Louisville Top 5

Gettin' Lucky in Kentucky - here is my Louisville, KY Top 5 with the caviat that with the time of the year that I visted and the weather mishaps I wasn't able to take in the Kentucky Derby Museum (it is under construction right now due to flooding last fall, will reopen in April) or Louisville Slugger Factor (they close at 5 and that just doesn't suit a workin' girl) so this is what I could put together. So if you go during more pleasant weather and aren't working all day I would check those two places out.

National Farm Machinery Show I kind of had to include it because that is why I went to Louisville and with the snow storm that hit we weren’t able to do too much else. Honestly the show is great for anyone who loves farming or the agricultural way of life.

Kentucky Expo Center - http://www.kyfairexpo.org/

Get your work out here…this place is huge, make sure and bring your walking shoes if you attend ANY event here.

Blu Italian Grille - http://www.blugrille.com/ Hidden away in the Marriott downtown but don’t let the hotel distract you from the interested food and beautifully prepared plates. It is a great place to eat downtown without going to the 4th Street Live area.

Mitchell’s Fish Market - http://www.mitchellsfishmarket.com/ This is a great little joint that has a very diverse menu and very fresh fish for a land-locked state. Make sure you save room for dessert and get the Shark Fin Pie…enough for 4 people to share! (yum, see the picture...Jennie and I split one and couldn't get half way through it)

San Antonio Top Ten

So I spent a week in San Antonio for the NCBA Convention in January, so here is my Top 10 list. All the restaurants are on the Riverwalk because that is where we were staying and didn’t have rental cars. The nice part about the Riverwalk is that everything is within 5-6 short blocks and it is an easy walk (and a great way to walk off your dinner when you’re on the way back to the hotel). 1. Boudrous – if you have nothing more at this restaurant order the tableside made guacamole and Smokey salsa with their thin as air chips and a nice frozen Prickly Pear Margarita, sit on the patio, enjoy the day. (http://www.boudros.com/boudros/) 2. Bohanan’s Prime Steaks and Seafood – eat the KC Strip, goat cheese mashed potatoes and start the meal with their Texas Heirloom Salad. (http://www.bohanans.com/) 3. Gypsy Finds – They are everywhere, stop in a local jewelry shop or even the Dillard’s at the River Center to find great western apparel and jewelry. 4. Becker Winery and Lavender Haus – a great vineyard in the heart of Texas Hill Country with lavender fields on all sides of the vineyard, I picked up Lavender Chapstick…sounds odd but it is wonderful. (http://www.beckervineyards.com/) 5. LBJ Ranch – The ranch and house are restored to the way it was when LBJ was living there. His humor and their simplistic life is around every turn. (http://www.nps.gov/lyjo/planyourvisit/visitlbjranch.htm) 6. Fredericksburg, TX – There are so many cute shops and cafes downtown…take a day, spend your time wandering the streets and talking with the locals. 7. HEB Market – Every major city needs a market like this…if you are going on a driving trip to Fredericksburg or Hill Country stop by and grab some fresh fruit, sandwiches and see the amazing set up they have. 8. Hyatt Grand Regency Workout Facility - one word: AMAZING 9. The River – it might be nasty but it is San Antonio. 10. Trois Estate at Enchanted Rock – World’s Largest Cap Gun Museum, underground chapel and enough oddities to satisfy any person’s quirky fix. (http://www.troisestate.net/)

Summertime Sides in the Winter

So about this time of the year I am craving some fresh veggie side dishes but hate the fact that most veggies in the store aren't the best flavor so here are two fresh and easy side dishes that bring a little summer to blah winter months. Both recipes take less than 5 minutes to prep, have fewer than 5 ingredients and go great with any protein, but pair especially well with a nice grilled beef tenderloin or steak. Broiled Grape Tomatoes You could use Roma tomatoes or any tomatoes you have handy, I find that especially in winter the grape tomatoes have the better flavor and are easiest to find ripe. This recipe makes enough for 2 people so if you are serving a larger crowd just multiply as needed. 1 container grape tomatoes (15-20 tomatoes) 1 TBS olive oil 1 tsp fresh rosemary (1/2 tsp if rosemary is dried) 3 TBS Grated Parmesan Cheese Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut all tomatoes in half and place in a small mixing bowl. Add TBS and rosemary and stir together, let sit for 15-20 minutes (longer if you can). Place tomatoes in small baking dish (if you want to make it really pretty put all the cut sides up, but I just throw them in there) and cover with the Parmesan and put in the oven to bake. Bake for 10 minutes, then turn on the broiler for 2-3 minutes until cheese is starting to brown on top. Cukes and Shallots Salad I'm not a fan of strong onion tastes, so I love to use shallots instead of onions for the great onion flavor but they are more tender, but you can use onions just as easy. This is a super treat in the summer as well or you can alter the herb for a new flavor profile. Again this makes enough for 2 people, so just multiply as you need to. 1 cucumber 1 shallot 1 tsp dried dill (2 tsp if you have fresh) 1 1/2 tsp white vinegar 1 1/2 tsp olive oil Slice your cucumbers and shallots to desired thickness, I like very thin slices. Combine in a bowl all ingredients and allow to sit in the refrigerator for at least 3 hours, longer if you have time. Serve with a slotted spoon if you have one available so you don't get all the juices on your plate or serve in bowls.

Beef is for LOVERS

Ok so I know that it is supposed to be Virginia, but I think that all, ok or most Virginians, especially those not in the DC area who aren't vegeterians, vegans, etc. would be happy to let beef take their spot for this month. I learned last week at the NCBA Convention in San Antonio, TX that the campaign for the Beef Check-off Board is

I [heart] Beef...they even have buttons they were hading out and I just had to have one and thanks to Amber I got one to wear during the conference and I will sport it for this month as well and hope people ask me the question why I am wearing it.

Here is a link to the news release that was put out by the Beef Board: http://www.beefboard.org/news/100120IHeartBeefRelease.asp

Think about beef this month, in addition to all of the great ideas they list here beef is a great food for Superbowl foods including Chili, Chili Dogs, Hamburgers, etc.