Nibble and Sip

Baked Bree

2011-11-25T23:51:00.001-05:00

This was a terrific holiday dish made by Carolee Maynard.

Late Lunch

2011-11-15T14:40:00.001-05:00

I don't eat the way I should when Jill is out of town.

Chicken and Waffles

2011-11-14T13:59:00.001-05:00

When I was in my twenty's, while living in NYC, my friends and I used to visit a restaurant called Wells. After a night of partying we would wind-up at Wells, generally around three o'clock in the morning, looking for a snack. Since it would always be too late for dinner and too early for breakfast, we would find a suitable happy medium. Fried chicken and waffles.

I introduced Jill to chicken and waffles some years later. Gladys Knight's restaurant, in Atlanta served them.

Every now and then Jill will make fried chicken and waffles at home. For this most recent prep she used a Japanese breading mix called Planko. Now that we tried it, we both agreed that Planko is not the way to fry chicken. We'll return to the more conventional flour and oil recipe in the future.

Flip Burger

2011-10-23T00:56:00.001-04:00

Atlanta- My daughter took me to a hip little hamburger joint called Flip Burger. I had a blackened shrimp burger and fried pickles. The shrimp burger was tasty. They served a sauce with it that added a great flavor. I should also mention the terrific wild rice with portobello mushrooms. Scrumptious.

Jill's Birthday Cake

2011-09-11T07:38:00.001-04:00

Dinner time - Steaks on the grill

2011-01-01T17:50:00.000-05:00

Boot Key Habor, Florida Keys

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No membership required...

2010-12-31T16:40:00.000-05:00

The most common activity performed by many households around the world is ... hauling water. It is true. Much of the earth's human population do not have a water source in their homes... (as quiet as it is kept neither do you. The water that miraculously flows from so many taps in your home is not a water source. It is only a conduit. I know a family that has a well on their property. That puts them close to a water source. But I digress.) When Jill and I live aboard Shibumi, we join billions of people world wide who have to carry water home. The other day I was asked by another boater, "Why don't you take Shibumi to the dock and fill her up?". I could do that, take my home to the water source. In fact, I do just that when I must go dockside to get fuel. However, when we settle into a place for a while, like we are here in Boot Key Harbor, it feels more natural to bring water home whenever we go ashore... just like so many, probably most, of the people of the world do. Now... those of you, who are reading this on high-speed Internet, undoubtedly have water in your homes whenever you call upon it. That is good. But as you go into this New Year, please look at your simple blessings... and be grateful. Because I can tell you from lots of experince, water weighs 8 pounds per gallon. You don't need a gym membership if you haul 10 to 20 gallons of water home every day.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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Christmas dinner away from home ...

2010-12-25T18:10:00.000-05:00

We had one heck of a grand Christmas Dinner at the City Marina in Marathon.

Again today we got to meet several new friends, share sailing stories and have plenty of laughs.

Thanks to Richard and his wife for putting it all together. My eyes were much bigger than my stomach; but it all tasted so good.

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Breakfast...

2010-12-23T09:28:00.000-05:00

They had alligator tail on the menu but we went with the "fish & grits".

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Good Saturday Morning ...

2010-12-04T08:11:00.000-05:00

Good morning ... A bowl of oatmeal with raisins and a mug of hot coffee took some of the chill out of morning air.

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Sunday breakfast... Pancakes are on the stove ...

2010-11-21T07:46:00.000-05:00

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From Jill's Galley - Blackened Talapia Salad

2010-11-20T20:23:00.000-05:00

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Crispy lettuce ...

2010-11-16T12:34:00.000-05:00

Lunch while underway. I am starting to prefer sandwiches made with lettuce instead of bread.

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Grilled Peaches

2010-08-17T13:12:00.001-04:00

Grilled Balsamic Peaches

By: Shock ‘This is a perfect summer side dish paired with grilled pork tenderloin.’

Servings: 4

Prep time: Ready In: 14 Min

Original Link: Grilled Balsamic Peaches

Ingredients:
4 peaches, halved and pitted
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and ground black pepper to taste
1/4 teaspoon Cajun seasoning
1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
1 tablespoon chopped Italian flat leaf parsley
4 sprigs Italian flat leaf parsley, for garnish

Directions:
Preheat grill for high heat for 10 minutes.
Place olive oil in a bowl. Add peach halves and toss to evenly coat with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.
Cook the peaches, flesh side down, on preheated grill until slightly charred, 4 to 5 minutes.
Remove from the grill and dust with Cajun seasoning.
Cut halves into 1 inch-thick slices.
Place halves in a bowl; add vinegar and parsley, tossing peaches to coat evenly.
Place on a serving platter and garnish with sprigs of parsley.

——————————————

David’s Note: Because I am just coming off of a fast I used only one peach which made two servings…one peach half was my entire dinner. I had a little trouble calculating the correct messurement of ingredients to only one peach… I may have slightly overpowered the peach with cajun seasoning and balsamic vinegar … but in the end it worked out fine. Very tastey.

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Break Fast

2010-08-16T09:13:00.002-04:00

It is time to break my 10-day fast. I'll cut watermelon and cantalope in to little cubes. I will have a small bowl of the combined fruit. I don't want to shock my system with too much too soon. Happy breakfast to you...

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Fasting - A Natural Cleanser

2010-08-10T17:39:00.038-04:00

Fasting: There are a lot of old wives’ tales or urban legends about fasting. Most of the information passed around about fasting comes from people who have never fasted, or people who tried it for a few hours and quit, or someone who has a friend who fasted once. There are people in the health industry who consider fasting to be an unhealthy thing. Those health professionals have never fasted themselves but they were told fasting is bad, so they tell you what they have heard.

Remember what Lao Tzu said, “He who speaks does not know”.

Well I have fasted many times. I fast for at least seven days straight, twice a year, and have been doing that for 26 years. But I caution you: that does NOT make me an expert. I know how fasting affects me… but I have no idea how fasting will affect you. The results I get from fasting seem to mirror the results achieved by most other people who actually fast. So my experience can be considered that of the average person.

Here now, flying in the face of the rest of Lao Tzu’s statement which was, “He who knows does not speak”: I am going to speak to you about my experience while fasting. Read More

I have a wide open lifestyle. Very often I eat and drink what is convenient. When I am not fasting I eat and drink most anything that is NOT downright nasty. Fruit, vegetables, meat, fast food, alcohol, canned goods, and foods out of a box: I don’t shy away from most things that are tasty and provide a little nutrition. Because I realize that I am not eating properly with some of this stuff, I make an effort to rid my body of most of toxins before they build up long enough to become harmful. Most diseases experienced by humans are ultimately caused by what we put in our mouths.

I go on a fast to cleanse my body and all of my organs of toxins and impurities. Another reason I fast is to gain energy and vitality that I start to feel during the latter days of the fast. After most fasts, if I fast correctly, I feel the added energy and vitality for weeks, sometimes months, after the fast. Some people describe it as a spiritual high. I say it makes me feel 15 years younger.

Fasting is safe if you do it PROPERLY: You must take in proper fluids. I use an easy to make lemon drink that contains all of the nutrition your body needs. And most importantly, you MUST break the fast properly.

Five cautions for anyone interested in fasting: One, you cannot just stop eating. Two, after the fast you cannot just start back eating again. Three, during the fast you must drink juices. Four, during the fast you must help the toxins that will be released into your bloodstream get completely out of your body. Five, If you have significant health issues consult your physician... fasting can very likely improve your health but medical advice should be used if you are of very poor health.

A fast is a complete shutdown of your digestive system. Many people never rest their digestive system. Two or three meals a day plus snacks does not give the digestive system a vacation from its constant duties. I prepare for a digestive system shutdown with at least two days (three days are better) of eating only fruits and vegetables. During that time I avoid caffeine and I will not drink alcohol. No meats during the time that I am preparing my digestive system to shut down.

Following the fast: I eat only live fruit and vegetables; meaning that I consume produce that has not been cooked to death. I do that for two or three days. I do not want to stuff a hamburger or french fries into a sleepy digestive system that has just been thoroughly cleansed.

During the fast I drink only lemonade, water, and an occasional herbal tea (no caffeine, NO solid food). I use what is commonly known as the master cleansing fast. A web search of the term “Master Cleanser” should provide you with more than enough information to be successful with a fast.

I make 1/2 gallon of lemonade at a time. Many people advise to make lemonade fresh with every glass, but that just doesn’t work for me.
	To make one-half gallon of lemonade I squeeze enough fresh lemons to come up with 2/3 of a cup of lemon juice.
I sweeten the lemonade with pure Grade B maple syrup… you can use Grade A or Grade C but the best results are with Grade B. For one-half gallon I use twelve tablespoons of maple syrup.
	Add to that just a little less than a half of teaspoon of cayenne pepper. Yes, I said cayenne pepper.
Mix this all with one-half gallon of water and there you have it.
	If all of your measurements are right you will barely have to shake this mixture up…. All of the ingredients dissolve well with each other in water.

I made notes about my most recent fast which began August 6, 2010:
---

Day one: The first day of this cleansing fast was surprising to me. For the first time I experienced light-headedness and a general feeling of being out of sorts on the first day.

During a fast I always go about my normal routine. I do avoid doing anything that requires extreme exertion, but otherwise my normal physical routine is not changed.

I believe Day One's feelings were caused by the workout I got in Qi Gong Class during the morning. I didn't think Qi Gong was that intense; but as it turned-out it was intense. Qi Gong works many of the joints in the body and exercises all of the body’s internal organs.

On that first day of the fast: there was no food in my system, like there normally is,to absorb the toxins that the exercise released from my internal organs into my bloodstream. That gave me a feeling of general un-wellness. When I got home from the class I drank some lemonade which helped some, but I could tell I was experiencing the effects of toxins that were previously stored somewhere in my cells. That is something that I normally don’t experience until the second or third day. Even then, the uneasy feelings weren’t that intense. But the Qi Gong workout brought out the toxins much faster than I had experienced before.

That first day I drank five glasses of lemonade. The evening of the first day I drank some Smooth Move Tea just before bedtime. Smooth Move is a senna leaf tea that is designed to work as an overnight laxative.

Sleep the first night was decent, but not as solid as I had become used to normally on a fast.
End of Day One.

--------

Day Two: I woke early on the second morning of the fast. My intestines were cramping slightly, so I knew the senna leaf tea was working. Within the first hour of being up the Smooth Move Tea worked its show. All of the toxins that my bloodstream had delivered to my intestines were now out of the body.

I felt great.

Later in the day I was a busy and did not stop to pour a glass of lemonade. I knew I waited too long to have my drink when I felt a bit of a headache creep in. It was no big deal but it was a wake-up call to not let dehydration set in.

The second day is normally my roughest day on a fast. As I mentioned in yesterday’s write-up, I normally start feeling the toxins on the second day. Well, I had already dealt with the toxins by using the laxative tea. Other than the slight headache from not drinking on time I felt no bad physical affects on Day Two. But there is another thing that always seems to dog me on the second fasting day, MY MIND.

On Day Two I meet the psychological wall. It is on the second day when I ususally start to think about all of the wonderful meals and social opportunities that I am missing. Even when I call friends they normally say, “Hey, let’s go get a beer”, or “Why don’t we go get a bite to eat”. I can’t go to my parent’s house because my mother will insist that I eat something. Day two is always the hardest day of my fast.

It is not hard because of hunger. With the lemonade I have never gotten hungry during a fast. I struggle on the second day because of my mind dreaming up fabulous meals. Temptation.

Actually the temptation is no big deal. I mention it because if any of you are going to go on a fast, you will have mental images of your favorite foods crop-up in your mind’s eye at some point in the early stages of the fast. Just drink some lemonade. The temptation will quickly pass.

The second day I drank five glasses of lemonade. I should drink more glasses but I have gotten use to the lesser amount.

Before bedtime on night two I had a cup of chamomile tea.

I slept soundly that night.
End of Day Two.

--------

Day Three: The third day was routine … I drank five glass of lemonade during the day and felt fine.

I had lost five pounds since the start of the fast. That is nothing to get excited about. Those early five pounds were mostly water weight. If I return to my customary lifestyle after the fast, and I always do, that weight will come back again quickly.

Early in the evening I started feeling a little headachy. I realized the headache came from more toxins moving around in my system. A glass of lemonade help beat down the headache to just a sense of dullness behind the eyes.

Before going to bed I had a hot mug of calming chamomile tea.

Again I had another night of sound sleep. It is amazing how well you rest when the digestive system is not working most of the night.
End of Day Three.

---

Day Four: I woke up with a slight headache that I knew was caused by the toxins I started experiencing late in the day yesterday.

I mixed a quart of saline solution. Saline solution is a natural laxative. Unlike the senna leaves of the Smooth Move Tea, saline solution takes only about an hour to work. It is mixed using two teaspoons of sea salt in one quart of lukewarm water. Saline solution if mixed properly is the same specific gravity as blood. Therefore, the water won’t be taken-up by the kidneys and the blood will not pick up the salt. The solution goes through the digestive system and gives it a good scrubbing.

An hour and a half later I was again free of toxins. The headache was gone but I was extremely thirsty. Saline solution dehydrates pretty efficiently. After a glass of lemonade I felt great.

Day four happened to be another scheduled Qi Gong class. I was apprehensive but went to class anyway. This time the work out was considerable more intense than Day One. I knew if there were any toxins left in my body they were being loosened. Cool water tasted very good after class, but I had no headache and no ill feelings.

I had no physical issues for the balance of the day. However, Jill who is not on the fast with me this time, made a garlic shrimp dinner for herself. The glorious smell of that dinner had almost a dizzying affect. It is a little funny, I thoroughly enjoyed the smell of the dinnner but I did not want to taste it. After years of fasting, I have gotten used to being around food when I can’t eat it, except, of course, on day two.

On Day Four I had six glasses of lemonade. I and I felt very good.
End of Day Four.

---

Day Five: I woke early on my fifth day of this fast. I was looking forward to going for our ususal Tuesday Morning walk. Tuesday morning was the best I felt during any period of the fast so far.

I am certain that I shook a lot of toxins loose on the first day and that was what had me vibrating at such a low frequency. But now I feel 100%.

I had a glass of lemondade and we were out the door for forty-five minutes of fresh morning air.

The only negative on Day Five, although I don't look it that way, was that I gained back one of the five pounds that I loss early on in the fast. Why? I am not sure. I know the early weight loss is water weight, The only thing I can think of is that my body had started back retaining water or something.

By four o'clock in the afternoon I had only two glasses of lemonade and I was not thirsty or hungry. I should drink more to keep an even blood-sugar level but without it I felt quite good.

I am sure that the brisk walk in the fresh air had I lot to do with maintaining the good feeling. Looking back on the first four days of the fast: I had not spend very much time out in the fresh air. On those days I stayed indoors enjoying the air conditioning while avoiding Florida's hot August sun. A note to myself: get out into the fresh air at least twice a day while you cleansing your system.

A dry brush massage is a critical process in an internal cleansing of the human body. I'll write more about the dry brush massage on the Day Six update.
End of Day Five

---

Day Six: The day flew by with no fast related issues.

Jill grilled a chicken breast for lunch. I enjoyed the aroma, but felt sorry for her that she had to eat it. It is like when I have just taken a shower and put on clean clothes... I don't want to go out in the garden and get muddy.

I had six glasses of lemonade to drink on Day Six and felt fine all day.
End of Day Six.

---

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Farmers Market Shopping

2010-06-20T11:40:00.002-04:00

Farmers market shopping ...

Ask the farmer: What kind of apple, orange, watermelon, etc. is this? Farmers should know their produce. If he/she doesn't know, you may want to try another booth in the market.

Also ask: when did you pick this? If he/she can't answer that, tou are not dealing with the real deal.

You should also ask what kind of pest control they use and how they care for the soil. You may not know what the correct responses should be; but you will learn what to do a web search on when you get home.

Tell the farmer what you plan to do with his produce, when you plan to eat it. A good farmer should steer you toward produce that is sufficiently ripe.

- Paraphrased from the book: Real Food Has Curves ... by Bruce Weinstein and Mark Scarbrough

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Meal of the week ... (Jun 19, 2010)

2010-06-19T20:05:00.000-04:00

What came first, the strawberry or the pork chop? (those who don't eat pork chops should stop reading now)

In this case, leafy spinach came first then the pork chop ... all topped with fresh strawberries and a white wine, vinegar, and strawberry jam reduction.

This was one fantastic dish.

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Lunch - BLT on Focaccia Bread

2010-06-03T12:52:00.001-04:00

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Lunch at the Atlantic Grill

2010-05-24T13:38:00.000-04:00

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Dinner time - Saturday ...

2010-05-22T19:10:00.001-04:00

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Dinner ... With rum raisin bread pudding ...

2010-04-23T19:45:00.000-04:00

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Osteen's Restaurant - St. Augustine, FL

2010-04-10T20:34:00.000-04:00

You have to be patient to eat at Osteen's Restaurant. The dining room is average size but the crowds are large. The wait can be anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes or more. You register at the window then wait. There are loud speakers in the parking lot and speakers in the antique store next door. So many waiting diners browse the antiques while waiting for a table.
They don't take credit cards, but you don't need a lot of cash. The prices are reasonable.

The size of the crowd speaks volumes about the taste of the food. Shrimp is the house specialty. It is fresh and a tasty. My first bite of Osteen's lighty fried shrimp reminded me of the first time I tasted fried shrimp as a child. My parents took my sister and I to Nathan's Restaurant in Coney Island, NY. Not since then had I tasted fried shrimp as fresh and flavorful.

Shrimp is not all that Osteen's has on the menu. But shrimp was all that was order by the six members of our party. I chose sweet corn and green beans as my two side items. Tropical fruit and sweet potato casseole, among others, were also available.

UPDATE 2010: This was first posted in August of 2006. I have since visited Osteen's several times. On a recent visit I discovered the Blackened Flounder on their menu. The shrimp is outstanding, but the Blackened Flounder is now my favorite Osteen's dish.

If you visit Osteen's, be prepared to wait, but once you are inside you will be happy you came.

- Google Maps -
Osteen's Restaurant
(904) 829-6974
205 Anastasia BlvdSt Augustine, FL 32080

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Murdocks in Cocoa Village... the fried chicken is awesome!

2010-04-02T20:26:00.000-04:00

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Cheers...! Here's to Friday Night

2010-04-02T18:55:00.000-04:00

Margaritas

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Dinner time... my turn on the grill..

2010-03-31T18:23:00.000-04:00

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We anchored early today...

2010-03-31T14:30:00.000-04:00

... And Jill baked brownies!

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Saturday Lunch... I'll need a snack.

2010-03-27T19:54:00.000-04:00

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Leftovers for lunch... delicious leftovers...

2010-03-26T12:20:00.001-04:00

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Village Beach Market - Vero Beach, FL

2010-03-25T13:42:00.002-04:00

Date: Mar 25, 2010
Category: Journal

Yesterday, we met a young fellow named Jason, whose family owns Village Beach Market on Hwy A1A in Vero Beach. He was at the marina surveying boaters about what print advertising we found effective. Jason is a personable young man and we like him, so today we took a trip to the market to see what it was like.

We found a well stocked fine food and wine facilty with everything we could possibilly need in the way of groceries. There was a bakery, a deli, fresh produce, freshly packaged meats, and an array of gourmet offerings.

As we looked through the dairy section we saw Jason. I went up to him and said hello. Immediately, I could tell he didn't recognize me. I felt a little hurt because just the previous day he and I had enjoyed a lenghty and pleasurable conversation. My hurt feelings were quickly salved when I heard I'm say, "I bet you met my twin brother, Jason."

So as it turns out Jason has an identical twin; and according to his brother, Jason and his wife have twins themselves.

It looks like the Village Beach Market will be in the family for a long time to come.

Village Beach Market Phone: 772-231-2338

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A light dinner tonight...

2010-03-24T18:59:00.001-04:00

...tomato, red onion, fresh basil, and fresh mozzarella... with homemade balsamic vingerette dressing.

It was pretty tastey.

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Sunset Dinner

2010-03-23T21:16:00.000-04:00

Shrimp and Pasta

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Rainy morning breakfast aboard Shibumi...

2010-03-22T08:52:00.001-04:00

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Friday Lunch..

2010-03-19T20:27:00.001-04:00

Date: Mar 19, 2010
Category: Journal

Friday Lunch..

The last time we were in Vero Beach Jill and Lynette Martin found a quaint little Thai Restaurant called Bankok in Downtown. We stopped there today for lunch.

The meal started off with Rice noodle miso soup followed by fresh salad wth ginger dressing. My main dish was Thai Red Curry with chicken. Jill had the same with shrimp. The Thai Red Curry was outstanding and Jill loved the shrimp... there was something about the chicken's smell I didin't like, so I didn't eat the chicken. But everything else was delicious.

The restaurant had a nice dimly lit atmosphere and the wait staff were very friendly and efficient. All of the facilities were fresh a clean. My only misgiving was my finicky sense of smell that didn't care for the chicken.

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Hale Groves

2010-03-19T16:11:00.002-04:00

Date: Mar 19, 2010
Category: Journal

Hale Groves

We had a rental car and took a scenic tour of US Hwy 1 along the Indian River.

One of the places we stopped was Hale Groves where we were told they have excellent "honey bells". Honey Bells are a mix of oranges and other fruits they have a citrus base but are as sweet as honey; or so wr were told. The clerk at Hale Groves told us that we missed Honey Bell season by a few months. They are only available during the month of January. We both put Hale Grove on our January calendars to order a case of Honey Bell to experience them for the first time.

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Autumn Fruit

2009-09-22T23:34:00.003-04:00

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Friday Dinner

2009-09-12T16:28:00.003-04:00

Twice in one week we had dinner at a Japanese Steakhouse.
Jill's mom treated us in honor of Jill's birthday.

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Saturday Meals

2009-09-05T21:13:00.003-04:00

French Toast and Ham

Lunch

Hamburger

Dinner

Spaghetti, Shrimp, and Broccoli

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Friday

2009-09-04T19:51:00.001-04:00

Lunch

Broccoli, Scallops, and Rice

Dinner

Chicken Tortillas

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Yamato Japanese Steak House

2008-09-12T12:43:00.003-04:00

Everything looked brand new, but the Yamato Steak House and Sushi Bar is not new. It has been in business for years. The bright stainless vent hoods and spotless Teppen tables are a testament to the attention Yamato's management pays to detail. That attention to detail carried over to the delicious meals that were prepared and served directly in front of us at the piping hot Teppen tables.

We went there to celebrate Jill's Birthday. Yamato Steak House is in St. Augustine, Florida.
	Jill had the Shrimp Dinner and I had the full Imperial Dinner with shrimp, steak, and chicken. What can I say? I was hungry!
Both dinners came with fried rice, mixed vegatables, and pasta. Our meals were delicious and we intend to return again, soon.

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Pizza

2008-03-17T18:30:00.003-04:00

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Cleansing Lemons

2007-08-29T17:04:00.001-04:00

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Stemless Wine Glasses

2007-08-27T16:21:00.000-04:00

We saw an ad in yesterday's newspaper for 'wine tumblers'. I wasn't familiar with them, but I liked the idea. Wine glasses with a stem always felt too... er... well... too ... I don't know... I'm just too clumsy to be comfortable with glass on a stick.

We went to 'World Market' and found that there are tumblers for red wine and different tumblers for white wine. Okay, I can go for that. The price was right, so we bought a set for red wine and a set for white wine.	Cell phone photo
Cell phone photo	When we got home I looked up 'Stemless Wine Glasses' on Google. I found out that some people think they need a different type tumbler for the various variety of grape. Come on! I think that is carrying it a little too far.

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Wine Pairing Shop - Palm Coast, FL

2007-06-11T14:29:00.001-04:00

Jan Crawford sings Jazz, Blues and Contempory R&B.

Jill said smiling, "There are not many places that you can enjoy a good bottle of wine, hear fantastic live music, and dance the night away... all for $22 for both of us."

She was talking about the Wine Pairing Shoppe in Palm Coast. We enjoyed it so much that we went two Saturdays in a row. We enjoyed it as much the second time as we did the first.

	The Wine Pairing Shoppe features live Jazz, Blues, and contemporary music. Admission is $5. You can buy a bottle of wine for your table or purchase wine by the glass.
They have a selected stock of wine. I am not a wine expert by any means, so we asked Gary, one of the owners, what he would recommend. After a few brief questions about our tastes he pointed us toward three different wines. He told us we would be happy with any one of them. Over time we tried all three. Gary was right. We loved two of the wines that he recommended and the third was really pretty good; just a little too sweet. Of course, if you are going to have wine... there must be cheese...	The Wine Pairing Shoppe has a nice variety of cheeses to go with their fine wines.
	The first time we went, we were joined by our neighbors, Sid and Sharon. That evening we enjoyed a rythymn and blues band called 'Anthony Wild and the Suspects'. We left with such a positive feeling about the experience that we decided we would go back again the next week.
The following Saturday we went back to hear Jan Crawford who sings Jazz, Blues and Contempory R&B. Ms Crawford has a powerful presence and a beautiful voice. Her performance, along with the play of her three-piece band known as Blues Fusion, brought everyone to their feet dancing long before the night was through.
	The owners, in the background of the picture to the left, work hard to make everyone feel at home. Their efforts pay off nicely, because I know that Jill and I will return again... soon. Wine Pairing Shoppe 4996 Palm Coast Parkway Phone: 386-597-6393

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Fresh Bread

2007-06-04T03:43:00.001-04:00

Fresh Bread from the Java Joint

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Fried Turkey

2007-05-22T22:01:00.000-04:00

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Cracker Barrel

2007-05-18T10:37:00.000-04:00

We took a morning walk through Palm Coast's one-year old linear park. The park's pathways wind through more than four miles of forests, gardens, waterways and neighborhoods.
	We worked up a good appetite so we stopped at Cracker Barrel for breakfast. Breakfast is the only meal I like from Cracker Barrel. The lunches and dinners I have had there were a little too "fried" for my taste.

For those not in the USA, Cracker Barrel is a chain of restaurants normally found along our interstate roadways. They are a country style restaurant and 'general store'.

Cracker Barrel elicits a strong reaction from those familiar with it. People seem to either love them or hate them. Many people boycott Cracker Barrel because the company has not always been politically correct.

As for me, I enjoy eating breakfast there; and I am aware of no business, of any kind, that has ALWAYS been politically correct. This world is too big, varied, and interesting for me to shun everything I don't fully agree with.

So, a big order of fluffy maple pancakes and a side of chewy bacon is the only thing Cracker Barrel has to get right for me to stop-in.

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Video: Saltine Cup Cakes

2007-01-09T22:39:00.000-05:00

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Jill prefers I call this 'Saltine Cracker Pie' because it is ordinarily made into a pie. But when we entertained some friends during the weekend she made them into little cup cakes, so I called them 'Saltine Cup Cakes'. By any name they are delicious. Many people find it hard to believe they are made using Saltine Crackers. Here's how it is done. You will need:
18 Saltine Crackers
1 Cup of Walnuts (chopped)
3 Egg Whites
1 Cup of Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Cream of Tartar
1 Teaspoon Vanilla.

Roll 18 Saltines until they are crushed fine.
	Chop 1 cup of walnuts
Beat 3 egg whites until they peak
Beat 3 egg whites until they peak	Add sugar, cream of tartar, and vanilla then mix.

	Add 1 cup of chopped walnuts and the crushed Saltines. Mix.
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (163 C)
	Fold the mix into an 8 inch pie pan (I think that is 20cm). Here we used mini cup cake pans, but this is supposed to be a pie.
Bake in oven (325F/163C) for 40-45 minutes, until top is brown.

Top with chocolate whipped cream and serve.

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Beaujolais Nouveau - 2006

2006-11-18T11:29:00.000-05:00

Thursday, we took an afternoon walk through the European Village. Jill noticed a hastily-printed sign outside of the Village Wine Shop. It read, "Beaujolais Nouveau has Arrived". It just so happened that day was also the PBase.com Transglobal Photo Challenge, regarding food. I had learned from Chris Hadden, and later JD, that Thursday was the release date of the 2006 Beaujolais Nouveau.

Inside the wine shop I found out that the shipment had just arrived 20 minutes before we did. I was the first in our little town to purchase the 2006 BN. It is an inexpensive wine, so I picked-up three bottles. Once back home we called our neighbors Cliff and Cheryl to help celebrate the release of this year's grape.

Another thing I learned from the Thursday Transglobal Challenge: I have always eaten kiwi fruit peeled and sliced. I don't know why, I just always have. After seeing Dominic Cantin's entry I started eating the fruit with a spoon... it makes so much more sense.

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White Chili

2006-10-02T11:55:00.000-04:00

WHITE CHILI

1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves minced garlic
1 Tablespoon olive oil
1 Jalapeno pepper, minced (wear gloves when handling Jalapenos)
4 ounce can chopped green chiles, drained
1 teaspoon powdered cumin
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/8 teaspoon cayenne pepper
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups chicken broth
2/3 cup cooked white kidney beans, rinsed and drained
8 ounces cooked chicken breast, cubed (about two cups)
1/4 cup chopped fresh cilantro
1/2 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese

Saute onion and garlic in olive oil in soup until tender. Add Jalepeno, chiles, cumin, oregano, cayenne pepper, and salt, and saute another minute. Stir in chicken broth, beans and chicken. Bring to a boil. Cover and simmer for 25 minutes. Stir in cilatro and cheese and serve. Serves four.

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Lunch

2006-09-18T10:29:00.000-04:00

Romaine Lettuce, topped with diced turkey breast, cheddar cheese, sunflower seeds, and tomato wedges.
The dressing was made up of maple syrup, raspberry vinegar, olive oil, salt, and basil.

To serve four people Jill recommends:
3 Tablespoons of pure maple syrup
1/3 cup of raspberry vinegar
3 Tablespoons olive oil
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon dried basil

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Java Joint - Flagler Beach

2006-08-19T08:11:00.000-04:00

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Interior video images taken by camera phone

We visited the Java Joint in Flagler Beach this morning. Food and service were outstanding.

Jill says the home fries were crisp and flavorable. Her wheat bread seemed to be fresh and freshly sliced. She also reported that the decaf coffee had a wonderfully robust flavor. She could barely tell she was drinking decaf.

I had French toast with powdered sugar and maple syrup. With that I had the regular coffee; that is black coffee for those of you in the Northeast U.S. who consider regular coffee as coffee with milk and sugar. My coffee was very flavorful, and that was just their run-of-mill stuff. The Java Joint's menu board offered a wide array of Columbian coffees. There seemed to be a coffee for every sense of taste.

The atmosphere inside was nothing to speak of. There was some clutter and dark brown walls. But, the outdoor seating was magnificent. The Java Joint overlooks the Atlantic Ocean on Flagler Beach. The view from their terrace offers all of the splendor you could want from a sideside cafe.

This will not be our last report on the Java Joint. We intend to return to interview the staff and do a full review of this coffee house on Florida Highway A1A.

2201 N Oceanshore Blvd
Flagler Beach, FL 32136
(386) 439-1013

This review was first posted on June 22, 2006. We stopped at the Java Joint again this morning. This time we had the good fortune to meet the owner, or one of the owners. Our delightful breakfast turned into a delightful visit as we discovered how personable and dedicated the person behind this great little restaurant is. See her comments, now attached to this post.

Pier Restaurant - Flagler Beach

2006-08-14T17:31:00.000-04:00

Large plate-glass windows overlook Flagler Beach and the majestic Atlantic Ocean. So there is plently of ambiance to the Pier Restaurant's early morning light.
Our service was prompt and friendly, however a couple at another table seemed perturbed with their waitress. That was not our concern because the smiling woman who served our table was cheerful and always available when we wanted more water or coffee.
This was a breakfast meal. I had French Toast, ordered my bacon chewey. Jill ordered Eggs Benedict with no sides. She could have had home fries or grits, but she opted not to have the extra starch.
My French Toast arrived light and moist and the bacon was chewey, just as I liked it. I poured on the pre-packaged Maple Syrup... and I was as happy as a tornado in a trailer park.
Jill's Eggs Benedict had a hollandaise sauce that was nicely prepared. She said it could have had more lemon in it, but over-all she rated it high. The meal itself was a bit too salty. She said the meat inside tasted more like ham than Canadian Bacon. That may have accounted for the salty taste.
We take an early morning walk along Flagler Beach at least once a week. We stop at the Pier Restaurant for breakfast about once a month. We normally have good service and the food is better than decent. And we always enjoy the view.

Many people have a strong dislike for this faciltiy ... Please see their reviews listed HERE. Your experience may vary.

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Lunch at David and Mary's

2006-07-29T21:25:00.000-04:00

Our new neighbors, David and Mary, invited us to their house for lunch this past week. The lunch turned into a feast.
Warning: Do not view this SlideShow if you are hungry.
Come back another time.

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Turtle Shack - Flagler Beach

2006-07-24T23:01:00.000-04:00

David and Mary are our new neighbors. They asked us if we could recommend any good restaurants in the area. Without hestitation, we said the Turtle Shack, in Flagler Beach. The Turtle Shack is housed in a building that is easily ignored as you drive along the ocean on Forida Highway A1A. It is in a ... well it is in a shack. As David said after his meal, "Unassuming restaurant from the outside, but once you are seated delight's await you".

We arrived early, about 5:30 pm. That afforded us the choice of any table in the two dining rooms. The small indoor dining room is very comfortable, serviced by central air conditioning. The screened dining area is serviced by ceiling fans and fresh ocean breezes. There were also two tables available out front, sidewalk cafe style. We decided to sit in the screened dining area and enjoy the ambiance of the Atlanic Ocean that is directly across the street.

The very personable owner stopped by the table to find-out a little about who his patrons were. He must have liked us because after a brief lively chat he bought our first round of Wine. Shiraz for Mary, Jill and me. Pinot Grigio for the other David.

The Turtle Shack is famous for it delectable crab cakes. There is no filler in the crab cake, only crab meat and spices. The special that evening was Baked Salmon topped with Merlot aioli sauce.

David, Mary and Jill all ordered the Crab Cakes. I ordered the Salmon. All entres came with two sides. Glazed carrots and pasta salad were the popular sides at our table.
Fresh ground pepper added just the right zip to the crispy fresh salad. We each had the very tasty, slightly spicy Balsamic Vinegarette dressing.

All of our meals were scrumptious. My table mates reported the crab cakes lived-up to the Shack's venerable reputation. The Merlot Aioli added a flavorful tang to my moist and tasty salmon.

On to desert. Creme Brulee for three of us. Mary had the Key Lime Pie. The Creme Brulees were magnificent. The Brulee was carmelized with a torch. As I write this I salavate from the memory of its sweet satisfying goodness.

The price was fair for the great food and friendly service. Jill and I were pleased that our recommendation put a big smile on the faces of our new friends.

Billy's Tap Room

2006-07-22T16:16:00.000-04:00

We went to Billy's Tap Room with our neighbors Harold and Linda. The hostess asked if we had called ahead. We had not. They expected a crowd that evening but we were early, so they squeezed us in at the window near the front door. Actually, it was not a squeeze at all. Our seating was in a booth that could accommodate six. It was just not back in the "dining room" per se. However, It was perfect for us... we had a Willie Nelson concert to catch so we wanted to be in and out in about an hour.

The specials that night, a Thursday evening, were Grouper and Filet Mignon. Three of us ordered the Filet. Harold opted for the Grouper.

Warm fresh bread, crisp fresh salad, and wine ... Chardonnay for Linda and Harold... Cabernet Sauvignon for Jill and me.

My steak was prepared to my liking. It was sliced lengthwise and stuffed with bleu cheese, the covered with a Bernaise sauce. This delicous 6 ouncer was complimented with rice almondine and green beans.

Harold reported the grouper very tasty. I am sad to say that I did not notice how it was prepared.

In fact, we all thoroughly enjoyed our meals. The only minor hitch was a rotten boiled red potato served with Linda's filet. It was quickly replaced and the manager apologized perfusely. It was not the fault of the restaurant, but I could tell by the manager's concern that their supplier would hear about that little spud.

All plates were empty when Laurie, our server cleared our table while enquiring if we wanted deserts. Time was tight, so we passed on desert. But we will try the desert on our next trip to this very nice establishment in Ormond Beach.

Barefoot Wine

2006-07-06T22:44:00.000-04:00

Last month when we installed a new wine rack, Zen and Coleen, both, recommended a wine called "Barefoot". We tried it and we liked it. It has a resonable price and is not bitter.

It will have a place in our wine rack.

I have had several questions about animated photo loops. No magic involved. I used a GIF animator. I bought a $30 version last year. But I believe there are a number of free animators available. Do a web search for "animated GIF". I used Google. I bought the Advanced GIF Animator because I wanted something that was easy and quick to use.

Palm Coast Classic Diner

2006-06-26T21:26:00.000-04:00

The Devil Made Me Do It.

The temptation was too great when I saw "Tropical Belgian Waffles on the menu." I had to try it. When it was finally delivered to the table I faced the dilemma of how to eat it. I like syrup with my waffles, but there was already plenty of sweets aboard the plate. I eventually poured some syrup on the side and dipped the cut waffle when sweet-maple flavor was called for. All of that aside, the waffle dish was tasty and well prepared. It did take two tries for it to arrive at the table. A plain waffle was delivered first.

Across the table Jill was having a different experience. Her food was not cooked well. The omelette was runny inside. The home-fries were not crisp, a sign that they could have cooked a while longer. However, there were onions in the potatos. That was a good thing because the onions added flavor to the dish.

The bacon was chewy. That was good for me, but my table-mate preferred bacon a bit crisp. So, she didn't enjoy the bacon, either.

The portion size was HUGE. For many people that is a plus, but as I get older it becomes more difficult to cram too much into my aging tummy. Giant portions are very common at many restaurants nowadays. That is too bad. It is unhealthy to eat it all and shameful to waste-it by leaving it on the plate. We were not going straight home, so a doggy-bag was not an option.

If you like very very strong coffee you will like this place. Jill was drinking decaf and found it a little too stout for her taste. I felt the coffee was strong but not as flavorful as I have had elsewhere.

The wait staff was very friendly and the service was prompt. There was only the little hiccup with the plain waffle which was quickly and courteously corrected.

The building seemed new. The decor was plain and well lighted. But then again, this was brunch and daylight added to the ambience. A freshly painted mural graced the entranced and framed artwork dotted other walls.Everything in the large two-room dining area appeared clean and well-cared for.

The price...? We paid about twice what we pay for a comparable meal at other restaurants in this same area.

We have to rate the overall dining experience unsatisfactory. But we will return one day, to see if things have improved.

Father's Day Meal

2006-06-18T18:25:00.000-04:00

For Father's Day, Mom prepared a fantastic meal of Cornish Hen, brown rice, potato salad, green beans, garlic bread, and green salad.

2005-09-22T12:00:00.000-04:00

Interesting Food Photos

Champaign for Mom's 80th Birthday

2005-09-17T14:58:00.000-04:00

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My mother's 80th birthday was this past week. Jill and I took a bottle of champaign over to her before dinner.

Saturday Afternoon Food

2005-09-10T19:34:00.000-04:00

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This area of my blog is Nibble and Sip. It will cover anything that has to do with food and drink. Now, this site won't always be about junk food... far from it... but sometimes on Saturday afternoons, you just have to eat Saturday afternoon food.

Cynthia Black's Studio

2005-09-10T18:16:00.000-04:00

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While we waited for our meal, we wandered next door to Cynthia Black's Studio. While there Cynthia gave us a brief run-down on Tahitian Noni Juice.

Visit Cynthia Black on the web

Next we drove north on Highway A1A and visited the gallery of Paul Baliker.

Hargrove Grille

2005-09-09T13:12:00.000-04:00

When I asked Jill what she wanted to do for her birthday, she said "First, I want to have breakfast at the Hargrove Grille". She certainty is not hard to please.

We recently read a review of the Hargrove Grille in a local magazine. The restaurant got good reviews, so we went to see for ourselves.

The grille is located inside the Hargrove Industrial Park in Palm Coast. This is not a likely location for a fancy restaurant, which is fitting; because the Hargrove Grille is not fancy at all. It is plain and simple with good food.

The atmosphere is enlivened by the owner/manager Bob Allen. Bob has been in the restaurant business for several years, primarily in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. He opened the Hargrove Grille four years ago,but moved here to operate it just last year.

When in Palm Coast, stop by the Hargrove Grill for breakfast or lunch. Bob says that all you have to do is call and he will stay open past his normal closing time of 4pm and serve dinner

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Jill's Birthday

2005-09-09T01:00:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow is Jill's Birthday. We plan to start the day with breakfast at the Hargrove Grill, then on to Daytona Beach to spend the day.