Sunday Stealing...

Welcome to Sunday Stealing. This feature originated and published on WTIT: The Blog. Here Bev will steal all types of questions from every corner of the blogosphere. Her promise is that she will work hard to find the most interesting and intelligent questions. (Past hosts include: Our first - Judd Corizan, Mr. L, Kwizgiver and Bud) Cheers to all of us thieves!

How do you like your eggs?Over very well done...crispy around the edges.

How do you take your coffee/tea:I never drink coffee, yuck!

Favorite breakfast foods:Banana pancakes, bagel with cream cheese, sweet and spicy bacon, and biscuits with sausage gravy. (Not all together LOL)

Peanut butter: smooth or crunchy?Honey Roasted Crunchy.

What kind of dressing on your salad?Blue Cheese

Coke or Pepsi?My preference is Diet Coke.

You feel like cooking. What do you make?Something for dessert. My husband is a chef, he does all the cooking. I do the baking.

You’re feeling lazy. What do you make? Call the pizza delivery.

You’re feeling really lazy. What kind of pizza do you order?HAHA - didn't read ahead, we get pizza a lot. Meat lovers personal pan pizza for me. 

Is there a food you refuse to eat?Broccoli - it's just not my friend!

Favorite fruit & vegetable:Beets and Clementines

Favorite junk food:Crunchy Cheetos

Favorite between meal snack:Fruit

Do you have any weird food habits:I don't like fish or chocolate for breakfast. 

You’re on a diet. What food(s) do you fill up on?An apple, popcorn, or sugar free jello.

How spicy do you order Indian/Thai?mild

The perfect nightcap?Chocolate Martini - Yummy!

Cheers!Lori in Blue Ridge, GA

Comfort Food...

I asked my sweetie for comfort food on this cold night. He made Shepard's Pie for dinner.  It was so delicious, I want to share it with you...

Shepherd’s pie is one of the most loved meals in Ireland. The truth is that shepherd’s pie came about from sheer genius and the need to preserve rather than waste food. It was derived from the need to make something cohesive from the little bits of food that was seen to be not worth much. It was so revered in that time that it became something like a specialty dish in some homes. 

Try this recipe from Alton Browns cookbook:

FOR THE POTATOES

• 1 1/2 pounds russet potatoes
• 1/4 cup half-and-half
• 2 ounces unsalted butter
• 3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
• 1 large egg yolk

FOR THE MEAT FILLING

• 2 tablespoons canola oil
• 1 cup chopped onion
• 2 carrots (peeled and finely diced)
• 2 cloves garlic (minced)
• 1 1/2 pounds ground shepherd (in a pinch, substitute mutton or lamb stew meat)
• 1 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 teaspoon black pepper (freshly ground)
• 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons tomato paste
• 1 cup chicken broth
• 1 teaspoon Worcestershire sauce
• 2 teaspoons fresh rosemary (chopped)
• 1 teaspoon fresh thyme (chopped)
• 1/2 cup corn kernels (fresh or frozen)
• 1/2 cup English peas (fresh or frozen)

1. Heat the oven to 400 degrees F.
2. Peel the potatoes and cut them into 1/2-inch dice. Put them in a medium saucepan and cover with cold water. Set said pan over high heat, cover and bring to a boil. Uncover, drop the heat to maintain a simmer, and cook until tender, 10 to 15 minutes.
3. Heat the oil in a 12-inch saute pan over medium-high heat until shimmering. Add the onion and carrots and saute just until they begin to take on color, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the garlic and stir to combine. Add the meat, salt and pepper, and cook until browned and cooked through, approximately 3 minutes.
4. Sprinkle the meat with the flour, toss to coat, and continue to cook for another minute. Add the tomato paste, broth, Worcestershire sauce, rosemary and thyme and stir to combine. Bring to a boil, then decrease the heat to low, cover, and simmer slowly for 10 to 12 minutes, until the sauce is thickened slightly.
5. Meanwhile, combine the half-and-half and butter in a microwave-safe container and nuke till warmed through, about 35 seconds.
6. Drain the potatoes and return them to the saucepan. Mash the potatoes (a masher is an excellent tool for this, though a hand mixer will also do), then add the hot half-and-half mixture, as well as the salt and pepper. Mash to smoothness, then stir in the egg yolk.
7. Add the corn and peas to the meat mixture and spread evenly in a 7-by-11-inch glass baking dish. Top with the mashed potatoes, starting around the edges to create a seal to prevent the mixture from bubbling over, and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. 
8. Place on a half sheet pan lined with parchment paper on the middle rack of the oven and bake for 25 minutes, or just until the potatoes begin to brown. Remove to a cooling rack and let rest for at least 15 minutes before serving.

Cheers!

Lori in Blue Ridge, GA

Just another Weekend in the Mountains

One of my besties Brenda and her husband Mario from Atlanta spent the weekend with us here in Blue Ridge, GA.  Their pup Loddy also stayed with us, she was a perfect doggy house guest. 

Brenda joined my monthly bunco group on Friday night for a potluck dinner, a few rounds of bunco, some laughs, and of course lots of wine and chocolate.  Mario and my sweetie Chuck went into town for dinner and a few adult beverages of their own at Treo.

On Saturday Brenda and I worked most of the day in my Metal Clay studio, creating jewelry. We used Fast Fire Bronze; I did not like it much. I think I will stay with the Goldie Bronze brand for future classes.

Saturday night we went to a new restaurant "The Flying Trout" in Blairsville, a town about 11 miles from Blue Ridge.  The food was very good, but the service was awful.  It seemed they were understaffed for the large crowd people. The restaurant was previously a biker bar and some of the regulars from the past were still fixtures at the bar. It was a fun mix of people: aging bikers, city folks up for the weekend, lake people, and locals like us.  We will definitely give it another try in the near future.

Today (Sunday) Brenda and Mario made breakfast for us and we finished up the Metal Clay projects. Our friends headed back to ATL and our cats came out from hiding. I think Buddy and Ghost were ready to get the house back from the the furry invader Loddy the dog.

It was a great weekend with friends!

Cheers!

Lori in Blue Ridge, GA

Yummy In My Tummy....

Visiting Blue Ridge, GA? Or maybe you already live in this beautiful town (good move). Did you know that Mesquite Grill on Appalachian Hwy serves Breakfast? What !?!

I admit, I was sceptical about going to a Mexican Restaurant for breakfast... it was great! I had the breakfast burritos and my Sweetie had the breakfast quesadilla. Both were stuffed full of perfectly grilled veggies, scrambled eggs, hashbrowns and my burrito had crispy bacon (you can also get chorizo or sausage). Several sauces are available for dipping if needed. 

And the best thing about this breakfast...our total bill was $18 including coffee, OJ, and tax... Sweet!

Contact information for the Mesquite Grill:

Address: 4860 Appalachian Hwy, Blue Ridge, GA 30513

Phone: (706) 632-6911

Hours: Open Today 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM

Cheers!

Lori in Blue Ridge, GA

Date Night at The Vine....

Last night my Sweetie and I went to dinner at The Vine Wine Bar and Bistro in our hometown of Blue Ridge, GA. I highly recommend this little bistro for a light meal paired with a nice glass of wine. 

The atmosphere is very casual and welcoming, which is refreshing after spending many evenings in the some of the pretentious in-town wine bars in Atlanta.  They have a nice enclosed patio trackside that has an Italian street cafe vibe and live music on the weekends. The weather in Blue Ridge right now is beautiful for dining al fresco. 

The Bistro offers great small plates...flat breads, cheese plates, and several meat and cheese combinations. They even have a wonderful homemade cake of the day for dessert. 

Also, every Friday they have a wine and chocolate pairing starting at 6:00 PM. Reservations are suggested for the pairing because... who doesn't love chocolate and seating is limited!

Cheers!

Lori in Blue Ridge, GA

A Pig Deal - Hogs, Bourbon and Music...

Fall means it's time for a good old fashioned pig roast at our favorite place ITP (inside the Atlanta perimeter) - Local Three.  We'll soon be spending the afternoon out on the patio at the annual “Roast a Fatty” pig pickin’ party. Chefs Hall and Muss slow roast a home-grown hog from Gum Creek Farms south of Atlanta.  They'll be using a roaster that I’ve only seen at their roasts, it's called the La Caja China Roasting Box.  The aromas coming out of that box are delectable and the unveiling of the finished fatty is quite the spectacle.  Camera's flash, the crowd of hungry guests "ooh" and "aah", and we all await the first taste of the roasted pork goodness.

Photos from the first "Roast a Fatty" at Local Three

The Local Three staff also whips up a load of the delicious sides and feature a smooth Bourbon like Belle Meade. Their bourbon is an old family recipe that was developed during prohibition in the '20s. It was so....good!  If you like Bourbon, this is the event for you!

And to top it all off, everyone receives a commemorative “Roast a Fatty” T-shirt….love the logo on the T-shirt from the first event, see the design below.  We’ll see y’all out on the patio real soon…November 6th....y'all join us!  Cheers!

Rinda's Summertime Photography Scavenger Hunt 2016

Fellow blogger Rinda, is hosting her annual summertime photography scavenger hunt; I'm joining for the first time today. Below I've shared two of the scavenger hunt items that I've found and photographed so far. There are a total of 21 items on the list of things to photograph; I'll be posting additional items as I find and photograph them. This is a great way to get to know my new town, Blue Ridge, GA.

Item #13 - The Moon

This photo was taken from our back deck on the night of the Summer Solstice. It was a clear beautiful night, we toasted the beginning of summer with a glass of red wine and nibbled on goat cheese rolled in cracked pepper, spread on crackers, with blackberry jam. It was a perfect night out on our new the deck!

Item #14 - A Buffet of Food

This photo was taken at our Housewarming and Fireworks Party on 07/02/16.  We had friends from our camping adventures, work, church, the Atlanta Tall Club, and our new neighbors join us for dinner, buffet style.  The BBQ came from Joe's BBQ in Blue Ridge, GA. It has been voted best BBQ in north GA several years in a row...Yummy! I love the spicy sauce, it's so good....

Cheers!

Lori in Blue Ridge, GA

A Pig Deal - Hogs, Bourboun and Music...

Last Sunday we were invited to a good old fashioned pig roast at our favorite place ITP (inside the perimeter) - Local Three.  We spent the afternoon out on the patio at the first annual “Roast a Fatty” pig pickin’ party. Chefs Hall and Muss spent the morning slow roasting a home-grown hog from Gum Creek Farms south of Atlanta.  They used a roaster that I’ve never seen before, the La Caja China Roasting Box.  The aromas coming out of that box were delectable and the unveiling of the finished fatty was quite a spectacle.  Camera flashes, oohs and awes, and a crowd of hungry guests awaiting the first taste of the pork goodness.

The Local Three staff whipped up some of the delicious sides they are known for and special guest Charles Nelson of Nelson's Greenbriar Distillery brought down a load of his smooth Bellemeade Bourbon; they use an old family recipe that was developed during prohibition in the '20s. It was so....good!  If you like Bourbon, you must try this one! Kevin (our favorite barkeep) kept the crowd happy with his crowd pleasing bourbon concoctions.

We met some great folks, David and Claire who were seated at our table. David took the pictures in this post because I forgot my camera…again. Hope to see them again at another Local Three event.

And to top it all off, we got commemorative “Roast a Fatty” T-shirts ….love the back of the shirt…see the design below.  We’ll see y’all out on the patio again real soon…Cheers!

Five Little Monkeys.......

Do you ever have a song stuck in your head?  A snippet of the tune keeps coming to mind over and over and over?  I've had a well know childrens song swirling around in my head for days now.  It was triggered by a wonderful cake design by "i Heart Cakes" in the photo below.  I spotted this cute cake while searching for a grooms cake in a DesignBeep blog post featuring 70 wonderful cake designs. Isn't this the cutest cake you've ever seen!



Designed by -  iheartcakes.com



"Five little monkeys jumping on the bed
One fell off and bumped his head.
Mama called the Doctor and the Doctor said,
"No more monkeys jumping on the bed!"