Bite of the Week - Mrs. T's Potato, Broccoli & Cheddar Pierogies

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I cooked.

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I repeat: I cooked. Seriously, I went over to the oven and preheated it, sprayed a cookie sheet, threw some Mrs. T's Potato, Broccoli & Cheese Pierogies on top, and slid the tray into the hot oven. Me. Putting my arms into a hot oven. I hope you were sitting down for that.

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I've always wanted to make pierogies at home, and I'm very glad that I was finally brave enough to buy a box. Mrs. T's always has the most delicious-sounding pierogi flavors such as potato and onion and potato and cheese. One thing that helped me choose the broccoli and cheese flavor is that the box came with two extra pierogis inside. The more, the merrier! They actually came out quite good, considering I was the one that was in charge of making them. The crust was very light, allowing the delicious filling to stand out. They were actually quite stuffed, which surprised me because some of these appetizer-type foods barely have any filling at all. The taste was excellent, and YES - I ate the entire box. So what? It was my reward for not burning the house down. Now that I've become one with the oven, I can't wait to try some of the other Mrs. T flavors. Stop & Shop, here I come!

Joe's Family Restaurant

366 Mariano Bishop Blvd.

Fall River, MA 02721

(508) 675-2255

Mom and I have been quite busy these days. Between work, school, and various health issues, we haven't been able to find the time to grab a meal in weeks! Fortunately, we've managed to get back on track. Since we were on the go early in the morning (well, early for us), we decided to have breakfast at one of our favorite places - Joe's Family Restaurant. We pulled into the parking area at about 12 p.m.
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Located in a small plaza, Joe's is quite popular with local folks. Although the restaurant seems small from the outside, it is actually quite long and can seat quite a few people. Aside from the dining area, there is a large counter with stools for those people who may be eating alone and don't want to hog a whole table to themselves. The restaurant is painted a light blue and decorated with horse decals along the wooden chair rail. There are also several framed photos of horses hanging on the walls. The owner must be quite the equestrian! Joe's is definitely not a "cloth napkin establishment", but it is definitely a cozy, clean place to eat. Mom and I have always enjoyed eating at Joe's.

When we walked through the door, Mom and I chose a secluded seat near the curtained window. One of the great things about coming to Joe's is that you get to seat yourself. A friendly waitress - who we later found out was named Kelly - came over to take our drink order and deliver two plastic-covered menus. Mom ordered the bottomless cup of hot coffee ($1.45) while I chose a large glass of iced ($1.85). Kelly quickly filled the cup that was closest to Mom, and went off to the kitchen to grab my beverage. When Kelly returned, I asked her for some Sweet 'N Low, which she had been carrying in her apron. Perhaps they've had some Sweet 'N Low thieves lately? I wonder why the packets were so guarded? Since we already knew what we wanted, Mom and I placed our order. Mom chose the sweet bread French toast ($4.15) with a side of bacon ($2.65), while I went with the Fall River omelet ($5.95). I remembered that when I ordered this dish on our last visit, the waitress had asked me if I wanted it regular or spicy. I told Kelly that, if I had a choice, I would want it spicy. She smiled and told me that they would make it any way I wanted. My meal came with toast and home fries, and I picked rye from the many kinds of breads available. Kelly took away our menus and disappeared into the kitchen.


Mom and I first started eating at Joe's when my sister was in the summer music program at the nearby middle school. This was back in our bus-hopping days, so needless to say we did a lot of waiting back then. Since we had nothing to do, we decided to tour the area. We came upon Joe's and decided to go in. Mom didn't have much money on hand, and I hadn't even started working yet (ahh ... the good ol' days). Luckily for us, there was one item on the menu that we could afford - the grilled cheese danish. Paired with a cup of coffee (and a soda or strawberry Yoo-Hoo for me), this was a perfect low-cost breakfast, and it was absolutely delicious. Joe's has a variety of low-cost breakfast options such as omelets, pancakes, waffles, pastries, egg dishes, bagels, toast, and breakfast meats. Unfortunately the pictures that I had taken of the menu didn't come out very clear, but I can tell you that there was not one item on the breakfast menu that was over $8 (that I could spot, anyway). Although I did not see a lunch or dinner menu, I'm assuming that they feature some comfort and local food favorites.


When our breakfast arrived (brought over by another waitress), both plates looked great. Mom's plate came with three big slices of Portuguese sweet bread, which were perfectly cooked and served nice and hot. Topped with syrup and butter, it made for a delicious meal. The side of bacon came thick and meaty, and was also perfectly cooked. Mom said that this side dish was a great addition to her French toast, and she would definitely get it again.
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My omelet was SPICY. Mom even commented on my shiny, pink face because I was "glowing" - like a pig. The omelet was chock full of chourico, onions, and banana peppers. It was served dry (which I love because I can't stand wet eggs). The home fries and toast were delicious as well. Actually, the home fries and toast were what kept me from chugging my entire iced coffee after the first bite of my omelet. I kept taking small bites of the sides to muffle the spice, but I wouldn't have it any other way. I love this dish!





Kelly noticed that Mom and I had both gone into a food-induced coma, so she came over to clear the table and bring the bill. The bill came to:

Sweet bread French toast - $4.15

Bacon - 2.65

Fall River omelet - 5.95

Iced coffee - 1.85

Small coffee - 1.45

Tax - .80

TOTAL = $16.85

I took the bill up to the cashier and told her that the bill was "all set." I had given her a $20 bill, which included a 20% tip for Kelly. She was a great waitress. Come to think of it, we've always had great service at Joe's. That's why they have such a loyal customer base, and also why Mom and I have been eating here for years.


Believe it or not, Mom and I have never eaten lunch at Joe's, but we have heard great things about their burgers and fries. Perhaps one of these days I'll have to skip work and drive on over to Joe's and have lunch. I'm almost certain that we won't be disappointed. Hmm ... I suddenly feel a cold coming on ... *cough, cough*. Could a sick day be far behind?


Joe's Family Restaurant is open from 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Wednesday (for breakfast and lunch), 5 a.m. to 8 p.m. (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), 5 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday (breakfast, lunch, and dinner), and 5 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Sunday (breakfast only). Joe's is closed on Tuesday.

Bite of the Week - Shady Brook Farms Young Turkey Breast

Phew! Why was it so hard to find turkey breasts this year? They're usually not a problem to get, but lately they were nowhere to be seen - until last week. The last couple of holidays, Mom has been buying the hotel style turkey breast instead of a whole turkey. This saves us from having to get rid of a lot of unused meat since none of us enjoy the dark. Mom loves the look of getting the whole turkey because it's like a "real" Thanksgiving dinner, but she just can't stand all the waste. Mom, Mal, and I only eat the breast and Dad eats the legs. Everything else gets tossed, and that's a shame. So finally, after tracking down some Shady Brook Farms turkey breasts at Stop & Shop ($1.49/lb.), we were able to snag two of them - an eight and a nine pounder.

THE VERDICT: Fantastic! The hotel style turkey is just the breast with no legs, wings, or dark meat. All you have to do is roast it in the oven, which Mom usually does for about an hour and a quarter at 350 degrees, and then take it out. In Mom's case, she likes to slice it and stick it in turkey gravy, simmering it on low. The breast comes out beautiful, tender, and tasty. The meat is very moist and there is no waste! You can eat the slices on a plate with all the trimmings, or you can make a delicious turkey and stuffing sandwich (which I love to do). Whatever you do with it, we think you'd be very happy - especially if you're a white meat lover like we are.

Bite of the Week - Tribe Hummus & Crackers

I have fallen in love with hummus. I don't know if it's the chick pea base, or the delicious flavors that it comes in, but whatever it is, I'm hooked! I think I've tried just about every flavor from every company, but in particular I like the new Tribe snack packs ($1.29), which come with crackers for scooping. It saves me from buying a whole tub of hummus and eating the entire thing in one sitting. It also allows me to take my hummus to work so that I could have a chick pea fix on my break.

THE VERDICT: Delicious! My only complaint is that there aren't enough crackers. They only provide four, so you really have to lather the hummus on thick if you want to eat the entire container - and who doesn't want to eat the whole thing?. The Tribe snack packs come in regular, roasted red pepper (my favorite), roasted garlic, and 40 spices, which is extremely spicy (go figure)! I'm sure there are other flavors, but these are the only four that I have seen at Stop & Shop. They can be found where the regular tubs of hummus are kept, and I think that they really help me to control my hummus intake and provide a healthy snack at the same time. I just love it!

(Non) Bite of the Week - Debbie Meyer Bags

Mom first saw these bags on a TV infomercial, but didn't put much thought into them. She's been let down before with these "As Seen on TV" products. However, since one of her pet peeves is not being able to keep fruits and veggies fresh for very long, she decided to give the bags a try. She bought the green bags first (for fruits and veggies) and - to her amazement - they actually worked!

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THE VERDICT: They're terrific! The bags actually do make the fruits and vegetables last well over a week longer then they normally would have. We've kept bananas fresh for a week and a half, and we've even had a head of lettuce stay fresh for almost a month! Even cut vegetables have lasted longer and remained nice and firm. Mom was so impressed by the green bags that she purchased the bread and cold cut bags (we did not purchase the cheese bags as we do not buy cheese in bulk). Although she has not yet tried the cold cut bags, she has been using the bread bags and they are fantastic. Everything stays fresher for a longer period of time. She would definitely recommend these bags to anyone who hates throwing their money away. If you're put off by the price ($10 a box), don't forget - they're reusable. You can use the bags up to 10 times each. All you have to do give them a rinse and let them dry. You're really getting your money's worth, especially since the bags let you get more use out of your food. Debbie Meyer, whoever you are, you make one Hell of a bag. A+!

Sal's Pizza

www.sals-pizza.com

Date visited: September 18, 2008

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OPEN LETTER TO SAL'S PIZZA:

Dear Sal's,

We beg you - COME TO SOUTHEASTERN MASSACHUSETTS! We've been spoiled by your excellent pies and need a fix, but your locations are too far away. Rescue us from this non-Sal's existence!!

Laura, Diane, and Paul
New England Bites
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Not wanting to miss out on another food opportunity, Mom and I decided to stop at Sal's Pizza, which is connected to the White Farms Homemade Ice Cream building. Sal's Pizza is a Massachusetts pizza chain that has expanded their business to New Hampshire, California, and Florida. Dubbed "the home of the 19", three pound pizza," we often see commercials for Sal's yummy-looking pies on The Phantom Gourmet. We couldn't leave this famous pizza chain out of our eating extravaganza, so Mom and I planned to get a pizza and take it home - all the way back to Fall River. We entered Sal's at around 1:50 p.m.


Since this is Sal's newest location, everything looked extra clean and shiny. There was only one girl behind the counter, and she was surrounded by very large pizza boxes. Before waiting on Mom, she showed her what some of the pizzas looked like (the "showcase pizzas" were in a heated display case for people who wanted to order a single slice). While I used the ladies' room, Mom ordered a large Meat Lovers pizza ($19.75), which comes topped with pepperoni, sausage, bacon, and meatballs. You may say to yourself, "Wow, that's a lot of money for one pizza." You're right, but when you see the size of the pizza, you'll agree that you definitely get your money's worth.

Mom and I took a seat in the dining area to wait until our pizza was ready to go. I'm not sure if Sal's uses ready-made crusts, but I could definitely see the "pizza girl" working hard to get all of our toppings onto the pie. As it cooked, the smell was intoxicating. You could tell that Mom and I were full from a day of eating or else we would have been storming the counter and trying to grab a slice of pizza out of the girl's hands. After the pie was cooked and ready to go, we took it to the car and surrounded it with large ice sheets. While driving home, Mom and I were drowning in the fantastic smell of the freshly cooked pizza. We were just hoping that it tasted as good as it smelled, especially since it was going to have to be reheated once we got it home.

After we returned home and placed the pizza in the refrigerator for a while, it was time for dinner. Mom and I were too full to eat, but Dad was ready for some Sal's Pizza. Mom took the pizza out of the refrigerator and put it in the oven. After it was ready, she took it out and let Dad go crazy. By that time, Mom was ready to try a small slice, but these slices were anything but small. Both Mom and Dad thought that the pizza was outrageously tasty. The flavor of the pizza matched the overpowering aroma that Mom and I had been smelling in the car. The combination of the different meats, cheeses, sauce, and the tasty crust worked together to make one of the tastiest pizzas they've ever had. For once, they both agreed that it was amazing. After I returned home from an appointment, Mom told me that I had to try Sal's immediately. Although I was still a little full from our huge lunch, I caved in and had a slice. One slice quickly turned into two once I tasted this delicious pie. I completely agree with my parents - it was the best pizza I've ever had.


Sal's Pizzas range from $9.99-19.75 and include speciality pies such as the veggie, Italian veggie, spinach/tomato/feta, chicken club, chicken cordon bleu, buffalo chicken, Mediterranean, steak bomb, Hawaiian, and many others. They also offer "Salzones" ($6.99) that weigh a whopping one pound each! Sal's also makes homemade breads, desserts, and salads. All of the ingredients are fresh and if they're anything like that Meat Lovers pizza, they will knock your socks off.

My family is officially ruined from ordering pizza now. It's not like we can go to Papa Gino's, Domino's, or *gag* Papa John's and have dinner. We'll forever be comparing it to Sal's Pizza, which tasted more amazing reheated than any of the other chains' "fresh" pie. It looks like Sal's will just have to get themselves down to Southeastern Massachusetts ... or Rhode Island ... heck, I'm ready to open up a franchise right now!

The Sal's Pizza location we visited is at 326 High St., Ipswich, MA. For more information, such as locations and hours, please visit their Web site at www.sals-pizza.com.

The Steak Loft

27 Coogan Blvd, #24

Mystic, CT 06355

(860) 536-2661

www.steakloftct.com

Date visited: September 20, 2008

After a long week of day trips and delicious meals, Mom and I decided to go out with a bang. We headed toward Connecticut for a day of gambling at Foxwoods Casino, but not before having lunch at The Steak Loft. The Steak Loft came highly recommended by my aunt, and after reading the menu online, our mouths were watering over the thought of delicious steak. Mom and I pulled into the parking area at just around 3 p.m.




The Steak Loft is larger than we thought. There are several dining areas including a beautiful bar at the center of the restaurant. When we entered, a friendly hostess told us that we could sit in the lounge or at the bar. Since we had been in the car for quite a long time, Mom decided to use the ladies' room right away while I chose a seat in the raised lounge. A waiter named Charles came over to introduce himself and bring over two menus. I ordered two Diet Cokes, which promptly arrived in real glasses. When Mom joined me at the table, we took a moment to look over the menu. Charles soon came over to take our order. We both ordered the steak and crab cakes combination plate ($22 each). Yes, it is that kind of restaurant. A little on the pricey side, but we wanted to live dangerously. Our meals also came with a potato choice (I chose redskin mashed potatoes and Mom chose steak fries) and a salad with our choice of dressing. When the salads arrived, Mom and I were pleasantly surprised. This was no side salad. It was almost a meal! It had all the basic vegetables, but included some large pieces of meat and cheese. It was almost like an antipasto, and we both enjoyed the fresh salads very much. Even Mom, who is not that into salad, was eating it up. I ate mine so fast that I forgot to take a picture of it. Sorry.

The interior of The Steak Loft is quite cozy. It is on the dark side, which made for difficult picture taking. Covering the walls and rafters were various license plates. Surrounding the lounge was a large banquette with very comfortable pillows. Made up of mostly tables and chairs, I did see some booths toward the far side of the restaurant. Mounted by the bar was a Plasma TV, and hanging above the diners was a large American flag. It is the perfect restaurant to have a quiet dinner with your loved one, or gather a group of friends and have a celebration.


We hadn't been waiting long before our meals arrived. Both dishes looked fabulous. This was Mom's first time having a real steak in a real steak house. Later in the evening when we told my father where we'd gone for lunch, he said to my mother, "So ... you had a steak? You had a steak?" Whichever word he emphasised didn't help him get over the fact that my mother sat down and had a piece of meat at a restaurant. She has always been nervous to order a thick piece of meat for herself because she was afraid that it would taste "weird" or chewy. However, she was very happy with her choice. The piece of meat on her plate was cooked just to her liking (medium well). It had beautiful grill marks and was moist and tender. The portion was perfect and went well with the accompanying crab cakes. The cakes were chock full of crab meat and minced vegetables, which gave them a great taste. They were nicely spiced and had a tasty, crisp coating. I completely agreed with Mom - this was a perfect meal. Even my redskin potatoes and Mom's steak fries were tasty. We may have paid $22 per plate, but we were certainly presented with a lot of food. Tasty food.

My plate.

Mom's plate.

The Steak Loft has a lot of tasty options such as skewered beef, seafood and meat combinations, sliced steak, barbecue chicken, cod, teriyaki ribs, sirloin, baby back ribs, Filet Mignon, stuffed sole, rib eye steak, New York strip, and various appetizers and "quick bites," which are sandwiches and salads that you can grab in the lounge or at the bar. The prices range from $6-30, depending on what you order. However, please note that the menu online has not been updated. It states that the crab cakes and steak combo is $20.50, which is not true. It is now $22.

After we were busting the seams, Charles returned to clear our table and bring the bill. The total came to:

2 Diet Cokes - $3.50

2 steak/crab cakes - 44

Subtotal - $47.50

Tax - 2.85

TOTAL = $50.35

We left $60.35 on the table, including a 20% tip for Charles, who was in for a rough time with the table next to us. It was filled with pretentious parents who dragged their young son to the restaurant to celebrate his birthday. The Steak Loft is definitely more of an adult restaurant, so we're pretty sure that the poor kid would have been much happier at Chuck E. Cheese's. As Mom and I sipped the last of our sodas, we heard the table complain about not being able to access the salad bar before 4 p.m. They were getting a little irate, so we started to feel really bad for Charles. I hope they weren't too much for him. Before we left, we used the restroom and, like before, it was clean and organized. However, this time around it was filled with drunk old ladies! It's always something.

I am so glad that Mom's first experience eating real steak at a steak house went extremely well. She's really beginning to come out of her "I only eat pasta and coffee ice cream" shell and has been trying different things. The Steak Loft is definitely a place that we would visit again, perhaps after a big win at Foxwoods. I wish I could report that we won back the money I'd spent on the meal, but alas, we left there broke. Still, it was a great ending to a superb vacation.

The Steak Loft is open from 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. to 9:30 p.m. on Sunday.

White Farms Homemade Ice Cream

326 High St.

Ipswich, MA 01938

(978) 356-2633

Date visited: September 18, 2008

After pigging out on seafood at Clam Box, Mom and I decided to visit another Ipswich hot spot that was just down the road called White Farms Homemade Ice Cream. This small shop with a cow on top has also been mentioned on various Web sites and received rave reviews from all who've had a scoop of their homemade ice cream. Not wanting to pass up an ice cream opportunity, Mom and I pulled into the gravel parking lot at just around 1:30 p.m.

Yes, I know we had just eaten, but when are we going to be in Ipswich again? Although we were full, Mom and I wanted to have a taste of what people were writing about. Plus, we were on vacation. Anything goes, right? When we walked up to the window, there were two large signs that listed the many flavors and dessert options that White Farms offered. A group of giggling teenagers were at one window getting ice cream. We noticed that a few girls were getting kiddie size cups, and when we saw how big those cups were, Mom and I decided that we would also choose the kiddie size. It was huge! When it was our turn to order, I asked the girl behind the counter a question. There was a flavor on the list called "outrageous," so I asked her what it was. She said that it was a double chocolate ice cream with chocolate chips, a chocolate swirl, and a homemade brownie mixed in. SIGN ME UP! I ordered a kiddie cup of outrageous ($2.90) while Mom ordered a kiddie cup of cocojamocha ($2.90). The total came to $5.80.

When our ice creams were ready, Mom and I took them to the car so we could chow down. We could have eaten in the small grassy area at the side of the building, but it was a bit chilly outside. After snapping a pic of the cups, we dug in. Mom's cocojamocha was delicious. She said it was like a cross between rich coffee and chocolate flavored ice creams. It had a deep flavor and was surprisingly sprinkled with coconut shavings, which gave it an extra kick. Mom said that it was a very different taste, and she enjoyed it tremendously. My outrageous was - brace yourselves - outrageous. Surprised? I was! It was one of the best flavors of ice cream I've ever had. There was a homemade brownie mixed into the double chocolate ice cream. The chocolate chips were almost like chocolate shavings, which was great because we all know how hard thick chocolate pieces can get when they're inside of an ice cream. I adored this flavor and I think that any and all chocolate lovers should walk ... no, run ... to White Farms and try a cup of outrageous. It will blow your mind! I've been thinking about it ever since. Too bad it's all the way in Ipswich.

(L) outrageous; (R) cocojamocha

White Farms offers a multitude of hard and soft serve flavors, yogurts, and sugar free ice creams. The prices are average, but they definitely give you your money's worth because the sizes are quite large. I don't know how long White Farms has been in business, but they must have quite a fan base because there are t-shirts sold at the stand bearing the White Farms name. I was tempted to get one, but I don't think a "woman of size" would look good wearing a shirt with a restaurant logo on it.

The outdoor seating area.

Boy, Ipswich certainly has some fantastic places to eat, and White Farms Ice Cream is certainly one of them. We only wish that they were closer. Perhaps they can pull a "Ben & Jerry's" and start making their ice cream in pints and of course, selling them in Fall River, MA. What do you say, White Farms? We could do with a pint of outrageous down here!!!

The White Farms Homemade Ice Cream fall hours are from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.