Saturday, February 9, 2008
Wear your IHOP pride
To celebrate their 50th anniversary, IHOP has introduced a clothing line! This really teeters on that line between kitschy cool and, well, sad. If you have enough personal style, meaning you could work some trendy jeans and rocking accessories with it, you could pull this look off with the necessary aplomb. If not, well, better to not advertise your flapjack addiction. http://www.ihopstuff.com/dssc_catalog.asp?category_id=1
Friday, February 8, 2008
An exploration of spices as close as 82nd St.
Aren't we lucky to live in a time when exotic spices are so easy to find? We don't have to risk our lives on a long sea journey in which we might not know where we are going or if we'll even find anything worth having when we get there. You will definitely find something worth having at Penzeys Spices (4026 E. 82nd St- Rivers Edge strip mall). It is especially nice on these bland winter days to go in and explore the spices, herbs, and seasonings. Sample containers for each offering are available so you can inhale and let your olfactory system take a vacation. We went in just to kill time but ended up leaving with a sackful and more that we wanted but didn't buy. So far, we have tried the Balti seasoning which is a blend of 19 spices such as cumin, coriander, cardamom and fennel. We enjoyed it as a rub on chicken breasts but the Penzeys website says that it makes wonderful potatoes. It is described as a "spicy, salt-free curry powder from Pakistan". Read "spicy" as flavorful, not hot (unlike the Trader Joe's Pav Bhaji side that we had with it- that was hot!). We can't wait to discover the tastes of the other goodies that we purchased and we'll let you know when we do. They have a nice website if no locations are close to you but you really need to go into the retail store and inhale. http://www.penzeys.com/
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Saving the planet for the fun of it
The White Violet Center for Eco-Justice, tucked away on the expansive campus of St Mary of the Woods University, has a program, for a mere $100, you can sponsor the care and feeding of a newborn Alpaca for a year.
The Alpcacas are born, kept with their mothers and live together in a roomy barn, complete with a vet clinic built into the barn, so they can be cared for without being moved. They have a roomy pasture, so they can play.
Once they mature, they are sheared, and the nuns make clothing out of the wool, which can be purchased in their gift shop, just a few hundred feet away from the barn. Their nutrient dense manure, which did appear to be plentiful, is used in the greenhouse, which is also a few hundred feet away from the barn.
The whole operation is self sufficient, except Alpacas like to eat a lot of hay and alfalfa ( and occasionally, oats, as a treat). So, your $100 sponsorship goes a long way in helping feed these friendly, curious, wide eyed creatures.
The best part is, with your sponsorship, you get to visit that pasture. Yesterday, I took the 90 minute drive to go visit Juniper, my adopted Alpaca. Still a baby, Juniper was both curious and hesitant. He liked the petting, but didn't really want to admit it. Georgiana, his mom, was unashamed of her fondness for human interaction. She was not only approachable, but would approach you.
In my hurry to get down to the pasture (the nuns are available to let you into the barn Mon thru Fri 8am to 4:30), I neglected to bring the camera, but will get there again soon and publish a Juniper slideshow.
If you want to help out, here is the website. http://www.whiteviolet.org/
The Alpcacas are born, kept with their mothers and live together in a roomy barn, complete with a vet clinic built into the barn, so they can be cared for without being moved. They have a roomy pasture, so they can play.
Once they mature, they are sheared, and the nuns make clothing out of the wool, which can be purchased in their gift shop, just a few hundred feet away from the barn. Their nutrient dense manure, which did appear to be plentiful, is used in the greenhouse, which is also a few hundred feet away from the barn.
The whole operation is self sufficient, except Alpacas like to eat a lot of hay and alfalfa ( and occasionally, oats, as a treat). So, your $100 sponsorship goes a long way in helping feed these friendly, curious, wide eyed creatures.
The best part is, with your sponsorship, you get to visit that pasture. Yesterday, I took the 90 minute drive to go visit Juniper, my adopted Alpaca. Still a baby, Juniper was both curious and hesitant. He liked the petting, but didn't really want to admit it. Georgiana, his mom, was unashamed of her fondness for human interaction. She was not only approachable, but would approach you.
In my hurry to get down to the pasture (the nuns are available to let you into the barn Mon thru Fri 8am to 4:30), I neglected to bring the camera, but will get there again soon and publish a Juniper slideshow.
If you want to help out, here is the website. http://www.whiteviolet.org/
Wednesday, February 6, 2008
Tea's Me
The gorgeous Tea's Me teahouse is having a couple of events that sound like they should not be missed. We never need an excuse to go there but, on February 23rd at 6PM, they give us extra incentive. They are having their Winter Tea Tasting which means not only exotic teas but also a three course meal. Check out the different course options on their website http://www.teasmecafe.com/ It sounds like a bargain for $35.
If you like to mix your tea with sweet treats and a little history, head to the Morris-Butler house on March 8th from 1-3PM. If you haven't visited this historical house before, what a great way to be a tourist in your own town. The tasting is followed by a tour of all three floors of the 1865 home. All of this for only $25. Details are at Tea's Me website or the Historic Landmarks website at http://www.historiclandmarks.org/HistoricSitesToursEvents/MorrisButler/Pages/default.aspx
under Victorian Teas.
If you like to mix your tea with sweet treats and a little history, head to the Morris-Butler house on March 8th from 1-3PM. If you haven't visited this historical house before, what a great way to be a tourist in your own town. The tasting is followed by a tour of all three floors of the 1865 home. All of this for only $25. Details are at Tea's Me website or the Historic Landmarks website at http://www.historiclandmarks.org/HistoricSitesToursEvents/MorrisButler/Pages/default.aspx
under Victorian Teas.
Tuesday, February 5, 2008
General Cinema
If you are of a certain age, and went to movies in the 1970s, this video clip will bring back fond memories. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nZVfA2tJRXc&NR=1 You Tube has a couple of clips of this bumper but this one has the best quality. It is the opening logo of General Cinema's Feature Presentation and it will transport you right back to your 1970's mall movie theatre. You can also find Loews Theatre's great Muppet bumper from the 1990s and the Regal Cinema roller coaster one (although that one always made me a bit nauseous on the big screen). If you want to read more about the history of General Cinemas and see some old pictures, you can check out their website at http://generalcinematheatres.com/ I can smell the popcorn and taste the Goobers just hearing their jingle.
Saturday, February 2, 2008
YATS! The one in Fishers.....
I love Yats. It's a small locally owned Cajun restaurant, simple, funky,eclectic. I love the original in Broadripple, and I love the Yats on Mass Ave. But I have resisted the "strip mall" newest Yats addition in the sanitary, uninteresting town of Fishers, which is basically a community that popped up overnight so people could go home at night to their safe havens after spending their workday in Indianapolis.
I have resisted going to the Fishers Yats...until now.
I found myself in the unenviable position of going grocery shopping hungry, never a good move. But I didn't want to compromise my diet, or my health by hitting any on the burger huts in the area.
So, I tucked my pride away, like a bad report card and went into the Fishers Yats. To my shock and dismay, the chili-cheese etoufee, a mainstay of the Yats menu was no owhere to be found on the chalkboard menu. It was gone! In all of my Yats meals, which are many, I have never deviated from the chili-cheese etoufee. From the first time I saw it, tasted it, it was culinary love at first sight...and now it was gone.
Too hungry to be turned away, I trudged further toward the ordering counter. I mentioned the etoufee to the counter guy, only to be assured that they did make it there, just not today.
So, then, the issue was, what to eat? I went for the 1/2 and 1/2. For a paltry price of $6.50, you can select 2 of their entrees on the same plate. I went with the white chili and the jambalaya.
Where my etoufee had small chunks of crawfish, the white bean chili wad large chunks of chicken, the jambalaya was generous with chicken and smoked sausage. These two dishes paired extremely well with each other. The white chili was extremely mild, the beans and chicken sat on top of the bed of white rice and looked entirely too inviting. The jambalaya, on the other hand, was the spunky one of the combo, while I would say it had just enough kick, I would also say that any more heat would have been too much. ( Although I was amazed that other people in the restaurant indulged in the Yats sauce bar, seasoning almost each bite, before they put it in their mouths)
Of course, this meal was topped off with their buttery garlic bread, and the spiciness was quenched with several trips up to the unlimited soft drink fountain.
I will still remain a Yats purist and frequent the ones in Marion County, but while you are in the Fishers Yats, if you close your eyes, it's almost like you are in Broadripple.
I have resisted going to the Fishers Yats...until now.
I found myself in the unenviable position of going grocery shopping hungry, never a good move. But I didn't want to compromise my diet, or my health by hitting any on the burger huts in the area.
So, I tucked my pride away, like a bad report card and went into the Fishers Yats. To my shock and dismay, the chili-cheese etoufee, a mainstay of the Yats menu was no owhere to be found on the chalkboard menu. It was gone! In all of my Yats meals, which are many, I have never deviated from the chili-cheese etoufee. From the first time I saw it, tasted it, it was culinary love at first sight...and now it was gone.
Too hungry to be turned away, I trudged further toward the ordering counter. I mentioned the etoufee to the counter guy, only to be assured that they did make it there, just not today.
So, then, the issue was, what to eat? I went for the 1/2 and 1/2. For a paltry price of $6.50, you can select 2 of their entrees on the same plate. I went with the white chili and the jambalaya.
Where my etoufee had small chunks of crawfish, the white bean chili wad large chunks of chicken, the jambalaya was generous with chicken and smoked sausage. These two dishes paired extremely well with each other. The white chili was extremely mild, the beans and chicken sat on top of the bed of white rice and looked entirely too inviting. The jambalaya, on the other hand, was the spunky one of the combo, while I would say it had just enough kick, I would also say that any more heat would have been too much. ( Although I was amazed that other people in the restaurant indulged in the Yats sauce bar, seasoning almost each bite, before they put it in their mouths)
Of course, this meal was topped off with their buttery garlic bread, and the spiciness was quenched with several trips up to the unlimited soft drink fountain.
I will still remain a Yats purist and frequent the ones in Marion County, but while you are in the Fishers Yats, if you close your eyes, it's almost like you are in Broadripple.
Chinese New Year is February 7th, 2008
We like any excuse to celebrate so we use themes across all cultures and religions. This week, not only is there Fat Tuesday, but Thursday rings in the year of the rat on the Chinese calendar. We are giving you an early notice of that in case you would like to celebrate early by taking advantage of the weekend dim sum at Shanghai Lil's (www.shanghai-lil.com). Of course, this would be an ideal restaurant to have dinner on Thursday (last year they wished us Happy New Year when we went in on the Chinese New Year day) but dim sum that is offered on the weekends is such a nice way to try several different dishes. It isn't served on carts, as many dim sum services are. You check off the dishes that you want and they are served to you in stages.
If you'd rather make something at home, they are a lot of options. You could easily make a stir fry or, even easier, pick up some frozen goodies at Trader Joe's or Saraga Grocery. Trader Joe's has tasty Shu Mai varieties. They are bite sized dumplings filled with vegetables, chicken, or shrimp. Saraga, the international grocery store on the west side, has full sized dumplings filled with anything and everything imaginable. Be sure to complete your at home celebration with decorations and party favors from a party store such as Party Tree(partytree.net) even if it is just for you and your family. It's February, we need excuses to brighten things up with some color and fun.
If you'd rather make something at home, they are a lot of options. You could easily make a stir fry or, even easier, pick up some frozen goodies at Trader Joe's or Saraga Grocery. Trader Joe's has tasty Shu Mai varieties. They are bite sized dumplings filled with vegetables, chicken, or shrimp. Saraga, the international grocery store on the west side, has full sized dumplings filled with anything and everything imaginable. Be sure to complete your at home celebration with decorations and party favors from a party store such as Party Tree(partytree.net) even if it is just for you and your family. It's February, we need excuses to brighten things up with some color and fun.
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