I don’t think I ever had calzones before I got married. I can’t really ever remember eating one or eating one in a restaurant either. I’m not sure why. I think they taste good. Our version is pretty easy and pretty tasty too. They take a bit of prep and elbow grease rolling out the dough – but I shortcut the dough by buying pre-made from the deli. 
dinner #2
so, long week and a quick shopping trip (Z is the ‘mayor’ of West Elm) for an addition to my Urban Pantry necessitated dinner out at our favorite quick Chinese, Pei Wei. My favorite is Mandarin Kung Pao sub broccoli for snap peas and carrots. I get the combo for it’s half size serving and side of a spring roll with a giant glass of water, no ice. A quick run by Menchie’s (Z is also the ‘mayor’ of that) so he could get the magical color changing* Halloween spoon and we’re home.
*he got purple
dinner #1
so, in a brave and bold effort to prove something, maybe only to Karin, I am going to post what we have for dinner for the next 31 days. Be it humble or hi-falutin, you’ll see it here. Maybe even a recipe.
critical thinking
in this day and age of super-connectivity we can share it all and we can also be shared at with the feelings and innermost thoughts of anyone who we have any kind of passing acquaintance with through shares, likes and retweets. Everyone has become intimately familiar with how people feel about everything from the latest decision in US government to how people feel about their last drive in traffic to pumpkin spice lattes. This isn’t rocket science and and probably isn’t an original thought but something I have been thinking about lately. In our quest for a more connected world we have closed ranks and become critics, quick to voice our thoughts and our feelings whether or not anyone cares about them. Oversharing to the point where people hide our posts for being ‘annoying’ or irrelevant. We are quick to pass judgement and share our feelings making it more difficult for people to form their own.
We spent the last week hosting friends from Colorado as they enjoyed some Orlando attractions. We took in dinner at Tchoup Chop by Emeril, played Disney-style Mini Golf, went to Epcot and toured Winter Park by boat. Overall, the shine felt like it was off the rose. Have I done too much? Eaten too well? Been overstimulated to boredom? The plating at Emeril’s was sloppy, food overcooked. Disney-golf shabby and in need of refurbishment. Epcot too crowded and the food not tight on the plate because they have to produce so much, so fast. So, I ask, is it me and overly critical thinking? Expectations too lofty? I have to back out and say the time with friends was good and approach it from there-letting the relationships rule the day which is probably how it should be. I have to let the experiences fade into the blue and hope that my expectations relax or I do.
birthday lunch
Cask & Larder is one of my favorites. We don’t go so often that the glow is burnished away and I was able to indulge my whim to try their new lunch menu for Z’s birthday. My parents joined us for this ultimate lunch treat which made it doubly nice. We made a reservation – for a 12:30 pm Saturday lunch. It wasn’t strictly necessary as it was by no means over crowded but I was happy to be seated right away and lost mys
elf in the menu.
We started out with a ‘hillbilly basket’ of crunchy fried things-hushpuppies, really great fried okra, dill pickles and green tomatoes served with a Franks creamy dipping sauce.
I was pretty convinced by the first entree – Nashville Hot Chicken, a sandwich on brioche with Duke’s (seriously southern honey thick) mayo, bread and butter pickle and frisee. This chicken was crispy, hot and sweet and dripping all at the same time. Delicious. (my new favorite word I’ve noticed.) Sadly, a blop of mayo dropped on my plate and I later dropped my phone speaker directly on that spot and my phone is still worse for the wear. But really-just really delicious. A julep cup of barbequed (like chips) curly fries in a massive portion on the side. My mom and dad went crazy with lunches and sides adding in a side of collards (No, thank you) served on ridiculously large grained fluffy grits. How do people get their grits to do that??? And also a side of brisket-y bbq beans which were a bit to al dente for me. The birthday boy had a monstrously large ribeye dog-that’s right-a hotdog made out of ribeye. He ate it up! I had a cocktail too – a little fruity Rosie O’Grady with Bluecoat Gin, Blood Orange liquer, cranberry and five spice bitters. That girl likes her coctails strong! My dad had a sip and his face skwintched up-which is fun memory to remember. Cheers to another year for Z.
Sidenote: If you haven’t tried Cask & Larder for the prices, lunch is a good option. You could keep it at a reasonable price point while still eating like a Southern king.
My Urban Pantry 