The Best Cheeseburger

I know, I know, only men are supposed to handle the grill, but not in this house, and especially not when I want a burger.

One of my brothers turned me on to carmelized onions years ago and a hamburger or hot dog isn't edible without them.  So before I even turn on the grill, I've cut up about five Vadalia onions and have them slowly cooking in a cast iron grill on the stove.

The hamburger must be grass-fed and cooked until it's still just a little bit pink inside. The bun must be grilled, and the cheese must be provolone. The bacon must be crisp.  While I am assembling my little beauty I am frying an egg; in my case, the yolk has to be cooked. A little salt, a little Raye's Sweet and Hot Mustard and I've outdone myself once again. Best sides are bread and butter pickles and Maine's Own Humpty Dumpty BBQ potato chips.

The Chopped Kitchen

I love the show "Chopped", but I find myself just wanting to have my chance! I can hold my own in my kitchen, but wouldn't it be a blast to have a chance to cook in THAT kitchen!  Of course, I'd want the whole shebang and have a prep cook and a cleanup crew. All that lovely food in the pantry! All those spices!  A flash chiller and an ice cream maker!  

I would have to say that my kitchen is better designed; the sink is actually where I need it, not on the other end of the kitchen, and there is counter space beside the stove. And I have a dishwasher--ever see one on the Chopped set?

I'm not interested in the part where I actually have to open the basket and cook the ingredients. They come up with some weird stuff that I just wouldn't have a clue what to do with. Just my luck they'd give me eye of newt, pig cheeks and jelly beans,

Maybe I'll just stay in my own kitchen, and buy my own groceries.

Retirement

I never truly believed my husband would retire, but at the end of June he is done.

It shouldn't be a surprise that his frugal ways have enabled us to retire with a fairly large nest egg. He's Scottish and the Scott's hang on their money quite tightly.  I grew up thinking I was Irish but I did my family tree and found out I'm Scottish as well. So much for my spending ways; I have to be frugal now too!

He's been wondering what he will do with his time once he is retired, especially on rainy days. We have already decided that we will winter in Florida and summer in Maine, so he'll see a lot of time on the links. I suggested to him that he rediscover his passion for photography which he had before he found his passion for moi thirty five years ago. Of course, he had no new equipment so he sold his old camera and lens, a canoe and a rifle to come up with the money for new stuff.  The whole kit and kaboodle came the other day and I am so happy to see him as excited as a little boy as he learns what the new camera and lenses will do.

Next month, one of our daughters is remarrying on beautiful Moosehead Lake, about an hour north of us. My favorite times are those when all of my grandchildren are together so that camera is going to get a lot of use. We found out last week that we have another grandchild on the way, which will make an even ten.  We have four grown children, one of which is unable to have children, so I'd say the other three children have figured out where babies come from!

Four of our grandchildren live in Miami, so we don't see them as often as we'd like, but starting this winter that will change.  I can hardly wait!

Favorite Taste Combinations

I know some people swear by Chocolate and Peanut butter, or tomatoes and basil.  My favorite taste combination is a little strange, since I'm normally not a person who likes wild greens, strong cheese or champagne.

My absolute favorite taste combination is Asiago Cheese, Arugula and Prosecco. If I should ever end up on death row, my last meal had better consist of Asiago, Arugula and Prosecco. Otherwise, there will be hell. to pay.

One year, I had the pleasure of staying at Chadwick's Inn in Portland and took part in making dinner. Erica Archer, a fine sommalier was there to pair foods with wine and I just wanted to bring her home with me. The entire evening was so relaxed and fun but I found myself hoping I would find just one more serving of Asiago, Arugula and Prosecco in my room when I called it a night.

This year I planted Arugula seed and have been eating it practically as it comes up through the dirt. I just had to buy a hunk of Asiago cheese and some Prosecco to wash it down with. What blows me away is that I normally hate greens of any kind, I'm not a huge cheese fan and I never cared much for Champagne.  Now that I know what green goes with what cheese and with what wine, my mind has been opened to lots of new possibilities.

I now know that Baby Kale is heavenly! Now, to pair it with something scrumpcious.

Too Much Poundage

The day started out gloomy, and for me, achy. I have fibromyalgia and any number of triggers can bring it on; I suspect this one was two days of cold rainy weather. After an hour of being up this morning, I took my best buddy, Cooper (a Shihtzu/Maltee mix) back to bed and with a couple hours of sleep. I feel much more human now.

One of my favorite places in the world is my own back yard. The road we live on is not widely traveled, and our home is back from the road. I've taken special pains to keep our backyard more like a retreat than a fancy flowerbed, and we love it. An old fence creates a boundary between our yard and the woods, and over the years I have scattered seeds of forget-me-not, bleeding heart and knotweed. The lawnmower keeps it all in check, yet it looks natural. I keep three birdfeeders filled, two with a mixture of songbird food and one with hummingbird food. I don't know what I did differently, but this year we have managed to attract two pair of Indigo Bunting and several Pileated Woodpeckers. I am keeping the birdbath cleaner this year, which I think has helped, since I've seen many birds using it.

 Jim just purchased a super DSL camera this week and I just know I will have some stunning pictures to share once he gets the hang of it.

An upcoming wedding has me excited, especially since they decided they didn't want anyone doing anything and have engaged a caterer.  It is supposed to be a very low-keyed wedding, centered on the family more than the ceremony. On the shores of Moosehead Lake in mid-July, what possibly can go wrong?\

I'm hoping to lose ten pounds by then (it's just about a month) and see no reason why I can't do it. I've been going to Zumba, which I LOVE, and doing yoga at home, aerobics at the gym.  If I can lose then ten pounds, I can feel fairly comfortable in a dress I own. Otherwise, I am going to have to go buy something (in a larger size). I'd like to puke at that thought.

So, that being said, I think I will take Cooper for a long walk.

Paddy Murphy's Irish Pub, Bangor, Maine

Paddy Murphy's in downtown Bangor is a fun place to be. Of course, they have all the beer and wine you could ever want (liquor too) but the atmosphere and food are what makes it fun. I have to preface my words with the fact that my son-in-law Sean was responsible for making the interior look like a real Irish bar; the workmanship is beautiful. That being said, the food is delicious. They have specials most days but I keep coming back to my favorite, the good old American Hamburger. They do it up well. The fries, be they white or sweet, are always hot and good, and the draft beer is always cold with just the right amount of foam.

The staff is friendly as can be and the food always comes out hot and on time. Prices are reasonable. What's not to love?

Paddy Murphy's is located right smack downtown in Bangor Maine. You can't miss it.