Scallop Bliss...

 Don't let this happen to you!

My Dears,
When last I posted, I mentioned I would tell you about a most yummy dish my fella and I recently experienced. I use the word "experienced" because the flavors were truly an experience to behold. If there is one thing my honey and I have most in common, it is our passion for food. We love to try new dishes, whether we like them or not. It's always fun to treat our palate to the most unusual combinations of flavors. We love everything from the simply mundane, everyday dish, to the most exotic concoctions created by the most creative chefs. In short, we love food.

Well about this yummy meal I've been wanting to share. It was had at this sweet restaurant called The Victorian Rose Inn located within the Point Lookout Inn...Windham, NY. To quote from their website, "At 1900 feet above sea level, you can experience a sunrise and sunset like no other as well as the extravagant  5 State 180 Mile View of The Hudson Valley in New York, The Green Mountains in Vermont, The White Mountains of New Hampshire, The Berkshire Mountains in Massachusetts & The Connecticut Valley." Needless to say, the view from our table was magnificent!

I shall skip on the niceties of the appetizers, breads, etc. and just get to the nitty gritty. Pan Seared Sea Scallops Topped with a Smoked Gouda Cream Sauce. Oh I forgot...on top of a bed of spinach. No, I did not eat the spinach...not that I dislike spinach, on the contrary, I like it quite well. However, all I wanted needed to have was those scallops! Succulent, decadent, erotic, ...yes, I said erotic but in the purest most culinary sense. Anyhow, where was I? Ah yes, let's add euphoric, and most definitely blissful. Sensory overload for the palate? Indeed not! The scallops were caramelized to perfection! The sweetness and smokiness together created a most sacred experience in dining. Remember Meg Ryan in the movie When Harry Met Sally... the restaurant scene? *smirks* What??? Okay, maybe not that good, but I'll tell you, it comes close!

 These are NOT the scallops I had at the inn.

Oh dear Heavens! These are scallops in vanilla cream sauce!!

Wait till my fella hears about this! Recipe and image from HERE

Where was my fella throughout this "experience"? The poor dear was having surf and turf. He was enjoying it quite much. After all, this place does have good food. There he was smiling contentedly, enjoying his lobster tail...happily dunking it in the accompanying drawn butter. The rib-eye steak was also receiving his devotion. Yes he was clueless...unaware of the delicious turbulence happening across the table. This was Adam in-waiting, and I was going to be his Eve. The poor man. He didn't see it coming. I slowly and tenderly stabbed an apple a scallop with my fork. I smiled sweetly as I reached over, creamy scallop on fork ..."Wanna try one?" My honey, bless him, is not one to turn down an invitation of food. Naturally he acquiesced, and took the tempting morsel from its tines' confines...and right into his mouth. I need not go into detail. I'll go as far as to say that his eyes glazed over and his hands gripped the table. No doubt the imprints are stilled imbedded upon the wood. Thankfully they have pretty tablecloths to hide such things.

To say I ruined his meal would be to exaggerate. To say that he regretted his original choice would be more accurate. Let's just say, had he not had his fill of surf and turf, he would have ordered these scallops for dessert. I kid you not.

So now we're planning to return to the scene of bliss. It's close to two hours away, but so worth the trip. Here's a link to their website, should you want to pay them a visit. Do yourself a favor...be sure to order this dish! Click HERE to visit their site.

 Here's a postcard image of the Point Lookout Inn 

& Victorian Rose Restaurant.

No, the patrons no longer look like that.

On a similar note, I've been wanting to recreate this dish at home. I went net surfing for recipes and found one. Not exactly like the one at the Inn, but I shall try it eventually and let you know how it turns out. In the meantime, during my search, I found a recipe for Smoked Gouda Mac & Cheese. Oh dear, you must know that I was not going to let that one go. So I made it. I loved it...actually, we loved it! The only thing I changed from the recipe was that instead of using 4 cups of milk, I used 2 cups of evaporated milk, and 2 of regular milk. I also added panko crumbs on top. It was creamy and delicious! If you are a fan of mac & cheese, I urge you to try it. Click HERE for the link to the page with the original recipe. You'll be visiting there for a while, for she's got some fabulous recipes you'll be wanting to try.

Mac & Cheese...This was yummy!

Image from HERE

So there you have it my dears! I don't usually blog about food (have I ever?) but I couldn't resist the opportunity to share with you some yummy goodness! I hope all is well in your world and that springtime has been quite delightful for each and every one of you. Until the next...

Blissful Tidings,

Miss Sandra

Blogiversary, Bliss, This..that.

Sleeping through my blogiversary...sans the monkey of course!

My Dears,
It seems I slept through the month of April (not really). Why you wonder? It so happens I forgot all about my 3rd year blogiversary. *pouts* It came and went and I pretty much went on about my business without giving it a thought. Then again, I have been blogging less this past year...so it's natural that it should pass me by. That's my story and I'm sticking to it!

Anyhow, I thought I would go back and share my first post with you! Just click on HERE to take you there.

Since my last post, I've been doing a little of this and that around Harmonie House. I believe the most dramatic change in decor took place in the bathroom. I went from a lacy, cherubic, white shower curtain to a not so subtle, riotous display of...well....color. I find it to be a lovely design and it truly brightens up the room and makes me smile. *smiling as we speak* My fella, on the other hand, thinks the pattern reminds him of the outfits worn in the late 60's and early 70's. He's always smiling when he looks at the curtain too. Or is that a grimace? Hmmm...

Jaipur shower curtain by Echo Design.

Did you wear something like this in the 70's?

*pout* I think it's pretty..don't laugh! Anyhow, moving right along...after adding such a delightful spark of color to the bathroom, I decided to try my hand at something altogether different. Today I did some stenciling in the kitchen. Those of you who have been following my posts for quite some time will know that my favorite word is Bliss. *sigh* Even typing the word fills me with such...Bliss. So needless to say, this bare spot below my clock, and just above the sink, was crying out for Bliss...and dragonflies too! *winks* You must know I simply adore dragonflies. They make me feel rather blissful. Feeling rather adventurous, I decided to heed the call of Bliss and this was the result.

 I rather like it...and the fella does too!

Hanging pans alongside dried herbs...and Bliss.

I'm inspired to to take on every room, however even I know to exercise control in such matters. Heaven knows when I get on a roll, I can get a bit carried away. I may be better off following the decorating muse out into the garden. Hmmm...how would the Jaipur pattern look in the gazebo/tent? 

*Turns to the fella: "Don't worry honey...I'm just kidding!"* 

No really.... How about a set of mugs???

All right...I'll stop!

*smirks* But they still make me smile.

Anyhow...just thought I'd share my latest musings. I can go on and on but it's getting late. Perhaps next time I'll blog about food. I had the most amazing seared scallops in a smoked gouda sauce....*sigh*. That's a story for another time.

Till the next...I wish you Blissful Tidings!

xoxo

Miss Sandra