Category Archives: Because I’m In A Mood

The Provincetown Portuguese Bakery is a taste of coming home

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One of the local “always been there” places in P’twn is the Provincetown Portuguese BakeryP. With it’s no frills storefront, many folks might miss the treasures in this Provincetown institution. If you are lucky you can catch them making the fresh Malassada in the window. These sweet fried dough is the equivalent to the italian street fair favorite, fried dough. But instead of tomato sauce, they add sugar. Best consumed hot and fresh, even better while walking down the street. Don’t forget to grab napkins. Proimagevincetown Portuguese Bakery also has a good solid selection of basic sweets and savory foods include meat pies, and sandwiches. For the budget conscious, the breakfast is a great deal nothing fancy – but it will get your day started. Remember – this isn’t high end, fancy food – this is solid, good working class basics, yet a great reminder of some of Provincetown’s “non-gay” history.

299 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA 02657-2202

Visit them on Facebook

 

Don’t let its “tourist” appeal fool you…

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This is an annual favorite for us and they nail it each time. Think of it a the place to get your fried seafood fix, your lobster roll and chowder. For a change up go with the Portuguese Kale soup or one of the salads. They offer some brilliant adaption for appetizers as well. Portions are sturdy, service is quick, friendly and efficient. Plan ahead – the line and waits can be long – so try for the early lunch or dinner to miss the crowd or eat at the bar!

321 Commercial St, Provincetown, MA 02657-2202

The Lobster Pot

Oh Charlie

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Our Charlie Brown tomato plants keep growing.


Who knew these poor suckers weren’t gonna gondown without a fight.


Now to keep remembering to water them. Might be time to add the tomato cage..

Hard verses firm

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Started checking out the difference between “american” style biscotti v. “italian” style recipes. 

No butter or oil yields a harder bite to the cookie and allows for thinner cuts and longer bake.
Today’s version: an adapted recipe for italian style Dried Cherry, Orange peel & Anise version.

  

Cookie time

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Started checking out the difference between “american” style biscotti v. “italian” style recipes.

No butter or oil yields a harder bite to the cookie and allows for thinner cuts and longer bake.
Today’s version: an adapted recipe for italian style Dried Cherry, Orange peel & Anise version.

Easter Bread; the Saga of the Risen

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Yes.. Its a bundle of something …Because not only does my Mom’s Easter Bread dough recipe use “active live yeast” instead of dried (which was harder to find than you would think) ,  it also indicates that prior to the first rise overnight; you need to make the “sign of the cross” over it and then swaddle it in a blanket too…

Did I mention how much I hate the chemistry of baking. It’s true. I will cook over bake anytime. But I wanted to see how close I could make mine to hers.

And 8 hours later (or was it 9 months because it sur looks full term) a very “risen” dough is ready to handled for a second short raise before shaping and baking.

Unwrapping the baby after 8 hours.

And now for a short 3 hour rise

All done… Oven on

 Now it’s time to shape & bake

A little egg wash

Maybe a little color..

Going classic

 

  and 30 minutes later

But my oven runs hot so the next batch goes in at 325 degrees

Otherwise the taste and texture is good. I can taste the citrus and sugar,  it’s dense with out being heavy. Will be perfect for toasting or as use in a bread pudding if I get tired of eating as is. 



Full recipe to follow shortly.

Night Terrors

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Channel surfing and landed in “Night Train To Terror” with Paul tonight. A bizarre portfolio of the 80’s; reflecting all the angst, hair, blood & gore, scream queens, claymation special effects, good vs evil, clothes you don’t want to admit you wore, skin shots and more.  

Definitely was the kind of “train wreck” that you want to cover your eyes, yet can’t control the urge to keep your fingers open just enough so you could peek through.

http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0087798/

http://youtu.be/EY-6Ba9PPnQ

Sons Of Italy

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OSIA creates a space for bringing the past into the present of our blended experiences past & present in its Italian America publication. The clever thinking behind it manages to create a reader to appeal on levels as complex as the 12-hour sunday “sauce” (or “gravy” depending on your region). The writing is clean and accessable without being dumbdowned. So the multi-generational readers will find it equally useful, funny, bittersweet and forward thinking. This issue from fall 2015 is a perfect example.

 

Casino & LaCrosse In CT

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Overall The Arena at the Mohegan Sun Casino a nice facility; good sized, and has a solid sound system. It’s clean and does’t feel as “cold” as some arena’s. Staff are pretty cordial from scanning through food consessions. My biggest disappointment and the reason I don’t to give it more than a three if I were rating it out of 5, is around its no “outside” food rule.
We were traveling with a senior, and  had stopped to have a meal in the casino while the kids were watching the lacrosse game. Our plan was then to head out to watch the kids actually get a chance to play on the field after playing in the casino and eating.

IMG_9971We had eaten at Hash House A Go Go, so as the real game ended and we entered to see the kids,  they wouldn’t let us bring the leftovers in. Forcing us to toss it.

So that was a disappointment and with the money spent in the casino and for the meal that we had enjoyed, the experience “left a bad taste in my mouth”.

If I were in town and planning to use the Arena again I would be less inclined to make use of the casino and food as part of the package evening in the future.