Carnival Glory Day 3 - Reversing Falls, Saint John, New Brunswick

Reversing Falls.  At least when we visited, it was underwhelming.  Above is about 10 AM.  Below is about 1 PM. Yes, there was a reversal in direction but I was expecting a thunderous drop of at least 6 ft.

Sushi. Pretty looking but drab tasting.

Braised Style Short Ribs. Not what I expected ordering short ribs but it was tender.

Warm chocolate cake as I recall.  Decadent and comforting.

Carnival Glory Day 2 - Portland, ME

Portland Maine was older than I pictured but being on the east, that's shouldn't have been unexpected. Portland is touristy, especially along the waterfront but it felt laid back and almost stress free.

The taste bar offers little tastes almost like a tapas but only better because its free on board.

Fancy doesn't always excel. 7.2

Prime Rib.  The flavor was satisfactory, not world class.

Alligator fritters. It was more starch than protein. 7.0

Beetroot Carpacio

In the 1800s, lobster was considered lowly food for lower class and indentured servants.  Funny how times change and we now pay a premium for it.  For me, boiled lobster isn't particularly appealing. Stir fried is much better and more flavorful.

Cherries Jubilee. 7.0

China 1 - Madison WI

 

Henry Vilas Zoo - Madison, WI

Red Cactus - Blythe CA

 

Cozumel Mexican Restaurant - Janesville WI

 

Glutinous (Sticky) Rice Lotus Leaf Wrap Recipe

I didn't have any sticky rice around so I used common long grain rice.  It would have been significantly better if sticky rice were used and if I knew what I was doing. So I learned from the round 1 that I needed to increase the filling to rice ratio. Also the flavor was a little weak and I needed to start with uncooked chicken rather fully precooked. Even though wings were used, they became too dry.

Wonton Time - Markham ON

 

Omni William Penn - Pittsburgh, PA

The hotel is old but classic, nothing fancy for the modern day crowd.  I didn't realize that many notable people and celebrities had stayed here and numerous Presidents spoke here.

530 William Penn Place

Pittsburgh, PA 

So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.  Luke 2:4-5

Sky Dragon - Toronto ON

 

Hot Hunan Shrimp Recipe

This fast and easy recipe is adapted from Food and Wine magazine.

1 lb large shrimp
1 T Shaoxing wine
1/2 t salt
3 T peanut oil
2 t minced ginger, garlic, chili garlic sauce, minced pickled chiles each
1/3 c water
1/2 t dark soy sauce
2 green onions finely chopped
1 T finely chopped red bell pepper
1/4 t sesame oil

Using scissors, cut down the curved side of shells. Remove veins, leave shells intact. Put in bowl and mix with wine and salt.

Heat wok very hot. Add oil, heat to slight smoke. Pat shrimp dry. Add to pan. Cook to nearly done about 2 min. Add ginger, garlic, chili sauce, pickled chiles, and stir fry fragrant about 1 min. Add water , soy sauces, green onions, bell pepper, and stir fry til liquid slightly reduced and shrimp cooked through. Drizzle with sesame oil

               

Hainan Chicken Recipe - National Dish

Hainan Chicken or Chicken with Rice is the national dish of Singapore

Chicken

1. The fresher the chicken the better.
2. Wash the chicken with coarse salt, rubbing away the dead yellow skin.
3. Put some ginger and green onions in the cavity.
4. Fill large pot with enough water to cover chicken. Bring to a boil.
5. Put chicken in. Allow water to return to a boil and lower heat to a minimal simmer.
6. Cover pot and allow chicken to remain for about an hour, until juices no longer run pink.
7. Reserve the broth
8. Plunge chicken in an icebath to allow skin to firm up and for gel to develop.
9. Chop into bit size pieces.

Rice

1. Use as much as you want and wash rice.
2. Heat stainless skillet. Add oil and cook finely chopped garlic and ginger
3. Add rice and stir fry for a few minutes. Add some salt.
4. Add sufficient chicken broth to soak the rice. Cook for a few minutes.
5. Put into a rice cooker and then add sufficient amount of chicken broth to properly cook rice.

Sauce

1. Mince garlic
2. Finely grate ginger
3. This should be about about a 50/50 mix
4. Add  some Rice vinegar
5. Add some Lime juice enough to fully cover the entire mixture
6. Add sugar to offset the tartness.
7. If desired add Sriracha sauce

Yummy enough for home but the pros make it way better.