Nom Nom Thursday: Thai Food. Slurp.

Thai food warms my heart.

Ok, and it warms everything because it is so deliciously and complicatedly spicy. But that is the beauty of it. It isn't a spicy that hits you right away. No. It is a spicy that slowly builds so you can still taste all of the other flavors in your dish as you start to glisten--hmm...sweat a little..

I introduced Red to Thai food way back in our college years---down in Hattiesburg, MS at Jutamas... a little Thai place surrounded by car dealerships and across the street from a shut-down club. Jutamas managed to be completely different from its neighbors with its calming music, fragrant spices, and delicious meals....you totally forgot what was outside.

This place quickly became one of our go to spots for healthy flavorful meals. It was consistent, reasonably priced, Red could get full with one plate, and we loved it.

When we moved to St. Louis, we made it our mission to try as many Thai restaurants as possible with the goal of meeting or surpassing Jutamas high standards... We've been to: Thai Sawadee (Chesterfield), Addie's Thai House (Chesterfield, Thai Kitchen (St. Peters), Blue Elephant (Clayton), and Land of Smile (Olivette)... no doubt there are probably more...

But--we still haven't come to a concrete decision on which is our favorite. Red claims the Blue Elephant--but I have my reservations...I'm not sure my favorite...but I am sure of my new most favoritest dish:

Kao Sol. Described on the menu as: Chicken, Rice noodles, with a special curry sauce topped with crispy onions. What they neglect to tell you is that it also has bean sprouts, cilantro, red onions, and other veggies chopped up and soaked in that crazy curry sauce.

Here is a picture of my bowl half-way through---it was beautiful upon arrival I promise:

Red and I had decided to try new things this visit--we both typically get the same dishes every time. Red loves Pad See Yu ( Flat noodles, egg, broccoli, and carrots, in dark soy sauce)...and I usually get Pad Gra Prik (sauteed meet with basil, peppers, and onions with this spicy sweet sauce). Red's dish is especially good for those new to Thai food.

A special treat that accompanied our adventurous spirits at Thai Kitchen, was the gift of dessert:

Ok--what do you think it is?

It's interesting. That's what it is.

It is called something along the lines of: Split Bean Pudding.

First of all, I expected it to be cold. It's warm. And, the flavors were the strangest party in my mouth: popcorn meets cornbread meets sweet meets nuttiness....and the white stuff was kind of like sour cream but not...

Needless to say, it was a departure from my idea of dessert. But I'm glad I tried it--because now I know what popcorn, cornbread, nut, sweet, sour cream, alllll mixed together in a warm jelly form, tastes like.

On that note, I hope you are inspired to try Thai Food. It is a sweet way to satiate your craving for Asian food in a healthier fashion---who needs fried General Tso's chicken? (me, but only every once in a while...)

Go eat Thai food and be Happy.

Thai Kitchen

3899-B Veterans Memorial Pkwy

St. Peters, MO 63376

636.447.1883

(This restaurant is listed simply because it's dish is the one that changed my life.)

10 Tips to a Mindful Home

This pronouncement...found via Pinterest from the lovely blog maison boheme seems to align well with the whole Sabbath (restful) approach to life.

...a bit more Zen then I am--it does a great job of challenging you to be intentional with each daily experience and task. Who doesn't need more of that?!

A side note...it also seems to confirm that we really should all consider returning to the Little House on the Prairie lifestyle--- are you with me?!?!

Ok. If anything:

Simplify, simplify, simplify.

Walk it Out

So Red and I have this new thing...

It's called walking it out...and no, I'm sorry to say, it does not include any crazy dance moves.

It does, however, include sweet strolls around our apartment complex...whenever we feel like it. (2x yesterday...1x last week...1x this morning...)

We've been discussing how we want to rest and connect through out our hectic weeks--and well, walking was a great (un-spoken) conclusion we came to: we are alone, outside, without any techy (or other) distractions--and are able to talk while burning a few calories... me gusta.

Our apartment complex is not very communal--and we wonder what people think when they see us bundled up in our coordinating sweatpants and sweatshirts strolling as if we have nothing better to do (which we don't, by the way)...it's a conundrum yet to be figured. But it has proven that these walks help us be more neighborly---you can't say hi if you're never outside your place, you know?

Our pastor preached on keeping the Sabbath yesterday---and really challenged us to find ways to honor that commandment (meaning one of the 10 commandments...) It's interesting--because we do not hold fast to a command that actually encourages us to rest--slow down---smell the roses---enjoy life!

So Red and I are working out how we can celebrate the Sabbath each week...because of his work we are unable to set aside a full day---but we've come up with a good schedule...We plan on taking full advantage of resting and enjoying life--this way we will be worth more within all of those stressful responsibility filled realms of life that you can never escape.

How do you sabbath, or rest, recharge, prepare for the week, connect with the Lord?

Nom Nom Thursday: Half & Half

Red and I have this thing.

It's called eating out.

Yeah, I know... it's a completely revolutionary idea that just changed your life.

Please don't tell me otherwise.

Eating out is our "thing"---our hobby---how we like to spend (all) our money. Right now, we are actually trying to cut back--and, well, eat at home more--which has been a wonderful challenge...the whole menu planning thing is a puzzle to be solved each Monday...

We try to plan out the week in terms of things we'd like to eat--and places we'd like to go; and then how those things fit with our schedule...

So in honor of our love of all things food--I've decided that each Thursday I will write about a restaurant in the St. Louis area that we have been to....or about a recipe that actually made it into our regular cycle of food... (you know, not about the ones that were "fine" but will never be made again...)

So join me as I explore St. Louis cuisinery (is that a word?) and as I attempt to broaden my repertoire a la my kitchen.

Picture from Half & Half website

The first restaurant I want to share with you is: Half & Half  located in downtown Clayton, MO. 

picture from tedwight.com

Specializing in breakfast and lunch--it is an adorable place with a legit menu. Red and I joined a friend here before a Ram's game for an awesome breakfast.

Red's Cornbread and Chorizo was especially awesome---as were the Blueberry Pancakes (be excited. You can choose to have these cooked in regular ole butter or bacon fat. We chose bacon fat. Do not judge us.)

Opened by the same people who opened The Good Pie (a brick oven pizza place in downtown Louis, I'll write about in the future), Half & Half offers locally sourced food, creatively put together. You can order an adventurous meal such as the Fried Chicken Livers or get the basic Half & Half, which includes toast, eggs, and incredibly good potatoes. Take a look at their menu here.

It was a hoppin place that beautiful Sunday morning--it felt like the perfect day to eat a slow meal and enjoy great conversation lingering over cappuccinos (made at their tour de force coffee bar..) ..too bad the game took precedent and we had to rush down to the stadium.

Another time, for sure.

Half & Half

8135 Maryland Ave

St. Louis, MO 63105

314.725.0719

Tues-Fri 7am-2:30pm

Sat-Sun 8am-2:30pm

Ode to Americana

For some reason, around this time each year, something sparks my inner adoration for all things Americana.

I think it must be related to the oncoming Fall season that is associated with my memories of amazing childhood programs centered on the Pilgrims and the Indians...

...I distinctly remember wearing a big piece of butcher paper at the collar of a sunday dress, meant to mimic those huge white Pilgrim collars...I also had a killer bonnet that we borrowed from a family friend who had several American Girl wardrobe choices... (Needless to say that I borrowed the full Kirsten get-up for thanksgiving one year---)

Something about that early settlement time period on into the Colonial days just makes my heart happy. And then, there is the outward expansion to the West... Oh how I love it all.

Just thinking about those times makes me want to move to a rural area so I can make my own butter, grow crops, work the land, go to bed when the sun does, be hugely satisfied with a little sugar water, and hole up in my log home when the the weather is ravaging the outside world.

I think you and I both realize that this beautiful dream is not happening. We do not live in the days of old--and in fact we can do several of that wish list here in the city if we so choose (urban farming is growing...haha no pun intended...)

So in place of actually moving to rural America and living off the land, I have elected to re-read the beloved Little House on the Prairie series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.

I plan to turn the air down, bury myself under blankets on the couch, tuck away any semblance of modern day life--and disappear into a covered wagon.

What does the on-coming Fall season do for your soul?

Fall is Here-- I hope.

The weather here in the Lou has been all over the place...

Source: google.com via Serena on Pinterest

Literally 100 degrees 2 days ago. But today it was in the mid- 70's!

Ok--and though that doesn't seem that exciting---it is when you are outside basically all morning and it is barely even 70 as you wallow around during Labor day.

How sweet!

To celebrate this wondrous weather--and to take advantage of life happening around me--- I went on a 8 mile hike with some gals...and took it all in.

I would love to say that we saw a tree like the above picture.

We didn't.


But, there were a few trees with some turning leaves--

This lovely cool weather hypnotized my heart--and has thus led me to the decision that it is officially time to wear boots and sweaters; go to football games; wear lots of plaid; and find taste-buds that enjoy eating squash.

Let us each go our own way and wish Fall nearer--yay.