fish – Loving Food, Fashion, & Life

I Think I've Made Enough Trips To Cheddar's

Posted on December 21, 2013 by LFFL

I’ve made enough trips to Cheddar’s that I’m on a first-name basis with some of the crew. That’s how you know you’ve shown your face one too many times.

Enjoy the plethora of my visits.

Honey Butter Croissants

Chips with Spinach Dip & Queso

Mozzarella Cheese Sticks

Honey Butter Croissants, Chips with Queso & Spinach Dip, Mozzarella Cheese Sticks

I can never get enough of the honey butter croissants, that’s for sure. No matter what I order from the menu, I guarantee the honey butter croissants are making an appearance in my mouth at each visit.

Chicken Tortilla Soup

Cornmeal Catfish with Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Monte Cristo with French Fries

Mushroom Swiss Cheeseburger

Philly Cheesesteak with Honey Butter Croissant & Broccoli Cheese Casserole

Chicken Tortilla Soup, Cornmeal Catfish, Monte Cristo, Mushroom Swiss Cheeseburger, Philly Cheesesteak

Chicken & Waffles

Chicken Pot Pie

Chicken Fajita Quesadilla with Chicken Tortilla Soup

Grilled Chicken Alfredo with garlic bread

Chicken Tender Platter with Onion Rings & French Fries

Chicken & Waffles, Chicken Pot Pie, Chicken Fajita Quesadilla, Grilled Chicken Alfredo, Chicken Tender Platter

Shepherd’s Pie

Baked Spasagna with garlic bread

Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding

Shepherd’s Pie, Baked Spasagna, Chocolate Croissant Bread Pudding

So, if you have nothing else to do today, take yourself to the nearest Cheddar’s and enjoy a feast of food along with the honey butter croissants.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Look at all the fun you can have when you work your way down the menu.

Still Loving The Diner

Posted on November 3, 2013 by LFFL

Burrito Platter served with Spanish rice and soupy beans.

Here are more of my little trips to my hometown diner. Such yummy good food.

Catfish Fillet with tartar sauce and a side of Cabbage, Corn Nuggets, Ham & Beans, and Cornbread.

Chicken Fillet Sandwich

Chicken Fillet sandwich deep-fried with cheddar jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and pickles.

This here is why I like dealing with the same one or two servers over and over once they know me well enough and I realize they are really good at their jobs.

The day I ordered the chicken sandwich on the left, I specifically called-in my order and asked for LETTUCE ONLY with my sandwich. I told them to leave off the pickles and tomatoes.

As you can see, my sandwich came with the usual on it—EVERYTHING.

Another day I called-in and ordered the chicken sandwich on the right and specifically asked for LETTUCE ONLY. I told the person what happened the last time I ordered and she said she would check the order herself personally AND give me EXTRA lettuce even.

Now as you can plainly see, the one on the right came with absolutely NOTHING on it. I even looked under the bun to make sure the lettuce wasn’t hidden inside the sandwich somewhere. Needless to say, I didn’t get the EXTRA lettuce she said she’d give me because I didn’t even get the regular lettuce they normally put on it.

Unfortunately when I placed my orders, I couldn’t ask for the person who usually takes care of me because he had already gone home for the day. So I just placed my order with whomever answered the phones on both occasions.

I cannot understand how I can be so specific, thorough, and detailed—even down to explaining how my order was screwed up the last time, only to have it screwed up again!

French Toast

Apple Pie

French Toast made with thick-cut egg bread dipped in egg, topped with whipped butter and powdered sugar; served with maple syrup.

A slice of Apple Pie.

Another day I walk into my local diner and I’m standing at the counter for 5 long minutes waiting to place an order to-go. I turn and I see a diner pow-wow meeting or gossip-fest of some sort going on.

I’m not sure what it was, but no one even looked up to say hi or take my order. After 5 minutes of standing there, someone else in the restaurant (who was NOT part of this group) finally came and helped me. Unbelievable.

But, nevertheless, I still love my local hometown diner.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, continue to frequent your favorite diner even if you get irritated every now and again with the little mistakes that keep happening to you.

Take-Away Life Lesson: We’re all only human.

Swai Fish & Veggies

Posted on October 15, 2013 by LFFL

Made with Swai fish fillet and fish seasoning, sweet potatoes with marshmallows, stuffing, greens & spinach with onions, and tartar sauce made with mayonnaise and sweet pickle relish.

So, if you have nothing else to do today, make some good old southern comfort food for yourself.

Take-Away Life Lesson: If you forget to buy tartar sauce, you can always make your own if you have mayonnaise and pickle relish lying around.

Halibut With Artichoke & Olive Caponata

Posted on August 22, 2013 by LFFL

Artichoke & Olive Caponata made with red onion, celery, artichokes, capers, kalamata olives, tomatoes, raisins, red wine vinegar, olive oil, sugar, and salt & pepper.

This was new and different. I can’t say there was anything fascinating about it, but it was good. It gave the fish a little kick. It doesn’t have a home in my recipe book though so I probably won’t be making it again.

Halibut fillet seasoned with olive oil, salt & pepper; topped with artichoke & olive caponata and parsley; served with corn and spinach.

Recipe for—Halibut with Artichoke & Olive Caponata

So, if you have nothing else to do today, try making a fancy topping for your fish fillet.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Anything with fish is better than eating a plain fish.

Balsamic-Glazed Salmon

Posted on August 5, 2013 by LFFL

Made with Alaskan wild caught salmon seasoned with olive oil, salt & pepper; topped with a glaze made with balsamic vinegar, maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and garlic; on top of snap peas, edamame, shallots, and garlic; served with corn and spinach.

How simple can it get?

Recipe for—Balsamic-Glazed Salmon

So, if you have nothing else to do today, eat a simple and healthy dinner like this.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Always use wild caught fish rather than farmed. It’s supposed to be better for you.

Cod & Cornbread

Posted on August 3, 2013 by LFFL

Broiled Cod with Béchamel Sauce made with cod fish filets, Pinot Grigio white wine, parmesan cheese, milk, flour, butter, nutmeg, and salt & pepper.

With this recipe, I used cod fish filets instead of the halibut fish that the recipe calls for. I figured, a white fish is a white fish.

I’m also still new to cooking with wine. So I had never put an ENTIRE bottle of wine into a pan before to cook with. Even though it was mixed with 2 cups of water, I was concerned I would have fish that tasted totally like alcohol with me in a drunken stupor in the end.

NOT the case. I was totally surprised I didn’t taste any alcohol at all. I would never have guessed this was cooked in wine at all. I love when I learn something new all the time.

Recipe for—Broiled Halibut with Béchamel Sauce

Scallion & Mozzarella Cornbread made with cornbread mix, scallions, smoked mozzarella cheese, plain mozzarella cheese, corn, sun-dried tomatoes, pimiento-stuffed green olives, buttermilk, butter, and eggs.

Well, with this cornbread, you might as well say I left out the olives. The recipe calls for 10 chopped green olives, but I could only bring myself to chop up 2. So what was the point? I hate olives. But I did give it a go the best I could.

I think this would have had a little more kick to it if only I had added some crispy turkey bacon in the mix. Just the thought!

Recipe for—Scallion & Mozzarella Cornbread

So, if you have nothing else to do today, try boiling your favorite fish in a bottle of wine to see if you notice any subtle differences.

Take-Away Life Lesson: Cooking with wine doesn’t necessarily mean the food will taste just like wine does straight from a bottle. No need to think you’ll have a hangover the next day.

Postin' Up Shop At The Cracker Barrel

Posted on March 28, 2013 by LFFL

Grilled Chicken n’ Summertime Vegetable Salad

Smothered Grilled Chicken Tenderloin

Grilled Reuben Platter

Meatloaf Dinner

Farm-Raised Catfish Platter

Chicken n’ Dumplins Platter

Homestyle Chicken

Momma’s Pancake Breakfast

Turkey n’ Dressing

Fried Pork Chops

Meatloaf Dinner

Friday Fish Fry

Chicken Tenderloin Dinner

What can I say? I love food. This is sad proof I was eating at the Cracker Barrel on almost a daily basis (and these are only from some of my visits). I was on a roll—breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I’m smart enough to know that when I’m on a first-name basis with the entire crew that it’s time to start reeling it back in. You know you’re hangin’ out way too much when you know the dishwasher’s name who stays in the ‘back-of-the-house’ and never comes out to see the light of day.

I was also too afraid to count how much money in total I spent from all my visits—so I opted not to. Why do I want to feel the pangs of knowing I could have purchased a new car at this point? I try my best to not over-do it, but in the end I just love food too much. And I love life too much not to enjoy it!

So, if you have nothing else to do today, move into the local Cracker Barrel (or one of your favorite homestyle eateries) and get to know the crew.

Enjoy the scrumptious cell-phone-quality pics. Wish you could have been there! What are some of your daily favorite eateries?

Take-Away Life Lesson: Bring an overnight bag and just spend the night on the Cracker Barrel porch.