THE WILD, WILD WEST

What a time we had in Arizona. It was as exciting and interesting as we expected and so much fun. We began with 2 days in Las Vegas at the Mirage. After booking our reservation there I got an email that they were having a 20 year anniversary special and our room rate was reduced from $100 to $76 incl tax. How can you beat that! And was that room cushy. One night we ate at Mon ami Gabi in the Paris hotel which has been a favorite restaurant since our first visit to LV. As expected it was as good if not better than ever. Another time we treated ourselved to sweets at the Bellagio. They certainly do pastries beautifully with their own special flair. That I can tell you makes it very hard to choose. Al and I each picked different little cakes and then shared as did our traveling companions. And each was a little bit of heaven filled with raspberry, mocha, creamy custard and other goodies. Some were quite exotic with combinations of tastes that were out of this world. Oh to go back for a little bite each day!

A NEW DAY

It was announced yesterday that Mr. O has selected an Hispanic woman for the Supreme Court.

She appears to be a reasonable choice having come from a "working family" background which could infuse a "real people" element along with a fresh attitude to the Court. We will see how this plays out.

Take care,

Pam

A TASTE OF THE BEST

I love toffee. There's no getting around it, toffee is a special part of my life. Sometimes I waver between milk chocolate and dark chocolate but in the end as long as my treat is toffee I'm a happy camper. As luck would have it I have found the most delectable toffee on the market. CARY'S OF OREGON. Have you seen it around? We can easily find it here in New England so I imagine it can be found all over the country.

These people are always thinking of new ingredients to go with their toffees and have come up with winners including Chai tea, mango tea and an all time favorite: espresso. However, it is the quality of each of the ingredients as well as the old family recipe handed down that makes their products outstanding. This is a must try; you'll be hooked like I am. www.carysoforegon.com.

ADVENTURES

This coming Sunday we embark on a well deserved (my opinion, of course) vacation. While we are out and about I will be blogging on the various places, restaurants and sights we will be savoring. Hope you enjoy the ride.

Ciao,
Pam

THINK OF MOM

Soon it will be Mother's Day once again and we'll have another special chance to let Mom know how much she is loved and valued. I know we all have our certain ways of showing Mom how much we think of and admire her and one of the most popular is preparing her a very memorable meal.

One of the favorites in our house which is always a hit both with family and friends is filet mignon wrapped in bacon and smothered with crab sauce. It's a fancy dish that we usually make for special occasions but it's not really time consuming to make and it's always gobbled up very quickly leaving a satisfied smile on each and every face. But you don't have to make something fancy. I would venture to say that most moms are absolutely tickled with the thought and effort that goes into preparing a special something as much as the end result itself. It's one day a year; knock yourself out!!

LOOKING BACK

Sadly I lost my mom when I was 19, BUT I became a mom at 24 and again at 27. Yes, I miss my mom and all that was lost with her passing. Being a mom I can now appreciate what she did for me and all that I have passed on that I've learned from her.

Here's to all the MOMs!

Cheers,
Pam

CRABBIN OUT

Last Saturday we spent the evening with friends at their gorgeous waterfront home. Being a gourmet cook our friend as usual outdid herself. She is one person that I crave invitations from as each time we visit we are indulged in a unique and outstanding dinner only to be surpassed by our next visit. You can always tell when a person loves to cook by the creative one of a kind meals they serve their guests.

This dinner had as an entree an unusual and exciting shrimp dish flavored with BLUE CRAB BAY'S CHESAPEAKE BAY SEASONING. What all is in this outstanding blend of spices and seasonings is beyond my guessing so all that I can say is that "I want more!" My hostess served the shrimp over rice with bids of dried fruits in it and a bit of the Chesapeake Bay Seasoning as well. I can't tell you how fast we all devoured this meal. It was one of the best I have ever had.
Thank you Veronica! www.bluecrabbay.com PS try it with fish tacos for a succulent taste.

Another fabulous Blue Crab Product

"THE FLU"

Since we are going on vacation soon we were at the pharmacy for this and that which we needed for our travel bag. I asked if they have masks that we might use on the plane. Three, yes 3 stores, had none in stock. We'll keep looking but my guess is they have all been snapped up. Talk about supply and demand. Perfect example.

Take care,
Pam

WHAT A COMBINATION!

Last night we dined with friends at the Flat Street Brew & Pub in Brattleboro, VT. Feeling deprived since I've been watching what I eat I opted for the "Cobb Burger". Best decision I have made in a long time! Just listen to how they formed the most delicious burger I've ever had.

Toasted whole wheat bun
Vermont raised beef patty, thick I might add
Tomato slice that actually had a real tomato taste
Piece of dark green Romaine lettuce (my dad always said the more color the more vitamins)
2 slices of crispy bacon
Crumbled bleu cheese on top of the meat
Avacado quacamole as the finishing touch

Now tell me, what's not to like with these ingredients. It was soooo good, I can almost taste it right now as I write. Usually I like to put a picture with my blog but alas I didn't think to take one of this scrumptious creation set in front of me. Big mistake. Next time I will be prepared.
In the meantime if you are in the area don't hesitate to run to Flat Street Pub and order the best burger (in my estimation) on the planet.

COOL SIGNAGE














Take care,
Pam