Beets and Feta Salad

From S John Gorss — Blog by S John Gorss

August 10, 2009

-3 garlic cloves soaking in EVOO for few hours
-Cup of Spinach...(I would use Arugula next time)
-Basil
-Cup of sliced beets
-Half cup feta cheese

In bowl
Take out one of garlic cloves from EVOO and slice fine
Add to sliced beets
Add basil (gives a great fresh taste!)
S and P
Stir

Dressing
Using the garlic infused EVOO...add some balsamic vinaigrette and stir to taste

For serving
Plate spinach
Add your beet mixture on top
Crumble Feta over top
Add dressing over cheese
S and P as needed

Wonderful, light salad :)

Julie & Julia....me & Texas

From S John Gorss — Blog by S John Gorss

August 9, 2009

Seeing Julie and Julia over the weekend just reminded me of how much I miss NYC and the food world. The only thing I could relate to as I sat in the theater of Wichita Falls, Texas were the little giggles of women around me as Julie was talking to her mother on the phone who lives just outside Austin. Until then I was transformed into living back in NYC or France for that matter. Both, wouldn’t be bad...

But nope...still in Texas. Regardless of the giggles and apparent humor of living in the middle of nowhere, I enjoyed the movie very much. I took side with Julia when she was forced to move out of Paris, a city in which she loved so much. She left for Oslo, Norway as Paul, her husband had to relocate because of work. Although a new place and most definitely not as well versed in the food world as Paris, Julia continued to cook and work on her book. Seeing that gave me hope in my relocation and showed me to make the best of what I have and that a passion is...well...a passion. If you love it...it won’t go away no matter where you are.

Thanks Julie & Julia.

Stops for the road...

From S John Gorss — Blog by S John Gorss

August 3, 2009

Being away from my computer the last couple days has been...well difficult to say the least. Not because I couldn’t check my favorite foodie blogs, although I did miss that, but because I had so much to write about!

I just finished a four day road trip taking me from somewhat cosmopolitan Hampton Virgina to Wichita Falls, Texas. A slight change of scenery to say the least! Being a new Lieutenant in the Air Force, I am stationed at Sheppard Air Force Base in Wichita Falls for training. I will be here for around 3 1/2 months.

Anyways...my road here was filled with rest stops, loud car music and for the most part, good food. I was fortunate enough to make a stop at one of the BBQ capitals of the world...Memphis Tennessee! Nothing was more soothing then curling up to a bar after a long drive to indulge in a cool beer and absolutely succulent rack of ribs. In Memphis, the happening place is without a doubt Beagle Street. Located downtown you can compare the block to Bourbon Street of New Orleans. In both places you will find after 5pm the road closes down and you are able to walk the street poking into funky specialty stores, watch street performers, and listen to music all while holding an alcoholic beverage in hand. Sounds like heaven right? Well it is :)

It was Friday night and I had just had an amazing dinner of half rack of ribs from Blues City Cafe...argued as the best ribs on Beale. Hint Hint ... in the real authentic BBQ places of the world, such as Blues City...the later you go in the night... the better. Because ribs and other pork smoke for up to 14 hours a day...if you get to the restaurant to early in the evening, you will be served food from the previous day. For perfection...go around 8pm.

Long story short about Memphis...its a great road stop. You can see Graceland...famous of course by Elvis, Beale Street, the Waterfront and much more all within a 48 hour time frame.

Places I recommend looking up...
Blues City Cafe
Germantown Commissary
Flight
Central BBQ
Circa

I had great experiences at all and would go back to again :)
Eat up!!

How much diet soda do YOU drink?

From S John Gorss — Blog by S John Gorss

July 29, 2009

So something I was thinking about today while enjoying my first Diet Pepsi of the day were the other diet drinking habits of people. I drink at least one Diet Pepsi/Coke (although I prefer Diet Pepsi!)a day and, along with coffee in the morning and water throughout the day...that’s about all the beverages...excluding alcohol of course, that I drink.

Bad? Healthy? I dunno...

Then I thought of my high school politics teacher. Now this women was mid 40s, very smart, nice, and an overall pleasant to have as a teacher. Along with being a teacher, she also proctored the SATs. SATs similar to the ACT are terrible standardized test that high school students are required to take in order to be looked at for college. From what I understand, they are more popular in New England where I had grown up. Regardless, they start around 7am and last nearly 5 hours...oh...and you take them on a Saturday. Yes, they are awful. Anyways, when I went in to take the test and just so happens I have my teacher as the test proctor. Nothing was really going to make me happy as I was sitting in a classroom at 630 in the morning about to take a test that would determine where I went to college. No pressure right?!! It would take something wild to cheer me up. Well, in pure form, around 645am I look up and see my teacher reach into a cooler looking thing full of ice and pull out a cool, dripping wet can of Diet Coke. She sets it on her desk, cracks it open and takes a big sip. Boy, was that great and boy, was I jealous. Best part...she was around 7 months pregnant!

Moral of the story...I love Diet Pepsi and think its a great drink. Do you? If my teacher can pull one out at 645 in the morning and be pregnant...I can have my soda!!

:) Happy drinking diet soda fans :)

First Post!

From S John Gorss — Blog by S John Gorss

July 28, 2009

This is really just a test...but thought post something good anyway!

Its national chocolate milk day! Have a Yahoo and feel great!!