Morning Fav

Food/Entertainment: Teresa's Next Door

This Beer Garden is located in the heart of Wayne and is one of my favorite "go to" places. It's connected to an Italian BYOB (Teresa's Cafe) and neither take reservations, but that is the fun part... while you wait you just try the infinite supply of beer they have. 

We had some out of town guests in that know their stuff when it comes to beer so I thought it would be a fun place to take them. I think they really enjoyed trying and talking about the beer's they were choosing... I was definitely jealous.. but as soon as their new beer came I stole it for a quick smell and lick off the top haha gross! My other favorite thing there are their mussels!!! I like to get them Provincial.. which is garlic in a white wine sauce... which the husband thought it was going against the grain on the whole "drinking while preggo" but I assured him gave 'em a good shake before inserting them in my mouth, haha!

It's AMAZING during the winter, snuggling up in a booth and their menu is a little heavier so it fits the fall/winter style, BUT the summer months, especially August, are really nice because everyone is down at the shore so you're waiting time is cut in 1/2 at least!

Morning Fav

Food: TASSIMO Suprema Hot Beverage Machine by Bosch

When I say "HOLY COW" I mean "HOLY COW"!!!!!!! This product is AWESOME!!!! I have never been into the idea of the "one cup" coffee makers, BUT I do like "fru fru" coffee (i.e. Starbucks Skinny Vanilla and Chai Tea Lattes). Last week I ran out of some coffee and went over to my neighbors for an afternoon cup and to my surprise had the best home made "fru fru" coffee ever... when I pulled my cup out it was frothy (in a good way)!!! Thinking nothing of it, besides the fact that I loved it and it could be a great alternative to spending $4 daily at Starbucks haha, I went back on my merry way.

Well... come last Friday morning, up at 5am to finish a project for the boss-man and my coffee pot breaks... AGAIN... now I am sure I'm not the most gentile person in the entire world, but come on... chipped in the same exact spot.. AND I still needed my coffee, so in the snow, I ventured out to get a Venti, triple, SVL and my tummy was in shambles all day.. NOT GOOD!!!!

Well these two incidences had to be a "sign" that it was meant to be for me and Mr. Tassimo.. right? So, Saturday I ventured out to BBB (the one in Wynnewood!!) and put on my "this is not acceptable face" returned my old coffee machine and got the new Tassimo one cup PLUS 20% off the full price.. I mean HELLO.... deal or no deal?!?! Umm.. SOLD!!!!!!!! I spent yesterday setting it up and had my first homemade cup this morning and am headed down for my second.. YUMMYYY!!!!!

I bough the Carmel Machiatto for Kyle and the FF Vanilla Cappucino for me to try!!!!!

(remember, click on "Morning Fav" link to see the product"

Morning Fav

Restaurant: La Collina

Last night I took Mr. George out for his birthday dinner to one of our favorite restaurants, La Collina. My parents have been going there for years and every once in a while I've been lucky enough to get an invitation to join them. When I was younger it was "the place where Ms. Justine sang jazz in the bar". As I got older it became "the place where the nice older man came to talk to you, the people knew my parents name (and they new theirs), and I could get a small pasta sample for an appetizer... cool can I come?". And now hopefully it will become a place of tradition.

It's a small to medium size restaurant on the top of a hill right near Manayunk (you can see it from 76). The cuisine of choice is Italian, which I am not usually a huge fan (as pasta, cream, and veal don't really sit too well in my stomach), BUT the way they run the restaurant you can pretty much have what you want within reason and there's no judgment. Like our meal last night. We had the lobster ravioli as an app, ordered the wedge salad (that wasn't even on the menu), and then Kyle got the veal special and I got the Langostinos app as my meal. Everything we shared they doubled and don't overcharge.We didn't even have to look at the wine menu, told them want we wanted, within reason, and they brought the perfect match! We ended the night with strawberries and whip, Kyle had a yummy glass of port, and a wonderful conversation with the owner!

They're very attentive (NOT in an overbearing way) and make sure you're happy and do a damn good job of making you feel special.. and after all that's what matters most, right? The owner and maître d', the waiters, and even the bus man know who we are.. always "Mike Miles' daughter", which is A-O-K with me! But that's why we like it. The food is definitely great, but it's more of the extraordinary service.

Hilarious Commercial Hits Close to Home

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KeDjuKYzX8w

So, I know a shorter version of this commercial has been out for a little while now, but I seriously cannot stop myself from cracking up every time I see it!

#1- Because I can TOTALLY see myself doing this someday. I am probably one of the least subtle people when it comes to getting other's attention to NOT say or do something and it ends up just being so awkward!

#2- I love our men, but sometimes they just have absolutely NO clue and I can see half of the dad's I know doing this before a little coaching! In fact, right now as the Aunt/Uncle or fun neighbor I would probably do what this Dad did and then the kid would never eat it again and I wouldn't be allowed over during dinner anymore!

#3- I really do admire how people can come up with some really creative commercials! It is truly hit or miss with the public! Hmm, how to make a commercial funny or interesting without people getting "over it" too quickly?!? I mean commercials are why we watch the SuperBowl, right??

Morning Fav

Food: Oriental Coleslaw Salad


I had to throw this recipe out there before the end of summer. Not that it can't be made for a fall BBQ or Saturday afternoon treat! It was given to me by a good friend when I needed a last minute salad my husband had offered to bring to a work BBQ! I think I have made it at least once a week throughout the summer! It's quick, easy, and "dummy" proof... I.E. I misplaced the ingredients/ directions a few times and winged it and it still turned out great!

Ingredients:

• 2 - 1 pound bags of coleslaw or broccoli slaw
  
• 1 bunch of green onions (optional)
• 1/3 cup apple cider vinegar
• ½ cup sugar
  
• ½ cup oil
• 2 packages Ramen noodles (chicken flavor), broken up
• 2 packages of Ramen noodle seasoning
• 4 oz. package of almond slivers
• 4 oz. package of sunflower seeds (shelled)

Directions:

* I like to combine everything (minus the almond slivers and sunflower seeds) and really let everything soak up the flavor

* The cool thing is that you can do this 30 minutes before eating or even over night (I tend to think the longer the better)

* Don't forget to add the almonds and sunflower seeds right before serving (but if you don't, not the biggest deal in the world.. in fact I usually forget to, oops!)

This recipe is also "fire proof" in the sense that if you don't want to make this large of a portion, you can just use one bag of coleslaw and cut all the ingredients in 1/2 to taste!