It's been awhile since I've written. I apologize. However, there's much to write about! Topics I'll be covering within the next couple of posts:
My take on King of Prussia (first time experience!!!)
Bonsai plants
Gabriella's Italian Restaurant
Ideeli.com
Lots to cover!!! Here we go...
Friday, August 20, 2010
Saturday, May 1, 2010
Harrisburg Senators
A couple of weeks ago, I experienced the new Metro Park for the Harrisburg Senators.
My first impression? I like it.
I thought it was pretty cool. It seemed oddly large for how small City Island actually is, but once I walked around I thought that the stadium was actually kind of small. There wasn't an outrageous amount of stadium seating, however, the boardwalk that goes around the stadium has enough tables and benches and stools for people to sit at, and it allows a lot of people to stand and/or sit wherever. I thought it was pretty cool that you didn't need an actual seating ticket to get in. You could get a general admission ticket that allows you to just walk around instead of being seated in the stadium, which allows someone like myself (not a true baseball fan, but really likes the atmosphere), to enjoy the experience without being forced to watch the game.
The food also did not disappoint. I got a pork BBQ sandwich in a stand next to the Spot's stand. It was delicious. Next time I'm sure I'll be trying the Spot since I never got a chance to try it when it was actual restaurant (shocking, I know).
The only thing that I will say about it is this. I was kind of disappointed that there was only one, maybe two stands that sold the Thursday $2 Coors. You really had to scout them out to find them. Otherwise, you had to buy the $4 Bud's at the regular stands. This kind of stunk because you had to stand in a lengthy line and walk halfway around the stadium in order to get it.
Other than that, I definitely give the new stadium a thumbs up and will be going back again.
My first impression? I like it.
I thought it was pretty cool. It seemed oddly large for how small City Island actually is, but once I walked around I thought that the stadium was actually kind of small. There wasn't an outrageous amount of stadium seating, however, the boardwalk that goes around the stadium has enough tables and benches and stools for people to sit at, and it allows a lot of people to stand and/or sit wherever. I thought it was pretty cool that you didn't need an actual seating ticket to get in. You could get a general admission ticket that allows you to just walk around instead of being seated in the stadium, which allows someone like myself (not a true baseball fan, but really likes the atmosphere), to enjoy the experience without being forced to watch the game.
The food also did not disappoint. I got a pork BBQ sandwich in a stand next to the Spot's stand. It was delicious. Next time I'm sure I'll be trying the Spot since I never got a chance to try it when it was actual restaurant (shocking, I know).
The only thing that I will say about it is this. I was kind of disappointed that there was only one, maybe two stands that sold the Thursday $2 Coors. You really had to scout them out to find them. Otherwise, you had to buy the $4 Bud's at the regular stands. This kind of stunk because you had to stand in a lengthy line and walk halfway around the stadium in order to get it.
Other than that, I definitely give the new stadium a thumbs up and will be going back again.
Travel Time: Media
Media, PA that is. First impression? What a swanky place. Seriously. It's pretty awesome.
Located in Southeastern PA, the small town of Media is clean, modern, and healthy. The courthouse is clearly the focal point and the life of the place. Located in the center of Media, it even has a popular hot dog cart in the front, which serves hot dogs, hot sausages, fruit bowls, small veggie trays, soft pretzels, etc. It is clearly a very popular lunch location seeing as how convenient it is for courthouse workers. When I was there, it had a constant stream of customers. I tried it as well (hot dog with hot mustard and a Snapple iced tea), and was not disappointed. It wasn't the best hot dog I've ever had, however, I thought it was pretty cool that you could order it and they put all the fixings on it that you ask for and then you can go to a nearby bench and sit down and enjoy. Loved it.
The main street in Media is also pretty cool. It is small-stretches about 8 blocks or so, however, it has a grand array of locally owned shops and restaurants. It had shops from Ten Thousand Villages to the Hallmark store to a locally owned art store that sold art supplies and paintings as well as several locally owned clothing stores. The restaurants were also so cool. There was this salad and tea cafe called Lotus, which I thought was awesome. They had a lot of other salad bars too. There were also A LOT of Thai, Indian, and Chinese food that didn't seem to be your typical trashy Thai, Indian, and Chinese places. One of them touted their special noodle soup and offered vegetarian dishes, while another place served a combo Thai/French cuisine (I think the restaurant was called La Na). My impression is that the people in this town are health conscious. All of the restaurants seemed pretty classy as well.
What was interesting was how much the courthouse was the center of the town. Lawyers were everywhere, and there was also signs outside of restaurants that read, "10% off for jurors".
All in all, I thought Media was a pretty awesome place. Small town feel with a modern flare. Loved it.
Located in Southeastern PA, the small town of Media is clean, modern, and healthy. The courthouse is clearly the focal point and the life of the place. Located in the center of Media, it even has a popular hot dog cart in the front, which serves hot dogs, hot sausages, fruit bowls, small veggie trays, soft pretzels, etc. It is clearly a very popular lunch location seeing as how convenient it is for courthouse workers. When I was there, it had a constant stream of customers. I tried it as well (hot dog with hot mustard and a Snapple iced tea), and was not disappointed. It wasn't the best hot dog I've ever had, however, I thought it was pretty cool that you could order it and they put all the fixings on it that you ask for and then you can go to a nearby bench and sit down and enjoy. Loved it.
The main street in Media is also pretty cool. It is small-stretches about 8 blocks or so, however, it has a grand array of locally owned shops and restaurants. It had shops from Ten Thousand Villages to the Hallmark store to a locally owned art store that sold art supplies and paintings as well as several locally owned clothing stores. The restaurants were also so cool. There was this salad and tea cafe called Lotus, which I thought was awesome. They had a lot of other salad bars too. There were also A LOT of Thai, Indian, and Chinese food that didn't seem to be your typical trashy Thai, Indian, and Chinese places. One of them touted their special noodle soup and offered vegetarian dishes, while another place served a combo Thai/French cuisine (I think the restaurant was called La Na). My impression is that the people in this town are health conscious. All of the restaurants seemed pretty classy as well.
What was interesting was how much the courthouse was the center of the town. Lawyers were everywhere, and there was also signs outside of restaurants that read, "10% off for jurors".
All in all, I thought Media was a pretty awesome place. Small town feel with a modern flare. Loved it.
How could you go wrong with pizza?
So, the other day my family and I went to this pizza/pasta/salad bar in the Union Deposit area (next to Panera's where the old Lonestar Restaurant used to be). We had seen ads for it on TV a few times and figured, why not? Well, when we got there, let me tell you...a red flag should immediately go up if you have to pay for your meal before you even get to see the food.
First impression upon walking in? This place is a dump.
And my first impression proved correct. It was dirty and disgusting. The place was set up in a cafeteria style setting. It didn't look clean. It was being run by a couple of high schoolers at the time, which don't get me wrong, I usually don't care. However, it was obvious they didn't exactly have a vested interest in the clientele. I could tell the food was out for awhile judging by the discoloration and the lack of freshness. The food that I did eat was gross. The sauce was worse than the crap you usually get at the school cafeteria. I even gave the salad a chance. Disgusting. The vegetables tasted almost like mildew and were clearly not fresh. The only thing that I felt was edible were the breadsticks, and even those were a bit too chewy and stale for my liking.
Over all, I would NEVER recommend this place. Definitely a thumbs down.
First impression upon walking in? This place is a dump.
And my first impression proved correct. It was dirty and disgusting. The place was set up in a cafeteria style setting. It didn't look clean. It was being run by a couple of high schoolers at the time, which don't get me wrong, I usually don't care. However, it was obvious they didn't exactly have a vested interest in the clientele. I could tell the food was out for awhile judging by the discoloration and the lack of freshness. The food that I did eat was gross. The sauce was worse than the crap you usually get at the school cafeteria. I even gave the salad a chance. Disgusting. The vegetables tasted almost like mildew and were clearly not fresh. The only thing that I felt was edible were the breadsticks, and even those were a bit too chewy and stale for my liking.
Over all, I would NEVER recommend this place. Definitely a thumbs down.
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Her name was Lola, she was a show girl...
Product: Lola by Marc JacobsMy Experience: "Whatever Lola wants, Lola gets....I'm irresistible you fool, Give in!" This perfume matches the song in that it is truly irresistible. A scent card came in the mail about a month ago and I found myself smelling it every time I came near it. Last week, I finally caved in and decided to venture to the mall and see if this perfume was really that irresistible.
After going to 2 department stores (Sears, which didn't have it, and Bon-Ton, which had it but there was no tester and the sales reps were particularly unattentive), I decided to go to Boscov's. I found the tester, sprayed it on myself and at first was disappointed. I thought that it smelled a little too old for me, even a little old-ladyish. A little distraught, I left the store and started heading to my car. However, a little miracle happened along the way. The scent changed! It became young, vibrant, irresistible! I couldn't stop smelling it! By the time I reached my car I had fallen in love with it and had to have it. I marched back in the store and bought it (and may have started a chain reaction since everyone else who was around the perfume wanted to try it too). It was a little pricey-$65 for the smallest bottle, $85 for the largest, however, I have to say, it is that addictive and totally worth it. I'm not sure what's in it, but there's a certain scent that just keeps you coming back.
Lola, if what you were aiming for was my heart and soul, well you got it...and my money too, hahaha.
My first impression: AMAZING!
Not-so-scrubbing Bubbles
So, I've decided to take a couple of minutes today and write a couple of entries-one about something I dislike and one about something that I like. Well, here it goes!
Product: Scrubbing Bubbles' Toilet Cleaning Gel
My Experience: Well, a few weeks ago, my mom had bought this to try since she was trying to do away with the traditional Clorox tablets we usually use. I finally got around to using it about 2 weeks ago. After two weeks, here is my take: it sucks.
For starters- it doesn't clean! The Clorox tablet that we traditionally use was great at keeping the bowl clean. Every now and then you had to go through and quick clean it, but over all it was really great at doing its job. However, Scrubbing Bubbles fails me on this end. After two weeks, my toilet bowl looks horrible and it just does not keep things clean.
Also, I was kind of surprised at how you use the product and the size of it. Usually tablets are a pretty big round disk. This is a subtle, small, clear round gel that you stamp on the side of the bowl. The applicator has stopping niches to indicate when you stop applying the gel. Perhaps because it is so small is the reason why it doesn't work.
The only thing that I will say about this product is that it is a great deodorizer. Every time you flush it gives you a nice fresh scent. Also you can't really notice it in the bowl visually. Other than those, I think they are the only pros to this product.
I would not recommend it and will most definitely be breaking out the Clorox tablets again.
My first impression: Horrible
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Recipe: Risotto alla Milanese
Risotto alla Milanese
about 5 cups beef or chicken stock (I used chicken)
good pinch of saffron threads
6 tbsp butter
1 onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups risotto rice
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (I simply used the regular Parmesan cheese that I use for spaghetti)
salt and ground black pepper
1. Bring the stock to a boil in a large pan, then reduce to a low simmer. Ladle a little hot stock into a small bowl. Add the saffron threads and set aside to infuse (steep).
2. Melt 4 tbsp of the butter in a large, heavy pan until foaming. Add the onion and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes, until softened and translucent but not browned.
3. Add the rice. Stir until the grains are coated with butter and starting to swell and burst, then add a few ladlefuls of the hot stock, including the saffron liquid and salt and pepper to taste (Suggestion: Add the salt later. The stock is pretty salty anyway, so I would just wait in order to see what the final product is.). Stir constantly over a low heat until all the stock has been absorbed. Add the remaining stock, a few ladlefuls at a time, allowing the rice to absorb all the liquid before adding more, and stirring constantly. After about 20-25 minutes, the rice should be just tender and the risotto golden yellow, moist and creamy. (Suggestion: I followed the directions for about 5 ladlefuls and then just dumped all the broth in, covered the pan, and put the heat on medium so the rice would boil a little. I stirred it every so often, until all of the broth was absorbed. It worked just fine. Also, I waited until it was creamy but not watery before I proceeded to the next step).
4. Gently stir in about two-thirds of the grated Parmesan and the remaining butter. Heat through gently until the butter has melted, then taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary. Transfer the warm risotto to a warmed serving bowl or platter and serve hot, with the remaining grated cheese served separately.
-Recipe from Appetizers, Finger Food, Buffets, and Parties by (editor) Bridget Jones
My first impression? AMAZING!
There are some things I did differently. First of all, I added all 6 tbsp at the beginning (my accident). To compensate for the butter at the end, I just added the Parmesan when the rice was mostly creamy but still a little wet and I knew it would be able to melt fine. Also, I added all of the Parmesan not just two-thirds.
It tasted amazing. I HIGHLY recommend this dish. I felt as though it was salty enough that I didn't need to add salt at the start (but then again, I used salted butter, the broth, and the Parmesan has salt in it too). It is very filling (the book even touts that it can be served as a light meal on its own). It can pretty much go with anything. Also, you could probably add vegetables, and make other variations.
The only downer? It took a really long time to make. Also, just as a warning- saffron is pretty expensive ($10 for a little pouch).
I will DEFINITELY be making this again.
about 5 cups beef or chicken stock (I used chicken)
good pinch of saffron threads
6 tbsp butter
1 onion, finely chopped
1 1/2 cups risotto rice
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese (I simply used the regular Parmesan cheese that I use for spaghetti)
salt and ground black pepper
1. Bring the stock to a boil in a large pan, then reduce to a low simmer. Ladle a little hot stock into a small bowl. Add the saffron threads and set aside to infuse (steep).
2. Melt 4 tbsp of the butter in a large, heavy pan until foaming. Add the onion and cook over a low heat, stirring occasionally, for about 3 minutes, until softened and translucent but not browned.
3. Add the rice. Stir until the grains are coated with butter and starting to swell and burst, then add a few ladlefuls of the hot stock, including the saffron liquid and salt and pepper to taste (Suggestion: Add the salt later. The stock is pretty salty anyway, so I would just wait in order to see what the final product is.). Stir constantly over a low heat until all the stock has been absorbed. Add the remaining stock, a few ladlefuls at a time, allowing the rice to absorb all the liquid before adding more, and stirring constantly. After about 20-25 minutes, the rice should be just tender and the risotto golden yellow, moist and creamy. (Suggestion: I followed the directions for about 5 ladlefuls and then just dumped all the broth in, covered the pan, and put the heat on medium so the rice would boil a little. I stirred it every so often, until all of the broth was absorbed. It worked just fine. Also, I waited until it was creamy but not watery before I proceeded to the next step).
4. Gently stir in about two-thirds of the grated Parmesan and the remaining butter. Heat through gently until the butter has melted, then taste and adjust the seasoning, if necessary. Transfer the warm risotto to a warmed serving bowl or platter and serve hot, with the remaining grated cheese served separately.
-Recipe from Appetizers, Finger Food, Buffets, and Parties by (editor) Bridget Jones
My first impression? AMAZING!
There are some things I did differently. First of all, I added all 6 tbsp at the beginning (my accident). To compensate for the butter at the end, I just added the Parmesan when the rice was mostly creamy but still a little wet and I knew it would be able to melt fine. Also, I added all of the Parmesan not just two-thirds.
It tasted amazing. I HIGHLY recommend this dish. I felt as though it was salty enough that I didn't need to add salt at the start (but then again, I used salted butter, the broth, and the Parmesan has salt in it too). It is very filling (the book even touts that it can be served as a light meal on its own). It can pretty much go with anything. Also, you could probably add vegetables, and make other variations.
The only downer? It took a really long time to make. Also, just as a warning- saffron is pretty expensive ($10 for a little pouch).
I will DEFINITELY be making this again.
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