Noodles on a cold night

One of my favorite winter night dishes is soup. Reminds me of home and a wood stove heating the house. Of snow filled days and coming in to have a cup of chicken noodle. Now it is a little harder to find healthy soups. We make our own most of the time but when I want to make a more heart health soup with the taste of everyone's favorite Ramen I use cellophane bean thread noodles. Gluten free, 180 cals, 43 grams of carbs and 0 down the line for everything else. I spice it up with dried red pepper flakes and some low sodium soy sauce. I added a little left over wasabi. So good. Hot and spicy. Check out the noodles the next time you are in your local Asian market. God bless, thanks for reading and keep your stomach warm.

Lunch time

I decided to make a little deer slider on homemade bread with some some Aj Jus on the side. Cooked in garlic, a little soy sauce and onion. Not too fancy but it tasted good. Rather let it sit overnight in the soy but I was hungry. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

Winter chill

Vegan slow cooker chilli on this cold rainy winter night. Tomatoes, pinto, black and kidney beans, one onion, one cup green chilies, one medium jalapeño, chilli powder, cumin, and a bit of mole. Its been cooking since 1 pm. Warm comfort food that fills you up and keeps you warm all night. WARNING!!! Will cause gas and you might not want to eat it on a work night. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

Sushi for lunch

I had to treat myself Friday to some #sushi at #Aki in Hanover Pa.  It was really good a great price.  3 rolls for 10.50 and I got a 4th to top me off along with a small salad.  I ordered the spicy crab, California roll, Phill roll and the eel skin.  The ell skin was my favorite.  It was crunchy and warm and was not fishy at all.  None of the rolls were bad at all don't get me wrong.  Next time I will have to try the #sashimi.  I so far have not had that I did not like.  If you have read any of my other blog posts you will know I am not shy with the food I eat.  I will try anything once.  Sorry this is not a long post but it was a very simple lunch yet very delicious.  God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the fish tank.

clockwise from upper left
Spicy crab
Philadelphia roll
Spicy California roll
Eel Skin

Sheetz run

This morning was a cold one here in Pennsylvania. On my way to work I had to stop to get gas and where is my place of choice?  #Sheetz. For those who don't know what that is let me tell you. It is only the best place on earth to get fast food cheep. They have everything. And the best part is they are open 24/7. Well I use to get the breakfast sandwiches a few times a week. Now that I am watching my sodium I had to sacrifice that meal. Well being a cold morning I was going to get a hot tea till I remembered that they started selling Peanut Butter Hot Chocolate. So I said "self go for it" I was not disappointed in the least. Whole milk, chocolate and peanut butter all in one. It was a melted Recess Peanut Butter cup in a cup. What would I change about it? Buy a large next time and a little less peanut butter. It was very rich toward the end but very tasty. If you are near a Sheetz I suggest you try one. I will again. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

Low salt doesn't me no taste

Cuban black bean soup was on our menu tonight. Made from rehydrated black beans, smoked poblano  peppers and jalapeños. After simmering for a few hours a quarter of the pot was blended to thicken the soup. I topped mine with a few tortilla chips and thin shavings of cheddar cheese. Ellen topped hers with avocado and chips. Delicious dinner made by my wife. She is vegan and I am not but believe me this was great. Having a life changing decision of a heart transplant means different diet so I do well. Low salt boss not mean no taste or great meals. Give it a try.  God bless you all. Thanks for reading and pass this along.

A week and a day in Hospital

What a crazy ride.  I have not been blogging for a while now because I have been in and out of the hospital.  For those who do not know me on a face to face level and do not know what is wrong with me let me get you caught up.  I was born with TGA.  This is a congenital heart defect.  With age more and more problems are catching up to me to the point where I will be at some point over the next 2 weeks be listed on the transplant list.  I have lived with this thought in my head since 2006 when, not if I will ever need a new heart so I am past the scared point.  As you can see by my past blogs I have not eaten the most healthy meals but there very many of them that are very healthy.  I love food and I am human so I am going to cheat on a diet.  With all that said they had me on a diet in the hospital of low sodium.  I have been keeping with that for a while now but like I said I cheat.  Now I really need to cut back on the salt.  Cooking at home is the best way.  So most of my blogs from now on will be just that.  Home cooking, low sodium and tasty meals or treats.  I wanted to post a few of the meals they served me in the hospital.  University of Maryland Medical Center was where I was for a week and a day.  I had many meals there but these are a few of the better ones.  Enjoy the pictures and I look forward to writing more blogs in the near future.  God bless, thanks for reading and see you at my table.

Turkey,bacon,onion, egg and cheese

Just made the best brunch sandwich ever. Ellen's home made bread bookending bacon, a fresh egg, tomato,cheese,fried onions and a turkey burger. All grilled and melded together. The side dish was fresh out of the crock pot applesauce that Ellen is making. Washed it down with a glass of whole milk. Delicious. Sorry this blog does not have a scratch and sniff feature. God bless, thanks for reading and try to hold your envy for my brunch. Just kidding.

Grilled cheese and tomato

Fresh sliced bread, american and cheddar cheese and a fresh sliced tomato from the garden. Light butter on each side and browned to perfection. What more could anyone ask for. Saying good bye to the garden tomatoes is a sad thing but the eggs that our chickens are giving us really help in the transition. Thanks for reading, God bless and see you at the table. Oh and some fresh apples we got yesterday. Ellen is making apple sauce while June thinks they are the best thing in the world till the next best thing. Haha.

Double yoke

This is a short one sorry yokes. Yes I know I wrote "yoke" its was a yoke. See what I did there. I used the same word two times in homage to today's blog title. The chicks gave me my first double the other day and it was delicious. So happy we got the hens. I believe Ivy gave me this one. 27 eggs in less than 2 weeks. Thank you girls. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the henhouse.

Day of fresh foods

I have been waiting for this day for a while now.  We got peeps a while back, all hens.  I wanted to taste the fresh eggs so bad and I had my meals already planed out even before they were living outside.  Breakfast was going to be Bacon, egg and cheese on homemade bread toasted in the pan golden brown and served with orange juice.  Lunch was going to be what ever but it ended up being a pit beef sandwich and fries from a local place called Little Everetts BBQ.  I wanted it to be The Varsity but sadly they are closed.  You will be missed. lilevsbbq.com has some really good pit beef and pit everything but their fries are the best around.  I took one of the teens from my church youth group and being a big eater I wanted to see him tackle the Big Boy combo.  He ate his sandwich but no room left for the fries.  Both of us took them home for a snack.  My third meal of the day was going to be a summer classic.  Why summer you ask?  Well who wants a BLT with store bought out of season tomatoes...NOT me.  Fresh is the way, the only way to go.  

My morning started out with going to the butcher shop for my bacon.  Yeah I could have just used the pack of frozen turkey bacon in the ice box but no.  I had to have a fresh cut right off the pig bacon.  Thick cut.  I like many other locals still call the place Nells but it is now stoneypointfarmmarket.com and if you are in the market for fresh meat and homemade salads this is the place. They even have two sections dedicated to dogs and beef jerky.  They make everything on the spot and its fresh.  When I say fresh you could hear the cows from my parents back yard when it was butchering time.  I walked in and they were already in the process of cutting bacon for the day.  I put my order in for 1lb.  How thick? I was asked.  Thicker than what you have in the case.  8 slices and 1.25lbs later I had my bacon.  Now for the eggs.  The first egg the chickens laid was soft and not ready to eat.  The second and third were perfect.  A little small but that was not going to stop me.  I pulled out a fresh loaf of bread Ellen baked the week before and sliced off 2 large thick pieces.  Let the cooking begin.  The finish product was so filling and delicious that I was not sure I would be ready for lunch but I was being the eater I am.  I am going to skip the lunch part of my day since I already reviewed Everetts in the past.  Jumping to dinner I took the bacon to my parents.  Again fresh bread and tomato picked that day from their garden.  I fried the bacon outside so not to smell up the house which we all know bacon does.  It was a hit.  My nephew was there and all he ate was a plate of bacon.  I cooked 4 pieces of mine and a full pack of the store bought prepacked bacon.  He had a slice of mine and said that was the best piece of bacon he has ever had.  Being full from the last two meals I only had one BLT but that was enough.  I have 3 pieces of bacon left over which I froze for a cold winter day when I need a good pick me up sandwich.  That was my day of fresh eats.  I wish I had more to offer but I can only eat so much in one day.  God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the table.

For the first and last time-not a food blog

I wanted to use Wikipedia and add something to it but going about it was so difficult for me I resorted to bring it here so I can have the credit.  So for now on as of September 2, 2014 any time you hear the word or any version of it you know where it came from.  Many of my friends said I needed to add it to the Wiki site but like I said no clue how.  Now for the word.  Some of you that know me in real life (IRL) have heard me say this word and each time a new person hears it I have to explain it to them.  So for now on they don't have an excuse of not knowing it.  Flender (Flen-der).  This is the term I came up with so I could have a quick way of telling someone that I have not read the book but listened to it on audio.  I drive a lot for work and listen to audio books all the time and when people ask me if I have read a book I have to say "no I have not read it but I have listened to it on audio CD or MP3" Now I just say I flendered it or I am flendering it right now, it is on my list to flender.  I am a flenderer (someone who does not read but enjoys a book on audio).  I have flendered many books over the year.  I know it may seem lazy to you and noting can replace the physical book taking it in your hands and read it but with driving and how much I do not care for music flendering is the way I go.  So the next time you see me or talk to me or hear anyone, anywhere around the world say the word "Flender" or any derivative of the word it came from me.  Thanks for listening and passing along my word.  Keep it going and lets see it in the dictionary one day.hahaha..  God bless, thanks for reading and happy flendering.

Fried tomatoes

This is going to be a short one. Fried tomatoes. Need I say more?   Flower, pepper, olive oil and just a dash of salt. From garden to plate in less than 15 minutes. Hello summer!!!!

Lancaster Pa farm markets

This past Saturday we took a trip to Lancaster Pa with some close friends. They go often and knew their way around. We stopped a a few farmers markets and produce stands sampling our way through the town. Cheese, meats,breads and sales were just a few of what we had. I bought a few things ( beef sticks, horseradish mustard, tea) and a few other things. I included some pictures to show what I tried. Now understand I tried a lot more than I took pictures of. I was getting full and did not want to ruin my lunch. Believe me when I say I don't regret one sample or bite I took. These are the kind of trips I love. Will we be going back. For sure. Ellen found a great food stand that had vegan dishes and around us that is hard to find. She took advantage of it. Also we went to a vegan bakery. Vegan treats in Bethlehem Pa. She got a good assortment of cakes and other things that she can freeze and enjoy later. If you ever go on a trip like this bring your coolers and ice packs. Bring home as much as you can because you never know when you will be getting another chance. God bless you all, thanks for reading and see you on the road on your way to your local market. Spend that hard earned money smart and local.

Vegan Slow cooker layered tamale pie

Tonight's dinner was vegan slow cooker tamale pie.  What is that you ask?  Well it is a vegan spin on tamale cooked in a slow cooker (crock pot) topped with cheese.  Corn tortillas is used to make layers and to thicken up the pie.  Spicy, healthy and loaded with flavor.  After plating vegan sour cream, avocado and diced scallions are put on top.  We added a spoon of salsa as well.  Eat it with chips or right out of the bowl.  My only problem with it was I was able to eat more of it.  Don't eat a large lunch before otherwise you will have the same problem.  Would I eat this again..Yes and I will be for lunch tomorrow.  Letting it sit over night will allow the flavors to blend making it even better.   Thanks for reading, God bless and see you all at the table.

Bread and butter

This is a short one sorry readers.  Fresh out of the oven bread. It is one of the things in my plate if I was to pick a death row meal.

Second time and a first

Well this is the first time I am posting about a place for the second time. The Varsity in the Amish Market.  I raved last time about their mac and cheese and pit beef. Well this time they topped it. Mac and Cheese with lump crab meat, old bay season and bread crumbs on top. Amazing. The portion was enough for two but being the hog I am I ate it all. This place is a must if you are in the area. My second review is for the Firehouse Grill in Littlestown Pa. I had their chip beef and gravy over toast with fried potatoes. Not to salty, thick and very tasty.  Price was great as well. The potatoes were great. Cooked with onions and browned up very nicely. Would I eat there again. Sure would. As for the Varsity, it is not a matter of if I will eat there again it is a matter of when. Not soon enough for me. God bless, thanks for reading and see you at the diner.

Farmers market delight

On a suggestion from a friend (thanks Adam) I went to the Amish Market of Hanover Pa for lunch. He said one of the stands had the best Mac and Cheese he has ever had.  So of course I had to find out for myself. I did a quick walk through of the market and saw some great looking foods but I was there for one thing. After finding the Varsity Fine Delicatessen where they have pit beef, subs, soups and sides I sat at the bar and ordered. The beef smelled so good as did the pork and other dishes cooking. The waitress came over and I ordered the combo plater of a pit sandwich, a side and a drink. I got the mac and cheese as my side. Watching them cook was great entertainment. As I started taking pictures I was busted by the owner so I introduce myself. He was super friendly and even let me behind the counter to take a close up of his cooking. The meat is done outside but the stove is where mac and cheese was. Each order was to order. He did not like letting it get old and stale so each order was pan heated. Three cheese and 5 seasons one of which was garlic. The pit beef was cooked perfect for me, rare. The side was amazing. So creamy and steaming hot. Large elbow noodles, a great amount of cheese and seasoned perfect. If you ever go please give them your business. Also the Susquehannock Fruits and Vegetables. They have everything pickled. I got peach butter, horseradish mustard and pickled spicy garlic cloves. The last is amazing. Never had them before and I think I am going to have to hide them from myself or I will eat the entire jar. Would I go back. You got that right. If I could I would eat there every weekend. God bless, thanks for reading, support local and see you at the markets. http://amish-markets.com 

Sliders from a food truck

The other day I got a chance that I rarely get. To eat from a food truck. I take advantage of situations like that when they come up. 

https://m.facebook.com/pages/Upslidedown-Dave/117827391737507?id=117827391737507&refsrc=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2F&_rdr 

Up Slide Down was outside my office and I had to go. Their menu was very simple so decisions were easy. I got the American classic and the Buffalo chicken sliders. The burger was topped with tomato, cheese, coleslaw, fried onion rods and condiments. Topped with pickles and a yellow cherry tomato. Great taste, juicy and not over filling. The buffalo chicken had the coleslaw and topped with the tomato. Not too spicy and again not too filling. Service was great and Dave was very personable. I recommend if you are in the area and see them go for it. You will not be disappointed. God bless, thanks for reading and see you inline at the next food truck adventure.

The do's and don'ts of Pizza

Now remember this is all my opinion and may not be what you think at all.  But this is my blog not yours. Lets start out with the first layer, the crust.  It must be fresh. None of this frozen dough or premade crust.  La Bellas in Littlestown does this right with fresh dough. http://www.ltownlabellas.com/ If you are ever in town and want a good slice along with many other Italian dishes please visit.  No they are not paying me.  Cooking it.  I think the dough should be cooked a little before toppings even start to touch it.  First off the sauce will just saturate the crust if you put it down on raw dough. With a slight crust to it the sauce and other toppings will not make it all soggy and make for a longer cooking time and overcooking the toppings.  On with the toppings.  The sauce can not be too sweet or too runny. Sweet sauce is good but over sweet will take away from the other flavors of the toppings and make it harder to eat.  It will be like eating a dessert and that is not what you are going for when eating a pizza.  A fresh sauce is ideal.  I try to make mine from scratch and use tomatoes and add my own spices.  I can limit the amount of salt as well. Making the pizza too salty has the same effect as too sweet.  Also it makes you want to drink more during and later.  Not a good idea.Cheese.  Here is where we will probably agree.  Fresh cheese of your choice.  Mine is always mozzarella and nothing else. Some of you out there like multiple cheeses and that is fine in your house on your pizza but not mine.  I want the stringy white cheese that makes it so good.  If I can have a ball of it and slice it myself that would be perfect but most of the time that is not possible so I have to go with the bagged cheese.  Now here is where you all will get mad at me. So if you want to stop right now i understand.  Veggies are alright on pizza.  The basic for me.  Onions if they are browned before not while cooking.  Again you will over cook the pizza trying not to have under cooked onions.  Some of you like all the peppers, mushrooms, broccoli and other viggies on top. Leave them off.  Mushrooms are just gross.  They have a bizarre texture and it does not go well with pizza.  peppers just ruin the flavor of the pizza.  they are so overpowering that you never taste anything else.  Now don't get me wrong.  I like veggies just not all them on my pizza.  On to the meat.  Leave off the sausage. Way too much grease. It gives me heart burn and acid re flux.  You already have it with the cheese and too much of it is not a good thing.  Pepperoni is about the same for me as sausage.  If it is on the pizza i can pull it off and be fine with it.  I would rather not have to do that because i lose cheese doing it.  Precooked bacon is a great thing but not too much. Yes precook your bacon.  Floppy bacon will only add to the grease.  By precooking it you can drain the grease and have the awesome crispy texture. Yeah I said it, not too much.  same reason as the sausage, too much grease. Shrimp and other sea foods.  I love it on my pizza.  it all must be precooked at least a little and preseasoned but only a little.  Too much seasoning will ruin the flavor of the pizza. Anchovies can be added only if they are alone.  They are so salty that you should limit the amount on top.  2 per slice max.  it is up to you for any other toppings.  I would leave most everything off my pizza and just add a little of my favorites. Spread it out on top. You don't need a topping in every mouth full.  Cooking the pizza.  Ideal way is in a brick oven heated by wood.  I like the char black power on the bottom.  speed cooking one in an electric oven is most of the pizza joints way to do it so when you have one cooked in a brick oven you will never want to eat it any other way.  I even grilled the pizza on the gas grill.  Not the same effect as wood but you can add wet wood chips to your grill to give it the smokey flavor. Crust must be crispy on the outside and not too burnt in the middle.  Turning the pizza should be done to get the over all equal cook.  if you slice a pizza and pick up said slice and it flops down and your toppings fall off into your lap you cooked it wrong.  you should be able to bend and hear the crust break along the edge and fold the pizza slice.  I might have left off a few things and you might have thought of a few things.  If that is the case please comment and let me know.  What toppings do you like on your pizza?  Did I offend any of you and your tastes in pizza?  God bless all of you, thanks for reading and see you at the table. For pictures of a real pizza please refer to my blog on Pepe's Pizza and check out their website. http://www.pepespizzeria.com/

Pizza night

Friday night I made Ellen and I a deep dish Bisquick pizza. Hers was vegan and mine was not. They are so easy to make and very filling. The pans I used were two 9 inch cake pans. I coated them with a little flower so the crust would not stick. The sauce was home made as well as the crust. Ellen's was topped with onions and broccoli with vegan cheese. Mine just was regular mozzarella and some garlic. 20 minute cook time and very little clean up. I recommend it if you have picky eaters in the house and they want their own pizza. Also I can imagine kids would love to make their own pizza and add toppings. Hope you all try it. God bless, eat well and see you at the table.