Wednesday, October 27, 2010

On A Quest For...Name This Arkansas Architecture

While working on my Bachelor's degree at the University of Arkansas, I took a course which opened up my horizons concerning the evolution of architecture from the Stone Age to Post Modernism. It was fascinating to be introduced to the history of man's/woman's progressive fabrications. As newby Americans and Arkansans, we are limited to what we experience but, we still have ample opportunity to enjoy a wide spectrum  of architectural design right here in the Natural State.

JUST FOR FUN:  This structure which was built in 2007 has fast become an Arkansas favorite even though there were many controversial conversations leading up to its creation. For one, it meant the demise of an old familiar constitution near the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences and Little Rock Zoo. However, progress prevailed and the following photo alerts all patrons of exciting things about to happen as they enter the front entrance to this fun filled place... name this Arkansas Architecture...
Email me (Deadline 10:00am Friday, October 29, 2010) at diannehocut@live.com and be the first to correctly identify this structure! Winner (if there is a lucky one out there) and other fun stuff will be announced!

Monday, October 25, 2010

E's Bistro, North Little Rock, AR


Last week me and #3 went On A Quest For this cozy little bistro we had read about in the Arkansas Times called E's Bistro. Did not take long to find this jewel of a eatery in the Lakehill Shopping Center on JFK Blvd. Actually we had passed by many times before and just can't explain why we never dropped in. Oh, the power of suggestion from the Arkansas Times...

Arriving for lunch, we were seated by a friendly lady who gave us brief instructions on how to order. First check out the menu, order at the centralized table cart, serve yourself with beverage of choice, and wait for the meal to be brought to your table. OK...got it!

Was only a few minutes before we received our Chicken Salad and Pimento Cheese Sandwich...both wonderfully delicious! The Chicken Salad was heartily simple with huge chunks of chicken breast, creamy mayo, toasted almonds, whole grapes, and bits of celery. Served with a tasty herb encrusted slice of toasted bread. The Pimento Cheese Sandwich was loaded with a simple creamy spread on a fresh croissant with lots of crisp kettle chips (my request) and cute little cut up cucumbers. Plenty to eat, but as we watched the waitress carry a slice of fresh Coconut Cake to the next table we could not resist the temptation. Slightly pricey at $6 per slice, but well worth it! Light and airy thin vanilla layers loaded with fluffy frosting and topped with toasted coconut...out of this world! Total tab plus tip came to $28.25.

The food presentation, quality of service, and overall cleanliness of this adorable little cafe has us aching to experience E's Gourmet-To-Go items in the frozen food section and returning soon to see what the Sunday Brunch is all about! And did I mention the local artwork for sale on the walls?  Support your local community...yep...my kinda place!

E's Bistro on Urbanspoon

Monday, October 18, 2010

The Perfect TV Mom...Mrs. Cleaver or Mrs. Wolowitz...You Choose

Gee, I can't believe one of TV world's most perfect moms died a couple of days ago. Mrs. Cleaver was the perfect mom to Wally and the Beave and the perfect wife to Ward. I will miss every perfect thing about her...perfect bouffant hair do, perfect white pearls and snazzy outfits when she cooked her perfect meals, and perfect parenting skills to boot. There was really not much of anything that nobody didn't love about Mrs. Cleaver. I admire her for making something really spectacular out of her ordinary housewife status and especially for overshadowing that perfect jerk of a husband...check out this video...


I salute this character for pioneering the libber road long before libbing wasn't cool. Good bye Mrs. Barbara Billingsley! 

And just for fun...don't you ever wonder what could have happened to June's boys if she hadn't been such a perfect wife for Ward?  Seems like one of our favorite geek's father left his mother when he was only eleven...check out this YouTube video with Howard Wolowitz  and the Big Bang Theory nerds...Howard's Mother to the Rescue. I really like Mrs. Wolowitz as well...she may scream and yell and be labeled a "crazy old lady"...but somehow she will probably also go down in TV world stardom as one of the greatest TV moms ever and we'll never even know what she looked like. Mrs. Cleaver or Mrs. Wolowitz...which one is your favorite mom?

Thursday, October 14, 2010

Spicy Pumpkin Chili


This year we are having a cool, crisp and gorgeous fall in the Natural State and I have been On A Quest For a really scrumptious recipe to serve this Halloween season. I finally found the perfect chili recipe...Spicy Pumpkin Chili! Yes, believe it or not you inflexible fuddy duddys out there, pumpkin puree can be used in a variety of other recipes aside from the classic pumpkin pie. And we also tend to overlook the value of pumpkins as a source of nutrition. In fact, pumpkins are loaded with Vitamin A and fiber while being low in calories. So why not keep some canned pumpkin on hand in your pantry and figure out ways to add it to your collection of priceless recipes! And for that extra Di Touch...serve in cute little hollowed out pumpkin bowls!

Spicy Pumpkin Chili
Ingredients:
1 lb lean ground beef
1 cup chopped onion
2 cloves minced garlic
1 cup each beef broth and water
1 1/2 oz grated unsweetened chocolate
2 tablespoons chili paste
1/4 teaspoon each allspice, cloves, cinnamon
1 bay leaf
1/2 teaspoon each ground cumin, paprika, pepper, salt
3 oz tomato paste
1 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 tablespoon wine vinegar
1 tablespoon Worcestershire sauce
2 tablespoons sugar or Splenda
Sour cream, minced onions, and roasted pumpkin seeds for garnish

Directions:
Brown the lean ground beef in a large pot. Add the onion, garlic, beef broth, and water
Stir until mixed well
Add the remainder of ingredients, stir, and cover to simmer for about two hours
Remove the bay leaf and serve in hollowed out petite pumpkin bowls
Garnish with sour cream, minced onions, and roasted pumpkin seeds




Friday, October 8, 2010

10-10-10 World Zombie Day


Don't you just love Audrey Hepburn 1929-1993? She was a wonderful actor and avid humanitarian for UNICEF. I cry every time I watch Breakfast At Tiffany's, even though it does have a happy ending.  Gee, I'm glad she found that Cat!! This My Fair Lady will Always be an inspiration to me!

What does all this have to do with World Zombie Day, you ask...well I was looking for a clever costume for the Little Rock Zombie Walk on 10-10-10 and decided to take off on Hepburn's, Holly Golightly look. I have most of the stuff I need...black dress, heels, gloves, fake diamonds, heavy makeup, black sunglasses. I predict a tiara purchase in my near future, as well.

The Little Rock Zombie Walk has a lot of great sponsors...Humane Society of Pulaski County and CARE to name a couple. I think I can swing a buck donation along with a can of pet food for the walk. There are other events in addition to the walk, so be sure and check the official link above for all the gory details! And hurry...10-10-10 is rapidly approaching! Looking forward to an opportunity to fight world hunger and animal abuse on World Zombie Day while paying tribute to Ms. Hepburn...sounds good...and as always be careful when you are out and about this spooky and zany Halloween season!