Giuseppe's Neighborhood Pizzeria- Covington, KY

Maybe the best thing I can say to review this restaurant, is that we devoured the pizza too quickly to take a photo of it. It was that good.

Our family has always enjoyed finding local restaurants, not only to support our neighbors and keep money in our local economy, but usually, the "hole-in-the-wall" places are the best. Giuseppe's Neighborhood Pizzeria is no exception.

The server taking our order was very friendly and made a superb recommendation for the men (aka meat eaters) in our family. The Mainstrasse Monster did not disappoint with a plethora of Italian sausage, pepperoni, ham, bacon and gyro meat. The girls and I "just" had a cheese pizza. I say "just" because it was one of the most delicious cheese pizzas I've ever had.

Leah and I stopped in and ordered take out at about 5 p.m. on a Saturday night. There weren't many dine-in folks, but there was a steady stream of phone calls and carryout pick ups. Still...I was prepared for a long wait and I was surprised when after about 15 minutes we were told it was ready.

Our family will be frequenting Giuseppes' again. The price range for pizza is more than Pizza Hut, but less than Dewey's or Mellow Mushroom. I also feel great about supporting a local entrepreneur who invests in their community.

Bus Adventures & Taste of Newport

Today was the day for a new adventure! Dale and Rebekah were off to a music festival, while Noah, Leah and I wanted to check out Taste of Newport. This was the day for our first ride on...the bus!

I concede nervousness. 

I mean, give me a train in Philly and I'm all researched, asked advice of locals and have no problem looking like a tourist, reading all the signs along the way. But in my own back yard (almost literally!), I want to at least appear a little knowledgeable.

Taking a picture of the bus stop was the first clue that I'm a newbie.

Appearances aside, the first three are back home without getting lost and with the friendly assistance of two different TANK bus drivers. I didn't have to look for parking, and Dale didn't have to pay for parking. We had an air-conditioned ride each way and were almost dropped off at our front door. 

This, my friends, for a first-time outing...was a success!

And yes, the food was delicious too! There's definitely a few places in Newport we'll be visiting again.

For the one day event, several blocks of Monmouth Street were open to pedestrians only.

We now want to come back and check out this comic store sometime when it's open.

VERY cute (& some beautiful) cakes in this store front.
To the right was a cake that resembled pancakes, with eggs & bacon on the side.

The City Flea- Cincinnati, Ohio

I've wanted to attend The City Flea ever since I first read about it last fall. Up until last night, I was still talking myself out of attending (no time, no money. You know...the usual). But when last night, in my Facebook feed an article from the Huffington Post popped up promoting it, I thought I'd better take advantage of going while the weather's nice and it's still a relatively small event.

Looks like I'm a little late on that "go when it's still small" plan.

But seriously...go. It's fun, there's lots of cute stuff, and the flea market is curated so you don't have to sift through all of the junk to find the goodies. Local food trucks line Washington Park sidewalks and lots of great restaurants are only a stone's throw away in the urban renewal of Over-the-Rhine. 

I went with the plan of not buying anything, but when you find the exact same company from which you bought your last purse, selling some of their bags for $30 less than you anticipated purchasing a replacement one for, since your original bag is starting to fall apart...yeah, there was no walking away from a $10 messenger bag that upcycles coffee bags and the proceeds go toward orphan care and adoption sponsorship.

Old bag on the top, newly purchased $10 bag on the bottom

As with any flea market, you never know what you may find, like "Creepy Baby Doll Photography's" booth.

We also had a chance to sample some delicious Fair Trade chocolate from Chocolats Latour. The rosemary, almond, and sea salt was definitely yummy. Abbey liked the "Cry Baby Bar" which included sundried tomatoes, smoked sea salt and pepitos. All of their dark chocolate was dairy free too!

But supporting local businesses and tradesman, in a beautiful setting on a day without a cloud in the sky? Absolutely.

And who knows? You just might have a chance to take some pictures of some of those unusual landmarks you drive by all the time and never have a chance to admire.

Kneading Paradise, Indianapolis, Indiana

My friend, Allison Paradise, started her own bread baking enterprise in 2010. In my attempt to live out and promote a Buy Local and/or Fair Trade Christmas this year, I wanted to advertise her business a little. She is local to the Westside Indianapolis area, but she ships too. Last Friday afternoon, we received, via USPS Priority mail, two of the tastiest loaves of bread I have ever had.

Allison uses only unbleached flour and local eggs. I'm not certain if that's the difference or if she has some other secret, but even though the bread had been shipped a few days prior, they were still soft and very yummy. My Leah agreed that the bread was delicious.

Now, I like Allison...but I wouldn't lie for her. Please keep that in mind when I share that her Italian Onion Herb Loaf is, I believe, is the best bread I have ever tasted. The Artisan Loaf was pretty wonderful too.

Allison takes orders year round, but her holiday schedule fills up quickly, so don't delay in scheduling your holiday meal rolls, breads and even some football tailgating pretzels (pictured above). You can follow Kneading Paradise on Facebook and stay current on her specials and last minute deals.

She also has a popular baking mix that sells for $5.00 and can be used "for everything from dinner rolls to pancakes".  There are healthy wheat and vegan options, as well. I'm personally hoping to pick up some Nutella Croissants or Challah Bread next time I'm in Indy...or both!

   

If you're a Westside Indy local, you simply have to check out Kneading Paradise. If you're not a local, still consider supporting a tasty entrepreneur. Shipping is high because of the necessity to ship Priority Mail, but by ordering several loaves, you spread out the cost of shipping per loaf. The bread can be eaten fresh for up to four days, refrigerated to extend the shelf life a few days more or frozen for up to six months.

Click this link to be taken to Scribd.com so you can access a pdf file with the complete menu for Kneading Paradise. Shipping rates are not listed but you can inquire from Allison about where she can ship. Her contact information can be found on the Kneading Paradise Facebook Page or in the pdf file linked above.

Carabello Coffee, Newport, Kentucky

This was my caramel latte'. Almost too pretty to drink! Almost.

Our first stop on our Fair Trade Field Trip today was Carabello Coffee in Newport. Carabello is the same company that supplies Velocity Bike and Bean in Florence. They've now opened their own shop.

I had a caramel latte', Noah and Rebekah both had hot chocolate and Leah had a gourmet apple cider popsicle. Everything was delicious, including the homemade salted caramel placed next to my latte'. Carabello has a great story about starting with a commitment to purchase directly from the farmers that grow the coffee.

To quote their Facebook page, they are a "philanthropic artisan coffee roasting company serving Greater Cincinnati. Our mission is to equitably source exceptional coffees, roast them to perfection and then use the profits as a way to fund works of compassion in Third World coffee producing nations like Nicaragua and Kenya. We give Cincinnati coffee lovers who want to shop their conscience a reason to celebrate."

Located at 107 East 9th Street, we discovered that they sit in the heart of a great "mom and pop" business district on Monmouth that we will explore further in the near future. Honestly, this is worth your trip down to Newport whether you're heading to the Levy or not. Stop in, by some coffee, sit and chat with your chums and know that your purchase is making a difference.

Fair Trade Field Trip Day

Because we have no home school co-op today and since October is Fair Trade Month, I'm taking my kids on a shopping field trip to a few places that sell Fair Trade items. As you may guess, with four children, this brings about a mixed bag of responses. The girls simply like to get out of our home and do anything. The boy...not so much.

But I am determined to get this principle ingrained in myself and hopefully begun in them: "My purchases do affect others...directly."

I am hoping to have a Fair Trade and/or local, small business Christmas this year. How about you? Does Wal-Mart really need your money again? Especially if you know buying from companies like them and Apple and Starbucks and many, many others, keeps another human soul in physical bondage? Even gift cards from McDonald's, any fast food and most large retailers mean you support companies who do not pay a fair living wage. We can't continue to keep repressing people and then expect them to not need government or charitable assistance. You literally can't have it both ways.

So what if we bought a little less this year, so we could spend a little more, so another soul could at least be physically free? I can't think of a better meaning of Christmas, can you?

Edwardo's Pizza and Subs- Hebron, Kentucky

I have hesitated to write this review...solely because I have had a strong desire to promote local businesses positively. And, admittedly, in the past, I have had positive experiences at Edwardo's. Last Friday night, was not one such experience.

We arrived at a normal time for dinner around 6:30 p.m. When my husband walked in, one server sounded perturbed and blurted out, "I was about to go home!" He apologized (for inconveniencing her I suppose) and she replied, "Oh, no...you're okay." [Pshew! I was afraid we'd done something wrong by expecting to be welcomed into a pizzeria at dinnertime on a Friday night.] Okay...I'll attempt to leave out the sarcasm from this point forward.

The server who did take our orders asked if we were ready...as she walked by our table about 20 feet to the next one. I said I had a question as she walked by and she yelled...from the other table..."Go ahead!" I (not wanting to also yell across the restaurant) waited for her to return to our table. You see, I have this thing about eating out being different from eating at home. One reason I love to eat out so much is because not only do I not have to prepare or clean up after the food, we just all act differently. Yelling from room to room?...I can do that at home.

She arrived back at our table with a disgruntled, "Go ahead...I can multi-task!...I have to."

Now...at this point...if I'd had my wits about me and known of Dale's greeting from the previous server (I wasn't in the building when it happened). I would have said something like, "You know what...it seems you are all a bit overwhelmed tonight...even though there is only us and your table of eight back there...so how about we just pay for our drinks we haven't drank yet and we'll get out of your hair?" My kids would have been mortified...but we would have saved $40 on a meal that honestly just wasn't that good.

We were minus one child and Dale plus the other three each ordered individual pizzas for $5 each. Sure, they were able to have the toppings they liked, but the crust, in Abbey's words, "tasted like pizza buffet crust". Honestly, I tasted her's and I have better memories of Chey Boyardee box mix. Dale's taco pizza was taco meat and cheese...no lettuce, tomatoes, sour cream or anything like other places have served on their versions.

I ordered the house salad for $5.49. Granted, this was not an $8-10 salad like you may order at a finer establishment, but, in my large bowl was about 1/4 cup wilted iceberg lettuce with about a heaping cup of toppings...most of which was bacon. I have had this salad at a previous visit and was looking forward to eating it again. It's precisely why I suggested this restaurant. You live and learn I guess. Given the mood of our server...who told me she was the one to prepare my salad...and that three more tables of patrons had arrived...I didn't complain for fear of upsetting the delicate balance of her equilibrium. She was not pleasant at anytime during our visit and actually bordered on being rude. My husband still tipped his usual 20%, because that's just who he is and from our demeanor, she may have thought we had a wonderful meal.

I did hesitate to review this restaurant because we have had better experiences there and I just don't want to cause harm in any way to someone that's trying to make an honest living. But as Abbey and I ate at a different establishment last night, had a wonderful meal and compared it to the cost of Edwardo's, she so wisely said, 'But sometimes you have to warn people not to waste their money.' So while I write this with a degree of heaviness for the criticism and negativity it contains, I will add that I am hopeful it was just a bad night and that others have enjoyed much better dining at all of the Northern Kentucky Edwardo's locations.

Friendly Market, Florence, Kentucky

Now that we've been there twice, I feel that I need to give a shout out to the Friendly Market in Florence. Located at 10050 Norbotten Drive, Friendly Market is the most recent farmer's market in Northern Kentucky. But it has a huge difference: while most farm markets are seasonal or weekend only, Friendly's indoor area houses nine permanent vendors. My personal favorite is Brocato's Italian Market. They have just about any flavor of ravioli you could desire, fresh bread and specialty sauces. You would love the butternut squash goat cheese alfredo just as much as I do, I am certain.

On our first visit, I tried a vegan cookie from Taste of Belgium. It was yummy, of course. There is also a store selling Kentucky Proud items, The Flying Olive (gourmet olive oil and vinegar products), an ice cream store and Friendly Meats and Cheeses. Outside on the weekends, you will find local farmers, bakers and craftsmen selling their wares...so bring cash. (I speak from experience.)

Supporting local businesses is sort of becoming a "thing" for me. How much better can you get than to have close to 20 in the same place? Stop by and check it out. There is a little something for almost everyone.

Velocity Bike and Bean

If you live in the Florence/Northern Kentucky area, you will recognize that I am late to the table (albeit a high top one!) on discovering this place. I'm uncertain as to when Velocity Bike and Bean of Florence opened, but I know more than a few people who have enjoyed their coffee for some time.

So while I'm a latecomer, I am now a fan. I visited there yesterday with my friend Kari, enjoyed a very yummy Nutella latte', sat comfortably in the cozy atmosphere, perused their excellent book selections (including a few by my favorite Donald Miller) and had a great conversation with a great lady. But don't let the wonderful coffee and cute atmosphere deceive you...Velocity is a fully operational bike shop too. Apparently, this combination is a little more common in other parts of the country, but here, not so much. It seems to be working though.

Velocity had a steady stream of customers, for both bike and bean, in the two hours that I was there. I can see why. And although their hours are only Monday through Friday 9 to 4 and Saturdays 9 to 3, they are open the second Saturday evening of each month for local musicians to perform. I know my husband, Dale, would love this and we hope to make it out to this week's session.

But the most amazing part of this place (for me, the non-biking enthusiast) is the coffee...and not just because it's tasty. Well, it is...but that's not the only good point. No, it's also Fair Trade. Oh...you know they are speaking my language now...right? I've shared on this blog how God has been calling me to this idea of being a good steward in every area of my life. That is being brought out by Him over and over again in the choices I make in regards to spending the resources He's given us. Nowhere has this become more obvious lately than in the area of coffee.

So next time you want to meet up with a friend over an excellent cup of java, please support the locally-owned Velocity Bike and Bean at 7560 Burlington Pike in Florence. By choosing to buy the Carabello Coffee brand, your dollars are also helping to support Fair Trade for the farmers who grow the beans and this local coffee company that helps fund non-profits and charity work with their proceeds. I don't think you'll find a better deal anywhere...no matter how attractive the "Siren" is.

Valley Orchards, Hebron, Kentucky

Rebekah and I were heading out to McGlasson Farms to buy pumpkins earlier today and when we got to the end of Tanner Road, where it meets River Road, I saw signs pointing the way to another Farm Market we've only visited once. I thought I'd give it a try because McGlassons has gotten very expensive in the short span of years since we've lived here. They have a "corner on the market" so to speak. But Valley Orchards has now won me over. 

Their market season doesn't last as long as McGlasson's (or any other local farmer's markets) and that is one reason why I've not often thought to visit. In fact, we pass Valley Orchards every time we drive to Giles Conrad Park and we've often wondered if it is still in use. Abbey and I had some delicious apple fritters there about three years ago but I've never seen it open since. Apparently, we just haven't been driving by at the right time because right now, Valley Orchards has all of the pumpkins, mums, apple fritters and apples you could want. It's actually a little early in the apple season for them, but the owner Marcia Hempfling assured me that there are more to come and that the pumpkins have been quite prolific this year.

You can follow them on their Facebook Page to get updates about when the apples arrive. Prices will vary with demand, but here's what we paid today:

• $4 for 1/2 peck (about 1 gallon or four quarts) of small but beautiful Jonathan apples
• $15 for a 1/2 bushel  (about 4 gallons) of good looking Golden Delicious
• $3 for 1/2 peck of not-so-pretty pears...but who cares what they look like when I turn them into pear butter! They weren't bad or have any soft spots, they're just not the wax-polished kind you find in the store.
• $1 for three very yummy large donut-hole sized apple fritters made fresh
• $5 each for two pumpkins that would be considered "large" in a grocery store. She said they had bigger ones for $8 or $10. I saw some out in the pumpkin patch that looked like I wouldn't be able to carry them.

Valley Orchards accepts cash or check and Marcia said she will give people discounts for larger quantities. For instance, the Golden Delicious were $5 for 1/2 peck. She placed about 4 1/2 of these bags in my $15 1/2 bushel bag. She also estimated (because prices could vary) that a bushel would be about $25!!

Yes...I will be back! Looks like I get to make applesauce this year.

They still have Winesaps, Jonagolds, Honeycrisps and one more variety I couldn't recall to come in over the next few weeks. Check them out, buy local and support the growers you can actually talk to!

Valley Orchards is located at 7029 River Road, Hebron, KY, 41048. They are open weekends 11 a.m.- 6 p.m. On weekdays, you can call them at 859-689-9511 first to make sure they're not out in the field (I just love buying from someone who actually works in the field where the food is grown!).

El Rio Grande, Florence, KY (A Tale of Three Restaurants, part 2)

My birthday was almost three weeks ago and for my birthday dinner, I really wanted to go to a Japanese steakhouse. But alas  my big day fell on a Sunday and opting for lunch was the plan...hoping a more affordable lunch menu would be available. It wasn't. Our favorite Chinese restaurant is no longer open on Sundays, my parents were in town just a few days before and taken the kids and I to one of my favorite chain restaurants (Abuelos), the two younger girls and I had eaten at another local Mexican place just a week before, so I really didn't have my heart set on Mexican food. But it was conveniently located next to the Japanese steakhouse we were choosing not to frequent in order to save money and we had eaten there a few times before and thought that it would be doable for our family.

To summarize, it wasn't the best birthday meal I've ever had.

Now I know people are loyal to their favorite Mexican food, but out of the three restaurants I'm rating here, I would place this one at the bottom (but it's a close call with second place). They do offer a lunch menu but for our family, it was still too expensive, averaging $10 per person (including tip). It's been a few weeks, but to the best of my memory, we had two teens ordering nachos (as usual), I had a chicken chimichanga (which was just okay), Abbey ordered veggie fajitas (pricey and were doused in corn oil and she barely touched because of it), don't remember what Dale had, but he did like it and one kids meal of chicken fingers and rice that she really didn't care for. The water here is also tap and not very tasty. 

Three things that will have me think twice before I go back are these: 

• The teen who ordered beef nachos ate very few because he said "they smell like poo". They apparently didn't taste like poo, but he couldn't get past the smell. 
• The cost, even for lunch was too much for the quality of food, compared to El Mariachi.
• And lastly, I went along with the big sombrero on my head and everyone singing to me for my kids laughs, but when you bring out the free fried ice cream in honor of my special day, please be certain that it is not wrapped in stale corn flakes and laying on a stale tortilla and definitely don't stick your finger into the dessert you just brought me and proceed to put whip cream on my nose. Not cool, dude...not cool. (Note: I did not complain and we all sort of nervously chuckled in shock that he would brazenly do that. In our family Noah and I are probably the only two that could somewhat laugh that off. If it had happened to the others, not so much.)

So there you have it. I don't really like to pan a place and we have eaten there a few other times with better experiences, but never as a whole family. I don't think it will be high on our list of priorities to return, especially with a much better alternative that we have closer to home.

El Mariachi, Hebron, Kentucky (A Tale of Three Restaurants)

Our daughter, Rebekah, and I were heading out to Florida on her birthday (see post here), so the night before we left, the whole family went to a restaurant of her choosing. El Mariachi was an obvious choice for our Mexican food-loving girl.

As we were dining, I realized I'd eaten at three different locally owned Mexican restaurants in the previous month and had neglected to review them. I guess I just sort of take them for granted. But, I shouldn't. They are not all the same, although their similarities may sometimes prevent me from thinking there are any stand outs.

El Mariachi is the closest Mexican restaurant to us and yet, we have often chosen to drive to others much further away. I'm uncertain why. I think one reason was that only within the last year have they disallowed smoking. Yes, this is Kentucky! And although smoking was limited to the bar, it pervaded the whole store. Well, not anymore.

One other reason for not going there as often has been the expense. It costs Dale and I at least $20 to eat there, but I usually have leftover beans or rice for someone else to enjoy. At that rate of expense though, it would cost our family over $60 for a meal...which is just ridiculous. But...I have two kids that order nachos no matter what Mexican restaurant we go to and at El Mariachi, from 3-7 p.m. all appetizers are half off...including nachos.

So the rundown for our family was this: chicken nachos, bean nachos and a large queso bowl (all half price), a kid's meal of chicken fingers and rice (including drink), Dale's Santa Fe burrito, and Abbey and I shared veggie fajitas with rice (and didn't finish it all), two drinks and tip for $45. I know, still quite a bit of money, but much cheaper than any other birthday dinners we've had in the last year. In fact, when I post the reviews of the other two Mexican restaurants, I think you'll appreciate the cost difference.

I should add quickly that all of the food was delicious too. Sometimes veggie fajitas are covered in corn oil at other restaurants, but not here. I have only two "complaints" and both are more than tolerable...our server was a bit overwhelmed and didn't seem to have a lot of assistance delivering food, with refills, etc. Other visits have been better. And when I ask for water, as I should...in an attempt to avoid pop, it is tap...and not tasty tap either. I've noticed a similar taste in their pop in the past, so I am assuming they do not use a filter. This is easily remedied by bringing my own water from home.

Overall, I have to rate this my favorite locally owned Mexican restaurant in Northern Kentucky right now. I do still love Abuelos (but cost-prohibitive for our family and not locally owned) and On the Border will always be our family favorite, but there are none currently in the Tri-State area.

Next time you're in the mood for a little more authentic Mexican food (Americanized as they all are) come up to Hebron and try El Mariachi. I think you'll like it.

**Two more Mexican restaurant reviews to follow soon**

Sweet 'n Sour Cucumber Salad

With the birth of one of our children about 15 years ago, we received a meal from a Sunday school classmate that included this salad. I asked her for the recipe and she happily obliged. I've been making it ever since. Usually during cucumber season, I make it at least once. But today, I couldn't find the recipe...so from memory (I hope I'm right)...here goes.

Thinly slice 1 medium white or yellow onion and saute until tender in a scant amount of olive oil. Stripe-peel your cucumbers and slice. With normal cukes, I slice them thin, usually with the food processor. But these long skinny english cucumbers, I sliced thicker.

Place the sliced cucumbers and onions in a glass bowl of salted water and let set for about two hours. Yes, there will be a little bit of oil in the water.

After two hours, drain all veggies in a colander and rinse with cool water. Here's where you remove as much of the oil as possible.

While the cucumbers are draining, on low to medium low in a small saucepan, cook 1 cup organic evaporated cane juice, 1/2 cup white vinegar and about 2 teaspoons of celery seed until the sugar is dissolved. Stir or whisk frequently and it should be done before it starts to boil, although there may be a few bubbles around the edges.

Place the veggies in a plastic or glass bowl and pour the syrup over the top. You can either stir them or place a lid on top and give it a few good shakes and turns. These are best when they've had a few hours to let the flavors meld together in the refrigerator. This recipe is really easy to double too. I had too many cucumbers today, so I quickly stirred up a second batch of the sugar/vinegar syrup. This is also a recipe that an organic version should be easy to put together. My organic evaporated cane juice crystals are vegan too. You could probably use organic sucanot in place of the cane juice crystals, but it may alter the taste some.

Enjoy!

Fresh Corn and Tomato Salad

I don't know about you, but I love salsa...and I have a bevy of recipes to prove it. But, if I am attempting to live a healthier lifestyle, I must admit that I don't need all of those accompanying chips. Imagine my delight at finding this recipe today on the back of the plant marker from my yellow pear tomatoes.

You see, it's a salad. I know that term is foreign to many in the U.S., so just think salsa...without the kick and you'll find it to be just as tasty as I did. And just like salsa, I think you can modify the recipe to include whatever you have on hand and tailored to your taste preference. 

First thing you do, is prepare an ice water bath by filling a large bowl halfway with ice and water; set aside.

Cut your fresh corn off the cob. Yes, this is the messiest part. Don't be surprised if kernels go flying. You need about 5 cups which may be 7-8 medium ears. I had 6 and that was plenty.

Bring a large pot of salted water (original recipe suggests heavily salted, I did not) to a boil over high heat. Add corn kernels and cook until tender, about 4 minutes. Drain and place in the ice water bath until cool, about 4 minutes.

Next in a large, non-reactive bowl (I used glass), combine 2 Tablespoons lemon juice (can use fresh), 1 1/2 teaspoons sea salt, 1/4 teaspoon fresh ground black pepper. While continuously whisking, add 3 Tablespoons olive oil in a steady stream until completely blended. 

Add about 10 ounces of tomatoes. Original recipe calls for yellow pear tomatoes to be halved. I had a variety of tomatoes (Arkansas Traveler, red cherry and yellow pear) so I cut into bite-sized chopped pieces. Also add 1/2 cup red onion, diced small and 1/4 cup fresh basil, thinly sliced. Throw the cooled corn into the mix and toss in the bowl until well coated.

That's it! And just like salsa, it is very forgiving. I did not measure anything and it turned out great. The initial tasting was good but I've stuck it into the refrigerator and covered it the flavors can meld a little more.

There is a plethora of corn and tomatoes around here right now, so with just a few ears of corn from a farm down the road, some tomatoes and basil from my back patio and an onion and condiments I had on hand, a new tasty side dish was created.

Try mixing in a different herb or adding in a sweet bell pepper (green, red or yellow) and see what you can create too. You may have caught on that the only difference here from salsa is cilantro vs. basil, lemon vs. lime juice, olive oil added and no hot pepper...so if you absolutely need your salsa fix, this is a good base recipe to start.

Enjoy!

More Berry Pickin' at Phillips' Berry Patch

I forgot to take a camera this time, but Rebekah, Leah and I went back to Phillips' Berry Patch in Guilford, Indiana. The crop of the day is the sweet, yummy blueberries pictured above...well, these and nine pounds more! The bushes are loaded. The three of us picked those nine pounds in under 30 minutes. 

You pick price is currently $2.90 per pound and $5.90 per quart if they pick for you. It might sound a little pricey, but for fresh off the bush, no pesticide berries, I'll pay to pick my own. 

If you're thinking about heading out to the Berry Patch, learn from my mistake and take the back roads through Greendale. Part of State Road 1 is closed and you can't get to the farm from Interstate 74. 

Cathay Kitchen, Florence, Kentucky

Our favorite Chinese restaurant...hands down...is Cathay Kitchen. It's located at 8049 Connector Drive, Florence, KY. We have eaten there several times and I have negligently never reviewed it. When I worked at Jackson Hewitt for the 2012 tax season, I was just about five doors down from this place. Actually, I was about half-way between Cathay Kitchen and Acapulco Mexican. Not once, did I eat Mexican for lunch though.

Michelle, the owner, was always gracious even when I would get delayed from picking up my food by an unexpected customer, the food is always delicious and she even gave me a discount when I worked in the same strip mall. We don't visit there as often now, but usually someone in the family will pick it for a holiday or birthday option. Such was the case today when my parents were in town for Leah's birthday.

The kids love the orange chicken and pork lo mein. I have tried the General Tso's, cashew chicken and the lite and healthy pick your own veggie meal...all to great satisfaction. Only once did someone have something they didn't like and it was the chicken curry. It wasn't that it was bad, it just had a different flavor than what was expected.

I also like that you can get vegetarian or vegan options and they offer steamed brown rice. The ginger dressing on their house salad is homemade and the best I've ever had from any Japanese or Chinese restaurant or store bought option. 

If you're not looking to eat healthy though, the egg rolls and crab rangoon are the best of any other Chinese restaurant we've tried. And they make their own sweet and sour sauce. That's Leah's go-to meal from any Chinese place and Cathay Kitchen is the only one that doesn't have that bottled bright red sauce. Again, it's chicken, covered in homemade sauce (not chicken pieces to dip) with large pieces of onions, pineapple and green peppers, just like I used to make at home.

Cathay Kitchen usually has coupons in the home mailers or coupon magazines that come in the mail. They offer dine in or carry out and have a full bar too. They sell desserts also, but we have always been too full to try them.

This is a family owned and operated business and supports our local economy. We will drive past about four to five different Chinese places to go here. It's about 15 minutes away from us and there is a Chinese restaurant in Hebron we could walk to...it's that good.

Next time you're craving Chinese...try Cathay Kitchen...I know you'll like it just as much as we do!

Berry Pickin' At Phillips' Berry Patch

Today I had the idea to research blueberry u-pick farms in our area. There really aren't very many if the online information is correct. But when I found Phillips' Berry Patch in Guilford, Indiana, (Dearborn County) and called, I discovered that she still had "a few" strawberries and the blueberries would be ready soon.

I didn't give the kids a choice about going and there were a few grumbles, but once we arrived, the girls pitched in on the picking and Noah elected to keep an eye on Jewell.

We didn't have her walking around barefoot...but we did set her in the patch for a few pictures. I don't think she knew quite what to make of it.

Abbey loves kids...and it doesn't take long for most kids to pick up on that. She made some new friends today, Addy and Ryan. They were the only other family there and it was their first time to pick. Their mom was really friendly and we chatted some. As I walked to my van a little later, I just had that "feeling" that I was probably talking to a Sister in Jesus. Not sure...but it definitely felt that way.

Then came the tasty part. I was curious to see what Jewell would do and before I could snap the second photo...

...a berry was already getting stuffed in her mouth, green top and all. 

She quickly spit it out, but it must either have been because of the size or the prickly top because she didn't hesitate to eat 10 of them for lunch when we got home. They're so juicy, I've already prepared her mama that she might have a berry-stained baby tonight.

Strawberries are normally $2 per pound, but because it was end of season (although she still had a lot) Mrs. Phillips gave them to us for $1 per pound. She also told me the blueberries will be ready in the next week or two...we'll be back, I know!

It's a success when the kids are eating fresh, locally grown strawberries all day and my 17 year summed up the experience with , "That was fun."

 

Blue & Gray Bar & Grill, Gettysburg, PA

We asked our battlefield tour guide for a local restaurant recommendation and this is what we chose from his suggestions. We had seen it on our drive through the town square area and it looked pretty good.

It was.

We were greeted by a very friendly waitress, but for a family of six, there was really only three places to sit...either at the bar or one of the two tables that were already occupied. A couple of our kids were uncomfortable eating at the bar, so we waited for one of the tables to open up. 

There was a lot of variety to the menu. There are 12 different Battlefield Burger choices alone. Plus, for the Man vs. Food set, a Pickett's Charge Challenge that's free if you finish it. Dale's flag, shows that he stuck with the Union army and chose the General John Fulton Reynolds burger which came on a soft pretzel roll with a corn fritter and warm bacon dressing on top. He thoroughly enjoyed it.

His is the only photo we took, but Noah and Leah had hand-breaded chicken fingers that were yummy, while I had an Ahi Tuna wrap, but the Crab Cakes were very tempting. Abbey chose the Chicken Apple Salad sandwich and Rebekah opted for a Philly Cheesesteak with American cheese instead of Cheeze Whiz as indicated on the menu. A few of us chose waffle sweet potato fries instead of traditional and both blew away any Chick-fil-A competition without a doubt.

Overall, if I had to rate the food, hostess, cleanliness and atmosphere, I'd give this restaurant a solid A. Sadly, our server just wasn't that friendly. I always attempt to be chatty and pleasant because I know servers have a tough job. I can usually get someone to come around and perk up a little. My children have even accused me of being flirtatious when I feel that I'm just being nice. But after about 20 minutes or so with this guy, I gave up trying. This was a pretty pricey place for us, so it annoys me a little when the person we'll be tipping/paying for serving us can't even crack a smile. Oh well!

We still said our requisite pleases and thank yous and we still tipped well, like we always do because we know from personal experience that waiting on a family of six is tough...but it really took until almost the end of the meal before he ever even said, "You're welcome". I just kept telling myself he was probably having a bad day. I'd still only take the experience down to an A- though. If you're in the area, for the food alone, it's definitely worth a try.