Posts Tagged ‘America’

Here are some random photos from my recent road trip through Louisiana. Years ago, I flew to many places, but soon learned I missed much by being stuck in a plane. Planes are necessary for certain things, but again, for me, nothing beats traveling by auto to see things I might not see otherwise. I also get a better feel for the culture and the people in the communities I visit. As you can see from the art a giant Crawfish, giant bass in Toledo Bend country, a homemade John-Deere Ice Cream machine, historical sites, beautiful Redbud trees, Pecan orchards, wide-open roads, and food you will find no place else, Louisiana is as unique as it is wonderful.

This quote by Anthony Bourdain from Parts Unknown, Season 11, Episode 7, sums up my experience, “One of the more awesome locations I’ve ever found,” Bourdain said about the grocery store. “The kind of breakfast spot I just love deeply.” For myself, I ate lunch there. I knew when I saw the Cajun pepper shaker filled with Cayenne Pepper, I was at the REAL DEAL. I could eat at Suire’s anytime, or day of the week. I had some of the best Turtle Sauce Piquant I have ever tasted in Cajun Country. I just loved how they separated my catfish, bread, and Chocolate cake with a piece of foil in my lunch box, so it would not blend with my Turtle Sauce Piquant and potato salad. You may say that is basic, but a lot of folks have no common sense, and they would mix it in many places. The owners are sister’s Joan Suire and Lisa Frederick. Two of the nicest ladies I have met. We shared conversation about Louisiana and how the long standing restaurant came into their hands. Joan told me, “I flunked out of college at 19, and my parents bought this restaurant for me, and I have been here ever since. I don’t know how to cook, but I can run a store.” Joan and her sister Lisa work together as a team to create a great Cajun atmosphere and delicious, authentic, Cajun food. Before I left, I loaded up some sweet goodies. My Blackberry Tart was exceptional in every way. I cannot wait for my next trip to Suire’s Grocery and Restaurant in Kaplan, La. Joan’s mother told her, “There will be one day when people will be just looking for us.” I was one. And that slogan,”If you want country cooking, come to the country!” So true! Thank you ladies! I’ll see you again.

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Starting off let me say this….I love meat pies! I have heard about Lasyone’s legendary pies, service, and let me state for the record, they did not disappoint, or let me down. My Crawfish pie came out crisp and tasty. The pie seemed to have eight ounces of Crawfish tail meat in it. It was packed with Crawfish tails. The surprise was the side of jambalaya. It was so delicious! They also have excellent Po-Boys. The service was exceptional. Everywhere manners were evident. I have nothing bad to say. I’ll definitely make Lasyone’s Meat Pie Restaurant a go to stop when in Natchitoches. Here are few photos. Do have a meat pie in Natchitoches at Lasyone’s!

Kaffie-Frederick General Store, founded in 1863, is Louisiana’s oldest general store, located in Natchitoches, La. The store still has the original working elevator and cash register from 1910. Yes, you need to know how to count change. That seems to be a lost art. A trip into the store takes you back to a time when things were a litter slower and less complicated. I saw so many toys from the past. My children were amazed at the top. They had never seen one. Once I made it spin they laughed and enjoyed watching it spin. My favorite thing was buying a Coca-Cola in the bottle paying based on the honor system. For those of you who do not know, it means the store trusts you to be honest, and pay for what you take without cameras. A rarity in modern times. I include a photo of sheriff and police badges. When I was a child it was an honor to have one to wear and pretend to round up criminals with our cap guns. Today, we deal with police haters. Times have changed. Not for the better in my opinion. Here are a few photos from our visit. I hope they inspire you to travel to Natchitoches. Enjoy!

Cooking is not only a great thing to provide family or yourself something delicious to eat, but for me it provides relaxation after a day of work. For the past two years I have posted photos of some of the dishes that I have cooked that stood out to me for being a first time dish to something I just love to eat. This year I spent a lot of time playing with a Crock-Pot. There is nothing like prepping your food, dropping it in a pot, then coming home to a house filled with wonderful aromas. I also focused on my European roots when cooking dishes and dabbled with other international dishes which is common for me. The New Year’s often brings the tradition of Crock-Pot Black-Eyed Peas with Cornbread. The second photo is a Crock-Pot Chicken Apricot Tangine from Morocco. The third photo is a Japanese Okinawan dish called Goya Champura home to the most Centaurians in world. The fourth dish is Crock-Pot Beef Rouladen from Germany. The fifth dish is one of my favorite British dishes Fish and Chips with a side of peas. In Britain they often puree their peas. The sixth photo is Baked Lemon Pepper Garlic Whitefish with Tomato and Spinach on a bed of Couscous which is very Mediterranean. The seventh photo is a Crock-Pot Korean BBQ Short Ribs. The eighth photo is Italian Crock-Pot Minestrone Soup. The ninth photo is a traditional Irish Corned Beef meal. The tenth photo is Mexican Beef and Shrimp Tacos with Black Beans, Corn, and Cojita Cheese. The eleventh photo is Greek Salad with Boiled Shrimp. The Twelfth photo is Crock-Pot French Cassoulet Soup. The thirteenth photo is a German Reuben Sandwich with a side of Chips. The fourteenth photo is Beef and Chicken Kabobs with Kale and Couscous. The fifteenth photo is Chicken Fried Steak, Mashed Potatoes, Corn, Green Beans, and Pan Dripping Milk Gravy. The sixteenth photo is Four Cheese Ham and Peas Penne pasta from Italy. All of the recipes can be found readily online. I hope these photos inspire you to get in the kitchen. Bon Appetite!

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We are a city taken over for Super Bowl 2017. People are coming from all over to enjoy our lovely, red elephant, conservative state home of Republican governor Greg Abbott and many President Trump supporters. We are free of the liberal riots plaguing other American cities. We are state income tax-free, you can carry a gun, and we have plenty of work and opportunities. We have numerous fine dining establishments, excellent housing, southern hospitality, and people from all over the world who embrace America. Sometimes we disagree, but we respect each other. We see ourselves as Texans no matter where we come from and we love our country, which is Texas. Laughs! Texas America! The Great Lone Star state. Enjoy your stay and Go New England Patriots! Five for Brady.

Police – A Haiku

Aggressors, danger,

Preservation of order,

We work to protect.

2014 Albert Moyer, Jr.

This haiku is a tribute to all the law men who work hard to preserve order

in a country that can sometimes be very unappreciative.

stabbing 11172009 cdb Police_Officer_in_El_Paso_buys_homeless Police-games-for-kids

This small town post is clear and speaks truth. Our land is hurting.

LandOfTheFree