Sara Learns to Shoot

Being a teacher, I was deeply disturbed by the events yesterday in Connecticut. From time to time, it crosses my mind what I would have to do in the event that my classroom was under attack. I was thinking about it the past 24 hours of course. Then, my husband said to me this morning, "I think you need to learn how to shoot. Let's try it today."

I haven't wanted to shoot for a very long time, but this horrific incident gave me motivation today. Realistically, I know that I would not be shooting to protect myself in the classroom. However, it changes a mindset. In times like these, people are screaming for gun control. I think that that is not the answer. Instead, I think it is being prepared for incidents like these. Instead of continuously being sitting ducks, people need to learn to have a defensive awareness. 

It goes against natural instinct not to have it. Animals have it. Humans had it at one time. Our culture has erased it.

These are tools I used today, minus the motor oil. I shot a .357 Sig, .40 Glock, and a 12 gauge shot gun. In total, it was about 100 rounds.

Then, I learned how to put in squishy ear plugs. In the picture below, they do look a little bit like carrots.

Below is Fred. Brad modeled Fred after a Bottle Q target. I found a large Cabela's box to make Fred. I find it funny that we got to use a box from Cabela's. It was so appropriate. Anyway, Fred was our mock violator and intruder. The top vertical strip was my target for the CNS (central nervous system). The center dot was the body mass. Brad propped Fred up against a very large dirt mound covered with fallen pine branches.

I shot at Fred from three different distances: 5 ft, 10 ft, and 15 ft. The main purpose of the drills was to get me to shoot at someone who was coming into our room. The maximum distance is about 12 ft. I had six off mark shots. Three of those shots were from using one hand only in case I was injured. The others were when I was under pressure to shoot quickly within a time limit. I was pretty impressed with my pistol shots. 

Then Brad loaded the shot gun with some small bird shot ammunition. This gun was a little more difficult for me to shoot. We had already been shooting for about four hours. My arms were tired and I was getting cranky. I think I'll still have to work on the shot gun, but three or four shots for today was just fine. 

For years I have had a fear of guns. Today, I came back from my shooting practice with confidence that I could protect myself with a gun. I have a new respect for the weapon and I look forward to practicing... maybe once mroe. 

Thai Peanut Chicken... Pasta?

I was home alone this afternoon and I made a vow to myself to do minimal work over the weekend because I was getting burned out. I also made a vow not to back a whole lot more until Thanksgiving because I am getting chubby. So, I decided to make something new to take for lunch this week.

Sometimes the best and/or most creative dishes occur when I have no idea what it is I am going to make. I assessed my kitchen stores and found that I had an almost finished jar of peanut butter, one lonely onion, a spaghetti squash, one lime, half a bag of broccoli florets, and a Thai Peanut Bake pouch from a Taste of Thai. At first I dismissed the idea of putting the peanut butter theme and the squash together. As I brainstormed for ideas though, I thought of pad thai... in which I did not have any noodles for. Then I thought of the spaghetti squash, and I just went for it. After all, it's spaghetti, isn't it? ha!

It is actually pretty good together! I even made my husband try it. He hates spaghetti squash, but he did not mind this. He did think it could use some curry on it, but I am a little afraid to add it. I might add the curry in one small portion sometime this week. I left it out of the recipe below, but you can always add some on your own!

Ingredients
1 large spaghetti squashed
4 chicken breasts
1 Taste of Thai spicy peanut bake package (2 pouches)
2 cups broccoli florets, cooked
1 medium onion
Pam (a few sprays)
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 1/2 Tbsp peanut butter (I used creamy, but chunky could work too)
1 tsp Taste of Asia hot sauce (or any sweet and hot asian sauce)
1/2 lime

Method

Step one (Squash): Prepare the spaghetti squash by baking halves, open side down for 40 minutes at 350 degrees F. There are other ways to do this, like the microwave, too. Shred the squash once it is cooled into long spaghetti-like strands and place it in a large bowl.

Step two (Chicken): Roll the chicken breasts in the the spicy peanut bake topping. Top any leftover topping on the chicken. Bake the chicken for 20-22 minutes in a 350 degrees F oven. Once the chicken is finished baking, let it cool. Then slice it into bite size chunks. Add the chicken to the spaghetti squash bowl.

Step three (Onions and Broccoli): Dice the onion and saute it with some Pam and 1 tsp of cayenne pepper until the onion is translucent. Add the onion and cooked broccoli to the squash and chicken mixture. 

Step four (Sauce): In a small bowl, mix the peanut butter and the Taste of Asia hot sauce together. Add this to the larger bowl mixture. Then squeeze the lime juice into the bowl.  I relied on the water from the squash and the lime to thin out the peanut butter. You may need to add a little moisture on your own if the peanut butter is too thick.

Other ideas for serving would be to add more peanuts, curry powder as mentioned above, and Sriracha! 

Fisherman's Pie

Last year I had a goal to try and eat more fish. I had never liked fish, but my husband loves it. It also has all of those nutritional values like Omega 3's, so I figured it was time for me to make a try. flipped through some cook books, and I found a few recipes I was willing to try. One was called Quick fish pie with peas from The Illustrated Quick Cook by DK Books. I love this book because the recipes range from classic to inventive and they are pretty quick to make!

This time Brad and I made a few substitutions to the original recipe. We chose to use red potatoes and leave the skin on them for the "crust" topping as opposed to using regular baking potatoes. I liked this better because it had a more robust flavor and was not as bland. We usually have to add a lot of salt to the potatoes, but not this time. If you would prefer russet or gold potatoes, peel and quarter the potatoes before you boil them

We can also choose the different types of fish we place in it. It calls for 11/2 pound of boneless whitefish, like haddock, cod, or pollack. This time we used half flounder and half haddock. We also added a pound of shrimp to change it up a little. It was an amazing addition! 

Ingredients
2 lbs. red potatoes, scrubbed with skins on
1 tbsp butter
1 1/2 lb skinless boneless whitefish (like haddock, flounder, hake, cod, pollack)
3/4 cup milk
1 cup frozen peas
4 hard boiled eggs, peeled and chopped
salt and ground pepper to taste

For the sauce
2 tbsp butter
3 tbsp all-purpose flour
1 1/4 cups milk
1 tbsp Dijon mustard

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 400 degrees F (or the broiler on high). Peel and quarter the potatoes, and boil or steam in a pan of salted water for about 15 minutes, or until soft. Drain well and mash. Add the butter, and mash again. Set aside and keep warm.

2. Put the fish in a shallow frying pan. Season well with salt and pepper. Pour in just enough of the milk to cover, and poach over medium heat for 3-4 minutes. Remove the fish with a slotted spoon, and transfer to a baking dish.

3. To make the sauce, melt the butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Remove from the heat, and stir in the flour with a wooden spoon until smooth. Return the pan to the heat, and gradually add the milk, stirring constantly. Keep cooking and stirring for 5-6 minutes until the sauce has thickened. Add more milk if needed. Stir in the mustard and season with salt and pepper. Gently stir in the peas and eggs. 

4. Spoon the sauce over the fish and stir gently.Top with the mashed potatoes, swirling them so that they are not flat, but have dips and peaks. Bake or cook the pie under the broiler for about 10 minutes, or until the top is crisp and the mixture is heated through. 

Haunting Violet

By Alyxandra Harvey
My Rating: 5 of 5 Stars


Goodreads Synopsis
Violet Willoughby doesn't believe in ghosts. But they believe in her. After spending years participating in her mother's elaborate ruse as a fraudulent medium, Violet is about as skeptical as they come in all matters supernatural. Now that she is being visited by a very persistent ghost, one who suffered a violent death, Violet can no longer ignore her unique ability. She must figure out what this ghost is trying to communicate, and quickly because the killer is still on the loose.

Afraid of ruining her chance to escape her mother's scheming through an advantageous marriage, Violet must keep her ability secret. The only person who can help her is Colin, a friend she's known since childhood, and whom she has grown to love. He understands the true Violet, but helping her on this path means they might never be together. Can Violet find a way to help this ghost without ruining her own chance at a future free of lies?

My Review

When I pick up a book and sit down and begin to read it, I always want to love it. Haunting Violet by Alyxandra Harvey is one of those books that does not disappoint because I loved it the entire way through. It was a great book to be stuck at home with during Hurricane Sandy.

Haunting Violet is a story that is well written with all of the components I wish for in a book. It flawlessly blended mystery, historic fiction, young love, and paranormal elements into seamless page turner. Neither of these elements took over the story. It wasn't solely about ghosts or solving a mystery because the plot was so well fused it just seemed like an interesting story! I also loved the characters and found myself fond of or hating characters quickly with their short written developments. Towards the end, my opinions even shifted. I love it when books keep you on your toes!

The love elements of this book made me giggle. This is exactly the type of love story I would have wanted to read when I was a teenager. Something as simple a meaningful finger brush are so much more exciting than some of the erotic novels that are currently popular. It is nice to see an age appropriate romance that projects a little more reality and value in this day and age. I also loved that there was a small love triangle centered around Violet and that she chose well in the end based on sound reasons.

I loved this book and am looking forward to following Harvey to read some more of her work!

When James Met Sandy

Although lacking the love story that When Harry Met Sally had, When James Met Sandy has the potential to be a comedic tragedy.  Something tells me that the two are not getting along well. Specifically, the James River is flowing currently flowing backwards from Hurricane Sandy. Talk about women ruling the roost!

Today, I will be taking photographs of the pier on the James River outside of my home from the kitchen window. Although I like to write about exciting things, the major part of me hopes that this story lacks a lot of excitement. 

It is also pretty cool to compare with Hurricane Irene because I made similar post last year. Click Here!

Monday, October 29
8:00 am

The river is up to just underneath the pier. As you can see by the droplets on the window, it is raining! However, there is very little wind.

Monday, October 29
10:00 am

It has stopped raining, but the James is now up and over the pier. The river is also flowing the opposite direction in which it usually flows. 

Monday, October 29
11:00 am

It has begun raining again! The wind is picking up. I zoomed out on the picture below because the river is actually completely over some parts of the pier.

Monday, October 29
12:00 pm

There has been relatively little change since 11:00 am . However, the water has risen a touch and wind is picking up a touch more. Every once in awhile there will be a strong gust, but it is relatively calm for a hurricane... so far. Below is a close up shot of the water.

Monday, October 29
2:30 pm

Crate Myrtles are starting to bang into the house and the rain is now a full out rain as opposed to a hard drizzle. You can see in the picture below that the tide is starting to move out rather quickly as well. I can see the pier... and a broken tree limb from banging into the house...

Monday, October 29
4:00 pm

I just took a magical nap with the rain hitting the windows and the roof, sounding like little drunken fairies. The whimsical wind was caressing the house outside. I woke up to another magical turn of events: the tide is going out quicker than it came up!

Tuesday, October 30
11:00 am

Sandy and James have finally broken up. Sandy moved on to find some new bachelors like the Hudson River. They had it worse than James did. We have a few partially flooded roads and some broken tree limbs. I feel blessed that James and Sandy's break up did not cause any further devastation. I leave this post with a picture from this morning and a much calmer pier that is happy it survived another James River break up.

Addis Ethiopian Restaurant

Addis Ethiopian Restaurant
Style: Ethiopian
Website: Addis Restaurant

My Rating: 3/5 Stars

Likes: Vocabulary dictionary on the menu, food was tasty and not too spicy, not stingy with the injera (scooping bread), decent beer selection, cumin vinaigrette

Dislikes: It was just like Ethiopia- I had a fly in my beer! (seriously), meat portion could be more 



The Fleenor-Thomas dinner club strikes again when we have a Groupon for something different! This time I was the only person who had eaten Ethiopian food prior to our excursion. However, it had been nearly ten years since I had eaten it last!

The restaurant had a menu with a glossary attached to it. This was very helpful because the items are written in Amharic. Here are some of the words I learned and thought was helpful:

The Table's Spread

Injera- The spongy bread that is used to scoop the food

Tibs- Usually beef, unless otherwise noted

Wat or Wot- Stew

Berbere- Red chili seasoning used in hot stews

Awaze- Red chili powder mixed with spices like tumeric

Once we were seated, we joined the Thomas family and ordered some water and I ordered an Allagash Wit to go with dinner. I originally wanted a Dogfish Head 60 minute, but they were out. I got over it. 

They gave us the option of placing the orders on a separate plate or putting all of the entrees on a large plate in the middle. We chose to do separate plates. They brought out a plate of injera rolled into logs. This is the bread that we used to scoop up the food. We then noticed that there were napkins on the table... and no silverware.

There were a lot of distractions in the restaurant. They had a projector and a large screen with contemporary  Ethiopian music and dancing. It was cool to see, but they bobbled around SO MUCH. I think I got whiplash just from watching them. There were also little gnats everywhere. They buzzed around the food and in your face as you ate. I also had one in my beer. I  was almost done so I wasn't too upset, but I felt like perhaps that was a little too much culture bending for one evening.

Overall, the food tasted roughly the same because of the spices used. There were differences of course because some had peppers, others had onions. They all had a various level of spices. Each plate was served with lettuce and tomatoes that were covered in a vinaigrette dressing that had a thick cumin taste. At first I thought this was odd, but it was very tasty when it was paired with the meat. Each meat and lettuce pairing was served atop a large circle of injera.

Whitney ordered  a chicken dish:

Brent ordered a lamb dish:

Brad ordered a beef awaze dish. It was not as spicy as it looked, but it had a lot of sauce which soaked through the bottom shell of injera. It was difficult for him to sop up the awaze with the bread because it was so saucy.

I ordered the special Addis beef tibs. It came on a sizzling plate with onions and peppers. It oddly had a lot of jalapenos in it. Brad and I have had a few conversations on how Ethiopians found jalapenos in Africa. We believe this may have been an American addition... and by the way, this was really good. It tasted like fajitas in a way.

Ender's Game

by Orson Scott Card
My rating: 5/5

Goodreads Synopsis:

In order to develop a secure defense against a hostile alien race's next attack, government agencies breed child geniuses and train them as soldiers. A brilliant young boy, Andrew "Ender" Wiggin lives with his kind but distant parents, his sadistic brother Peter, and the person he loves more than anyone else, his sister Valentine. Peter and Valentine were candidates for the soldier-training program but didn't make the cut—young Ender is the Wiggin drafted to the orbiting Battle School for rigorous military training.

Ender's skills make him a leader in school and respected in the Battle Room, where children play at mock battles in zero gravity. Yet growing up in an artificial community of young soldiers Ender suffers greatly from isolation, rivalry from his peers, pressure from the adult teachers, and an unsettling fear of the alien invaders. His psychological battles include loneliness, fear that he is becoming like the cruel brother he remembers, and fanning the flames of devotion to his beloved sister. 

Is Ender the general Earth needs? But Ender is not the only result of the genetic experiments. The war with the Buggers has been raging for a hundred years, and the quest for the perfect general has been underway for almost as long. Ender's two older siblings are every bit as unusual as he is, but in very different ways. Between the three of them lie the abilities to remake a world. If, that is, the world survives. 
Ender's Game is the winner of the 1985 Nebula Award for Best Novel and the 1986 Hugo Award for Best Novel.



My Thoughts:

I received a copy of Ender's Game as one of someone's favorite books of all time from my book club. I was very excited to have had the opportunity to read it! A story about a child learning to fight aliens in a war was intriguing.

Ender Wiggins is a child who is handpicked to be trained a commander in the future's army against alien "buggers." He begins near the first grade and is chosen to go to battle school where he plays games. He quickly excels and begins beating preteens. The adults manipulate his situation to see what he can actually accomplish. 

The theory about using a child as a tool in war is something I have never thought about before. The adult reasoning was that a child could win a war if they could win a game because they have a different outlook than adults do. This theory led to a surprise ending for me. Honestly, it was worth reading the book just for the last forty pages!

I became very attached to Ender in the book. He had formed some very militaristic characteristics after going to battle school. He had hurt people as part of the game and he understood the nature of combat. Yet even though he was completing mature achievements, he was still a child. It was interesting viewing a war commander through a child's eyes. 

One example of this situation was the relationship with his friends. He had a large cohort of other "students" that he was in command of. He had to learn the value of their friendship, but also that sometimes friendship suffers under command. My favorite quote of the book was at the end of an actual battle. They were wondering what they would have to do after the battle. Ender's friend Petra says, "We're kids. They'll probably make us go to school. It's a law." The humor underlying that quote was deeply inlaid because you have think, What more can these kids learn from school that they haven't learned already?

I loved this book and I can see why it is known as a classic in certain sci fi circles. I would really recommend it to anyone who loves alternate realities or war games (like The Hunger Games).

Five Forks Cafe

It doesn't have to be fancy in order to be awesome.

Five Forks Cafe
Style: American Diner
Website: http://www.fiveforkscafe.com/

My Rating: 5/5

Likes: Friendly servers, awesome diner food, fancier than normal diner specials, lots of creamer on the table, they have the old men "usuals" who come every morning

Dislikes: Parking is not so hot, it's so popular that if you don't get there early for breakfast on the weekends, you will wait (and you need resistance so you don't hop over the counter and stuff your face with pancakes right off the grill... seriously)

When you have an officer who comes home at 6:00 am from the night shift, he often wants to eat. He just doesn't want to eat a bowl of cereal all the time either. He wants greasy diner man food. When this officer has a foodie for a wife and will pretty much ride any excuse in order to get a good stack of pancakes and some hash browns, then they end up at Five Forks Cafe... a lot. 

I love walking into Five Forks Cafe because there are always the same two servers there who greet you. Everyone is friendly. It is hard not to be friendly in this atmosphere of laid back diner lovers. Every time we go here, there are two or three old men there. This time we went, we saw them sitting in booths next to each other and they were carrying on a conversation as they read the newspaper. The funny part about this is that they were both sitting in the same direction so one was looking at the wall and the other at his back. Brad secretly wants to be like the old men... but we need to get him a newspaper instead of reading the news off of his razr maxx.

Brad reading his "newspaper" while subconsciously wanting to be like an old man.

The first thing that I love about Five Forks is that they have an excellent coffee service. As you sit down, the two wonderful servers ask what you want to drink. They are used to people saying coffee. They bring two good sized mugs full of joe and there is already a huge bowl of creamer on the table so that we can use as much creamer as we want. At 7:00 am, this is a wonderful thing.

Although when I first started coming here, I used to try a few different things. They have excellent omlettes and waffles. They also have really neat specials, too. Sometimes they have things like Sweet Potato Pancakes or Sirloin Tips with mushrooms and onions. 

But my favorite is always the same. I have gotten this every single time I come: Banana Pecan Pancakes. You can ask for them in a combo. You can order them a la carte. You can dowse them in maple syrup and admire that they are larger than the size of your face. They are amazing. They have lots of pecan pieces and large sliced bananas in them. Sometimes I order them with a side of hash browns. Their hash browns always taste a little bit like onions... and sometimes peppers... or whatever it was that they just cooked on the grill. I love this because it is the total diner experience. Today I ordered them just plain, but you can also get them LOADED.... soooo good.

Two Banana Pecan Pancakes (falling off the plate on the other side) with a side of hash browns

Brad usually orders the same thing, too. He likes corned beef hash served with fried eggs and toast. They prep their own corned beef in house so it is always fresh. They also serve THE BEST rye toast. Although you can choose from a variety of different types of toast, why would you when rye is there? The toast is thick cut and already buttered. They give you two full slices of toast cut in half. This makes it perfect for Brad to give me one of them (before he ruins it by putting jam on it) when I share my hash browns with him.

This is always the best breakfast in town. If you're in Williamsburg, go here, but go early. It will be very difficult to sit outside and wait for a table when you know of the culinary goodness that awaits you inside!

Where She Went

Where She Went (If I Stay, #2)
by Gayle Forman
My Rating: 5/5 Stars

Goodreads Synopsis

It's been three years since the devastating accident . . . three years since Mia walked out of Adam's life forever.

Now living on opposite coasts, Mia is Juilliard's rising star and Adam is LA tabloid fodder, thanks to his new rock star status and celebrity girlfriend. When Adam gets stuck in New York by himself, chance brings the couple together again, for one last night. As they explore the city that has become Mia's home, Adam and Mia revisit the past and open their hearts to the future-and each other.

Told from Adam's point of view in the spare, lyrical prose that defined If I Stay, Where She Went explores the devastation of grief, the promise of new hope, and the flame of rekindled romance.

Watch a Video 


My Thoughts

I just wrote a review of this book on Goodreads. It was so deep and introspective that I had to erase it because it ended up being like a journal entry! I did not necessarily need all of those thoughts in the public arena. That being said, this book made me think a lot.

There sure is a lot of depth in this "young adult" novel. I find it interesting that my young adult self could relate to parts of this book. My "decade past young adult" self can also currently relate to this novel at an entire deeper level. Picking up pieces. Acceptance. Moving on. Forgiveness. 

I think that this book tells two different stories. The first is between Adam and Mia and their ability to overcome and continue their relationship. However, it is also speaking about how two people find themselves. It is both a love story and a personal journey of two separate people. I congratulate Forman for creating a work that has the potential to touch anyone that has been through a life altering change.

I loved this book.

Pumpkin Spice Cake with Maple Frosting and Caramel Drizzle

Happy husband on his Birthday

My husband loves cake. He really loves cake. Therefore, when his birthday comes around, I always try to get him a cake or at least take him out for cake. 

When I first met him, I was not so good at making cakes. The first cake I ever made was for him. It was a plain yellow cake with plain chocolate frosting from boxes and store bought containers. They were sufficient, but not the best.

Then, we would go out. Cheesecake Factory has cheesecakes that are good of course. We also bought donuts from Dunkin Donuts once.  And then last year, my amazing hairdresser also makes amazing cakes. I purchased a pumpkin cake with maple cream cheese icing from her. It was delicious! It was then that I decided with all of my baking skills, I should probably figure out how to make a cake for my husband's birthday. 

Pumpkin Cake with LOTS of Maple Frosting and Caramel Drizzle

This year, I created a rather tasty cake for Brad's birthday. I researched a bunch of different recipes and looked for common themes, like how much cinnamon to use or how much maple to put in the cream cheese. I also made a lot of icing because he is in love with it. The cake has double the amount of creamy, whipped icing than most normal cakes.

This cake was really AWESOME

This is what I created.

Pumpkin Spice Came with Maple Frosting and Caramel Drizzle Recipe

Ingredients

Cake
1 box yellow cake mix (I used Betty Crocker)
1 cup of canned pumpkin (not pumpkin pie mix)
1/2 cup water
1/3 cup oil
4 eggs
2 1/2 teaspoons pumpkin pie mix
1/8 teaspoon of crushed cloves

Icing
1/2 cup unsalted butter at room temperature
8 oz. cream cheese at room temperature
1 cup confectioner's sugar
1 container of cream cheese frosting (I used Betty Brocker)
4 Tbsp Maple Syrup
Caramel syrup for drizzle (I used Smuckers Butterscotch Caramel Topping)

Step 1: Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Using a mixer, beat together cake mix, pumpkin, water, oil, eggs, pumpkin pie mix and cloves. Pour the batter evenly into two 8 or 9 inch cake pans.

Step 2: Bake the cake rounds for about 30 minutes. Then, let them cool

Step 3: While the cake is baking and cooling, make the icing. Beat together the butter, cream cheese, confectioner's sugar, and 2 tablespoons of the maple syrup with an electric mixer. When well mixed, add the cream cheese frosting and the rest of the maple syrup. Beat the icing  until smooth and well mixed. Place in the fridge to set while the cakes are cooling.

Step 4: To assemble the cake, spread a thick layer of icing over one of the cake rounds. Then, drizzle a small amount of caramel over the icing and spread it around using a butter knife. Place the second round on top. Spread more icing around the sides and then the top. Drizzle a desired amount of caramel over the top of the cake, letting it run down the sides.

The Green Leafe: New Town

The Green Leafe (New Town Location)
Style: American Pub Fare
Website: Green Leafe Website

My Rating: 2/5

Likes: Great burgers, Salad and Onion Rings Substitutions

Dislikes: Wait Staff that seemed to walk off of the set of the Shameless TV series, taking an hour and a half for two beers and two burgers, having to ask for silverware (maybe I should I ordered it?)

Brad and I have been visiting the Green Leafe in New Town for about five years. When we first started going, the place was rocking. We used to go an enjoy a multitude of different microbrews, such as North Coast Red Seal, Weyerbacher Raspberry Stout, and Southern Tier Pumpking. They also had great food. The burgers were cooked and done to cooking preference. I have had the best bacon cheddar burger in the world there. They also have really good fish n'chips, sandwiches, and salads... my favorite is the calamari salad!

Brad and I went for a bite of lunch over the weekend. We have not been going as often as we used to because the place seems to be going downhill.. Their wait staff has gone down in quality and they have not had the beer selection that they used to. When we first got there, there was no hostess on duty and we were told to seat ourselves after five minutes of waiting by the ONE waitress. We found a clean table among all of the dirty ones,

Our server was the bartender, who reminded me of William H. Macy on the Showtime series Shameless. We ordered a beer, mine the only Southern Tier and Brad's the only Lagunitas on tap. Their beer menu has definitely gone down in quality. I really don't think of Michelob Ultra as high point. 

The atmosphere in the restaurant was terrible. It has become more like a sports bar. There were drunk guys yelling about the football game. Families who were drinking and yelling at the football game with their kids present (who were also roaming around the bar area because they were bored). All the tables around us were covered with dirty dishes. It was just weird.

After we ordered our food, it took it about 45 minutes to get to us. When the bartender brought us the food, I had actually finished my beer and was going to order another. But, another couple came up to him to complain that they had been sitting on the patio outside waiting for their check for over half an hour. He went to work with them, and left me with nothing to drink... and no silverware! We had to flag down the lone waitress with 12 tables and ask her for silverware and napkins.

I ordered the kona burger prepared medium with a side Green Leafe salad instead of french fries. The meal was very good. The burger was cooked almost well done, but it had a great flavor with ham, havarti cheese, and a pineapple salsa on it. My side salad was fabulous. It came with field greens, grapes, dried cranberries, grated parmesan, and candied pecans. With a side of ranch, the whole thing hit the spot!

Brad ordered the Kitty Hawk burger, which has been our favorite for years. The burger comes with bacon and a crab dip on the top, making it hearty and rich. He decided to have onion rings as his side instead of the french fries. He enjoyed his as well.

Overall, we will probably come here again, but not soon. We really have to have a hankering for a burger.

The Fifth of March: A Story of the Boston Massacre

by Ann Rinaldi

My Rating: 4/5 Stars

Goodreads Summary

Rachel Marsh is a servant in the Boston household of John Adams. But her loyalty to the Adams family is tested by her friendship with Matthew Kilroy, a British private who leads his soldiers in firing upon a mob of Boston citizens.

My Review

The Fifth of March: A Story of the Boston Massacre is an excellently researched tale about the Boston Massacre. The main character, Rachel Marsh, was a nursemaid in John Adams' household for his many children. In this novel, she turns from a young teenager with a romanticized version of the world into a young woman with character and sense on her shoulders. She underwent this process by becoming friends with revolutionaries, such as Henry Knox, and British soldiers.

One aspect that I loved about this book was that Rinaldi captured different views people could hold about the situation in 1770's Boston. I loved the metamorphosis of characters' views as they pondered what liberty actually meant. Was it personal liberty? Political liberty? Liberty within a household? Friendship liberties? The definition of liberty was a clear theme throughout the book.

I also loved the views that she gave the soldiers in the novel. It shed some light on other feelings and viewpoints I had not yet considered. For example, the redcoats believed that they were supposed to be viewed as noble heroes because they were protecting their country. That was why a few had signed to be a party of the British army. In Boston they were not treated as such, and it turned out to be a grievous disappointment.

There were also some historical tidbits that I learned from reading the novel. I have a better understanding of how the relationship between the cousins of John and Sam Adams was characterized. I learned small facts about Abigail Adams' family, such as her grandfather was the found of a New England province. I also learned a touch more about Adams' defense of the soldiers after the Boston Massacre. Rinaldi picked out certain aspects and quotations to use that were appropriate and enlightening.

Overall, I would recommend this book to any American. It helps to illustrate the principles of what our country was founded upon. It also is an entertaining tale about how a girl becomes an educated woman. After putting the book down, I find myself yearning to find out what happens to Rebecca Marsh.

Bistro 27 Brunch

Bistro 27

Category: American
Rating:3 / 5
Website: Bisto 27

Likes:Interesting menu options, twists on the usual brunch fare, butter AND jelly for the biscuit, tasty food, dainty dishes

Dislikes:Bad coffee, slow service, not enough creamer on the table (which could quite possibly have fixed the bad coffee)

Comments:
I like Groupon. I can go to places that I like on the cheap once in awhile. Other times, it gives me an excuse to drag Brad places that he does not want to go. Bowling is the perfect example. Brad hates to bowl, but I think it is fun once in awhile. So when we are bored, I say, "Let's go bowling! We have a Groupon!" And then, we magically end up embarrassing ourselves at the bowling alley. 

 Today's Groupon inspired visit was Bistro 27, off of Broad st. in downtown Richmond. I met with a colleague for brunch. I got there early and was sat by a friendly hostess. The waiter immediately gave me coffee. That was the end of the good service. I actually do not think he was a server, but the manager waiting tables because he was out of uniform. 

The coffee was stale and tasted like it had been sitting on a pot kept hot for too long. It was served in cute little plain white mugs. They were quite dainty. I felt very posh sipping from them, but for a hearty brunch it did not hold enough coffee. There was a cute little creamer already on the table, but it did not really hold a whole lot of cream. It seemed as though the set up was designed for people to sip on as opposed to sit and cozy up to. Sometimes I think restaurants keep smaller mugs so that they evade "campers." Campers are people who sit at the table too long for the servers so that they don't get a good table turn over.

Stale coffee in a dainty cup

When my friend came, we chatted awhile. The server (aka manager waiting tables) did not really give her a lot of time to check over the menu. It took him way too long to come back and check. Perhaps I am being over sensitive since I used to be a server. But if a restaurant is concerned with table turnover, then they need to add prompt service to their small coffee cups. Once we ordered, they did bring out cute little biscuits though. They kept butter and jelly on the table to put on the muffin. Up north, I always chose to put either butter or jelly on breakfast breads. However in the south, Brad has taught me to use butter AND jelly on it... and that's exactly what I had.

Biscuit with butter AND jelly

The food menu was the best thing about the restaurant. They had all sorts of options, including scrambles, different types of eggs benedict, and wraps. My friend ordered brioche French Toast with Nutella sauce. She said it was good and it looked fabulous!

Brioche French Toast with Nutella

I always choose to get something a little different when I am at a restaurant. I like to find something that I wouldn't fix by myself or order at another restaurant. So, I ordered the Pork and Duck Hash. It was excellent! It has shredded pork and duck, mixed with home fries, peppers, and onions. The peppers put a little spice into the meal. Over the top, it had two eggs over easy. When they were broken and mixed in with the hash, it made for a warm and hearty treat. It was served with fresh fruit on the side. The cantaloupe and honeydew were ripe and tasted very good with the meal.

Pork and Duck Hash

Overall, I am not sure if I would return for brunch. Although the food was very tasty, the service was a hassle and it was kind of a far drive from my home. If it were closer, then I'd be back for sure!

Chipotle Pork Rolls

Brad and I have two odd grocery shopping realities. Living so far away from grocery stores, sometimes we have to survey what we have in stock at the house and put something new together. It is not worth driving 45 minutes to pick up essentials like eggs more than once a week. Second, we also pick an occasional weird item that we have never used before. This helps us stay out of the trap of cooking the same dish over and over.

Today we blended the two together. We had ground pork in the fridge, which is something odd we bought that was out of our routine. We had never made anything with it before. Brainstorming, we thought ground pork would be good Mexican style. We hit a bump in the road when there were no tortillas or lettuce in the fridge. We did have chipotle peppers in adobo sauce and some puff pastry though. Put it all together and we have chipotle pork rolls!

This ended up being a very versatile creation. It was excellent served out of the oven and warm. I did  blot the ends with a paper towel to get rid of some of the excess oil from the meat. They are also tasty after they have been chilled. I find that I can eat them for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. They are also excellent with smeared with Sriracha hot sauce!  


Chipotle Pork Rolls Recipe

Ingredients
1 package of store bought puff pastry (we used Pepperidge Farm)
1 1/2 pound of ground pork
1/2 yellow onion
1 large egg yolk
3-4 chipotle peppers in adobo sauce (depends on how much spice you want)
1 egg beaten, for glazing

Method
1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper and chill. Defrost the pastry if it is frozen. Cut the pastry in half lengthwise. Roll each piece out into a 12 x 6 rectangle on a floured surface. Cover it with plastic and chill it in fridge for half an hour.

2. In a food processor, mince the onion and the chipotle peppers. When finished, transfer the mixture to a bowl. Mix in the pork and egg yolk with a wooden spoon into the onions and peppers. 

3. Lay the pastry on a floured surface. Form the sausage mixture into 2 rolled tubes and place in the center of each pastry slice. Brush the inside of the pastry with beaten egg. Then roll the pastry over and press the edges together. Pinch the seams. Cut each roll into 12 pieces.

4. Put the rolls on the chilled parchment baking sheet. Using scissors, cut 2 snips into the top of each roll so that the steam can escape while baking. Then, brush the tops of each roll generously with beaten egg. 

5. Bake the rolls for 15-18 minutes, or until golden and flaky. Peak at the sides to see that the meat is thoroughly cooked.