Tuesday, October 20, 2015

My New Favorite Beef Stew

Now that it's getting colder, I recently got out one of my favorite recipes for beef stew.  However, a while ago I realized that it's far too complicated for everyday use.  It has a few ingredients that tend to be duplicated (two types of onions), or can just omitted. (Does 1/2 tablespoon tomato paste REALLY add that much flavor to a huge pot?)

So, I've modified it a bit. It's a very easy recipe that serves six. and makes the entire kitchen and house smell delicious. This modified recipe is easier to find ingredients for, it reduces chopping, and, of course, I've added more wine to my original recipe.  :)


Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Bad Daddy's Burger Bar, August 2015

Last night I had a hot date. She has curly blonde hair, big blue eyes and uses a high-chair. :)

For this this Daddy / Daughter date night, I chose Bad Daddy's for four major reasons.
1) The food/service is usually fast
2) The food is delicious.
3) They serve hot dogs -- my daughter LOVES hot dogs.
4) My wife is out of town and I was too lazy to cook.

Fortunately, it was a Monday night in Birkdale, so there was no line (if you go on a Friday night, you'll probably have to wait). After we were seated, and my daughter was given some crayons, the waitress asked if I'd like something to drink. Being unfamiliar with the beers on tap, I chose my old standby: a bottle of Sam Adams Boston Lager...

Tuesday, June 30, 2015

Perfect for Summer! No Churn Ice Cream Recipe

Last week I posted a link to this article on my Facebook Page. At first I just thought it was interesting. Then I realized that it might be the perfect solution to my dilemma.

Worst Ice Cream Ever
The Dilemma: My wife loves peach ice cream. This is not actually a problem -- I like it too. However, I've had a VERY hard time finding it. So, when I found the Harris Teeter brand Summer Peach ice cream, I thought I was in heaven.  Unfortunately, it was the WORST ICE CREAM  I EVER HAD. It was icy. It was chalky. It was so bad, I actually stopped eating it and threw it out.

Solution: When you can't find what you want, you've gotta do it yourself. So, I followed the simple ingredient list (only 3!) and directions. Then I added chopped frozen peaches.

The Verdict: ABSOLUTE YUM!  The ice cream is very smooth and creamy. It is a little soft, and melts a little faster than "real" ice cream. But trust me, it won't be in your bowl long enough to melt.

Ingredients:
2 cups of heavy whipping cream
14 oz can of sweetened condensed milk
2 teaspoons of good vanilla extract
A container for freezing. I used a loaf pan.


Tuesday, June 23, 2015

I'm Baaaack!!!

Did you miss me?  Yeah, I missed you too, my valued readers. It's good to be back!

This blog has been on a hiatus the past few years. Work, family and even a brief relocation, contributed to my absence. However, I've been enjoying some of the new(ish) restaurants in the area during the past few weeks, and will soon begin posting reviews of Verde (Huntersville), Kindred and Toast (both in Davidson).

Over the coming weeks, I'll be bringing everything back up-to-speed, so you can expect restaurant reviews, wine ratings and recipes. Also, now that I'm a dad, you can expect a little more emphasis on the child friendliness of a restaurant. :)

Do you have any suggestions of new restaurants that I shouldn't miss? Are there some old standards that I need to revisit?  Let me know!

-LKN Foodie