I fully expected to be regaling about the sumptuous spread on a class reunion dinner cruise but that wouldn’t be right. Although there were numerous offerings on the menu it paled in comparison to the fun I had catching up with my classmates.
While we were talking and I was sipping on a $5 ginger ale, the subject of Northern Neck ginger ale came into the conversation. I am not sure of the reach of the soda brand, but whenever I see it, I buy it. This brand is more ginger than ale which sets it apart. This is no quiet mixer that needs to be propped up like the looker with no personality. No, this ginger ale shows up like the quick witted stunner everyone wants to sit beside at the dinner party. It never disappoints and if it is pared with other ingredients, it brings out the best in them without disappearing into the background. My cousin makes a punch with it that is always a hit. I just wish I could get it closer to home.
It is normal for me to go out for a bite to eat and become enamored of the taste. But for the last few days, thanks to many changes in the weather, nothing has been appetizing. No comfort food, yummy tidbit, or even the most well crafted smoothie has looked like a good prospect.
Stuffy nose, achy head, sore throat and general tiredness had sucked the appetite right out of me to the point that only bottles of water seemed attractive. That’s all well and good if you are the only one to consider, but I’m a mom. Even-though I didn’t want to eat I still have to do something to assuage my child’s appetite. Running late on a school night, I suggested an old stand-by: Tomato soup and grilled cheese sandwiches.
My kid loves tomato soup, especially the Progresso soup with the chunks of tomato throughout (I guess that’s where the extra fiber advertised on the label comes from). The sandwich was a little different from our usual cheddar on white. I had purchased a loaf of Italian bread for lunches and we found the cheese on sale at our local grocery store. The Sargento Colby and Jack had been placed on clearance along with their Cheddar-Mozzarella slices. We snapped them up and, at my child’s’ suggestion I placed a slice of both cheeses on the bread. I melted butter and brushed the outsides of each slice before placing it on my heated George Foreman Grill. It took no time and dinner was on. After taking a bite my kid had a grin on his face and was heartily downing the sandwich by breaking it into pieces and dunking it into the creamy rich soup. That’s when I wished we had bought more cheese. I wonder if you can freeze it?
Every other Saturday I have lunch with my ex and our son. I don’t mean this in a mean way but if I really enjoyed the guys company then he wouldn’t be an ex so the food I have must be tasty. Our last outing was to Max & Erma’s. We had a little wait and then were seated at a smallish table by the opening to the mall. Great, I thought, I’ll be able to people watch.
Our waitress came to gather our orders but I could not comply until she answered one little question for me: Could I get fried chicken on my salad instead of grilled? It’s not that I don’t understand the health benefits of grilled, I just really enjoy how fried chicken plays against the crisp cool greens of a salad. The young lady said sure and that was just what I wanted to hear. After a few minutes this tasty salad of fresh greens, crisp apples, cranberries and glazed pecans topped with tasty fried chicken arrived. Talk about good! Every bite was a lovely blend of taste that distracted me from my reality and I was a little sorry to see it end. I will definitely order this salad again.
When you cram too many task into one lunch hour something is bound to be cut back. Running around town for myself, my company, and my lunch I had no plan whatsoever. I had no idea where lunch was coming from until I was driving down the road and my stomach growled. As I recovered from the rumbling, low and behold, I was near my Micky D’s. I swung into the parking lot, parked the car, and headed inside. I didn’t know what I wanted until the lady in front of me ordered a chicken sandwich. Three strips and the rumbling was gone.
I grew up in a small town. Think Mayberry in the 70’s. There was a pharmacy where my grandparents picked-up their many prescriptions and, during the summer, I was brought along. This pharmacy had a lunch counter inside where any number of tasty items could be purchased. My favorite was the hot dogs and fries.
Today, for lunch, I found myself ordering the hot dog and regular fries from 5 Guys Burgers & Fries. I asked for it to go due to the time and waited for my lunch.
The young man behind the counter had no idea that by handing me that slightly greasy paper bag he would send me back in time. I was briefly hurled back to a summer day in that pharmacy, sitting across from my protective and supportive grandmother. The scent of French fries, thick and crisp, reminded me of her and our summers. But lunch can’t last forever, can it?
I have a love/hate relationship with fast food. When it’s good, I’m as happy as a lark but when it’s bad… In the chains defense, this time it was totally my fault. Kinda. There is a Micky D’s near my job (actually there are two but one is beyond bad so I tend to forget it exist). The staff in there are very helpful and friendly. They greet you with smiles and a rather pleasant tone. I consider this one mine but upon entering today I momentarily forgot where I was and made two big mistakes when I ordered my lunch. I wanted the glass they were giving away with a large value meal and learned they had just the one I was missing. “Great,” I said, “give me a number four, go large.” What’s wrong with that, you may ask. Well, a number 4 is two cheeseburgers, fries and a drink. Pretty basic stuff except one thing, I hate the cheese fast food places use. I really hate it but do they offer a two hamburger meal. Nope. Mistake number two has to do with the fries. I forgot to tell them I wanted them fresh from the fryer. So what I ended up with were lamp warmed limp fries and two cheese burgers and no one to blame but myself. At least the tea was good. Lesson learned.
I fully expected to be regaling about the sumptuous spread on a class reunion dinner cruise but that wouldn’t be right. Although there were numerous offerings on the menu it paled in comparison to the fun I had catching up with my classmates.
