Tuesday, March 31, 2015

Bowlmor

My friends and I are constantly looking for opportunities for fun activities close to home. What better way to spend an evening than with some old school bowling? White Plain Bowl has been replaced with bowling chain Bowlmor, and they are anything but old school.



We got there between 9 and 9:30 on a Saturday evening ( I was late, I swear I have no idea how this stuff happens) and waited until around 9:50. This wasn't great for those who were prompt and got there at 9, but it was better than expected. The staff behind the front desk takes your phone number and texts when a lane is open.  While you are waiting there is a lounge and arcade on the main floor and bars upstairs and down, with plenty of seating.




The bowling itself is exciting, with black lights, neon balls and pins, and huge TV screens at the ends of the lanes.  If you are looking for a night laughing over your gutterballs and jumping up and down at your strikes, all the while bopping about to the (LOUD) music supplied by the DJ ensconced in his booth, this place is great.  If you are somewhat serious about your bowling (as some of my friends can be), you might not appreciate all the distractions.  That coupled with numerous dry spots on the lanes, can make some ten-pinners very aggravated.




Bowlmor serves a full menu with apps, burgers, sandwiches, salads and desserts, as well as, has a full bar.  While I did not eat a meal, I did get the Crab and Artichoke dip and am happy to report it was very scrummy.  My friends split nachos that had a weird aftertaste to them and a Death by Bacon burger, which was so huge, it couldn't be finished.  That plus two pitchers of beer and two pitchers of soda came to a whopping $112. I know bowling alleys tend to hit you up, much like movie theaters, but that was crazy!



Another cool thing about Bowlmor is that when you get your lanes, you are basically starting a tab. They take your credit card to hold the lane and you play as many games as you want.  When you're done, you come back to the desk and can decided to pay using the card, or cash, or separate the check by person.  The only thing that would have made the processes even easier was if our food bill could have been taken care of at the same time. We had to wait for our server to get us the check and then come back with change/credit card recipes. Either he was busy or slow, because it took a while.



Now, the cost.  Bowlmor is definitely higher priced than your average bowling alley.  Two games, plus shoe rentals came to about $26 a person.  That in itself is not so bad but, coupled with the outrageous gouging from food and drinks makes Bowlmor a pretty expensive night.  I can see us returning as a once in the while event, but we simply cannot afford to be regulars.

The Girls

Bowlmor Lanes
47 Tarrytown Rd.
White Plains, NY 10607
www.bowlmor.com/white-plains/

Thursday, March 12, 2015

Witching Savannah

Last summer, I went on a family vacation to Savannah, Georgia. We were in Atlanta for my cousin's wedding and couldn't pass up the opportunity!


Savannah is a beautiful city, and while some areas can be a bit dicey - the historic district is safe and beautiful. Plus, it is totally legal to drink on the streets!

Not to mention Riverboat Cruises!
Savannah is a city set up around 24 squares that make for a perfect place to play or relax and add a sense of green tranquility that many other cities just do not have. 


Savannah is extremely rich in history and is often called the most haunted place in America. Souls of Native American Indians, slaves, Confederate soldiers and rum-runners jostle against modern day victims of crime and murder and Average Joes who just couldn't bear to leave.




The aura of the unknown, the magic of Hoodoo and the obsession of the macabre have lent itself to Savannah literature.


The famous novel, Midnight in the Garden of Good and Evil by John Berendt about the murder of Danny Hansford by Jim Williams and the famous murder trials that occurred thereafter (it reads more like a travelogue than a murder mystery - for the record) is one such example that most people think of to get a feel of the spirit of Savannah.  I have recently found another...


The Witching Savannah series ( The Line, The Source, The Void ) use the otherworldliness of Savannah as an appropriate backdrop to an interesting series about witches that does not follow the usual overdone tropes, thereby creating something fresh.

Mercy Taylor has thought of herself all her life as being the dud of the family, the "disappointment".  Her twin sister has all the magic, all the glory and all the love, especially that of Jackson, the boy Mercy's heart calls out for.  When the matriarch of the witchy family dies, someone must take her place to keep the line between worlds in place; keeping the demons at bay.


I have finished the first novel in the series ( The Line ) and have moved on to next ( The Source ).  If the second in the series has as many unexpected facets as the first, I'm sure I will be on to number three ( The Void ) in no time!

If you like the supernatural (especially in polite southern society) I would definitely pick this one up.  It will tide you over until you can take that trip to Savannah!



Monday, March 9, 2015

Say Cheese!

Easy Cheese Soufflé!

I am always looking for delicious recipes to try that are low in carbs and sugar, big on flavor and not a pain in the butt to make, so when I got it into my pretty little head to try a soufflé, I was already bracing myself to go above my usual effort.

Searching Pinterest, I found many soufflé recipes, but all of them were either not carb free, I didn’t have the ingredients, or way too hard. So, I decided to mash a few recipes together and hope for the best. I fully expected a disaster. When it actually came out amazing, I knew I had to share it with the world! I give you: The Easiest Soufflé Ever*!
*according to me

Now, we all know from Audrey Hepburn’s Sabrina, that if you are sad, so too will be your soufflé, so make sure there is some pep in your step and light in your life*
*good food, exercise and a healthy amount of wine is a winning formula!

Baring that, there are some vital tips that can help your soufflé stay afloat:
1. Make sure your oven is full preheated before cooking. I give it 20 minutes before I even begin prepping my soufflé.
2. Once that bad boy is in the oven, DO NOT open the oven door for 20 minutes.
3.Make sure everything is SUPER clean before using.
4. Above all, be gentle.  Most of your soufflé will depend on the air pockets from the eggs whites.  Don’t pop them!

INGREDIENTS:
2Tbsp of butter (plus some to coat the ramekin) - I use KerryGold
1/4 c. parmesan (plus some to dust the ramekin)
4 thin slices of Swiss cheese
1 Tbsp of a soft cows’ milk cheese (you can also use goat cheese or cream cheese)
2 eggs separated
1/2 c. heavy cream
Salt and pepper to taste
Any herbs you love - I used chives.

PROCEDURE:
  1. Preheat your oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit for at least 20 minutes.
  2. Coat ramekin in butter and dust with parmesan cheese (my ramekin is about 5inches in diameter.)
  3. Melt the butter in a small sauce pan.
  4. Add cream and whisk together. Let the mixture come to a boil for about a minute (watch, it can overflow quickly). Then, remove from heat.
  5. Add your cheese a small amount at a time, whisking until it is fully melted. In addition to Swiss and Parmesan, I used this awesome soft cows' cheese from Betty Acres Farms. Check them out!
  6. Once the cheese is melted, add in the egg yolks one at a time, whisking in between each. Add in your pepper and herbs. Set aside.
  7. In a SUPER clean bowl, blend egg whites and 1/8tsp salt until soft peaks form. Make sure no liquid is hiding beneath the foam.

  8. Take a scoop of the egg whites and mix it into the yolk/cheese mixture.
  9. Add 1/2 the yolk mixture back into the egg whites and fold GENTLY to combine before adding the rest and GENTLY folding again.  Do not over mix
  10. Bake for at least 20 minutes and DO NOT, I repeat, DO NOT open that oven door until 20 minutes have passed. Just walk away!
  11. Serve warm and enjoy!


Remember: Food (even something as finicky as soufflé) is not an exact science and taste is KING. Add the amount and variety of cheese and spices/herbs that appeal best to you. I basically used what I had in the house - so that works too.


Please let me know how you like the recipe and drop me a comment (or picture!) telling me about your results!