Love Shack Larder

Better than P.F.Chang's: Hot n'Sour Soup

If I don't SAY so myself...I know that DH agrees with me...he says "it's perfect!"

For some time now we have been toying with the idea of trying to create our own version of Hot n'Sour Soup here at the Love Shack.  It's one of our favorite things on the menu at P.F. Chang's...along with their lettuce wraps...yummy! 

Then last week we were watching Dr. Oz and he had Chef Ming Tsai on the show to share his Shitake Hot and Sour Soup recipewhich is suppose to help boost your immunity.  We felt like Chef Ming Tsai's recipe was the best that we have seen, when it came to the fresh, organic ingredients and that he made it looks so quick and easy to make.  So after picking up the ingredients at Trader Joe's on Friday, we decided to try our own version today.  That would be with chicken breast in lieu of tofu...just not a fan of soybeans...and sans the carrots since I'm allergic to them ;}

More...Tomatos...Tomatoes...

Last week it was all about the tomatos...tomatoes... and regardless of how you say it...having them fresh this time of year is all that matters!   We've been eating left-over roasted tomato n'pepper soup all week with grilled ham n'cheese sliders...yum!

Have you seen these new mini  Sandwich Thins  by Arnold?  How cute are they...I ask you?  AND then to top it all off...each one is only 50 calories...brilliant I tell you...just brilliant! {Please be advised that I'm not being compensated in any manner by Arnold...this is simply my humble opinion :}

So cute and it's really fun to use them to make your own minis with your favorite fillings...like we did here for our grilled ham n'cheese sliders :}

Tomatos...Tomatoes...

However you pronounce it...they are in season right now and we sure have been getting our fill here at the Love Shack.  When we travel to Charlotte, we usually stay at the  Embassy Suites  at Concord Mills and always enjoy the restaurant there...Rocky River Grille.  It is so rare to find a good hotel with a decent restaurant and what really makes the Grille so good is that they use fresh, locally sustained, ingredients and everything is cooked to order.  Almost daily, they deep fry their own turkey breasts for the best Turkey Clubs and BLT-sandwiches around.  Add to that...their home-made tomato bisque and we are very happy travelers.

So this week we decided to try and replicate the Grille's tomato bisque and I have to say...we were pleasantly surprised ;}

Roasted Pepper and Tomato Bisque

Gather Your Ingredients:

• 3         Pounds ripe, organic Tomatoes, cored and quartered
• 1         Pound organic Bell Peppers (Red, Orange or Yellow)
• 1/4     Cup plus 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin Olive Oil
• 1/4     Cup Balsamic Vinegar
• 1         Tablespoon Roasted Garlic,  chopped/diced
• 3         teaspoons fine Sea Salt
• 2         teaspoons freshly ground back Pepper
• 1         large white Onion, coarsely chopped
• 1         Tablespoon Butter
• 1/4     Cup lightly packed, chopped fresh Basil (or 1 teaspoon dried basil leaves)
• 2         Tablespoons finely chopped fresh Sage (or 1/2 teaspoon dried sage)
• 2         Tablespoons finely chopped fresh flat-leaf Parsley (or 1 teaspoon dried parsley leaves)
• 1/2     Cup Beef Stock (or vegetable)
• 2         Cups Water
• 1         Large Can Diced Tomatoes (optional depending on how many fresh tomatoes you have)

Top 30 Worst Foods Restaurant Foods You Must Avoid and...How to Make Better Choices

Oh my...after being on the road for over 25 days last month and by the end of it all feeling like what we call "food-ed out" {the state we are in when we are forced to eat food prepared out of our home ;} I am really glad that we made an effort to make better choices when we ordered off the menus.  I just found this list today and HAD TO share it with you and basically re-post it here on my blog so that I have it close at hand at all times.  All of these items are loaded with so much fat, sugar, and sodium that eating any of the foods in this article on a daily basis could destroy all of our hard work and best intentions of eating healthy. 

1. Worst Meal in America

Carl’s Jr. Six Dollar Guacamole Bacon Burger with Medium Natural Cut Fries and 32-oz Coke

1,810 calories - 92 g fat (29.5 g saturated, 2 g trans) - 3,450 mg sodium

Of all the gut-growing, heart-threatening, life-shortening burgers in the drive-thru world, there is none whose damage to your general well-being is as potentially catastrophic as this. A bit of perspective is in order: This meal has the caloric equivalent of 9 Krispy Kreme Original Glazed doughnuts, the saturated fat equivalent of 30 strips of bacon, and the salt equivalent of 10 large orders of McDonald’s French fries!

Poogan's Porch, Charleston, SC

If you are ever in Charleston, SC and are looking for a unique place to eat...head on over to Queen Street and get in line at Poogan's Porch...there is a reason why the locale's all gather there...GREAT FOOD and even better prices ;)