Yes, I did.

I got a twitter account.  I know, I know, but if you’d like you can follow me @ASconnieEats.

I did this so it will be easier for me to share my food experiences with you all when I’m so busy with school, so hopefully that will hold true.

Send some tweets my way about your favorite Thanksgiving traditions/foods/recipes!

Best Coffee in Town…and Delicious Crepes!

There are so many coffee shops in downtown Madison, but I think I have found the best.  Many of you may know about it already, and I have for a while as well, but have finally found the time to write about it and am so excited to share it with you.  Bradbury’s on N. Hamilton St. has by far the best coffee I’ve had in this city.

Now, let me tell you, I am not really a basic coffee drinker.  I usually get the specialty drinks, like lattes and mochas.  I also drink regular coffee with some delicious creamer in it, but I have to say Bradbury’s pour over coffee goes down so smoothly and tastes amazing with nothing added to it! 

The first time I visited Bradbury’s I had a latte, and I remember wondering, “What’s taking so long?” but when it arrived, I realized it was made with such care, and the flavor and warmth made up for the wait.
At other coffee shops I usually end up getting flavorings in my lattes, but here it is completely unnecessary.  There is a perfect balance of bitterness and sweetness, and it has thick foam that is so yummy I would get coffee here everyday if I had the time and money.

Bradbury’s also serves crepes (for some reason I can’t figure out how to put the accent on the “e”).  They use local, fresh, seasonal ingredients and they are amazing.  I grew up eating crepes a lot.  It was kind of a tradition on my dad’s side of the family, but we would always make dessert crepes and have them for breakfast.  They were filled with fruits, sour cream, brown sugar, whipped cream, etc.  However, I had never had a savory crepe until I had this at Bradbury’s…

This is a ratatouille crepe WITH a dippy egg!!  Mmmmm!  It was so surprisingly good and it was a lot of fun to watch them make the crepes too.

The only complaint I have about Bradbury’s, and some may argue with me on this, is that it is the hole in the wall of all holes in the wall.  It is tiny.

This wouldn’t be so bad, except for the fact the food and coffee is amazing and so there is often a line that extends out the door, and sometimes you may find yourself with nowhere to sit.  On cold Wisconsin days this is especially annoying because of cold air constantly coming in from outside.  Here is a picture of seriously the entire café (ok, it does the accent automatically on café, but not on crepe, hrmph) including the kitchen area, and as you can see it is definitely a tight squeeze.
Overall though, best coffee and one of my top picks for breakfast.

Insider Tip: So busy on the weekends...

Oh, Hello

I know I haven't posted in forever.  This semester is kicking my butt.  Promise to post soon!!!  Have a great Turkey Day everyone!! Go PACK!

A Sconnie Eats San Diego Style

This summer my husband and I took our first major vacation together to San Diego and we had a blast.  We spent a lot of time relaxing on the beach and we also checked out the Zoo, Old Town, and the downtown Gas Lamp District.

The hotel we stayed at was in the Mission Bay Area and it was right on the Marina.  We were right on the ocean and just about a mile from Mission Beach.  The scenery, weather, and sunsets were all beautiful and we could not have asked for a better time.

Now, I may have mentioned before that I have added fish back into my previously vegetarian diet.  So, now I guess I’m more of a pescatarian, but I only eat fish every so often.  While we were in San Diego, I was so excited for some seafood.  In Wisconsin there really isn’t much a fresh fish scene, and when I am in coastal areas I just love the abundance of fresh seafood.

So, there are two places we ate at that we enjoyed. The first was actually a restaurant in our hotel called Firefly.  They have some great outdoor seating with a good view of the bay.  It was a little chilly though and the outdoor heater where we were sitting was broken.  Luckily another table left shortly after we arrived and we moved to their spot and started to warm up.  The service was a little slow.  We needed refills on our drinks halfway through our meal and didn’t get them until we were done eating.  That said, the food was still great.

For an appetizer we had their Bruschetta.  It was delicious.  There were six pieces with three different toppings:  Goat cheese, Mozzarella, and Carmelized Fennel.  It was really fun trying the three different kinds and it worked out perfectly that we each got one of each kind.  I definitely recommend this appetizer for those that go here.  It really impressed me. 





For our entrees, I had the Seasonal Catch which was a rockfish.  It came with Israeli cous cous and seasonal veggies.  The fish was cooked perfectly and seasoned well.  I have had an unpleasant experience with Israeli cous cous in the past and was a little nervous about getting it, but it was actually fantastic.  Everything on the plate just really went together well and the flavors were well balanced. 

AJ had the 1/2 Fried Chicken that came with garlic mashed potatoes and a tomato chutney.  It did seem a little small for being 1/2 of a chicken but AJ said it was pretty good and the potatoes were delicious. 
All in all we had a great time here.  The atmosphere I think could have been improved if the restaurant wasn’t right next to the hotel pool that plays music of its liking from the time they open until the time they close (past 10 pm).  I did however enjoy watching the fireworks from our table that Seaworld put on every night. 


The other place we ate at that we enjoyed while we were in San Diego was called Saska’s.  This restaurant has been around for sixty years and you can tell when you walk in.  The place looks like a sixties supper club and really could use some updating.  We got seated however, in a really awesome booth.  It was like a sweet circle booth with a small table; perfect for two.  We also had a great view of the TVs which made us happy since we had been following the women’s world cup all week.
 
Our service here was a little slow, but didn’t feel so bad because they warned us ahead of time that our server was dealing with a large party and was a little behind.  Here, AJ had a steak stuffed with crab meat that he really really enjoyed.  He kept trying to get me to try it, but I believed him.  I enjoyed an amazing salmon filet.  I just love fresh fish and this was a great way to end our vacation.  I savored every bite of that fish and by the end of our dinner we were so stuffed.  We thought that after dinner we would take a walk and then come back for their late night sushi deals, but we could barely walk when we left we were so full.

I don’t have any pictures of the food from Saska’s but I will just say that it was delicious and we had a great time.  I will however, leave you with a picture of the sunset that night.

Caught off guard and regretting my response.

Today while spending some “me time” around the square doing crossword puzzles, drinking iced tea, etc.  Two women approached me asking me what restaurants are good in the area.  I reply with, “What kind of food do you want to eat?”  and they respond, “Healthy, vegetarian.”  I say, “Oh, ok, I’m a vegetarian too,” and I start to name a couple of my favorite restaurants around the capital square, I eventually send them off to The Capital Taphaus on State St.  They have a pretty good vegetarian sandwich.  They thank me and head on their way.

I was really caught off guard with this inquiry and as I walked home I knew there was a place I had forgotten about.  I thought and thought and halfway home it hit me.  The Great Dane Pub and Brewery.  AHHHH.  I wanted to run all the way back and find those ladies and send them to The Great Dane!  I have a food blog for crying out loud!  How could I not blurt this out immediately??  I blame downtown Madison for having so many restaurants.

So I think it’s time I let you all in on some amazing food and beer.

The Great Dane Pub and Brewery is one of our go-to places around here.  They have a diverse menu with a good amount of vegetarian options including pizzas, amazing mac and cheese, falafel, a veggie burrito, and more.  They also have great burgers, fish and chips, and lots of Sconnie favorites.

But the best Sconnie favorite that they have there is their beer! The Great Dane is a brewery and their beer is very very good.  Being a light-beer drinker I usually stick to the Landmark Light and the Crop Circle Wheat, but no matter what kind of beer you like they have a delicious option for you.

My only gripe about this place is their selection of side items.  I only get the fries there because all the other sides I have tried including their coleslaw and cous cous have been majorly disappointing. 
Other than that though, the rest of the food, the atmosphere, and the service are great.

I apologize to the women that I sent to the Taphaus, hopefully they still have a good lunch and a nice time there.  It is a great place, but The Great Dane would have definitely been a better choice for them.  I will not make this mistake again! : )

Insider Tip:  Sometimes this place gets crowded, so if you’re just going there for drinks, there is a Rathskellar with its own bar downstairs that a lot of people don’t know about.  I always seem to find seating down there.

Lazy Jane's Cafe

Located on well-known Williamson St. in a very eclectic neighborhood, Lazy Jane's Cafe offers up the homiest eating experience in Madison that I know of.  The cafe is basically a house that was simply converted into a communal eating space by eliminating some walls, adding some more furniture, and creating an ordering/serving area in the entryway.  The kitchen doesn't even seem to be very accommodating for the business they bring in; and I'm always amazed at how they can pump so much good food out of it.  This neighborhood favorite compiles homey furniture, cozy seating, and a mish-mosh of dinnerware to give guests a lovely home-away-from-home experience.

Let's not forget about the food here.  They have a great cafe menu with plenty of options and its a great place to grab lunch during the week, but my favorite time to go to Lazy Jane's Cafe is on Saturday mornings.  On Saturdays the cafe only serves breakfast which at any other restaurant would turn me off (due to my issues with eggs, and recent vegetarianism).  Fortunately, this place has some great surprises on their menu.  The last time I went, here's what I had.

Seitan Hash and Tomato Bisque

Tanya had the Biscuits and Gravy and Melon Soup.

It was all delicious as always, but I was really impressed by how good they made the seitan taste.  It was my first time every having it and it tasted just like any other breakfast sausage or meat (maybe a little spicier, but I didn't mind).

The tomato soup was incredible as well.  There were huge chunks of tomato in it and it was really creamy and seasoned well.

The melon soup was almost like a juice, and was surprisingly refreshing and palate cleansing.

Tanya said the biscuits and gravy were great and I trust her opinion :).  They looked amazing.

Lazy Jane's is one of those neighborhood places where you can tell they put so much love into the cafe and into the food.  It is incredibly inviting, cozy, and delicious; and the staff is fun and friendly.  I recommend Lazy Jane's all the time for visitors looking for a good local place for breakfast or lunch, and I'm recommending it to you now.  Check it out.  You won't be disappointed.

Check out their Yelp page here for more info.

Insider Tip:  The cafe is cash only, but they have an ATM inside.  Get there early on Saturdays to beat the rush for breakfast or go for a late brunch.  If you go later though, you may miss out.  They run out of some dishes quickly.

Surge Delivery Cafe

SURGE DELIVERY CAFE HAS UNFORTUNATELY CLOSED.  :(

I’ve been itching to tell you all about Surge Delivery Café in Madison and I’m finally getting to it. First of all, I really want to commend the owners for creating an amazing place to grab breakfast or lunch at an unbeatable price. 

All of the menu options here are vegetarian, but anyone can add their protein of choice for just a dollar more.  They have deli meats, free range chicken breasts, steak, bacon, breakfast sausage, veggie bacon, and veggie sausage as protein options.

Today, I had the Veggie Voltage.  It tastes like pizza!  It has provolone cheese, red onions, green peppers, tomatoes, and mushrooms all grilled on Madison Sourdough wheat bread; and it comes with a side of marinara sauce.

MMM!!! I have also had the Zeus Fuel and King Veggie sandwiches, and all have been delicious.  Check out their website and menu here.

They also have a great breakfast menu as most of their sandwiches can have egg/bacon/sausage added to them for breakfast-y goodness. 

This place really has kept health conscience and veggie eaters in mind through their choices of breakfast and sides including oatmeal, fresh fruit, salads, and gluten free pastries.   They also have an ample drink menu including organic Fair Trade coffee, fruit smoothies, and much more.

If you’re looking for something sweet, Surge doesn’t disappoint here either with its dessert sandwiches.  Dessert Sandwiches?  Uhh..Yes!  Like the one my husband and I shared today, the Hot Nutella Nucleus.  Amazing.

It’s just a grilled Nutella and Banana Sandwich! Who knew it could be so good?

Besides the delicious food, the prices are the best part.  I’m talking lunch for less than $5.  What a great deal for some great food!

I am so excited that this new vegetarian café opened up so close to home.  The owners really did a great job with the space as well turning the old Milio’s chain into a cool new café with an awesome color scheme and modern seating.  They seem to be earning a reputation as well.  I have been there three times now and each time it seems busier and busier.  Bravo Surge!!

Tahini, The New Sour Cream/Mayo/Spread/Dip

I have been using tahini a lot lately, and most people have never heard of it, or may only use it when they are making hummus.  Since I have yet to find a hummus recipe to get excited about, I have tried to incorporate tahini into my diet where I can because it is a good source of protein. 
Made from sesame seeds, this sticky “nut butter” has a powerful, but bland-ish flavor to it (it’s a little difficult to describe).  It has 6 grams of protein, 3 grams of fiber, and 200 calories per 2 tablespoons.  At first I tried it by itself and couldn’t figure out what I would be able to use it for, but my first experiment was a success.
Vegetarian fajitas have become a staple dinner around my house and are a yummy way for me to use up leftover veggies.  I just sauté up a bunch of veggies and heat up some black beans, or pinto beans, maybe some rice, etc.  In the past, I would always spread sour cream on the tortilla before I put on my toppings; so to cut back on the amount of dairy in my diet, I used tahini instead.  To my surprise it added a lot of flavor to the fajitas and I really enjoy using it in this way.
Since that experiment was such a success, I started wondering how I could use it in other ways.  So, I made a sandwich and instead of Mayo (which I love, but is not very good for me) I spread tahini on my bread and also put lettuce, seasoned tomatoes, and raw mushrooms on it.  Delicious!!!
I buy East Wind organic tahini, it is about $8 at Woodman’s.  You could probably get a cheaper brand if you’re just trying it for the first time, but I have enjoyed this one and prefer to buy organic when I can afford to.

I also received two new vegetarian cookbooks for my birthday (Thanks to my wonderful husband) and there is a recipe in one of them for a tahini lemon sauce that can be made thicker for a dip or thinner for a sauce or dressing.  I will be trying that out soon and I’ll let you know what I think!
Do you have any uses for this versatile condiment?  Let me know in the comments!
Happy Eating!

A Delicious Dinner

This veggie pasta was super simple, light, and tasty.  What's really awesome about it is that you can use any vegetables you’d like or whatever you have left in your fridge.
Just sauté the veggies in a little olive oil, salt, and pepper, and cook your pasta.  You can use any long pasta, but I used spaghetti since that’s what was in my pantry.
For the sauce, melt about a tablespoon of butter in a small sauce pan, add juice from about half a lemon and 1/3 of a cup of white wine.  Bring that to a boil and pour over the pasta and veggies.  Yum!!!

I scream, You scream, We all scream for Gelato??

It’s that time of year again.  When its just too hot and you need an icy treat to cool your blood.  Head to Paciugo if you’re looking to feed your ice cream cravings.

Everyone will yell at me for saying that though.


It’s Gelato, not ice cream!

But really, who cares because it’s just darn delicious. 

This place boasts an enormous selection of gelato flavors including milk based, water based, soy based, and no-sugar-added options.  Every time I have been there, they have a new flavor(sometimes several new ones).

Not sure what to get?  No problem!  Taste as many flavors as you want before you make a decision. 

Still can’t decide?  That’s ok too.  In their small dish you can get a mix of up to 3 flavors.  Today, I had Cinnamon Coconut, Black Cherry Swirl, and Crème Caramel.  In a medium dish you can get up to 4 flavors, and up to 5 in a large.

To make it even better it’s served to you with a sample spoon, which is very small, and makes you take smaller bites and enjoy the gelato that much longer and that much more.

Located right on the corner of State St. and Gorham this is the perfect place to grab dessert after a dinner downtown.

Picture from here

Insider Tip: you think you can eat more than you really can ;)

Saturday Mornings In Madtown

Check out our treasures from a normal Saturday at the Farmer’s Market. 

Since it is still early in the season there isn’t much produce, and it has been a little slow traffic wise, but I will keep you updated as to what comes in.  I get so excited and love supporting our local farmers. 

Here we have small sweet potatoes (which have made delicious fries), portabella and white button mushrooms, salad greens, a tomato, some beef jerky for AJ, cheese curds, banana bread and a cinnamon roll for breakfast!

Produce wise, this is all that is really at the market right now, so I’ve really been taking advantage of the awesome mushrooms!  They are so delicious!  I made an awesome portabella burger with them.

Also, there are a lot of flowers, plants, honey, syrup, organic and grass-fed meats, and bakery items right now, but soon I will be able to get most of my produce here instead of going to the grocery store.

MmmmmmmMaharaja!

Though I can't claim that Maharaja has the best Indian food in Madison (since it's the only Indian restaurant I've been to in Madison) I will say that it is AMAZING and it is the best Indian food I've ever had.


I have been here twice now, and the last time I was there I got a vegetarian dish and was recommended to have the Navarattan Korma which was mixed vegetables cooked with cream, herbs, and cashews.  

It. Was. Amazing.

I don't even know how else to say it or describe it, but the flavor was so good and I couldn't stop eating it.

Here it is in this picture (it's the closest one).

I went this time with my sister Tanya, my Aunt Dotty, my cousin Clare, and my husband AJ.  We all got something different and then put them in the middle so everyone could share.  Luckily my sister and aunt also got vegetarian dishes.  Everything was awesome and the waiter was so funny.

My cousin is the pickiest eater and she even loved her dish.

The setup of the restaurant is the only thing that I think could be improved, but I think they do ok with the space they have.  I felt however, that there wasn't a lot of privacy.  There are a lot of tables in a small space and there is no separation, booths or much for decor.  They try their best to set the mood, and the space is clean, so it really wasn't that bad.  Plus the waiter really made up for it.  We had a great time here.

And the best part???   Hot towels after dinner!!  Ahhhhh..... Bliss.

I recommend this to anyone who likes, or wants to try Indian Food.  They also have a lunch buffet that I haven't tried yet.

Update: Lunch Buffet = awesome

Livin’ the Veggie Life.

I think its been almost 3 weeks since I last ate meat!  I feel great about myself and proud that I have kept it up.  I actually haven't craved any meat or been tempted by my husbands steak dinners and hamburgers!  

What I have noticed so far.

1.  I feel better about myself as a person.  I started going vegetarian because of where most of our meat comes from and because of how the animals are treated in these places.  It is also kind of disgusting to me how much meat we eat in the US and I just wanted to do my part in helping these animals and get myself into a more healthy and whole diet.

I know most people don’t want to know what goes on in the slaughterhouses and chicken farms, but I don’t really understand why?  Because they know its bad?  Because they feel bad?  If you’re curious please watch this.  Even if you’re not curious you should just watch it to be informed about where your meat actually comes from.

2.  When I eat a vegetarian meal I feel satisfied, but I don’t feel as full, if that makes sense.  When I was eating meat I always felt soooo full after a meal, but now I can eat a meal and feel full, but feel better about it.  It’s like I got enough food in me and that food was much better for me, but my stomach isn’t bursting.  I attribute this to my increased fiber intake.

3.  Vegetarian dishes are amazingly delicious.  I’ve had a few at restaurants, but have also played with some at home (sorry I don’t have pics, I’ve been really busy). 

Last week I made a mushroom burger.  I took the caps of two portabella mushrooms, grilled them up and then put a little pepper jack cheese in between them and then ate it on a bun with all of the normal hamburger fixings.  It was so delicious, and didn’t taste much different from a hamburger except it was a little messier and the texture was obviously different.  Actually, I thought it was better than a hamburger, and when I was done eating it I felt so good.  Again, not too full but satisfied.

4.  I’ve been losing weight.  Not a whole lot yet, as I’m still transitioning to a point and haven’t had time to keep up with exercising, but the new diet keeps me fuller longer and keeps me from snacking.  Plus, when I feel good about my eating decisions I want to keep doing it because of these feelings, so I have some motivation.

5.  My husband loves it and is totally supporting me.  He still eats meat, but told me that he really likes what I’m doing and it just helps so much to have his love and support.  He offered to try Tofu with me and everything and has liked a lot of the things I’ve made so far.  A lot of times we will make something, like the hamburgers for example, and I will just use a vegetable instead of the protein he is using.

He also has been making better decisions, like switching to whole wheat bread!  I love him and love that he is taking my diet shift so well.

So, even though I will have to pass on a lot of things I’ve loved in the past like Wisconsin brats I am more happy with this diet. I feel better about myself from a moral perspective and feel better physically.  I can’t wait to continue this and see where it takes me.
I have tried a few recipes so far, but am still taking any suggestions for vegetarian dishes.  I can never have too many!

Today’s Lunch

In an attempt to lead a more vegetarian lifestyle, today for lunch I had oatmeal that I cooked using soy milk.  I added some ground flax seed and put fresh blueberries (that were frozen in my freezer – so maybe they’re technically frozen blueberries) and a little bit of brown sugar on top.

I used Silk soy milk, the vanilla kind.  What I realized is the vanilla flavor is pretty sweet so I didn’t have to add much brown sugar, if any.  It was very delicious and it felt awesome to eat something using no animal products!

I’m on the hunt for tasty vegetarian/vegan recipes, so if you have some, please post them below so I can try them out.  I’m very excited to take this step away from meat.  I can’t wait to be healthy, full of energy, and feeling good.

Breakfast Tradition

Whenever these are made or talked about in our family, the reaction of outsiders is usually, "Ewwww" or "Wait, what did you say?"  These -- my friends -- are Cottage Cheese Pancakes and boy are they delicious!

Ingredients

4 eggs

1/2 cup of flour ( I used whole wheat flour)

1/4 stick melted butter

1 cup cottage cheese

pinch of salt

 

Easy huh?  Combine all the ingredients and there's your batter!  There's debate in the family of what toppings are the best.  My favorite is the traditional maple syrup.

Other Toppings that are just as delicious:

Powdered Sugar

Cinnamon Sugar

Any mix of the three

Take a chance on these.  They might sound gross at first, but I promise, everyone who was skeptical has ended up loving them.

Enjoy!

Tacos Anyone? Tex Tubbs vs. Los Gemelos

Wow, Madison has some amazing taco joints.  Recently AJ and I brought home Tex Tubbs Tacos from Tex Tubbs on Atwood Ave.  A few days after that I ate lunch at Los Gemelos on State St.  I heard they had great tacos so I had to check it out; and I thought I could write a comparison post, so here it is.

Tex Tubbs

I didn't get the tacos -- AJ did and brought them home, so I didn't get to see the inside of this place.  However I do know someone that works there and I've heard their decor is pretty fun and I know they have good drink specials.

Their menu is really cool and includes tacos that you probably wouldn't see at a more authentic Mexican joint.  We ordered two each of the Carne Asada taco (on the left) and the Derby Bird (on the right).
    
On the Carne Asada there is: Carne asada, cabbage slaw, jack cheese, pico de gallo, and sour cream
On the Derby Bird you get: Honey-bourbon glazed chicken, fresh corn salsa, lettuce, and sour cream
Both of these tacos were tasty and I thought they used classic and delicious toppings.  Each taco was able to stand out on its own because of their different toppings though.  The Derby Bird had a sweet factor because of the honey-bourbon glaze and the corn salsa, whereas the carne asada was more classic in taste.  I will definitely go back to try more and find my favorite.

Los Gemelos

In contrast to Tex Tubbs, Los Gemelos is definitely more authentic.  However, their restaurant could use a little work on the inside.  Currently it is a weird mix of sit down and to-go style.  I wanted to take a break so I ate there and it felt like I was at Taco Bell or something, but with mariachi music playing and an oddly placed bar.

I also think they would benefit from switching their entrance and exit doors.  This sounds silly and trivial, but I expected to walk in and be at the counter to order, but instead the entrance is at the end of the serving counter and I had to backtrack in order to meet the hostess and get a table.  Moving the doors around would make for a better grab and go taco joint because you can walk in, order, pay and move down to the end to get your food.  (I'm picturing the Starbucks flow in my head).  Their location on State St. and their great prices are great for this too.  It's my new favorite for lunch.

The service was good, but just felt a little awkward because (like I mentioned) it didn't feel like a sit-down kind of place to begin with.  I got chips and salsa which was sweet, and though they do have a more elaborate menu containing the basics like enchiladas and such, I stuck to the tacos.  I ordered a pork taco and a chorizo taco.
 
These were both amazingly delicious.  However, I wasn't sure which was which at first as both had the same toppings of cilantro and lime.  It only took a bite of each to figure it out and I realized simple is simply delicious.  The cilantro and lime were all that was needed on these tacos.  The flavors in the meat exploded in my mouth and the pork was incredibly tender.  They give you some hot sauces too; one red, and one green.  I usually am a fan of hot sauce, but the tacos really didn't need anything else.  I tasted each of the sauces with a small bite of my taco, but didn't use them after that.

I will be going back here for sure, but definitely will get my tacos to-go.  The best part, second to the amazing food was the price.  Tacos are two dollars a pop bringing my lunch total to only $4.25 with tax.

Both of these taco joints offer delicious options.  I will go back to both, but recently I have been considering going a more vegetarian route with my diet.  I don’t remember seeing many if any vegetarian options at Los Gemelos.  However, Tex Tubbs offers 6 vegetarian options that sound very tasty.

Tex Tubbs also uses a lot of local ingredients which I try to support whenever possible. That, along with a more vegetarian menu will probably persuade me to go there more than Los Gemelos.  I only wish there was a Tex Tubbs on State…

My Favorite Time of Year

A week from tomorrow is the beginning of the summer farmer’s market that takes place on capital square.  This is my favorite times of year and I’m crossing my fingers that I don’t work next Saturday. 

Hopefully my sister Tanya, AJ, and I will go up and grab some local products from farmers across the area.  I’m hoping to get some awesome pictures and video to share with you all.  This truly is my favorite thing to do on Saturday mornings in Madison.

Stay tuned for pics and video from the market!

Sausage Cassoulet

I made this for dinner on Tuesday night.  I've been trying to use more recipes when I cook, but its really hard when I don't have a lot of time for cooking or shopping.  Since I've been back in school I've really stuck to basic dinners that don't require a lot of ingredients, but are still tasty.  I've made this dish once before, but haven't had it in a while so I thought I would try it again.
Growing up we ate Kielbasa on many occasions.  Usually it was a quick dinner for us as a family and being a Sconnie girl, I loved it.  Simple sausage dinner; yummy with just the basic ketchup and mustard.  This recipe called Cassoulet in a Flash (which is actually a take on franks and beans, but I hate saying franks and beans) from the Family Circle Cookbook I own, gave me a way to use the kielbasa I love in a new way that's a little more "grown up."  The recipe is simple and it cooks fast -- good for me since I don't have a lot of time to cook.
Here are my ingredients

1lb kielbasa cut into 1/2 inch pieces ( I would actually cut them into smaller more bite-size pieces)
1 medium red onion cut into thin wedges
1 can white kidney/canelli beans (drained and rinsed)
1 can pork and beans in tomato sauce
1 clove garlic - chopped (I used 2)
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar
3/4 teaspoon of dried thyme (Yum!)
1/4 teaspoon black pepper
 
Cook the kielbasa on medium heat for about 4 minutes

Add the onions and garlic and cook for about 3 more minutes

Add the beans and the rest of the seasonings.
 
Bring to a boil, lower the heat and simmer 5-7 minutes until heated through.
Great German dish that reminds me of my childhood, but pleases my grown up palate. Yum!

Kabul Restaurant on State

Hey everyone!  I’m really excited to tell you about an awesome taco joint I ate at today for lunch, but I feel like I need to keep to some sort of order.  I’ve been holding out on you for too long and have a long list of foods and restaurants to talk about.  So, without further ado, I will get cracking on this list.
I may have mentioned in a previous post that I’ve been wanting to try a restaurant on State St. called the Mediterranean Café.  I have seen a line out the door to that place and have been curious about it since.
I confessed this curiosity to my loving husband who then proceeded to take me there.  Unfortunately, it was a Sunday and they were closed.  So, while we were there (on State St. I mean) we decided to work on broadening our palates by having lunch at a place called Kabul Restaurant.
Kabul serves Afghan cuisine and from what I had heard through the grapevine was that it was pretty good.  Neither of us had tasted Afghan food before which made the experience really fun and interesting. 
Let me start with the atmosphere of the place.  It’s pretty small on the inside, maybe 10 tables total.  I’m almost positive that the tables used to be really basic fast-food-type booth tables, but they have nicely covered them in a cushiony material and then put a very decorative textile over the top.  The rest of the place was decorated well with a middle eastern theme to it.  It was quiet, but not too quiet, an atmosphere suited to small groups for lunch or dinner.
Onto the food! 
Ok, I just have to say, this place made me fall in love with chutney!  I had never had chutney before, but it is a simple dip/topping for bread or even to have on your food.  At each table sits 2 bowls of chutney.  One red (pimento) and one green (cilantro).  They were completely different in taste, but both were equally delicious.  The flavors are very strong, so if you don’t like cilantro don’t eat the green one.  I happen to love cilantro though, so I found it amazing.  We ate the chutney with the Afghan bread we were given, which was pretty good too.  Really soft, flat, and moist, had a good chew to it (you can see it in the pics below). 
Each entrée comes with a side of their Mashawa (Soup) or their salad with curry cucumber dressing.  We ordered one of each and then shared.  The soup was great.  it contained:

Chick Peas
Kidney Beans
Split Peas
Rice
and I can’t remember what meat was in it. (Sorry we ate here quite a while ago)

It also had a yogurt mint sauce on top of it.  It reminded me a lot of chili with sour cream, but the yogurt mint sauce really gave it the flavor of the middle east and the chick peas gave it some crunch.  I usually don’t like chick peas, and I hate hummus, but I could handle them in this dish.  The salad wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t amazing.  There isn’t much to expect from a side salad, but the dressing was a little overpowering and there was a lot of it.  That’s not to say it wasn’t good, but I think they used too much.
Ok, onto the Entrees.  I ordered the Beef Korma Chalow which consisted of medallions of beef cooked with onions, tomatoes, mushrooms, green peppers, and spices.  It was served over white rice.  It came to me on a plate looking like this..(On the left)     
It was very brown.  It didn’t look as good as it tasted, which is great.  The beef was deliciously tender and everything was seasoned pretty well, but I soon found out that the flavor shot out the roof when you used a little of that chutney on the dish.  Wow!  Both worked well with the dish.  I just put a spoonful on the side of my plate and took a little with each bite.  That added so much more depth to the dish.  I wish someone would have told me sooner because I only realized it once I was almost full. 
The hubby ordered the Lamb Kabobs (On the right).  I only tasted them near the end of our meal, so I can’t say much about them, but I do think that the chunks of lamb were too big, and I’m pretty sure it was a little overcooked.  The sauce that came with it was again, a yogurt/mint sauce, and the kabobs were also served over saffron rice, which I remember him saying was pretty yummy.
We had a great time at Kabul and had a lot of fun experiencing a new cuisine.  That really was the best thing about Kabul.  It opened my mind and my taste buds to something new and provided a chance for me to understand a different culture and their food.  I love to try new things, and Kabul offered a delightful and delicious opportunity.


P.S.  Hopefully soon AJ will be here to guest blog about some of his eating experiences.  He recently ate at a place I’ve been wanting to try called Jamerica!

I've Missed You Too!

Sorry Followers!!  I know I have not blogged in some time.  I do have lots to blog about though!!  I've just been so busy with school work and applying to the business school.

Soon to come:

Reviews on  Kabul Restaurant, Cheesecake Factory ( IN CHITOWN), tex tubbs tacos, and more!

Also, just some fun stuff about our trip to Chicago and our St. Patty's getaway to the Wisconsin Dells.  Stay tuned!  I promise to post soon.

Give and Get is Here!

Give and Get is Here!: "Enjoy 30% off from March 17-20 at Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy plus we'll make a 5% donation to a non-profit."

Sneaky Cat!

This is our little Rogue, and she clearly knows a good beer.  :)

As Promised...Campus Biryani

Now, before I get into the details of our dinner, I want to let everyone know about campusfood.com.  This site provides with a list of restaurants, their services, and their menus and allows you to order online through their site.  It's really convenient since you can find all the restaurants you want in one place.  You can save your address here too, so you don't have to always enter it for every delivery.  The only down side to this site is it tends to run kind of slow, especially when you try to get coupons.  

Anyways, the other night we ordered Campus Biryani gyros for delivery.  We have ordered from here once before and liked it enough to order again.  When we're looking for a quick delivery dinner we usually end up with pizza, burritos, or Chinese.  The great thing about Biryani is that it provides a good change from normal delivery or take out food.

When I entered the order on campusfood.com they gave an estimated wait time of 45 minutes.  The food ended up taking about an hour to get to us, which was disappointing to say the least.  The gyros came hot which was awesome, but the fries probably would have been better if we didn't get the delivery.  Since they sat in the Styrofoam container they got...I guess soggy(but not greasy) is the only way to describe it. They were seasoned really well, but were no longer crispy.

The gyro itself was good.  The meat was delicious and seasoned well, but I almost thought there was a little too much meat in comparison to the other toppings, especially the sauce!!!!  I love the usual cucumber sauce atop my gyro, but this gyro was definitely lacking.  The missing sauce ultimately led to the meat overpowering the dish.  If I were ordering again, I would ask for extra sauce for sure.

The last time we ordered from here, we also got an order of baklava.  It was greasy and tasteless!!  If a dessert is going to use that much butter it better taste good.  This we didn't even finish.

Mobile

Just downloaded the blogger app for my phone, this should be interesting. 

So, as my mobile test I'll let you guys see what we made for dinner tonight after venturing out to Woodman's in the crazy weather .

Ribeye, with red potatoes and salad.

The ribeye was simply pan fried with some garlic, salt, pepper and tiger sauce.  Potatoes were boiled, drained, and seasoned with garlic, butter, salt, pepper, and rosemary.  Salad is simple. Romaine, tomatoes, parmesan cheese, oil, and balsamic vinegar.  Yummy!

The hubby loves to dip his steak in sour cream so I added a little of the tiger sauce (which is a really spicy hot sauce) to it and it turned out pretty good...kinda sweet tasting with a kick.

We love cooking steak and trying new things with it.  If you know any good marinades let us know, I'll try them out and let you know what I think.

The Ultimate Snack

POPCORN!!!!   I made this batch last night and it was delicious like always!

Popcorn has always been the favorite snack for my family and I.  We grew up making it all the time...always homemade of course.  Growing up we made it on the stove in what was solely the popcorn pot.  A little oil to cover the bottom, throw the seeds in and keep it covered and moving until it stops popping.  After dumping it into what was solely the popcorn bowl (this is a sensitive subject) the butter was always melted immediately in the same pot and then drizzled over the delicious kernels.  To finish it off, we added some salt, tossed, and repeated until perfection had been reached.

This was typical popcorn in our house, and the tradition continues, but this time with a stir crazy instead of a popcorn pot.  And still the same bowl, for me anyways, since I kind of "inherited" it from my dad.  And by inherited I of course mean begged for it. If you don't have a stir crazy, get one because they are super convenient and it still has the same homemade flavor.  Also, salt and butter sometimes just isn't enough.  You need to change it up once in a while.  Soooo.....

My all time favorite popcorn has......real butter, salt, and fresh lemon squeezed over it.

AMAZING!

Other favorites among my family..

Sugar
Brewer's Yeast
Parmesan Cheese
Seasoning Salt

Give them a try!!

Oh, and PS.  Be sure to use White Popcorn.  Not that yellow stuff.

Saved by The Market Basket

Living five blocks from my state's capital sure has its perks.  The capital square is event central and I love being in the thick of things.  The downside however, is the lack of affordable groceries close by.  So, my grocery shopping didn't go as planned today and has been hereby postponed until tomorrow.

That however doesn't solve the issue of having no food for tonight.

Solution:  I found a lone pork chop in the freezer that I grilled up with a little salt, pepper, and coriander.  I ate it with BBQ sauce.....

It was food.  For me anyways, but when the hubby got home from work it was a different story and like many nights before we found ourselves being saved by The Market Basket.   

Located on East Mifflin St. near the capital The Market Basket is a small grocery store that has all the necessities for the off campus college crowd.  It is similar to a convenience store or an open pantry, but has much more of a neighborhood feel.  So, after a walk to the capital to check out the mobs of protesters we headed down to get Mr. Low some dinner.  We ended up getting soup for his dinner. We also got butter so I can make popcorn, donuts for breakfast in the morning and a Diet Pepsi.

For any college students east of the capital that don't know about this place make sure you check it out.  It's a bit pricey, but super convenient and will save you in a bind.  They're open until 11pm which  is of course awesome and the people that work there are always friendly.  $5 minimum to use a credit card though, so keep that in mind. 

Some necessities they carry:

Milk

Eggs

Fresh fruit and veggies

Tampons

Toilet Paper

Snacks

and the most important necessity .. Wine :)

Happy Shopping!

Time to Shop!

We have barely any edible food in our house. Last night we ordered take-out from Campus Biryani, and it was an ok experience considering "campus" in the name. More to come on that later though. For now, it's time to go shopping so I can show you guys some of our home cooking. Stay tuned for some pics, recipes and a review of Campus Biryani!

Madison's Best Late Night Pizza!

Ian's, I dub you, best late night pizza in Madison. Open until bar time, Ian's gives the University crowd the fourth meal fix they need after a Thirsty Thursday kind of day. Offering pizza by the slice covered in any topping you could think of, Ian's caters to all pizza lovers.

In the picture above you can see me chowing down on a slice of taco pizza...mmmmm (Picture taken by my brother-in-law Adam Roskom, check out his photography!). Taco pizza! you say? Sounds crazy, but that's a normal slice compared to others they serve. Ian's has a large variety of specialty pizzas and seems to have something new every time I stop by.

They are best known for their mac-n-cheese pizza, which is covered in elbow macaroni and lots of good Wisconsin cheese. My husband's favorite is the BBQ steak and fries pizza. Yes, I said fries on pizza. Yum! You can also find, chicken pot pie pizza, Chili Cheese Frito pizza, gyro pizza, and so much more. All are seasoned perfectly and the crust is amazing. It is soft, but crispy and there's just enough of it.

The atmosphere at Ian's is great too. Chill for a quick lunch in the afternoon, and rowdy on a Saturday night. Prepare to wait in line for a bit if you get there around 1am on a weekend as it will be full of college students looking for an after midnight snack. In Madison there are two locations, one on Frances St. and one on State. I prefer the State St. location myself as it tends to be a little less crowded.

Whether you're a college kid, or not, Ian's offers a fun and tasty meal. Next time you're in town for say a Badger game, farmers market, or stroll around town, make sure you stop and have a slice!

Hello Wisconsin!

As this is my first post I would love to give you some insight to my vision for this blog. My favorite thing about food is its variety, and I would love to share my experiences with this variety with all of you. Also, as a Wisconsin native, I would like to introduce those who are not, into some of our all time Sconnie favorites.

I am amazed by the way a single food can be prepared. Grilled chicken, roasted chicken, fried chicken, chicken soup, chicken salad, chicken pie....... and on and on and on. On top of that each way of cooking can be changed, transformed, and tweeked by adding more of this, less of that, pair it with pasta, potatoes, rice, veggies, top it with gravy, glaze, salsa etc. Every single combination has a completely different taste, smell, and texture, and leaves me with a different feeling inside. This is why I'm always up for trying new foods, even if they scare me at first.

Growing up in Wisconsin gave my family its set of traditional foods. Some delicious like cottage cheese pancakes, and tater tot casserole, and some not so yummy like sauerkraut noodles, and pickled herring. Ulgh...

Every family has their own traditions passed down from their parents' parents' parents' and I'm sure many have been tweeked as I mentioned before. My intention is to share some of my favorite meals, new inventions, and my opinion of the best and not so great places to dine out.

Enjoy!