so in the bottle. You can pour this into a separate glass if you wish, but you will find that the decanted portion tastes brighter and cleaner. The nose has rich malt notes and a little alcohol that combines with a spicy hop note to create a complex bouquet. The taste has a spicy, malty beginning that smoothes out into a creamy middle and a warming finish. Also, make sure to let this beer warm up before your drink it. It is best enjoyed at around 50° F.

While most of DR12 was packaged in 6 packs, for the first time there will also be a small amount available in 22 ounce bottles.


Happy hunting ... and drinking!

Plates & Places ... Beer Tours in Houston

Where else in the Houston area can you get 4 pints of beer for $5, $6, $7 or $12 ... ??? Outside of the Flying Saucer (Downtown and in Sugar Land) on Sundays ($3 Texas pints) or Whole Foods-Sugar Land on Tuesday evenings ($2 pints), touring an area craft brewery is the best quality beer deal in town. There are six craft breweries (and one mega brewery) in the Harris, Montgomery, and Fort Bend county area at this time. Here's some ins and outs on taking a brewery tour at the four currently offering regular tours and learning more about "better beer."

First, some basics for ALL these Houston area brewery tours (and these might/will be different than brewery visits in California, Colorado, Oregon, Florida, or any other states) ...

Please bring some form of photo ID (drivers license, passport, CCW permit, military ID). They all ID all their guests and it really doesn't matter "how old do I look?" While age verification is NOT required by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), state law does prohibit the selling of beer to minors and provides for penalties for both buyer and seller. Each place sets their own rules. Be nice and have your ID handy. Besides, if you're over 50 you'll remember the last time you were "carded."

Kids are welcome at all the places. If you're under 21 you may enter only with a parent, adult guardian, or spouse. If you're "just friends" you will be denied entry. Texas law says you may give your child/guardian/spouse a beer but they must stay within "direct sight." Follow the rules.

You get FOUR (4) samples of beer (in the form of chips). You CAN'T "buy" more chips. The "four sample" rule is a suggested brewery control item to make sure you're sober when you leave.

If you buy a pint glass you'll get a "better sample." Don't expect a full pint, or a full glass if you're at a brewery that sells one of the larger steins. Again, Texas laws. However, if you're nice to your server (saying please and thank-you goes a long way), and if they see you tipping, chances are you'll get a "really good" pour. Please don't ask your server for more beer if you're out of chips. They could get in trouble as could the brewery.

If you bring your brewery glass back, you get in for the basic tour rate. Make sure it's the pint glass for THAT brewery, though! Some folks keep their pints in their vehicle in case they just happen to be "in the area."

Times posted are the hours the taps are open and pouring beer. All breweries close entry a half-hour before the listed end time. You can arrive anywhere from 10 minutes to an hour before the taps open. You should plan on leaving all places a half-hour after the posted time. The volunteers are cleaning up and they usually hang around and enjoy a post-event beer (or two). It's their form of "payment."

You're welcome (often encouraged) to bring chairs.

There may be long lines/waits at food trucks. You can bring all kinds of food with you as breweries in Texas are NOT allowed to sell food.

You may NOT bring any other alcohol (wine or margaritas) just because a member of your party "doesn't like beer."

Unlike visiting a winery in Texas, you can NOT buy any beer at the brewery. It's another Texas law. If you don't like this law and think craft breweries should be treated the same as wineries in Texas, you can help lobby the state legislature when they start meeting in January 2013.

Beer cannot leave the brewery except in your stomach. They all have "beer police" to make sure your glass is empty.

Tours vary - some are more formal than others. You do NOT have to "take a tour" to drink beer. All breweries will announce when they are offering tours. This is a good time to go to the bar as a large number of visitors will go on the tour and the lines will be short. When you go on a tour, make sure you have a full glass of beer - it makes it more enjoyable.

Remember - all the people "working" at the tours are volunteers. They are giving up their time from other things because they like craft beer. Some people give up more time than others. Some people volunteer at two (or three) of the breweries (yes, the other breweries know they do this). The volunteers are there to educate you and answer any questions. Tipping is allowed at some of the locations but never required.

 Now the tour info ...

Saint Arnold Brewing, 2000 Lyons Avenue, Houston, TX 77020

http://www.saintarnold.com

Tastings are 3 - 5pm Monday through Friday and 11am - 3pm every Saturday

Admission is $7 for four samples.

Glasses start at $5 for a basic pint and go upwards of $25 for ceramic pints with lids (and more). They sell all kinds of t-shirts, koozies and brewery items.

They usually sell pretzels on Saturday.

NOTES:

Things get crowded - up to 1,200 people on Saturdays. The line forms starting at 10:00am. St. Arnold has the most tables and seating but people still bring chairs and blankets. If you don't get there early and don't bring folding chairs, you will probably be standing. Sometimes the entry line is halted when capacity is reached. It's air conditioned. Mon - Fri tours have about 30 people through the school year, 50 to 100 in the summer. They are Texas' oldest craft brewery. No, Shiner doesn't count. No, Saint Arnold wasn't first, but they've outlasted a few others. The make and serve GREAT root beer - it's FREE to all! The smoking area is down the stairs (or elevator) and out the front door. Just make sure your hand is stamped. No, you can NOT take your beer with you to the smoking area. You can trade in your sample glass for a $1 credit at the merchandise counter.

No Label Brewing, 5373 1st Street, Katy, TX 77493

http://www.nolabelbrew.com

Tastings are held 1pm - 3pm at the brewery every Saturday.

Admission is $5. You get four samples.

Pint glasses are $5. They sell t-shirts, koozies, hoodies, and other bling.

There's usually a food truck on hand.

NOTES:

It's outdoors so check their web site, Facebook or Twitter to see if rain or wet grounds has closed them. Expect 200 to 300 people there, depending upon the weather and area events. They also close for special events like the Katy or Houston Beer festivals. Bring your own chairs and shade. You can smoke any place but in the brewing area (be considerate). They are dog and kid friendly.

Karbach Brewing, 2032 Karbach Street, Houston, TX 77092

http://www.karbachbrewing.com

Tours are 5 - 7pm every Friday and 12 - 3pm every Saturday.

Tours are $7. If you buy a pint glass it's an extra $5. Add a T-shirt for a $25 entry. Bring a canned good for the Houston Food Bank and get $1 off your admission.

They offer four samples. Often, one sample may be a "blue" chip, which is one sample (8 to 16 ounces, depending upon the brew and/or your glass size) of a special brew. You can get a second sample of a special brew with two red chips.

There's usually a food truck on hand.

NOTES:

It's indoors and outdoors so dress accordingly. It's not air conditioned but there's fans. The smoking area is out the back. They are dog friendly. The have a variety of t-shirts and now sell caps. Be careful where you park - if in doubt, ask at the front. Their tours usually have about 200 people, which is large for a Friday evening get together. It gets a bigger on Saturdays but it's an hour longer.

Southern Star Brewing, 1207 N. FM 3083 E., Conroe, TX 77303

http://www.southernstarbrewing.com

Tastings are held 1pm - 3pm at the brewery every Saturday.

Admission is free. You get four samples.

Buy a pint glass for $5. They have t-shirts and other items, too.

There's always someone selling food and usually a live band.

NOTES:

It's indoors and outdoors so dress accordingly. It's not air conditioned but there's fans. Get there early as tours run 400 to 500 people. The smoking area is out the back.

Plates-Grocery List 9/28 - 10/4

Posting a little late this week but here's some great deals ...


H-E-B
http://www.heb.com

Beef Shoulder Roast - $1.97/lb
Large Raw White Shrimp - sold in 2# bag @ $3.97/lb
Hill Country Fair Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts - $1.97/lb
HEB brand Multi-Fit Flakes or Muesli - 3 for $4
Red Baron Pizza - 2/$5



KROGER
http://services.kroger.com/StoreLocator/StoreLocatorAdvanced.aspx

Strip Steaks - $3.99/lb
Kroger Large Eggs = 4 dozen/$5
Kroger Cheese - $5.99/32 ounces
Kroger Butter - $2.88/lb



RANDALLS
http://www.randalls.com/IFL/Grocery/Home

Safeway Fresh Chicken Thighs, Drumsticks, or Leg Quarters - 99¢/lb
Fresh 85% Lean Ground Beef - $2.49/lb
Red Delicious, Gala, or Granny Smith apples - 97¢/lb
Powerade - 59¢/32 oz
Pepsi (products) - 99¢/ 2 litre


WHOLE FOODS
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/

Coupons at the Sugar Land store


CENTRAL MARKET
http://www.centralmarket.com/
http://www.centralmarket.com/Goods/Weekly-Specials.aspx



SPECS
http://www.specsonline.com/

Plates-Grocery List 9/21-27

How do you top the grand opening of a HUGE store? I visited the new HEB Sugar Land market again but still not ready to do a review. It's always fun to be present for "new," but it's also a stress on the folks working. They're getting used to things. Plus, they've called in help from other stores. It was good to see all my friends in the grocery business there.A review will be here with one more shopping trip.

This week's Grocery List notices all three of the major chains in Houston are featuring pork and for varying prices. What that also means is different cuts, different quality, and different suppliers.

You will find pork recipes in all cuisines. Pigs are easy to keep and raise. They're cheaper than cattle to feed. Contrary to their messy image, they are very clean. Pigs are also very smart (and that's from more than just watching Babe). Pork works well seasoned with fruits and fruit flavors, but also holds up well with heavier spices and sauces.

The Kroger and HEB ads show Boneless Pork Loin Center Cut Chops as grilled. That's how I fix mine. Many times I'll toss the pork right on the grill. Maybe I'll use some wood to flavor the meat. A good thing is a quick (30 minute) marinade - soy sauce, apple juice, pineapple juice, beer ... or a couple together - will add some moisture. Unlike beef, you need to cook pork all the way through. But you have to be careful that you don't cook it so much that it dries out. Use indirect grilling and cook it low and slow. That's also where a marinade (or a moisture pan) will help.

The other thing I do with pork chops is to apply a rub. I make a BBQ type rub (garlic powder, onion powder, chili powder and cumin), or I use a brown sugar rub. I'll post a few recipes, because my favorite brown sugar rub uses coffee. Not liquid, drink in the morning coffee, but finely ground before you brew it coffee. Stay tuned.

Randall's has whole Boneless Pork Loin and they advertise it as a roast. I usually slice mine and grill it. I can't recall the last time I did a pork roast. I have good recipes though.

Before I post my recipes, here are some places you can find pork recipes ...
http://www.iowapork.org/
http://www.porkbeinspired.com/Index.aspx
http://www.pork4kids.com/



H-E-B
http://www.heb.com

Natural Boneless center Cut Pork Loin chops - $1.97/lb
Fresh Atlantic Salmon - $6.97/lb
Seasoned Skinless Boneless Chicken Thighs - $1/lb in value pack
Market Fresh Groud Italian Sausage - $2.29/lb
Large Cantaloupes - $1
St Arnold beer - $6.77/6-pack



KROGER
http://services.kroger.com/StoreLocator/StoreLocatorAdvanced.aspx

Boneless Pork Loin Center Cut Chops - $2.49/lb
Boneless Top Sirloin Steak - $2.99/lb
Peaches, Nectarines, Plums - 99¢/lb
Broccoli Crowns - $1/lb

Gasoline - Regular ... $3.15.9 ... $3.12.9 w/Kroger Card @ Rosenberg Marketplace - Highway 59



RANDALLS
http://www.randalls.com/IFL/Grocery/Home

Fresh Whole Boneless Pork Loin - whole in the bag ... $1.88/lb
Tilapia or Swai Filets - $3.99/lb
Gala Apples - 99¢/lb
Red Seedless grapes - 99¢/lb
Bartlett pears - 99¢/lb
Roma Tomatoes - $1.29/lb
Primo Taglio Black Forest Ham - $5.99



WHOLE FOODS
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/

Sugar Land once again has daily coupon specials.



CENTRAL MARKET
http://www.centralmarket.com/
http://www.centralmarket.com/Goods/Weekly-Specials.aspx

It's the last week of Brewtopia - a two week festival of all things BEER!
Buy $25 worth of beer and save 25%. It could be worth it unless you know a home-brewer.



SPECS
http://www.specsonline.com/

Cheese and beers specials abound and the Fall seasonal beers are there with more arriving daily! Head to the main downtown Houston store for a great sandwich special - yummy!!!

Plates-Grocery List 9/14-20

The news this week is the Grand Opening of HEB's Sugar Land Market store, located at Texas Highway 6 and US-90A on what used to be a Texas Department of Corrections prison farm. Part of the of Sugar Land Central Unit, it was made "famous" in the movie Sugar Land Express with Goldie Hawn, William Atherton and Ben Johnson, a 1974 film directed by a Hollywood newbie, UCLA film grad and Eagle Scout Steven Spielberg - his first big screen film.

This H-E-B store is - in a word - HUGGGGGE!!! I usually shop at the Sugar Land River Park store and the Rosenberg Kroger Marketplace. I even make my way to the Houston Buffalo Market store (which is larger than HEB-RP). This place is even bigger. If you remember the old Auchan Market on the Tollway - it's about that big (or so it seems). Without checking the floor plans right now, it's probably the size of any of Kroger's new Marketplace stores in Rosenberg, Pearland, Sugar Land, and Conroe

I was there yesterday to be part of the grand opening hooplah (since I was at River Park's opening day) and I'm sure the turnout did not disappoint HEB area President Scott McClelland (who was also there).

I had to wonder ... where did all these people used to buy groceries? Or did everyone run out of food at the same time?

Okay - there were some great prices, lots of tastings, give-away's, giant ice cream and Coke cans, and all kinds of characters in costumes to draw in crowds. But even at 7:30pm, the store was cart-to-cart, shopping list to reusable bag, jam (and jelly) packed.

It's going to make my weekly shopping even more fun!



We'll start this week's Grocery List with some specials good only at the HEB Sugar Land Market ... including gasoline.

St Louis Style Pork Spareribs - $1.77/pound
Coho Salmon - whole ... 3.99/pound
Coho Salmon - fillets ... $5.97/pound
Extra Jumbo Gulf Shrimp (what an oxymoron) - $5.97/pound
Strawberries - $1/pound
Cokes - 2 12-packs/$5
Toaster Strudel - 3/$5
Pop-Tarts - 2/$3
Gasoline - regular ... $3.19.9/gallon



H-E-B
http://www.heb.com

Sanderson Farms Chickens - whole ... 77¢/pound
Oscar Mayer Hot Dogs - Bun Length ... 98¢
Extra Large Black Plums - 97¢/pound
Hot Dog or Hamburger Buns - $1
Hot Pockets/Lean Pockets - $1
Big Red, 7-Up or RC - $1



KROGER
http://services.kroger.com/StoreLocator/StoreLocatorAdvanced.aspx

T-Bone Steaks - $3.99/pound
Kroger Boneless Chicken - Breasts, Thighs or Tenderloins ... $1.99/pound
White Seedless Grapes - 99¢/pound
Roma Tomatoes $1/pound
Gasoline - Regular ... $3.29.9 ... $3.26.9 w/Kroger Card @ Rosenberg Marketplace - Highway 59



RANDALLS
http://www.randalls.com/IFL/Grocery/Home

93% Lean Ground Beef $2.99/pound
Fresh Pink Salmon ... $4.99/pound
Red Lion Nectarines - 88¢/pound
Kiwi Fruit - 3/$1
Sanderson Farms Chicken - Thighs or Drumsticks ... $1.49/pound



WHOLE FOODS
http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/

Sugar Land once again has daily coupon specials. Today it's half price cupcakes, tomorrow it's 20% off wines.

Real Cod - $9.99/pound



CENTRAL MARKET
http://www.centralmarket.com/
http://www.centralmarket.com/Goods/Weekly-Specials.aspx

It's Brewtopia - a two week festival of all things BEER!
Buy $25 worth of beer and save 25%. It could be worth it unless you know a home-brewer.



SPECS
http://www.specsonline.com/

Cheese and beers specials abound and the Fall seasonal beers are there with more arriving daily! Head to the main downtown Houston store for a great sandwich special - yummy!!!

PLATES-Grocery List 9/7-13

I have been doing grocery shopping for close to 40 years. One of the reasons is my Mom did not drive. At first, I would take her grocery shopping. After a while, she would write out the list and I would do it for her and save her time. Being part Scottish, I would also clip coupons. Some of that saved money would find its way into my pocket if I could save money (she knew about this and encouraged my thriftiness).

When I moved off to college, I stayed with an aunt on weekends and would often make grocery runs for her. She was amazed I could find my way through the aisles and bring home not only what was on her list, but also things I observed she "needed."

Later, I had an efficiency dorm. Stuck in a deserted college town with nothing better to do, my college roommate and I would often go grocery shopping on Saturday night. Our greatest find was mis-marked blueberries. This was "back in the day" when stockers would put a sticker on each item and the checkers would ring them up. I had received a yogurt machine for Christmas (another story for another time) and we decided to make blueberry yogurt. The two of us found a whole case (or two) of blueberries at Safeway tagged 39 cents instead of $1.39. We had blueberry yogurt and pancakes ... and even created a few other blueberry recipes. I don't know how many cans we discovered, but we left college with more than a can or two of blueberries in our belongings.

After college (and getting married), the grocery stores were a long way from the East Texas town where we lived but they were on my travel route. Plus the Mini-Max stores were clients, so it was "good business" for me to shop there. Since I enjoyed cooking and she was going to college completing her masters degree, it worked out, too.

Moving to Houston, I worked in Houston near a wide assortment of grocery stores, large and small. I would duck in and out of them in my rounds and find the weekly values. A guy friend, who was also into cooking, would compare shopping lists. Somehow all the females with whom we worked (I think there were 20 ladies and only 4 guys at this place) would be mesmerized he and I would spend lunchtime planning not only meals for an entire week, but also how to double and triple coupons (while eating our homemade molé or lasagna) when their husbands had no clue coupons even existed ... or who Vlassis was (and still is).

Through the years, when I visit friends and relatives, part of my travels includes going to Dierberg's, Schnuck's, Publix, Winn-Dixie, Ralph's, Minyard's and other "fun" places.

My Dad and I enjoy going to the grocery stores and checking out things - especially the bakery and the meat counter. This comes from my time growing up and one of my fondest childhood memories ... going with Dad to Plagens' and Kowalski's to get meats to grill and choose lunch items, respectively.

As you can imagine, I don't shop in just one place in my area. And yes, I "know" associates in a number of stores and they "know" me!

With that in mind ... here's the picks of the week from grocery stores in the Houston area. I'm hoping this can become a weekly blog feature (and make me post something), but without the long introduction!

Some of these are not things I will be buying (frozen pizza), but I try to spot good food deals for YOUR carts and baskets.


CENTRAL MARKET
Prince Edward Island Mussels - 2/lb bag for $6.99


WHOLE FOODS
has a "Deal-A-Day" ... check the ad for the one you like


H-E-B
Boneless Beef NY Strip Steaks - $3.77/lb
Large Cantaloupe - 98¢
Bartlett Pears - 77¢
Nilla Vanilla Wafers - $1.50
HEB Buns - $1
HEB Soft Drinks - $2/12 pack
HEB Potato Chips - $1.50
Red Baron Pizza - $2.50
HEB Tortillas - BO/GOF
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale or New Belgium Fat Tire - $11.97/12 pack


KROGER
Kroger Value Fresh Split Chicken Breasts - 99¢/lb
Assorted Pork Loin Chops - 1.99/lb
Ground Turkey - 1.79/lb
Springdale Milk - 2.99/gallon
Black Seedless Grapes - $1/lb
Medium Cantaloupe - 99¢
Big K Soft Drinks - $2/12 pack
Oikos Organic Greek Yogurt - 4 for $5


RANDALLS
Fresh Boneless Pork Loin Roast - $1.88/lb
On the Vine Cluster Tomatoes - 99¢/lb
Signature Cafe Family Size Pizza - $5 each
St Arnold beer - $6.99/6-pack


SPEC'S
St Arnold ... all varieties - $6.99/6-pack
Shiner ... all varieties - $5.99/6-pack
Newcastle ale - $11.99/12-pack

PLATES - Hatch Chili Peppers ... recipes 1, 2, 3

These are MY three favorite Hatch chili recipes and the first ones I make when Hatch chili's come into season.

The first one is a fairly traditional take on Pico de Gallo. I love cilantro and lime and this gives it a good twist. If you don't like tequila you can use some cider vinegar.

The second adds the peppers to apple cobbler and gives it an interesting taste.

The third thing I make are quesadillas. I grill some onions and hatch peppers and cook some bacon. I use a mixture of cheese - two kinds of white and a little cheddar. I also have some cilantro. Get the freshest tortillas you can find - I prefer flour (I buy them raw - something you can get in Texas - and cook them before making the quesadillas) but corn will also work. Put the onions, peppers, bacon, cheese mixture, and cilantro in a tortilla and fold in half. Put a little butter in a hot pan and toast on each side until the cheese melts and the tortilla toasts.

There will be some more Hatch recipes as the days go along.

Enjoy!


PICO DE GALLO

Ingredients:
6 tomatoes, seeded and diced
1 diced red onion
3 Hatch chili peppers, seeded and finely chopped
1/2 cup cilantro, chopped
Juice of 1 lime
Zest of 1/2 lime
1 tablespoon olive oil
1 tablespoon tequila
1 teaspoon cumin
sea salt and crushed black pepper, to taste

Directions:
Mix all the ingredients in a big old bowl, as this recipe makes a lot. Remove the seeds and juicy parts of the tomato for better consistency. Cover and refrigerate for a couple hours. As with any dish, you may add or delete ingredients to suit your personal taste. If you like avocado, chopped and slice one (or two) for this recipe. You can also add garlic, if desired. You can use any peppers (usually jalapeño) if Hatch peppers are not in season.




HATCH OATMEAL APPLE COBBLER

Ingredients:
3 cup apples, sliced (Granny Smith or Gala)
1/2 cup Hatch chili peppers, chopped
3 tbsp. flour
1/4 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1/8 tsp. salt
1 tbsp. cider vinegar

Topping:
1/2 cup rolled oats
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 cup butter
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped pecans

Directions:
Combine apples, flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt and cider vinegar. Place in a buttered (greased) casserole dish. For the topping - cut together with pastry blender the remaining ingredients and sprinkle on top of the apple mixture. Bake 35 minutes in 375 degree oven. Again, you can adjust this recipe as you'd like. I've used some other spices, and even more nuts, oats and butter.

PLATES - Hatch Chili Peppers ... day 3

To be called a “Hatch" New Mexican pepper it must be grown in the area of Hatch, Doña Ana County, New Mexico (near Las Cruces). It is not a variety.

Because of the thick skin, the whole peppers are often roasted and the skin removed.

The most common methods:
- In the oven or broiler until skins blister ... about 7 minutes at 450 degrees
- Grill outdoors until skin blisters
- On the stove ... use a heavy pan and on high heat, roasting for about 10 minutes, turning occasionally until skin blisters

A friend suggests ...
“Quick way to peel lots of Hatch chilis - we roast them over the grill when we are cooking other things then let them cool, throw in a plastic bag, seal and freeze. To peel, run warm water over chilis and the skins come off ... works every time!"

Peppers last longer in the freezer with the skin protecting them and the skins will come off easily after thawing. Bacteria can grow on the peppers, so they should be frozen within a day of roasting and thawed in the fridge.

Otherwise, put peppers in a plastic or paper bag and wait till they cool then skin and remove seeds.

Then again - I use them, skin and all, chopped and raw.

Tomorrow - my favorite Hatch chili recipes ... and some suggestions. In the meantime you can simply search "Hatch chili recipes" and find some (but not mine).

PLATES - Hatch Chili Peppers ... day 2

Today I'm across town at Central Market. You can smell the Hatch chili peppers the moment the doors open. Bammmm! hits you in the face.

Actually, you can smell the peppers the moment you get our of your vehicle as they have two huge gas fired chili roasters going.

And all kinds of Hatch food products being demonstrated inside ... from corn chips, corn bread, tortillas and scones, to sausages, salsas, enchiladas, and more!

CM is the H.E. Butt Grocery Company's answer to Whole Foods.

Both stores are born (and based) in Texas. Yes, Texas IS big enough for two similar style stores (even 3 or 4 if you count Sprout's and Sunflower) ... and other smaller ones ... ??? Face it - Texans eat ... Texans cook .. and sometimes we cook and eat healthy.

Central Market is kicking off their 16th Annual Hatch Chili Festival today - August 17.

They’re on the lookout for the most creative Hatch chile recipes. Starters. Entrees. Desserts. Drinks.
Originality counts. From five ingredients to 50, nothing’s out of bounds if it involves a heavenly
helping of Hatch.


Here's the low down ...
Enter your recipe by August 22, 2011 at 10:00 am. Central Market will select eight winning recipes — one for each of their stores. Entries are judged for creativity, tastiness and presentation by Central Market Partners, local celebrities and Hatch chile fans — (I'm thinking I could be a judge???)

Main prizes ...
Winning entries will receive 75 pounds of Hatch chile peppers and a $100 Central Market gift card.

but look ...
You receive a one-time offer for a coupon for $5 off a $25 purchase just for entering.

(okay ... I'm working on MY Hatch recipe entry just for the $5 coupon.)

I know people who can spend $25 at Central Market just in the candy bar (neon sour orange worms) ... or on coconut water ... or in beer and wine ... or desserts ... or seafood ... or ...

Ciao!

PLATES - Hatch Chili Peppers

Okay ... so I gotta get my act together and start posting something on a daily basis.

How about something I found today.

Hatch Chili Peppers are 39¢ a pound at Whole Food Markets in Sugar Land.

I don't know if they;'re that price at YOUR Whole Foods, but they are at mine.

Jay Leno joked about Whole Foods again last night ... the US has a $14 trillion debt. To get a handle on $14 trillion, imagine grocery shopping at Whole Foods every day for a month ..." (audience laughs) ...

Well audience, the laugh's on you this time. Hatch chili peppers are 99¢ to $1.49 elsewhere in town. And their quality is considerably less than here at Whole Foods.

For those who haven't tried them, Hatch Chili Peppers are like Vidalia Onions - truly one of a kind. It's the soil in Doña Ana County, NM that makes it unique.

Most suggest roasting the peppers over an open flame to bring out their flavor. You can do this is a skillet or on a grill. The stores have special pepper roasters and they made a big deal out of it on Friday's saturdays and Sundays.

They are also good "raw" ... chopped and diced and used in recipes like you would a bell, jalapeño, anaheim, or poblano peppers.

There are two kinds of Hatch chili peppers, mild and hot. Believe the billing (and just hope the peppers aren't mislabeled when you buy them).

Grab the recipes at the stores ... from Hatch quesadillas (and tortillas), to cornbread and scones and cookies!

I'll give you MY favorite Hatch Chili recipe tomorrow.

PIX-For some, photography still means film

saw this article and felt the need to share ...




For a few holdouts, photography means film

Digital march has transformed market rapidly

By BEN DOBBIN Associated Press
May 30, 2011, 11:13PM



ROCHESTER, N.Y. — At Image City Photography Gallery, Gary Thompson delights in pointing out qualities of light, contrast and clarity in one of his best-selling prints - a winter-sunset view of Yosemite National Park's El Capitan peak shot with a hefty Pentax film camera he bought in 1999 for $1,700.

His wife, Phyllis, a latecomer to fine-art photography after they retired from teaching in the 1990s, favors a Hasselblad X-Pan for panoramic landscapes, such as a time-lapse shot of a harbor in Nova Scotia.

Of 11 partners and resident artists at the private gallery in Rochester - the western New York city where George Eastman transformed photography from an arcane hobby into a mass commodity with his $1 Brownie in 1900 - the Thompsons are the only ones left who haven't switched to digital cameras.

But that time may be near.

"I like the color we get in film, the natural light," says Phyllis Thompson, 70, who married her high-school sweetheart 50 years ago. "But digital cameras are getting much better all the time, and there will come a time when we probably won't be able to get film anymore. And then we'll have to change."

A billion rolls a year

At the turn of the 21st century, American shutterbugs were buying close to a billion rolls of film per year. This year, they might buy a mere 20 million, plus 31 million single-use cameras - the beach-resort staple vacationers turn to in a pinch, according to the Photo Marketing Association.

Eastman Kodak Co. marketed the world's first flexible roll film in 1888. By 1999, more than 800 million rolls were sold in the United States alone. The next year marked the apex for combined U.S. sales of rolls of film (upward of 786 million) and single-use cameras (162 million).

As for film cameras, domestic purchases have tumbled from 19.7 million cameras in 2000 to 280,000 in 2009 and might dip below 100,000 this year, says Yukihiko Matsumoto, the Jackson, Mich.-based association's chief researcher.

For InfoTrends imaging analyst Ed Lee, film's fade-out is moving sharply into focus: "If I extrapolate the trend for film sales and retirements of film cameras, it looks like film will be mostly gone in the U.S. by the end of the decade."

Still hanging on

Just who are the die-hards, holdouts and hangers-on?

Among those who still rely on film - at least part of the time - are advanced amateurs and a smattering of professionals who specialize in nature, travel, scientific, documentary, museum, fine art and forensic photography, market surveys show.

Regular point-and-shoot adherents who haven't made the switch tend be poorer or older - 55 and up.

But there's also a swelling band of new devotees who grew up in the digital age and may have gotten hooked from spending a magical hour in the darkroom during a high school or college class.

Others are simply drawn to its strengths over digital and are even venturing into retro-photo careers.

"In everything from wedding to portrait to commercial photography, young professionals are finding digital so prevalent that they're looking for a sense of differentiation," says Kayce Baker, a marketing director at Fujifilm North America. "That artistic look is something their high-end clients want to see."

Kodak remains the world's biggest film manufacturer, with Japan's Fuji right on its tail. But the consumer and professional films they make have dwindled to a few dozen film stocks in a handful of formats, becoming one more factor in the mammoth drop-off in film processing.

Scott's Photo in Rochester this year stopped daily processing of color print film because fewer than one in 20 customers are dropping off film. A decade ago, "we could process 300 rolls on a good day, and now we see maybe eight or 10 rolls on the few days we actually process," owner Scott Sims says.

For the masses, there's no turning back the clock.

"There's so many digital images taken every day, especially with mobile media, that never will hit a piece of paper," says Therese Mulligan, administrative chair of the School of Photographic Arts and Sciences at Rochester Institute of Technology.

An elective specialty

Even at major photography schools, film is an elective specialty.

"Our entire first two years' curriculum is digital in orientation," Mulligan says. "Those that follow a fine-art option are the first to gravitate toward film. Other genres we teach - photojournalism or advertising or biomedical - have a stronger digital emphasis because of the industry itself."

In a rich irony, film's newest fans - not unlike music aficionados who swear by vinyl records - are being drawn together via the Internet.

"The technology that enabled the demise of film is actually helping to keep it relevant with specific types of users," IDC analyst Chris Chute says.

Going downhill

But with the film market shrinking by more than 20 percent annually, most other signs point downhill. Analysts foresee Kodak offloading its still-profitable film division sometime in the next half-dozen years as it battles to complete a long and painful digital transformation.

Kodak will churn out a variety of films as long as there's sufficient demand for each of them, says Scott DiSabato, its marketing manager for professional film. It has even launched four new types since 2007.

While digital has largely closed the image-quality gap, DiSabato says a top-line film camera using large-format film "is still unsurpassed" in recording high-resolution images.

PLATES – Chicken Tortilla Soup

This is a recipe and a salvage. It turned out to be two good lunches.

I was given a can of Progresso chicken noodle soup by the good folks staffing a booth and promoting the foods of General Mills. I have not been much of a canned soup eater in my adult life but appreciate homemade soups for their warmth and goodness. One of the reasons for not eating canned soup is the high sodium content. The label says this can has 2 servings of soup and 690 milligrams of sodium per serving. That’s 29 percent of my daily allowance. If I ate the whole can – that would be almost 60 percent! Wow! I bet I don’t have that much sodium in four or five days of eating.

I could give the can away to a food drive (there are several coming up), but I was hungry. So I got creative. Here’s what happened:

I rummaged through the kitchen and found the following – spices (chili powder, cumin, garlic powder, fresh lime zest), vegetables (cilantro, onions, tomatoes), chicken, and the crumbs from the bottom of the tortilla chip bag you were going to throw away. I also found – avocado, cheese, sour cream, green onions, and more cilantro.

To make this recipe, divide the can of soup into two servings. Don’t worry if there’s noodles in it – it's not like Tia or Abuela is inspecting it for authenticity. Chop the chicken (I used a whole breast and divided it) and add to each portion. Chop the veggies and add to the carrots that are already there. I love cilantro and think that’s what gives this a good flavor. Next, use your seasonings to taste – a couple of shakes here and there of the cumin, then chili powder and garlic powder. A little goes a long way. I use a chipotle chili powder and it adds some GREAT flavor. The fresh lime zest really makes it tingle but you could put some lime juice in it if that’s what you have. Finally, I toasted the tortilla chip crumbs. Yes, a little toasting adds to the flavor complexities. I paid good money to Chef Paul Prudhomme to learn about “toasting” ingredients for recipes and I feel obliged to pass it along.

Mix everything together and heat in your favorite way. Put the other in the refrigerator for another day - or share with a friend.

You can top this with chopped avocado, some cheese and/or sour cream, green onions, and more cilantro. Use some more tortilla chips for crunchiness. Unfortunately the first serving didn’t get any of this as I was anticipating the results and just dug right in. Day two got some of these add-ons and they were good indeed.

It was fast and it was good. A little more trouble than opening the can and heating, but very tasty and filling.

There’s lots of good recipes for Chicken Tortilla Soup. Search the web and find one you like. Or take a free can of soup (of almost any kind) and be creative!

PLATES - Eating in Austin ... part 1

As much is Austin is a football town, Austin is a food town! And the Capital of the Lone Star State is perhaps the best topic to be blog entry numero uno.

My connection began in 1974, the moment I arrived at Sam Houston State University. My roommate graduated from John H. Reagan High School in Austin and took it upon himself to teach this Yankee about all things Texan. He learned me about Friday Night Lights, CFS, bar-b-que being both a NOUN and a VERB, and other great things for which I am eternally grateful - like Gary P Nunn, Jerry Jeff Walker, Michael Martin Murphey, and, of course, Willie, Waylon, and the boys. I think of him every single time I enter Travis County and start humming "I wanna go home with the armadillos ... "

And the music brings us to the food ...

My favorite place to eat is Threadgill's - both the original place on N Lamar and the place I like best on Barton Springs at Riverside. Both have great a place in Texas history. Take a moment ot read about them on their web site ...

Biggest reason I like them - no matter who goes with you, everyone in your party will find something they like. Texas country favorites are on the list (Chicken Fried Steak, Pecan Crusted Chicken) as well as burgers, meatloaf, and grilled items. There's even Liver and Onions which I hear are good but NO amount of money will ever get me to eat. There's also all kinds of sides - 28 choices. Now, I'm a meat and potatoes guy - but mostly MEAT. But they have GREAT vegetables. My faves are the San Antonio Squash, Broccoli Rice Casserole, Texas Black-Eyed Pea Caviar, and Garlic Cheese Grits Threadgill's offers a 3-choice or 5-choice plate. And while they don't ADVERTISE all you can eat, you do get refills on your sides (within reason). They have great portions, good prices.

http://www.threadgills.com/



My next favorite place is Mandola's Italian Market. They have two locations, the original on N Lamar at Guadalupe in The Triangle, and the new one out on Bee Cave Road. Damian Mandola's twin sons run the locations and Damian himself is a frequent visitor. I went to college with Big D (co-founder of Carrabba's) and that surely might prejudice this recommendation were it not for the good food ... and the happy responses from others! It's a casual atmosphere. They have good Italian food (to go and sit down, as well as menu and table service). There's meats and food in the Deli. An then there's DESSERTS!!! Cakes, cookies, gelato - yum! All homemade and fresh. The varieties change with demand. Lots of choices and sampling is encouraged!!! You can tell this is authentic Italian ... photos of the Virgin Mother, the Holy Father, Damian's mama Rosa, and Frank Sinatra greet you as you enter he Bee Cave location. Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia winks at you on the way to the restroom (you'll need a chair to read the letter). There's a lighted Bocce court out back. Wine is served by the glass or you can buy a bottle. Portions are generous. We got a "small" gelato, asked for two flavors, and had enough to share (had I wanted).


http://www.mandolasitalianmarket.com/



I HAD to eat at Bess Bistro the first time because it's owned by Sandra Bullock. I'll come back because of the food. They offer half price appetizers (they're called "morsels" on the menu) for happy hour (2:30 - 6:30 M-F), daily specials, and brunch on Sunday. They have a wonderful atmosphere - nice but not pretentious.

I had the Smoked Bacon Mussels for $5. There were 18 in a great tomato bisque with a bacon ragout. But the pan grilled garlic-butter ciabatta bread ... OMG!!! The bread MADE the meal. Okay - everything else was well crafted, and who expects 18 mussels in an appetizer? It was dinner for me on a Friday evening. They "only" had 4 beers taps and I was thinking - sure, B, M, C and SB (Shiner Bock) ... but NO - Independence's Austin Amber, Abita's Purple Haze, Victory's Hop Devil IPA and (512)'s Pecan Porter. Yummmmmm! Great choices. BTW - I missed Sandra by 18 hours. According to my sources, so did most other in the restaurant as she sat unassumingly at a table with baby Louis, her hair pulled back, no make-up, and blue jeans.

Went back for a second trip to Bess. This time, it was a date, and could there be ANY more pressure on a guy? We had (shared) the Caramelized Onion and Wild Mushroom Tart with petite mache salad (burgundy shallot vinagrette) and the Creole Shrimp Bess - 7 Jumbo/Extra Jumbo Gulf shrimp (about the size of your thumb and 16 - 24 per pound category) with grilled ciabatta. One of the chefs, Janelle, came out and chatted. To me, THAT is some kinda' pressure - to be willing to face your customers. She's from Lubbock, spent time in the US Navy (where she acquired her love and knowledge for seafood), and is doing what she LOVES. She had nothing to fear as everything was perfectly prepared. The waiter was punctual and informative; the maitre de stopped by several times, as well. Next trip - will it be for happy hour morsels or something on the newly revised menu???

http://www.bessbistro.com/


Austin is a BBQ town. Uncle Billy's Brew and 'Cue on Barton Springs and Stubbs are two places I've eaten. They do well with whatever you like. I'm a sausage guy. Uncle Billy's has moist and tender BBQ, generous portions, plentiful fried okra ... and very tasty home-brewed beer. There's a Honky-Tonk Happy Hour sat and Sunday 2-6 ... and it what Austin is all about. one word - Go!!!

http://www.unclebillysaustin.com/



Stubb's is close to the downtown action, just a few steps off Sixth Street. It's been ages since I was there but the line down Red River on a recent Friday night shows there's something worth waiting for inside ... like fried green tomatoes, smoked duck quesadillas, and Texas onion rings!

http://www.stubbsaustin.com



Take a drive out FM 1826 towards Driftwood (at Camp Ben McCullough) is Salt Lick BBQ. It's a wonderful place with spacious grounds and live music most nights. Expect a wait at prime times. It's cash only and BYOB. The meats are good but I pretty well stuff myself with their slaw.

http://www.saltlickbbq.com/



There's also a little blue stand, BBQ Heaven, on the corner of 7th Street and Red River that has GREAT food and you can see it being cooked on the pit outside. Nothing fancy ... but honest, hard-working folks making great food at a great price ... $3 and $4 sandwiches.


Austin also has lots of good Mexican food. The tried and true is Matt's El Rancho. If you drive to the east side of I-35 into the Hispanic areas, there are lots of good places.

http://www.mattselrancho.com/



Once place I'd never visited in previous trips was The Oasis. It has the best sunsets in Texas, and it was lovely the night I was there. We had great guacamole and good queso on chips which were way too thick and mass produced (I like my chips thin and crispy). I asked a friend what was good on the menu and he said it was all down hill from there. I've heard the same comments from friends in the two weeks after my visit. The hamburger I had was edible but not memorable. But the sunset ... awesome ... bring your camera!!! Learn to use your manual setting or you'll miss out on spectacular pix!!!!

http://www.oasis-austin.com/



Again - the opines here are my own. Yes, LOTS of places I've missed and many I wanna try - Artz Ribs, House Park BBQ, Hey Cupcake, Taco Hut and more. I haven't been compensated in any way from any of the above establishments.


Hey, wanna save some $$$'s on eating in Austin??? Some SERIOUS $$$$$$$$$$'s ... ???????

Here's a site that'll help you lots (it did for me!!!)

http://www.frugalfeaster.com/

PixPlatesPlaces - Earth Day Freebies

Some free Pix Plates and Places notes for Earth Day …

Starbucks and Caribou Coffee shops will be giving away free coffee if you bring in your own mug. Now, it doesn’t say what SIZE mug but I’m thinking the big Buc-ee’s Beaver mug might be a tad large (you know who you are). Also, I don’t see how they are going to limit your visits, so, with a Starbucks on almost every corner, many folks will be “happy” for days to come!

Wanna win a gift basket full of eco-friendly household cleaning products? Just comment on the Whole Foods Market blog! http://cot.ag/dRds4e

Disney Store locations are giving away a free reusable Mickey Mouse tote bag to customers in exchange for five plastic shopping bags. Many grocery stores are doing the same thing.

Admission to all 394 U.S. national parks is 100 percent FREE on Earth Day!

EVOS is offering customers free organic milkshakes to honor Earth Day. Sorry, I’d never heard of the Tampa based chain (FL, GA, NC) until now - http://www.evos.com/

While supplies last, Origins is offering customers free full-size cleanser to customers who fill out a short survey and bring a bottle of their current skin care product -- full or empty -- to any Origins location.

This is kinda the opposite of a give-away … Old Navy stores will be accepting your old flip-flops, which they'll be melting down to be used as playground materials. Doesn’t say they’re giving YOU anything, but still, better there than in a landfill.

Extending Earth Day into Earth Weekend …
Tomorrow, April 23 … Lowes is giving away 1 million trees.

PLACES - Going to Seattle?

Seattle is the Emerald City because it's so green (in many ways). People thinks it rains a lot in Seattle but it actually rains more in Houston, but Houston gets its rain in 1,2 and 3 inch toad stranglers rather than the 1/8-inch a day misting of the Pacific Northwest.

How long are you there??? Do you have a car or transportation??? Where are you staying??? What do you want to see???? I've done Seattle with and without a vehicle.

Pike Place Market is THE place for me ... I try to do it every other day when I'm there if I'm not staying near there ... actually START my day there ... get the good stuff ... then come back at closing and pick up bargains. You can negotiate for bread at the end of the day. Also, got 3 lobsters for less than the price of two - my favorite deal everrrrrrrr!!!

Ohh ... Rainier Cherries when they're in season!!! They're my faves ... could eat them until I was sick (again - I have (yes, love them). And I have found ways to cook my own seafood and buy it fresh at the market - then go get some herbs and veggies and bread ... wines and beer ... local berries ... and I'm a happy camper. Many go to Pike Place Market to see the fish toss. It's fun to watch!

There’s several good places to eat around the Market. And there’s two originals. The very first Starbuck’s is in the market. I don’t drink coffee, but I do enjoy the place and the aromas. The other is Sur la Table. It’s full of all kinds of stuff you don’t have in your kitchen but could find a way to use, if your kitchen was twice as large! Just walk around the place and have fun.

Eats ... any place you feel comfortable in Chinatown ... grilled fish along the waterfront from any of the guys grilling on barrels ... Pyramid Brewing Alehouse across from Safeco Field. It's more than beer ... but if you LIKE craft beers, it's awesome!!!

If you have time and want to really see things, I recommend a Seattle City Pass. Besides going up in the Space Needle (it now gives you two trips - one in the day, one at night), it offers admittance to the Aquarium, Science Center, Woodland Park Zoo (incredible place to take animal pix). It’s also good for a cruise in the Harbor. PLUS, you get a choice of the Museum of Flight or the Music Project or the Science Fiction Museum (I took the Museum of Flight – spent the whole day there ... it has one of two Concordes in the US, the Air Force One 707 Lyndon Johnson was sworn in on, an SR-71 Blackbird, 747 number 1, and 727 number 1,000 .. among other great planes). When you’re at the Space Needle, ride the monorail, the first one in the USA.

The City Pass will save you half of what you’d pay to see these individually. But if you do the Space Needle, Harbor Tour and Museum of Flight, then the rest would be free.

http://www.citypass.com/city/seattle.html


also around town … If you didn’t do the Harbor Tour, then jump on a short Ferry trip ... probably cheaper … and ride across and back. If you liked "Frasier" head into the north side to see the views allegedly seen from his home (pretty homes and great views). Kubota Park is also cute. Take the Underground Tour – they raised Seattle 20 feet and you can see the old Seattle. You'll see and learn lots, like where "Skid Row" came from.

Into music? Seattle is the birthplace of grunge music but a wide variety of musicians are from the Emerald City. It’s the home of Nirvana, Foo Fighters, Pearl Jam, Jimi Hendrix, Kenny G, Alice in Chains, Qunicy Jones, Chris Cornell, Queensryche, and Heart. You can go listen to music in the places where they started. You can visit the Hendrix Memorial at the Greenwood Memorial Cemetery just outside the city. Check local publications for live music at places like The Crocodile, The Paramount, Moore Theater, OK Hotel and The Vera Project.


Getting away from the city …

Microsoft is headquartered just across the bay in Redmond. Take one of the floating bridges to get there.

Head for Snoqualmie for scenery (the falls are higher than Niagara but not nearly the water amount) and wineries.

The best oysters are at the mouth of Hood River on Puget Sound on the Olympic Peninsula. Take a Ferry to Bremerton and drive from there. If you have a rental car ... ??? I’ve had Dungeness crabs on Dungeness Spit – and all other kinds of seafood there as well.

There are two great lighthouses on the Pacific just north of the mouth of the Columbia River … North Head Light House is my favorite. Volunteers take turns staffing the lighthouse to give tours. You can rent the keeper houses by the day, week, or weekend. It’s at Ilwaco on the coast, it’s picturesque and awesome – great seafood just off the boats in town. Pretty views.

Other Ideas ... head for Mt Rainier - there's horseback riding at the base of the mountain that's fun ... the Boeing Plant in Everett ... orca's off San Juan Islands ... Mount St Helen's ... Columbia River (go down to Portland!) ... Tacoma Wildlife Park ...

Sports wise, there’s Mariner baseball and Sounders soccer.


Let me know if you need any additional (or more specific) suggestions.