40? I turned 40??

What is it with women and turning a specific age, isn't it just a number? Some people would consider it as being half-way to dead. I have to admit, I almost panicked about it, but then I thought, you know what? It IS just a number and I'm nowhere near being half-way to dead. College has put a new spin on things for me, and I can't wait to graduate next year and begin the next chapter of my life. I can rewrite it as many times as I want, this one was a big one.

I bet you're all waiting to hear all about the food. I won't disappoint, trust me. 

In terms of friends, I have been truly blessed. I couldn't as for a better group of women to share my life with, they truly are the best. Thanks to them, this was one of the best and most memorable birthdays I have ever had, my mom even joined in, which I thought was really cool. 

So, we went to a place called the Train Station. It's exactly what it sounds like. It was an old station converted into a restaurant some years ago. I would say the prices are fair, and the food is delicious. So delicious in fact, that we all had pretty much the same thing. How often does that happen? The only difference was two out of five of us had a different sauce. 

You get a full meal at this place, salad, bread, entree, and dessert if you have room for it. 

Ok, I'll stop teasing and get on with the food. Our table had a dish which I believe they called; Langostino's with Angel Hair pasta. You had your choice of a sauce: garlic butter or a cream with wine sauce. I had the garlic butter of course since I have this love affair with garlic. It was really good! Not too much garlic (not that I would have cared), and the perfect balance of pasta and langostino's. 

Since it was my birthday, I got a free dessert, and that definitely didn't disappoint. Who can pass up Turtle Cheesecake?? Not me. I started a trend that night with the desserts - everyone had one, lol. Not that we can't splurge every once in awhile, because we made the most of it. 

I enjoyed that dinner so much that when the family was going to take me out to lunch on Sunday, I picked to go there - bummer that it was closed. Oh well, next time. 

I'm going to shamelessly plug this place, I really think people will like it. It has a great atmosphere, even includes a model train that runs above you, the staff was awesome, and the prices were right. 

So without anymore delays, here are the pictures. 

                                                     Langostino's and Angel Hair Pasta

Turtle Cheesecake 

Oh... I should also mention for my birthday... I had the delicious idea of buying myself an Ice Cream Cake from Dairy Queen... Those things are incredible! Maybe I'll attempt to make one, someday! :)

The cake:

From bottom to top: Chocolate, a layer of chocolate sauce with crunchies, and vanilla... Topped with icing! YUM!

I would say the rainbow design is so fitting. Agree?! Lol. 

Shawna's Grilled Chicken Cordon Bleu

I decided last week to share this link with my peeps... This is a recipe that was published in a Taste of Home cookbook. At this point, I have no clue which one, but it shocked me when I received the cookbook. They never notified me that it was published, just sent it to me.

Now I find it available on the web for the world to see, and I think that's pretty neat.

Here it is...

http://www.tasteofhome.com/Recipes/Grilled-Chicken-Cordon-Bleu

Surf N Turf

I decided this morning that I wanted to cook up some of those scallops I had in the freezer. So, the idea came to me to do the scallops, salmon, and steak... my own version of surf n turf. 

I did it a bit different, blackened salmon... in a cast iron skillet. The steak in a cast iron skillet as well. There's just something about it that doesn't beat the flavor. Well, in the kitchen, at least... everything's better on the grill, lol. 

The spices I used to blacken the salmon were: ground chipotle, paprika, black pepper, garlic powder, and onion powder. 

The steak got the leftover spice rub and the scallops just seasoned salt... just a touch. 

Perfection was achieved!! 

Grill Time

You know, for me, I don't think there is anything better than the taste of grilled food. The change of the seasons around here and not being able to use the grill part of the year, there's just something about the flavor. 

I know, I know... there's always the debate about which tastes better, charcoal or propane. I'm not going to get into that, as I do use gas because of the convenience. 

Tonight I decided to thaw a chicken thigh and grill it up with some barbecue sauce. Round out the meal with a salad and mashed potatoes, and you're good to go. 

Now... I used to always wrestle with the timing of cooking chicken on the bone on the grill. I used to burn it before it would ever get cooked through. I tried everything I could think of. No sauce until the very end. Indirect heat. To no avail could I cook it where it had the nice delicious crispy skin and juicy inside. Well, I solved my problem.

I got this trick off a friend of mine, and it truly does work. Here's what I do:

Boil it first. 

You heard me, boil the chicken first, preferably with some spices and herbs in the water. Tonight I used a garlic clove (whole), white pepper, and cumin. 

When that grill is nice and hot, throw the cooked chicken on there, dump some barbecue sauce on the top side, let it cook for a bit, flip it over, dump some sauce on, and let it cook... Let it go until you've got the desired crispiness. That's all there is to it. 

Trust me, it works. 

On the grill... 

On my plate along with parsley mashed potatoes.

 
YUM!

Lent

You know, I'm not Catholic.

But I have to say... those people in the churches around here are terrific cooks.

I went for a Lent dinner after classes last night with a couple of friends, and I have to say, I was completely impressed with the way the food tasted. Hell, I was impressed with how they ran entire operation.

First you tell someone which meal you want (I think there were five or six choices), they highlight it on a sheet and give it to you. Then you pay for it at the next 'station'. Next is the food line, you hand the paper to the first person, and down the line it goes. Grab a tray and you move too... Pretty neat. You also had a choice of deserts.

My choice: Baked crusted cod, haluski, green beans, salad, a dinner roll, iced tea, and a small piece of white cake.

The entire dinner was only 921 calories, and let me tell you, this was a LOT of food. I was stuffed!

I was also surprised to see one of my favorite professors there. I think more surprised that she was working as a server. Well, not really working, but volunteering her time. It's great to see them take the time out of their busy school schedules to do something they love.

It was definitely a good meal, with great company, and even included a nice 15 minute walk to burn off some cals, lol.

I do believe I'll be making a dinner trip over there this coming Friday. :)

I'll be sure to take a picture of the food next time! ;)

Updates and New England Clam Chowder

How far I have come since the last time I posted to this blog. I'm reviving it because of a PR class requirement and that's good because I love to write. I also love food, which was the purpose of this to begin with.

There have been many ups and downs since the last post I made here and I've taken them all in stride. I am now into my last year of college and what an adventure it's been. I've made some really good friends, had some spectacular classes and am looking forward to making the dean's list as a full-time student for the first time this semester. Anxiously awaiting, lol.

So my food musing for right now would be this:

I grew up loving a specific brand of New England Clam Chowder. No name mentions here, I'm not their PR rep. There are now cheaper brands on the market and those are the ones I migrate to. While they don't have the same comfort food taste that I was so accustomed to, a few little additions can really make them shine.

So, if you want to try this, grab your trusty can opener and take a trip into my kitchen. Into your pot will go the chowder. Then, picture this: add a can of drained clams, your trusty dollar store should have them cheap, add a touch of salt, and for an extra zip for lunch today, I added a sprinkle of smoked paprika. Yummy stuff, gives the illusion and hint of bacon.

Try it, I'll bet you're going to like it!

Sorry, no pictures here for this, it's already down the hatch, lol.

So as I sit here on the first official day of spring break 2012, I look forward to hopefully educating and amusing whoever out there in cyberspace feels my blog is worth a look.