Jersey Mike's, so close, yet so far

If my post doesn't make you run to this sub job, you're crazy! I must warn you, it isn't all that easy to find. Jersey Mike's has won my heart over as the best chain sub in the world. If you haven't had it, you're going to! 

I first stumbled upon Jersey Mike's while visiting Chicago (see previous post here). My husband and I arrived to our hotel much earlier than expected, and due to the one hour time difference, our bodies were on lunch time when it was really just past breakfast. Since we had already eaten our first meal we were looking for a quick snack that would hold us over until our official lunch. Down the road from the hotel I spotted Jersey Mike's and noted how weird it was to see "Jersey" in Chicago. We decided to check it out. We ended up visiting there three times on our six day trip. Crazy I know, but it's a damn good sandwich. Since then I have been on the hunt to find my beloved sub. To my knowledge there are only three that are in NY; there is a shop in Mt Kisko, and two buried in Manhattan. If you're a Jersey native then you're in luck, there are 47 locations, but that means I'd have to cross state border just to get this meaty delight. Is it worth it? I think so! 

When you arrive at Jersey Mike's you will see the sub selections are numbered and listed on a big overhead menu. There is every sub you can think of, hot and cold. Jersey Mike's claim to fame is that their subs are made just as they were originally made out on the Jersey Shore. They take pride in their fresh cold cuts and their mountain of toppings, traditionally known as "Mike's Way." This includes onions, lettuce, tomatoes, vinegar, oil and spices. To note, all the meat and produce are hand sliced, in store, to ensure ultimate freshness.

In our typical style we normally opt for what they call a #13, The Original Italian. This meaty sub is filled with provolone, ham, prosciuttini, cappacuolo, salami and pepperoni. Of course we get our sub "Mike's Way" and this is where the flavor explodes!

I dare you to not watch this video. Here you will see just how the sub perfection is built. When it comes to the oil and vinegar, my heart beats a little faster. 

Along with "Mike's Way" we get a little mayo for extra juiciness and an order of pickles on the side. Jersey Mike's will do just about any combination you want so don't be afraid to add or omit an item. Make sure to grab some extra napkins because it's going to get messy but you won't want to leave a bite behind. 

Good Eats in Lake George, NY

Food is one of my favorite obsessions and Lake George, NY is my all time favorite vacation spot. When you combine these two you have a happy girl! Ever since I was a little kid, my family and I have always visited Lake George several times a year. Our trip wouldn't be the same if we didn't visit the places I've listed below. In this post, I'd like to share with you some of my favorite food finds to eat in the beautiful Adirondacks. 

• Breakfast is a pretty hard meal to mess up, so it can easily be found at many places in Lake George, but if you want the biggest and best tasting meals you have to visit The Lone Bull. This Western themed breakfast/steak house has been an all time regular for my family since I was a kid. Whenever I visit I feel a little bit older because of their menus; they are placemats stamped with the years they have been in service. I can recall when the numbers were much smaller, showing how long I've been visiting. At The Lone Bull you order your breakfast by the number on the menu, cream and syrup are served in bull shaped containers, and they never let you go home hungry. Almost every breakfast item is under $11 which is the perfect price for breakfast. I promise you will leave with a smile and a full belly!

• If you're looking for a steak house then you are in luck. Just a few miles down from the center of town is an outstanding restaurant called The Log Jam. The name really sums it up but for a picture perfect description the Log Jam site says:
  

"Whether you’re visiting the Lake George – Saratoga region, or you live here year round, The Log Jam Restaurant takes pride both in the beauty of the Adirondacks and in providing you with superb food and accommodating hospitality in an authentic log cabin. If it weren’t for the aromas of sizzling steaks, you just might think you walked into an Adirondack logging camp of 100 years ago. A pot-belly stove warmly greets you at the front door, wood plank floors stretch beneath your feet, pine logs cut from the mountains above Lake George surround you, and three massive stone fireplaces provide the perfect romantic setting".

Of course you don't have to get a steak here, but you'd be sorry if you didn't. There are many other entrees that include fish, chicken, and pork. Each meal includes their outstanding salad and bread bar; you could make a meal out of that alone!  Whenever we decided to go to The Log Jam we starve ourselves all day, making room for all the delightful foods to come at dinner.

• If Italian is more to your liking then Mario's is the place to be!
  
  Located just a few blocks up from the main strip, Mario's is your traditional family owned Italian restaurant. Both the outside and inside of this restaurant screams Italy. They have been family owned and operated for over 60 years and the flavors of their dishes are authentic family recipes. You are greeted at the table with fresh hot bread, garlic and oil dipping sauce is optional but a must! Most meals come with house salad or soup. My husband almost always get the Pasta Fagioli. The meals come out good and hot with lots of Parmesan cheese on the side. Usually, there is so much pasta that we always have leftovers (even though we try to stuff it all in us.) The prices are reasonable, the staff is friendly, and the food is great. What more can you ask for?
  

• I always want dessert when I'm on vacation and dessert can come any time of the day when you're on vacation, right? If you've got a sweet tooth like me then you will surly love visiting A&W's ice cream shack. This little ice cream building is located on the right just as you pull into the Village of Lake George.
  
  
  You can't miss the smiling orange bear welcoming you in. This is the perfect stop for a cold treat. Soft serve and hard scooped ice cream is served here in all the flavors you can think of. They also make milk shakes, sundaes and root beer floats. Along with the cold treats you can find some traditional road stop snacks like fries, burgers and dogs. A&W is fun for the whole family, it makes everyone feel like a kid at heart! 

I truly hope you and your family get to visit Lake George and eat at some of these great finds my family and I have eaten at for many years. I know you will love everything each place has to offer! 

Making veggies fun

Do you know someone who doesn't like to eat veggies? 

Maybe it's your husband who is strictly a meat and seafood guy, or a child who can't stand the taste of anything healthy, or a traditional eater that gets bored with the basics. Well if you have any of these people in your life then this is the post for you. I'd like to share with you some classic vegetables that are commonly found in most food stores, yet underused for lack of ingenuity. I'm going to explain how you can transform these everyday veggies into some fabulous food finds that any picky eater will enjoy!

Peppers

Most people use peppers to flavor a dish but did you know that peppers are a great vessel for fillings. Basically you eat what is in the pepper and then the pepper is covered in goodness so you end up eating that too. They look like little bowls with tops; how fun is it to eat your serving dish?

Squash

The name alone turns people down, squash, like get rid of? That's probably why people don't explore the many different vegetables in the squash family. One of my favorite squash members is the spaghetti squash. It is so easy to make and it will wow your diners. Simply slice the squash in half and roast, boil, or even microwave it. When the squash is fully cooked (cooking times vary by method) you can take a fork and run it down lengthwise of the squash. You will see perfect long strands of squash flake off. You can do this for the entire squash and you will end up with a super healthy, low calorie, mimic of spaghetti. It tastes great and the texture is super fun to eat.

Spinach

I love spinach, it adds so much dimension to a dish without a lot of work. Spinach is full of iron, fiber and vitamins A, B, C and E. Spinach can easily be consumed by throwing it into a quiche or dip. By doing so it gets disguised by the flavors of the snack yet you are getting all those healthy greens into you. Hey, if Popeye can eat it so can we!

Potatoes

I know this seems weird but I know many people who don't enjoy eating potatoes because they are boring. When I grew up my mom always cooked potatoes with dinner because they were quick and easy and went with just about everything. With that said, they ended up being a bland boring side dish that was used to fill up our bellies but didn't really satisfy our taste buds. When I began exploring new vegetables I was crazed to see there were different colored potatoes. Did you know there are red and blue potatoes? Yes blue! These potatoes cook just like regular potatoes but are so much more fun to use. They also have a more exotic and earthy flavor than regular white potatoes. You can find these colored potatoes in the chip form as well.

Brussels sprouts

I have to admit, I didn't start liking these until late in the game. Much like many of us, I fell into the stereotype that Brussels sprouts are gross, smelly, nasty tasting little heads of cabbage. All along I was eating them wrong. When properly prepared, Brussels sprouts are a scrumptious side dish. My favorite way to eat Brussels sprouts is by roasting them in the oven. I layer the sprouts on a baking sheets, peeling off some of the outer layers to crisp on their own. I drizzle on some olive oil and a touch of balsamic vinegar and then sprinkle with salt and pepper. When they cook in the oven they become slightly tender but still hold their round shape. The balsamic caramelizes the sprouts and there is a sweet and salty flavor. The best part is the crispy layers. I swear they are just as good as potato chips! If you're feeling spontaneous you can throw in some chopped bacon for an even saltier, meaty bite!

So what do you think?

Would you make these veggies in a new way to get your picky eaters to give them a try? I know these variations have really helped my family consume a lot more veggies than before because these are really fun, healthy, and easy options!

Plantains, not your average banana

The first time I tried plantains was on my honeymoon in San Juan, Puerto Rico. We ate so much of them we probably turned yellow!

Plantains look and feel like a banana, but must be cooked before eaten. They are a very starchy and dense fruit that can be used in both savory and sweet dishes. Plantains are prepared in many different ways. Most popular forms include fried plantains, plantain chips, and mashed plantains for a dish called Mofungo. Plantains, much like bananas, go through different ripening stages, which affects their texture and taste. Plantains can be used in their initial green stage where they are firm and mild tasting or they can be used when they are dark yellow or black where they are very soft and sweet. 

When my husband and I arrived back to New York, I was determined to replicate some of the fantastic food finds we had in Puerto Rico. I searched the internet for all different recipes and information pertaining to Spanish cooking. I was overwhelmed with the amount of foods that can be made with this one ingredient and how versatile a plantain really is. I just knew I had to try to make plantains now considering I had so many options.

It took a while for me to get it right, but I finally nailed it down. I now love to make and consume plantains on a regular basis. My favorite way to prepare them is fried sweet plantains, also known as Platanos. This is an easy dish to make and whenever we have it, it always takes us back to those sweet days on the beautiful island. 

This makes enough for a four-person side dish:

3 ripe plantains peeled and cut diagonally into 1 inch slices (the blacker the better)Vegetable oil for fryingSea salt for finishing

Fill a medium size saucepan (or a fryer if you have one) about half way with oil. Set your pan to medium-high heat and wait for it to get hot. Take a slotted spoon and place a few slices of the plantains onto the spoon and then slowly lay them into the hot oil. They will cook very fast so keep and eye on them. When you see the plantains begin to brown flip them over, the opposite side will cook even faster. As soon as they get some brown color take them out and lay them on a plate covered with paper towel to soak up the excess grease. Immediately sprinkle with sea salt so it sticks to the hot plantains. Enjoy!

Yes, that's it, just three ingredients. That is why plantains are so fabulous; they are great with little preparation. My husband and I love to eat these with arroz con pollo (rice and chicken), but you can eat them with whatever you'd like. They're even great as a snack!

Welcome to my herb garden

Fresh herbs are probably the best seasonings you can cook with. They make any dish pop with their vibrant colors and bold flavors. They also flavor a dish without adding any extra calories. I am fortunate to have an herb garden on the side of my house. I don't have much of a green thumb but I find growing herbs is not as difficult as other foods and plants. Usually I plant my potted herbs into the ground, make sure they are watered, and mother nature does the rest. Below I've shared some of my favorite herbs to grow and to work with.

Mint: These textured tough leaves work great in sweet and savory meals. Mint is a very easy herb to grow and it multiplies in size naturally. Once you plant mint it will begin to spread and spread, so long as it's roots have the room. Mint is fabulous crushed into teas and flavored water. Crushing the leaves releases all their great aromas. On the savory side, chopped mint is used in a lot of Mediterranean dishes and sauces. It provides a cool refreshing flavor.

Basil: These soft round leaves go great in anything Italian. In a previous post I shredded it for my tomato sauce. Basil taste delicious raw too, most famously used as the main ingredient in traditional Pesto. I love to take fresh basil leaves and place them between layers of tomato and mozzarella to make a Caprese salad. I recently tried basil and lemon water and loved that too.

Rosemary: These sprigs are delicious when added to roasted red potatoes and lamb. I love to place a sprig of rosemary into a glass jar of oil and let it sit for several days, it will really infuse into the oil resulting in a delicious dipping sauce for bread.

Parsley: This flat or curly leafy green goes great with just about everything. I love to chop fresh parsley and sprinkle it on top of finished dishes like chicken Marsala or Francaise. Parsley goes great on top of roasted chicken and potatoes too. It can be used as a beautiful garnish on dinner plates and it even cleanses your palate after you finish your meal.

If you don't have the luxury of growing these herbs at home you can always find them in the produce aisle at the food store. If you buy them potted they will last 7-10 days as long as you water them. If that's not your style, you can still find fresh herbs but this time in little plastic containers, usually just enough for one meal. You will really notice a difference in your meals when you go fresh!