I guess this location would work if the birthday boy/girl was a real stinker.
"Everything goes out the window when I travel," a friend recently told me. "I eat nearly perfectly at home, but put me at an airport or on a weekend road trip and I succumb to double cheeseburgers and greasy fries. It's almost as if being on the road gives me permission to cheat on my diet."
I used to be a jogger. I say "used to" because I fell off a 12' ladder in 2005 and shattered my heel which resulted in a trip to ER and three surgeries. Today I walk, but Charlotte and I are pretty routine about our exercise routines.
Our NY son Cole rides the subway every day (don't get him started about the problems with the G Train). He says the NY subways are Hell in the summer...looks like he's telling the truth.
Given half a chance, Bob would eat chocolate at every meal. Start the day with a chocolate-coated breakfast bar then move on to Chocolate Chip Cookies at lunch and his favorite Chocolate Cream Pie for dinner? He'd call that heaven!
If you can relate, you're gonna LOVE this cocoa-licious choice from The Old Farmer's Everyday Baking Almanac (Sherin Press, 2012, $9.95). Moister than a brownie; more substantial than a pudding, these Chocolate Mud Bars have a chewy, gooey texture that practically melts in your mouth. We're wild about their thick, milk chocolate filling (or mud as it's called), especially since it is packed with nuts (another of Bob's favorites!) and sits atop a homemade graham cracker crust.
Charlotte and I celebrated our 35th wedding anniversary a few weeks ago with a cruise. We've thought about cruising for years. But, we always rejected the idea because we've never considered ourselves "cruise people" (not that there's anything wrong with that).
Turns out, we are cruise people after all. Lemme 'splain.
We had a few hangups about travelling this way. As wonderful as we've heard cruising is our main complaint was that we didn't want to eat at the same time - with the same people - every freakin' night. Yeah, I know people who've been forced to do this and become lifelong friends with their dinner companions. NMD (Not My Deal).
Besides, anyone who really knows me will happily tell you I'm not that loveable. I have a limited amount of bullshit and half-way through the appetizer our unassuming tablemates would discover my overwhelming lack of wit and charm. Seriously, who wants that?
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Why?
'Cause I really need a new deer rifle!
Bob and I thrive on routine. We ALWAYS go to the grocery store first-thing Friday morning, eat pizza at least once a week, and prefer red wine with cheese, peanut butter, make that just about anything.
When Bob and I visit our favorite beach in Gulf Shores, AL, we always crave fish. But I don't want to go to a lot of effort to make it ... after all, we're supposed to be on vacation. So, I usually pull out this easy Pan-Fried Tilapia recipe.
I've never had a beer where I needed to watch out for the thorns...until I tried Shiner Prickly Pear Lager. OK, I'm kidding. There aren't any stickers, but this seasonal beer from the folks at the Spoetzl Brewery in Shiner, Texas is definitely different.
Want to make a statement without saying a word? Start gardening. Studies show that gardening is good for your health. It helps you reduce stress and allows an instant reconnection with nature--even for those who don't have large backyards. Plus, getting your hands dirty is a great outlet for creativity. Whether you're a perennial green thumb or a sapling when it comes to gardening, these approaches to unconventional horticulture will help turn your outdoor space into a unique oasis.
But, this handy zip tie will work great until we find it.
When I was in college, my good friend Jim Burks and I used to travel the 18 miles to Glen Rose, Texas to enjoy the melt-in-your-mouth smoked brisket at Hammond's Barbecue. Hammond's in those days was more than the best BBQ in North Central Texas. Liz Hammond, the matriarch of that smoky dynasty, made the best pies on the planet.
More often than not, she'd greet us at the door with, "I've got two slices of peanut butter pie left. I'll save 'em for you!". As any good southern boy will tell you, there's only one reply to that comment: "Thankya Ma'am!"
Jim and I were lucky that Liz Hammond took a liking to us (Jim really, but I was always happy to draft on his influence with great pie makers). But we were DOUBLE lucky in the peanut butter pie dept. In our own little town of Granbury, Texas, we had ANOTHER great place that made terrific pies: Rankin's Restaurant. When we weren't Jonesing for BBQ, Jim and I would hit Rankin's for open-faced roast beef sandwiches, burgers and its legendary peanut butter pie.
Rankin's peanut butter pie was smooth, creamy and surprisingly light with a rich peanut taste that always left you wanting more. Through the miracle of Facebook, I've reconnected with some Granbury friends who unearthed the recipe to this delicious dish, which is unbelievably easy to make.
4 Ingredients Is All It Takes to Make This Delicious Peanut Butter Pie
A neurologist friend of mine says that if he can get to a stroke victim within 3 hours he has an excellent chance of totally reversing the effects of a stroke. He said the trick was getting a stroke recognized, diagnosed and then getting the patient medical care within that 3-hour window -- which is tough.
You can tell by his expression, he's mad as heck!
Prepare your own Mexican quick fix with this Chipotle-inspired bowl. Carbs are moderated by filling the bowl with beans, extra veggies and chicken. No need for rice, since the beans count as carbs.
Tips:
If you love tomatoes, increase the quantity to 1/2 cup, but note that the carbohydrates will also increase.
If preparing this recipe for one person, cut all of the ingredients in half. Or simply prepare the full recipe up to the end of step 2 and store leftover chicken and vegetable-bean mixture in separate airtight containers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days. Reheat in the microwave on High for 1 to 2 minutes, or until heated through, and continue with step 3.
Health Bite: The iron, calcium, magnesium, manganese, copper and zinc in black beans help to keep bones strong and healthy.
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Know someone battling cancer? Baylor Health Care System's Sammons Says... cancer blog is a great place to go for help. Here, you'll find information, resources, physicians, support groups and just about everything you need to help you navigate your way through this illness.
Senior Forums is a great place to get the news and share views on everything from hobbies and healthcare, to food, family & travel.
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