Desperately Seeking Gina

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Tofurky Day Plan

With just the two of us here at The Cove I tend to not make much of an effort for holiday meals {especially since we’re vegetarian}.  This year we have much to be thankful for and so I’m hoping to make it a bit more special.  Here’s a glimpse at what I have planned:

I’m most excited about having an appetizer:  Baked Brie topped with cranberry sauce and walnuts from Simple Bites.

Tofurky.  We had this vegetarian roast a couple of years ago and we really liked it.

These roasted brussels sprouts looks so tasty and since neither Thom nor myself have roasted them {I don’t think I’ve had them at all} it will be a little culinary-vegetable adventure.

A fellow Arkansas Woman Blogger posted about her grandmother’s homemade rolls last week and they look delicious and within my baking ability, so I’m thinking Alison’s rolls will make an appearance as well.

Thom loves the cranberry-apple relish from Frankenmuth in Michigan so I am putting it together for him and for me?  The simple cranberry sauce found at Simple bites.  I’m a big fan of that canned cranberry jelly, though…so I just might buy a can of that too.  What are your thoughts on the canned stuff?

I’m still trying to think of one or two more dishes to add.  Thom requested coleslaw and after looking and hearing about other’s Turkey Day menus, I’m really craving macaroni and cheese.

How’re your plans coming along?

Desperately Seeking: The Best Pad Thai {found?}

Persistence pays off.  After some mediocre results in our search for really good, authentic Pad Thai, we may have found our place.  The good thing:  it’s right down the street from where I work.  The bad thing:  it’s right down the street from where I work.  Temptation will be too great.

The place:  Sai Gon in Conway {they also have a location in Little Rock}
The dish:  Pad Thai {tofu for me, shrimp for Thom}
The price: $8.95 {mine}  $10.95 {Thom’s}

The good:

Served with bean sprouts, napa cabbage, carrots.  FRESHEST ingredients I’ve ever had at any restaurant. I’ve never had Pad Thai with cabbage but it was excellent and provided a great crunch in contrast to the spicy noodles.  The bean sprouts were extremely fresh.

Tofu. Very flavorful with the spices of the dish.  Considering how quickly the dish came out after ordering, this was quite the feat {if you’ve never had tofu-it’s tasteless. It picks up the flavors of the dish it’s cooked with but a lot of times there isn’t enough time for the flavors to be absorbed by the tofu}. This was fried to perfection. Also, there was tons of tofu and there was no additional charge.

Shrimp: Thom was very impressed with the freshness, size, and amount of shrimp in his dish and it was cooked very, very well.

Spiciness.  Asked on a rank of 1-10 how spicy I’d like it, I chose 8.  I like it hot and this was definitely spicy enough to get my nose running {ewwww…pretty sure the Michelin guys never use this criteria}.

Service was pretty fast but were were there around three in the afternoon {their lunch menu ends at 2:30} and we were the only patrons.  The waiter was friendly and polite and seemed genuinely interested in our comfort.

The bad:

It’s actually hard to come up with anything bad.  The restaurant was a bit smoky?  And, the outside of the restaurant looks bit shady {neglected? boring? abandoned?}.

We’ll definitely be repeat customers.  Was it the best?  I’m thinking so.  The best I’ve had was from Rochester Hills, Michigan and I haven’t had it in 6 or 7 years so I need to give it another shot.  This was definitely the best in Arkansas.

Dinner for two, 1 glass of  Thai Iced Tea {super good}, plus tip = $28.00

Sai Gon- Authentic Vietnamese, Chinese, & Thai Cuisine
305 E. Oak
Conway AR 72032

Rockstar Saturday

There was a list of things I wanted and/or needed to accomplish today. Since I like to make this a positive space I’ll focus on the things I managed to complete:

1.  Sleeping in.  I awoke at 7 but managed to fall back asleep til 8:30 {ish}.
2.  Coffee.  I can’t get enough lately.

3.  Dishes.  Don’t judge…I left dinner dishes from last night.
4.  Oven cleaned. For future reference DO NOT ever use the 5-10 minute warm oven method.  Worst decision ever.
5.  Lunch.  Not made by me, but most definitely consumed by me.
6.  Perusal of Amazon for reading material.
7.  Purchase of found reading material:  The Count of Monte Cristo & A Memoir of Grief

Notes:  My reading of the Classics has begun.  Also, Kim & I want to read a classic together, sor of book-club-like.  Join us?  Choosing one has proven difficult as she is much more well read than I.  So we have each started other reading.

I’m 7 chapters into Monte Cristo and I’m loving it.

8.  Dinner.  Homemade pizza, a Saturday night stand by.
9.  Finally, a blog post for NaBloPoMo, some tunes on low, a fiance who looks at me lovingly from across the room, and  a pan of brownies calling out to me from the kitchen.

Cozy.  Comfortable. Sweet. Saturday.

Conversations in my head

The words that fall from my lips are not the words that were just rolling around inside my head.  No matter how much I practice a conversation it never comes out the way I’d prefer it to.  Instead, I stumble over words or mispronounce them, or I give up halfway through a syllable and wind up sounding juvenile.

I’m so glad writing is not talking. And that I didn’t have the bright idea to vlog; unless you would actually enjoy watching me on video just stare at you?

That the words don’t form or that they come out wrong is not a bad thing because sometimes the words that go unspoken are not nice words. Like, moron.  Or, jerk. Or, are you really this stupid? egotistical? arrogant?      

Perhaps it’s my conscience’s way of reiterating my mother’s advice:  if you don’t have anything nice to say, don’t say anything at all.

Deep thoughts for a Friday night and certainly not directed at anyone or anything.  Just thinking to myself that I ‘m a quiet girl.

And now, a word about NaBloPoMo

Why is it that after fifteen days of daily blogging in I’m feeling exhausted and spent? Coherent thoughts and posts are nowhere to be found this evening so I will leave you with some blogs worth reading as mine just isn’t tonight.

Everything and a Racehorse

Just Jasmine

Minivan Momma

Still Seeking Martha  {who just happens to be giving away a $150 Country Outfitter gift card!}

Jamie’s Thots

What are some of  your favorite reads?