Tozier Restaurant Bethel VT

First, let me say on a Saturday night, plan to arrive early or you will have a long wait for a seat. My brother Fran knew this and when we arrived at about 4:30 only a few tables were occupied. When we left, there was a waiting line out the door. 

I have to say, I was leery of a seafood restaurant in Vermont. I didn't expect it to be anything special but Fran and Dora love it so I was interested to give it a try. I have to say, I love this restaurant and even though it is a half-hour drive from Rutland, I am sure we will be back. 

I had heard that they had a very good raspberry pie so I wanted to make sure that I had room for a piece. I had a green salad with a maple vinaigrette with lobster salad on the top. Al had the beef tips which were a special of the day. Dora had fried oysters and Fran had fish and chips. The tartar sauce here is tasty with a touch of dill. 

Fran began his meal with an appetizer of mussels and it was a giant serving of very tasty mussels. I tasted one and it was tender and delicious. 

Al gave me his side which was house-made coleslaw and very good slaw it was. I loved my salad, the lobster had celery and just a little mayonnaise, the taste of the lobster came through loud and clear. The dressing was good but to me not quite enough maple taste was evident. 

The tips were a real winner, cooked perfectly and very tender. Al did not leave even a morsel on his plate. It came with potatoes and carrots and the texture of the carrots was perfect.

We all had dessert, I did have the raspberry pie and Al and Dora had something really chocolate and peanut butter and Fran had the maple bread pudding which I tasted and it was excellent. The raspberry pie was even better than I expected. It was served warm with a scoop of ice cream. 

Our entire dinner was excellent and the service was very friendly. I love this place and if we lived nearby I could see us going here every week. 

Misfits Market

If you enjoy fruits and vegetables and want to have organic ones that are affordable, Misfits Market offers a home delivery option. Okay, I am sure you are wondering why the name Misfits Market. These are not perfect fruits and vegetables, they may be misshapen or not quite visually appealing. But the taste and nutrition are perfect. 

You first decided what size box you would like to receive and then how often you would like to receive it. You choose the day you would like to receive delivery and put in a form of payment. The price just went up by $3 which is not shocking considering everything. You will still save approx 40% off of store prices. 

I have received some things that I have never bought before which can be a bit disconcerting but if like me you don't think you will use something you got, gift it to a friend and let them enjoy it. 

I have gotten mangos, limes, plums, apples, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, onions, leeks, red kale, eggplants, beets, butternut squash, peppers, beans and peas,  and a whole lot more. It is fun to get your box not knowing what delights are awaiting you. I enjoy opening the box which is kept fresh with ice packs. 

You get a notice telling you when your Misfits Market box ships and then when it is out for delivery. If you want fresh organic food at an affordable price and you enjoy trying new things, this is something you will enjoy. 

Mulligans of Manchester Restaurant and Pub Manchester VT

After a morning of shopping at the outlet malls or a visit to Hildene what could be better than a great meal of comfort food and a glass of wine of a brew? Mulligans offers all this and more with great service and a warm atmosphere. The portions are generous and perfect for sharing. 

Al and I decided to share a baked four onion soup. It was a very good bowl of soup, plenty of melted cheese and very good broth with lots of onions.

I decided to have the quiche of the day which was served with salad. It was bacon and it was delicious. Kasey and Rosemary had a lobster roll which they raved about so I am happy to say that this inland restaurant can satisfy the urge for lobster.   

Al had the Vermont ale steak and mushroom pie and he did not leave a morsel on his plate which I think speaks for itself.

The boys decided to share a dessert of molten lava cake and ice cream. They literally were fighting over it and Kasey was involved too. 

We had a wonderful time at Mulligans and I would happily eat here again.  

Potato Leek Soup

I love soup when the weather turns cold and potato leek is just the perfect comfort soup for a cool day. As luck would have it, I got two leeks and some large potatoes in my Misfits Market box and had to do something with them. I did make a stop at the grocery store to get some cream and Kasey loaned me some thyme. 

What you need for my version is:

• 2 large leeks
• 1 really large potato and 1medium potato ( to weight about 1 pound)
• 1 teaspoon of garlic (or to taste) I used jarred but if fresh 1 1/2 cloves
• 3 cups chicken broth
• 3/4 cup whipping cream
• 1 teaspoon dry thyme

Prep your veggies, slice the white and green parts of the leek, it should be about 2 cups. Put some butter in a saute pan and slowly soften the leeks and the garlic. Add them to a slow cooker, peel and cut the potato into small chunks and add them to the slow cooker as well. Put in the chicken broth, cover and cook on high for 4 or 5 hours. 

Poke the potatoes with a fork, if they are soft, turn off and let cool. If you have an immersion blender this is the time to use it. I couldn't find mine so I used my Ninja Storm. I blended the mixture until it was smooth. I added the cream and blended it in along with the thyme. some salt and pepper. 

It is ready to eat at this point or it may need to be warmed up a bit. I added about half a cup of milk at this point since I thought the mixture was too thick. 

Al and I both loved this soup and the recipe made enough for two generous servings with a little bit leftover. It can easily be doubled or tripled. 

Restaurant review: Hart's Turkey Farm Restaurant Meredith NH

What can I say about Hart's Turkey Farm Restaurant, well yum yum comes to mind? I have heard about this iconic restaurant for years but this was my first visit and I can assure you it won't be my last!! I can imagine myself visiting Meredith again just to eat here, it is that good. It was so good that we ate there both nights of our visit including waiting 35 minutes on Saturday night for a seat. 

Hart's has multiple dining rooms, they are used to dealing with lots of hungry diners. The ever-popular turnkey dinner comes in three sizes to satisfy every sized appetite including the really hungry. The small plate has 3 1/2 ounces of turkey, regular has 5 1/2 and jumbo has a full pound. 

Hart has been in business for over 60 years. In the early days, they raised their own turkeys but currently, they outsource the raining to some very select farms. You can taste the difference in the turkey here, it is the best I have ever had. 

The turkey plate includes stuffing, cranberry sauce and gravy as well as turkey. You get to choose two sides. These can include mashed potatoes and butternut squash which makes an iconic turkey dinner but you can go off the grid as I did and have pickled beets. 

But beyond the turkey dinner, you can choose from loads of appetizers, soups and salads and other meals. But, turkey is king here and you can have it in ways you may never have considered like:

Turkey croquettes
Turkey tips
Turkey piccata
Turkey pot pie
Turkey marsala
Turkey tempura 
Turkey parmesan

And these are just a few of the many ways you can enjoy your turkey.

But beyond the great food, the service is first class. The staff is friendly and helpful and go out of their way to make sure you are enjoying your meal. 

After you place your order, you receive bread and butter and carrot relish and crackers. This is followed by cheese spread and crackers. You need to be careful that you don't fill up before your meal arrives. 

We never did have enough room to order dessert. They do have a full bar and offered some seasonal favorites like a pumpkin martini. 

We all fell in love with this place and we would come back here to eat in a heartbeat. 

They have a great gift shop and they also have food to go so you can take home containers of their delicious gravy and the rest of their food. Hart's Turkey Farm Restaurant is a must-visit if you are going to be in New Hampshire. 

My Take on a Chicken Pot Pie

When you are looking for comfort food, nothing is quite as warm and comforting as a pot pie. Chicken pot pie is an iconic favorite. For this recipe, I used a bunch of things I had in the house. 

Half of a store-bought rotisserie chicken
Corn chowder soup mix ( I got mine at the Vermont Country Store but The Hoot in Windham also sells them Halladay is the brand)

3 celery ribs
half bag frozen peas
half bag frozen pearl onions
6 baby fresh carrots
Pie crust
salt and pepper to taste 
half and half

Make the corn chowder according to package directions. Cut up the chicken into bite-size pieces. Dice up celery and carrots into chunky pieces. Add the chicken and veggies to a 10-inch square stone pan. I know most chicken pot pies are not square but think outside the box!!

Pour the soup over the chicken and veggies.  Add a little half and half to the mixture. Cover with the crust and bake in a 350-degree oven for an hour. 

This turned out to be one of the best chicken pot pies I have ever made. It was the epitome of comfort, rich and delicious. I can't wait to make it again. It would work well with turkey too so keep it in mind for after Thanksgiving. 

#comfortfood

#chickenpotpie

Mushroom Stroganoff Pasta

Have you ever started to cook something and then changed gears midway? This is what happened to me. It was a cold rainy day that called for comfort food. I decided to make creamed mushrooms served over toast. I was also going to make some mac and cheese. This turned into mushroom stroganoff, an easy and delicious dish. 

I washed the mushrooms and cut them up, added butter flavored olive oil to the frying pan and began to saute them. In the meantime, I put some water on to boil for the pasta. I added some Worcestershire sauce to the mushrooms and a dab of butter. 

When the mushrooms were browned I placed them in a bowl and began to build my sauce. I started with a roux, 2 tablespoons of butter and flour and then the milk. At about this point I decided to add about half a cup of cheddar cheese, some steak seasoning, two beef bouillon cubes and more Worcestershire sauce to the sauce. This is to taste, you add what tastes right to you. 

When the pasta was done, I decided I wanted to add it to the sauce and forget the toast. I added two tablespoons of sour cream to give it a stroganoff taste. I also added salt and pepper. I used a half-pound of pasta, choose your favorite shape. 

I want to say, this was one delicious pasta dish and the perfect comfort food for a cold rainy day. Mushroom stroganoff pasta ticks all the right boxes. This was one of those times when I didn't think to take a picture.

Shopping list:
Mushrooms
Cheddar cheese
Worcestershire sauce
pasta
sour cream 
milk
flour
beef boullion
steak season

#mushroomstroganoff
#comfortfood

Wolfies Family Restaurant Deerfield, MA.

The atmosphere was as warm as the welcome at Wolfies in Deerfield Massachusetts. It was a cold rainy May Friday when we pulled in at 2 pm. In all the many trips we have made up I-91 we have never stopped here and looked around I have to ask why?

We were immediately seated in a booth to the right and our very friendly waitress dropped off the menus. I asked her what they were known for and was told it was the burgers, generous salads and seafood delivered fresh from Boston twice a week.

I ordered a chicken cranberry salad with their honey balsamic dressing and Al ordered the Wolfie's burger. A 6 ozs beef patty on a sesame bun with cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomatoes. Both of them were better than average. The French fries were pedestrian but the burger was perfectly cooked and juicy. The salad was nothing short of excellent. The chicken was tasty and the dressing was also a big hit with me. 

Our waitress was excellent and she made the whole meal fun. We had the blueberry pie for dessert and it was way above average. It had been warmed and served with vanilla ice cream and whipped cream. It was a delightful treat. The crust was tender and flaky and the filling was not too sweet. 

I had coffee to drink and my cup was kept full. 

The next time we are passing through this way, we will be stopping here again, they have a whole list of delicious sounding salads that I am anxious to try. 

Darryls Dog Gone Good Diner Ocala, Fl

Darrell's is a small local chain in the Ocala, Florida area. They are open for breakfast and lunch and while we can't comment on every location, the one closest to our Ocala home has become a real favorite with us. 

We stop here often for breakfast or lunch. It is a good place to go after church on Sunday, yes it is crowded but they have packed their rather small location with tables and there is also counter seating. 

I love their chef salad, when we go there for lunch, that is what I get. It is loaded with ham, turkey and cheese and it is more than enough to send me home full and happy. I do get breakfast once in a while and they always give me my fried eggs just the way I like them and they make nice crispy home fries. 

Al has ordered the chicken fried steak with his eggs and loves it. But he loves the home fries too. 

Their menu has plenty of choices and we are never at a loss about what to choose. 

Service is always friendly, just what you would expect in a southern diner.  They really care about their customers as we found out when Al had a little health emergency there. They jumped in to help and when we came back a few days later there were hugs all around. 

We love Darrell's Dog Gone Good Diner and we are pretty sure that you will too. Come visit us and we will take you there!!







11175 Southwest 93rd Court Road #106, Ocala, FL 34481

Houlihan's Restaurant Savannah, GA

Houlihan's is a chain restaurant and usually, I don't write about chains but this is a yearly stop for us so I thought I would include it in my blog. The location of this restaurant is key. It is in the parking lot where the Fairfield Inn and the SpringHill Suites are located off of I-95 at exit 94 in Savannah, GA.

We used to have a local Houlihan's so I was familiar with them before we made this year trek to Florida. I almost always order the same thing, they have a Chicken Asian Chop Chop Salad that I love. Great dressing and very tasty chicken. But this time they had a dinner special with a filet, baked potato, green beans and I got gazpacho with it. Al had the same thing but of course, his steak was a lot less well done than mine. 

It was a delicious meal and we had good service. I can say with confidence that we will be stopping here again the next time we pass through, it is too good to pass up. 

Ebenezer's Tavern Publick House Histroric Inn Sturbridge MA

Ebenezer's Tavern is everything you would expect from a historic inn. Lots of wood and atmosphere. While all that is charming, that is not what keeps us coming back. It is the food.  I love Thanksgiving and having turkey dinner is something I really enjoy. They have a wonderful turkey dinner and an open-faced turkey sandwich. I am in turkey heaven when I am there. 

When you stay at the Publick House you get a 10% discount on your lunch or dinner there. Since we were staying there we got a discount. In addition to the discount for $10 you can add two of the following:

• Soup
• Salad
• Dessert

We decided to go for it, I added the raspberry salad to my meal and Al added a wedge. My goodness, these were some very good salads. The raspberry dressing was phenomenal, and they give you more than you could possibly use. 

This is served with a bread basket that includes their amazing pecan rolls, love them. It also has cornbread, rolls and pumpkin bread. 

I had the turkey dinner, all-white meat (you can choose all white, all dark or a combo) cornbread stuffing, mashed potatoes and butternut squash. With the gravy and cranberry sauce, it was the ultimate dinner. Al had the sirloin steak and they cut it for me into wonderfully bite-sized pieces. It was cooked to perfection. 

We both had leftovers, and luckily our room had a fridge. 

For dessert, we got a chocolate lava cake with vanilla ice cream and got the peanut butter decadence to go. The lava cake was the low point of the evening, no molten lava so back it went. The second one was slightly better but still not as molten as it should be. The peanut butter decadence which we ate later the next day was awesome. 

I ended with a cup of coffee and a very satisfied smile on my face. 

Apple Rhubarb Pan Dowdy

I love apples and I love rhubarb, they are a natural combination. This is the time of year when rhubarb is fresh in the store so a great time to actually use it in some home-baked goods. I have a freezer filled with frozen rhubarb from last year so this is what I used. 

I peeled 8 medium Macintosh apples and sliced them. Don't worry too much about how thin, all of mine aren't identical. The rhubarb I had cut into the correct size pieces before I froze them. I threw them in a bowl and added nutmeg, cinnamon and sugar to taste. I used about a half cup of sugar, a 2 teaspoons of nutmeg and a teaspoon of cinnamon. But taste the apples and make sure they are seasoned to your personal taste, I never measure anything. 

I used Pillsbury refrigerator dough. I rolled it out, brushed it with half and half, sprinkled it with sugar and cut it into about 20 pieces. 

I used a 10-inch square pan. Put the apple mixture in and cover with the pieces of dough. 

Bake in a 350 oven for about an hour. 

Restaurant review: Weathervane Seafood Restaurant, Kittery Maine

What could be a better combination than outlet shopping and delicious seafood? Kittery Maine offers this in abundance and one of our favorite restaurants is Weathervane. It has a rustic nautical decor and is often very very busy. The food is abundant and very good.

We arrived on Black Friday at about 2 p.m., we thought that perhaps at this time which was late for lunch and early for dinner, we would not find it too busy. We were wrong, it was very busy. The told us we would have at least a 20-minute wait for a seat. Since we wanted to eat here, we were more than willing to be patient. In reality, it was only about 10 minutes.

We were escorted to a booth and our drink order was taken. The menu is extensive and deciding what to eat is not easy. I decided to start with clam chowder and we ordered onion rings to share among the four of us. Kasey and I decided to share the Lazy Man Lobster, which is the meat of two lobsters served with drawn butter, choice of potato and a fresh side. Al ordered the fish and chips and Alex got the fried seafood combo.

I have to say that everything was absolutely delicious, the coating on the onion rings is light and you don't feel weighed down with the fact that they are fried. The chowdah is as thick and luscious as you could want but it is the lobster that was the star of the meal. It was the sweetest most tender lobster I have ever eaten and well worth the 2.5-hour drive even if we didn't go shopping.

Lunch at Nags Head Pub Covent Garden

How we ended up at the Nags Head Pub is a story in and of itself. We had spent the morning at the Family History Center and frankly I was getting a bit peckish. Looking back we should have just walked back up to the tube stop because there certainly were some restaurants there but we hopped on a bus and headed down toward Piccadilly. I spied a Rainforest Cafe and decided that this was where we were would eat (I know, what was I thinking).

We were seated and given a menu by the host and that was the last service we got. 15 minutes later we got up and walked out and nobody even noticed. We headed up to Piccadilly Circus and got on the tube for Covent Garden where there are a variety of good choices for dining.

The first pub we saw was the Nags Head and that’s how they won the coin toss. The pub was quite crowded and it wasn’t easy to find a table. We finally found a small one with two high stools. Not wanting to be too brave and daring I went over to the bar and ordered two orders of scampi and chips. Al always says just order something for me that I will eat. It being a pub and all, we also ordered two lagers. There was a menu but I didn’t take the time to check out the specials board until after I had ordered.

In case you aren’t familiar with the terms of English dining, scampi is breaded fried shrimp. This is a safe choice, every pub I have ever been to serves it and it usually is quite good. As it was here as well, a generous portion with French fries and green peas. We also got a little paper cup of tartar sauce. The green peas were really the high point, firm and tasty, Al liked them better than the chips can you believe it?

Pluses: the meal was on our table within ten minutes. The cost was a little over seven pounds each. Not a bargain but not outrageous either.

Atmosphere: very typical pub, large bar, wooden tables, atmospheric in a very British way. I love the British, I was sitting writing down some of the menu items when a young man asked if he could pinch the menu. Luckily for him, I knew what that meant.



 I have no complaints, the Nags Head Covent Garden was exactly what I expected. It is owned by McMullen and therefore serves their beers. I being me, tried to order a Stella Artois and I am sad to say it isn’t served here. I have found in my experience with English pubs, it is less expensive to just order a beer than soda.

Baking pork chops in the oven

Pork, The Other White Meat, was an advertising slogan developed for the National Pork Board and it successfully made pork a household word. For many years people were somewhat afraid of pork. 

The fear of trichinosis, caused homemakers to cook their pork so long that it was usually served dry and tough, not a very appealing combination. While trichinosis still exists, the US government has set standards for the way that hog feed is prepared and the risk has been greatly reduced. It is known that if you are still wary of the parasite, all you really need to do is cook your port to a temperature of 140 degrees. The parasite cannot survive beyond a temperature of 137 degrees.

You can choose lots of great ways to bake pork chops. You can opt for the long slow method which produces a fall apart chop that is fork-tender and loaded with flavor. It is given a milk and egg bath and dredged in flavored bread crumbs before being placed in a 9 by 13 roasting pan and covered with aluminum foil. 

It is cooked for hours in a low heat oven and the results will blow you away. It is luscious as most pork chops are not and just so that you can relax and just enjoy this wonderful pork, use a meat thermometer to be sure you have exceeded 130 degrees. If you steer clear of pork because you think it is dry, give this method a try, you will be a convert. 

Another way to bake pork chops is in water. Get out your roasting pan and cube up a couple pounds of any white potatoes and two or three yellow onions, place these in the pan with six nice center-cut bone-in pork chops. Don't go for the thin chops, get a nice thick cut. Cover everything with about 2 inches of water and 2 tablespoons of Gravymaster. Place the pan in a 350-degree oven and cook for about an hour and a half uncovered. You will know that it is done when the water is gone and the potatoes and onions are starting to get crispy.  

These pork chops have a very deep flavor and the potatoes and the onions are just the best. You can add other vegetables if you want such as carrots or other root vegetables. This is a hearty meal and makes a great fall or winter dish. It can be done on the counter in an electric frypan as well.

  

Baking pork chops is a good way to pull all the flavor out of them. Breaded or not, they are the perfect meal without having to do a whole lot of extra work, they cook themselves with very little attention from you.

Farfalle with garlic chicken and spinach

Necessity is the mother of invention and we will be leaving soon to head back north. I had some fresh spinach and a chicken breast and I didn't want to waste them I decided to boil some farfalle and make an olive oil sauce with garlic and spinach to pour over it. I cooked the chicken in the air fryer.




This pasta dish served 2.


Chicken breast:

Salt and pepper and garlic powder on both sides. Preheat the air fryer for 3 minutes. Place the chicken on the tray and cook for three minutes. Pause the machine, turn over the chicken and cook for another 3 minutes. Slice and set aside.




Boil about half a pound of pasta.




In a frying pan pour in olive oil, I mixed chili garlic oil with just regular olive oil, sorry I never measure but put enough so that the spinach won't stick, add prewashed spinach, and cover. When the spinach has wilted add a tablespoon of jarred garlic, the juice of half a lemon and salt and pepper. Place on warm. Add some of the pasta water and more olive oil to make enough to constitute a sauce.




Pour over pasta, add sliced chicken, add another squeeze of fresh lemon, and if you like grated cheese. Eat and enjoy.

Brooklyn's Backyard Ocala, Florida

You probably wouldn't even notice Brookly's Backyard unless you specifically know that they are located in a strip mall in the NE quadrant of Ocala. We had a coupon for $5 off of $30 that we wanted to use so we went looking for them. I had a pretty good idea where they were since I looked for them last year when I was looking for somewhere to have breakfast. They don't serve breakfast just lunch and dinner so we went to Richard's Place but vowed to return for lunch.

Inside is quite rustic, obviously, this is not Brooklyn New York!! Don't get me wrong, this is not a bad thing. Casual is the norm here and you will feel the relaxed but very friendly vib as soon as you walk in the door.

As I looked at the menu I spotted the edamame and had to have it. I ordered that app with our drinks. Then we took our time looking over the extensive menu. It includes everything from burgers and sandwiches to mac and cheese with burnt ends which sounded wonderful.

Al decided to try the sirloin steak with rosemary parmesan fries. Let me say right off these are homemade fries and very very good. The steak was smothered with mushrooms and onions and topped with swiss cheese. It was a generous serving and gave Al enough for lunch and dinner.

The special of the day was 10 wings and fries for $10 which is what I chose. Very good wings with Brooklyn sauce, there are lots of other choices but this one was sweet and spicy so it sounded like me and I was correct.

I loved the fact that our drinks were served in a Mason jar and the half and half iced tea was excellent.

I was very pleased with our first visit to Brooklyn 's Backyard and our waitress told us that if we enjoyed steak, Tuesday is steak night where a New York Strip is offered for $12.99. Sounded good to us. I am quite sure we will be back!!

Please forgive the photos I had to use Al's flip phone. 

My Love Affair with the 4 Qt Ninja Airfryer

I got myself an air fryer before Christmas but since I was down here in Florida shortly thereafter I decided I wanted to be able to cook with it here. I decided to get it from QVC since I like the fact that they stand behind the things that I have bought from them. It is a Ninja 4 Qt air fryer.




I have a Cooks Essentials 5.3 Qt model at home so this one is a little smaller. but I have discovered that it is plenty big enough for the two of us. I have also discovered that the book that was included with the airfryer is not always the most accurate when it comes to time and temperature. I ended up with a trial and error approach.

I keep a notebook near the air fryer and I write notes about what I cooked and how long I cooked it. This way when I want to cook something again, I know what I did the first time.

One of the features that I really like about this model is the ability to pause the fryer while you open it to check on the doneness of the food being cooked. The downside is that there are no presets so you can't just push the button for wings say and have it cook a set time. It also has a tray for dehydrating things.


I am amazed every day at the scope of things that I can cook in the air fryer. It is by far my favorite new toy and hardly a day goes by when I don't use it. Be prepared to make room on your countertop for this air fryer, you will never want to put it away.