9 Aug 2015

Sundays in the South

by | posted in: Sundays in the South | 0

Atlanta Flowers on a Sunday

Today: there will be peanut butter pie on my table.  Creamy.  Perfect for summer.  And an oreo crust – you can’t get better than that.  Just for the sake of health, there will be a salad eaten before!

I love one of the recurring themes in the book of Deuteronomy: (not just the law) delight

My mister would really love this refreshing salad so I think I’ll be a good wife and make it for him this coming week

If you want to go look at some pretty photos and buy some of them…I don’t think my friend Coast and Oak would mind?

I don’t know if a hot dog ever looked so good?

What links are inspiring you this week?

13 Feb 2011

Taste of Durham: Pop’s Trattoria/Rue Cler

by | posted in: food, restaurants, Uncategorized | 0

Two delicious downtown restaurants: one week: one owner.

Rue Cler is about a block from First Durham, a french restaurant and bakery (I’ve heard their blueberry muffins are just excitement for your mouth).

A friend and I went.  Dinner menus are daily reads, so I couldn’t plan ahead of time (ACK!).  They are pre-fixe menus, but you can substitute for anything, or you can do it a la carte.

I got the salad frisee (frisee greens, croutons, vinaigrette, bacon (which I left off for meatless year) and an egg – broken down into the greens – maybe all the time from now on.  Then I had a side of the pomme frites (really yummy seasoned french fries).  I didn’t care for the sauce (butter/tarragon) but I refrained from asking for ketchup. 

We had a great waitress who was patient in answering all of our questions because neither of us specialize in French cooking.

The other restaurant I tried this week was Pop’s Trattoria on Main Street.  They recently moved buildings – into an urban/warehouse type feel with local artist’s work adorning the wall.  We walked right in on V-day weekend because of reservations.  They sat us right next to beautiful precious friends which made the night even more special. 

Mussels with tomatoes, white wine, and red chili – AMAZING.  You really want a straw to sip up all the broth – but instead you dip the bread.  They come around to the tables periodically with a big basket and a set of tongs to give you as much bread as you desire. (1 1/2 for me).  The olive oil they served was delicious and fruity, but it didn’t compare to the mussels’ broth, so I chose that for my dipping choice.

Those we devoured – we also got the apple brie ricotto pizza topped with a truffle oil cream.  Very rich, we took leftovers.

The food was better than the service.  That’s not to say the service was bad, just not STELLAR – but the food definitely made up for it.  I could go back every night just to have the mussels.  Will definitely be going back to Pop’s!

6 Jan 2011

Best Posts from 2008

by | posted in: Books, Women | 0

Finally getting around to bringing over more of the old posts.  Many of you have not been reading this since 2008, so this gives you a glimpse into what was going on on the blog back then.  Enjoy.

Hungry Adulterers: Thoughts on a JD Greear sermon

My Favorite Chili

My Go-To hummus recipe

Ruth – A review on quite possibly my favorite commentary ever

Ode to the Oreo (go with it, really)

Sacred Influence – one of my top 5 books every wife (or woman preparing to be married, or any female for that matter), must read.

When Sinners Say I Do – my top recommendation for all engaged/married couples

Some books are worth just their forward – but this book has a great forward and is a good read:

Easy Cobbler recipe

Interesting that in May of 2008, I read his book – now I work for the man.  Great boss.  If you are a youth pastor or pastor, read this book.

Do you like strawberries – you’ll love this! 

My favorite Jerry Bridges book, and I loaned it out and never got it back…hmmm…

Man, has it really been this long ago that I read and loved this book?

My favorite Ed Welch book – to date.

I’m really glad my photography has improved, but this trifle is amazing

Gender-Roles, Pre-Marriage

Great winter, holiday, special salad

25 Aug 2010

Taste of Raleigh: 18 Seaboard

by | posted in: food | 0
Treated my parents here for a belated Father’s Day/Dad’s birthday dinner. Made reservations through Open Table and everything went great from there.
The hostesses were extra accommodating to us. Our waitress was able to make recommendations and not afraid to do so. She wasn’t too pesky but did check on us throughout our stay to refill our water, bring us complimentary good eats, and make sure we had everything we needed. Definitely worth a good tip.
The decor was lovely, brick, soft drapes, dim lighting, classic place settings, sectioned off bar area (in the front of the restaurant). 18 Seaboard is set in an old rail station, so the ambience isn’t too “new fangled”. Loved it – my type of nice restaurant.
We didn’t start with any appetizers, but the kitchen gave us some crostini with their basil goat cheese. I could eat goat cheese day. This was exceptional. Creamy and bursting with flavor from the fresh summer basil. Thank you, Kitchen!
I ordered a refreshing salad with peaches. Here is their description: Pee Dee Orchard peach and field greens salad with basil balsamic vinaigrette, pecans, and aged balsamic crouton. The aged balsamic crouton was stellar and it tasted like a fruit jam. Wonderful. This salad was light and refreshing and Fresh! I loved it.
Mom ordered the Chopped Asparagus Salad and the Black Eyed Pea Cakes. I tasted both. Mom loved her salad and ate one of her black-eyed pea cakes. Too much food! 🙂 I love asparagus! They do have vegetarian options for those who have those dietary needs/wants.
Dad got the special which was salmon (he got it blackened) with potatoes, onions, corn and spinach. I could have eaten a bowl of the onions all by themselves, maybe I should have asked for an order of them. I think they were cooked with a honey balsamic – but man, they were some of the best onions I’ve ever had.
This food was local and fresh, which is something else I enjoy about a restaurant.
For dessert, we ordered the roasted Amoretti stuffed peach with homemade (in-house) blueberry and sprite melon ice cream. Could I get a quart of the ice cream to go please? So fresh and light. But, also a taste treat from the kitchen – little squares of blueberry cake with a blueberry mousse. The mousse was light and a perfect topping.
Jason and his crew at 18 Seaboard definitely know how to cook a meal and serve it up to their patrons. Will be returning! Maybe just for peach salads, onions, and ice cream! I think I could handle that.