Loveless Cafe Preserve

There's been a lot of talk, especially lately, about eating real food with real ingredients. Well, this blackberry preserve, from the Loveless Cafe in Nashville, is the real deal.

There are two ingredients - sugar and blackberries!

It was given to me last February, along with their peach preserve and biscuit mix, as part of swag bag while on a dog food company sponsored trip to Nashville. But, I just opened it this past weekend.

It's extremely tasty -- not too sweet, but perfect on gluten-free toast or biscuits. And, I love that it is made with all 'real' ingredients. You can see the blackberries in the preserve!

I think it would be perfect in a cookie, but I'm too exhausted this week to even think about baking. :)

Do you have a favorite preserve?

Bacon and Cheddar Potato Skins

Who doesn't love bacon? Well, except for us vegetarians and vegans. ;-)

Here's the thing, I still cook meat for other people. Just like they respect my food choices and provide me with a vegetarian dish when I go to their house, I always try to provide my meat-eating friends with something, too.

These bacon and cheddar potato skins are gluten free, and pretty easy to whip up.

Broccoli and Cheddar Potato Skins

Potato skins are one of those foods that just screams football and party. But, until recently, I thought they were really hard to make at home. Surprisingly, they are not!

Some people scoop the insides of the potato almost completely to the skin, but I like to leave just a little bit inside for an added layer of flavor. These are gluten free and vegetarian. If you have a vegan guest, just skip the cheese on several of them.

Making a Baked Potato in the Microwave

I don't know about you, but I never seem to have time to make a baked potato the traditional way, especially when I'm using it in a recipe. Microwaving them is so much easier!

Here's how to do it:

Happy Hour at Havana Central in Times Square

I first learned of Havana Central several years ago when I was working for Fox News. We went there several times for happy hour, but I hadn't been back in at least two years until yesterday.

We went there because they have a fabulous happy hour: $6 mojitos, $7 sangrias, $6 margaritas, $4 beers and $5 house wine, Monday through Friday from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Yes, that's still a little expensive, but it's New York City, and more importantly it's Time Square. Those are the prices.

But, the thing that makes this Havana Central different when it comes to their drinks, is that at least in my experience, they're always made very well and taste perfect. Mojitos come in a variety of tropical flavors listed on one of three chalk vertical chalk boards high above the bar. {The other two list their appetizer samples and beer selection.}

Lake George Area Beer Tweet Up: #ADKBeer28

Like beer? Will you be in the Lake George area on Sat., Jan. 28? Enjoy meeting new people? If you answered yes to these questions, then the #ADKBeer28 tweet up is for you.

I thought it would be fun to gather some of us who chat back and forth on Twitter, as well as others, to enjoy a few beers and meet in person -- and the Adirondack Pub and Brewery's "Festival of Barrels" is the perfect event.

I mean, how fun does this sound?! -- 

The event will celebrate the brewery's limited-edition bourbon barrel-aged brews at “Festival of Barrels,” from 2 to 6 p.m. on Saturday, Jan. 28, on the deck of the pub.

Open to the public, guests can beat the cabin fever and “toast the cold” with a star-lit barrel bonfire, craft brews and delicious food.


Details are below. RSVPs are not required, but are helpful just to know who we're looking for that day.

What:  Lake George Area Beer Tweet Up: #ADKBeer28
         
When: Saturday, Jan. 28, 2 p.m. - 6 p.m.

Where:  Adirondack Pub and Brewery's "Festival of Barrels"

Cost: Tickets cost $20 and $25 at the door. Each ticket includes 5 beer tickets and a complementary mug. Tickets are available for purchase at the pub during regular business hours and online at: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/217514 {Everyone's responsible for purchasing their own ticket}

RSVP: http://tweetvite.com/event/ADKBEER28

Questions: Tweet me ~ @theadkchick or email me ~ michellemaskaly (at) yahoo.com


Hope you can make it!The more the merrier!



Please note: The brewery has nothing to do with this Tweet Up.

Crumbs Rule at Gambles Bakery

I stopped at Gambles Bakery in Queensbury for the first time Saturday, despite the fact I've driven past their green and white sign out front that reads, "Bakery and Eatery" about a ba-zillion times. I went in for a few hard rolls. I left with them, as well as a small piece of crumb cake, a raspberry crumb bar, cinnamon raisin buns, a black and white cookie and a chocolate dipped almond pastry.