Brown Sugar Bacon

I made brown sugar bacon today!  It's something I make on a fairly regular basis.  Each time I try a different approach, today was a thicker cut bacon and I didn't add the brown sugar until after the bacon got crispy.  

It was good stuff....bacon. And brown sugar.  Even when it's bad, it's still good.  This wasn't the best, but I'll try for a better outcome next time.

I Made Breakfast This Morning!

Those who have children know they get up all sorts of early sometimes, or in our case mostly all the time.  My daughter Shane gets up early on a regular basis, but her little brother Rocco gets up earlier! This morning it was 5:45. After some early Sesame Street, I made breakfast for everyone.

Scrambled eggs w/ cheddar cheese & wheat toast w/ butter & peanut butter...

and McCann's Irish Oatmeal....

w/ milk...

a good start to the day....

Ground Buffalo Tacos!

This week I made tacos with ground buffalo procured by Nature's Rancher and the same Rick Bayless sauce I had used in a past recipe. (Texas Original Frontera Taco Skillet Sauce w/ mild red chile & cumin)  Both of these products can be purchased at Whole Foods Market.  The recipe also consisted of red onions, garlic, red potatoes, lime juice, salt & pepper. And topped with guacamole & green salsa. Dana's guac was great, but a bit different this time.  I was cooking when she got home & she handed me a lime.  I thought it was for me to use  with the meat, but it was for guac. Instead she used an orange, which turned out to be just as good.  Decided to use corn tortillas for this treat.…

They were really tasty & I ate way too much…

Fun Sandwich!

Two mini grilled cheese sandwiches on rye w/ the best guacamole ever in the middle to make a super mini sandwich..

Nice snack...






follow me @M_miceK on Twitter.

More Pizza!

Hello!  This week for lunch we had "homemade" pizza.  I say "homemade" because there were pre-made(store bought) items used for the final product. Though that doesn't mean it wasn't awesome.

The crust is called International Fabulous Flats Stone-Baked Pizza Crust.  I don't know what's up with this product, but it is superior to anything like it.  Whenever we make this, we eat it all.  

The sauce is made by Muir Glen.  It can be described the same as the crust.  Drop dead awesome!

The cheese we used this time was a Mexican cheese called Sole Queso Quesadilla. Good stuff. This is super quick and easy to make, throw it all together how you like & toss it in the oven @ 450 for 15-20 mins.

later....

follow me @M_miceK on Twitter.

Greetings! from Garibaldi's

Greetings! over the weekend we ordered out from Garibaldi's.

2346 West Higgins Road  Hoffman Estates, IL 60169

(847) 884-8663

Garibaldi's is a great choice for a few reasons.  The pizza is great, they have numerous options, & the prices aren't too bad. You can dine-in, carry-out, or get it delivered.  They offer Italian Dishes, Submarines and Sandwiches, but most of all, I love the pizza!

Try a Hand Tossed or Specialty Pizza. 

This time we ordered Gino's Italian Salad...

Romaine, provolone, red onions, black olives, red peppers, tomatoes, radishes, and chickpeas. The dressing was a Balsamic House Italian.  I'm not the biggest fan of salads, but this one is loaded with goodness. 

we also had a 16" cheese pizza...

The sauce is nice & tangy, the crust soft & tender, all go along great with the perfectly browned cheese.  It's more of a New York style, thin & floppy.  I prefer to fold to eat.  Living in the Chicago area, there is a plethora of amazingly good options for pizza.  I'll get started on a list, but I'd have to say Garibaldi's is up there.  Try it out, see what you think.

Until next time...

View entire blog at http://thebestorworstfoodwhatiate.blogspot.com/ or follow me @M_miceK on Twitter. 

Greetings! from Johnnie's Beef

Johnnie's Beef

1935 South Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Hts, IL 60005

(847)357-8100

CASH ONLY!

(There's an ATM inside.)

Greetings!  Johnnie's Beef is a place I've been to a few times, though I hadn't been there in years before this evening's visit.  They offer Italian beef, Italian sausage (both with sweet or hot peppers), hot dogs, tamales, Italian tuna salad sandwiches, pepper & egg sandwiches, & fries.  I usually go with the beef, why not?

My Italian beef w/ sweet peppers...

The beef is tasty, juicy and flavorful.  It's not the best I've had.  And it's definitely not the worst.  Same goes for the peppers and bread.   I'll go back to Johnnie's, it was good and the price is fair, but will always try competitors as well.  With so many options in the area, why not attempt to eat them all.  You could give it a shot as well.

You can also get yourself a soda, chocolate milkshake, or an Italian ice (lemonade or watermelon) to accompany your meal.  

My lemonade Italian ice...

The Italian ice alone is worth going for.  It's a consistent blend of sweet and sour.  And a generous portion for less than two bucks!!!

Thanks for paying attention, until next time....



View entire blog at http://thebestorworstfoodwhatiate.blogspot.com/ or follow me @M_miceK on Twitter.

UGH!!

So the banana bread did not work out.  The recipe consists of bananas, eggs, flour, sugar, baking soda, chocolate chips, yogurt, and a little bit of salt.  We were out of yogurt, so she substituted ricotta cheese.  It's not horrible, but it's nowhere near what it normally is.  The usual flavor is there, but it's super dry. Upon discussing the ingredients this morning, I found out this banana bread may resurface as french toast sometime over the weekend.  I'll keep you posted.

Homemade Banana Bread

Dana made banana bread this morning...

In the oven...

and out...

More to come later when I tear into this...

*Remember to follow me on Twitter @M_miceK

Sunday's Afternoon Snack

Greetings! Sorry for the delay....On Sunday, we had  peeps over for some drinks & snacks.  One of the great things was we didn't have to make anything.  I guess great house guests provide the food (even if they didn't take their shoes off).
We had nachos with Turkey Chili....

They were very tasty and just a bit spicy.  Not too much though...

We also had fresh snap peas with some cheese (truffled gouda & Pleasant Ridge Reserve)... 

and bread...

This snack was also accompanied with a drink...

Pureed cucumber, with gin, agave nectar, club soda & a lime.

All in all, the food was great!  The drink however, was not to my liking.  I really felt nothing special about it, though Dana liked it, and she says to use a thick straw to drink it.  

Until next time....

Name Change

So I decided to make a change to the name of the blog.  Dropped the "go try these places?!?!?!", and added "what I ate"

More Bison taco items...

MONDAY, JANUARY 9, 2012

More Bison taco items...

Greetings!  Over the weekend we(Dana) made 2 more items with the bison & sweet potatoes...

a taco salad

Romaine, w/ tomatoes, cheese, & El Ranchero(773-847-9167)

tortilla chips.

& Bison quesadillas

Simple, cheese & bison/sweet potato combo.

Both were just as good as the original, nice & easy meals.

FRIDAY, JANUARY 6, 2012

Last nights homemade dinner....

Good evening! Let me tell you about last nights dinner.  Dana made tacos!  With ground Bison, sweet potatoes, onions, guacamole, and a "tomato relish"- which was basically pico de gallo minus the cilantro.  Rick Bayless has a line of products that can be purchased at Whole Foods Market.   Maybe Dominick's, but don't quote me on that.  She usually makes her own sauce however, these are high quality products that are very tasty and super easy to use.  One of the best parts is her guacamole.  Avocado,  hot sauce, garlic, worcestershire sauce (aka what's this here sauce) lime juice, and salt & pepper.  I could eat her guacamole everyday.  It's awesome! There were quesadillas too, corn tortillas and chihuahua cheese.

Follow me on Twitter if you like, @M_miceK.  If you did not get here via The Pig Roast, you should visit The Pig Roast. Until next time.......

Greetings! from Hay Caramba!

Greetings!

What up? Two nights ago I went to Hay Caramba!, located in Uptown Park Ridge at 122 S. Prospect Avenue.
847-518-0747

Hay Caramba! has a solid variety of Mexican food. Check out the Menu.  You can try an Hay Caramba! Specialty too.  In my experiences eating there, the food has always been consistent.   I met up with family for this visit.  I have a thing for enchiladas, for some reason I prefer the cheese.  If pork is an option, I choose pork.

Yet again....

Enchiladas Verdes
Three soft corn tortillas, with choice of ground beef, chicken
or cheese, covered with spicy green sauce, topped with cheese,
sour cream

The portion is large, the cheese cheesy, and everything quite savory.

Sorry about the lighting....

Hay Caramba! is not the best Mexican food you'll ever have, but it's certainly not the worst.  It isn't  overpriced for where it is located. It's kid friendly and in Uptown Park Ridge, which has plenty to offer.  They offer good food with friendly service.  I'll pretty much always go back because the food and options they offer are tasty.  It also helps that on the handful of times I've been there have been meals with my parents, which means they usually pay. That's it, have a good one!

WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 4, 2012

An addition to the last entry…

My amazing wife Dana read my last entry and informed me that I missed some ingredients in her fabulous French Toast. There was also heavy cream & maple syrup in the mix…

Homemade French Toast!

Good morning! Thanks to my 3-year old daughter, Shane, I get a "special treat for breakfast". She's been in a "big girl" bed for almost 2 years, but some nights she wanders into her parents room to sleep. If she makes it through the night in her bed, she gets a "special treat for breakfast". Which means I benefit. Today's edition was Homemade French Toast!
Made with eggs,wheat bread, Agave nectar(for natural sweetness), and vanilla. Doesn't it look yummers?Thx
Mike.

TUESDAY, JANUARY 3, 2012

Greetings! from The Art of Pizza

Greetings!

What up?? I'm Mike and welcome to my food & restaurant views. You can check out The Pig Roast for my views on area restaurants and food that I consume.  Plus, you'll get pictures too!

I'll hit all kinds of places, old favorites & ones I haven't experienced yet.  As well as "meals" prepared by me or my wife peppered in from time to time.

I hope you enjoy the access to my tastes, whether they're your tastes or not. 

We begin with The Art of Pizza at 3033 North Ashland Avenue  Chicago, IL 60657

(773) 327-5600
Parking: small customer lot & street
Employees: friendly
Great place to go before a show.

First off, this is one of my all-time favorite places. Since discovering this gem about 10 years ago (through a co-worker, thanks Frank), I have been going here whenever I get the opportunity. Sometimes it's a planned trip, or like today's visit I was in the area. You can dine-in, carry-out, or get it delivered. I chose to carry-out.

The Art of Pizza offers many options...salads, appetizers, sandwiches(subs too), parmigianas, pasta, shrimp, chicken, ribs, daily lunch and dinner specials, and more!  Plus some of the best pizza I've had.

In the past I've tried other menu items, but I always come back for the pizza.   Thin, pan, or stuffed, you can't go wrong!  The crust is buttery delicious, and the dough is consistent and flavorful. But the best part is the sauce. Zesty, thick, and loaded with everything that's great about Chicago pizza.  And all at a fair price!

I got three slices, but polished one off in the car.

A slice of cheese and a slice of pepperoni made it home...

The pizza reheats great in the microwave or oven, I prefer the latter.

In all, The Art of Pizza is awesome. You should try it.  Thanks for paying attention, if you made it this far. Keep an eye out for the next entry & give me a follow on Twitter @M_miceK if that's how you roll.

Email restaurant or food suggestions to mdsr25641@gmail.com. 

Thanks,

Mike