Dining Delights | Peaches Prattlings

{September 14, 2015} L’Shana Tova

A happy, healthy and sweet new year I wish for you.

As we talked about yesterday, last night, Erev Rosh Hashanah, marked the beginning of the Jewish New Year. I know we’ve talked about it before, but I thought we would chat about a few things tonight.

The symbols you see are all representative of Rosh Hashanah.

As you can tell and might know, the dove is the symbol for peace and love, apples dipped in honey is something we eat to help us have a sweet new year.

The shofar is a rams horn that is blown at different times in the service, symbolizing joyous new beginnings, this is a powerful expression and brings so many emotions to heart. It is not an easy thing to do, many try and it’s wonderful to hear new people try, especially kids, but when someone experienced blows the shofar, I have to tell you, there is nothing like it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5FcH5hKGqs

This is a time of reflection, understanding, welcoming and asking for your name to be written in the book of life. “On Rosh Hashanah it is written, on Yom Kippur it is sealed”.

I wish you happiness, health and a sweet new year.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosh_hashanah

{September 13, 2015} A full house

What would a weekend be like at GES’ house if it wasn’t filed with people?

Based on what I’ve told you in the past, you’re probably saying “well, duh” and you would be right!

Tonight is Erev Rosh Hashanah, the eve of Rosh Hashanah, this being the beginning of the High Holidays which are the holiest of holidays also known as the beginning of the Jewish New Year. You know I’ll tell you more about it tomorrow, tonight I just want to tell you about the full house, full of love and laughter and people.

We were expecting about 30 people! Some might think that’s crazy, that’s just par for the course!

So…Saturday GES and I got down to it…cooking. We made treee chickens, chicken soup, matzoh balls (for thirty!) a really good barley and corn recipe and blondies for desert.

Everyone brought something..appetizers, fruit, side dishes and dessert. Apples and honey to start off the new year right…stupid…for a sweet new year.
I think we’re going to be alright.

We started with blessings over the holiday, challah and wine and then got down to it. What a treat! Almost all of the kids were occupied so it was the perfect opportunity for the parents get through an entire meal, on their own, imagine that!

It was the opportunity to be with loved ones, celebrating a new year, beginnings and being together.

Seems like that is the theme at my sister and brother-in-laws house no matter what, doesn’t it?

{September 9, 2015} A vegan walks into a seafood restaurant…

That sounds like the beginning of a bad joke!

Tonight we had another fabulous team dinner. It started off as a ‘roll-off’ dinner and turned into a team night out as those who were rolling off aren’t. But who really needs an excuse to have a great dinner?

HH suggested The Barking Crab, http://barkingcrab.com/, which had been recommended to her. Done, away we went! We carpooled and waited and waited and waited for a table, unfortunately, they don’t take day of reservations, but it was a chance to catch up, sounds good to me!

Well, all meals were some form of seafood except for the side items and when the server asked if there were any food allergies and I said I was a vegan, his next question…”So what are you doing here?” Hanging out with my fabulous co-workers!

So…What does a vegan eat at a seafood joint? Why, guacamole, salad, rice and veggies, was I happy?

You bet your sweet bippie!

And that, my friends, is what a vegan eats at a seafood joint!

{August 30, 2015} Three and a half cities in one day, who knew!

We know how to live it up, let me tell you!

PSM and I were supposed to go to Gloucester a few weekends ago, but plans changed as they tend to do, so today was the day. Gloucester, http://www.gloucesterma.com/, is the city where the hospital was that I was doing support this past month. It’s a pretty city, from what I could tell while I was driving to work and I wanted to see it.

We grabbed something really quick at Dunkin Donuts and headed up towards Gloucester, city number one, it was about an hours drive. We found a place to park and walked up and down the main drag, looking at and in stores and for a place to eat, to no avail. I did stop and get some earrings, a new pair of hoops and some fun silver studs, I was needing them!

We chose a restaurant with no wait and there wasn’t anything for me to eat and when I asked the server if they had anything for a vegan, he actually asked if I had questions if anything was vegan, really? Moving on…

We stopped in one place, asked if there was a place they served brunch and we were directed to George’s and were we pleased! It made up for a lot, the food was in abundance and we were sharing! The server was fabulous and the food was great, well worth the wait and search. The table of people next to us were a hoot, while they were there.

After brunch, we headed to city number two, Rockport, http://www.rockportusa.com/. This was a charming, thriving, bustling seaside town. We could tell why people like to visit, stay, even live.

We walked up and down the different streets, alleys, shops, I even got to stick my feet in the sand and the water, a bit chilly but wonderful. Then we sat on a bench and listened to the water lapping on the shore and admired the sky. We stopped in a candy shop and got some candy sticks and bulls eyes, you know, the caramels with crème in the middle.

The streets were teeming with people and energy, the eddy was beautiful to walk out on and sit and think and just enjoy. We enjoyed the sights, smells, boats, waves, weather, wonderful.

After a few enjoyable hours, we went back to the car on to city number three, Essex, in search of dinner, at Woodman’s of Essex, but when we went across the street to Shea’s, http://sheasriversideessex.com/, to have a drink, we ended up getting a table on the deck overlooking the marsh, absolutely beautiful.

Before we went to the restaurants, we drove a little down the road to see the sights and ended up in Ipswich, but turned back around, that was the half city.

We started talking to the women at the table next to ours and what are the odds, one of them was a Nurse Manager for one of the hospitals that we were supporting during Go-Live! They were a lot of fun to talk to and passed the time nicely.

After dinner we got back into the car and PSM drove me back to the hotel so I could talk to you, share some photos and get some sleep, I’m back in the office tomorrow. I can’t wait to see my friends!

{August 29, 2015} One too many

Tonight I had one too many…desserts.

Ha ha, you thought I had one too many drinks! But on the other hand, some of you know I don’t drink, so good conclusion knowing it wouldn’t be hooch!

Today, PSM and I were at a party, it was the “after party” after a golf tournament he participated in. It was fun because I’ve met a lot of his friends and every time I go to another event, I know more people! I’m looking forward to arranging some more events and maybe some double dates!

Well, I knew there would be good food, they had made special arrangements for all food needs, vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, you name it. Don’t fret, they had plenty for the meat eaters.

There were also chips and desserts, I had a few more chips than I probably needed, but I was hungry, what was bad was the desserts. Now, don’t get me wrong, they were good, but they were bad…for me. I split a black and white cookie with PSM, I took the white and he took the black, sometimes it’s actually chocolate, sometimes just black tinted frosting. I tasted another cookie later, it was too sweet, couldn’t eat more than a bite. After the b&w cookie, I dug into a cupcake, it was sooo good!

It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten that many sweets. I’ve really cut out everything I’m not supposed to eat, like chocolate. I don’t actually like chocolate, but I like the cookies. The bad/too much part came when I picked up a gluten free blondie, that was the big time one too many. Along with all the water I drank, it piled up to my throat and now I feel blech. I know I’ll be fine and tomorrow, back to no more crud for my system.

But boy did it taste good!

{August 28, 2015} Happy Anniversary GES

My sister is a survivor.

You can’t imagine how much I LOVE saying that!! The image below is the same one on the t-shirt I got her after she became a survivor.

When I say Happy Anniversary GES, it’s the anniversary of her last chemo treatment! The treatment that killed the cancer that tried to kill her, but…let’s face it, we come from a long line of strong, stubborn women, no way was it not going to work!

Happiest of happy anniversaries to one of the strongest, hardest working and hardest fighting women who is an inspiration to all of us, those who are related by blood and by heart. Anyone that meets her is touched by her strength and her perseverance and never failing positive attitude through all of it.

Happy Anniversary GES, I love you.

{August 26, 2015} Accomodating

Tonight was interesting.

As you know, I’ve been doing some testing to find out why I’m nauseous 24/7, well, this coming Friday is the next test, a glucose breath test. If this is anything like the other test, this is where they give me 8 ounces of glucose, then I get to blow into a bag every 15 minutes for 1.5 hours, fun huh?

So, part of the preparation for this test is to be on a very strict diet for 48 hours prior to the test, that means starting this morning no fruits or vegetables, what? What are you telling a vegan! I can eat any non-dairy “milk” products, rice, eggs and tofu. Yum…

This morning was easy, a nice omelet with eggs [real] and cheese [fake], it really was good and tasty. On the way in, I stopped at Dunkin Donuts and they have almond milk now, so almond milk/decaf tea, mmmmm.

Lunch was a little more difficult, I brought eggs and veggie hot dogs and coconut milk yogurt. I actually only ate the yogurt.

Tonight we had a team dinner, I know, “JJ, not another team dinner! Oh my! ”

Well, I called them to find out if they could accommodate me and my dietary restrictions. I mentioned eggs, rice and tofu. They said no problem, they didn’t have tofu, but could accommodate the rice and egg, great!

We get there and I introduced myself to the servers and said, “I’m a problem child” and we were all set. Eventually, I added an order of deviled eggs as an appetizer. The deviled eggs came out when everyone else was getting their entrees and I asked if they knew where my meal was. Oh…let me go check on that for you, hmmm…

“I’m not sure what’s taking so long”. “They are just waiting on the rice” What? I called earlier in the day to tell you of my dietary needs and it was the simplest food…So, everyone was about finished and here comes my food. I’m glad I ordered the deviled eggs, I was hungry! Finally, when the food came, it was very pretty, rice mixed with egg and tofu on top. How nice was that! And it was brought out by a manager, fancy.

So, all in all, I was quit pleased and full! And…I have lunch for tomorrow!

{August 22, 2015} What a day!

Sleep…here I come!

The day started normal enough, the cats woke me at 6:30 and I said no thank you and went back to sleep, woken up a few more times, then decided I had had enough and got up. Got showered and dressed and put the door to PSM’s.

I got there and Mollie was super excited to see me, she did donuts around the lawn, a nice welcome, hey cats…take some notes! Then off to The Friendly Toast for a great breakfast at the bar, first come first served. Then back to get the truck and head to Plymouth, Mass. Yes, that is Plymouth, where the Mayflower landed and we have Plymouth Rock! As seen in the photo, not the original thing, but there it was!

We walked through the rain up one street and down the main drag. We stopped for a cup of tea, walked into a few shops, then down towards the water again to the jetty and took that out to the end, it was quite enjoyable.

After Plymouth, we headed to a party hosted by two of PSM’s friends, G&J B. Really great couple and what a house! We also saw a bunch of the friends I have made at the ski house, that was great! We hung for a few hours, got a tour of half of the house. They have school lockers in their laundry room. Maybe the best idea ever!

Well, back towards the house, say hello to Mollie, grab some grub and here we are.

Now that I’m writing what I did, it doesn’t seem as exhausting as it was! I need a nap!

{August 21, 2015} Girls Night In!

Tonight, I had a girls night in.

I had the perfect GNI, just what I needed. It was me, Jymy and Peanut, yup, girls night in with my cats. Don’t laugh, it was all girls!

I got to the hotel, put on comfy clothes, settled in on the sofa with some veggies and hummus, a good start, then I decided I was going to go all girl. Into the bathroom to bring the red back [Revlon, 42], during the 25 minutes the dye was setting, I removed the polish from my claws and paws. After my shower, I put on some more comfy clothes and green for the fingers and sparkly purple for the toes. I tried, but the girls weren’t into getting their paws or claws done, oh well, more for me!

When I was sufficiently dry, top to bottom, I cooked an artichoke and some corn on the cob, a perfect dinner.

After dinner, I cleaned up then laid out on the couch with the cats and watched movies until it was time to write to you.

Girls night in, perfection!

{August 18, 2015} WH- I lived in The South too long!

WH is in the news a lot.

When you hear WH on the news or see it in the news, what do you think of? Is it the White House? It should be, really, it should be.

What is the first thing that comes to my mind? Well, I lived in Georgia for almost 20 years, so the first thing I think about…Waffle House! Really?

You’ve heard me talk about my love of Waffle House, or as some affectionately call it, The Awful Waffle, yes I’ve called it that, it’s wonderful and awful. I was actually talking about it this morning…mmmm.

So…did I live in The South too long, love Waffle House too much? Nah, just call it The White House and we’ll all get along just fine!

waffle house

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What was I thinking?