Saving Money and Eating At Home

In the course of having to learn to be in better control of our family budget as well as trying to help people in the world I would like to make a recommendation. A Treasury of Top Secret Recipes by Todd Wilbur takes many of your favorite chain restaurant foods and approximates them for you. I've tried a couple of the recipes in this book and have found them to be very, very close to the originals.

One in particular that I have found to be EXCELLENT is for the number one chicken sandwich in the world being sold by cows. I won't mention the name of it but lets try a word puzzle, shall we.

Well I think it's all pretty obvious now isn't it?

I first found this book in the library and after checking it out a few times I decided that I'd buy it. It's one of my favorites. I've got numerous cook books and I've bought some for just one recipe. If this one only had the recipe for the "World's Greatest Chicken Sandwich" it would be worth it.

find it here: http://www.topsecretrecipes.com/

or here: Amazon


*No chicks or sneakers were injured, harmed, or used for food in preparing this blog. All representations are owned by their respective namesakes and I'm sure that the companies that own them would love for you to buy them.

El Paisano Restaurante - San Angelo

There's been a rash of new restaurants in San Angelo recently and El Paisano is one of the newbies on the block that I've had my sights set on. EPR has set up shop in the same location that has brought you Las Dos Hermanas, and Chilangos right on South Chadbourne in the heart of San Angelo's Barrio. The name sounds kind of "eye tal yin" like a lot of our friends around here but sure enough it's definitely a Mexican eatery.


We were greeted quickly and seated the same way. The ambience here has changed from the quirky and silly (Chilangos) to a more home style approach.
Our waitress got our drinks out quickly and was really attentive to all of our needs. She giggled a bit when she saw Jonah dancing around when some Banda music came on. We were pleasantly surprised to find out that we got a couple of free appetizers with before our lunch came out. Of course Jared asked for: __________ Fill in the blank. Didn't know you were getting a test huh? Hint we are from San Angelo and Jared asked for his usual San Angelo staple appetizer. Anyway, our waitress brought out a couple of bean dips that were simply out of this world. One of them had a lower layer of beans with a warm chile sauce on top that was very tasty and packed in some good heat. Here it is:
It's companion appetizer was also beans with a little picadillo and cheese on top. I think this was our waitresses nice way of getting something for our kids that they could eat. Looks good huh?
I ordered some Menudo and everyone pretty much knows what it looks like so I won't post it here but I do have to say it had a thick, dark orange broth that was very tasty. Only one issue with it was that I didn't get enough hominy. OH and the good thing was that on the weekends it's all you can eat for $6.50. It was served with the traditional accompaniments of lemon, jalapeno, and onions with some very warm and toasty corn tortillas. MMM MMM MMM Menudo Menudo Menudo. Jonah had a plate called the "El Nino" plate and I was sure hoping that it wasn't going to cause any warm, southern wind to come blowing out of him! It consisted of an enchilada, beans and rice. He seemed to like it very much.








My wife had an enchilada plate which looked very nice and the enchiladas were great. Yes I had a taste. She was impressed with it.








Kandra had chicken strips. Kandra said, "Wow, these are juicy!"
Jared had the usual, "Cheeseburger with everything: mustard, mayonnaise, lettuce, tomatoes, pickles, onions, and no jalapenos."
The fries are fresh and not frozen and tasted home made.


Prices are all very reasonable and are great for trying to save a bit of money.

Service, food, prices, and atmosphere make this a place that could be on your list for at least a visit every two weeks. We enjoyed it very much!

La Playa Restaurant And Cantina

We'd been planning a trip to Corpus Christi for a few months for our friends' wedding and we decided we'd take advantage of an opportunity to also enjoy some time with our children and some of the local cuisine there. My oldest son Jared just so happened to turn 11 on October 9th which is the day we took off. So we did the obligatory stop at Chuck E. Cheese's in San Antonio and spent some time overnight there. The kids got to really enjoy the games and also Krispy Kreme Donuts, Taco Cabana and an overnight stay in a hotel. I was really hoping for a couple of more chances to sample some local cuisine but that didn't really happen until Sunday after we enjoyed some early morning time at the beach. We took a little drive to Padre Island National Seashore Sunday morning after the wedding festivities of the day before. After that we came back to the hotel and packed up and headed for La Playa Restaurant and Cantina.

We arrived early Sunday morning feeling a bit guilty because we didn't go to church, but we were out of town so we just spent some family time together enjoying God's creation but I digress. What I mean by early is that we arrived at around 11:00 am at La Playa. This place came highly recommended by the newlyweds and as we arrived I could see this was a place that was on top of it's game. The atmosphere is very nice and as you can see since we came early we didn't have to wait to get a table. Normally an almost empty place like this would concern me but I knew things would pick up quickly and it was good to see the restaurant almost 3/4 full by the time we left.As we came in we were greeted promptly and seated at a table with ample room and of course being from San Angelo, Jared had to ask for white sauce. San Angelo is the only city where cole slaw and white sauce are part of most Tex Mex restaurant menus. Of course they didn't have white sauce here but they did have some very tasty salsas. As you can see a green and red salsa were provided and neither one disappointed. My wife said, "M, I can't stop eating this. It's so good!" Of course she was right! We went through quite a few chips but not before we ordered our meals.
I wasn't that adventurous on this trip and I had some excellent beef fajitas that came out to the table sizzling. This came with AWESOME, borracho, beans, guacamole, pico de gallo, and some of the moistest, most flavorful rice I've had in a while. The fajitas were nicely garnished with some caramelized onions, a slice of tomato and a slice of bell pepper. Excellent presentation and flavor. Tortillas were thin and a little too crispy for my taste. Grandma used to make tortillas really thick and fluffy so I guess it's just a personal bias.
My wife was the most adventurous of us all on this trip. She has heard about a plate that had a deep fried avocado, tortilla soup, two fish tacos, rice and beans so that's what she got. The avocado looked like a big fried ball with a crispy crust. She cut it open and it was wrapped in the breading then a layer of cheese, avocado, and then stuffed with shrimp. She really enjoyed it. Her tortilla soup had onions, cheese, and mushrooms in it and tasted wonderful. Fish tacos were also a hit. They were garnished with some lettuce and tomatoes and a lemony cream sauce. WOW! The bite I had was very tasty. This plate kind of helped both of us meet our seafood craving and from what I could see she really enjoyed it even though she was getting very full because of all those chips and green salsa!

Kandra had the fish and shrimp platter as you can see below. I didn't try it but she was very satisfied.

Jared had a burger as usual and Jonah had some enchiladas from the kid's menu. They both enjoyed their meals very much. Kids menu has a least 8 different things to offer.

This restaurant had moderate pricing, great atmosphere, excellent food choices, and super excellent service so I would definitely recommend it to anyone who is down in Corpus. They open at 11 on Sundays and I'm sure they fill up fast. I couldn't find a website but you can find La Playa at 4201 S. Padre Island Drive in Corpus Christi. I have no doubt that when you are on the road in this area you will love eating here.

GUEST REVIEWS

Please take a look at a couple of great reviews by my secret friend, the mysterious Red Headed Stranger. She really knows food, baking, cooking, and quite a few other great things. She won't steer you wrong pardner. Her husband is a great cook too!

Enjoy!

Pasta Bella Guest Review by The Red Headed Stranger

So I have to be honest, when we go to Fredericksburg we eat somewhere else because I am not a fan of German food and there is really nothing else there to eat. But on my last trip I discovered the town secret. Pasta Bella, is an Italian restaurant on Llano Street off of the main strip and it has to be the town’s best kept secret. My cousin and I were in town for a much needed girls weekend when we pulled a Rachel Ray and asked some of the locals where to eat, one of them mentioned Pasta Bella. We had seen this little restaurant before but never paid it much attention but hey, no one can mess up Italian food, really have you ever had bad Italian? We went to dinner before we took in the show at the Rock Box Theater, which everyone should go to, it’s awesome, but anyway the food at Pasta Bella is wonderful, great and super yummy! I cannot tell you what I had because to be honest I cannot remember its name, but nothing you order will be bad. My cousin had the shrimp fettuccini and she said it was really good. They serve bread with olive oil of course and the salads were good but the entrée’s were really just superb and I guarantee I will be going back next time we’re in town. The prices are moderate at about $8 to $12 dollars and the service was really good, hey the waiter called me young and kept my tea glass full so I was a happy camper! So next time you are in Fredericksburg for a day of shopping take time out and eat at Pasta Bella. I guarantee you will be glad you did.
When you go, just know:
The address is 103 South Llano and the telephone number is 830-990-9778. The hours of operation are Monday-Friday 11:30 to 2:30 and 5:30 to 9:00 and Saturdays from 11:30 to 3:00 and 5:30 to 9:00.

GUEST REVIEW Menard Bakery & Deli - By the Red Headed Stranger

So in your travels anywhere south to southeast in Texas you will probably go through Menard. Most of the time we cruise on through because hey, there is nothing to see or do there so why slow down. But one day this summer we decided we had nowhere to be soon so we stopped to browse an old drugstore on Main Street. After spending a whopping 5 minutes in the drugstore we spot the Menard Bakery & Deli across the street. Our plan to picnic quickly thrown out the window, we decided to have some lunch. Stepping inside we immediately spotted the fresh baked goodies and of course Carlos quickly honed in the “surprise brownies.” If there is a brownie anywhere within a 5 mile radius Carlos will spot it! We were seated and we thought for a minute we would just indulge in something sweet from the goodie case but after perusing the menu we found, of course, something yummy and ordered lunch. I ordered the Chicken Cado Salad which is a salad with avocado stuffed with chicken salad. I am telling you this is a super salad!!! Served with ranch dressing and all the crackers you could want, this tasty salad had carrots, lettuce, avocado, and chicken salad. It was super yummy! Carlos also had the pigs-n-a-blanket and he said they were great. Fresh baked pigs in a warm blanket…yum!!! He finished with, of course, the brownie which he raved about to the owner who came by to chat with us and after which the owner’s mom, the baker, came over to give him the recipe. I love small town friendly people who are willing to share instead of keep the great recipes to themselves. I also had the buttermilk pie which was delicious! The owners Vickie and her mom Jerry were the nicest people and they have great plans for the bakery and deli and hope to be open longer once deer season gets here. Everyone was so nice and it was a treat to just visit with such accommodating people. A town that was once a place most of us breeze through now should be a place you stop in on purpose just to eat at the Menard Bakery & Deli.

When you go, just know:
The hours are currently 7am-5 pm Monday to Friday and 8am-3pm Saturday. The number is 325-396-3333 and the address is 114 San Saba Street in Menard (just turn left off the main drag onto San Saba and you will see it on the left).

D-Ray's Burgers and Dogs San Angelo, Texas UPDATED!

As is our usual custom on Sunday after Church (at least when we have some money) we went out to eat. Today I had the bright idea of going out to a place that's new to San Angelo and also new to me. I don't think it's been open for very long but I'm glad that D-Ray's is here in town. D-Ray's is located on South Chadbourne in an old Dairy Queen location that had previously housed Nuttin' But Wings and a couple of other lesser known restaurants. The last time we were in this building under the previous proprietors (NBW) you could smell the restrooms from the side door we walked in. Today our schnozzes were greeted with a soliloquy of sweet scents. D-Ray's takes cleanliness seriously. It smelled clean and the floors and windows were very clean (not that it stopped a young lady from cleaning more.) We were greeted quickly as we came in by the smiling owner and workers. I had studied the menu a bit before I came in because we had received a few of them where I work and I was curious. The prices looked low enough for a family on a budget so that was a nice plus. I noticed as we walked in that there were classic car models made of cardboard on each table holding the salt, pepper, and ketchup packets. They were all different colors. Here's one:

There's was also some 50s and 60s music playing and I noticed there was a flat screen TV at one end of the dining area where the sound was coming from showing the name of the group that was playing. It was the Ronettes by the way. We ordered the usual meals that we'd get at a burger place. Jonah had chicken strips and fries and Kandra tried a bite and said they were, "AMAZING." The rest of us had burgers. OK I couldn't help myself I had to have the Double D's Combo which is a Double Cheese Burger and an order of tater tots. I ordered a large so I didn't have to say: Gimme Some Of Your Tots like this guy did: http://emedia.entertonement.com/audio/000/035/209/35209.mp3
Here's a picture of my Double Cheeseburger and my tots:

Kandra was gushing over the melted cheese on her burger. The food came out piping hot and they know how to put together a good burger. Toasted buns always make a burger taste better and so does a patty that's nice and juicy. I noticed Jared's burger dripping and I was thinking a messy burger is a tasty burger. There were 4 TVs in D-Rays. One playing the game, 2 others playing other stuff and the one with the satellite radio music. Plenty of options to keep everyone occupied. I think Jonah really liked his kid's meal too. Kid's get their meal in a classic car meal box.
The most expensive thing on the menu is the Double D's Combo at $6.49. Everything else there is very inexpensive. They also serve breakfast and have some great weekend hours to accommodate your late night tummy rumblings. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday they have a 24 hour schedule. Sunday through Wednesday they are open from 6:00 am to 10:00 pm. They serve breakfast sandwiches and burritos which is definitely a plus and you can get it from 11:00 pm to 11:00 am Thursday, Friday, and Saturday. Hot dogs and corn dogs made from 100% beef franks are also available. Service here is top notch and we were asked if we needed refills at least 4 times and they came and picked up the garbage as we were finishing. I thoroughly enjoyed the food and only heard one complaint from Jared. He wanted a double or triple burger! He likes to eat! I'd have to say that I'd definitely recommend D-Ray's as a great place to eat. D-Ray's is in an area that needs an economic boost and hopefully it will spark some more interest in other properties nearby for more business. Thanks D-Ray's for a great lunch today! We are sending our friends!

UPDATE! UPDATE! UPDATE!

Check out their website: http://www.draysburgersanddogs.com/

Joe Cotten's, Robstown Texas BURNED DOWN

The last time I blogged about a restaurant I was not very impressed with service or food quality. I was out of town. Last week I found myself on the road again and I was pleasantly surprised by Joe Cotten's in Robstown. Joe Cotten's ends up on all kinds of BBQ lists and must eat at places in all kinds of publications and websites every year. I had heard from many people and from one person in particular that Cotten's was the best BBQ ever. Based on those types of glowing reviews and the fact that we were on a trip to Corpus Christi for a church conference I practically begged my pastor to take us to eat there. I was very excited as we drove up and I saw the big sign and the rustic look of the place. I was thinking to myself this place could be the real deal, Holyfield. With wooden porch swings and a faded wood exterior I was definitely feeling the kinda vibe you can only get from this type of place which is BBQ Buzz. When you walk in and see plenty of locals eating there you know it's well worth it. Just an FYI, this place only takes cash. ATM is right in the doorway as you walk in which is totally out of place in this throwback to the old school type of place. Saddles, barbed wire, old metal soda and gasoline signs abound in here and give it a certain charm that you don't see in most places today. Atmosphere here plays into the whole BBQ theme. I just wish I had taken more pictures of all the interesting antique items they had on the walls. There is no menu here. WHAT? NO MENU? I wasn't really that worried but some people might be. Our waiter came out and told us what was available. Dressed in a black bow tie, a maroon jacket, and black pants it would seem totally out of place but it definitely adds to the quirkiness of this place in a good way. There was a 12.99 special with 3 meats. OF COURSE I had that, right after we had some of the cheese and crackers they offered as an appetizer. Spreadable, yellow cheese, and a "delightful selection of gourmet crackers," I think. LOL. I had a link of sausage, a pork rib, and some of the tastiest brisket I've had in a while. All of this was served on a sheet of butcher paper with a few slices of onion, a tomato, a radish, and a pickle if I remember correctly. I had a bowl of beans and let me tell you this place knows how to make beans! Right before the meal came out around the corner came a guy I used to go to school with. WOW, it's a small world. I hadn't seen him since around 1997. He manages Joe Cotten's and I'd have to say he's doing a great job. Brisket was very tender, by the way, and flavorful. The sauce was more like a salsa but was an interesting addition to say the least. I liked the sausage and the ribs but the star of this meal was the brisket. It so nice to discover that after I had eaten up the first big slice of brisket the waiter offered me another one. VERY NICE! How much? Nothing extra! Even nicer! After all the cheese, meat, and beans I noticed they gave the young man in our entourage an ice cream. Kids get ice cream free. Being the big kid I am I had to have some but of course I had to pay for it. Strawberry ice cream cone with a cherry on top. The waiter even brought out some extra cherries for the ladies. We had a great time and the meal was enhanced even more due to the wonderful company I had to share it with. I'd definitely eat here again as service, food flavor and cost, as well as the atmosphere were all to my liking. Joe Cotten's is old school that's way too cool. This is definitely a place you will want to visit when you are around this area!

Lee's Steakhouse - Carrizo Springs, Texas

Today wasn't the first time I ate here but I will say it's the LAST. Being on the road is always an adventure that you would hope would be a good one. Unfortunately, an adventure in mediocrity is one that I'd rather not be involved in. Lee's Steakhouse used to be Mi Casa and I don't know if it changed owners or what, but things have definitely gone downhill. It was a couple of minutes before the workers who were sitting around wrapping silverware and watching TV came to the front to acknowledge us. We really seemed like an interruption to their day instead of valued customers. We finally got seated and our frowning waitress asked what we would like to drink. She came back later and took our order. We ordered an appetizer of fried mushrooms to be brought before the meal. While we waited for that I was able to go to the salad bar that had 10 different dressings (that's a plus)and 3 or 4 flies swarming around and landing on different areas of the salad bar that had no sneeze guard. This was one time I could actually say I would have liked to have Barak Obama around. I'm sure he could have caught those flies quickly like he did on TV. Now that's CHANGE this restaurant can believe in. Salad was room temp which was not very appetizing except for the house ranch dressing. Bell peppers had seeds left all over them at the salad bar. Seems like a lack of pride in your work when you don't complete the job of proper salad bar prep. I ordered a 10 oz. Ribeye - Medium Rare. To my dismay my steak was cooked almost well done. It was so lacking in flavor I had to drench each bite in A-1 and Heinz 57 which I absolutely hate to do. I had to ask for butter and sour cream for my baked potato again from a waitress that made it seem like we were such an interruption to her day. My wife ordered enchiladas that were tasty but the sides were sub par. Rice was dried out. Beans had no flavor. Oh and the mushrooms we ordered got there right after our entrees arrived. I noticed them sitting up at the kitchen window while the waitresses were snacking, talking, and watching TV. We asked for the mushrooms too. One waitress came by when my tea was practically empty and my wife was never asked if she wanted a refill on her drink. Right when the food was delivered they left the check and our waitress NEVER came back after that. Needless to say I have not recently had such a desire to excrete a meal from my body as I have for this one. Lack of service, cleanliness, flavor, friendliness, and a downright disdain for customers exhibited by waitstaff at Lee's has pretty much closed their doors to me and my family for good. Don't waste your money, time, or space in your lower intestine eating at Lee's. Cleo's, Sonic, Subway, McDonald's, DQ, Rosita's, Balia Inn, or Stars is a much better use of your hard earned money.

The Grill - San Angelo, Texas

Tonight my wife and I had an opportunity to go out on a date. It's been a while since we've had one so we were due and my mother-in-law was nice enough to watch the kids while we went out.
I've been wanting to go to The Grill since the day it opened but timing, money, or some other obstacle kept coming up. I've finally discovered what a lot of people in San Angelo and the surrounding area already know: The Grill is LEGIT! Tonight I had the BEST Guacamole I've had in my lifetime. It was part of the Queso Americano Appetizer along with warm, corn tortilla chips. I have to say I normally wouldn't eat much Guacamole at all but this one abounded with spices and flavors that hearken back to my childhood. My wife was really surprised at how much I liked it. I enjoyed the spicy Queso Americano which was an unmelted cheese mixed with Cilantro and some other tasty morsels. See the picture to the right. I was a little nervous at first because our waiter was taking some time to get our drinks. I was pleasantly surprised to see him pick up steam and exceed my expectations after that though. I had tea and it was excellent. Elizabeth had a Diet Pepsi - 2009 Vintage if I'm not mistaken. One of the things I have missed when eating at the majority of places that serve steak and something I insist on at home when cooking my own steak is wood grilling. The smoky aroma abounds in this place. It's a welcoming smell to me, something I grew up with and had around at least every few weeks whether my Dad was BBQ'ing a goat, Grandma was cooking a cabeza in her cast iron stove, or Uncle Bill or Uncle Richard were making huge amounts of Ribs, Steaks, and Sausages on their BBQ pits. The aroma reminded me of Easter at what is now the San Angelo State Park close to the O.C. Fisher Resevoir. There was a place there called that we called "The 3 Tables". Every Easter Dad, Uncle Chayo, Uncle Richard and many of us young boys and men would get out there at 5 or 6 am (if I didn't get left behind) and start a fire up to get ready to cook breakfast first but then a long roasting of Goat, Beef cuts of all varieties, or some other type of meat. Wow that smell took me back! My wife ordered a NY Strip well done or ruined as I like to call it (I like mine medium rare to medium but to each his own!) She had it with mashed potatoes and to be honest I almost shed a tear when I tried them. They were that good but my Grandma who was the Matriarch of our families great cooking tradition made potatoes almost similar to this. So by this time you know I'm hooked right? Well, I ordered the Saturday night special which is the Prime Rib cooked to a nice pink medium. Very very tasty as well and served with black beans and rice. One minor thing missing was a little bit more of the bean broth. Prime rib was served with a cup of Au Jus. By this time our server had refilled our drinks at least 3 times a piece. I was very happy. To have a complete review we normally have an appetizer and a couple of entrees as well as a couple of desserts and tonight was no different. I had Tres Leches cake and it was garnished with Strawberries, Blueberries, Bananas, Caramel Sauce and a dollop of Creme Fraiche. It was beautiful - here see for yourself.


Elizabeth had a banana split. It was also very tasty and it had peanuts on it just like she likes it. It also had some fudge in it too. I enjoyed that very much as well as my own dessert.
Prices here aren't as bad as most people made them out to be when I asked. To be totally honest I really wasn't told just how good The Grill really was. I just had to find out for myself. My recommendation is to come early. We got in just before the dinner rush started. Tables abounded around 4:30 PM to 5:00 PM. When we walked out around 6 it was standing room only. Atmosphere, decor, staff attire, food flavor and presentation get EXCELLENT marks. Wait staff gets very good marks only because it took 10 minutes to get my wife's Diet Pepsi. The waiter definitely won us over after that as he made sure we were well taken care of the rest of the night! This is a great place for a lovely dinner for 2 or (if you don't mind waiting or getting reservations) parties of 6 or more or anywhere in between. I will definitely be enjoying this place again. Here are some other pictures I took while I was there.

Cure for the Swine Flu Blues

I was blue cuz of the swine flu so I found a cure that I know for sure will make you squeal while you eat this meal. Here's the recipe I made up as I went along in an 8 bar blues shuffle.

Get a family pack of pork steaks while your heating up your pan.
Grab a big ol' bunch o spices and please don't burn yo' hand!

Paprika, and Italian Seeznin' and yes black pepper too
Kosher salt and Onion Powder, you know just what to do.

Now you get the wet stuff and put it in a baking dish
Olive Oil and Lemon juices you're about to get yo' wish.

Mix up up the wet and dry stuff really really well
When this starts to cookin' you won't believe the smell

I got the cure, OH yeah fo' sure I got the Cure for the Swine flu blues.
I got the cure, OH yeah fo' sure I got the Cure for the Swine flu blues.

Dip your steaks into the mixture get it on both sides
Get it nice and oily so the pork can really slide.

Put the steaks upon your griddle and really let 'em cook.
Sear 'em well on both sides, No! It's not ok to look.

Get your broiler ready and make it really hot!
Put your steaks right in there and listen to em pop.

I got the cure, OH yeah fo' sure I got the Cure for the Swine flu blues.
I got the cure, OH yeah fo' sure I got the Cure for the Swine flu blues.

4 minutes on each side oh yeah you're almost there
A salad, and some veggies should really be prepared.

Pull the steaks out and rest em, 5 minutes at a time.
Get your table ready and get yo kids up in a line

You gotta just remember this meal is really fine
So give thanks, and eat it, and enjoy your taste of swine.

I got the cure, OH yeah fo' sure I got the Cure for the Swine flu blues.
I got the cure, OH yeah fo' sure I got the Cure for the Swine flu blues.

I got the cure, Oh yeah for sure

I got the cuuuuuuuuuuuuuurrrrrrrrreeee
for the Swiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiine Fluuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuu
Bloooooohooooossssssssss!


Well if you don't like blues here is the regular recipe.

1 Family Pack of Pork Steaks
Juice of 1 lemon
1 cup of Olive Oil
1 tablespoon kosher salt (Ironic isn't it since we are cooking Pork!)
2 teaspoons paprika
2 teaspoons onion powder
2 teaspoons fresh ground black pepper
2 teaspoons Italian Seasoning.

Preheat a flat griddle or big skillet on it's highest setting. Preheat the broiler at 500 degrees.
While the griddle is heating up pour Olive Oil and lemon juice in the bottom of a 9 x 13 inch baking dish.
Put in the salt, paprika, onion powder, black pepper and Italian Seasoning and mix thoroughly with a whisk.
Dip each steak into the mixture and sear it well on both sides. After all steaks are seared, place under the broiler for 4-5 minutes on each side. Remove them from the heat and put them in a baking dish and let them sit for a few minutes.
Enjoy them with your choice of veggies.

Ole Gin Bakery, Catering, & Bar updates coming soon

On the recommendation of Mr. JC Gates I decided to take my wife to Ole Gin Bakery, Catering, and Bar. Samantha Braun has opened here in Wall recently and has started off in a great way. Samantha's Buffet Menu is vast and she offers some great choices throughout the week. Tuesday and Wednesday is Home Cookin' on the buffet. My most memorable choices here tonight were Roasted Turkey (very juicy), Macaroni and Cheese, Potatoes au Gratin (I love CHEESE), Stuffing, Pot Roast (falling apart), and Mashed Potatoes with either a white pepper gravy or brown gravy. A great salad bar was also included with the buffet. Egg Salad, Chicken Salad, and Artichoke Salad are a few of the choices available. I tried Egg Salad for the very first time here and I really enjoyed it. My wife had a green salad with a Balsamic dressing that she seemed to enjoy very much. Elizabeth also enjoyed some Catfish, Lasagna, fresh fruit, and what I believe were wheat rolls topped with oats (everyone knows I've been on a low carb thing for a bit so I restricted my carbs to potatoes and desserts tonight....I know I didn't succeed at staying under 50 carbs today...I'm so glad I enjoyed the food!) We rounded out our meal with some Blueberry Bread Pudding and Caramel sauce...I'm not usually one for bread pudding but I have to say it was VERY tasty. I'd eat it again. On Thursdays they have Tex-Mex night and offer Tacos, King Ranch Chicken, Mexican Rice, and Enchiladas along with a few other items. Friday is Italian night and the menu offers Spaghetti with Meatballs, Spinach Lasagna, Tuscan Tilapia, Italian Peas, and Chicken Marsala. Saturday Smorgasbord has entrees from throughout the week. Sunday offers brunch around 10 AM and has Scrambled Eggs, Western Scramble, French Toast, Pancakes, Bacon, Sausage, Cream Gravy, Cinnamon Rolls and lots more including Turkey, Fried Catfish, Biscuits and Ham Steak. There's so much available here including sandwiches like the All-American Wedge, classics like the Reuben and a Turkey Club along with some more modern choices like the BLAT. That's Bacon, Lettuce, Avocado and Tomato. Another one is the French Gobbler with Turkey Breast, Brie, Apples, and Avocado on grilled Sourdough bread with Honey Mustard. Check out the Crab Cake Wrap too served with Cajun remoulade, baby greens, and tomatoes. Atmosphere hasn't changed much from the previous owners and it works for me. It's down home and country. Prices are very reasonable for a night time buffet. $24 dollars total with the tip included. Samantha is very personable. She answered our questions (and listened to me talk...a feat in and of itself LOL!) and we enjoyed speaking with her about her new endeavor. Our waitress was very attentive to our needs and did a great job. Smiles abound here and that's a HUGE plus with me. Don't miss out on the baked goods on your way out. A few of the choices are Lemon Bars, Over the Top Chocolate Fudge Brownie, Key Lime Bars, Cookies, Muffins, and 7 Layer Bars. SO MUCH TO CHOOSE FROM you won't ever leave hungry. Come see the friendly folks here at the Ole Gin and enjoy some great food! Thanks JC for telling me about this place!

Marinades

Here are a couple of good marinades you can use on steaks and fajitas to bring out some flavor and increase tenderness.

1) Teriyaki and Limes - This is one my Uncle David taught me back in the 80s. Very simple and great on Fajitas. Here's the family pack recipe.

Juice of 4 small limes
2 Cups of Teriyaki Sauce (Kikkoman)
2 tablespoons pepper
1 tbsp of onion powder
1 tbsp of garlic powder
1 tsp of cayenne pepper (optional for a bit more kick)


Marinate your meat in the refrigerator for at least 4 hours in a large freezer back. Flip every hour. The best amount of time is overnight. Sear meat on both sides and then move to a cooler side of your grill to cook to your desired doneness.

2) Mac's Fajita Marinade

This is one of my favorites and works every time for great fajitas and any steak. This is for a family pack of meat.

1 Cup Soy Sauce
2 Cups Wishbone Italian Dressing
3 Cups Pineapple Orange Juice
3-5 tablespoons of your favorite steak seasoning

Marinate the meat overnight in a freezer bag. Don't forget to flip it every hour or so until you go to bed. Grill your meat over high heat to sear and then move to a cooler part of the grill for finishing.

BONUS: Everyone likes to see Fajitas garnished with bell peppers and onions. Try this for a great presentation.

2 each of Red, Yellow, Orange, and Green Bell Peppers (cut into strips or use cookie cutters to get the desired party time shapes you want)
1 large Red Onion sliced into thin strips (Feel free to use whichever onion you like best.) I like red because of the color it provides.
Olive oil
2-4 pats of salted butter
Tarragon

Cover the bottom of a non stick skillet with olive oil and heat it up. When the oil gets very hot put in your onions and let them saute. About halfway through your desired doneness (I like them carmelized) put in the butter and add the cut peppers. Leave onions on bottom of pan for a while to continue to carmelize. The steam from the onion will steam the peppers a bit. When the onions are just about done stir them up really well with the peppers and then sprinkle some tarragon in. Saute for just a few minutes more and don't let the colors fade a whole lot (Colors will fade if you put them into a pan and cover with foil.) Mix them up with your fajitas and serve right away. For added effect use a cast iron pan thats been heated in the oven and place your sizzling meat, peppers and onions on. Serve with tortillas, Pico De Gallo, Guacamole, and your favorite Mexican sides.

Indirect Grilling/BBQin'

Is your BBQ getting burned? Is it charred on the outside and cold on the inside? Do you have a barrel pit or a small pit that you think can't possibly work for making big cuts of meat such as brisket or shoulder clod? The best way to make great slow cooked BBQ is the indirect method. It's important to remember that if you don't want your meat tough the indirect method will work wonders. This has to do with how you set your fire up and where you position your large cut of meat. If you have a barrel pit pour about half of a large bag of charcoal into it on the left side. Make sure you make a tight hill of your coals. Then fill a chimney starter with more coals and light them. When they have gotten nice and orange along with gray ash pour them over the mound of coals you have made. Give them about 10 minutes with the lid closed and then check the temp. Drop in your choice of soaked wood chips. Feel free to use the ones that you like most. I'm partial to a mixture of wood chips that bring complex flavor to the meat. The temperature in the pit should be between 225 to 250 when you place your brisket or clod in. With your coals close to the door on the barrel it should be easy to add more coal or more wood chips as needed. Keep the temp constant at 225-250 for the next 4 hours. Purists will say not to use a pan when you cook your BBQ but I think moisture can be saved by using a pan that collects the juices. You can flip your brisket using silicone gloves to make sure you have an even smoke ring when it's in the pan. After the 4 hours (maintaining the temp the entire time) you can cover your meat in the pan with foil and leave it in the pit for at least another 2 hours while the fire dies out. Make it a tight seal. This will help tenderize the meat and finish off the cooking process. YES it takes a while! Be patient! It will be worth it! After you take it off the pit, leave it covered and take it inside and set it on the top of your stove. Let the meat rest 1 hour before slicing. No PEEKING! You can precook it like this on the weekend and then reheat it during the week. 1 hour in the oven at 350 totally covered in the pan. It keeps the moisture in. Your meat should be very tender and in some cases may be falling apart. I recommend and 8-12 pound brisket for this. To me the 9-10 pound range is best. But remember to use a size that's in proportion to your pit. Always start with your brisket fat side up for the first 2 hours. The fat that melts off during this time bastes the meat and flavors it as well. For a Weber grill the process is a little more difficult but can be done. The only difference it that you will need to have a grill that lifts up on one side (hinged) to add wood chips and coals. Meat on one side coals on the other. Indirect method. Trust me it works. Feel free to let me know how it turns out. OR better yet bring me a sample! Enjoy your BBQ! Let me know if you have any questions!

New Blog Feature!

I'll be sharing some new things on my blog that pertain to grilling and making BBQ. Get a notebook and a pen as I'll be sharing some great tips.

BACK IN TEXAS BBQ

I had a couple of flights to make it back to Texas and when I got here I was really ready for some good Texas style BBQ. Cousins BBQ was voted into the top 50 by Texas Monthly and yes it's at the DFW airport but don't let that fool you! They have other locations too! The meat STANDS on it's own. No BBQ sauce needed. Brisket and sausage plate with beans, potato salad and a TEXAS sweet tea. It doesn't get any better than this. Check it out: www.cousinsbbq.com Read their story. Very interesting. It sure hit the spot! Go there. Eat there. Thoroughly enjoy your BBQ there. I promise you will. Good food and prices. Atmosphere is what you would expect to find in a BBQ joint even at the terminal B location I ate in.

This was my last meal on the road for a while. See you soon!

Friday Bakersfield California

I had breakfast at Farmer Boy's again on Friday. WOW it was good. See their menu here: http://farmerboys.com/pdf_docs/papermenu_rev020408a.pdf

For lunch on Friday a couple of friends from the office took me to Tony's Pizza. 6 bucks for a huge slice of tasty pizza, a salad, and a drink. Not bad at all!

Friday night topped off a great week in California and it was the last taste of Bakersfield I had before I left. http://www.mamatoscas.com/ WOW Mama Tosca's was great. We started out with an appetizer sampler consisting of calamari, Italian sausage, deep fried shrimp with an Alfredo sauce and some Bruschetta alla Romana. Then it was on to a Caesar Salad. Everything wonderful so far and then my meal came out. BELLISIMA!!! Beautiful. I ordered Veal Parmigiana along with fresh seasonal veggies (brocolli, peppers, carrots, zucchini and some others). It also came with some fresh pasta tossed with some herbs and olive oil. After that I had my favorite dessert Creme Broulee. This dessert had a lovely raspberry topping. Totally tasty and a great ending to my meal that night.

Lots of great experiences in California and this one topped everything. Great food. Thanks to my work family for a great time.

Friday.....Bakersfield California

Friday was a good day. I ate at Farmer Boy's again for breakfast.

Lunch And Dinner in Bakersfield, California

Time flew by and on Thursday I had lunch at Mexicali restaurant close to the office. I ordered the number 2 meal. It was enchilada, tamal, and taco with rice and beans. See here: mexicalifood Everything was very tasty. This was the closest to what Mexican food that I'm familiar with tastes and looks like. I do have extensive experience with eating....just look at me! LOL. The Tamal was larger than what I'm used to and had shredded meat in it and was covered in an enchilada type sauce. The enchilada was standard fare and had onions in it just like I like it. Rice was almost like home made...that's a huge plus in my book. Beans were the same. Atmosphere was great as you can see from the pictures. The only thing I thought was that the price was very high for what's basically grains and sauces with a little meat. Corn, rice, beans, more corn, more corn, pork, and beef, and sauce. The same plate in Texas would have been about half the same price. Other than that I can't say how much I really enjoyed this. It was very good.



My dinner meal was spent with April, Jessie, Trudy, Sam, Don and Sam's cousin. Shogun Palace is a Tappenyaki and Sushi restaurant. I'm not really one for Sushi but I did try a lot of it. We had Dragon Rolls, Spider Rolls, and a California Roll. I also had Teriyaki Beef with bean sprouts and rice. All eaten by the way with chopsticks. Yes I can do it! LOL. I did also have some of the Sashimi, and a couple of other things I had no idea about. I enjoyed the majority of what I had. I don't have any pictures of this but everything was beautiful. I didn't really look at the prices (my bosses paid, Thanks to both Don and Sam.) Atmosphere is standard for this type of restaurant. As I passed by the Tappenyaki area I was impressed by the tricks they did. You don't see a lot of that at Ichiban here or Bonsai Garden for that matter.

Bakersfield the last 48 hours

Time is going by quickly here in Bakersfield and I've really enjoyed it althought I'm missing my family terribly.

I took about a 15 minute walk up California Avenue from the hotel and had Mexican food at El Torito on Tuesday night. It's not Tex-Mex or what I'm used to but it was good in it's own way. I had the Combo Magnifico which consisted of a couple of different types of Enchiladas, a Carnitas Burrito, a shredded meat taco, and beans and rice. Everything was very tasty and did look like the pictures on the website. See that here http://www.el-torito.com/ . Prices here do reflect the amount of food you get which is quite substantial. I do have to say that I would come here again but I would try something else like fajitas. They weren't in the budget this time.


Yesterday, my boss, Sam was nice enough to take me to the Petroleum Club. It's a member's only club here and sit's atop a towering building here in Bakersfield. See here: http://www.thepetroleumclub.com/ I had the Oil Boys Favorite sandwich combo. It was a roast beef sandwich, french fries, lettuce, tomatoes, pickle spear, and au jus sauce. It was excellent to say the least. Hot roast beef dipped in the au jus. WOW. I'd eat here again but only if Sam takes me! LOL.


Last night I finally got to go eat at Famous Dave's. This restaurant has a lot of the cool stuff that commercial chains have. Atmosphere is great, prices are high compared to what I'm used to. I had the 2 meat Combo and there are plenty of choices there. I happened to have the brisket and sausage. Don't I always try those 2 things out? LOL. They were tasty but the old tried and true idea of meat standing on it's own doesn't seem to be the way they go about things here. Sauce was needed but the meat was extremely tender and the lack of a smoke ring caused me to think it a little less authentic than the claims they made. TEXAS BBQ is truly safe. There are 5 or six BBQ sauces on the table and the concept of this restaurant bringing regional faves together is great. Take a look at the website and see all the great pics and menu items. My meal was finished off with corn on the cob, pork and beans, potato salad and a pecan pie with vanilla bean ice cream and whipped topping. Over 23 dollars for it. I think I could have gotten exactly everything I had at Bubba's for around 15 and the smoke ring wouldn't have been lacking. I would eat here again. I do recommend it but be ready to fork over the cash. See www.famousdaves.com When I get home I'll tell you more about it!

See you soon.

Breakfast at the Office 2-2-09 M and M catering truck.

The catering truck came out to the building. M and M catering has a truck full of goodies and I had a chorizo and egg burrito. I thought the price was high when I saw it up on the side of the vehicle but then I got the burrito. There was enough meat in this one for 3 Diego's burritos. It was very good and VERY filling. Price wasn't as bad as I thought considering what I got for it. No open ends on the burrito. The salsa was different than I'm used to and a bit more vinegary. It did add the needed heat though. I enjoyed it. Have a great day!

Dinnertime....In and Out Burger Bakersfield

One of the managers took me to pick up a burger from the famous In and Out Burger. The service was quick and the price was reasonable. The burgers were good and the fries were awesome. I had the double double which translates to a double meat, double cheese burger. Greasy good! The fries are hand cut on premises. That's really unheard of in today's fast food world. They were excellent. The other cool thing about In and Out is that under the bottom of their cups there are scripture verses. I found John 3:16 under my cup. I liked that. I had that meal for less than 7 bucks. It's a bargain. When you come here be sure to stop in and enjoy In and Out.

Taj Mahal Bakersfield California

If there is anything I can say about my boss Sam it's that he has a knack for expanding your mind and goes the extra mile to expose you to cultural things that for me have otherwise gone unnoticed. With that being said, Taj Mahal was an experience for me that was interesting. I had never had Indian cuisine. The restaurant is in a strip mall and the proprietors are dressed with traditional turbans. They had a buffet and a TV that had on the latest music videos from India. The buffet had quite a few different food items on it and everything was really colorful. There was Chicken Curry, lentils, garbanzo beans, Mamosa (don't know if I'm spelling that right) it was like a Chinese wonton with potatoes and peas in it. My favorite thing there was the Tandoori Chicken. This chicken was grilled and had a bright orange hue. I'm a huge fan of almost anything that's grilled, BBQ'd or smoked so this went over very well for me. The other thing that I enjoyed was the flat bread. I think it was called Naan. It's like a long tortilla but a little thicker. Very tasty. I almost wanted to ask for some butter! LOL. Basmati rice (Bright yellow) with fragrant herbs was also a hit. I can say it was very different and I found some things I liked and some I didn't but at least now I know what I enjoy. I was pretty full so I didn't get to try the cauliflower potatoes together. All I can say is that you'll do yourself a favor by giving other foods a try. I may have to try to get a recipe for that Tandoori Chicken. I think most of you would love it! I didn't get to see how much it cost. My boss took care of it. I'm enjoying my time here. The scenery is great but it's just somehow missing my family's faces that would make it so much better. Just a few more days! See you soon.

Bakersfield California.....The Bistro

Last night when I arrived I was very hungry. My flight from San Angelo was pretty long but I enjoyed it. I arrived at my hotel Four Points by Sheraton and the restaurant here is The Bistro. The Bistro was very dark with candlelight and I thought to myself "I wish my wife was here!" The menu was more of a fine dining than casual eaterie. Prices are medium high. About the food, in one word: Excellent. I had the Prime Rib with Au Jus. Cooked just like I like it at medium. To say this was a hunk of meat is an understatement. Almost 2 inches thick and about 8 X 4 across I almost could't eat it all. This was not a dessert night for sure. The salad the preceded the main course had some mixed greens with Gorgonzola cheese, pecans, and a light vinaigrette dressing with croutons and parmesan. Fresh veggies complimented my Prime Rib. Fresh Asparagus steamed and bright green was laid on some mashed potatoes with a waffle potato garnish in the middle. Presentation was awesome to say the least. This meal started my time here very well and I'm looking forward to more. The Bistro comes highly recommended! See you all soon! It's off for my new opportunity!