Travels in the South

I’ve told you before my friends.  My mom and dad have lost it. Totally.  This past weekend was one of “those” adventures – snorts.  They were looking for some adventure and wanted to try a place they had never been to before.  So they took off in Albert, mom’s little Smart car, and hit the highway.  Almost sounds like a song huh – snorts.

They ended up at this place called Mellow Mushroom – it’s a pizza joint which was right up dad’s alley.  He ❤ pizza.  Mom was somewhat reluctant.  First off because they sat right beside exhibit A to the left.  Pardon me while I say this but does that ‘mushroom’ look psychedelic?  It was kind of disturbing in a weird sense of direction.  Mom couldn’t take her eyes off of it.  There was just something about it that was just plain weird.

 That’s when mom got up to take a closer look at the psychedelic mushroom.   

It’s not all its cracked up to be – double snorts.  You get it – cracked up.  It really is around the head area.  What kind of restaurant is this place?  Mom shook her head, snapped a couple of pictures and sat down preparing herself for a psychedelic adventure.

P.S.  If you are ever out and about and see some crazy lady taking pictures at a restaurant, just call her mom.  That will probably be my crazy mom – she takes pictures of *everything* as you will soon see in this post.

Shakes piggy head.  At least it’s not all about me now.

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Mom has been on this DIEt thing lately.  It’s going okay. As she says, it’s all about choices.  So today she choose a Greek salad to start her meal.

Exhibit B to the left here.  She says if she starts with a good salad, it fills her so she doesn’t eat too much of a bad thing.

Which is good – I guess if you are living a DIEt kind of life.  Mom did say that this salad was delicious!  It had everything she loves – lettuce, mushrooms (which didn’t look scary like exhibit A), olives, peppers and feta cheese.

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Dad on the other hoof, went with a cheese covered pretzel.  See exhibit C here to the right.  Not only was it delicious and cheesy, they served it with a beer cheese dipping sauce.  It must have been great because daddy licked the cheese sauce dry and there were no crumbs left from the pretzel.

 Which is good because mommy kept watching him waiting for something to drop.  So much for eating a nice decent sensible salad huh?

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Now came the main course.  Mom and dad can never agree upon toppings for their pizza.  There solution is to always get a pie 1/2 and 1/2.  That way mom can have what she wants and dad can have what he wants.  May I present to you exhibit D to the left.  Drum roll – tongue hanging out – deliciousness.

Mom got the top side.  She ❤ white pizza with cheese, garlic and tomatoes – what’s not to love right?

Dad on the other hoof got the bottom side.  He gets the works… something this little piggy can’t discuss and think about.  But it looks good.  Of course a lot of pizza made it’s way home for lunch the next day.

You have to admit though, mom had hesitation at first with seeing the psychedelic mushroom – or maybe it was because of the psychedelic mushroom – the food was delicious!

 

National Pretzel Day

Journalist Rocky the Squirrel here –

Keeping his paws on the nuts of the world –

Today is National Pretzel Day – what a way to celebrate pretzels of all shapes and sizes.  How do you like your pretzels?  Straight, twisted, hard, soft, thick or thin?  Then think of all the different flavors you can get – cinnamon, raisin, salted, sesame, chocolate, jalapeno, bacon wrapped, stuffed with peanut butter, sour dough – served with mustard or cheese? AND let’s not forget about pretzel wrapped hot dogs – mmm.   Do you eat them straight out of the bag or do you prepare your own and bake them in the oven?

Pretzels are believed to be the world’s oldest snack and date back as far as 610 AD in Southern France. Monks baked thin strips of dough into the shape of a child’s arms folded in prayer. Add a little salt, and Voila! …the pretzel industry was born.

Pretzels also symbolize good fortune, bringing prosperity and spiritual wholeness with every bite. Wedding couples fell into the practice of breaking a pretzel, much like one might break a wishbone on Thanksgiving.  The person with the larger piece was assured domestic happiness. The pretzel, over time, came to symbolize the “tying of the marriage knot.”

 

Dear Bacon

Dear Bacon – I need some help.  I experience a lot of road rage when I’m driving these days.  Any suggestions?  Signed Mad Cat

Dear Mad Cat – First of all let’s just start with, what the heck are you thinking?  Step away from the back of the wheel.  That might be the problem in itself.  You should not be driving my furry little animal.  Leave that crazy behavior to the humans.

Step away!

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Dear Bacon – Just to show you, you’re not the only little four legged animal to be surfing the net.  I’m forever doing it myself while the missus sits on the couch behind me watching television.  Man, we can learn a lot from that internet, can’t we?  Signed Dog in Charge

Dear Dog in Charge – You got that right my friend.  The internet is huge.  Some of the things I find are unreal!  I’m glad to see you computer savvy.  I may have to get you to write an article for my blog!

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Dear Bacon – The humans – they are so funny… well they think they are.  The master put this watermelon on my head and then called me a melon head.  I don’t get it.  Do you?  Signed Melon Head

Dear Melon Head – I don’t get the saying but I do get the watermelon.  I love me some watermelon.  They can put it on my little head but it won’t stay there that long.  I will eat that watermelon rind in about 3 minutes flat!

Yum – Yum!

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Dear Bacon – As you know, when we find that comfy spot – we go for it.  This is how the master found me.  But I was good.   Really, I was.  Signed Contortionist Pooch

❤

Dear Contortionist Pooch – WOW – that is quite the pretzel sleep look you got going there.  I’m all about getting into that one position that makes the Sandman come but that takes the top spot.  I don’t really have that kind of flexibility with you know my pot belly and everything.

You actually might have a career in the circus with the way that you can bend.  It kind of makes me hurt just looking at that position.

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Dear Bacon – You know how they say people wear their hearts on their sleeves?  Well, I wear mine on my hind quarters.  What do you think?  Signed Love

Dear Love – I have to admit I snorted and giggled.  That was funny my friend.  That is quite the birthmark you have there.  I think it’s kind of cute.  I like it my friend!  Wear it with pride.

 

Shopping Around the World

This month we are focusing on desserts/cookies or other yummy treats that you create or love to eat this time of the year.  This holiday season has been a little challenged here at the Hotel Thompson – with mom’s surgery, recuperation and other trying things that showed their ugly head.  Usually mom fixes this dessert, boxes them up in little Chinese containers that are decorated with pictures of us anipals and hands them out.  This year, she just didn’t get a chance to play around and have fun.  BUT she wanted to share this recipe because it’s fun and the treats are delicious!

So here is mom –

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What you will need:  bag of shelled pecan halves ($7.00); bag of Rolo candies ($4.00); and a bag of square pretzels ($3.00) = total cost $14.00

The most time consuming part of this recipe is unwrapping all of the Rolo’s.  Usually I will sit in front of the television with a two bowls – one for wrappers and one for the unwrapped Rolo’s.  Watch some television and start unwrapping.  It makes it go faster.  Trust me, this is the annoying part.

After you are done, get out a cookie sheet and wrap it with aluminum wrap.  Put your square pretzels on it and put one Rolo on top of all of the pretzels.  Your oven needs to be set at like 200 degrees.  Place the pan in the oven for about 2-3 minutes, until you see the Rolo’s getting soft.  Take them out and immediately push a pecan half on top of the pretzel.  We call these Reindeer noses.  Cute huh?

Now make a mental note.  Don’t put so many pretzels on the tray with Rolo’s that when you take them out of the oven they soften before you can put the pecan half on them.  I can usually do about three trays with the ingredients above.  Happy eats!

 

Dear Bacon

Dear Bacon,
I’ve read your column recommending yoga and how everyone thinks its the best thing since sliced bread. I’m not a fan. I’m not sure what this position was suppose to be but it’s not natural. I guess it’s not meant for everyone.

Signed Pretzel

Dear Pretzel,
Well, you do look like you’re a little tied up there. What’s it like to be able to kiss your own butt? Snort

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Dear Bacon,
So I walked into a bar and ordered a beer. What’s wrong with that? I’m of age. Why not think its strange that the bartender served me?

Why does it have to be me with a problem?

Signed Cheers

Dear Cheers,

I don’t see a problem with that. If you can (A) walk into a bar; (B) order your own beer; (C) sit at the bar and (D) drink it, I say you deserve it. I salute you!

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 Dear Bacon,
Do you ever have one of those days that you don’t know if your coming/going? If you need to eat or go wizzy? I had a moment and of course my dad had to take a picture. Who knows where it will show up next on the Internet. Signed Two Birds With One Stone

Dear Two Birds With One Stone,
Hey little man, no worries. Sometimes life happens. You’re hungry and you have to go. I’ll tell you a little secret. At times when I go wizzy for mom on my piggy pad, she will feed me a carrot while I’m going. Hey, whatever you gotta do my friend for food, do it.

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Dear Bacon,
I’m like you. I have a short leg challenge. There’s lots of things I can’t do either because of those challenged little legs. I found the perfect solution – stilts. They do take some getting used to but hey no more short legs. You gotta get a pair of these things and try them. Signed Vertically Challenged

Dear Vertically Challenged,
You do look a lot taller. Mine would have to be taller. You know, to make room for my garage of a belly. 🙂 snort They do look like fun. I’m wondering if I could get mom to make me some for fun? I’ll keep you posted.

 

 

 

Travels in the South

Doesn’t that look delicious?  A couple of weeks back mom/dad were craving pizza which is unusual.  Well not for dad.  He’s always craving pizza of any sort.  But mom, she never craves pizza.  So when she does, dad takes full advantage of the situation.  So today I’m going to let daddy finish this Travels with the South.

When the wifey craves pizza, I know exactly where to head to make us both happy.  There is a local pizza joint that has stuffed crust pizza.  The wife loves stuffed crust – all of that extra cheese in the crust of the pizza.  It somehow makes eating pizza seem so much more of a delightful experience.  This day I even went one step further for my honey.  This pizza place also offers seasoned crusts.  So today I got stuffed crust with a pretzel crust.  Can you say yum because that’s exactly what we both said… almost at the same time.

And we know that I’m a meat eater so I added my favorite toppings:  pepperoni, italian sausage, ham, bacon, beef and black olives.  I have to admit that this pizza came out amazing!  Even the waitstaff was drooling.

 

Travels in the South

If you had to describe comfort in a picture, this would be mom’s.  It doesn’t look pretty but mom says it is totally awesome.  What is it you ask?  This creation is called Chocolate Cream Pie and it’s found out a place called Waffle House.  They don’t have them all of the time.  Usually they have them in the freezer and they forget to put them out – snorts with piggy laughter.  But mom loves this pie.  It’s her comfort pie.

She hasn’t had one lately.  This picture was actually taken several weeks ago.  But every once in a while, mom still looks at this picture and dreams about how good it tastes.

Do you have ‘comfort’ food like mom?  If so, what kind?  Please share my sweet friends. ❤

 

Travels in the South

Welcome my friends to another edition of Travels in the South.  Today I want to share something with you that my mom recently found.  She was so intrigued by this that she had to buy a bag for her and dad to try.  They are cashews which are already yummy.  But these cashews are roasted with blueberries, cranberries and quinoa (which mom has always wanted to try).  Mom and dad had one word to explain the taste.  Are you ready for that one word?  Here is goes – YUMMY!   Mom found these at the local Cracker Barrel restaurant.  If you have a Cracker Barrel in your area, pick yourself up a bag.  They are so very tasty!

 

Travels in the South

Welcome friends to another week of Travels in the South.  This week it’s not a highlight of a restaurant.  Oh no.  It’s a highlight of a product that mom found in the store that me and dad can’t get enough of – can you say yummy!?

Mom has seen commercials on the television for this item – Skippy P.B. Bites – don’t they look awesome?  And you know that me and dad are *huge* peanut butter fans.  Neither one of us can get enough of the creamy or crunchy stuff.  We love both.  Mom had a coupon for a bucket of these bites.  With the coupon and them being on sale, mom paid right around $1.50.  It is a small container but there are lots of creamy balls in it – licks piggy lips.  I know that so didn’t sound right.  But take my word for it, these are delicious!

AND they come in two different flavors that mom saw at the market.  These which are double peanut butter and then they have pretzel peanut butter.  Right now, mom has learned something really important about the double peanut butter.  Me and dad can be bought with these balls of wonder and bribed to do anything in the Hotel Thompson.  Just give us peanut butter!

So the next time you are at the market, look these bad boys up on the peanut butter aisle.  Let me know what you think ❤

 

Travels in the South

Welcome my friends to another edition of Travels in the South.  As you know, my mom/dad are foodies.  And one of dad’s favorite foods is pizza.  And don’t think that the south doesn’t make good pizza.  Dad believes that the South is right up there with some of the best places when it comes to good pie.  And when mom/dad go out for a good pizza, they always get more than enough so that they can have leftovers for the next couple of days.  Mom likes to think of these meals as “Meals that keep on giving.”  Plus it means she doesn’t have to cook, smart huh?

So mom/dad went this past weekend to one of their favorite pizza places.  Once there, mom saw that they had cajun french fries.  Now, that’s way up her ally – the mommy LOVES french fries.  Not just any fries – they have to be extra crispy.  You know – no wimpy limpy fries on mom’s plate – snorts with piggy laughter.  They have to have standablility when it comes to dunking them in ketchup.  Mom is weird like that and trust me – over time it has ran over to daddy.  So they started with these delicious fries that had just a bit of kick but not overpowering kick.  Mom called them awesome and said that she could have eaten the entire basket.  But she didn’t.  She was a good girl and split them with the daddy.

Then it came time to ordering the main event.  Dad went for the pan crust meat lovers with cheddar crust and mom went for the hand tossed pepperoni lovers pretzel crust.  Now even this oinker has to admit that these pies look awesome.  Oh and mom/dad always get their pizza double cut and light sauce.  What do you think about these masterpieces?  Do you like pizza?  What are your favorite toppings?

And remember what I said about meals that keep on giving?  Both pizzas, french fries, two sodas and tip came to $20.34.  Now, take that price and divided by three meals (cause they have dinner Monday and Tuesday night) and you come up with $6.78 per night = that’s only $3.39 per person for fabulous eats.