Five Favorite Things Friday

Happy Friday! I can't believe it's already Sept. 21! Wow, I totally agree with the saying, "the days are long but the years are short!" It reminds me not to fuss too much on the turmoil and nonsense that happens every day at the Cute Farm and to focus more on the things that bring good cheer and make happy memories. So I hope you enjoy some of my favorite happy things! 

Favorite Travel Picture

I have a thing for sunrises this week! Here's another beautiful one I saw in Mykonos, Greece.

Sunrise Over Mykonos; View from Our Inn

Favorite Quote

“Do not let the behavior of others destroy your inner peace.” – Dalai Lama

Favorite Recipe

Bellini Surgelato (Frozen Peach Bellini), courtesy of Chef Alexis Starkey at Farm to Feast Catering. A Bellini cocktail is a mixture of Prosecco sparkling wine and peach purée which originated in Venice, Italy.

I Made These Peach Bellinis!

Bellini Surgelato (Frozen Peach Bellini)

Serves 4

1/2 cup peach puree - chilled 

1 tsp sugar

1 tsp fresh squeezed lemon juice 

1/4 cup peach schnapps 

1 cup crushed ice - more if necessary 

1 cup Prosecco - chilled - more reserved for topping off glasses 

Add sugar to peach puree and place in refrigerator to chill completely.

When your Prosecco and peach puree are completely chilled and you are ready to make drinks, add: peach puree, lemon juice, peach schnapps, crushed ice and Prosecco to blender. Pulse to combine.

Pour mixture into champagne flutes and top off with additional Prosecco. Garnish with thinly sliced peach wedges if desired. Enjoy with good company!

Favorite Story

Patrick--the deserted pit bull, found emaciated and almost dead--has fully recovered. Hooray Patrick!

Patrick, the Miraculous Pit Bull

Favorite Random

My favorite season is just around the corner. Come on Autumn!

So thrifty

We did find time during our Colonial Beach trip to do a little shopping in the form of thrift shops and antique stores. My hubby is not really into shopping so I enjoyed this more than he did—but he did get into the spirit for a few minutes and walked away with an electrical wire stripper for two bux from the Red Barn.

I scored this authentic 1950s gold plated clutch/coin purse from Esco Limited for under ten bux:

And got a steal on these vintage liquor bottles along with a dozen one-of-a-kind books (a couple from the 1800s!) from McGinniss's Barn, located on Rt. 3, four miles east of U.S. 301 (tele: 540-775-7710). He has rooms and rooms and rooms full of furniture (seriously think some are from when the first president was in office), glassware, and a gazillion other unique finds. You won't be able to find this place using a web search (thanks to innkeeper Anne for the tip) so put this on your list. The nicest, most charming man by the name of Murray (I don't know how old he was, but he was definitely grampa old) runs this antiques shop—and only during the weekends. Happy hunting! 

Are you ready to go?

Our trip to Colonial Beach, Va. was great. We didn't make any plans other than lodging and decided to just  go with the flow. I realized quickly that I wasn't going to have cell or wifi service. Which turned out to be fine and helped me unconnect for a couple of days.

Our route took us from Virginia into Maryland and then back into Virginia again. We crossed over the 1.7 miles long Nice Memorial Bridge into King George County and to the region known as the Northern Neck.

We were greeted by Anne, the innkeeper at the Bell House Bed and Breakfast—a Virginia Historic Landmark and National Historic Property and once the summer home of Alexander Graham Bell. She was a fantastic host the entire weekend—welcoming, spunky, and full of information.

We stayed in the Potomac River guest room which faced the widest part of the river and gave us spectacular views of the sunrise.

Potomac River guest room at the historic Bell Inn.
You don't even have to get out of bed to catch the sunrise.

I woke up at 6 a.m. to catch this wicked sunrise. Awesome.

Private pier across from the Bell Inn. It sits on the widest part
of the Potomac River.

And we never had a moment to be hungry!

Anne's Eggs Benedict

Anne's French Toast With Apricots

Are you thinking this was a weekend full of gluttony? Yes, I admit it was, but fortunately we also made a trip to George Washington's Birthplace—a national monument for America’s first president (born in 1732)—located just a short drive from Colonial Beach, Va. on Popes Creek. The birth house burned down on Christmas Day in 1779 and no longer exists except for the foundation. What stands on the plantation today is a home typical of that era and of his family’s economic status.

George Washington's Birthplace National Monument Facing Popes Creek

Sources of Dye in the Weaving House

Tools in the Blacksmith House

Weaving in Action

Dyed Yarn in the Weaving House

The property also is a working farm with a few pigs, a couple of cows, and real tobacco plants. We also visited the nearby beach where the ships would have come in and traded with the Washingtons. Our tour was a walking history lesson. I hope you go!

Meatless Monday: Fail

I try on occasion to make Mondays a "Meatless Monday" but as I left the Cube Farm to run errands and search for lunch, a spot that has been on my radar for some time drew me in: Sala Thai on M Street NW. And my hope to go meatless all day failed. There are several Sala Thai locations around the DC area but this one is more like a take-out place rather than a full service lunch restaurant. (Think express buffet style.) This Sala Thai location used to be the Maoz falafel shop (I miss you!) which had a quick life in DC.

From the menu, you can choose combo options (pick your own two, three, etc., from the already prepared dishes stewing under the heat lamp) or you can order a la carte. I had been warned by some Farm colleagues that the serving sizes were generous and so I opted to go with just one option--the green chicken curry . Well, from this picture you may be able to tell that whether you order one--or three--options, you still get the same whopping amount. I guess it's left over green chicken curry lunch all week. Of course, until I get bored and leave the Farm in search of something else.

Oh, and what did I think of the green chicken curry? It was very savory and had a good balance of coconut milk (not too overwhelmingly creamy). The dish was full of chicken, chunks of purple Asian eggplant, and sliced green chilies. The only thing I wished it had was bamboo which is typical in green chicken curry. Next time, if I'm there on a Monday, I'll try their tofu and vegetables dish.

Have you tried this Sala Thai location? What did you think?

Hello Monday!

Hello Monday! It’s back to the Cube Farm and it’s time for me to get organized and ready for another week. I admit Mondays are tough, especially if I’m rolling off a busy weekend. But, I had such a nice two days in Colonial Beach that I’m feeling a little more refreshed than usual. It’s hard to not to take it back a pace when there’s no wifi or cell service. I have a ton of pictures to share and once I’m fully connected, I’ll upload them. Before I get ready to organize my day: let’s start out with fresh brewed coffee (thank you Cube Farm for the endless flow of Kuerig coffee), a recap of the news, and shuffle on my Pandora playlist. Have a great Monday!

P.S. The Bell House Bed and Breakfast was great. The sunrise from the front porch was stunning! More posts about them soon...

And we're off to the beach...

Colonial Beach, Va. Sunset (Photo courtesy of menupix.com) 

I love to explore new things, whether it be a new city, restaurant, people, or idea. So, after work today, we (the hubby and I) are dashing off to Colonial Beach, Va. for a much needed weekend of R and R. I had never heard of Colonial Beach until last week. I only came across it when I was researching bed and breakfasts within a couple of hours from Washington, D.C. I must have spent hours scouring the web for ideas, plotted numerous driving directions for the most efficacious trip route (if you have ever tried going over the Chesapeake Bay Bridges on a Friday, you will understand), and read several dozen reviews--before I discovered this hidden gem.

There's a fascinating history about Colonial Beach. It earned its moniker, "Playground on the Potomac," in the 19th century, and was once a very fashionable and go-to gambling destination. The town, nestled between the Potomac River and the Bay, is dotted with Victorian-style structures and is home to nearly 3,300 residents, according to the 2000 census. Also notable is the summer home of Alexander Graham Bell, which is now the Bell House Bed and Breakfast, which also is  THE place where we'll be staying this weekend. (TripAdvisor reviews ranked it #1 so that's more kudos!)

The Bell House Bed and Breakfast (Photo courtesy of tripadvisor.com)

I'm looking forward to exploring this now sleepy town (sleepier than its old moniker implies) and the abundance of history which surrounds it. I have, however, that visitors are starting to come back. Oh, did I mention that it's designated as golf cart town? Yes, it's legal to drive your golf cart all over town! Check back; I'll post pictures of our trip.

Read more about Colonial Beach, Va.:

• Visitors Info
• Chamber of Commerce

Taylor Gourmet: Worth the Buzz?

It's too soon for me to proclaim that this is the best Italian hoagie shop in town only after one hoagie. But, it did have a lively atmosphere (crew was great), ample selections (not too many to be confusing and hold up the line), and outside seating (always a plus on a nice day). I ordered the Cherry Street hoagie (house roasted beef, arugula, cherry pepper garlic sauce, brie). It was tasty but not over the top. With all the other selections Taylor has, I probably wouldn't repeat it any time soon. If you go and you're in the mood for sharing like I was, try the appetizer/sides sampler. It comes with stuffed peppers (thumbs up), risotto balls, mozz sticks, and fried ravioli. So for now, yes, this place gives me a good buzz.

What's a po boy anyway?

During my quest for lunch outside of the Cube Farm yesterday, one of my accompanying colleagues asked what was a "po boy?" My quick response was: It's just another name for a hoagie or sub sandwich from the South, particularly associated with New Orleans. The answer seemed to satisfy both of us as we waited in line outside of New Orleans Po Boy Shop. I had watched numerous shows about food and surely at one time was given the true meaning of a po boy? But as I sat down to eat my Carolina BBQ pulled pork po boy, I started wondering about the history of my six inch sub sandwich. And, was what I was eating really a traditional po boy? Aren't traditional po boys filled with fried shrimp--or other forms of seafood?

What is the "real" definition of a po boy--its history and how it differentiates itself from other sub sandwiches? A search on the web provided bountiful answers but differed slightly from one source to another. In the end, it all came down to the bread. French bread to be exact. It's what defines the po boy and differentiates it from other sub sandwiches. Although typically known to be filled with fried shrimp, oysters, clams, and other types of seafood, most agree: you can fill it with just about anything. And about the name? The po boy got its name during a street car strike in New Orleans during the 1920s when two brothers provided inexpensive sandwiches of gravy and roast beef (what, not fried shrimp?) from the back of their restaurant to street car workers, often referring to these patrons as "poor boys." The name eventually was shortened to "po-boy." 

So, do I think my Carolina BBQ pulled pork po boy (moist and piled deep on top of red cabbage slaw, by the way) was indeed a traditional po boy? Technically yes; the French bread qualifies it. But next time, I think I'll opt for the fried shrimp. Or better yet, I could just head down to the upcoming annual Po Boy Festival and grab one!

More of the same but better

Another day at the Farm (hooray for Little Friday!). Things are running as usual and I'm looking forward to leaving the Farm for some fresh air and a new lunch spot. Today I am trying out another sub/hoagie shop. Yes, another one (it basically came down to their vegetarian options), but this is no ordinary hoagie shop--it's Taylor Gourmet. There's been a lot of buzz about this relatively new Italian-style, build-your-own gourmet hoagie shop; you may have even seen the President and House Speaker Boehner fisting one of these super subs in recent press.

The lines have been out the door at the 19th and M location since it opened its doors several weeks ago. Carefully selected artisanal cured meats? Check. Fine aged cheeses? Check. House roasted meats? Check. Not-your-standard-boring-vegetarian options? Check.

I'm on my way to join the corral and find out what the buzz is all about...

Tried Taylor Gourmet? Let me know what you think!

Lunch: New Orleans Po Boy Shop

Trying out a new place around the corner from the Cube Farm. It may be close to the Farm but it takes me far enough: New Orleans (figuratively speaking). It's a perfect day to sit outside, watch people go about their lives, sip on some cold ice tea, and chomp on an authentic po boy. (First photo courtesy of dcpoboyshop.com)