Jam-Packed Grilled Cheese Sandwiches

It's an exciting time in Saratoga Springs! Today marks the opening day of the 150th meet of the historic Saratoga Race Course. The excitement in the air is palpable as locals and visitors anticipate the first "They're off!' at post-time, about 1 p.m. this afternoon.

Summer in Saratoga is exciting. At the Tang Museum at Skidmore College, where since April 1st of this year I put in my 9-to-5, or today, noon-to-8, we're celebrating our summer exhibitions with a kick-off reception tomorrow evening, followed by an old-fashioned barbecue. As the Events Manager, I have a wonderful time planning for such occasions. At a recent staff meeting, I noted that "I feel like I'm getting paid to go to parties!" Indeed, I am, but I also have a share of hefty responsibilities and a hectic schedule that is well suited to my personality, so it's a great gig for me. Sometimes, things do just fall into place!

This is also the time for the annual Saratoga County Fair. My good friend, Catherine Golden, just heard that she won a slew of ribbons (9!) for her entries in the home-made jam competition! I have been  a fan of Catherine's jams for years. My favorite is her apricot jam, though I love all of them. Catherine, a professor of English at Skidmore, is a passionate jam maker. She picks all her own fruits and berries, and has a stash of jams stored in her home that guarantees gifts of jams to her friends for every occasion. I use many of her flavors in my jam thumb print cookies at Christmas time.

Just the other day, I was inspired by Catherine's jams to create a new sandwich. At the Tang, we had a reception Wednesday evening, and one of the appetizers was a mini-grilled cheese sandwich with a layer of apricot jam inside. It was absolutely delicious, and I couldn't wait to get home to try a lunch-sized version of this lovely little sandwich. I tested it out yesterday morning, early, before work. (It became my breakfast!). I think it's a perfect combination of sweet and savory. Try this, either cut into little appetizers or as two big halves on your lunch plate. I bet you'll love it!

JAM-PACKED GRILLED CHEESE SANDWICH

2 slices of your favorite bread (I used Freihofer's Country White)
2 slices Land-o-Lakes yellow American Cheese
1 tablespoon jam (Apricot is great!)
soft butter

Spread one side of each slice of bread with soft butter.  Place one slice, buttered side down, on med-to-hot griddle or frying pan.  Lay cheese over bread in pan. Spread jam over cheese. Place other slice of bread, buttered side out, on top of cheese.  Grill until nicely golden on the bottom and cheese starts to melt.  Carefully flip (jam can get slippery when it gets warm) and cook on other side until done.

Enjoy your new favorite grilled cheese sandwich!

June Showers

Sarah's bridal shower cupcakes

As I delivered cupcakes to my friend Catherine's house today, I could sense her disappointment in the rain that was falling as her guests were about to arrive.  Catherine was hosting a bridal shower for her friend Sarah.  There was a flurry of activity as Sarah's bridesmades were quickly converting the outdoor party to an indoor event.  The tent was outside, quiet with tables and chairs that wouldn't be used, and the inside of Catherine's home was transformed into shower-central as the girls worked hard to switch gears. The house is a gorgeous Victorian in downtown Saratoga Springs, so very little was needed to create a beautiful environment.  I arrived with 40+ cupcakes and a stand to display them.  The girls worked around me as I set up the stand in the center of Catherine's massive dining room table.

Cupcakes for Sarah's bridal shower at Catherine's lovely home...

After making sure the cupcake set-up was ready to go, I bid them all a happy shower, got in my Jeep and headed east to Greenwich, New York, where I picked up a lay-away purchase at "Just Because," one of my favorite little boutiques.  They carry Vera Bradley products, Woolrich and Tribal lines of clothing, among others, and very pretty jewelry.  For my birthday in March, I'd put a larger Vera Bradley tote on lay-away, (just the right size for my own gear and any "Grandma" items I might need to take along) and for whatever reason just never got back there to pick it up.  Today was the day (so happy belated birthday to me!).  In addition to clothing, the store carries a good variety of things, including baby gift items, kitchen linens, handbags, and nice little gifts-for-self (!) as well as greeting cards.  They offer free -- and very pretty -- gift wrapping.   It's just a fun place to visit every now and then.  Usually, I head in that direction with a sister or a friend, but today I was on my own, so after shopping I went in to the little cafe next store (it has a new name - I'll check and let you know) where I ordered a chicken salad sandwich to go.  I am a HUGE chicken salad fan, and I like theirs because it has Craisins, green grapes, and is lightly seasoned.  They don't use much mayonnaise (also a plus) and I ordered it on their own home-baked wheat bread.  Simple. I hadn't taken time to eat all day, and was hungry but didn't want to go the drive-thru route. This was so much nicer, and I was surprised to find a serving of Lay's classic potato chips in the bag with my sandwich, which are just about the lightest, crispest, best potato chips, in my not-so-humble opinion!  The sandwich was so pretty that I took a picture of it!

Not quite fast food - chicken salad sandwich

Now I'm trying to decide what to do with the rest of my precious Saturday. Katie, Bill, and the boys are at a birthday party.  Russ isn't here this weekend. Oden, the big black lab is hanging out in my apartment while his family is away, and it's quiet as can be.  I could actually do nothing for a little while, but I'm not sure I know how!!!

I hope you all have a wonderful Saturday, and enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Power

Katie's beautiful peony!

Yesterday afternoon, as I was leaving work for home, the skies were dark with clouds and the wind was churning.  Decades-old trees lining North Broadway in Saratoga Springs were giving way to the wind, and seemed almost elastic in their bending.  I was concerned but wanted to get home quickly.  Visibility was OK for the first few minutes, but as I turned onto First Street and proceeded west, rain was coming down in sheets and hail started to ping against my windshield, bouncing off the hood of my car.  I continued cautiously down Denton Road toward Locust Grove.  As I turned northwest onto Route 9N, I couldn't clearly see what was coming at me so I turned into the parking lot of the Kettle Restaurant and waited until things calmed down.  There were six cars there before me, doing the same thing.  It was the worst weather we've experienced here since Hurricane Irene made her presence known in September.  We never had one winter day this bad, this year.  Of course, the power was out when I got home, and Katie had made dinner (gas stove).  We settled in to a long night of waiting for power to be restored.  When I woke up at 5:30 this morning, ahead of my alarm, we were still without power, which we learned later wouldn't be back until mid-afternoon.  Well, I wanted to take a shower and wash my hair before work, so I packed up a bag and headed to the Skidmore gym to use the locker room shower.  When I checked in to the sports center, I was informed that the locker rooms were out of commission for an upgrade, and I was given the access code to the guest teams' locker room.  At first I was impressed - it looked like a great place for half-time motivation - until I turned on the shower.  The nozzle sprayed water in a half-spray, half-mist (freezing cold!) and in a 5-foot diameter circle.  No water seemed to fall within the radius of that circle.  So there I was, trying to get wet chasing the circumference of this icy waterfall, and then trying to get the shampoo out of my hair - not so easy.  I said "forget it" to the conditioner.  I had been looking forward to using the wall dryer for my hair, as I did in the "regular" locker room.  No dryer.  So, my  hair dried like the wild woman that I was this morning, and I arrived in the office with a somewhat different look than what my co-workers are used to!

The day got better, though.  This afternoon, I made it to Henry's graduation from his nursery school class (adorable ceremony) and when I got home, the power was indeed back on.  Little things seemed so significant.  I got out of the car and was drawn to Katie's peony bushes, and snapped a few photos.  Then I took a couple of pictures of the flowers that were my Mother's Day gift, now in a window box.  I had dinner with Henry and Pete while Katie ran an errand, gave them a bath, got them in their PJs, and settled them down with yet another Thomas movie before their mom returned.  Pete was snoring in the crook of my arm when Katie got home, and Henry was trying to convince us that "two more minutes" of Thomas was all he needed, as his eyes were trying to stay open.  It had been a very long day.

Henry's graduation today

The sound of the refrigerator, the whir of a fan, cold milk from the fridge, and light at the flick of a switch made me grateful for the power that keeps us going.

For a day that started out with no power, barely a shower, and wild and crazy hair, the evening was one of cozy comfort and appreciation for the littlest people, and things.

Pretty posies...

Winney's Farm and Blueberries, Revisted!

This past weekend we went blueberry picking at Winney's farm north of Schuylerville, New York.  It's our second annual outing to pluck the biggest, juciest berries from loaded bushes.  At $2.25 a pound for pick-your-own, or around $7.00 a quart (worth it), a stop at Winney's can provide you with enough blueberries to keep you stocked for months.  I picked $11.00 worth, and since the brand new picking season is about six weeks long, I'll go back for more in August.  Katie picked more than twice as much as me, and Katie's in-laws, Richard and Sydney, picked even more.  I'll be freezing some (in a single layer, on a cookie sheet, and then zip-locked for the freezer) so they'll be available long after summer ends, which I can't think about right now because summer is my absolute favorite season.

It was a beautiful morning out in the blueberry fields, and people seemed to be happy to be there.  A few rows across, I heard an older man yell to his grown son, "We'll be having pancakes for dinner tonight!" and the son responded, "Oh yeah!"  Breakfast for dinner is a great thing, especially with just-picked blueberries in your pancakes!

I have plans for these berries.  Many will go into smoothies, pancakes, muffins and scones. Some will end up in pies, and others will become a thick, silky sauce for pancakes or ice cream.  But the one recipe I can't wait to try is from Williams-Sonoma for home baked breakfast pastries (a la home-made pop tarts!).  Seriously, home made pop tarts?  Yes!  I'll be posting that recipe in the next day or two with photos to show you how to make them in your own kitchen.  In the meantime, here are pics from our trip to Winney's farm.

As you can see, Pete was wiped out after the experience, but he gets to enjoy home-made blueberry babyfood.  Lucky little guy!

And Tomorrow, They're Off!!!!

David Letterman does it.  So does Jay Leno.  Even Oprah.  Every now and then a repeat is featured.  Today I'm re-running a post from last July 29 which was Opening Day for the historic Saratoga Race Course.  Things are starting a little bit earlier this year, and tomorrow is the first day of racing.  I thought you might enjoy reading today's rerun of last year's Opening Day post, just in time for tomorrow's big day:

When Saratoga Race Course opens for the season, there’s a lot of talk about how the city comes alive with all the associated excitement due to social goings-on and increased tourism, business and traffic.

For local residents, the change to our community is measurable in the simple things, like how long it takes to drive from one end of Broadway to the other, and many of us devise alternate routes for six weeks. While traffic is high on the list of locals’ complaints, I welcome much of what comes with racing season. During this late summer run, the vitality of our downtown is palpable. Sometimes it’s nice to get a new perspective on our home town by “playing tourist” and taking a day to experience Saratoga the way our visitors do – breakfast at the track, a stroll down Broadway going in and out of shops, lunch outside a restaurant under a canopy watching the world go by, maybe a visit to the Racing Museum. We full-time residents take a lot for granted here in Saratoga Springs. How many of us have enjoyed all it has to offer?

The New York Racing Association’s on-line Media Guide (found at www.nyra.com) devotes pages 13-16 to Saratoga Race Course, and its page on the history of Saratoga reads:

“Thoroughbred racing has no finer setting than Saratoga Race Course, named one of the world’s greatest sporting venues by Sports Illustrated. For six weeks every summer, the past comes alive in the historic grandstand as fans experience not only the best in racing, but the unmatched ambiance and charm of historic Saratoga Springs.”
The article continues:

“Already famous for its mineral baths, Saratoga held its first thoroughbred meet just a month after the Battle of Gettysburg. Staged by gambler, casino owner, ex-boxing champion and future Congressman John “Old Smoke” Morrissey and beginning on August 3, 1863, the four-day meet drew thousands of locals and tourists who saw Lizzie W. defeat Captain Moore in the best-of-three series of races…Emboldened by the success of the first meet, Morrissey promptly enlisted his friends John R. Hunter, William Travers and Leonard Jerome to form the Saratoga Association. Its first responsibility was the construction of a new, permanent grandstand on the current site of Saratoga Race Course. Across the street, the “old course” became the barn area known as Horse Haven, with the vestiges of the original track still encircling the stables.”

And later:

“Today, looking over the jam-packed backyard and grandstand on any sunny summer afternoon, it’s hard to fathom that racing at Saratoga once teetered on the brink of extinction. In the early 1960s, there was a movement to conduct summer racing exclusively at the new and modern Aqueduct Racetrack. But in 1962, New York State Governor W. Averill Harriman, who owned Log Cabin Stud, signed “The Harriman Law,” which mandated a minimum of 24 race days at Saratoga every year.”

From the New York Bred website, I found this:

An 1863 description of the track could still be written today:

". . . The main street of the place is a wide and handsome one. It is chiefly composed of hotels which are very large, well adapted to the comfort of summer visitors and no doubt well kept. We soon learned that all the hotels were full . . .The race course is well situated and quite near enough to the town. You can stand in the stable doors and look over a rich cultivated valley, many miles in width, to purple hills curtained with light summer haze far beyond."

My own personal connection to Saratoga Racecourse is that if it weren’t here, I wouldn’t be here. Not in terms of existing, but in terms of location. My father’s father, Valerian O’Farrell, and his family spent every summer in Saratoga Springs. Valerian O’Farrell was a famous New York City detective and loved the horses. There’s a lot of information about him now on Google, and, if you’re interested, you can do a search or read a little about him here.

My father had such fond memories of his own childhood summers in Saratoga that he and my mother decided to raise their family here. He used to take us, all seven children, to the backstretch and introduce us to people—horse owners, trainers, and track workers—his father had known. We’d be given carrots and told to open our hands flat to feed the horses. I was always afraid I’d lose a finger, but it was exciting and a special time in our lives.

Had it not been for the track, my family would never have arrived here, and my life would have played out very differently. I think of that almost every time I drive by the racecourse’s beautiful grounds on Union Avenue, aware that my family’s personal history is intertwined with that of this historic place, and knowing that my father, too, was grateful for the connection.


Photo credit: http://www.racing.saratoga.ny.us/postcards/pc18.jpg
NYBred quote: http://www.nybreds.com/racing/trackhistory.html

The Spa, and I Don't Mean a Massage

This morning I was out early running errands and decided to head home through the state park.  The Spa, as it is referred to, is a vast park home to two golf courses, the Gideon Putnam Hotel, The Automobile Museum, the Victoria and Peerless Pools, The Spa Little Theater, tennis courts, natural geyser springs, and the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC).  Driving the required 25 mph along the Avenue of the Pines, my mind is transported back to a time when I was a very little girl.  There was a previous Avenue of the Pines, now closed to traffic, a little farther south down Route 9, and it lead directly to the Gideon Putnam.  It was (and still is) a magical road, and when I was a very young child, neighbors Mary and Joe used to "borrow" me (they had no children and my parents had seven!) for occasional excursions here and there.  One of our regular stops was the Avenue of the Pines.  The reason it was so enchanting, for me, is that Mary and Joe told me that fairies and pixies lived in the trees.  I can still see those little figures in my imagination, Disney-esque miniatures that, in my mind, resembled Tinker Bell and the Lucky Charms leprechaun! 

Years later, episodes of my life replay as I take the short connection between Route 9 and Route 50.  In high school, my class (SSHS '72)  loved to gather at the Geysers.  We'd spend entire days there (some were senior skip days!) playing ball, walking barefoot in the stream, hiking through the woods, and cooking out.  Friends and I spent summer days at the elegant Victoria pool, sun bathing in the company of ballerinas from the New York City Ballet.  I remember thinking we had the best class ever, because everyone was welcome, we always had a great time, and it was so much fun just being with each other.  I can't drive through that area without thinking of the meaningful friendships that were formed and are still maintained despite years and distance that separate us from that time.

One of my first jobs was as a day camp counselor.  A few days every week, we took our little charges to the Spa Pool (formally called the Peerless Pool) for swimming lessons.  Then the campers and counselors would stay for the day.  I can still smell the french fries from the concession stand.  There was something about a hot sunny day, a cold pool, the faint smell of chlorine, the scent of Coppertone, and aroma of french fries just out of the hot oil that bring me right back!  It's an odd concoction of sensory memory, but I love it!

When my children were little, at first we lived in a couple of small apartments.  We loved the Spa Park for picnics and time outdoors.  We had no money, really, but happy memories were made there.  It was a great way to spend a day without having to spend a lot of money on entry fees.  Our water park was the Peerless Pool and the Geyser stream.  Our amusements were the playground and the natural surroundings.  Our food court was a picnic table and a basket filled with simple things -- a loaf of bread, jars of peanut butter and jelly, a pitcher of lemonade, and cookies.

Next time I drive through the park, I'm going to park my car, get out, take a long walk, and revisit some of the happiest memories of my life.

Photo credit: http://robynandgreg.com/images/avepines.jpg

Wheatfield's in Saratoga Springs

Last night I treated my friend Catherine to dinner at Wheatfield's in Saratoga Springs.  I wanted to thank  her for all the help she's given me along the way.  Catherine had been my faculty supervisor for my undergraduate thesis, and also served as a reader (and incredible support) for my masters thesis.  That's a lot of guidance and hand-holding, and this dinner was just a small token of my appreciation.  Since Catherine is a vegetarian, I thought Wheatfield's would be the perfect place and it was.  I ordered eggplant parmesan, and Catherine ordered the special, eggplant rollatini.  They were, of course, similar because of the eggplant, but I had myself a case of rollatini envy when I saw what Catherine was eating.  There were two perfectly shaped rolls of breaded eggplant stuffed with cheese, sitting on a bed of broad home-made noodles and all covered in a flavorful tomato sauce.

I make eggplant parmesan now and then, but didn't have a recipe for rollatini.  Catherine raved so much about her dinner that I'm giving you my take on the dish here:

EGGPLANT ROLATINI

1 larger eggplant, sliced lengthwise into 8 slices (peeled if you prefer, though not necessary)
salt
2 egg whites beaten with 2 tablespoons water
Italian-flavored breadcrumbs
Olive oil or canola spray

Mix together:
1 cup ricotta cheese
1 teaspoon Italian seasoning
1/2 cup parmesan or romano cheese (or a blend)
1 egg


1 cup spinach, cooked, drained, and exess water squeezed out
8 oz. shredded mozzarella cheese

Lightly sprinkle both sides of eggplant slices with salt.  Let sit for about half an hour.  Wipe slices dry with paper towels. Dip in egg whites and then breadcrumbs.  Spray baking sheet with non-stick spray. Place slices on baking sheet and spray tops lightly.  Bake slices at 350 degrees F until nicely browned.  Remove from oven.  Let cool until they can be handled.

Spread cheese mixture over all eight slices.  Layer spinach over cheese.  Roll up jelly-roll style and secure with toothpicks.  Place eight rolls in baking dish and cover with marinara sauce and mozzarella cheese.  Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes at 350 degrees.  Remove foil and bake 10 minutes longer.

While eggplant is baking, cook up your favorite pasta.

Serve rollatini with sauce over pasta with grated parmesan or romano cheese.

Photo credits: http://www.saratoga.com/commonimages/BusinessSlideshow/3402-1877-080813094433-1589.jpg;http://agricultureguide.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/istock_000005797543eggplant.jpg

Fried Calamari, March Madness, and the First Day of Spring!

What a difference a week makes.  Spring arrived officially this afternoon, and as if to magnify its arrival, the weather here in the Saratoga Springs area is spectacular!  Last week it was all rain and mud and muck, and this week it is warm breezes, sunshine, and dry terrain!  I can't tell you how  happy this makes  me!  March Madness is here with enthusiasm as well.  My boyfriend Russ just watched his beloved Villanova lose to St. Mary's, and he's gone off to take a nap in defeat.  I, on the otherhand, watch basketball with no investment.  I just enjoy watching any underdog achieve something never thought possible.  I love all those come-from-behind scenarios.  The movie "Hoosiers" is one of my favorites.

March Madness has me thinking about food people eat while watching basketball.  I've been in pubs and bars watching basketball games during this annually frenetic time, and I think of "bar food" when I think of basketball -- wings, Irish nachos, pub fries, calamari.  The Stadium Cafe in Saratoga Springs has the best calamari I've ever had.  The rings are tender, sweet, and crunchy at the same time, served over a pool of a sweet yet tangy tomato marinara, with no tenticles in sight, yikes!).  I was not eager to try calamari the first time.  It took a little leap of faith but I gave it a shot and learned to appreciate it as a unique appetizer.  I don't have the Stadium's recipe, but I think you'll find Giada DeLaurentis's version more than acceptable!

There's still more than half a week-end left to enjoy this spring's arrival.  Katie and Bill just left to take Henry to the Saratoga Spa State Park.  I'm just loving the sun streaming in my kitchen windows.  I've shed the cold months of winter like an old, heavy coat! If I can just get the warmer months to take their time and linger, I'll appreciate every minute. 

Giada DeLaurentis's Fried Calamari

Ingredients


Vegetable oil, for deep-frying
1 pound clean squid with tentacles, bodies cut into 1/3- to 1/2-inch-thick rings
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 tablespoons dried parsley
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 lemons, cut into wedges
1 cup simple tomato sauce, recipe follows or jarred marinara sauce, warmed

Directions

Pour enough oil into a heavy large saucepan to reach the depth of 3 inches. Heat over medium heat to 350 degrees F. Mix the flour, parsley, salt, and pepper in a large bowl. Working in small batches, toss the squid into the flour mixture to coat. Carefully add the squid to the oil and fry until crisp and very pale golden, about 1 minute per batch. Using tongs or a slotted spoon, transfer the fried calamari to a paper-towel lined plate to drain.
Place the fried calamari and lemon wedges on a clean plate. Sprinkle with salt. Serve with the marinara sauce.


Simple Tomato Sauce:

1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil
1 small onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, chopped
1 stalk celery, chopped
1 carrot, chopped
Sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
2 (32-ounce) cans crushed tomatoes
2 dried bay leaves
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, optional

In a large casserole pot, heat oil over medium high heat. Add onion and garlic and saute until soft and translucent, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add celery and carrots and season with salt and pepper. Saute until all the vegetables are soft, about 5 to 10 minutes. Add tomatoes and bay leaves and simmer uncovered on low heat for 1 hour or until thick. Remove bay leaves and check for seasoning. If sauce still tastes acidic, add unsalted butter, 1 tablespoon at a time to round out the flavors.
Add 1/2 the tomato sauce into the bowl of a food processor. Process until smooth. Continue with remaining tomato sauce.

If not using all the sauce, allow it to cool completely and pour 1 to 2 cup portions into freezer plastic bags. This will freeze up to 6 months.
Yield: 6 cups
Prep Time: 15 minutes
Cook Time: 1 hour 15 minutes


Recipe and Photo Credit:  Food  Network: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/giada-de-laurentiis/fried-calamari-recipe/index.html

Stranded, beautifully.

I'm not exactly thrilled to report that, though delayed, winter has arrived with a vengeance to our little corner of the world.  I've been dodging winter for months (or I should say, it's been dodging me).  My daughter Katie and I have a running battle over snow:  she wants it; I don't.  So when I was in Hannaford last night, leisurely strolling through the aisles and reading nutrition labels, deciding just what kind of bread and mustard I wanted for my Virginia ham and American cheese sandwiches, the snow began piling up outside with furious intensity.  I couldn't believe how much had accumulated in the forty-five minutes I'd spent in the grocery store.  I thought "This can't be good" and not because I hate snow.  What I hate is how my car doesn't drive in the snow.

My cute and reliable Mazda 3 has "performance" tires which are fine on plowed and sanded (if not horizontal) roads but just horrible with any accumulation and even worse on inclines.  So, I headed out of Hannaford's parking lot, or tried to.  My car decided to spin its tires in the middle of the intersection.  I could feel blood rushing to my face. My pulse quickened and I started to become very anxious, thinking "crap, crap, CRAP!!!."  I was somehow able to propel the car forward into the tire tracks left by another car, and headed west toward Saratoga Springs, anticipating a rough ride home to Middle Grove, usually an easy 20-minute trip.  Once I was on Broadway in Saratoga, it was clear I had neither the nerve, tenacity, or stupidity to attempt the drive home on elevated country roads in blinding snow with tires that barely held their own.  I knew I'd never make it, so I called my long-time friend Kathleen at the beautiful Saratoga Arms on Broadway and she immediately offered me shelter.  I rang the doorbell and she welcomed me as if I were her most loyal guest.  She gave me a key to a beautiful room and called a few minutes later to ask if I'd had anything to eat.  I went down to the kitchen where I made a ham sandwich and she shared some of a wonderful casserole she'd made with spaghetti squash, onions, celery, ground turkey, marinara sauce, oregano, and mozzarella cheese (yum!).  Kathleen offered me a bottle of Snapple Diet Peach and we absorbed the gorgeous winter scene outside her dining room window.  It was peaceful, quiet, and lovely.

I was so grateful to experience the storm from such a setting, but furious with myself for not planning better.  I hadn't dressed for a storm.  I thought I had all the time in the world to get home after my meeting and prepare then - get out the boots, scarf, hat, mittens, my Irish wool sweater and heavy pants.  I had planned to park my car facing downward for the next morning's descent/duel with the driveway.  I had planned to prepare, but this storm out-witted me. 

As I sat in my luxurious bed in a luxurious hotel watching the Olympic women's ice skating competition on a flat-screen TV encased in a beautiful armoire, I thought, "I can be stranded like this." (especially when I have no TV reception at home right now).   I washed some things in the bathroom sink.  I slept soundly and got up, showered, and threw on yesterday's clothes.  I saw on TV that work was delayed and my office wouldn't open until 10:00 a.m.  I thanked Kathleen and headed out to the bus stop.  I sloshed my way there through slushy sidewalks, shoes and tights soaked to my ankles.  At the corner of Broadway and Church, a gentleman shoveled a path for me off the curb, asking "Where are your boots?".  I waited for the bus just outside Mrs. London's, and took in the beauty of downtown Saratoga on a winter morning. 

As fortunate as I am to experience this storm, this way, I long for May when young vibrant green leaves unfold from their buds, and warm air once again brushes my face.  One hot summer day, I'll look back at last night as a lovely, refreshing memory, and perhaps remember this blast of winter with some fondness that I can't seem to muster just yet. 

Photo credit, of a different snow storm (but really, they have a lot in common!): http://mountainriver.redcross.org/images/snow_storm.jpg

A Lake Named Desolation and a Lively Restaurant - Tinney's Tavern!

Not much new or exciting happens when Russ asks me "Where do you want to go for dinner?". We have our regular spots, like The Stadium West in Saratoga Springs or The Village Pizzeria in East Galway, or my very-most favorite, Jake's Round-Up in South Glens Falls.  I am loyal to them all but wanted something different.  This time I had a quick response, "Tinney's Tavern."  I'd been wanting to try it ever since moving to Middle Grove and knowing that it sits up at the top of the hill where Lake Desolation Road meets the lake itself. 

It's a 5-mile ride up Lake Desolation Road from Middle Grove Road.  It seems like forever as the drive slowly climbs the curvy ascent to the top.  Finally, there you are.  The parking lot was almost full.  In addition to cars, there were two ATVs parked in prime spaces, and a couple more across the road in a field.  Directly across the road on the other side is frozen Lake Desolation. 

My daughter Katie recommended Tinney's for its food (here's the menu), but I love it for its atmosphere.  I found the bar and restaurant familiar, as if it were a place (bar) friends and I frequented in my late teens or early twenties though I've never been there (the drinking age was 18 in 1972, when I was coming of age).  With the exception of its flat-screen TV, there is nothing to indicate that Tinney's has let go of the 1970s, and I love that.  It is a friendly warp of time which instantly made me feel completely comfortable and welcome -- no fancy-schmancy decor, no pretention, just really good food and a warm atmosphere.  At the bar there was a lively group of young men who apparently rode in on their ATVs!  There for dinner were couples, families with children and grandparents, friends having a meal together.  It seems Tinney's appeals to everyone. 

Russ ordered a Philly Steak sandwich and I ordered a Sicilian Chicken sandwich.  Mine came with a mound of really wonderful potato salad with a vinegary bite (that I love) and very good home-made cole slaw. I sometimes hesitate to order a chicken sandwich, fearing it might be tough.  This was the most tender chicken sandwich I've ever ordered, and it came layered with roasted red pepper, provolone, and pesto mayonnaise.  It was outstanding.  Russ had a salad with his sandwich, but decided later he did want those fries, and a massive basket of genuine, basic fries (not dipped, battered, or otherwise embellished) was delivered to our table, enough for a family of four! 

We sat for a long time, long enough for Russ (Mr. next-to-nothing bodyfat!)  to order dessert, a hot fudge brownie sundae. I had no room left and couldn't even finish my own meal, though I did score a spoonful of his and it was delicious.  We walked out saying to each other "I'd come back," and we will.

The ride down the hill was breathtakingly beautiful.  As we descended Lake Desolation Road, we could see the entire capital region lit up like a Christmas tree, more than thirty miles away.  It's a beautiful ride both up and down Lake Desolation Road.  And with Tinney's at the top, there's a perfectly good reason to take that ride.

Photo credit: from Tinney's Tavern Web site

Alton Brown's Buffalo Wings

With football comes hot wings, and we're right there, season-wise!  The Super Bowl is right around the corner, and people can't get enough of these savory, saucy treats.  Most are deep-fried, but not this recipe from Alton Brown.  Reviewers RAVED about this recipe (check out reviews at TFN site, linked below).

Alton Brown is the culinary scientist of The Food Network.  Sometimes his processes are more than the average cook or kitchen are equipped for, but reviews of these hot wings say they're easy - just take a little time.  The wings are steamed and then baked at a high heat for a while, and the result is a crispy wing that most would mistake for deep-fried.

I rarely eat wings - maybe once in a while out with my sisters, at Gaffney's in Saratoga Springs, or I'll make my own "mock" version with chicken tenders at home (quick and delish), but I love them.  A little celery and the cool creaminess of blue cheese dressing, and I'm a happy winger.  

Alton Brown's Buffalo Wings

Ingredients

• 12 whole chicken wings (about 3 pounds)
• 3 ounces (6 tablespoons) unsalted butter
• 1 small clove garlic, minced
• 1/4 cup hot sauce
• Kosher salt

Directions

Place a 6-quart saucepan, with a steamer basket and 1 inch of water in the bottom, over high heat, cover and bring to a boil.

Remove the tips of the wings and discard or save for making stock. Use kitchen shears or a knife to separate the wings at the joint. Place the wings in the steamer basket, cover, reduce the heat to medium and steam 10 minutes. Remove the wings from the basket and carefully pat dry.

Lay out the wings on a cooling rack set in a half sheet pan lined with paper towels and place in the refrigerator to dry, about 1 hour.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F. Remove the paper towels on the pan and replace with parchment paper. Roast on the middle rack of the oven, about 20 minutes. Turn the wings over and cook 20 to 30 more minutes, or until the meat is cooked through and the skin is golden brown.

While the chicken is roasting, melt the butter in a small bowl with the garlic. Pour this along with the hot sauce and 1/2 teaspoon salt into a bowl large enough to hold all of the chicken and stir to combine. Remove the wings from the oven, transfer to the bowl and toss with the sauce. Serve warm.

Photograph by Con Poulos, credit: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/alton-brown/alton-browns-buffalo-wings-recipe/index.html

A New Saratoga - I Miss the Old Community Theater

Yesterday's post about the Scudders sandwich has me waxing nostaligic about other blasts from the past. It got me thinking about places we used to go to in Saratoga Springs before the arterial and exit 15 diverted locals to new shopping malls, when downtown was the place to buy whatever was needed.

During my adolescence, in the late sixties and early seventies, Saratoga Springs was a humbler place. Woolworth's and National Auto were the only retail chains on Broadway. Rather than shopping at Gap or Eddie Bauer, we went to Glickman's, Erlanger's, or Starbuck's (NOT the coffee family) for our clothing. Our specialty children's store was Covkin's. For stationary or a little gift, we'd stop at Patricia's. For coffee -- there were no coffee shops -- we'd stop at the diner now owned by Compton's - it's still exactly the same as in the old days. There were drug stores and soda fountains and movie theaters. There were grocery stores -- the Grand Union and the A&P. I miss Farmer's Hardware where you could buy anything AND the only place to pick up a telephone for your house! Oh, it was a wonderful downtown. Now it's pretty and polished and trendy, but it is lacking the authenticity of the downtown I remember.

The Community Theater on Broadway was the weekend place to be. I remember approaching the ticket window with a group of high school friends. It was one of those individual little spaces outside the theater with an attendant inside. Once you entered the building, the stairs were before you, velvet ropes guiding your way. The refreshment counter was to the left. You could go up the curving staircases to the balcony, or find your seat down below. It was a magical space. I saw my first movie ever there -- Sleeping Beauty. Later my siblings and I would go en masse(there were seven of us) to see all the hits. My brother Michael was a movie buff at a very early age, so we went often. My mother used to pack our snack bags with Dum Dum lollipops and we'd walk from MacArthur Drive to the theater, holding hands as we crossed intersections. I remember seeing Pinnochio, Godzilla, and other hits at the Community Theater. In high school, I saw Love Story, and remember thinking I wanted to be just like Ali McGraw. I even learned to crochet just to have a hat like hers!

When the theater closed, so many of us were really sad, and that feeling lingers. I've often said that if I ever won the lottery in a big way, I'd buy it back and restore it to its former presence. To this day, when I walk by the theater, I'm angry at what has become of it. It is now home to a real estate office and retail shops. I never go in. Probably never will. It may sound harsh, but to me, these businesses are poachers, occupying this historic space in a way never intended by those who built the theater. It was built with a purpose -- to provide entertainment and joy for people of the community. The Community Theater. I mourn its passing.

Photo credit: http://funsaratoga.typepad.com/.a/6a00d8341c666d53ef0120a5a3de8e970b-800wi

The Scudders Sandwich - A Walk Down Memory Lane

January brings memories of the winter of 1969, when my family first moved back to Saratoga Springs from Huntington, Long Island. I used to go ice skating at the East Side Rec in the evenings after dinner with my friends and eventually started skating exclusively with my then boyfriend (and future ex-husband) Gene. We'd skate under the lights to blaring music coming from overhead speakers, and I especially remember "Crystal Blue Persuasion" playing as we skated round and round the rink. I was a cautious, inexperienced skater and he was a champion speed skater. He'd rush up behind me and push me in to the snowbanks and then offer me his scaber as a tether to pull me up after showing off, skating figure eights while I couldn't even get back on my feet! Nice guy! We had a lot of fun, though, in those days before computers and the internet, when kids actually did things outside!

I have many happy memories of Saratoga Springs during that time, and one is of an exceptional sandwich we used to get on Beekman Street, the Scudders Sandwich from the Scuderi family deli. Marino's (of great pizza fame) eventually took over the business and continues to make the Scudders sandwich (you have to ask for it), though they've moved from the Beekman Street location to West Circular Street. Every once in a while, I just have to have that sandwich again. Nothing else quite matches it.

The Scudders sandwich was made on a split loaf of Italian bread. Half a sandwich was plenty for two people, though I knew some hearty souls that could eat the whole thing. That means they could eat a whole loaf of Italian bread plus all the meat, cheese, lettuce, and tomato within. Here is what I remember my Scudders sandwich was made of:

Italian Bread, split
mayo
shredded lettuce
paper-thin slices of tomato
very thin slices ham
balogna
cappicola (that delicious hot ham)
american cheese (the real stuff, not processed)

They'd slather both sides of the bread with a lot of mayo, layer the lettuce, tomato, meats and cheeses, and wrap the whole thing up. My mouth waters just thinking about it. It's not so figure friendly, but it just might be worth being the only thing you eat that day -- it's that good!

Photo credit: http://hostedmedia.reimanpub.com/TOH/Images/Photos/37/exps40066_TH1421350D17C.jpg

Saratoga's Victorian Streetwalk and a Red Balloon

Last night Katie, Henry, and I enjoyed Saratoga's Victorian Streetwalk. She picked me up at Skidmore so we wouldn't have to deal with two cars, and we parked near my favorite hotel, Saratoga Arms. I'm never early for anything, but we were early last night. The streets were still empty and there weren't yet any sounds of caroling or jingling bells. We stopped at Bruegger's Bagels and had quick sandwiches. Henry had a pint-sized bagel and applesauce, and we were off to find Santa. We were so early Santa hadn't yet taken up residence in his little Alpine hut, but Mrs. Clause was eagerly greeting children. I heard one child say "I don't want you, I want Santa Claus!" Just in front of Santa's little house, in the middle of Broadway, we found actual reindeer chomping on bales of hay. They were beautiful and I must say those antlers are impressive! Henry was interested but much more enamored with the red balloon he'd just scored at a vendor's table. We tied it to his stroller which was a good move because we saw one little girl completely disintegrate when she let go of hers and it suddenly took off toward the moon-lit sky.

We strolled south and then north on Broadway, taking in the sights and sounds of this festive night. I told Katie the crowds reminded me of being at Disneyworld! Restaurants had sidewalk stands offering hot cider and soups, and Wheatfields was serving pasta with marinara and alfredo sauces. Celtic Treasures had an Irish band, and there were groups of carolers and performers all along the way. We watched one group of dancers in Renaissance garb performing with sticks. Nearby, a beautifully outfitted Father Christmas bent over to say hello to Henry. When Henry didn't respond too enthusiastically, Father Christmas said, "Well, maybe next year!" Katie and I decided to go in to Congress Park and take Henry on his first carousel ride. He loved it, and I couldn't believe it's only fifty cents! Nothing is fifty cents anymore, and we'll be taking him back there often.

We took our time strolling back to the car. It was a lovely night, though Henry's red balloon popped when we arrived home and Katie was taking him out of the car. There will be more Victorian Streetwalks, and there will be more red balloons.

Photo credit: http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2007/11/14/177907/tN_victorianstreetwalk2007s.jpg.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.prweb.com/news/20071115/index.htm&usg=__g-148J7jCVrHMrUEmroPOrwPcuM=&h=81&w=110&sz=3&hl=en&start=145&tbnid=piJy7bykK9lCsM:&tbnh=63&tbnw=85&prev=/images%3Fq%3DVictorian%2BStreetwalk%2BSaratoga%2BSprings%26gbv%3D2%26ndsp%3D20%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DN%26start%3D140

It was COLD this morning!

It was COLD when I woke up this morning. My lovely new apartment is still sans heat, but it'll warm up once some valves and gadgets and other things are tinkered with and thermostats are finally in place. My son-in-law is taking all of next week off to get such things done. Not that I'm suffering. I was warm and toasty under my lofty down comforter as long as I didn't move an inch. When I woke up this morning, the only thing that really jolted me awake was an encounter with some cold porcelain, which was much more effective than my cell phone alarm at waking me up! To warm up the apartment, I ran the dishwasher on the "pot scrubber" cycle last night since that pumps out a good amount of heat during the drying cycle. Then, this morning, I decided to produce a dozen cinnamon rolls for the family just because I craved the oven's heat.

My apartment will be warm tonight. It's one of those Fridays when I go into the weekend facing a lot of baking. I have the usual muffins, scones, and cinnamon rolls in the cue, and also two dozen sugar-free cupcakes for a co-worker. I've never baked sugar-free before. I've baked egg-free and dairy-free and even gluten-free, but never sugar-free. I hope it works out well and I don't want my contribution to his party to be a disappointment. I'm also attending a bridal shower for my nephew's fiance tomorrow, at Limoncello in Saratoga Springs, and it's nice because I am not providing the cake. I get to be "just a guest" and that's always a welcome relief from responsibility!

I have no recipe for you today, just best wishes for a relaxing, rejuvenating weekend. We're expected to see some snow flurries flying by here in upstate New York. My aforementioned son-in-law Bill encountered some very large, fat snowflakes last night when he was driving through the Berkshires on the Mass pike. It won't be long for us, I'm sure.

Eat good things and stay warm!

Photo credit: http://theaccidentalnovelist.files.wordpress.com/2008/12/stellar-dendrite.jpg

Cabbage Night

When I was a kid in 1960s Saratoga Springs, the night before Halloween was called Cabbage Night. Older kids and teenagers would leave the house armed with rolls of toilet paper, dozens of eggs, and shaving cream. Parents hesitantly allowed them go, with the diluted warning “Don’t get in to trouble!” The next morning, streamers of toilet paper were draped from the branches of trees. Car windows sported smashed eggs, the shells shattered and glued in runny transparency. Shaving cream, as if whipped graffiti, personalized the transgression. Jack-o-lanterns were violently smashed by the curb. (Smart parents pulled their pumpkins in before the tricksters went out for the night.) I remember, as a kid, seeing the remains of victimized pumpkins, and mourning for them. I tried not to look, to avert my eyes from the grisly reality that people do such things. It was as if someone had entered my home and chopped my Christmas tree in half. It was wrong.
Cabbage Night was something to be gotten through. I am, to this day, relieved when it is over.

Photo image: http://bumout.files.wordpress.com/2008/10/tp_tree_003-776158.jpg

Pizza in Saratoga Springs

I grew up loving Oma Pizza. Most weekends, my friends and I would go there for a slice. Oma’s was located in the Grand Union Shopping Plaza on Broadway, which was torn down years ago to make way for such stores as The Gap, Banana Republic, Anne Taylor Loft, and Talbots. There’s also a Cold Stone Creamery on the spot. There’s no sign of the old Woolworth’s, Rite Aid, Grand Union, or Pope’s Pizza that once occupied that block.

Oma’s familial cousin, Pope’s Pizza, opened on the corner of Broadway and Division Street. It had the same wonderful New York-style Pizza as Oma’s and occupied the building formerly known as The Red Barn. The Red Barn was a hamburger place before Pope’s took over. If you were downtown around the time of these old pizza places, you’d turn to see Starbuck’s Department Store (no relation to the coffee), Western Auto, Glickman’s, Covkin's, Mr. Jack’s, The Economy Shop, Farmer’s Hardware, Erlanger’s, Patricia’s and many other small town businesses that have long since disappeared. Sometimes I am sadly aware that so much of what was original and unique to our downtown no longer exists, replaced by cookie-cutter chains of stores that are found in every city. Still, Broadway retains its charm despite its homogenized evolution into the 21^st century. There’s something special about our downtown that, despite the influx of generic stores, is retained.

Oops, I was talking about pizza, wasn’t I?!...

For pizza today, there are good options. My favorite is Pope’s Pizza, which moved to its Grand Avenue location from the Red Barn a long time ago. (The Red Barn is now a Borders.) Pope’s is consistently good, with the same New York style, thin crusted, great sauced pizza that my friends and I loved as a kid. D’Andrea’s Pizza has been resurrected as well. The original restaurant on Broadway has been replaced by upscale stores, but you can still buy a slice or a pie at their little corner shop on Caroline Street. D’Andrea’s was one of the first to offer barbeque chicken pizza. Another favorite is Marino’s, now on West Circular Street, though formerly housed on Beekman Street where the old Scuderi’s used to be. (Remember the Scudders sandwich?) Marino’s pizza has a thicker crust, tangier sauce, and a great cheese. They use larger rounds of pepperoni and it sits under the cheese, not on top. They cut their round p izzas in squares, not in wedges. And be prepared: when it’s time to pay, they only take cash, something to remember in this day of debit card purchasing.

Another good pizza option is Mama Mia’s in the Price Chopper Plaza on Route 50, headed toward SPAC. They have a sign up that reads something like “voted best pizza in Saratoga Springs.” I like it, but it’s no Pope’s.

So, if you’re looking for a good pizza option for your Friday night dinner, Saratoga has a lot to offer. There are many I haven’t yet tried, but I’ll make a project out of investigating and let you know!

Happy weekend everyone!

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://ctnation.citizenschools.net/DotNetNuke/Portals/1/pepperoni-pizza-sl-1599569-l.jpg&imgrefurl=http://ctnation.citizenschools.net/dotnetnuke/Communicate/CTNationBlog/tabid/163/EntryId/17/The-Power-of-Pizza.aspx&usg=__-h1kfsmkgS9MfvgvsD2-0vJQ2Ko=&h=300&w=300&sz=30&hl=en&start=12&tbnid=wPH7wRJi80TbFM:&tbnh=116&tbnw=116&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dpizza%26gbv%3D2%26hl%3Den%26sa%3DG

Saratoga's Olde Bryan Inn and Pumpkin Ravioli

The other night my friend Kate and I had dinner at the Olde Bryan Inn on the corner of Rock Street and Maple Avenue in Saratoga Springs. Known as the OBI to locals, the Inn has a lovely atmosphere, especially the cozy and welcoming front room, warmed by two fireplaces (one on each end). The dimly lit, intimate room hosts large wooden beams, original framed windows and rock-surfaced walls. Generations-old portraits of apparently important people survey the room ( with the rumor that there is, as witnessed by many, a resident ghost who reveals herself in the upstairs ladies room!). Wooden tables are framed by booth seats which are actually antique pews from an old church. In addition to booths that line the front wall, there are tables for two and tables for more. Live plants hang from the ceiling. Vines wrap around poles. Little white lights twinkle. It’s a great place to get away for lunch or dinner.

In addition to the front room, there is seating in the bar area, and two additional dining rooms. In the summer months, the OBI offers outdoor space, often with entertainment.

The menu is always good, and daily specials broaden the abundant choices. I typically order the soup, salad, and muffin combo, with my favorite, onion soup. This night I ordered a special: a small sirloin steak with mashed potatoes and mixed garden beans. It was very good but as I had my dinner, I coveted Kate’s selection: pumpkin ravioli, and vowed to order it next time.

I’ve been thinking about making pumpkin ravioli ever since, which I might have to do if I don’t get back to the OBI anytime soon. The following is how I will prepare this beautiful autumn dish, using wonton wrappers instead of pasta dough, since I don't own a pasta machine and wonton wrappers are used all over the Food Network. If they're good enough for Giada DeLaurentis, they're good enough for me!

Pumpkin Ravioli with Sage Butter Cream

• 1 lb. pureed pumpkin, canned is fine (or pureed sweet potatoes, or butternut squash)
• ½ cup thick Greek yogurt, plain (do NOT use regular yogurt – it’s too thin); or 4 oz. ricotta cheese, thickened by draining in a bowl over folded paper towels for one hour
• 2 tablespoons real maple syrup or 1 tablespoon brown sugar, packed
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon 1/2 Teaspoon salt
• 10-12 grinds fresh black pepper
• Wonton wrappers
• 8 tablespoons butter (1 bar plus 2 tablespoons)
• 10 fresh sage leaves
• ½ cup light cream
• Grated Parmesan cheese

Mix pumpkin well with yogurt (or cheese), maple syrup or brown sugar, cinnamon, salt, and pepper. Chill mixture for about an hour.

Put on a large pot of water to a boil. Add 1 tsp. salt and 2 tbsp. olive oil (to prevent ravioli from sticking). Meanwhile, assemble ravioli:

Place about 1 tsp.chilled pumpkin mixture in center of wonton wrapper. Moisten edges and press together to form a filled triangle, like a little pillow. Continue until you use up all of the pumpkin.

In large skillet over medium-low heat, melt butter. Add chopped sage and slowly bring butter to a foaming boil, noting when it just begins to brown. Continue cooking, but watch closely as you stir the butter in the pan with a wooden spoon, and bring it to a golden brown without burning. This happens very quickly. (Be careful to remove the pan from the heat if it shows any sign of burning.) With a wooden spoon or whisk, stir in cream. Heat through. Turn off heat.

Drop ravioli in boiling water and cook until they rise to the top, about two minutes. Remove from pot with a slotted spoon and place on platter that’s been warmed in the oven or with hot water. Cover with foil or lid until all are cooked.

Toss drained ravioli with hot sage butter cream. Plate for individual servings and sprinkle generously with grated or shaved parmesan cheese.

Photo credit and OBI website: http://www.oldebryaninn.com/images/fireplace.jpg

Stewart's

This morning, as I was pumping gas at the Stewart’s Shop in Middle Grove, New York, I became suddenly aware of how Stewart’s Shops and I have had a long-time, enduring relationship. As a little girl in Saratoga Springs in the late 1950s, I remember going with my father to the one of the earliest Stewart’s on Church Street. It was a wooden, 2-story building, blue, I think. I remember looking way up at the counter, so I must have been pint-sized. My dad was buying a half-gallon of ice cream for our family. (Stewart’s is one of the few companies that still makes half-gallons – check your grocer’s freezer – most are 1.5 or 1.75 quarts now). My first real job, after summers as a day camp counselor, was as a waitress at the Stewart’s at the corner of Broadway and Circular Street in Saratoga Springs. At the time, the shops offered counter and booth service, and even tried a soup and sandwich menu for a while. I remember scrambling eggs in a mug, cooking them in the microwave!

I was hired by manager Bob Hummel, a former construction worker with a Queens accent who’d survived a number of heart attacks, but still smoked devotedly. He was a jovial man with balding red hair and skinny legs, but he had a bit of a pot belly. He loved to play jokes on his staff, once faking a heart attack and laughing hysterically as I called for an ambulance, and another time seating a uniformed mannequin on the toilet seat, her skirt hoisted, to scare the wits out of the milk delivery man who used that bathroom every morning.

Among my specialties as a Stewart’s scooper was the banana split. I never ate them, but I made really pretty splits. (I ate other things – hot fudge sundaes on chocolate buttered almond, or coffee ice cream sodas). For the banana split, I’d take the oblong-shaped glass (real) dish, line it with a split banana, and then place three round scoops of ice cream – vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry – in a little pyramid: vanilla and chocolate side by side, strawberry perched above. I’d pour just enough chocolate, strawberry, and pineapple syrups over the top (one on each scoop) to make it pretty, and then crown it all in a rope of whipped cream, topped with a cherry. Other scoopers envied my creations, though were a little bit perturbed when the customer nodded my way and asked “Can she make mine?”

Eventually my brother Danny got a job there, and then my sister Anne. It became a real family affair. We all got good starts to our working lives in that little shop on Broadway, and later the shop on Railroad Place. I think back to the nights when I’d put together the bank deposit, change my clothes in the bathroom, drop the deposit in the Adirondack Trust’s night depository, and then go out partying with my friends for a few hours only to wake up three hours later to open the store in the morning. I have many fond memories of those early working days at Stewart’s, and every time I go in to a store, I restrain myself from telling the clerk “I used to work at Stewart’s, a long time ago.” Instead, I take my change, and remember that, for a little while, Stewart’s was a very big part of my life.

Here’s a version of the recipe I remember for that delicious

Coffee Ice Cream Soda:

¼ cup melted vanilla ice cream

3 tablespoons coffee syrup (available near the chocolate syrup)

Carbonated water or seltzer, cold

Coffee ice cream

Whipped cream

In large goblet, mix melted vanilla ice cream with coffee syrup. Add enough bubbling water to bring within an inch of the top. Hang the scoop of ice cream half in and half out of the goblet. Give a squirt of whipped cream.

Enjoy!

Photo credit: http://blog.timesunion.com/business/files/2009/04/288930sdc.jpg