LoNG TiMe No BLoG...eVeRY GiRL NeeDS a VaCaTioN SoMeTiMe :O)

I know it's been a few days since my last entry but we were on a much needed vacation! Perfect timing before the summer rituals end and the fall rituals begin.
Now I'm back and refreshed and ready to BLoG!

We ventured back to the Smoky Mountains of Tennessee and took some amazing photos of some beautiful views! There's something about going to the mountains that I absolutely love. Every time I leave there I feel like I've left a piece of my heart behind in those mountains.

Here's a sample of those views...






The first photo is Clingman's Dome. It's the highest point on the Appalachian Trail. The bare spruce firs in the foreground were attacked by the Wooly Aphid in the late 19th century. It's an uphill hike to the dome so bring comfortable walking shoes and water for this excursion. The next photo is a partial shot of Laurel Falls. This wonder of nature is a short *cough* 1.3 mile hike UPHILL but the end result makes all the sweat worth it. Treat yourselves to dipping your feet in the refreshingly cold mountain spring water. We did and it was very refreshing! The last picture is one of the many beautiful views of the springs and rivers that flow alongside the windy roads through the mountains.

True to my form, I must include photos of some of my other favorite things! First a couple shots of the Old Mill Pottery. I love this pottery and it will eventually be the star of my dinner table :o) If I make the 'nice' list...




I also couldn't resist posting two photos from my favorite restaurants in Pigeon Forge. The first is a photo of the fritters with maple butter from the Old Mill Restaurant. Very delicious and just as good when you take them to go when you are unable to finish the ENTIRE meal! The other photos are from the Alamo Steakhouse, 'THe STeaK' ~an oak fired beautifully marbled ribeye steak and a baked sweet potato (my starch of choice) with butter and brown sugar! The other is a picture of my beautiful caesar salad, just look at all that cheese :o) My mouth is watering and it's 500+ miles to have it again
:o(





I hope you chose to visit this friendly area for yourselves and bring your camera for some AMAZING pictures of you and your family and the Great Smoky Mountains. For any scrapbookers out there*winking at my RSF*...there are shops after your own heart in Sevierville, TN, right up the Parkway from Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge. Bring your wallet :o) You're gonna need it!

oN THe MeNu...aSiaN CHiCKeN SaLaD

I love to cook but when the season brings warm weather with it, there's something distinctly unappetizing about standing over a hot stove and cooking.

That's when salads come to my rescue.

This salad is my nod to a greener environment. A greener environment?!?! This salad was inspired by the Asian Chicken Flatbread Salad at the Cheesecake Factory Bakery & Cafe at MacArthur Center in Norfolk. An asian salad with romaine lettuce, slivered almonds, fried wonton strips, green onions, mandarin oranges and grilled chicken with a sesame dressing hits the spot on hot days. Prior to discovering a very suitable substitute for a salad dressing on my local grocery store salad bar, I would have to drive (hence... ozone gas emissions) 20+ miles each way THROUGH TRAFFIC, not to mention my parking fee and the $8 cost for my lunch. Don't get me wrong...this is well worth the drive, but why drive when you can make a delicious standby for your WHOLE family for less than the cost of the gas, parking and the meal (not to mention your sanity from the traffic)all while saving the earth at the same time? We'll all be elevated to 'Planet Earth Superhero' status before you know it!

I haven't yet begun to crack the code for the flatbread served at this eatery but it's on my 'to-do' list for sure. I did make a couple of homemade flour tortillas to serve the salad on so that all those great juices would not go to waste :o) It's such a delicious way to finish off the meal when you roll up that tortilla with any remaining bits and pieces of salad and take a bite of the tortilla that has sopped up all of the melded flavors. Heavenly.


I have always loved fresh bread and have had many experiences, both good and bad. I believe the bread can make or break a meal. Sometimes finding the perfect bread to serve is half the adventure. Pina has introduced me to Semolina bread from Long Island, NY. A true toe-curler, (just ask any of her children), brings new meaning to the phrase 'betcha can't eat just one(loaf)'. I crave this bread and have not had a better loaf, to be sure. I will post more on this bread at a later time, after I make the supreme sacrifice and have a slice for all of you in order to describe it. :OP Don't say thanks, just send flowers :o)


Back to the recipe, there are many recipes for homemade tortillas on the net. My recipe consists of flour, salt, oil and water. I believe I found it on the Food Network...very simple, yet so satisfying. I'm embarrassed to say that we scarcely buy store-bought tortillas anymore. My family prefers homemade so I usually allow for extra time to make homemade ones.


For the salad you can use any amount of the above ingredients and add or take away as you see fit. I prepared the chicken by cutting it into filets and griddled them on my Cuisinart Griddler. I love this because the plates are removeable and are dishwasher safe. Just a note, I used slivered almonds that I slightly toasted in a dry pan slowly and let them cool. I fried my own wonton strips from a package of wonton skins in some canola oil. Be careful with these steps as they brown/fry quickly and you don't want either to brown too much, just keep the strips moving in the pan and drain on paper towels.


I'm unsure of which salad dressing they use at my local grocery store and will have to find out. This one has a distinct flavor of sesame and is slightly sweet.



Uh oh! Looks like even the bears are coming in for a peek!

A lil' bearkins picked these out while vacationing in Tennessee last year. They are from the Old Mill ~http://www.old-mill.com/~in Pigeon Forge, TN near Gatlinburg. They have the most beautiful pottery and I would definitely recommend a visit (at least to their website). If you vacation there you will surely be rewarded with the spectacular views that the Great Smoky Mountains have to offer. With Dollywood a short distance away and Ober-Gatlinburg( a fantastic cable car up the mountain), dinner shows galore and even a Nascar Speed Park for all you 'would-be' racecar drivers, there is surely something for everyone!

I hope you like this recipe! Take a break from cooking a big dinner and take advantage of what summer has to offer. You'll be glad you did! :O)