The Best Homefries in NJ

My first experience at Gronsky's Milk House was when I was a child.  One of the most satisfying advantages of my parents' spontaneity was when they found a little gem of an eatery tucked away from the hustle and bustle of suburbia.   This was the result after rounding the four of us kids up into the Volkswagon Dasher and going for a drive in the country on the weekend; this was western Somerset County or any part of Hunterdon County in those days.  The hankering for ice cream would beleaguer Dad and soon after everyone in the family would be holding a satisfying frozen dairy treat.  Many of those places now exist only in our memories.

It was a particularly warm summer evening when we were out on our family drive.  I’m not sure if Dad knew about this place or just happened upon it.  Like most of the other places, Gronsky’s Milk House was small and had a friendly staff but there was an exceptional feature – the South Branch of the Raritan River ran behind the building just beyond the parking lot.  To a kid, it doesn’t get better than eating ice cream in the warm summer air while throwing rocks into a river.

As it turned out, my own family now lives close to where Gronsky’s is located.  Ironically, Alan and Nate have the same intense hankering for ice cream as Dad has.  Fortunately for them, they have almost walking distance access to the outstanding varietal flavors of creaminess.  I wonder if this had any weight in buying a house in the area.  After a short while living here, we realized Gronsky’s not only had the ice cream parlor but a little restaurant on the side with a few tables and a breakfast bar.   Before Nate was born, Alan and I ate there only a handful of times.  Little did I know that I was missing out on the zenith of breakfast dining.

Recently, Alan and Nate had been going to Gronsky’s for father and son breakfast outings.   My interest in their frequent goings began to outweigh the desire for my rare peaceful moments alone.  I have a test for restaurants I eat at:  for lunch or dinner if the bread is average, then I know not to expect too much from the entrée; for breakfast the coffee and the home fries are telling.  I went to see if eating at Gronsky’s was worth sacrificing quiet solitude.

When the three of us were settled at our table, I quickly perused the menu for any special dishes but found the usual diner type breakfast foods.  I already knew what I was ordering: two eggs over easy with bacon and home fries.  Coffee came with the meal.  Let’s face it, when ordering a meal like this, one doesn’t count calories or think about how much fat one might be consuming.  Although the coffee was strong for my liking, there was no nasty after taste.  The meal could be good or bad.   I sat anxiously wondering if the home fries were going to be disappointingly dry and without seasoning like so many restaurants make them.

 My plate showed up after a second refill of coffee and just by looking at it I knew I struck the jackpot.  The eggs were perfect with the yolks not overcooked; the toast had a generous swath of butter on each piece which was harmonious in flavor and texture for sopping up the yolk. Then the pièce de la résistance – home fries cooked to absolute perfection.  I’m not sure how they do it but the potatoes are moist, tender and seasoned just right.  My pleasure seeking taste buds told my healthy conscience brain with a bright flashing neon sign that what I was eating was perfect and unbelievably delicious.  I could only imagine while I chewed each heavenly bite of potato and pepper that Adam and Eve while in the Garden of Eden eating that forbidden fruit briefly felt the same way I was feeling.

An Elegant Valentine's Day Dinner At Home

I'm sure most couples who have young kids in their lives can relate to the major downshift in the romance department since their early days of wedded bliss.  As a busy mom, I find it difficult to plan a romantic dinner out with my very deserving husband, especially on Valentine's Day.  Instead of accepting this roadblock with defeat, I use my homegrown culinary skills to tantalize Alan's tastebuds to show my love for him.

If you and your significant other love seafood, here is an elegant, luxurious and surprisingly quick n' easy recipe to cook on a weekday for an at home Valentine's Day dinner or anytime!

Seared Seasoned Scallops with Bacon and Avocado

Ingredients List:
12-14 frozen large scallops, fresh is fine too
2 ripe avocados
6 strips bacon
6 tbsp flour
1 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp paprika
1/4 tsp black pepper
2 tbsp butter
2 tbsp olive oil
juice from half of a lemon
pinch of cayenne pepper, optional

Serves 2 people.

Begin by cooking the bacon in the microwave, following package instructions.  Half and remove the pit of the avocados.  Remove the flesh from the peel and mash with fork in a bowl.  Mix with salt, lemon juice and cayenne pepper if desired.  You will want the consistency of guacamole.  Set aside.

Thaw the scallops per package instructions.  Make sure to remove the tendon on the side.  After rinsing, be sure to pat the scallops dry.  Sprinkle with 1/2 tsp of the salt, the paprika and the pepper. Roll the seasoned scallops in a bowl of the flour.  Be sure to shake the excess of well.  Heat a pan over medium to medium-high heat then add the butter and the olive oil.  Let it warm up for a few seconds.  Then add the scallops.  Let them brown for 5 minutes- do not stir or move them.  If the pan is beginning to smoke, lower the heat a bit.  After 5 minutes, turn the scallops and cook the other side. 

Meanwhile, prepare to plate your creation by mounding the avocado mixture in the center.  Next, arrange the bacon over the avocado in a wide "X" with a third piece through the center.  When the scallops are finished cooking, place them in a circle around the avocado and bacon with one scallop in the middle. (see above picture)

Serve with a nice white wine and you both will be on your way to remembering those earlier romantic times.  Enjoy!

Desperately Seeking Groundhogs

One of my favorite natural events during the year is seeing the first groundhog emerge from its underground den.  Usually in mid-winter just after New Year’s, Alan and I will make bets when we will see the first groundhog.  I know, I know, groundhogs are rodents – mere pests.    Who can really say that their little round-shaped ears, small button noses and obscenely bucked teeth are not cute?  To my eyes they look like living teddy bears with a killer overbite.

I’m not sure when it first started but it was a few years into dating when Alan and I became hog chasers.  If we were driving around and would happen to see one in a meadow or empty lot, we would drive in and park as close as possible without disturbing it.  Then I would convince Alan to do the leg work; have him quietly walk up to them and get close as he could before they ran away.  Even today we know where groundhogs can be consistently found and look for them as we drive by.

The first time I remember doing this was on a church’s property.  The large cathedral loomed in the background, dwarfing the lower meadow area where the groundhog was feeding on grass and weeds.  I slowly drove up the driveway and Alan got out.  He got within thirty feet before the occupied animal looked up and realized it wasn’t alone.  At first, it froze in a pointer-type position.  I’m not sure if it was immobilized with fear or of curiosity about this strange “animal” walking towards it.  It stayed that way for five seconds and decided it wasn’t curious anymore.  It bolted, looking a lot like an undulating shaggy brown carpet, towards the high wild hedge where its burrow probably was.

The laugh we (mostly me) got from the groundhogs' reactions to our meddlesome intrusions become like an addictive high.  Unfortunately, we abused our visiting rights too much and after the fourth and fifth time, the groundhogs would immediately run when it heard the car driving up the long driveway.  It was time to look for another location to visit.

The best confrontation was at a small office building situated on a lot that was quite steep behind it.  We were driving home and saw a very large one on the slope.  I pulled into the parking lot expecting the groundhog to take off after hearing the car’s engine but it remained chewing happily away on clover.  When Alan got out of the car, I told him not to shut the door in case it scared the groundhog away.  It was so close to the wall of brush and climbing vines, although it would have to run uphill to get to it.  Alan started to climb the hill, and yet, the groundhog remained in its own world of culinary bliss of clover.   

Alan approached it laterally; however the animal had its back to him and couldn't see him.  Fifteen feet and closing.  I could barely contain the laughter building up inside me that tears began to run down my cheeks.  Ten feet and closing!  The groundhog’s head bobbed up and down chomping and ripping the clover from its roots.  Then Alan froze.  The disbelief that he could be closer than ten feet from a wild animal that was unrestrained was unusual and unexpected. 

Alan uttered a gentle “hello” which broke the spell of clover smorgasbord for the groundhog.  It turned its head quickly, with green stems jutting out of his mouth in all directions, to see a five foot ten human smiling down at him.   We could almost see the groundhog take assessment of his situation; calculating the distance between itself and the safety of the brush while considering its own speed going up the steep slope to get there.  It made a move directly for the brush but the slope was too challenging and its movements were as if in slow motion.   Alan made a slight move to block it from getting away.  The groundhog stopped, recalculated and attempted a new path – only a few inches from the first one.  At this point, Alan felt bad for the poor animal and let him pass.

When Alan got back to the car, I needed a few minutes to recover from the abdominal pain I was experiencing from laughing so hard.  It may not sound funny to you but to have seen it in person is a different story.  In fact, this moment we shared with that groundhog without getting it recorded goes in my book as a gigantic regret.  I am very thankful, though, that something as simple as a mere rodent could give us that much happiness and laughter.

A Living Room Picnic

This winter has been especially frigid.  I don’t know if it is because I’m getting older but I feel the cold more keenly than ever.  Alan turns into a human popsicle once winter sets in.   Our kitchen also experiences changes during the winter season.  As if over-wrought with envy, it tries to mimic the outdoors by treating us with it’s version of winter temperatures.  In the ten years that we’ve lived in this house, every winter we complain how cold the kitchen is and retreat to the warmth of the living room under the glow of the tv.

After Nate was born, our routine was switched up a bit once he was old enough to sit in a high chair.   I’m not sure if it was the excitement of watching our baby begin to eat solid foods or the extra fifteen pounds gained during pregnancy that insulated me, but I didn’t feel the cold as much.  Somewhere in my vague memory, Alan was standing by wearing several layers of shirts and sweaters while shivering and admiring the purple color of his nail beds.

In the past three years of eating dinners in the kitchen, Alan and I had brief discussions as to how to make the room warmer.  The first attempt was to seal the large crack between the back door and the door jam with foam insulation.  At first this helped a little but the arctic chill remained.  Then I noticed the blast of cold air coming through the bathroom vent in the ceiling.  Alan disconnected the power to the vent and stuffed it with insulation since the shower in that bathroom is used only by visiting guests who stay over.  Unfortunately, that didn’t help much either.

Befuddled by this mystery, we sat in cold that should not have been in our house that we spent good money to keep warm.  I tried to take the positive from this frustrating situation.  My thought was with all the calories I was burning from shivering, I could eat calorie laded food like cookies, cake and even ice cream.  One evening after a week of high temperatures in the 20’s, Alan and I agreed that it was just too cold to eat dinner in the kitchen.  I turned to Nate and asked, “How ‘bout a picnic in the living room?”  The joy on my little boy’s face could not have been greater if I gave him the keys to a toy store and said it was all his.  With pizza on our plates and our attention turned to the movie that Nate picked out, Toy Story 2, we ate in comfort and full contentment. 

Then one day as I was doing chores and putting dishes away, I felt a sharpness of cold at my hand.  I put my hand near a small space between the wall and the cabinets.  I discovered the secret entrance where the cold was sneaking its way in.  I had some of the foam strip insulation left over from the door and used that to block the air from coming in.  It was almost like magic and the kitchen began to warm up.  When Alan got home from work, I exuded pride as I led him to the kitchen and showed him my handiwork.  I couldn’t have been more proud when he said he noticed a difference in the temperature.

Although it is warmer in the kitchen, it is relative to the previous conditions.  The fact that we have to completely remodel the kitchen is a moot point.  It is still cold in there when the outside temperature is below 30 degrees.  When that happens, there is no argument all around when I announce, “Picnic in the living room!”

A Few Of My Favorite Things

Just like Julie Andrews sang in the movie "The Sound of Music", when I'm feeling sad I think of my favorite things.  Let me preface that the things I'm listing here are material which means they only bring me temporary happiness.  True happiness comes from within but I'm digressing.  I'll tantalize you with my beliefs on that later. When the doldrums of winter begin to overwhelm my psyche, I simply reach for these little things and then I don't feel so bad.  So here is my list of favorite things, in no particular order:

 

Blistex Lip Medex has been a staple for years in healing my Angelina Jolie-esque lips.  The dry winter air takes all the moisture out of my lips.  They feel more like Brillo pads - not good for when I want to snuggle and get kisses from Alan.  As soon as I apply the balm, my lips change from dish scrubbers to soothing lovers.  Ooo la la!  http://www.blistex.com/products/lip-medex

Speaking of moisturizing my two favorite moisturizers are Avon Skin So Soft & Sensual Replenishing Hand Cream and Gold Bond Restoring CoQ-10 Lotion.  One reason why I dislike moisturizing my skin is the greasy feeling I get from most lotions and creams.  Avon's hand cream will remedy those parched hands without the greasiness.  Around Christmas time, they come in convenient 1.5 fl oz tubes and are super cheap.  If you don't have an Avon representative, click HERE.
If my whole body feels dry, I don't realize it right away but my grouchiness for no apparent reason is usually the signal.  Also, Alan looks at me as if I were Mr. Hyde.  Gold Bond Restoring CoQ-10 lotion provides immediate relief; it's like putting on a skin of moisturizer.  This stuff is the real deal and won't fade even after a full twenty four hours!  It stays on me until I shower it off the following morning.  I also like that it has a nice clean scent.  http://instoresnow.walmart.com/enhancedrendercontent_ektid30830.aspx

At the end of a long day, I would love nothing more than to indulge in an hour long spa treatment.  Unfortunately, that is not my reality but I may have found something on a much smaller, more affordable scale.  Physicians Formula Organic wear Eye Makeup Remover Pads are terrific at removing stubborn mascara without drying out my skin.  They come pre-soaked in a resealable packet which makes them easy to use and convenient.  The most amazing feature about these little guys is the amazing lavendar scent aromatherapy.  Sometimes during the day I open the packet just to take a whiff for a little pick-me-up.  Hey, it's legal!  http://www.physiciansformula.com/en-us/productdetail/organic-wear-product/07222.html

I drink hot tea almost every hour of the day during winter.  As well as keeping my hand warm wrapped around the steaming mug, it's good hydration and I also get exercise by walking to the bathroom several times a day.  I know, TMI.  In any case, I like to drink green or white tea as it's beneficial to my health.  Stash's Fusion Green & White Tea is the best I have tasted so far.  Unlike some green teas that leave a sharp flavor on my tongue, Stash's tea is smooth and mild. http://www.amazon.com/Stash-Fusion-Green-White-Teabags/dp/B002L797Q8

That concludes my little list.  As Alan knows and appreciates, I am a low maintenance kind of a girl.  Sure I can list my favorite things that are non-beauty products and there are several.  I shared these with you so that you can try them and see if they become some of your favorites.  Perhaps I should end by saying I am very thankful for what I have in life.  I am not materially wealthy but the portion given to me serves me well.

Websites given are for product information only.  Websites given may not be the least expensive place to purchase the products I mentioned.

Resolution, More Like Revolution

Happy New Year and welcome, 2011!  Even though Christmas and New Year's can make one's schedule quite full and hectic, I am grateful they are celebrated in winter.  I am not one who likes cold weather (aka anything below 70 degrees F) and the lack of greenery outside is a huge downer.  Christmas, although overly commercial, is my favorite holiday.  What's not to like?  We celebrate the birth of a baby, the music is awesome and the decorations are by far the best of any other holiday.  All the yummy, tummy stretching vittles may even supersede the decorations.  The jury is still out on that one for me.  I also like the classic Christmas shows like Rudolf the Red Nosed Reindeer and A Charlie Brown Christmas.  Last but not least, I have cause to spend time with loved ones.

But all that is over now and I don't think I'm alone in feeling a sharp drop from riding the wave of that high.  For me, January is not only about taking time and thinking about what I will accomplish in the future eleven months but considering what I've learned from the past twelve months as well. 

The most important thing I learned last year was that having love for others is the highest, most honorable characteristic we humans can possess.  I'm not talking about physical attraction.  The kind I mean is like the love a parent has for their child.  When I studied the book of John in the Bible, I learned even parental love pales in comparison to the love that Jesus has for us.  Although I have heard this many times throughout my life, I did not fully understand or experience it until now because I carried pride for myself in the form of doing whatever I wanted to do.  Then a revolution began stirring within; my pride versus God's plan for me.  

Once my heart was opened after humbling and deeply convicting experiences, I delved into the only book I know to be consistently true and is the only life manual that will truly help – the Bible.  The truths in it have made me a changed person from the inside out; more than any flimsy New Year's resolution could do.  Once the truth is known, it is difficult to unknow it.

When the dignitaries in Jesus’ day asked him what the greatest commandment was, Jesus replied, “’Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’  This is the first and greatest commandment.  The second is like it: ‘Love your neighbor as yourself.'  All the law and prophets hang on these two commandments.” (Matthew 22:34-40)  I was very surprised to learn that love surpasses everything!  

I don't think I'm a perfect person or that I'm better than anyone else.  I wonder, though, if those who know me well see the change that has taken place.  Do they notice that it takes a little longer for me to get angry, that I refrain from participating in gossip and that I do not want to judge others?  Admittedly, I slip and catch myself doing these things but as I said, I'm not perfect.

That is my heart revolution that has turned into a resolution going forward in my life.  I can never be a perfect loving person at all times but I can always look to Christ as a perfect example by reading His word.  That is a resolution I can keep.  Quite frankly, it’s much more difficult for me to make excuses for not reading as opposed to finding time to workout.

Winter Pinecone Birdfeeder Craft

As a stay-at-home mom, keeping my four and half year old son, Nate, entertained is a challenge.  Unless I allow him to play computer games or Wii, he looks to me to be his playmate every minute of the day.  I have to admit I was a bit anxious when I thought of what we could do over Christmas break while he was home from school until we received a package with gifts from my sister-in-law.  Since she lives in the mountains of Arizona, she went green and used pinecones instead of bubblewrap for filler.  When I saw the pinecones, I immediately had an idea how to repurpose them.

Last year, Nate's preschool teachers had the kids make pinecone birdfeeders.  With minimal cost, this craft project kept him occupied for over an hour.  I liked that Nate had fun while doing it, nothing electronic was involved and I believe it helped build some self confidence in him.

Here's what you'll need:  6 medium sized pinecones, 2 cups of crisco, small bag of birdseed mix, 2 small bowls (1 each for crisco & seed), 6 pieces of yarn/string about a foot long, spatula and newspaper.   

Lay a few layers of newspaper over a flat workspace.  Take each piece of yarn/string and tie to the tips of the pinecones.

Using a spatula, scoop the crisco and spread onto the pinecone.  Gently push the crisco in between the leaves of the pinecone.  If using your fingers, be careful as the pinecones can be sharp. 

Here's what the pinecone will look like when done with the crisco.

Roll the pinecone in the birdseed.  Use hands to press the seed well into the crisco.

Here's the finished product!

Hang the birdfeeders outside, preferably within a view from inside so you can enjoy the birds who come to visit!