This is the other half the shrimp deluxe that I had for lunch.

This weekend, March 16th and March 17th, the Greek Festival will be going on here in Nassau.

I was very excited to check out the festival this year. I hadn’t been in probably ten years, and I felt more than inclined to go.

I went this afternoon with one of my best friends. After paying the $5.00 adult entrance fee, we headed straight to the “Taverna” area. This was the largest food area with food ranging from Greek salads to lamb roasting and spinning right in front of you.

We started with appetizers, trying to get a taste of as much as we could. My friend got the Calamari (fried squid) and the Saganaki (which is a “flaming cheese” dish served with pita bread). I got the octopus fritters and the Smelts. I had no idea what smelts was, but as I am an adventurous eater, I said “what the hey” and ordered it.

Calamari

Saganaki

Octopus Fritters

The Smelts were small, silvery fish. They kind of reminded me of anchovies but the fish bodies were a bit longer I think. They were lightly battered and served with a yogurt sauce. I was anticipating the taste to be strong like anchovies, but I was pleasantly surprised by the subtle fish flavor.

Smelts!

Next, we headed to a bar station where you could get Greek beers and shots of Ouzo, a Greek liqueur flavoured with anise. I’m only just finding out what it is now, and I’m a bit disappointed that I didn’t try it haha. The Greek beers available at this station were Blue Island, Mythos, Alfa, and Pils.

Greek Beers and Ouzo

My friend ordered a Blue Island and I got an Alfa lager. My friend described the Blue Island as full-bodied. Since I need more practice describing alcoholic beverages, all I could say was that the Alfa was good haha. It wasn’t heavy, yet it was easy to drink and one of the more flavourful light coloured beers I’ve had. After searching for Baklava and Spanakopita and getting lost in the kiddie corner, we eventually found the food we came for in “Yiayia’s Kitchen” in the church hall. Here, you will find home cook foods like Soutzoukakia (meatballs in tomato sauce) and Revithia (Greek chick peas). My friend got the Spanakopita which is a spinach pie with Feta cheese. I ordered the Fila (stuffed grape leaves) and the Tourlou (roasted Greek veggies).

Soutzoukakia and Revithia

Revithia and Spanakopita

Before heading outside to chow down, we got our dessert orders in to avoid a fighting crowd. We ordered Baklava (a dessert of phyllo dough and nuts soaked in honey and probably the most popular Greek dessert known to mankind) and a healthy slice of Halva (a cake made from walnuts and semolina flour soaked in syrup).

We were so excited to start eating.

The food was seasoned to perfection and you could really taste that home-cooked feel. Everything was authentic and delicious. Our hopes were not let down.

Spanakopita

Tourlou

Fila – Stuffed Grape Leaves

Baklava and Halva

If you can’t make it today, make your way to the Greek Orthodox Church grounds on West Street tomorrow, March 17th. There will be food, drinks, music, and dancing. Trust me, you will be well-fed and entertained.

Greek Live Band! They were really good.

Product Description

DS610 Digital servo X3, DS650 Digital servo X1 6A External BEC with 5.1V Two-way Step-down voltage regulator X1 3GX Flybarless System X1 Castle ICE HV 80 Brushless ESC X1 600MX Brushless Motor(510KV) X1 DS610 Digital servo X3, DS650 Digital servo X1 6A External BEC with 5.1V Two-way Step-down voltage regulator X1 3GX Flybarless System X1 Castle ICE HV 80 Brushless ESC X1 600MX Brushless Motor(510KV) X1






Tag : @$Align T-Rex 600EFL Pro Super Combo Flybarless Kit with Motor, ESC, Servos, Gyro, $Align T-Rex 600EFL Pro Super Combo Flybarless Kit with Motor, ESC, Servos, Gyro,#Align T-Rex 600EFL Pro Super Combo Flybarless Kit with Motor, ESC, Servos, Gyro, *%Align T-Rex 600EFL Pro Super Combo Flybarless Kit with Motor, ESC, Servos, Gyro ]]> http://mostaffordableseo.net/2013/03/15/most-affordable-seo-online-organic/ Fri, 15 Mar 2013 07:10:57 +0000 seopittsburgh http://mostaffordableseo.net/2013/03/15/most-affordable-seo-online-organic/ Enter WebOneDay.com

Technical support team
Bluelight Technologies

The food here is excellent and so is the customer service. Apart from that it has a cool old school vibe. You expect Fonzie to walk on through the place. So whether you’re a college student, new to the area, or just visiting I highly recommend that you eat here.

-The Hungry Red Fox

P.S. Expect to bring home a doggy bag because the portions here are very generous.

Check out their website at http://www.theevereadydiner.com/

Location: 4184 Albany Post Rd-Hyde Park, NY 12538

Travel Time: 9 minute car ride

Hours: Monday-Sunday 5am-12:30am

Price: $1.49-$22.99 *Price depends on what you get. But overall it’s college budget friendly/

Payment: Cash & Credit

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I’ve finally come to the realization that I, am a lunch-date kind of woman.

There is very little I enjoy more than a simple lunch at my favourite café.

I live in a somewhat smaller city so there really isn’t a large number of cafés but luckily I found one – Ti Amo !

Ti Amo, owned by a Greek man who is the liveliest, friendliest man with the biggest heart bring

back Cypriot coffee (ground Turkish coffee from Cyprus).

I am about to let you all in on a secret.

I know what brand it is.

I have managed to find it, but I’ve already said too much so you’ll have to dig for yourselves.

This coffee is my absolute favourite. Served in an espresso sized cup, it is boiled, stirred, sweetened (if desired – but I always take mine with 1 sugar), and poured with love. Although it takes a few minutes to make, you’ll love it and it is perfect to sip on and really enjoy.

But, as the owner of Ti Amo has warned me time and time again – do not sip the grainy bit at the bottom or else..

[spoken in deep Greek accent] “You will not sleep for weeks!!”

____

Aside from the greatest coffee ever, they also serve a ton of delectable crepes, pastries and my favourite – donairs.

Everything happens to be homemade! Even the belgian chocolate bunnies for Easter!

But back to donairs …

A name adapted in Canada for the Greek “Gyro” or Turkish “Doner kebab” or even Arabic “Shawarma“, the donair is a delicious dish containing a ground meat and spice blend which is usually beef but sometimes a combination of beef and lamb that is formed into a barrel-shaped loaf and cooked on a vertical spit. It is served wrapped in a pita and today, mine came with tomato, onions, cheese, and lettuce. The final ingredient in the Canadian adaptations of the gyro is the “sweet sauce”. which is delicious.

Any who, I was able to find a recipe of the sweet sauce via ChowTown.wordpress.com

This blog has a ton of recipes that I think you should go check out.

A lot of DIY restaurant recipes (which are my favourite).

So here’s ChowTown’s sweet sauce recipe:

INGREDIENTS:

1 can evaporated milk

1 can sweetened condensed milk

2 tbsp of garlic powder

1 tsp onion powder

4 tbsp white vinegar

STEPS:

1. Combine both milks with onion powder and garlic in a medium glass or metal bowl(not plastic, as for some reason it doesn’t set up right in one).

2. slowly add vinegar and stir lightly with a fork just until mixture begins to thicken. Stir it too much and it will become runny

3. Refrigerate until ready to use. (This sauce will last a very long time if refrigerated)

]]> http://swahiliforchili.wordpress.com/2013/03/13/the-don-of-a-new-era/ Wed, 13 Mar 2013 17:07:24 +0000 ihholmes http://swahiliforchili.wordpress.com/2013/03/13/the-don-of-a-new-era/

Guys. Mad Men is coming back on. I can’t wait. You can’t wait. It’s gonna be awesome.

AMC does a really good job of teasing its eager viewers before any anticipated premier – waiting for the final season of Breaking Bad to start is slowly killing me – and it’s no different with Mad Men. They have released a new poster with artwork done by  Brian Sanders, an accomplished illustrator who actually worked on ads during the 60s.  It’s pretty cool and much like the posters for the last five seasons, it’s mysterious and can be interpreted a million different ways.  So I would like to share my thoughts about what this poster is trying to tell us about the upcoming season, which starts April 7.  Don’t be surprised when my predictions come to fruition…

• First of all, there are two Don Drapers.  I’ve been telling people for years that Don has a twin brother running around. How else can he be keeping all those women satisfied AND be successful in the competitive advertising industry? One words: twins.
• Whose hand is he holding? It’s definitely not Megan because she would not be caught dead on Madison Avenue in the middle of the day rockin’ a sheer-sleeved dress.  She is a modern woman in the late 60s so you know she is lookin good. And probably sporting a fro.
• What is Don looking at? Perhaps his new hippie lover. Or perhaps Sterling is taking a leisurely LSD stroll in the nude.  Honestly, it’s probably just a really appealing gyro cart. Those exist. Trust me.
• What’s with all the Po-Po? Maybe the secret is out about Don’s past. Or maybe Creepy Glenn has done something illegal and creepy. I’m gonna put my money on Glenn.  I’ve been waiting a loooong time for that kid to crack.
• There seems to be a lot of “one way” signs looming about and Don is being a real badass by ignoring all of them.  Then again, wouldn’t you ignore street signs when there are appealing gyros to be eaten?

Those are my general thoughts about what this poster is trying to tell viewers about season 6.  Take some existential glimpses of your own at the poster and let me know what you think.

p.s. What am I really looking forward to in season 6? Harry Crane and his new look.

Photo Credit: AMC 

The crises of summer 2011, while by no means erased, do not seem as apparent as I though they would be. There is still the looming debut issue, that only is growing wrose over time, and Greece’s sinking even deeper into economic woes. However, I’ve only been here for just over three hours strolling around, I have not really been able to see what deep, underlying changes really have been doing to the country. Currently the Euro sits at 1E = 1.33 USD which is about the same as two years ago. No riots yet, although there are murmurs of a looming strike/demonstration soon. I also have to make it a point to see what became of our old Strabucks, the safe haven of internet access, that was fire bombed out in the summer of 2011. For those who don’t know what I’m talking about, the link below will give you a good idea of how far things escalated in just one riot:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8DABheis01E

But my investigation into this will have to wait for another time, although more than likely they will be in the not too distant future. What is currently the object of my desire are the salty, greasy, gyros form the sketchy widow vendor down in Monastiraki. I want me one of them. And I want it now, even if means taking my jet-lagged self down there.

Tomorrow is a new day to go exploring, re-visit old haunts, and prep for the program.

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Chicken Gyros

2 chicken breasts, cut into strips
1/4 cup olive oil
2 tablespoons lemon juice
2 tablespoons garlic, chopped
1/2 teaspoon oregano {dried}
1/2 teaspoon cumin
1/2 teaspoon onion {powder}
1 teaspoon salt

In a bowl or bag, place all of the ingredients together and mix well. Marinate for up to 2 hours.  Once ready, place the chicken on a grill {I use a George Foreman} or in a pan and cook for about 3-4 minutes per side.

Tzatziki Sauce

1 cup cucumber, finely chopped
1/2 cup greek yogurt
1/4 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon mint
1 teaspoon cilantro
1 tablespoon lemon juice
1 garlic clove, minced
1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix all of the ingredients together and let sit for at least 1 hour before using.

Condiments:

pita bread  lettuce tomatoes, sliced red onion, thinly sliced tzatziki sauce {recipe above} Take a piece of pita bread and layer with the lettuce, chicken, tomato, red onion and tzatziki sauce.

the strip from afar

The drive to the stadium took us through Nellis Air Force Base.  We got to see some planes (that August knows nothing about but Zach was able to identify).

warthogs

b2 bombers

coming up on the speedway

Our fabulous hostess Joanie at the Tropicana got us amazing seats between Turns 3 and 4 in one of the Grandstands.  We had a great view of the cars coming ’round the bend and the magnitude of the speedway (capacity is 142,000 people!).

imagine all the people…

Now, let’s get to the good stuff: the food!  We were lucky that many, many food stands were near our section.  Well, with as many people as there were, there had to be lots of food available.

kabob shack’s caramel apple blossom

A sliced apple, homemade caramel, white chocolate, and nuts made a delightful, refreshing, and not-so-guilty dessertish item.  August isn’t typically a fan of apples because all too often she picks the mealy ones, but this was a nice, crisp, juicy apple.

kabob shack’s gyro

We got a traditional gyro (with lamb and beef), also from Kabob Shack like the caramel apple blossom.  The vegetables were very fresh, the pita was light in texture, and the tzatziki sauce was creamy and flavorful.

nameless asian plate

We did not anticipate seeing Asian-inspired fare at NASCAR, but here it is.  This stand had no banner, no business cards, no complete descriptions of their items, but Zach wanted to try the fried shrimp combo plate.  Everything was fresh, and it was a nice change to see this competing with burgers, nachos, and corn dogs.

pioneer pop

There was plenty of beer, water, and soda, but why bother with the standards when this unique gem was here?  We got a mug of Cherry Wine (soda) from this Pioneer Pop stand run by a headstrong high school senior.

“vegas buffet dog”

A “grilled all beef hot dog topped with smoked prime rib, caramelized onions, ‘giardiniere‘ vegetables and creamy horseradish” were served as a “taste of NASCAR” from the joint collaboration of Levy Restaurants and the young men at Pi Kappa Alpha.  There were other types of dogs with names like the Atlanta, the Charlotte, and the Kentucky in reference to other speedways, but when you’re in Vegas, go all the way – hence the Vegas Buffet Dog.

sin city street treats self-serve frozen yogurt

The most awesome surprise of the variety of NASCAR food was the frozen yogurt food trailer from Sin City Street Treats.  We were amazed by the 12 flavors and selection of toppings, but we wanted to taste the frozen yogurt unadulterated.  We got apple pie and dulce de leche, and our taste buds’ first impression was “wow.”  Real ingredients are used, so the apple pie actually has the tartness of a true apple, nothing like apple candy like we were expecting.  The dulce de leche had a mild caramel flavor, so combined with the apple pie it mimicked the flavor of streusel crumble sometimes found on pie instead of lattice.

We never thought we’d go to NASCAR, but we did.  And we never thought we’d find anything besides burgers, nachos, and corn dogs, but we did.  It just goes to show that you can get unique food in the most unexpected places.

Quick, cheap, easy  and yummy! It’s a Polish version of Gyro so I’d classify it as fusion cuisine and I’m not claiming it’s authentic. Although I never tried the real stuff, I can say this rocks as it’s a quick and tasty dinner The Prymat Gyros-Kebab spices mix does the trick (costs only 35 p and lasts forever) and can be bought in any Polish shop (there are many of them in the UK).

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

1tbsp olive oil

1 medium onion, sliced

1 red pepper, sliced

2 chicken skinless thighs(or 2 chicken breasts), deboned and cut into 1-2cm cubes

1 egg

1 tsp Prymat Gyros-Kebab spices

1/2 tsp hot paprika (optional)

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 tsp pepper

150ml natural yogurt

1/5 cup spring onions, chopped

1/2 tsp garlic power

pita bread, to serve

1. In a bowl mix the egg, salt and pepper with a fork until well combined. Add the chicken cubes and make sure that all are coated with egg.

2. Pour the yogurt into a coffee cup. Add the spring onions and garlic power, stir well. Season with salt and pepper (to taste) and set aside).

2. Heat olive oil in pan over medium high heat. Fry the red peppers for 2-3 minutes until lightly browned. Add the chicken and sliced onions to the pan and cook for another 5 minutes. Add the hot paprika and cook further for 3 minuted until chicken is lightly browned. Take care not to overcook as chicken will then be dry. Serve with pita bread and a gallop of yogurt on the side.

Enjoy!

This is a very early prototype, confirming that all the hardware works and the I can get the time of the main loop down to 20ms, which was easy.
This prototype also helped me get my head around the code and math need to balance.

I am waiting on the delivery of some hardware to build my final and larger version.  Which will have a battery pack placed up high, this will help a lot with the balancing.

The main components used to balance this prototype;

• MinIMU-9 v2 Gyro, Accelerometer, and Compass (L3GD20 and LSM303DLHC Carrier)
• Solarbotics GM6 120:1 Mini Gear Motor Offset Output
• Dual H-Bridge Motor Driver
• 315MHz RF M4 Receiver
• 12v battery

The receiver allowed my to change the PID values in real time.

There is also a lot of other components on the breadboard, but they are not needed to balance. Eg TFT, 8x8Matrix, Temp monitor…

Product Description

Simple and light weight design provides awesome flight performance and extreme 3D capability Rigid carbon fiber frame design Beautiful factory painted fiberglass canopy Direct-to-swash CCPM linkage Fully driven tail auto rotation system Simple and light weight design provides awesome flight performance and extreme 3D capability Rigid carbon fiber frame design Beautiful factory painted fiberglass canopy Direct-to-swash CCPM linkage Fully driven tail auto rotation system






Tag : @$Align T-Rex 500E Super Combo Kit with Motor, ESC, 4 Servos, Gyro, and Carbon Fiber Blades, $Align T-Rex 500E Super Combo Kit with Motor, ESC, 4 Servos, Gyro, and Carbon Fiber Blades,#Align T-Rex 500E Super Combo Kit with Motor, ESC, 4 Servos, Gyro, and Carbon Fiber Blades, *%Align T-Rex 500E Super Combo Kit with Motor, ESC, 4 Servos, Gyro, and Carbon Fiber Blades ]]> http://thetasteeblog.com/2013/03/05/homemade-gyro-recipe/ Tue, 05 Mar 2013 16:08:08 +0000 thetastee http://thetasteeblog.com/2013/03/05/homemade-gyro-recipe/ Making gyro’s at home always seemed a bit out of reach for me. Why? Probably because of the big & beautiful rotisserie they use in restaurants, always seemed like a thing only the pros could handle. But have no fear, this recipe brings that authentic gyro taste into your kitchen.

I have previously made the “chicken gyros,” which don’t get me wrong were good, they just weren’t the gyro that I crave. That is, the gyro that includes a bit of gaminess from the lamb meat and the amazing texture that is created when combining meats and cooking them on the rotisserie. Topped with feta, fresh tomatoes and crisp onions slices, oh and let’s not forget the amazing tzatziki sauce packed into a perfectly warmed pita. That is love.

FYI: No need for a rotisserie for this recipe (unless you are just that awesome, power to you) a loaf pan will do just fine.

Ingredients

Gyro Meat

• 1 lb. Ground Beef
• 1 lb. Ground Lamb
• 1 Medium Onion (finely chopped)
• 4 Cloves of Garlic (minced)
• 2 tsp. Salt
• 1 tsp. Pepper
• 1 tbsp. Oregeno
• 1 tsp. Onion Powder

Tzatziki Sauce

• 1 cup Lite Sour Cream
• 2 cups Plain Yogurt
• ¾ of a Cucumber (peeled, seeded and finely chopped)
• 2 Cloves Garlic (minced)
• 3 tbsp. Fresh Dill
• Juice of 1 Lemon
• Salt & Pepper

Additional Ingredients

• Pita
• Tomatoes (sliced)
• Red Onion (sliced)
• Feta

Directions

Preheat oven to 325°F

Step One

Place the finely chopped medium onion into a food processor and pulse for 10-15 seconds. Drain the liquid from the  onions by placing them on a couple layers of paper towels. Return the onion to the food processor. Add the lamb, beef, garlic and seasonings and process until thoroughly combined, stopping to scrape the sides as needed.

Place the ground meat into a greased loaf pan and place in the preheated oven for 1 – 1¼ hours, until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.

Slice into thin strips.

Step Two

While the meat is cooking make the tzatziki sauce so that it has time to get nice and happy. Combine all of the ingredients for the tzatziki sauce and set to the side until your ready to use it.

(Let the chopped cucumber drain for 5-10 minutes before combining with the remaining ingredients to get the excess liquid out).

Step Three

Warm the pita (I used the oven since it was already on) then build your gyro. Pile on some gyro meat; top with onion, tomato, feta and tzatziki sauce. Wrap in foil to keep it nice and together.

Eat & Enjoy!

My Tastee Tips

I chose to keep my tzatziki sauce a bit chunky but if you prefer yours on the creamier side, simply place the chopped cucumber and garlic into a food processor or blender then combine with remaining ingredients.

If you are looking for a side to go with your homemade gyros, french fries are a great match (in my opinion anyways). If you want to bake your fries check out this recipe which is simple, easy and yummy. Also if you are planning on baking your fries, cook your gyro meat in the oven first then bake your french fries to make sure they are hot & fresh when you are ready to eat.

It has a great relaxed atmosphere. You enter in with the market in front of you, four aisles or so of different Mediterranean goodies (I’ve wanted to buy this huge cheap thing of dates for a long time). Some regulars come in and get their groceries here. Others come for a special ingredient or treat. We usually always end up watching college basketball, because that’s what’s almost always on his television. There’s a pinball machine that captures the quarters of kids and enough treats, frozen dinners, and fresh ingredients to make anyone’s mouth water. All the money I spend there is absolutely worth it. 

I typically get the #4 for $7 which includes…a platter of baba ghanoush, hummus, pita, and a wonderful salad with olives, tomatoes, feta, cucumbers, and a delicious dressing. Oh and those are just the sides, the main dish is a huge falafel sandwich, stuffed to the brim with hot, fresh falafel, lettuce, tomato, hummus, and onions. Oops, I’m drooling (and we literally went there for dinner tonight, couldn’t resist). At least it’s healthy and full of great protein!

Chris gets the same #4 for $7 but instead of baba ghanoush, he gets dolmas (and otherwise the same sides). And instead of a falafel sandwich, he gets a gyro sandwich. This sandwich, too, is stuffed to the brim with meat. And you can always sop anything up in the huge serving of hummus he gives us. We usually get a Xing tea to accompany our meals. And don’t forget dessert! We don’t always get it, but when we do, we either get baklava or kadaifi (or both). So delicious.

It’s truly authentic, and we enjoy it thoroughly. For us, it really feels comfort food. I’m not sure why, we’re weird like that. We always have huge smiles on our faces and full bellies when we’re done. it’s truly a place to relax and enjoy the food. And it’s healthy! It’s always on the list of choices of where we want to eat a certain night of the week.

If you’re in Boulder, you have to hit up the Mediterranean Market, you will not regret it! It’s a wonderful meal that will fill you up without emptying your wallet. Truly excellent food.

Picture from http://www.elec-intro.com

As a family, we love watching Popeye! I thought that Popeye and Olive would be a fun and easy couple to plan. Danny loves spinach so making a menu for this couple was easy-peas-y! Our “costumes” were straight from the closet, and not entirely accurate, but that’s okay! Danny got into costume while I was feeding the kids and I got ready after cleaning up the kitchen. As usual, we started the date after the kids went to bed. I left most of the dinner on the stove from when the kids ate and boiled the pasta when we were ready to eat. After we finished and were cleaning up, Danny said, “These (dates) are fun!”

Whew! That makes the planning worth it!

The Menu:

I tried to squeeze in as much spinach and olives as I could. We ate Sicilian Olive Chicken with homemade spinach pasta. The sides were sweet peas and rosemary and olive oil bread. (I forgot to take a picture of the bread!) For dessert, we had “Hamburger” macaroons. I really, really wanted to make macaroons but I realized that I wouldn’t have time if I wanted to make the pasta and bread.

Dinner was delicious!!

“Hamburger” Macaroons! I LOVE macaroons!!!

Entertainment: MadLibs. Since Popeye has to over come some crazy obstacles for his love Olive, I planned to do MadLibs because they would be crazy too! We did two stories and we were laughing so hard! If you have never done MadLibs before you should try them out! If it had been warmer, we could have made an obstacle course outside for us to do.

Time: This date took about an hour and fifteen minutes. That included boiling the pasta and putting dinner on our plates. We lingered over eating, talked for a while and did two MadLibs stories.

Decor: Because I was spending so much time on the dinner, I wanted to keep the table super simple! All we had was a red table cloth and a Popeye spinach can with flowers in it.

Cost: Popeye spinach can – $1 from Dollar Tree

Macaroons- $1.66  from Trader Joes, we only ate 4 out of the 12. The box is $4.99

Total Cost: $2.66

This was another fun and simple date!

happy dating, nikki :)

ps- a hint for next week: “hey…. CARROTS!”