Book Nook Cafe discussion

As requested, here is a folder to discuss travel and vacations.

If any of you are curious about my recent trip to Washington state, I have begun posting pictures and comments on my blog at this address:

http://sherry-latebloomer.blogspot.com/

Thank you, Sherry. That's another good use of this thread. I'm taking you up on the offer.

Wonder of wonders! The top photo, of Ruby Beach, is very similar to one i took almost 30 years ago. We were there in December but the fog and setting look the same, thanks to the evergreens. Great memory.

Your trip sounds nice, particularly meeting kinfolk. Eastern Washington & Oregon can seem a bit desolate. I'm glad you got to experience a drive up the Gorge. What a wonder.

Thanks, Sherry.

deborah

Thanks Alias for the folder.
Sherry I'll check out your pics. Have never been to Washington State so I'm looking forward to veiwing them.

DH and I and another couple are going to Livingston, Montana in July for a week. A few years ago, we bid on a condo there at a fundraiser auction and "won" it. (Don't you think that makes me sound like a NYC housewife???LOL) It is a 2 br 2 bath condo in a hotel in Livingston. All the rooms are privately owned. Interesting concept.

We plan to drive down to Yellowstone (55 miles south) a couple of days, and go over to Big Sky to have lunch with some friends one day, and maybe do some rafting or fly fishing. Whatever we do, I am sure the weather will be cooler than it is here, and it will be nice to have a mid-summer break from the heat and humidity.

I have been to Yellowstone once a few years ago, and can't wait to see it again. I've never been to Montana and I am really looking forward to it.

Leslie.. that sounds like a wonderful trip. I can't wait to hear all about it and hopefully see some pics too. I would love to go to yellowstone; Big Sky, etc.
Have a wonderful time. Keep an eye on hubby and don't let him over do it.

And no, you don't sound like a "housewife"... lol Remember when I bid on that place at Martha's Vineyard. And then it got all messed up b/c they changed the dates on me during football season. It was a church fundraiser. I ended up getting my money back. lol

Montana will be a Big Summer Break from Alabama, Leslie. Enjoy every minute!

deborah

Leslie, after spending time on the train in Montana I'm confident that your trip will be fantastic. It is SO beautiful there.

Leslie, your trip sounds wonderful! Enjoy!

I just came back from my first trip to Europe. My DH goes over there on business, so this time I went also.

My youngest son lives and works in Amsterdam. We were there for 8 days. We also went to Paris. My son's GF and I took the train 3 days early to see more of the city. DH and son drove in for 4 days. Can I tell you I absolutely loved Paris. Their metro system is great. It was so wonderful to see all the sights I had read about for years. One of the most thrilling parts was the fact we were able to see President Obama. They toured Notre Dame, which was amazing. My DH got a couple of pix showing President Obama walking, it is from very far away. I saw Michelle Obama as she passed in the car. It sounds corny, but, she looks just like on TV, with the warm smile. I think it was so neat because we were in Paris and saw them.

Amsterdam was also filled with wonderful things to see. I could get used to the fact that people there love to sit outside of a cafe and relax. Amsterdam has the best french fries. I loved the expresso and miss it already. Practically everyone in Europe smokes. Good for America that we have really cut down on that.

The more you travel, the more you want to travel! I definitely have the travel bug!

Debbie/GA wrote: "Amsterdam has the best french fries."

Debbie, it sounds like quite a fun trip. I love that you were in Paris when you saw the Obamas. Did you try that mayo like concotion the Dutch serve with french fries? I forget what it was called but i was reluctant to try it. Not bad...not great but not bad, either.

deborah

Deborah, my DH and I both really liked the mayo concoction to dip with fries. I know it sounds wierd to have mayo on fries, but it was delicious.

My son eats mayo on french fries all the time and has never been to Amsterdam. I will have to tell him about that concoction. What else is in it besides mayo?

Myself, I have vinegar on my fries. YUMM

I can't wait to go back to Paris (we took a cruise on the Seine last year and ended up in Paris) but refuse to fly to Europe again until I can go business class. LOL

I like mayo on fries - I don't think I learned it anywhere, just stumbled on the deliciousness.

Deb/GA... it is so true. The more you travel the more you want to travel. I AM SO GLAD you loved your trip. I want to go to Paris and Amsterdam one day. After going to Europe the 1st time I just knew I'd go back. I hope to go next year. I have to start planning. So many plans so little time. hee, hee

Seeing the Obama's in Paris is so cool. What a thrill.

And yes, Europeans chain smoke. It was terrible in Germany.. Restaurants were just big clouds of smoke. The one thing I didn't like. I couldn't help but wonder what their cancer rate was when I was there.

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "My son eats mayo on french fries all the time and has never been to Amsterdam. I will have to tell him about that concoction. What else is in it besides mayo?"

Here is an exchange about the Dutch mayo, at the end of which is a recipe from an older Dutch woman. If correct, much less fat but lotsa sugar. I suspect the dry mustard is key, i've found it vital in my own salad dressings. http://chocolateandzucchini.com/forum...

When i was in high school a friend & i made our own FF sauce concoction. Equal parts ketchup & mustard and a healthy dose of freshly ground pepper. Yum! I still like it. I must admit, however, that i don't like many French Fries because they aren't crisp enough. Good thing i'm picky, eh?

JoAnn, i recommend business class for traveling to Europe, preferably using frequent flyer miles, so you can still spend once you arrive! We've gone both ways & there is no comparison. I don't sleep well traveling either way but the extra space is wonderful. It seems to me there is less jet lag, too.

Next time we go to Europe i'd love to try a transatlantic voyage returning home. Repositioning cruises are available at decent pricing. Our thinking is to fly over, exhaust ourselves, then take the leisurely cruise home (14 days, i think, although there are only 4 or 5 days with no stops).

deborah

I heard about the Amsterdam/may/fries connection years ago, and had to try it. I seldom eat fries anymore, but I have to steel myself to avoid the mayo. I love the taste.

Kate

Debbie said: " I just came back from my first trip to Europe. "

Debbie, I've been wondering where you were! Did you celebrate your birthday in Europe. How fun that you got to see the Obamas while you were there!

I'll have to try this french fries and mayo thing, though it's a little hard to imagine. JoAnn, I've had vinegar on my french fries and enjoyed it. I generally like sour/acid flavors. Just last night I was enjoying one of my odd favorites: rice cooked with garlic and sprinkled with lemon juice.

Jan O'Cat

JanOMalleycat wrote: "Just last night I was enjoying one of my odd favorites: rice cooked with garlic and sprinkled with lemon juice."

Okay, Jan, Inquiring Minds want to know how you do this. Do you boil rice with garlic? Or, like fried rice, do you cook it, then saute it with garlic & sprinkle on the juice. It sounds like a simple addition to plain rice, either way.

It occurs to me that when i have Long John Silver's fried fish (not often but YUM!), i add their vinegar (malt, i think it is) to the "chips" & love them.

deborah

Deborah, we used a TON of FF miles to fly business class to Italy a few years ago. It will be a long time til we accumulate that many miles again, I'm afraid. I do not think I could do it any other way. Spending $5000 or more for a flight would totally boggle my mind!

JoAnn/QuAppelle wrote: "Deborah, we used a TON of FF miles to fly business class to Italy a few years ago. It will be a long time til we accumulate that many miles again, I'm afraid. I do not think I could do it any other way."

Ah, my ignorance is bliss. I had no idea they took so many miles to "purchase". We have many from when DH worked and some from visiting kinfolk. That plus our credit card is for mileage, too, although how long that'll last is unclear, given the way companies are changing the way they do business.

deborah

Debbie -

Thanks for letting us know about your trip! It sounds wonderful!

PS One summer, I had a job that offered an employee cafeteria for the staff. Everyone dipped their french fries in ranch dressing. Totally bad for you but everything tastes better with ranch :)

Inquiring Minds inquired: "Do you boil rice with garlic? Or, like fried rice, do you cook it, then saute it with garlic & sprinkle on the juice. It sounds like a simple addition to plain rice, either way."

Deborah, I probably got the idea from sauteed fried rice, but being me, took a simpler route.

I cook the rice in chicken broth instead of water, chop up a clove of garlic and cook it with the rice. I also sometimes cook in shallots and/or peas or other vegetables. Just before eating I squeeze the juice of about a quarter of a lemon over the top of each serving.

Jan O'Cat

Debbie in GA: Welcome back! I was brushing my teeth this morning and thinking "I wonder where Miss GA Debbie is!?" How wonderful that you had such a fine time in Europe!

I'm a ketchup girl when it comes to French Fries, but DH, who is originally from Fall River, Mass, uses malt vinegar.

Donna in Southern Maryland

Deborah, four years ago, our business class tickets to Italy cost us 75,000 miles each!!!! Who knows how much it would be now?

Now only that, but so few business class tickets are released to be bought with FF miles that one needs to snatch them up the day they are released. In our case that was ten months in advance.

Two years ago when we went to Venice and then on to a cruise in the Greek Isles, I called Delta TWO DAYS before and asked if there was any way to upgrade to business class. Wonder of wonders, we were able to upgrade on the way over, which was the most important part to me. I called one of the couples going with us, and they were able to do it, too. I wish I could remember how many miles it took, but whatever it was, it was worth it. And coming back we lucked out on a great plane that had decent leg room and individual TV screens, so it wasn't so bad.

I have a sky miles card and use it for just about everything, so I have a lot of miles. I am using 25,000 of them for my NY trip next Oct. I say use them while you can...who knows what will happen tomorrow.

Deborah, thanks for the link to try the dutch mayonaise. My DH will be thrilled if it is even close. I do know it had a mustard like taste to it. My son's GF showed me a bottled dutch mayonaise, I just can't remember the name.

I would love to fly business class one day for a long trip. We did fly Air Tran business class once, but you just got the comfy chairs no food. I always see the stewardess handing out warm towels. I can just imagine the food they get!

Debbie/GA wrote: " I always see the stewardess handing out warm towels."

Debbie, DH loves that...i think it's his favorite part of the flight. The first time he literally smiled and rubbed his hands together. LOL! If i'd known that, i'd've nuked them for him at home. ;-)

That same DH is asleep right now, but in the morning i hope i'll remember to ask him how many FF miles it took for our business tickets to Greece last fall. We made the reservations a few months in advance but they were available at least a few days prior because we had a time trying to adjust to everyone's schedule. Just lucky on timing, i guess.

deborah

madrano wrote: "That same DH is asleep right now, but in the morning i hope i'll remember to ask him how many FF miles it took for our business tickets to Greece last fall."

It took 100,000 each for our Business class seats to Greece last fall. Worth every penny.

deborah :-)

Deborah.. I LOVE, love your idea about taking the cruise back. I would love to plan a trip like that. My goal (along with too many others) is to try and take bf to GERMANY next July. And take a cruise down the Rhine. Getting him on a plane again will be a major CHALLENGE though.
Oh.. I can give you an idea for crisp fries. BF justk started cooking them this way and everyone likes them. I always bake them in the oven. We use the burner (stove eye) on the grill. We buy the Restaurant style shoestring frozen fries; and he just throws them in vegetable oil. They come out really good and crisp.
I also love cutting up new potato's and making homemade hashbrowns in the morning with breakfast. I throw them in the skillet after cooking the bacon. (ok, this is why I have to walk the treadmill more) lol
Leslie... on my way back from Germany they didn't sit me with my travel friend and it was wonderful.. I didn't have anyone sitting with me. I had a TV in back of the seat in front of me. Was able to lie down; get up when I wanted... on the way home I drank one diet coke after the other and watched TV all the way home. lol lol

Traveler wrote: "Oh.. I can give you an idea for crisp fries. BF justk started cooking them this way and everyone likes them. I always bake them in the oven. We use the burner (stove eye) on the grill. We buy the Restaurant style shoestring frozen fries; and he just throws them in vegetable oil. They come out really good and crisp."

I stopped trying to fry food years ago, as i just couldn't get it right. Since it isn't really good for us, i decided to let it go. Baking was enough fat in our lives. ;-) However, back when i did French fries i soaked the slices in cold water for an hour, then fired them. After finishing the entire batch i fried them again. Crisp & yummy. Did i mention fattening, too? Yup.

As you wrote, Traveler, now we know why the treadmill is needed here! lol

deborah

RE: French fries. I'll have to ask DH his recipe for the 3 or 4 times a year he makes them from scratch. They're like Boardwalk Fries. I do know the secret is to fry them twice at 2 different temperatures. I'll ask him and let you know. They are to DIE for if you're going to indulge!

Donna in Southern Maryland

Funny that we're talking FF. I was just watching the FOOD NETWORK..b/c I'm also watching THE NEXT FOOD NETWORK STAR.. which I have, have, have to post about..
BUT... the show after it was about the Chefs favorite foods and BOBBY FLAYS is FF. And he loves to go to Balthsar in NYC for them. OK, that may be spelt wrong. Alias.. .is that correct.. do you know of the place. LESLIE... you should go there. lol lol

One wonders what they do to make FFs stand out so much for Flay!

deborah

Travler:
the show after it was about the Chefs favorite foods and BOBBY FLAYS is FF. And he loves to go to Balthsar in NYC for them. OK, that may be spelt wrong. Alias.. .is that correct..
=========================

Sorry, I don't know the place.

It's Balthazar and I love it. We go every year we can. It is in Soho.

Leslie, are the FFs memorable or have you tried them?

deborah

The FF are some of the best anywhere. So is the burger. I also remember a lemon tart I had there once, but it is not always on the menu. The bread is to die for. It is French Bistro food and they also have great fresh oysters. Can you tell I like it all?

But if you don't like noisy don't go there. It is a loud place but it always puts me in a good mood.

Oysters and some great bread -- YUM!!

We're all excited here because friends who rent a house every summer in Breckenridge CO invited us to come for a few days in August. Have some of you been there? Anything we shouldn't miss?

Sherry (sethurner) wrote: "We're all excited here because friends who rent a house every summer in Breckenridge CO invited us to come for a few days in August. Have some of you been there? Anything we shouldn't miss?"

Sherry, I've never been there so I have nothing to add except that the thought of Colorado in August is good. How nice to be there during the dog days of summer!

Jan O'Cat

My husband LOVES oysters and his last time in NYC ate twice at the Grand Central Oyster place where he discovered what he said were the best oysters he ever had....Totten from Washington State. He looked them up when he got home and found out that they had won the East Coast Shellfish Growers' Assocoiation's contest for best-tasting oyster!

That is such a great place in Grand Central. As much as I love raw oysters the best thing there is totally the Oyster stew.

Oh I love oyster stew. You guys are making me hungry.

We got back from Montana last Monday. We had a ball. I could easily live there, in the SUMMER. Beautiful scenery and weather, and the people sooo friendly.

Our suite at the Murray Hotel was called the "Peckinpaw" suite after the famous director. We also found out Robert Redford stayed there when he did The Horse Whisperer and either A River Runs through it or Legends of the Fall. I get them all confused.

Anyway, we spent a day at the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Park on the Crow Reservation, and then went to Pompey's Pillar where William Clark carved his name in the rock in 1806. Had to climb 100 steps to see it, and then we did the next 100 to get to the top. Needless to say, I was practically crippled for the next few days.

We drove through Yellowstone 3 separate days, and spent one night in Jackson, WY. We got to see a black bear and her 2 cubs and a big ole grizzly. Three buffalo decided they liked the road, so we had a major traffic jam, but it was fun when they walked right by our open windows not a yard from us. Yellowstone is truly an amazing place.

One morning we had a nice scenic river raft float down a placid part of the Yellowstone River, where we saw deer, bald eagles and blue herons along with many other birds. My DH and the other guy with us were thrilled when our guide had on a Univ of Ala baseball cap. We knew then he would get a good tip.


After that we drove to McLeod, MT, because my DH had a burning desire to see it since it is spelled like our last name. So after at least 20 miles on a gravel road that I thought would never end, we came upon McLeod, population about 5. Three buildings there, a one room schoolhouse, and a gorgeous ranch just visible beyond the river. We found out later it is Michael Keaton's.

And just around the bend from McLeod we came to a screeching halt when we saw the Roadkill Bar and Grill. No way we could pass that up, and since it was way past lunchtime, we went in for a bison burger. Pammee, the semi-toothless owner, was a hoot and I think this was probably the highlight of the trip for my husband.

Forgive me if I am being repetitive, because I thought I posted about this but now I can't find it. One night at the sidewalk cafe next to the hotel, a table full of young girls asked us where we were from (Ya mean we sound different???)and it turns out the girl doing the asking has family in Mobile. She was Maggie Mcguane, daughter of Thomas Mcguane the author (who lives in McLeod) and Margot Kidder (Lois Lane), but said she was raised by her stepmother, who is Jimmy Buffett's sister. Don't think I didn't go back to the hotel and google the whole bunch! She was very sweet and even offered to take us rafting on the river and told us how to get in touch with her. We thought that was a little over the top even for us, so instead we went to the rental place someone suggested.

Before I left Livingston, I went to their cute little indy bookstore and bought one of Tom McGuane's books, "Nothing but Blue Skies". Almost died laughing on the way home on the plane. Rauchy but hysterically funny. Can't wait to read more of his stuff.

After we got home Mon night, we left the next day for 2 days at the beach (Destin, FL). Had to see all 3 grandchildren together! Then we came home a day early Thurs so DH could have a heart procedure done Friday morning that they had bumped up from Monday. He had a defibrillator (a CRT-D) placed under his skin right under his collarbone, so if his heart starts beating funny, this little device will shock the hell out of him and regulate the heartbeat. They say it feels like getting kicked by a mule.

The bad thing is that I think he is going to have to give up golf. WHAT WILL I DO WITH HIM. His cataract surgery has been put off for about 6 weeks, and poor thing really can't see very well. Thank heavens I got a Kindle for my birthday. Unfortunately I have not been able to use it all that much, but at least he can see the print on it and read a book.

Gosh I wrote a book. Wore myself out, so now to bed.

Leslie, that vacation story is one for the books. Sounds like you and your DH saw and experienced many good things. Good thoughts going out to him (and you_ on his upcoming medical procedures.

Leslie,

Thanks for the 'book' you wrote about your vacation and all your adventures! I would love to see Montana one day. How wonderful that you were able to see so much wildlife, especially the Bison. How do you end up knowing and meeting so many famous --or almost famous -- people!?!?

Glad you got to see the Grandbabies; I bet they are growing like weeds! Bless your DH and his new Difibrillator! my Daddy had one. They are a wonder of modern science and will help him out. As for the no more golf thing, you will figure it out. Life is a journey full of 're-adjustments!'

Sending hugs and smiles,
Donna in Southern Maryland

Leslie, I loved reading about your Montana vacation. Only you could go that far and still have some close encounters with (relatives of) famous people!

I've forgotten how or why you chose to visit Montana. It seems off your usual beaten path, but it sounds wonderful. I can't imagine being that close to bison!

Jan O'Cat

Jan, we went to Montana because 2 years ago we went to a fundraiser for the School of Arts and Sciences at the U of Ala. One of the auction items was a condo in Livingston, MT, and since we had never been, we thought it would be fun to go. The couple that went in on it with us couldn't go, so we found another couple to buy them out, which worked out great.

Another little interesting tidbit...the guy who owns the condo, Chuck Morgan, also owns some restaurants- one in Destin, one in Tuscaloosa, and a new one here in B'ham. So when we were in Destin, DH and I went to his restaurant and sat at the bar to eat. (and get take-out for the girls). So in walks Chuck, who we had never met before, and we had a wonderful time telling him about our week there.
His father, Charles Morgan, who died last year, was a fairly famous civil rights lawyer. He was more or less run out of Alabama back then-- no surprise. I met him a few years ago in the bookstore where I worked and he was a really cute man. Sounds weird to call him cute but he was! Among other famous cases, he represented Muhammad Ali in his quest to avoid the draft. Also head of the ACLU for a few years.