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Showing posts from January, 2021

Roswell GA: Land of a Thousand Hills Coffee

Deep made an excellent suggestion of coffee at Land of a Thousand Hills in Roswell. Their location is beautiful on the inside and outside and the staff is very friendly and helpful. I couldn't pass up a pastry to go with my cappucino. My almond croissant was wonderful. It paired perfectly with the rich, nutty coffee.

The Take-Out Lifestyle: Vintage Pizzeria in Chamblee

This eggplant parm dinner comes from the (original?) Vintage Pizzeria in Chamblee. As always, wonderful food and very gracious take-out service. Thank you, folks, for being here.

Beans for Dinner

I had some chicken stock made from an earlier roast chicken. This made the perfect opportunity to cook a pot of beans. I soaked a bag of beans for two days, then cooked with onions and tomatoes in my stock. Beans are a great winter dinner. I am both satisfied and grateful.

The Take-Out Lifestyle: Magnolia Room in Tucker

I haven't been to Magnolia Room in Tucker for awhile. They seem to be doing well, very good news. I found that they have a new take-out line that is fully stocked and very convenient. A wonderful meal---thanks, folks!

The Take-Out Lifestyle: Bayleaf in Dunwoody

I've driven by Bay Leaf many times so I was glad to have the opportunity to try them out. Their menu, as it turns out, has a strong south Indian component, something I very much enjoy and appreciate. My malai kofta was excellent: nicely spiced, rich and creamy, the smoothness accented by the tender balls. I also really enjoyed this chat dish with its great range of flavors and textures.

A simple lunch

Greek yogurt blueberries, wheat germ. What a great lunch! I am grateful.

Steak for Dinner

I cooked a Kroger strip steak on the grill, always an enjoyable process. I made the home fries in the oven. The salad came from a box. All delicious. Everything took just enough time to be feasible and enjoyable. I am grateful.

The Take-Out Lifestyle: A Village Burger Lunch

It's easy to taste why Village Burger is such a popular spot. For this meal, I tried a slightly different set of toppings for my turkey burger. The fries were great, too. Thanks, folks!

Biscuit and Gravy Breakfast

These biscuits came from a can. I made the gravy the old-fashioned way. Together they made a wonderful, unfussy breakfast for which I am grateful.

Boxed Brownies

Part of me thinks that boxed cake mixes are cheating and low-grade. But a one dollar deal at Publix coupled with a need not to spend my entire day cooking tempted me. As you can see, the results were pretty good. Just the fact that the brownies come out hot and fresh makes them very appealing. I am grateful and I have learned a lesson.

Italian Sausage Dinner

I don't often make Italian sausage at home. Perhaps I should put it on the playlist---it makes an easy and tasty meal. I browned the sausages, them cooked them in some canned sauce. I added pasta and a salad for a great meal. Good doesn't have to mean fancy or time-consuming.

Leftover Pot Roast Dinner

Efficiency with leftovers saves time as well as food. I coupled this leftover pot roast with home fried potatoes and roasted brussel sprouts. The combination made for a delicious meal for which I am grateful.

The Take-Out Lifestyle: Pita in Peachtree Corners

Hunger and errands led me to a very enjoyable lunch from Pita. Once my falafel were freshly fried, I took my lunch to my car to enjoy. The pita were crunchy and very flavorful. They were wrapped in a soft, pillowy pita and complemented by a very nice sauce. My mixed vegetables were great. Thanks, folks!

Pot Roast for Dinner

This photo may not be attractive but the post roast sure was tasty. This dish is a meal-in-a-pot that requires only a few minutes of prep. You don't even have to cut the meat---everyone cuts their own at the table. The sale at Kroger on cuts of beef made the meal all the more enjoyable.

The Take-Out Lifestyle: Dinner from Harmony Vegetarian

A drive in the country can work up a surprising appetite. I capped off my wonderful sunset view with dinner from our friends at Harmony. I ordered my usual salt-and-pepper tofu, a wonderful treat. I was too hungry to take a photo of the excellent corn soup. It was hearty and sweet. I had enough left over for lunch the next day. Thanks, folks!

The Take-Out Lifestyle: Lunch from JR's

Can't beat a large pork sandwich and Brunswick stew.

Matthews Cafeteria Drive-Thru

I haven't tried it yet but I spied Matthews Cafeteria new drive-thru setup. Matthews is a venerable, arguably legendary Atlanta dining institution. I'm glad to see their adaptations to our challenging times.

The Take-Out Lifestyle: Lunch at Mediteranean Bakery

Mediterranean Bakery is, in my humble opinion, an underappreciated gem of the Atlanta eating scene. For this lunch, I ordered the falafel lunch rather than a pita. The falafel were fresh and balanced with a crispy outside, soft inside. The hummus is clearly fresh given its bright flavors. Thanks, folks!

A Leftover Breakfast

I pulled some pork roast out of the freezer the night before and heated it up in the morning. I pulled a can of Pillsbury biscuits out and baked them. Pull apart, add pork, voila. A wonderful breakfast that didn't take me all morning to fix. If we want to enjoy our own cooking---and do so three times a day, not twice a year---we need to pick our battles. This breakfast took advantage of what I had to create both flavor and nutrition. And I was left with enough energy to take care of the other meals of the day.

The Take-Out Lifestyle: Dinner from Vintage Pizzeria

Italian-American food is great comfort food. Vintage Pizzera always makes outstanding meals. Eggplant parmesan is my go-to meal. Those fried mozzarella sticks are pretty tasty, too. Thanks, folks!

Chocolate Pecan Pie

I don't need to eat chocolate pecan pie for breakfast every day, but it sure makes a nice treat. To keep this one simple, I used a chocolate cookie pie crust I found at Publix. I lined the bottom with broken Ghiardelli dark chocolate. I added two tablespoons of cocoa to the standard pecan pie recipe. And I am not below using a can of whipped cream to make my breakfast even more enjoyable.

The Outdoor Dining Lifestyle: Lunch at Sprig

Sprig's patio makes a wonderful refuge. The view of the park next door ads to the peace. My friends and I started our lunch with Sprig's famous grits fries. Our lunches hit a lot of the Sprig classics. All very enjoyable. Thanks, folks!

The Take-Out Lifestyle: Dinner from Harmony Vegetarian

Harmony Vegetarian is an Atlanta treasure. Their wonderful food has been a mainstay of the Atlanta dining scene for decades. I stopped by to pick up some dinner. I went with my mainstay, salt and pepper tofu. I love the soft tofu wrapped in crust. I love the kiss of sweet sauce. And I'm glad to see that Harmony is still here amidst all the turmoil in the world. Thank you, folks.

The Take-Out Lifestyle: JR's

JR's drive-thru window used to be a curiosity to me. I now find it to be a great, convenient feature. I picked up my large BBQ sandwich and took it home to enjoy. Tender, sweet pork coated in sauce that kisses the meat. I am happy, I am grateful.

The Take-Out Lifestyle: Village Burger in Dunwoody

Village Burger is a treat. I brought my turkey burger home and enjoyed, complete with BBQ sauce and onions. Thanks folks, for being here!

Chicken Pot Pie

\ I hadn't made chicken pot pie in awhile and it sounded like a hearty meal. I used a combination of leftover chicken plus some additional pieces that I cooked for the occasion. The filling included sweet potato (that's what I had), fresh green beans, okra, corn. I made a rich white gravy using roux, homemade chicken stock from the bones of that leftover chicken, and half-and-half. I had picked up a pair of new pie pans from my friends at Cake Art in Tucker. They both came in handy. I had enough filling for two full pies. They were delicious and hearty. I am grateful.

The Take-Out Lifestyle: Persepolis in Sandy Springs

A tasty lunch on a pretty day is a treat. I stopped at Persepolis to pick up lunch, someplace I haven't visited in quite some time. Their service remains wonderfully gracious. My lunch was great, too. I went with the vegetarian kebab, full of flavor. Rice is always a treat. The salad was unexpected and tasty. I'm not sure that I've had sumac powder on a salad before but it was outstanding, piquant and nicely contrasting to the other components of the salad. The walnut halves give great flavor and a nice textural balance. Thank you!

Squash Soup

I made squash soup for a chilly day. My chicken stock base came from the roast chicken I had made earlier. I included plenty of leeks which gave the soup great vegetal flavor. The soup was thick and hearty. Simple pleasures are wonderful pleasures.

The Take-Out Lifestyle: 2 Spicy Burritos in Lawrenceville GA

A trip to Gwinnett led me to the chance to try 2 Spicy Burritos in Lawrenceville. Sorry, I was too hungry to grab a photo of my meal. But my carnitas tacos were flavorful with little chunks of meat and fresh tortillas. A very satisfying meal. Thanks, folks!

Christmas Dinner

I've been thinking of standing rib roast for quite some time. When I saw this two-bone roast nearly half off at Kroger, I decided it would make the perfect Christmas meal. I added some root vegetables to the pan for roasting. The outer parts came out medium, the inner parts nice and pink. At the suggestion of Alton Brown's video , I made a Yorkshire pudding. I've never made one before but I have enjoyed it in England. The recipe, it turns out, is similar to an apple betty. The result was a sumptuous meal and plenty more for other days. I know that not everyone can afford such a meal even in the best of times and particularly not this Christmas. I do not take my circumstances lightly.