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Category Archives: Travel

Newark, NJ…Really?

29 Thursday Nov 2018

Posted by Nor'east Epicurean in Epicurean, New Jersey, Portuguese, Travel, Williams Sonoma

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Brazilian Food, Food, Ironbound District, New Jersey, Newark, Newark Airport, Portuguese Food, Spanish Food, Travel

Homemade Mustard…#Yummy

I’m a bit of a crazed woman at the moment.  I recently read that as a content creator, yes, apparently, that’s what I’m trying to be, I need to publish at least one post a day — actually, the website I read this on the guy was saying multiple times a day. I’m down to 3 minutes left in Wednesday and the odds of this going live before midnight are slim.  I also wanted to write about my mustard, a recipe I was planning to share (and it takes a lot for me to share a ‘secret’ recipe), but I lost the bloody card w/ the recipe jotted down on it. 

I make great mustard.  It’s actually a recipe I adapted from a Williams Sonoma purchase (not really nor’eastern, but a fantastic store none-the-less).  A few years ago, while desperately scouring the one table in the store with ‘deep’ discounts I came across a make your own honey mustard kit.  Ripping open the ‘honey’ package, I realized I was about to dump a bunch of brown sugar into my mustard mixture; I tossed it instead.  While one might say I ruined the whole ‘thing’ I really made a fantastic discovery.  The flavorful mustard I created, which my spice-loving husband can’t get enough of, was amazing.  And, thankfully, for some reason, I jotted down how much flour was in the pre-packaged envelope and how much mustard seed was provided, thus creating my own recipe.  Of course, at this exact moment, when I have 3 minutes left in the day, I can’t find the effing little card the recipe is on. 

Welcome to…Newark Ironbound District!

With that, I’m going to share a cool blog, 
 The #1 Itinerary, I tripped across and an even cooler post. The #1 Itinerary folks have liked a few of my posts and I decided to meander over to the site.  As I was perusing it, I found a really informative write up about the Iron Bound District of Newark, NJ.  The thing about Newark is that it gives the rest of New Jersey a bad rap (yes, I know, everyone from Jersey says that).  But, it really does.  However, if you’re a traveler, it’s probably not uncommon to find yourself, at some point or another, going through Newark Airport.  And, if you’re going through the airport and have a few hours to spare, go to the Iron Bound District…just do it.  It’s a 10 minute cab ride (assuming all goes well with the traffic) and for the food alone, #Yummy, that 10 minutes will be worth your while.

Tales of Newark will be the subject of another post, when I’m not 1+ hours late in posting my ‘blog a day.’ 

Newark Airport

Thank you, as always, for visiting.  For those on the road, I wish you safe travels, smooth sailing, and, of course, bon appetite!

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Surviving Thanksgiving

26 Monday Nov 2018

Posted by Nor'east Epicurean in Epicurean, Holidays, Massachusetts, New England, New Jersey, Thanksgiving, Travel

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Beef Stew, Epicurean, Food, New England, Northeast, Open Fire Cooking, Thanksgiving Travel, Travel

A Thanksgiving Table

Well, we survived Thanksgiving; at least those of us who traveled during the peak Sunday travel period did.  24-hours later, the country is being assaulted by rain and snow.  In reflection, I’m glad to have gone home yesterday.  Ah, hindsight, you are indeed 20/20. 

A Thanksgiving scene from a flick that sticks in my head is Meg Ryan in The Doors (note, link to a great overview of the scene, albeit a bit light on the Meg analyzation). She performs Jim Morrison’s girl friend who has a melt down as she prepares Thanksgiving dinner, banging the duck on the ground, sobbing, “all I wanted to do was have a nice Thanksgiving” or something to that effect.

That’s usually how I feel at the beginning, mid point, and even end of each Thanksgiving we ‘host’ — OK, it’s only happened twice — like a crazy chick banging her bird on the floor wanting something just a bit better, something a bit nicer for the holiday.

The weekend was fine and I only had to deal with a meal for five; three of whom aren’t that picky.  After dinner — I swear the whole time I felt like poor Meg — we lounged about.  Saturday, my sister joined the festivities and hiked with the goats.  We walked through the woods — the cabin has about 80 acres to trudge through — and made a final meal over the fire, Bacalhau Assado.   

Bacalhau Asado 

As promised, we did take videos and I’m now figuring out how to use the software I purchased (which was to eliminate the ads among other actual needed tools — the ads are still there).  We did do a teaser video to send to his friend, included below for test purposes only.  It’s pretty good for the third video created that weekend and kind of amusing. 

For my husband, I’m including a clip I tripped upon while posting the Nor’east Epicurean video, it’s rather apropos as, indeed, the Maker’s Mark was flowing this past week.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=83Q-B6KepX4

I’ll posts more thoughts about Thanksgiving dinner (OMG, the acorn squash thingy was so delicious), which, thankfully, ultimately turned out really great and will update you on our adventures over the coming days/weeks.  And, as  we enter the holiday season, I’m wishing everyone safe travels and, of course, bon appetite. 

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The Turkey Ran Away

22 Thursday Nov 2018

Posted by Nor'east Epicurean in Epicurean, Holidays, Massachusetts, New England, Thanksgiving, Travel

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Epicurean, Food, Massachusetts, Thanksgiving, Travel

Upon Thanksgiving Day…they said they’ll make a feast of me so I shan’t stay….

Earlier in the week, a bunch of Toms ran through our yard.  On the most appropriate of days, here’s a picture of them running…for their dear lives. 

Wishing all my North American Friends the happiest of Thanksgivings. 

And, to all my followers, safe travels and bon appetite!  

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The Great Orchard Hunt

21 Wednesday Nov 2018

Posted by Nor'east Epicurean in Epicurean, Holidays, Massachusetts, New England, Thanksgiving, Travel

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Massachusetts, Thanksgiving, Travel

The fire is roaring, Tony’s entertaining us with his guitar playing, my brother and his family have arrived safely, and the kids are popping popcorn and roasting chestnuts over the open fire.  Another fabulous day. 

We ventured off the hill earlier, in an attempt to make our way to the local orchard.  There’s one a few miles away, Breezeland Orchard, but it was closed for the season; we zipped past another, but I was driving too fast and we couldn’t tell if it were open.  Then, as we were going through downtown Brookfield, we saw a promising sign for Brookfield Orchards – café open year-round.Things were looking up.  

Brookfield Orchards

After an idyllic drive through the the Brookfields – I say that as, yes, there is a Brookfield proper, a North Brookfield and a West Brookfield; didn’t drive through or see an East or South Brookfield, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they existed – we ambled upon the orchard with ‘The Happy Apple’.  With acres of trees, the family who operates the land and facility really have it going on. The area along the orchard itself is lined with playground equipment for those with kids and the shop is part bakery, part yard sale and part purveyors of local fare.  And the family running it was super sweet to the extent that they opened a bag of cider donuts and pulled one out as for me as I didn’t want to buy the whole bag.

Upon arriving home, we watered and fed the goats and hens –they’re Red Rhode Island Hens…who knew?!?  Restocked the firewood for the evening (we’re going through the wood) and served a sumptuous beef stew to the relations.

Tomorrow is the big day; I’ll be busy burning food…err,cooking so I’m not sure I’ll be posting. That said, I want those traveling to their friends and family tomorrow to be safe and, of course, I wish you all bon appetite.

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Pizza Zio Franciso

20 Tuesday Nov 2018

Posted by Nor'east Epicurean in Holidays, Massachusetts, New England, Pizza, Travel

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Massachusetts, Thanksgiving, Thanksgiving Travel

I’m officially on holiday, much needed if I do say so myself.  We started the day with an amazing breakfast and ended it with a stew cooked over the fire; #yummy.  In between, Tony made pizza in the hearth while I worked.

We were able to shoot video — pretty good thus far, but not uploaded to the cloud yet. Please bear with us, we are on top of a hill in the middle of the woods operating off of ½ – 1 bar of reception with about 4 machines going at any one time – yes, we are two people who need to learn how to disconnect.  I also need to get some sort of video editing software which I think I’m on top of, but their ‘packages’ are a bit weird…we shall see.

I’m holding off on editing in order to inspire you with my pithy words of, ‘I’m in Massachusetts, here’s what I ate.’ However, if I post a video with this article it will be a raw, unedited version to see how the process works and the end product renders.  That said, today’s food adventures included:

  • Pizza Zio Francisco:  Tony’s Uncle Frank loved making pizza on the grill;that was just one of the many things he wowed us with when we went to visit himin Florida.  In honor of his uncle, Tony made pizza over the open fire, using some sort of pita bread – with a fancy name so they could charge more.  For dinner,we had a beautiful stew. OMG so good.
  • Gingersnaps: Apparently, Tony loves gingersnaps, he’s been chomping on them since we’ve arrived which is odd as he pretty much has eliminated most processed foods from his diet.  This is also odd as I made gingersnaps as part of my holiday baking last year (I usually make at least 500 cookies each season for Tony’s students…that’s really not a lot, my relatives in Minnesota make north of 1500 cookies around the holidays…each not combined).
  • Lodge Fire Mittens:With all our (hmm, hmm…Tony’s) cooking over the flames and my mucking about in the fire; mittens are needed.  Mary Jane of course has fire proof mittens which Tony has embraced.  I’ve yet to singe myself but am envisioning that coming soon.

I’m off to figure out the video editing software. For those traveling tomorrow, I wish you safe travels and, of course, bon appetite

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