Laurel Grill and Bar

For this past Christmas my sister Sarah got me a couple of Gift Certificates to some restaurants in Boston. She said she hoped that she had selected some good ones since she has never been to Boston to try them out herself. I thought I would blog about it so Sarah would know she made a good selection. My new friend Holidais (Holiday) was in finalizing her plans in moving here. We meet because she come and checked out my apartment and she thought about coming and living with me. She will live in Cambridge and her friend Camilla might come and move into my apartment instead. We decided to go into Boston and have dinner on Monday at Laurel Grill and Bar. The picture above is the inside of the restaurant. It was really nice. We sat at the table in the back corner by the statue.

After we started eating the appetizer of Calamari I thought oh I should take a picture and Sarah can see how good the food is. So here is our half eaten plate of Calamari. I love fried Calamari and the sauce they had to dip it in was amazing. It was not the normal marinara sauce and it was the best dipping sauce ever. It had a little bit of a sweet yet spicy Chili taste to it and all kinds of yummy spices in it. They also had fried up some Banana Peppers and it was really good. Holidais didn't like peppers so I got to eat them all. Calamari is one of my favorite appetizers.

I got the Grilled Salmon Fillet with Red Potatoes, Fennel and Baby Spinach salad and a Red Wine Leek and Caper Sauce. It was all really good. I already started eating before I remember to take the picture. Sorry! I love Seafood!

Holidais got the Crisp Skinned Rotisserie Duck, Long Grain & Wild Rice, Roast Pearl Onions, Gingered Rhubarb Compote. She let me try her duck because I have not had it before and I thought it tasted like Turkey. The part I had was brown meat and it was good. Holidais said it was really fatty.

At a place like this (since I will probably only go once) we had to get dessert. We got a Brownie Sunday. It was really good but even the two of us couldn't finish it after all the food we ate. And they never give you enough ice cream to make it all the way through the brownie.

After we got home I thought oh we should have taken our picture at the restaurant but I we didn't so this is as good as you get me after my shower and Holidais beautiful as always.

Thanks Sarah for the Gift Certificate. It provided a fun evening and some very good food. We really had a great time.

Nantucket Island

Over Memorial Day weekend a friend of mine came up to visit from New York. We decided to go to Nantucket for Saturday and see what adventures we could find. Neither of us have been before so we thought it would be fun. I had heard a lot about Nantucket and that it is a great place to go and a lot of fun. So I guess you could say I had high expectations. I had checked the forecast for the day before we left and it was suppose to be in the low 60's and not to get past 64 degrees. I was expecting it to be a bit chilly.

I while back I happened to receive a coupon for a round trip ticket for two for the price of one in the first class cabin. If you wanted the deal you have to buy it the day the coupon is released otherwise the offer is not valid at the end of the day. So I decided I would get it and I was sure I would be able to find someone to go with. It paid off to have some things in my back pocket for when friends come and visit. We can do things besides the normal touristy things you do in Boston.

The first class cabin was much more comfortable than where we would have been sitting but it wasn't as fancy as I thought it would be. But it was warm (Except for the air conditioning) we were protected from the outside wind.

Jesse and I in the First Class Cabin. Here is our before adventure picture.

Happy, Awake and Excited!

When we arrived we rented some bikes and then headed into town to have some lunch. Okay I say into town which is like maybe one block and you are to town the harbor is basically in town. We stopped at this cute little cafe and had sandwiches. They has some fun art as their decor throughout the cafe. Lunch was good and feeling just what we needed for our long journey ahead of us.

It didn't take to long for us to figure out that the entire west side of the Island all looks the same. We rode our bikes to the Madaket Harbor, it was about a 6 and a half mile ride. We got ourselves a bit of a work out so the beach was refreshing. It was nice to kick off the shoes and feel the sand between my toes. The best part of the beach is when the waves come up and wash the sand out from under my toes. Jesse told me I had no need to worry about the weather because the sunshine always follows him and he was right. The sun came out and warmed up which made it for a very nice day and which made the water very refreshing.

On our ride back into town we stopped by the Old Mill, which was built in 1746 there were 3 other mills built and this is the only one left standing.

The Old Mill is believed to be the largest and oldest windmill in the United States still in operating condition and open to the public on a regular basis. This mill is known as a smock-type mill because of its shape and general appearance, very similar to the Dutch mills.

Sitting on a stone foundation, the windmill is a 50-foot octagonal structure with three floor levels. It has a revolving pent roof, or “cap,” which is moved in order to turn the 30-foot-long vanes (to which the sails are lashed) into the prevailing winds. 

 

The cap turns on its circular wooden base, which fits into a slotted circle at the top of the basic structure. The cap is turned from the ground by moving a 50-foot tail pole, which is permanently attached. Eight posts frame the exterior wall of the tower and run from the sills to the eaves.

All floor and wall framing is mortised, tenoned, and hickory-pegged, and with few exceptions, date from 1746. The primary structural wood is oak. Doors and windows are plank-framed with a single shutter hinged to each window frame. The interior mechanism is remarkable from an engineering standpoint. The vanes turn a huge gear mechanism made of wood, with some iron reinforcement. In turn, the moving gears force the top grinding stone to revolve. A wooden brake governs the speed of the vanes and stone. At the present time, the mill operation produces 5,000 pounds of meal from corn during the summer season.

The pole you see outside of the window is the 50 foot tail pole and the guide told us that they would use an ox to move it in order to change the direction of the windmill according to what direction the wind was blowing. There were four of us in our tour group. The other guy that was in the group wanted to see how heavy the tail pole was he asked the tour guide if he could try and push it to feel how heavy it was and the guide told him sure. He and Jesse tried to push it and they were successful. I guess you can say the two of them together were as Strong as an Ox.

Brant Point Lighthouse

We took a picture for a couple of people here so in turn they offered to take ours. We kindly accepted their offer.

Cold Jesse

It started to cool off when we were at the lighthouse.

Just before boarding the ship we made two stops. We stopped off at Aunt Leah's Fudge because we heard that she has the worlds best fudge. The Chocolate Peanut butter fudge was very tasty. Then we headed over to Cy's for dinner. We ran into a guy at Aunt Leah's named Neil and he told us that Cy's had the best Chicken Cesar Salad and that they marinade their chicken for a day or so in a their special sauce. So I ordered the Chicken Cesar Salad I don't think the chicken at set in anything but right to the grill. It was a good salad but not the best salad ever. We did however have an amazing dessert. 

This is Jesse and I at the end of the day in our after adventure picture. 

Happy, Tired, Cold and a bit damp (it was sprinkling a little)

As we were finishing up dinner it started to rain but we were lucky to have the weather we did for the day, so don't leave home without your Jesse to guarantee a day filled with sunshine.

All in all we had a good time and Nantucket was a fun place to visit. One of those things I can now check off of the bucket list.  

Sailing

On Friday I went to the ward activity of my friend Rafael. They were having a sailing activity. I was excited when he invited me because last year the Relief Society had a sailing activity but I was unable to attend. I always thought it would be fun to try but didn't have the opportunity. When Rafael invited me I was super excited to have another opportunity. 

 We went through our hour instructional course and then watched the instructor Matt go out on a sail boat. He was the Skipper and the girl in the boat is in the position of the crew. The Skipper steers the boat and the crew follows the direction of the Skipper in controlling the sail. 

 The wind wasn't to strong but there was a little bit of wind.

 

 This is Rafael and I on the sail boat. I went out twice. The first time my friend Joe invited me to go out with him. He had been sailing before so he had me start in the position of the crew. He helped me to understand how to get the sail to catch the wind. I learned how to watch the wind line up the ticklers on the sail.Then he had me take the position of the Skipper and I learned how to steer to boat. It was a lot of fun.

 Rafael was in charge of grilling the hamburgers and hotdogs so as soon as he was done cooking he and I went out. I will have to admit I was a little nervous because he had never gone out before and he missed most of the instruction class. When we were getting ready to get in the boat Rafael was asking Erik who was helping us in the boat a few questions and then he said maybe for my first time I should go out with someone a little more experienced. I almost agreed with him. I told him we would do fine. We got in and I started out as the Skipper since I knew more of what to do. It took me a minute to get the wind to catch the sail and then we started to haul across the river. It was so much fun and Joe did a good job in teaching me and I did a good job in teaching Rafael. I switched spots with Rafael and had him take the position of the Skipper. One of the most amazing things was while we were on the boat out on the river we had the opportunity to watch the sun set over the city. It was amazingly beautiful.

I would have to say my first time sailing was a pleasant experience and it was a lot of fun. I will look forward to the next time I get to go out sailing. I hope it will be sooner than later. It was a fun feeling to let the wind blow you effortlessly across the river. It was an experience worth having.

Our Savior's Life

This last weekend I decided to take a drive to Vermont and go to the Joseph Smith birth place. There is an exhibit of the life of our Savior. Angela Johnson created all of the sculptures. If you would like to know more about her work http://www.ajsculptures.com/

"Oh My Father"

This is a statue to depict when he went into the mountains to pray unto his Father.

"The First Vision"

Joseph Smith praying to know which church is true.

Joseph shares his experience "I saw a pillar of light exactly over my head, above the brightness of the sun, which descended gradually until it fell upon me. When the light rested upon me I saw two Personages, whose brightness and glory defy all description, standing above me in the air. One of them spake unto me, calling me by name and said, pointing to the other This is My Beloved Son. Hear Him!

"Master, Say On"

When Simon the Pharisee invited the Savior to his home and a Women, a sinner, came and washed the Saviors feet with her tears and wiped them with the fairs of her head. She kissed his feet and anointed his feet with ointment.  

I am so grateful to know the power of the Atonement. As I sat there pondering and looking into the face of our Savior and seeing the great love in his facial expressions the thought came to me that what matters is who we are now not who we were in the past or what we did in the past. That is the way the Atonement works and I think that is the message the Savior was giving to this women, as well as, the women who was the adulterer. The Savior accepts our willing hearts and all he cares about is who we have become and that we are doing our best to be the best. This is the feeling I had as I looked into His eyes.

"Gethsemane"

When the Savior bleed from every pore to atone for our sins, sorrows, and every joy or pain we ever have felt.

"Because Of Love"

The Savior carried his own cross and died for us because he loves us.

"Reach In Faith"

Thomas  didn't believe that the Savior had been resurrected until he was able to see the Savior with his own eyes and touch him with his own hands. The Savior said "Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed are they that have not seen, and yet have believed.

"One Thing Is Needful"

Martha invites the Savior into her home and Mary sits at his feet learning from him.

"It Is I, Be Not Afraid"

The Savior walked on water to the Apostles as they were fishing. Peter walked out to the Savior and worked his Faith.

"Be Thou Clean"

A man full of leprosy: seeing Jesus fell on his face, and besought him, saying, Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And he put forth his hand, and touched him, saying, I will: Be thou clean. And immediately the leprosy departed from him.

"His Gathering"

O ye house of Israel whom I have spared, how oft will I gather you as a hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, if ye will repent and return unto me with full purpose of heart.

"Let He That Is Without Sin"

An adulterous women is brought before the Savior to be judged. They tell him she should be stoned because she is a sinner and the Savior says He that is without sin cast the first stone.

"Lazarus Come Forth"

Martha goes to the Savior and tells him her brother has died, and in great Faith she knows the Savior has the power to give Lazarus life and raise him from the dead.

"Come Unto Me"

All who come unto him shall feel his tender love for them.

I know that Jesus Christ is my Savior and Redeemer. I know he Lives and we shall live again because of his great gift he has unconditionally given to each of us. He has extended an invitation to come unto him and if we will heed that invitation and repent and be clean we shall live with him again. I know that whatever he touches shall live and be whole. If we will allow him to touch our lives we too shall live and be whole and clean through him. We must have great Faith and courage to believe even though we have not seen him or touched him with our own eyes and hands. I know that he suffered and died that we might be able to overcome death, and live with him and our families for all eternity. I know that our prayers are heard and are always answered in God's time. He loves us so much that God the Father and his Son visited the boy Joseph Smith and restored his gospel and priesthood to the earth again so we don't have to live in darkness. I know that my Heavenly Father and Savior Jesus Christ live and love me and you. I am so grateful for the knowledge and understanding I have been blessed with to know of his love for me and that even in times when I feel all alone and abandoned they will always be there with me at my side at all times and through all things, if I simply will accept their invitation to come unto them. All that he has done and will do is because he Loves Us.

All Because Of Love!

Traditional Irish Meal

A while back I made a traditional Irish meal. I made an amazing beef stew and Irish Soda bread. They were both absolutely delicious. It was the best stew I have ever eaten. The soda bread was real tasty with some butter on it and then dipping it in the stew. I will share the recipes with you but on the stew I can only share the minimum of everything I put in. I used the minimum and then added what I wanted to taste.

I shall start with the soda bread

4 cups flour

4 Tablespoons white sugar

1 Teaspoon baking soda

1 Tablespoon baking powder

1/2 Teaspoon salt

1/2 cup margarine, softened

1 Cup buttermilk

1 Egg

1/4 Cup of butter, melted

1/2 Cup buttermilk

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a large baking sheet.

In a large bowl, mix together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, salt and margarine. Stir in 1 cup of buttermilk and egg. Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface and knead slightly. Form dough into a round shape and place on prepared baking sheet. In a small bowl, combine melted butter with 1/4 cup buttermilk; brush loaf with this mixture. Use a sharp knife to cut an 'X' into the top of the loaf.

Bake in preheated oven for 45 to 50 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 35 to 59 minutes. I continued to brush the loaf with the butter mixture while it bakes and enhanced the flavor.

Irish Beef Stew

2 Teaspoons vegetable oil

1 Pound lean beef stew meat (I used more because I like my stew to be meaty)

2 Tablespoons flour

1 Small onion chopped.

2 cups sliced fresh mushrooms (I didn't add mushrooms and it turned out just fine)

6 cloves garlic, minced

1 can (6 ounce) tomato paste

2 cups beef broth (I used all beef broth for the entire liquid.)

4 cups sliced carrot

2 large potatoes, peeled and diced.

1 Tablespoon cold water

1/4 Cup chopped fresh parsley

Heat oil in frying pan. Coat beef cubes with flour, shaking off the excess. Fry beef cubes until browned on all sides. Do not cook to long. In a stew pot combine the onions, mushrooms and garlic cook and stir constantly until onion is tender about 3 minutes

Add the beef to the pot and stir in tomato paste, beef broth, potatoes, and carrots, cover and simmer over low heat for about 1 hour. Mix together the cornstarch and cold water. Stir into the stew, and simmer until thickened.

Once dished into individual bowls sprinkle with fresh chopped parsley. The parsley adds a great look and a wonderful taste so don't forget it!

The meet potatoes and carrots I did to the quantities I wanted I didn't measure any of them out. The meat was super tender and the flavor of the stew was amazing!

I hope you enjoy this as much as I did. The combination of the stew with the Irish bread is perfect. Your mouth will be having a party.

Newport RI and Cape Cod

A few months ago some friends and I decided to take a day trip to Newport RI and Cape Cod MA. We first went to Newport and did half of the Cliff Walk. My friend Denise and I had done the other half last year when she was out here visiting. The second half is much more of a cliff walk and not much of an actual path. So we had fun climbing on the rocks and enjoying the beautiful view of the ocean and watching the waves crash into the rocks.

Austin and Pete walking close to the edge.

The houses along the cliff walk are huge. There are many mansions and ancient mansions along the cliff walk. It is a pretty area.

Austin, Me and Denise

Who thought you would find camels in Massachusetts.

Austin had been fishing for some sort of little shelled creatures.

My friend Pete works sometimes at this house and so we got to have a private tour of the grounds. We were suppose to get to go inside but the caretaker was not there so we had to take a rain check.

Austin and Pete letting the wind support their wait. The wind was blowing so hard they were leaning into the wind and it was holding them up.

This is the little island where the wind was blowing so hard.

Denise and I hanging out at the lighthouse.