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Boooyyyyy have I been a bad blogger.  Well, things have been tough. Not my steak, pork or Turkey, just tough.  'nuf said.

One year later I am-a-blogging.  And since I am making up time, and am in Kansas, Overland Park to be exact, have you heard about, well, I can't tell, ay dios mio,  OKAY I can ....  Torreador.  Now those who know me know that I am a TACO SNOB.  So, when I find a place that my pallet allows .....  Yowza !!!!!!

The place is small, hidden, (Hint - those are the best places to find.....) and either term says nothing about the store.  Firstly you can eat tacos anywhere.  And, me, the taco snob LOVES TACO BELL.  Go figure.  What many people do not know is that if you go to Portland Maine, ( you should !) there is a place that is close to the style of Torreador called "Taco Escobar." Both cool,  Torreador, DELUXE. !!   Or should I say, no I won't, OKAY, muy bueno.

The staff could not have been nicer, HOMEMADE SALSA  ....  !!!!!!!!  Chips and hot sauce at your table !  Iced Tea came with lemon, and to me this is a plus,..... silverware came to the table in a napkin !!!!!!!! Condiments on the table???  Can I have a free taco ????  ( Sorry )

Torreador is a place to be reackoned with.

When in Kansas, forget about the rainbow and just go out for tacos. And when you do, GO TO TORREADOR.  The salsa was smooth, original and just right. Tacos so full of meat I can not imagine that you could not be happy, chicken, beef, ...........

The only bad thing was that I was not offered water. I am a weird person, LOVE iced water in a glass, not to worry, life goes on.

Go to Torreador, you will not be sorry.

Wheel Chair assessable  -  YES
Service  -  the bomb
Tacos -  yup, the bomb !!!!

Well, July is 'round the corner and what does that mean ?  Fireworks and Giant Strawberry Short Cake !!!!!  So ask Lisa Bonarrigo what she thinks about the "Thunder Boomers ?!?!?!" 

Says Lisa, " I love Pizza, ............... and fireworks !!!!! And infused water !!!!!  So stop by the cafe and meet our Chef Paul Jerabek, order a sandwich, have a glass of free infused water. Yum !!!!!

Best Wishes !

Happy Birthday Sir Paul McCartney ! 

A Recomendation ..... For You !

Kim Horton's Specialty Foods

So, ........ have you been to the "Public House Market Place" in Portland Maine's Monument Square.  If you have not then you are missing a few hidden gems that quietly house themselves inside the Market Places' hallowed halls.  One of them is Kim Horton's.

At the other end of Congress Street you have Longfellow Square named for the statue of HW Longfellow that rests there, which is odd because the "Longfellow House" is across the street from MONUMENT SQUARE !" ......  whatever.  Get off your high horse and take a stroll into the Public House Market Place where you will find Kim Horton, aka K Horton Specialty Foods. And, special are Kim and friends. 

Firstly, KIM GIVES SAMPLES !!!!!  Now I get paid for some reviews, do some for my blog and do others because I feel that they should be done just to be another who sings the praises of a great food place.  Kim Horton's place is just that.  They do not give samples, off the cuff, of any cheese that they feel should be used before the "sale date" is up as everyone in the food business knows that CHEESE LASTS FOREVER.  They give samples of the beautiful items that Kim and her staff create in their tiny kitchen. And, YUM is the word.  If you get a sample from Kim, be rude and take MANY !!!!! 

Kim is smart.  She makes most of what they sell and buys what she does not want to make, no matter. If you buy a product to sell in your shop, like cheese, you only buy the best, as Kim does.  Her mousses and Pates melt in your mouth, her cheeses make you weep and her chicken salad ALMOST made me cry. You have to realize that I think that I am the only person who makes a good chicken salad. If you do not like chicken salad try her " Herbed Tuna " or just be happy with any wrap that her staff has put together.  I am usually not a fan of wraps, like my sandwiches on bread, but K Hortons nearly converted me on several occasions when wraps were all that were available in my price range.

Yes, I get odd looks when I over sample, I have stopped that now, I swear !  But here is my secret for decadence in over-abundance........

Buy a 1/4 inch thick slice of her decadent Pate de Campagne.  Cover it with a free paper napkin.  Tip Toe across to the bread bakery across the way.  Ask for a sample of their delicious, homemade bread to be reviewed later, if I am not shot that is ......

Use your sampled, buttered bread, add your decadent Pate, fold in half, sneak outside, hide your face, especially from your heart doctor, and ENJOY. Total decadence, Buttered bread, Pate, YUM. I can still feel my arteries hardening !!!!!

So, if you have to go bad and tick off your doctor go to the  Portland Public Market House for a delicious meal from Kim Horton. If not a meal, at least pick up some cheese and crackers, you will never be able to make up your mind of which type of cheese, so here is a suggestion:

Brie, easy and ready to go, add a drop of lime marmalade, then some orange jam, grab some crackers or toasts and enjoy !  And, if cheese is not what you want ....you have a huge vegetable bin to pick from, etc.....   Hey, buy any type of cheese that you like, add a Roma tomato, some fresh herbs and an assortment of fresh veggies that Horton's offers and, well you are golden !

I recently bought some Vermont cheddar that was tasty, also a Camembert wedge that had a lemon infusion which made me weep. Strawberry gormandise, etc.... I could go on and on.......  I tried the goat meat, great, ... I have to stop now, I am getting hungry again !

Go to K Horton's, you will not be disappointed.

A Recipe ..... For You !

You have to make this 5 days in advance of serving but it is worth planning ahead. This recipe is a truffle-like concoction that will make-em weep !  Yummy in every way !

Chocolate Ice Cream

7       oz          dark chocolate,  finely chopped

2      cup        plus 2 Tbl whole milk

1/3  cup        unsweetened cocoa powder

6      Lg          egg yolks

13    Tbl         sugar, divided

¼    cup        heavy whipping cream

 Place chocolate in a medium metal bowl. Set bowl over a saucepan of barely simmering water. Stir chocolate until melted and smooth. Set melted chocolate aside; let cool slightly.

Whisk milk and cocoa powder in a medium heavy saucepan over medium heat until mixture begins to boil; set aside. 

Using an electric mixer, beat egg yolks and 7 tablespoons sugar in another medium bowl until very thick ribbons form, about 2 minutes. Whisking constantly, gradually add hot milk mixture to egg yolk mixture. Return mixture to saucepan. Add melted chocolate and whisk to blend. Stir over low heat until slightly thickened and an instant-read thermometer registers 175°, about 5 minutes. Transfer chocolate custard to a large bowl and place over another large bowl of ice water. Stir until chocolate custard is cool. 

Bring remaining 6 tablespoons sugar and 2 tablespoons water to a boil in a small heavy, deep saucepan over medium-high heat, stirring until sugar dissolves. Boil, occasionally swirling pan and brushing down sides with a wet pastry brush (do not stir), until a dark amber color forms, about 5 minutes. Gradually whisk in cream (mixture will bubble vigorously). Whisk caramel into chocolate custard. Strain into a large container; cover and chill for 2 days. 

Process custard in an ice cream machine according to manufacturer's instructions. Transfer to another container; freeze for 3 days before eating.   YUM !!!

Best Wishes !

Happy " National Chocolate Ice Cream Day ! " Everyone !!!

Best Wishes !

Happy " National Frozen Yogurt Day !"  Everyone !!!!!

Best Wishes !

Happy "National Rockey Road Day !"  Everyone !!!

A Recipe ..... For You !

Perfect Roasted Chicken

With all of the food blogs, food shows and the likes, by now most folks have heard about some sort of Mirapoix. If not, generally a Mirapoix is a combination of vegetables that add a boost of flavor to what could be a more bland meat.  It also adds flavor to the drippipngs.  The tradidional French version is carrot, celery and onion.  The Cajuns add Bell Pepper, I leave out the pepper but add mushrooms as I love 'shrooms.  Smaller cooking times require the veggies to be cut into smaller pieces however when you are using the Mirapoix as a "roasting Rack' any size will do. I usually do 3 inch long sticks so I can have some left for veggies and dip !!!!!  Place the Mirapoix in your roaster, then add a splash of water, or white wine, pop the bird on top, to save on calories sprinkle the bird first with Salt and Pepper, then spritz with canned spray ( Pam works fine ), then a layer a dried herbs de provence mixture, spritx, herbs, spritz, herbs ..... this gives you an herb crust as the spritz acts as the glue.  Put a lemon or two inside the bird, drop a wedge into the pas, a few garlic gloves inside and roast away.

HINT:  The bird is done when the skin browns, no secret there.  Test the chicken at a joint for clear juices but please do not over cook.  Allow her to rest under foil while you defat the sauce, thicken with corn starch, carve your bird however you want and wait to hear rounds of applause !!!!

EASY AS THAT !!!!!!!!!!

I just don't know where the world got the idea that roasting a chicken is a hard thing to do !!!!

NOTE:  Save the carcass in your freezer for homemade stock.  Another hint: save unused pieces of the afore-mentioned veggies in your freezer too, then you have stock makers at the ready. You can even save the bones from your Kentuckey Colornal !!!!!!!!

And please make homemade stock, gives you something to do on a rainy day, makes your house smell great and saved you money !!!!!!  You can freeze stock in ice cube trays, zipper type bags,.....

A Recomendation ..... For You !

If you like popped corn go to Little Lad's on Congress Street in Portland, Maine and grab a bag of their herbed Popped Corn !    Yum !!!!!

Put out your hand for a shake, your arms for a hug and your face for a smile. The rest will come naturally.

Paul Jerabek

Portland, Maine

Happy "National Blueberry Cheesecake day !  Everyone !!!!!

Just a hint ...

When you go out to pick Fleurs, stealing them from a neighbor's Jardin, Wear shoes !!!!!! Epipen awaits.

Love the Lilly-o-the-valley that I snatched !!!!!!