With Thanksgiving right around the corner I have been craving turkey, stuffing and cranberry sauce which lead me to ask around the office for suggestions. Almost unanimously everyone at work pointed me in the direction of the Out Post Farm.
Run by Adrian Collins, the Out Post Farm is not your typical farm stand. In addition to growing fresh produce like apples, pumpkins, corn, tomatoes, squash, and much more on fifty acres they also have a small deli which makes and sells sandwiches and baked goods. While I didn’t stray far from the sandwich menu I did notice that they also have a great selection of hot foods too. The menu is mostly bird centric with turkey and chicken being the main ingredients but there is some other options. There are no seats inside so plan on take out, or if the weather is warm enough enjoy the picnic tables out front.
Craving a sandwich I settled on a #2. If you want a turkey sandwich that reminds you of the one your mother makes then you are in for a treat. My mother is a pretty good cook so it’s a tall order to compare. As described the sandwich looked and tasted like it was made with love by a mother for her child. I couldn't have been more satisfied both in quantity of food and taste. The sandwich had just the right ratio of stuffing and turkey to cranberry sauce and bread.
They offer 6 different bread options from the usual suspects like white and wheat to more unusual options like oat nut and 12 grain. They also have wraps for those looking to cut the carbs.
With all of that said if you are looking for a gourmet sandwich this isn't the place for you but if you’re looking for a tasty sandwich that's sure to satisfy then give it a try.
This morning while I was putting together my lunch for the day I noticed a few to-go-containers. Given that I am currently in the middle of my month long quest to not eat out I realized that those containers had to be at the very least 15 days old.
It got me thinking I need to clean out my fridge. Funny enough when I got to work and signed online I noticed that today is Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day. I was curious what the origin of this day was but I wasn’t able to find too much information other then suggestions that Whirlpool originally promoted Clean Out Your Refrigerator Day starting in 1995 and was planned for the third Wednesday in November. In 2000 when the e-cards gave it the fixed date of November 15th which has stuck since. In 2004 Whirlpool declared April 4-10 Clean out your refrigerator Week but it seems to have been too late to change the date. I also found other speculation that it was created just in advance of Thanksgiving to allow room for holiday leftovers.
Why is it important to clean out your refrigerator? The answer is simple. Food like everything has a shelf life even if refrigerated or frozen. The food is only safe and health to eat as long as it is stored properly. Proper storage is the most important thing. Improperly stored foods can become rancid or oxidize, making them more dangerous and can lead to other food spoiling or losing its flavor or texture.
Before I grab my gloves tonight to remove the potential biohazards in my fridge I thought I might share some interesting refrigerator facts.
1.The ideal refrigerator temperature is between 34-40 degrees
2.Food experts say that fresh poultry, homemade dips, ground meat etc shouldn’t be stored in the fridge for more than 2 days.
3.Do not store food in the refrigerator in paper bags instead all food should be covered with foil, plastic wrap or in airtight containers.
4.Some foods can stay longer in a fridge then others and they include raw eggs and cheese.
5.Never put a hot pan or hot food in the fridge because it can raise the temperature of the fridge beyond the ideal levels. This can cause other food to spoil as a result of the warmth it releases as it cools down.
So guess what I plan to do tonight. That’s right I am going to clean out my fridge. There are a few suggestions on cleaning out your fridge. It doesn’t just involve removing the expired items.
1.Take everything out of the fridge.
2.Wash down and disinfect the inside walls of the refrigerator, the shelves, the draws and along the door seal.
3.Wash everything going back in even the outside of jars;
4.Vacuum both under the fridge and behind the fridge. Over time dust bunnies accumulate and can reduce the efficiency of the refrigerator.
So guess what I plan to do tonight. I am going to clean out my fridge of anything that is past its prime or nearly there that I don’t plan to use anytime soon is out for good. Wish me luck that I don't run into any USO's (unidentified shriveled objects).
While you may have ready my previous blog entry about visiting the Statue of Liberty I thought I might give an update since it is now closed
Marking her 125th Anniversary the Statue of Liberty closed for renovations on October 28th. While closed to the public can visit Liberty Island but not the Statue of Liberty. Instead we get an opportunity to see views of the statue and of its surrounding from EarthCam web cameras.
Broadcasting from the torch balcony which has been closed to the public since 1916 the public can enjoy live HD streaming video of New York Harbor and the downtown Manhattan skyline including the Freedom tower rising from Ground Zero. We also get to see unique views of the Statue herself.Take a moment to explore: www.earthcam.com/.
Having recently separated from her abusive ex-husband, Lorraine (Maria Bello) is driving home with her young son Chad (Connor Hill) after a session with her support group. Needing fuel for her beater and dinner for both her and Chad she pulls into a gas station. It is clear that she has little control over anything in her life. That's when Roy (Stephen Dorff) appears in her back seat with a loaded gun, and demands that Lorraine starts driving. Roy is a bank robber who's just pulled off a major heist. He's on his way to pick up his money, but with the cops everywhere he's sure to be caught if he goes it alone.
When he asks her if she knows the way to the highway she indicates that she thinks so. He quickly explains to Lorraine that he doesn’t like ambiguity and she tells him that her therapist thinks she is too ambiguous and that is why her life is a mess.
Their 3 hour journey makes several stops along the way and although Roy assures the terrified mother that he will not harm them if they do what he asks, Lorraine begins to suspect they will both be killed once Roy gets his cash. She tries everything to get away. She offers up a police officer at a road block a picture of her family clearly excluding Roy but the officer doesn’t get the hint. She tries speeding to attract a police officer attention and even mouthwash as a pepper spray alternative. Nothing works and they are both trapped.
While refueling again she sees a chance to save her son and tells him to go to the bathroom, then mix with the crowd of children, and get on the bus. Roy quickly discovers he has been had as the bus drives away and he can see Chad sitting in the window.Angered by Lorraine’s deception and lying he locks her in the trunk. She manages to create a hole in the side of the car so she can see and hear what is happening outside.
Reaching the ranch where Roy planned to meet up with one of his accomplices the whole proves useful and she witnesses that the money isn’t there but at a factory. Roy angered by the revelation loses his temper and murders his accomplice.
He quickly puts his dead accomplice in the trunk with Lorraine and sets the car ablaze leaving her to burn alive. Quick thinking saves her life when finds a gun on the accomplices dead body which she uses to shoot the lock on the trunk.
Relieved that she is finally free she begins the task of tracking down her son. She ends up at a truck stop and with no money or cell phone where she begs the clerk for 50 cents to make a call. While on the phone with the police that have her son she witnesses Roy kidnap a mother and daughter.
Determined not to let another family suffer the same fate she takes the law into her own hands and steals a truck and begins pursuing Roy. In a spectacular chase she temporarily disables Roy’s new transportation long enough for the other family to escape and when her truck is destroyed in a spectacular crash takes the upper hand and insists at gun point that Roy take her to the money.
Roy takes control by disarming her once they get to the factory and she narrowly escapes. Not out of the woods yet she finds herself back in the car with Roy shooting at her. With nothing to lose she runs Roy down. A police officer now on scene quickly orders her out of the car. Before she can explain what was happening Roy appears from the back of the car and guns down the police officer.
Roy is now looking for any excuse to kill her and tells her to go for the gun at her feet. He goes so far as to shoot her in the leg to bring her closer. Little does Roy know she still had the accomplice’s gun in her belt and quickly fires a shoot into Roy’s chest.
Next we see Lorraine she recovered from her wounds and in court for a custody hearing. A newly confident Lorraine wins not only custody but child support from her unhappy ex-husband. While walking out she takes Chad out for lunch and explains he can have pizza. When he asks if he can have ice cream too his Grandma shares that she found the duffle bag and thinks he can have both if he wants.
Mad with power and a desire to conquer King Hyperion (Mickey Rourke) has amassed a blood thirsty army of disfigured soldiers and has declared war against humanity. He is scouring Greece in search for the legendary Epirus bow. The Epirus bow is so powerful and forged in the heavens by Ares that with it he can’t be stopped even by the Gods. The Epirus bow is the key to unleashing the titans who remain imprisoned and bound deep in the walls of Mount Tartaros.
While searching for the Bow King Hyperions men pillage the Greek country murdering the women and children and enslaving the men. He believes that the Sybelline Oracle (Freida Pinto) can tell him where to find the bow and attacks the monastery where she lives. Before he captures the monastery the oracle and her maidens escape into the desert.
In a small Greek village we meet Theseus (Henry Cavill) a peasant born a fatherless bastard. He is coached by an old man how to fight and he protects those he loves from any and all threats. With King Hyperion’s army not far away the village is evacuated but he the other peasants are forced to stay behind to travel the next day.
The old man is shown to be no other then Zeus and we learn that he has chosen Theseus as hero of mankind. Zeus shares this with his daughter who he discovered hiding in the village.
Before they can leave they are betrayed by a traitorous Greek soldier who tells King Hyperion of the village. In a deadly battle the village is obliterated and his mother is killed at the hands of the King himself. Theseus is captured and enslaved and he vows to avenge his mother’s death.While being taken to the mines as a slave he meets the now captured Sybelline Oracle who sees that he is the key to saving the Greek people. Secretly chosen by Zeus, Theseus must lead his people to victory. After escaping the Sybelline Oracle insists that Theseus give his mother a proper burial and they return to the village. While in the catacombs Theseus discovers the Epirus Bow is attacked by one Hyperions’ beasts and narrowly defeats the masked giant.
They then race to the monastery to stop King Hyperion they are chased by the Kings men and when it seems unlikely they can survive Poseidon intervenes and saves them. Zeus reminds the other gods that ancient law prohibits the Gods from intervening in the conflict of men and tells them if they get involved again he will kill them. Before continuing on to the Monastery they regroup and rest for the night. Here the love story between the Sybelline Oracle and Theseus begins and we watch as she gives herself to him.
Once at the monastery they discover that the King is not there and has a trap for them. Ensarled again in a deadly battle and with the Epirus Bow taken they are once more assisted by the Gods. Zeus angry the Gods intervened kills one of his own and tells Theseus that they will never again help him and that he must be victorious on his own.
They race to get to Mount Tartaros before King Hyperion and they advise the council that King Hyperion has the bow and to seal the city gate. Ridiculed for believing in such myths the council believes they can reach a diplomatic end to the battle. Before attacking King Hyperion offers Theseus a chance to join him. Theseus rebukes his offer and reminds him he killed his mother and he will settle for nothing less than retribution.
With the city gate now sealed King Hyperion uses the power of the Epirus Bow to penetrate the fortified city. He makes easy entrance and a deadly battle ensues. In the fight King Hyperion sprints to the prison of the titans in the depths of Mount Tartaras and releases the titans. With the titans now released Zeus and the other Gods intervene and begin a deadly battle of Gods and man. Titans vs. the Gods and King Hyperion vs. Theseus.With the battles nearly ending with the Gods loosing and Theseus being defeated Zeus is forced to destroy Mount Tartaros to entomb the Titans. Just prior to the collapse Theseus’s will gives him the strength to defeat King Hyperion and exacting his revenge for his mother’s death. We watch as the mountain collapses destroying King Hyperion’s men and once again entombing the titans.
When the dust settles we are back in Theseus’s village and watch his son from his night with the Sybelline Oracle gaze proudly at his father’s memorial. The old man who had coached Theseus before is again telling Theseus’s son that he too like his father has been chosen and will be called on to protect mankind.
I just had to post this animated cartoon of a cat and his relationship with his owner. This reminded me exactly of the relationship I have with my kitty Eli. Enjoy!!
(30) Eat in 10 New Restaurants (21/20)
