Boy, I just love Danny's Meats on 4 Mile Rd. & Erie St. in Racine. Great meats, friendly staff and his specials can't be beat!
Danny is now offering (special price on Wednesday's only--regular price every other day) a full rack of ribs for $12.95--prepared and yummy!
I can't make them myself for that price!!

Stop in, grab a rack or two and take them home for dinner!!

Let me know what you think!!

Well, the girls and I headed out Saturday afternoon, picked up my Sis and went over to Antigua Restaurant on 58th & Burnham in West Allis for an early dinner before attending the Dead Sea Scrolls exhibit at the Museum.

Mark was left on his own, so he headed over to Oh' Dennis in Racine for a rack of some of the best ribs you'll ever eat! If you haven't tried Oh' Dennis and you love ribs, you gotta get there. It's kind of a dive looking bar on Douglas Ave near 3 Mile Rd but they serve up not only great ribs, but an assortment of upscale food you wouldn't expect from a bar.

I really like Antigua. We try to get there about 3 times a year. It is a Latin restaurant which features food from not only Mexico, but Cuba, Ecuador, Peru and so on. They have a nice Tapas menu if you'd like to dine on small bites and a full lunch and dinner menu. The one thing that really sets them apart is the fact that you get an assortment of appetizers when you arrive, rather than the standard chips n salsa you get at most Latin places. They usually have 4 different apps, 1 of each per person in your group, and they are items like mango & cheese quesadilla wedges, potato croquettes, empanadas etc. Also, if you notify the wait person that you plan to pay cash, you also get either chips n salsa or queso n chips.

My sister, Dawn, enjoyed Cochina Pibil--a Yucatan style shredded pork, Marissa had Enchiladas Roja, Hannah had Salmon con Zarzamoras (Blackberry Sauce) and I had Encocao de Camerones--and Ecuador-style shrimp in a peanut and coconut milk sauce. We enjoyed everything although I have to say, my dish was a little too sweet for me--but that is my personal taste.

One thing, though, when you go to Antigua--if they are busy, they are quick to bring your food. If they are not, they tend to reallllly slow down the pace. Be certain to tell your wait person if you have plans and a time frame.

Get out and eat--try new places and tell me about them. I look forward to reading your comments!!

Thanks and Good Eatin'

I love to read cookbooks--read them like novels. I always find something I didn't know or something interesting I'd like to try.
My favorite cookbook of recent itmes is one that I've talked alot about in my classes, in fact, someone from one of my classes told me about it..."   Artisan Bread in 5 Minutes a Day" 
by Jeff Hertzberg and Zoe Francois

If you like to bake bread or even if you just like to eat bread, then this is the book for you!!
They teach you a method of making a very wet bread dough that is mixed by hand and that does not need to be kneaded. You don't have the proofing and testing and you can keep most of the doughs in the fridge up to 14 days or you can freeze the dough and bake it whenever you want.
So, mix up a batch (most doughs in the book make enough for 4-6 loaves), let it rise for 2 hours, cut off a chunk and bake it!! Place the rest in the fridge and cut off a chunk whenever you want a fresh loaf. It really is that simple.

I have the first book--now they have a second one out that has gluten free recipes in it. My neighbor has this one. Great books!!

Another book that is entertaining to read is Julia Child's "Mastering the Art of French Cooking". With the movie "Julia & Julia" being such a hit, this book and French Cooking have come back in a big way. The book is fun and interesting to read.

In February, I am hosting French Cooking Classes at numerous locations. They are selling out everywhere--in fact, I've added a second date in Caledonia...Thursday, February 25. Print the registration form right off of the Caledonia page of my website. You don't have to be a Caledonia or Racine resident to attend. So if you miss it elsewhere, you can catch it here!!

I have a couple of Cuban Cookbooks by the "Three Guys from Miami". Full color, and full of great stories to go with the recipes along with dialog between the authors. If you've ever wanted to learn a bit about Cuban food--these are great books (you could also come to my Cuban classes in April)!!

As far as magazines go, I really like "Cuisine at Home". It's a full color magazine with no ads. Great recipes that are really well tested, do-able for most people and they go into the science behind the recipes--why they work and don't work. I've had a subscription to this one since 2003 and have purchased all the back issues prior to that. I look forward to it and read it the first night I get it.

I also really like "Cook's Illustrated", basically for the same reasons I like Cuisine at Home.

Please let me know about cookbooks you've found and magazines you like--let's build a food community and share our finds with everyone!!

Thanks and Good Eatin'

I, like everyone, sometimes just get stuck with what I feel like making for dinner. It's easy to get trapped into making the same things over and over again, because its quick or easy. Sometimes my family will give me suggestions but more often than not, they'll say "whatever you make is just fine".
So, how do I decide what to make...well, I think about what I've made in the past month and try not to repeat. I think about what I really like, or what I'd like to try, or maybe what I've had lately in a restaurant or something I read about in a magazine.
Last night was one of those nights--didn't have a class scheduled, but had several appt's during the day and one as late as 5:30pm. Well, everyone knows how much I hate winter, and as I was running all over in the cold yesterday I started thinking about going somewhere warm, and then it hit me--Mexican Food for dinner! So, in between appt's I scanned the cupboard and found I had the ingredients for Cheese & Onion Enchiladas with Ancho Chile Sauce. Whipped up the sauce between appts, assembled the enchiladas between some other appt's and left a note for hubby to put them in the oven during the 5:30pm appt. so they were ready when I got home. Last little thing I did was crumble a small piece of day old bread, saute it in some butter and then toss it with crushed red pepper flakes and lemon zest. Threw these croutons on some mixed greens with a handful of nuts and had a quick salad to go with the enchiladas. Meatless, cheap, easy and made me feel like I was in Mexico if only for a minute.
Keep some good basics in your cupboard and fridge like assorted chiles, artichoke hearts, olives, oils & vinegars, bread, pasta, rice, cheeses, lemons, limes etc etc and you'll always be able to whip up a quick, tasty dinner.

Hello Everyone!
I have been thinking about doing this for a long time. I thought it would be fun to blog about all stuff foodie from places I've been to places I'd like to go, recipes I've tried and so on and so on...

Plus, I'd love to read & post your comments, again, on all stuff foodie. Tell us about restaurants you've tried, not only here, but everywhere. Recipes you've tried--good or bad, cookbooks, magazines etc. etc.

I am always looking to try new places and our family's guideline is that if it's within 3 hours drive time one way--we'll head there. We also love to travel so I keep a running list of places we'd like to try in different cities around the U.S.
For instance--hubby & I are heading to Miami & the Keys for a few nights this spring to celebrate our 20th. One place that has been on our list of "must eat there" is Benny's in Miami. It's a Puerto Rican Restaurant that has been profiled on Diners, Drive-ins & Dives and Guy Fieri said that the Mofongo (house speciality) is the best thing he's ever eaten in his life. I can't wait to try it!!

Now, we've been to alot of great places and since this is my first blog I'm just gonna list every one I can think of. Let me know if you've been to any of them, if you liked or disliked and any places you like better!!

Ok, Frank's Diner in Kenosha--a little tiny place that serves BIG food like their "Garbage Plate" a pile of everything breakfast, their Cinnamon Rolls are outstanding and the Frank's Diner Bread reminds me of a homemade bread my Grandma used to make. Frank's is located at 508 58th St in Kenosha. Check out their website at www.franksdinerkenosha.com Hours are limited and waits can be long--but its worth it!!

Another place for breakfast we've been to lately is Yuni's Avenue Cafe which is located just east of Hwy. 31 on Washington Ave. in Racine. Really friendly atmosphere, great food and reasonable.

Love Chez Jacques in Milwaukee on 1st St. near the Allen Bradley Clocktower. French Bistro that is again great for breakfast/brunch. Quiche to die for and I love the Croque Madame. check it out at
www.chezjacques.com 

Lately we've been heading to Chicago to eat. We love Cemitas Puebla located at 3619 W. North Ave. 60647  This little place was featured on my Fav show Diners, Drive-ins and Dives as having authentic Puebla-style Mexican food. Fantastic!!
Chalupas, yum! Tacos Arabes (pork) double YUMYUM!!
The place is tiny, long line out the door, stand over people and stare at them while they are eating so they get up and leave and you can get their table--there's only about 8 tables.

Al's Chicago Beef--located all over Chicago. You like Chicago-style beef sandwiches then you gotta get to Al's.

Love to go to Royal Dragon in Chicago's Chinatown for Dim sum. 2225 S. Wentworth Ave. 60616
The Rice in Lotus Leaves is worth the trip alone. We eat em there and take more home.

Pat's Pizzeria at 2679 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago, IL 60614   THE BEST thin crust pizza bar none! It's so thin it cracks like a cracker. Plus, all of their other Italian food is great, too. My hubby loves their Linguines with Clams--he says mine is the only other Linguine with Clams that can rival Pat's.

Best place we've tried in Chicago lately was Lucky's Sandwiches by Wrigley Field. They modeled their sandwiches after world famous Primonte's in Pittsburgh (we are heading there this summer). You get your choice of meat on Italian Bread with tomatoes, cole slaw and fries all on the sandwich. Hubby was in sandwich nirvana!!  www.luckysandwich.com
Be warned, sandwiches are cheap--$7-$8 each--3 of us ate for about $30-- but parking was $20. It's Chicago--you just deal with it!!

Yesterday we headed out to Madison to try Fat Sandwiches on State St.--My nephew has been raving about it, so we felt we had to go. Hmmm...not so good! Sandwiches took forever and they were not busy. When we got them, they were cool to cold and had no real flavor. Kinda disappointing.
Of course, my nephew thinks that White Castle are the greatest burgers ever!
So, I don't think I'll be taking any of his suggestions again anytime soon!!  :)

Other places we like...
Il Ritrovo in Sheboygan. Only restaurant in WI certified by Naples Italy to serve authentic Italian Pizza. Oh yeah, this place is definitely worth the trip. A little pricey--it's not $5.99 Dominos

We also like Cruisers in Sheboygan for burgers.

Sticky Rice in Racine for Thai food.

Yard Arm Bar & Grill and Ivanhoes in Racine for Pub food.

Wells Bros Pizza in Racine for the thinest crust pizza next to Pat's in Chicago. Awesome, unbelieveable pizza but the area is terrible. We ONLY go there when its daylight and there is always a Racine Sheriff outside overlooking the parking/restaurant. I think it adds to the flavor!!

We've been to Molly Cool's on Old World Third a couple of times lately. Really good seafood.

Last for today...we hit Cempazuchi on Brady St. in Milwaukee last weekend. Featured on Diners--great, very authentic Oaxacan Mexican Cuisine. I loved it. Hubby said his Tamale was best he ever ate. Hannah had a burrito that was bigger than she is. Marissa, nacho queen, had their version of nachos and on a scale of 1-10 she gave them a 10. I had Enchiladas Oaxacanos--wonderful layered enchiladas with red sauce. Always remember when eating a more authentic style of Mexican--its not that spicy Tex Mex we grew up on. The food tends to be milder, with more beans and fresh produce. 
The owner of Cempazuchi travels to Mexico once a year and brings back more authentic fav's to share at his restaurant.

Ok, I said that was the last one, but I really like Mimmas on Brady, too.

Now thats it!!