Bagels and Cream Cheese

In my life bagels and cream cheese has been something ordinary the fill the void between meals . This weekend that changed a little . As my love and I are sitting eating an amazingly fabulous meal this weekend ( so good all that existed was her as I gaized into her beautiful blue eyes and the meal that was encapsulating my senses so much that nothing else existed as I ate each perfect bite ) she suggested we get some bagels and cream cheese next saturday and sit down and plan an adventure or at tleast a direction to point a car . Whether it's heading to Multnomah falls or the coast , garage sailing ( hopping from garage sale to garage sale ) , car hiking , a meal - whatever we feel like .

For me this has created an exciting promise that starts with a simple meal  . It's like magic I felt when I was younger sitting over my bowl of cereal excited about heading into the world without a care in the world and no planned direction , just excited to get out there .

This morning without thinking I reached into the cupboard to grab my bagels for my morning coffee and her promise hit me and a warm,fuzzy feeling came over me .

Thank you my love for giving me a moment to look forward to where we can put all worries of work and life to rest for a day and sit with a simple meal and head out to conquer the world - even if for just a day . It;'s such a simple thing - just like bagels and cream cheese :)

The Crockpot Conundrium

So.......recently I tried cooking a crockpot meal for my girlfriend . For some reason this is an aggrevation for me . I keep returning to this endevour with lackluster results , not imparting the level of flavor I desire .

I am realizing I need some more education in this area . There is quite of bit of prep involved (and as my girl will tell you if I am not organised with everything in one space I melt down ) and then it never sits well with me to fix it and forget it - in my Male brain that's not cooking ;P The irrational part of my brain worries it will boil over ( which it did ) or burn the house down ( which it didn't ) . If this isn't enough I am cooking with liquid that seem to nullify my dry spice I like to us so much and the recipes I have found are ...........bland . Now I own several crockpot cookbooks none of which have had recipes I crave but I know it is possible . I have had amazing food from crockpots .

I bought a cookbook that looks more savory with some interesting looking recipes ( savory cornbread in a crockpot ) .

Do I need to give up or is the suggestions to rectify my problem ?

I like my shiny metallic red programable cauldren but is this the end ?



i am still alive and want to share a few more things .

Hello again :) sorry for the gap , life distractions and lack of money have kept me away but with an renewed sense of self and more creative ideas I am back to take a crack at this again .

so first off Holy Cannolis Batman !

Items may appear bigger in the picture than they really are :)

This is a cannoli with chocolate chips from

Holy Cannoli Wicked Italian Food Cart
on the corner of SE 52nd and Foster
www.HolyCannoliPDX.com

It runs about $2.50

I ran it by my NYC authority and i was told this isn't the real deal either in size nor ingredents
to which I say - ok forget about it !
I LOVE THESE CANNOLIS AS A DESSERT !
The flavor is stellar - many a person i have given one to have take a moment to close their eyes and savour the goodness of this amazing dessert ( so have I ).
DO NOT BE FOOLED BY IT'S SIZE -
although it looks small this is rich and quickly filling .

The comes in many flavors -
I have tried the orignal with chocolate chips several times
and the cinnamon - both amazing

I have been told I can custom order flavors and that they make a special order birthday cake cannoli :)
I will have to find an excuse to order some soon .

These guys are sweethearts and if i can ever get around to it I will order some food from their full menu . The meatball sandwich is calling me :)


Next up -
SESAME CHICKEN

Sometimes you just get cravings-

For me and most of my friends Chinese food is definitely one of them . It's hard for me  to find really good Chinese food in Portland ( unless of course I am in my buddy Roger's kitchen but that is a he's the real deal  ) so when i find a dish that it packed full of flavor even we the rest of their menu doesn't get it done ( it ok - some pretty good ) I have to put it out there .

Most sesame chicken i have eaten had no sauce - this is like General Tso's without the heat meets good sesame chicken that had no sauce .

You can find this at -

Wan Lung Chinese Restaurant

12062 Se Sunnyside Road

Clackamas , Oregon ( almost Happy Valley )

Finally - I celebrated the big 40 last weekend ( thnk you I am now officially older )

and what do you get the Food Geek that wants everything and that neither you or he can afford -

BACON - and shockingly my girl  got me a 5 lb package :) I was stunned !

( I have never personal owned so much bacon at one time )

complete with a bow :)

to which I had to respond Baby ,



 and jokingly I say to you ,

As many of you may know , I try to stay positive here . I do not like to waste my time talking about what I don't like or what I think didn't work - i do not want to be a food critic - I dispise them , they make the world a more evil place with their negativity . Experience life and form your own opinions , don't take my word for it , I am just a guide to try things , live your life your way . I just like to shed light on good stuff but one thing is so vile I have to shed light on it so you don't waste money on a gimmic -

This does not taste like the donut in beer , far from it . This taste like bad bacon dripping and beer . A waste of a pefectly good beer ( I like Rogue beers ) . The funny thing is if you took good maple bacon , cooked it , and mixed the dripping with the beer I would probably like it ( needs tomato juice ) but the was essesence , somethings wrong  bacon flavor - it sucked . The sad part is a I inflicted this pain on a friend before i tried it because I believed the hype - PARTY FOUL - violation of personal party rule , always try first before offering to others - citation issued ( Sorry Pat ) .

Now all of that said i may violate a steak and marinate with the rest because I hate to waste , a risk I am willing to take and this cool overpriced bottle will sit above my stove for me and guests to admire for that is one of my favorite doughnuts .

So...thanks for reading , hope to see you again soon .

Don't worry with a new phone in hand more powerful than my laptop and a new resolve , more to come :)