Review
Nadines
Dec 29th
I finally got to eat at Nadines Bar and Restaurant in the Southside. I pass by it on my way home from work everyday. I keep telling myself, “Self, you need to go there and eat one of these days.” It especially peaked my interest when I found out Diners, Drive In’s and Dives filmed there.
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From the outside it looks like a small dive bar. Guess what? From the inside it’s a small dive bar and I love it.
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Passing by many days there is an older man in one of those power chairs, sometimes it’s just the chair. Sometimes the chair is covered with a small tarp or umbrella. Sometimes it’s in the snow. Most days you can count on it being there. When I go by and it’s not there I wonder about the strange man who occupies it. Where might he be? If I don’t see him for days I hope he is okay. I don’t even know him, never met him and have no idea what his name is. My trip to eat there the chair was outside and he was perched on a stool at the bar, eating food.
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It seems like that kind of place. Where regulars go. They probably go to talk to the same people. Watch the same stuff on tv. Drink the same drinks. I bet you can count on them being there. I bet they consider each other friends if not family in a way.
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When I walked in i wasn’t sure where to sit. There is a bar going much of the length of the building with stools around it. The outer walls had tables with 2-4 chairs. I sat at a table in the corner and my sister asked for menu’s. The man running the bar was incredibly nice and went over all the specials. We decided on the roast beef special. In the episode of Diners, Drive In’s and Dives it states the specials are $4.50 with tax and drink. They are currently $6.35 with tax and drink which to me is still a steal. 10 mintues after ordering he set the plate in front of me.
It looks just like the plate Guy ate. The smell made me even hungrier.
The meat was so juicy and tender it melted in your mouth. I have had some great home cooking but this tops my list of roast beef. The mashed potatoes had some skin in it and were lumpy. If your me thats a treat!
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It was so good I cleaned my plate.
I will be sure to go back and try some of their other specials and menu items. I bet they make a great breakfast.
If your looking for good home cookin and some all around nice people a visit to Nadines is a must!
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Mini Donuts
Nov 11th
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Mini Donut Maker. Who dreams up this stuff? Obviously people like me buy this stuff. Is it just me or is it women in general that like kitchen gadgets, do-dads, and neato makers? I have loads of those that I barely use.
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Waffle Maker: probably used twice, many years ago. I would bet both times were in the same month and only because hubby bought it for me. It pains me even more to say I hate the one he bought. It makes 4 square waffles that look like the frozen ones. I hate to be picky but I want a circle one.
Pizzelle Press: I use it at xmas time. I don’t know any other way to make these. The batter recipe from my mom makes like 100. The link is the one my mother bought me I guess so she can stop making them every year and I could take it up instead.
Cookie Press: I could use this year round as it makes cookies pretty damn easliy, but I don’t. I typically only use it at xmas time. My mom bought me the Wilton one for xmas one year, again probably to get me to start making them instead of her. Couple years later she still makes this stuff. I think she secretly loves it.
Rosette Iron: I love it and actually have two. They make crispy little cookies though I think they are similar to funnel cakes. It’s most likely been 4 or 5 years since I last made them but summer of 2009 I purchased another one at a school carnival garage sale. This was something else my mom made, though I don’t think she has made them since we were kids. She gave me my first set that looks exactly like the ones pictured in the link.
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So anyway back to the mini donuts. I was shopping at Target this past weekend and had nothing better to do than spend money. I’m actually being serious. It’s not like a I have tons of money to spend all the time but this particular weekend we had a bit of extra and some saved. I started buying lots of things for the house. Then I saw it…. the Mini Donut Maker. It was right next to -the Mini Cupcake Maker which I had to resist even though it was a pretty pink cupcake that made cupcakes!
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What makes it worth buying is hubby and I have been talking about making mini donuts. I have searched recipes and have discussed with each other what we wanted. I’m trying to eat healthier but frying was the only option I knew. We can now easily put our plan into action. For the first test run tho I made plain everyday donuts.
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The batter recipe they gave was very easy to make. I used a 4 cup bowl and everything was mixed right inside it. All items in the recipe I had at home.
Now that the little buggers are done it’s time to take them out.
Caution:
- The donut maker itself gets Very hot! Be careful and don’t let small kids do this themselves.
- You need something non metal like to help get them out such as the mini spatula I have pictured. You can use your fingers but it will burn.
What you have are yummy cake donuts that aren’t fried and full of grease.
The recipe in the book said it made 10. For me it made 15.
We made the icing in the book. For someone who has made many cookies I should have known better. The icing is a cookie icing and way to sweet. It was milk and powdered sugar. I do need to find a glaze recipe. Aren’t they adorable? Go ahead, eat one… Heck eat a couple they are mini!
O’Leary’s Cafe
Jul 9th
If your ever looking for a great breakfast diner try O’Leary’s in the Southside.
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They are right next door to Mike & Tony’s Gyros at 1412 East Carson St. It’s home cookin, the menu is small but it’s good. There aren’t many tables so on the weekend I suggest going as early as possible. The place isn’t all spruced up but it’s cleaner than most restaurants that appear to be nicer. Also they only take cash but there is an ATM inside.
Here is a shot of my breakfast:
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I never eat the toast. I ate the toast!-
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Rudy’s Subs
Jul 9th
If your ever in Swissvale…….
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Try Rudy’s Subs. They are small and only take cash. For a long time no one knew of a menu existing that you could take with you but I got one! You can find them at 1918 Monongahela Ave.
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The people are very nice and the food is yummy!
I get half of an Italian sub, no tomato and mayo on the side. Excellent!
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Hot Summer
Jul 7th
It is one hot summer in the Burgh this year. I can’t remember the last time it was in the 80′s and 90′s much of the season and it’s still only July, but I am pleased. Personally I love the heat and the humidity. Last year the hottest week we had was while I was on vacation in the south and when I came home I was cold! I remember swimming every day as a kid, being outside, it being hot and steamy! We may have had frigid winters but I had summer to look forward to. I haven’t looked forward to a summer here in a long time. Probably part of my wanting to move south. I checked the weather today for Hilton Head Island, SC (my favorite place) and Pittsburgh. They were both 88 degrees at the time. The South weather has risen to the North and I couldn’t be happier.
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So what has summer brought so far?
Church Carnivals are always fun. Many Catholic Church’s in the area do these as fundraisers through the summer. Though anymore they are more expensive, more difficult to win, and not geared towards the little ones. I like to go for the food and just to walk around and look at stuff.
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Writing on chalk on the sidewalk. Kids artwork can be amazing! No stacks of paper scattered all over the house and they can draw as big as the sidewalk allows.
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Mmmmm Ice Cream. This came from The Milkshake Factory in the Southside. They have ice cream, shakes and many chocolate treats that looked delicious. We walk around Southside often when it’s nice out. Just to walk, to window shop, to eat. It gives us all something to do together and get out of the house.
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The nice weather brings out all sorts of people. We saw an interesting man in the Strip on a Sunday afternoon. See man on right of pic. Young kids don’t understand this type of thing at all and how do you explain it to them?
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Of coarse the Kennywood corndog. I haven’t gone a summer without going to Kennywood nor eating a corndog and potato patch fries. It just wouldn’t be summer in the Burgh without it.
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Pittsburgh Parks closed many pools years ago. One was in the neighborhood we moved to. Many kids have no where to cool off. Some parks now have spray parks installed. I really wish they would install one in every neighborhood that lost their pool. In the meantime we do what we can to cool the kids off on our own. Thank goodness I have a hubby who is very handy! He created this sprinkler/mister for our backyard with our hose and some pipe.
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So many people hate this heat. I thrive off it. It makes me happy. It defines that it is summer for me. You can have 60-70 degree weather every fall where it belongs.
Me… I will be moving South for the Winter………. Spring, Fall and Summer within the next couple years. Hubby finally said he is ready to move! Until we do I will enjoy the heat we have!
