Tag: eat

Portland Edibles

Leave a comment

In Spring of 2023, I packed a carry-on and went on a weekend trip to Portland, Oregon. The main reason for going was because when my mom was still alive, I had been convincing her to hang on a bit longer so that I could take her to see the beautiful tulips at the Tulip Festival in Oregon. She didn’t last past winter. So in remembrance of her, I went to see the tulips.

Portland, however, isn’t just known for its tulips, beautiful waterfalls, and hikes. They are also known for some delicious eats and good coffee.

Below are the few food highlights during my quick trip.

For Burgers and Sliders, I highly recommend PDX sliders. Everything we ordered was delicious. Because they do have quite a few choices…I’d go with sliders so that you can try a few different options. I had the Hawthorne which consisted of beef, bacon, goat cheese, strawberry preserves on brioche bun. My next slider was the Morrison, which was an herb-marinated chicken, bacon, pesto, baby arugula, aioli on a ciabatta.

For Donuts and Chai, try Pip’s. Because the donuts were little donut holes, it didn’t feel like a crime to order a dozen between two people. So we ordered a dozen and tried every flavor, including the seasonal flavor: Pear Butter. I wasn’t too crazy about the Pear Butter and much preferred their traditional flavors, like the cinnamon sugar and the raw honey & sea salt. Also, the Chai flight was the best thing we did because I love Chai and couldn’t decide which to get. In the end, I narrowed down my favorites to: King and I & Heart of Gold.

For an Intimate Date Night Out, I do suggest trying a local favorite like Papa Haydn…it’s been around since 1978! The soup, salad, and entree were all delicious but I think the main event really belongs to the dessert. We had the Boccone Dolce…which was exquisite and a must try for everyone.

There you have it…a place for the person-on-the go, a place for the sweet tooth person in you, and a place for a dressier date night.

Fields of Tulips

Pip’s reminding you to EAT
PDX Sliders
Pip’s

Stuffed Bell Peppers

Leave a comment

Stuffed bell peppers are a great way to get rid of leftovers or things that have been hanging out in your fridge. Like that day old rice, unfinished jar of spaghetti sauce, or sausage that everyone forgot about.

https://instagram.com/p/2VHrADGVeA/

What you will need for this recipe:

  • 4 large Peppers (Red, Green, Yellow, and/or Orange)
  • 1 lb Ground Meat (Beef, Chicken, or Turkey)
  • 1/2 cup of chopped sausage (any kind that you may have lying around in your fridge) for extra flavor and texture
  • 3 cloves of Garlic
  • 3/4 cups of diced Onions
  • 1 to 2 cups of mixed veggies
  • 2 cups of cooked, day old rice
  • 1/2 a jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
  • Salt and Pepper to taste
  • a drizzle of Worcestershire sauce

This is what you do next:

  • Saute garlic and onions in a large skillet.
  • Brown meat in same skillet with a few tablespoons of oil.
  • Add chopped sausage and cook thoroughly.
  • Add mixed veggies and cook until tender.
  • Add Rice and break up clumps.
  • Pour your favorite spaghetti sauce in skillet.
  • Add Salt and Pepper to taste along with a drizzle of Worcestershire sauce. Allow to simmer for a few minutes.

Meanwhile,

  • Rinse and chop the top off the bell peppers.
  • Clean and remove seeds from the inside.
  • Stuff peppers with the rice mixture.
  • Pop in oven that has been preheated at 350 degrees for about 10 minutes or until bell peppers are tender.

Enjoy!

Optional: Sprinkle some parmesan or mozzarella cheese on top of peppers.

How to Make the Most of a Long Layover

Leave a comment

Over the past eight years since I’ve left Guam, I have gotten used to layovers in Honolulu, Narita, and now Seoul. I have found that if you do research on the airport ahead of time, you will be able to enjoy the 6 or so hours you have to spend there. The ticket I purchased this time around had a layover in Incheon International Airport (ICN) for 6 hours. I had been in this airport before, however, only had very minimal time to kill. This time around, I had double that time. What to do within those hours? Hmm…

  • Take a shower. I discovered online that the ICN had a shower and massage area. Shower was free for transit passengers with proof of a boarding pass and passport. Upon presenting the staff these items, they then hand you a teeny tiny towel, shampoo, body wash, toothpaste, and toothbrush. You then have your own private bathroom for, preferably 30 minutes only (however, I stayed longer and they didn’t kick me out..)
  • Take a nap. The ICN had specific areas all around the 2nd floor for resting and relaxation. Chaises are scattered throughout the airport for you to rest in comfortably until your next scheduled boarding time.
  • Eat. Many people find airplane food to be bland and unappealing, however, airport food is a different story. You can find a plethora of places to eat at airports. I always go for what’s local. Why eat American Food while in Korea? So, of course I went for Korean food.
  • Buy local goodies. Although, you might pay slightly more for a product inside the airport than outside, I still say buy something different and unique to each prospective country in which you become a transit passenger. This can be anything as simple as a snack or a hair accessory.
  • Explore the airport. At some major airports, there are cultural displays, museums, and other ancient artifacts to purposefully make passengers “OH” and “Ahh” to. So why not go and explore those?
  • People Watch. You know you hate to admit you do that..but its a natural tendency. I especially love to do it when I’m not in my own country or city. I love seeing people’s diversity, fashion, and reactions.

By the time you have done at least 3 of these things…your flight will be boarding.  Happy Travels! 🙂