A FRIDGE FULL OF FOOD...

Knitting for the NICU: Happy Thanksgiving 2010

 

Happy Thanksgiving from our fine feathered little friends in the nursery!

Springfield Restaurant Reviews: Riad Part II

 

  Okay, this is the part where I take back my first review and say that I've been back to Riad several times now and have been welcomed, received great service, and wonderful food.  So to all my friends who begged me to "try one more time" I thank you.  Riad's is a wonderful restaurant and now one of my favorite places to run in for dinner.

I would like to say a quick thanks to the first server who changed my mind, Frankie.  The visit where I decided "Just one more time" became the turning point when Frankie was my server/bartender.  She was warm and friendly, and very enthusiastic about her employer.  That says a lot.  The last couple of times I've been in, I've had a different server, just as friendly and efficient, but I've forgotten her name (sorry!)

I've also been much happier with the food the last few times.  I'm not sure what happened between the first couple of times I patronized the restaurant and the last few but whatever it is, I'll take it.  I enjoy the appetizer plates and each dish that I've had recently has been much more what I had expected as compared to my first visit: the pita warm and fresh, the hummus with enough garlic to bite back but soothed by the chickpea paste and tahini, the pizza topped with tender gyros meat, feta, and olives for a perfect taste combination, and the baklava deliciously decadent.

I definitely recommend Riad's now and will continue to dine there as well.

 

 

World's Largest Edible Scene: Halloween Haunted House

 This video is almost 10 minutes long, but for cake decorators it's absolutely amazing.  75 cake decorators, 48 hours, 1,000 lbs of cake, and 3,000 lbs of fondant to complete at the Oklahoma State Fair Grounds this past October 4-5, 2010.

 

 

There's a Reason it's a Cliche

 

Due in January, very pregnant Ashley's dinner the other night at work.  She said "It just all looked good to me!"  Uh huh.  There's a reason behind the cliche. No ice cream, but biscuits and sausage gravy, dill pickles, and a fried mozzarella stick with marinara sauce.  This baby is going to be soooooo confused but very adventurous with food!

Just For Fun

 

Holli's Birthday: Lady John Deere Cake

 

  Happy Sweet 16th Birthday to our niece (okay, really 2nd cousin or some such whatever but niece is more the relationship)  Holli Meadows.  Poor kid has a pre-Halloween birthday so she has at times gotten lost in the shuffle but not anymore.  Last year, along with Halloween chili and treats, I made a Twilight themed cake which blended in well. This year, Holli said she'd love a lady John Deere theme which worked out well as a family funny.  Everyone knew Holli had just had her birthday but everyone kept wondering why I'd put a John Deere hat on a cake board on the Halloween dessert table. We didn't even realize how many people didn't realize it was a cake until Gene and I compared notes after the party. At least a half dozen people had no idea it was a cake rather than just a JD ball cap. Once we cut it people were standing around with their jaws dropped and then grabbing pieces of coconut layer cake to dessert on. What a compliment!!! Holli and I were thrilled. 

Along with the cake, Gene and I got her a lady John Deere purse (see pics below for the purse) in the same pink/brown theme that my friend Misty Starnes has and loves. 

Happy Birthday Holli Girl!

For pics of the cake construction process, click below.