Chef Lily Strikes Again! Vegetable Summer Rolls with Peanut Sauce

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

I think I have cooked in my kitchen more in the past 2 days than I have in the past 2 months! 

Yesterday, I made a tuna and farro Mediterranean salad that was to die for - I'll be posting my recipe in a future LilyOnTheLam.com post.

Today, I made mint, vegetable and cellophane noodle summer rolls with a peanut dipping sauce.  I used the recipe from TheKitchn.com, except I used liquid stevia instead of sugar.  I also found that if I lightly tossed the cellophane noodles in the peanut sauce, it helped give the summer roll more flavor throughout the roll versus dipping it in the sauce.

It was a super easy recipe to make, so if you're looking for a fast healthy dinner, give it a try!

August 6: Buy a Burger, Make A Difference

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

A few weeks ago I posted a link to an article on "The Wise Guy Diaries" entitled "Next Time You Think `I Don't Like Cops.'"  I was incredibly moved by the well-written article about police officers who answer the call to help with bravery and heroism - and also those who have made the ultimate sacrifice.  

One story shared in "The Wise Guys Diaries" article was about Officer Jeremy Henwood, age 36.  He stopped at McDonald's on August 6th to purchase dinner before his night shift.  There was a young boy in the restaurant and Officer Henwood purchased food for him as well.  An act of kindness from a police officer to a member of the community he worked in.  

Later that evening six blocks from the McDonald's, a man pulled up along side Officer Henwood who was sitting in his vehicle.  Unprovoked, the man shot Officer Henwood with a shotgun at close range.  He died later that night from his injuries.

The story resonated with me because I do believe our lives, no matter how many years in length, are relatively short.  How do we wish to spend our lives?  How do we wish to be remembered?  What should we do while we are on Earth?  If we can help other people, shouldn't we?  I believe that even the smallest acts of kindness can make a difference in another person's life.  And frankly what is a small act to one person may be the whole world to another.

I was recently in New Orleans' French Quarter.  Each day while out shopping and sightseeing, I would walk by a young woman - maybe 19 years old at most.  She looked like an attractive suburban teenager of privilege, but she was dressed in rags, filthy and had a cardboard sign asking for food.  I would walk by her and wonder what brought her to the streets panhandling.  In my "lofty perch of judgment," I assumed it was drugs that led her on to the streets.  I didn't give her any money and I noticed no one else around me did either.  

By the third day in New Orleans, I was having an extremely delicious and quite expensive lunch at a very nice restaurant.  I sat near a window and watched talented street musicians singing in harmony with a little Motown-style twirly dance step.  A small crowd had gathered to watch the singers.  

From my window seat, I saw a tall, emaciated, older African-American man.  He looked at least sixty-five years old.  He did not have a shirt on, only a neon yellow construction vest.  I could see his rib bones prominently through his dehydrated skin.  It was 91 degrees and stifling outside.  The gentleman walked slowly through the crowd asking for money and every person turned away from him.  

After spending several days in the French Quarter, I quickly recognized most of the homeless who hung out near my hotel.  However I had never seen this man before.  I felt an overwhelming compulsion that I had to get this man some food and do it NOW.  I think it was because the gentleman looked "so close to the edge."  He didn't look like he could last long in the heat and the conditions.  I didn't know if he was an alcoholic, a drug addict, mentally ill or had simply fallen on financial devastation.  But what I did feel in my heart is that this man's time would run out soon without assistance.

I ordered some food to go from the restaurant and kept my eye on the gentleman through the window.  I paid my check as I watched him heading down the street.  I got up quickly and sprinted out the restaurant with the take out bag of food in hand.  I looked in the direction the gentleman had been walking in and did not see him.  Where did he go?  He was walking so slowly.  How could I have lost him?  I kept scanning the sidewalks, but no sign of the gentleman. 

The French Quarter is not a large place, so I started walking down the streets and checking at each corner for the homeless man.  I spent half an hour walking all around but he was gone - vanished.  I finally stopped back at the corner where I first started my search, food in hand.  I couldn't believe I couldn't find him.  I was so certain that I needed to help this man that I couldn't grasp that I had failed in my mission.

I then looked across the street and there was the young girl I had seen several times before in the previous days.  The girl I believed was probably begging money for drugs or was "slumming it" on the streets escaping a prior life of privilege.  But who was I to determine this?  Why was I compelled to give food to the older, emaciated gentleman but so determined not to assist the younger girl?

I know this will sound odd, but I felt like the older man had been an apparition leading me to someone who needed my help.  I had spent all this time searching for the older man and yet here was someone right in front of me who also needed my help.  Why was I reluctant to give it?  

I walked up to the girl and then kept walking.  I stopped about fifteen feet away from her and then turned around, walking directly toward her.  She was hunched over, sitting on a low ledge in front of the Louisiana Supreme Court building.  I wasn't sure if she was asleep or awake.  I approached her and she raised her head up so slowly I felt like she had invisible weights tied to her neck.  

I handed the bag with food from the restaurant to her in one hand and in the other hand, I held out a twenty dollar bill that I had wanted to give to the emaciated older gentleman.  I could see the layers of dirt caked on her hands and feet.  And I wondered how difficult it must be to be a young, attractive woman alone asking for money on the streets of the French Quarter when most of the passerby are intoxicated and in many cases, looking for debauchery.  

The young woman's eyes popped out as she stared at the money in my hand.  She looked at me speechless for a second.  The look said "Is this a joke?" and then sizing me up to see if there was some catch behind my offer.  I extended my hand and pushed the twenty dollar bill into her hand. 

She quickly thanked me.  Her voice was very formal, again making me think that she came from an educated, at least somewhat privileged background.  I said a prayer hoping that she would use the money for food or something productive - not drugs and alcohol and then I left.

I never saw the older, emaciated gentleman again on that day or on any of my remaining days in New Orleans.

After returning to Tampa, I received a very nice email from the author of "The Wise Guys Diaries."  He thanked me for posting a link to his website on LilyOnTheLam.com.  He also wanted to let me know that in honor of Officer Jeremy Henwood and all fallen Police Officers, this August 6th would be "Buy A Burger" day - asking people to buy a burger for a stranger in need like Officer Jeremy Henwood did on the last day of his life.  

I wanted to pass along this information and encourage readers to take part in this effort on August 6th to honor Officer Jeremy Henwood and other Police Officers and First Responders who have given their lives in service.

However, I also understand that people may be reluctant to buy a stranger a burger.  Or they may feel that this is not a tangible way to truly honor fallen police officers.  So with no offense intended toward "The Wise Guy Diaries," I also offer the following ways to consider helping if you do not want to buy a burger for a stranger on August 6th.

Donations to Officer Henwood's Memorial Fund

Feeding America Tampa Bay - donate or volunteer

Tampa Police Memorial Fund 

No Kid Hungry

Blessings In A Backpack


Life is short and the number of people who could use a helping hand is large.  Even the smallest act of kindness can help change a life.  Over half a million people have read the article on "The Wise Guy Diaries" and there have been social media clicks on the link from people in over 150 countries.  Could you imagine what a difference could be made if each person who read the article did something on August 6th to honor Officer Henwood?  Small acts of kindness from many people can create a tidal wave of change.

So whether you buy a stranger a hamburger, volunteer your time to your community or donate money to a worthwhile cause, I hope you will take part in the August 6th event to honor Officer Jeremy Henwood.  

Thank you for reading!

Dessert- Detox Style! Baked Cinnamon Pear with Coconut Chai Chia "Faux Caviar" Pudding

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

I am back from a long birthday weekend in New Orleans where I ate and drank everything and anything I wanted!  By the last day my stomach and liver were screaming "Why?  Why do you hate us?"

So now that the vacation is over, I am looking to detox my diet and bring in some fresh healthy food that is low in refined sugars, sodium and chemicals.  

But I still get dessert, right? Right?

I love dessert so any healthy eating plan has to include room for some dessert!

When my little sister was in college, I would send her gift boxes of Harry and David's pears.  So this year for my birthday, my sister sent me a Harry and David's gift basket.  Ohhh those juicy pears!  So delicious but so many pears for one person.  I decided to bake a pear sprinkled in cinnamon for dessert.  No sugar, no fatty crumble topping, no whipped cream, no ice cream ... sigh this healthy dessert is sounding kind of boring.

But no ... wait ... I definitely could jazz up this dessert without feeling too unhealthy.  One of my friends has been adding chia seeds - a seed in the mint family - to her food to promote better digestive health (due to its fiber content) and Omega-3 benefits.  

I have read articles online claiming chia seeds are also an appetite suppressant and can help you lose weight, but a 12 week study did not show that either claim is true.

However I'm always in for trying new food fads, so I thought I would try making "chia pudding" which next to Chia Pets seems to be the top use of chia seeds.

I love chai flavors so I wanted to give "chai chia" a try.  I whipped up a batch of chia seeds, chai spices and coconut milk and let it sit in the refrigerator for about 6 hours.  The result?  A creamy, rich, coconut and chai spice flavored topping that really went well with my baked pears.    

It was a very satisfying dessert without loads of guilt.  Plus it is SUPER EASY to make.  Try it yourself and let me know what you think!

Not the world's best food stylist but it tastes super yummy!

LilyOnTheLam's Baked Cinnamon Pears with Coconut Chai Chia "Faux Caviar" Pudding
(Four servings)

1/2 of a 14.5 ounce can of light coconut milk 
2 Tbsp. Chia seeds (I buy mine from Whole Foods)
1 dropperful of liquid Stevia (or 1-2 Tbsp. maple syrup, honey or agave nectar)
cardamom
nutmeg
cinnamon

2 pears (I used Comice Pears)
1/2 c. water


First: prepare the "Faux Caviar" Coconut Chai Chia Pudding.  Take 1 c. of light coconut milk (or approximately 1/2 of a 14.5 oz. can) and pour into a mixing bowl.  

Note:  You can substitute 1 c. of Blue Diamond Unsweetened Almond Breeze Almond & Coconut Milk Blend for the coconut milk- it will not be as rich tasting but will be lower in calories.  You may want to add 1/2 tsp. vanilla if using Almond Breeze.  

To the coconut milk, add 2 Tbsp. of chia seeds and whisk well.  The chia seeds will instantly begin to soak in the coconut milk and clump together.  Add 1 dropperful of liquid stevia, a dash of cardamom and a dash of nutmeg.  Add 2-3 dashes of cinnamon.  Whisk again well.  Cover the mixing bowl with plastic wrap and let sit in refrigerator for at least two hours or even overnight.  You may wish to whisk the chia pudding every couple of hours to help the thickening process.  However this is not absolutely necessary.  Whisk the chia pudding again before serving.

After sitting in the refrigerator, the chia seeds will plump up and the coconut milk mixture will thicken.  The chai scent is intoxicating!  To me, the pudding looks like it is studded with tapioca pearls or caviar.  It may look somewhat odd, but it tastes ultra rich, creamy and delicious.

Second: Prepare the pears!

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.  Slice each pear into 8 slices length-wise.  (I keep the skin on, but you can peel them if you would like.)  In a glass baking pan, add 1/2 cup water and lay the sliced pears in a single layer.  Sprinkle cinnamon on top and bake for 20-35 minutes, until tender but not falling apart.

Place 4 slices of baked pear on four individual serving dishes and top with several spoonfuls of coconut chai chia pudding.  Serve, eat and enjoy!      

The warm pear will heat up the pudding, so if you'd rather preserve the cold and hot temperatures you could also serve the pudding in its own bowl next to the warm pear.

This dessert is like summer and autumn in a bowl - rich, creamy, thick coconut and chai flavors with the warm, luscious baked pear.  It's delicious!

You Gotsta Mooooooove! Breakfast and Ghosts in New Orleans

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

Perhaps it was excitement or a new bed in a strange place or the extra large frozen cafe au lait I had the night before, but I could not sleep at all my first night in New Orleans.  I tossed and turned all night long.  When I finally left my bed at 6:30 a.m., my hair looked like I had a faux hawk.

I had purposely set my alarm clock for 6:30 a.m.  I wanted an early start on the day where I could walk around the French Quarter without sweating profusely.  Unfortunately, it was already 81 degrees at 7:20 a.m. when I left the hotel.  

Not to get too personal, but I am one Sweaty Betty.  I could be at the Arctic Circle and be complaining of the heat.  So New Orleans in July?  It was like my sweat glands were a running faucet.  I was soaked in minutes.  Tasty!

Other than the heat, I love the French Quarter in the early morning.  I like to go to Jackson Square and Louis Armstrong Park and all throughout the French Quarter.  The air smelled like Lemon Pledge as a truck whipped through the streets spraying foam.  I have seen people hosing off the streets before, but artificial lemon-scented suds?  I guess lemon masks the smell of sin, vomit and feces.

Truck spraying foam on the streets of the French Quarter

Can streetwashing scrub off the sin of New Orleans' French Quarter?

Trail of Foam

Oh and speaking of feces ... when I go to New York and Paris I play this game - I ask "What's that smell?"  And the answer is always "Urine."  

In New Orleans the answer to "What's that smell?" is always "Feces."  Nothing like a good deep inhale of feces-scented air in the morning to make you feel ALIVE!  

At first, I thought the feces smell was from the horse drawn carriages that line Jackson Square.  But as I walked around the French Quarter, I determined that the smell was most likely from dog sh*t and possibly human excrement too.  People, curb your dogs!  And yourselves!  If you're going to own a dog, pick up its poop!  I scoop cat sh*t every week.  Do I enjoy it?  NO.  But do I do it?  Yes!  And you can too!

It's been quite some time since I have been to New Orleans, so I did some advanced research before arriving.  This is important because invariably I will become intoxicated and then have no idea where I should go except to the next bar.  Advanced planning is key if you want to be guaranteed to see some good sights, do some good shopping and have a good meal.  

I was whipping through various foodie blogs and I saw a picture of eggs Benedict - but not any eggs benedict - a jaunty tower of eggs Benedict.  Thick logs of French bread hoisting up glorious poached eggs under a thin blanket of Creole Hollandaise.  WHAT WAS THIS AND WHERE COULD I GET IT?  The answer?  No, not feces this time.  The answer to where to get this wonderful breakfast was Stanley Restaurant - the sister restaurant to Restaurant Stella.  (Stanley and Stella from A Streetcar Named Desire of course.)

Breaux Bridge Benedict - Stanley Restaurant - New Orleans

I arrived at Stanley eager to try the towering Benedict.  Stanley is located right next to Jackson Square.  From my table I could watch the street kids and the aged fortune tellers grabbing choice benches for the day.

Interior of Stanley Restaurant - New Orleans

The restaurant is bright with clean lines but still a rustic, old New Orleans feel.  The staff is nice, kind, welcoming and attentive.  The large windows makes this a perfect spot to enjoy the air conditioning and watch the world go by.

I knew before arriving that I would be ordering the Breaux Bridge Benedict.  The Benedict had house made boudin sausage- rice, pork, green peppers, onions and seasonings.  In France, "boudin" means blood sausage but what arrived on my plate was nice little pork and rice patties.

The Benedict was perched atop two large slabs of French baguette that had been fried on both ends.  The boudin patties, slices of American cheese, two poached eggs and Creole Hollandaise with a shower of smoked ham squares garnishing the plate.

I was surprised by use of American cheese, but it did blend well with the smoky and rich flavors.

But before I could order the Breaux Bridge Benedict, another breakfast item caught my eye.

Bananas Foster French Toast!  French bread with sliced bananas, toasted walnuts and a Bananas Foster sauce.  Oh and ... vanilla bean ice cream.  Sigh.  It sounded delicious.  But ice cream at 7:30 a.m.?  I just felt like if I started my day with ice cream it would be all downhill from there.  What would be next?  Beignets at 9 a.m.?  Pralines at 11 a.m.?  Mainlining rock sugar by Noon?  Passed out in the gutter, covered in artificial lemon foam by 2 p.m.?  I just couldn't do it.  I have young cats to raise and so much to live for!

I ordered the Breaux Bridge Benedict, a side of Creole Potatoes and a cup of coffee.  I love coffee in New Orleans.  Maybe its the added chicory.  Maybe you just need some strong caffeine to cut through the fat and alcohol that seems to enter your system by osmosis just walking through the French Quarter.    

I put in two little buckets of half and half in this coffee and it barely changed the color.  That's some strong coffee, baby!

Ringo Starr singing "With A Little Help From My Friends" filled the air of the small restaurant and I felt completely at peace.  This was a great start to the day.

While the Breaux Bridge Benedict was amazingly good - the right combination of flavors with a nice kick of Cajun heat.  The Creole Potatoes were a miss.  The huge chunks of potato were undercooked and completely over-seasoned.  At first bite they were bland with no discernible flavor.  Then suddenly a powerful kick of heat knocks you back.  I took a few bites and that was enough for me.  I normally would have packaged up my leftovers for one of the homeless people in the Quarter but the potatoes were so sad, I wouldn't do that to a fellow human!

Next one of my favorite songs from long, long, long ago started - The Cure's "Just Like Heaven."  Did someone steal my iPod to DJ at the restaurant?  

I took the picture below to show a cross-section of the pork and rice boudin sausage and crusty French bread.  If you're in New Orleans you really have to try this Breaux Bridge Benedict at Stanley Restaurant.

After my hearty breakfast, I set out walking along the French Quarter.  None of the shops were open as it was barely 8:30 a.m.  But I enjoyed window shopping and making notes of stores I would like to hit later in the day.  

I forget how friendly everyone in New Orleans is.  Everyone said hello or wished me a good morning as I walked by.  Seeing that I was sweating like I was about to lie on the witness stand, I actually wish people would be a little less friendly.  "I think I'll say hello to that lady who looks like she fell in Lake Pontchartrain!"   

I was walking up Bourbon Street when I had this sudden urge that I needed to walk to the other side of the street.  I didn't know why.  I was toward the end of the French Quarter and both sides of the street were residential.  There was no one on either side of the street except for myself.  Why did I need to cross the street?  The urge grew more intense.  I scoffed - "I'm fine on this side of the street.  Why would I need to cross over?"  

Then suddenly I felt a pressure on my back as if I was being pushed.  But no one was around me.  I could hear an older woman's raspy voice in my ear saying insistently "You Gotsta MOOOOOOOVE!"    

Well that was all I needed to hear!  

I walked across the street right away - jaywalking across the middle to get to the other side.

Once safely across the street, I stared over at the other side, waiting.  I thought maybe a piano would fall from the sky and land at the spot I had previously been walking.  

But no - nothing.  

Evidently I had crossed paths with a ghost who just didn't want me on her side of Calle de Borbon (Bourbon Street).   

I just shook my head and laughed it off.  The crazy Crescent City and their ghosts.  

Stay tuned to LilyOnTheLam.com for more NOLA adventures!

Bitches and Beignets - New Orleans, Louisiana

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

My Life on the Lam has led me to one of my favorite cities - New Orleans, Louisiana.  

New Orleans is to me what Sedona, Arizona is to many people - the air is thick with spirits and an almost magnetic pull.  It feels like coming home when I am in New Orleans.  If past lives are a true thing, I definitely spent a past life in New Orleans.  I can feel it in my bones.

After my plane had boarded in Tampa bound for New Orleans, a flight attendant found a neck pillow and a bag that did not belong to anyone on the flight.  Some passengers mumbled that there was a man who came on board and put the items down and then walked away.  I started getting slightly anxious - in a post 9/11 world, I feel like anything is possible when it comes to terror and crime.  

The gate rep kept calling out asking if anyone owned the bag.  No takers.  They took the bag off the plane.  I saw the flight attendants talking with the Pilot.  It is my understanding that it is the Pilot's ultimate decision whether to fly if something smells fishy.  Unattended baggage is something that smells fishy to me!  

The plane took off and I said a prayer that the bag they took off the plane didn't blow up the Tampa airport.

I landed in New Orleans safe and sound.  No exploding neck pillows or terrorist takeovers.  

After checking in to my hotel in the Vieux Carre (Old Square) a.k.a. French Quarter, I walked through Jackson Square.  A skinny, rough looking woman (meth addict, perhaps?) was walking alongside the square shouting at the fortune tellers who were holding court at small fold up tables.  

The woman would point at one woman and shout "There's a bitch" and then point at another and shout "And she's a bitch too."  

I watched her walking toward me pointing at every woman she saw and screaming "There's a bitch.  She's a bitch!"  She would flail her finger back and forth like she was handing out scarlet letter B's.  

Eventually her finger landed in my direction before she even looked at me.  I saw the bony finger pointed right at me and saw her head start to turn toward me.  She started to say "And there's a---" but then she looked at me and went silent.  Her mouth a suffocating fish.  Her eyes bugged out at me. She stared at me, mute and mouth agape.

I will admit that with dark hair, dark eyes rimmed with sleep deprivation and black eye liner and a colorful prayer shawl I looked pretty voodoo witchy.  The (alleged) meth addict's mouth was now slack-jawed as she stared at me with finger still extended.  I looked her dead in the eye and she dropped her finger.  She kept walking.

Once she had walked past me she resumed her tirade screaming "Bitch!" to other women in Jackson Square.  

I'm not sure exactly what about me briefly silenced the meth head.  I must have had my "You don't want to f*ck with me, woman!" vibe turned up super high.  

I like to think she thought I was a Voodoo Priestess, but maybe it's just because of all the women the meth head was screaming at - I was the one who was close enough to actually punch her.    

If you're keeping score - it is now 2 - 1 point for not dying in a plane bombing and 1 point for being the only woman in Jackson Square that wasn't called bitch by a meth head.

I believe that is what is called "winning."

I decided to celebrate at one of my favorite institutions - the original Cafe Du Monde at The French Market.

Frozen cafe au lait, regular cafe au lait and beignets covered in mounds of powdered sugar served on patio tables.  Simple and yet so wonderful.

The Original Cafe Du Monde at The French Market by Night

Cafe Du Monde at early morning

I could hear Jack Kerouac's "MacDougal Street Blues - Canto Uno" being whispered in my head as I watched giddy tourists taking first bites of hot, slightly oily, tender, chewy beignets.  "One moment less than this/Is future nothingness already."  

There is something so peaceful in sitting lazily with deep fried confections and rich, strong coffee observing the microcosm of French Quarter patrons at play.  I felt a calm and relaxed state washing over me - better than any meditation class.  This was New Orleans.  This was zen.    

I don't think people tip well (or at all?) at Cafe Du Monde, because my server looked like she was going to hug me when I gave a 27% tip.  (Which trust me wasn't much money for coffee and beignets.)  Her smile was so bright!  

Zen + Making A Server's Evening = Happy Lily.

When I returned to my hotel, a couple exited the elevator on the same floor I was staying on.  The gentleman turned to the woman and said "I wish they hadn't put us on the haunted floor."  

I did a double take!  

Excuse me, WHAT?  

And then remembered that yes indeed, my hotel was known for being haunted.  I checked Google and discovered that the gentleman was wrong - it was two other floors in the hotel that are supposedly haunted, but not the one we were staying on.

I am not sure if that is a good thing or a disappointing thing!

The night is alive in New Orleans with spirits, alcohol and giddiness.  I look forward to the natural and supernatural adventures in store for me with a belly full of beignets and a non-bitch status!  Who knows what will happen next?

Back of St. Louis Cathedral by night

Stay tuned to LilyOnTheLam.com for more N'Orleans adventures!

How Many Days (Hours?) Until I Go Stark Raving Mad?

Dear LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers:

From time to time over the past year and a half, I have conducted some experiments in deprivation.  Last year, I sold my car and went two and a half months without a car while my new convertible was being built.  What did I learn?  I learned that summer in Tampa is a sucky time to be walking everywhere - especially when you start sweating at the drop of a hat like me.  I also learned that a great deal of my life is within a four mile radius and I should use my car less and walk more.  

Then after I received my new car, I decided to get rid of my cable TV.  Which sadly impacts my day to day life a lot more than not having a car.  Goodbye DVR, goodbye basic cable and hello more money back in my pocket.  I took advantage of Netflix and free Hulu (not paid Hulu Plus).  I watched "The Daily Show" and "The Colbert Report" on their websites.  I watched 14 seasons of "Dallas" and nearly went insane from that.  

I watched a lot of documentaries for free on Hulu.  I also bought a couple season passes to shows I just could not live without from iTunes (I'm talking about you, Sons of Anarchy!  I named my cat Chibs after you.  Kurt Sutter should name a character after me!)  But for the bulk of my BRAVO TV reality shows, I went to the gym and worked out and watched them there for free.  Despite all the avenues in which I was still watching television, overall I was spending less time watching TV and spent a lot less money.  

I went six months without cable TV until a little HBO movie premiered, called "Behind the Candelabra."  Yes, my desire to see Michael Douglas as Liberace greatly outweighed my desire to keep up my "No Cable Ban."  And then after I saw the movie, I was weak (weak, I say!) and kept my cable subscription.  A move I am not proud of and I am "this close" to surrendering the DVR box and the cable once again.

But since I have yet to rid myself of the TV monkey on my back, I decided to address another "time suck" - Facebook.  A couple months ago I decided to do a Facebook ban to try to regain some of my life spent staring mindlessly at a computer.  I spend enough time in front of a computer for work as it is!  But it was too easy to check Facebook on my laptop and on my iPhone.  I got sucked back in after about a week and a half.  I knew more drastic measures were needed.

Deactivation time for my Facebook account.

(Cue sinister music here!)  

I still have Twitter, a Candy Crush game app (not linked to Facebook) on my iPad and this website so I am not giving up the social media addiction all together - but I felt I needed to cut the ties with Facebook ... at least for now.  (Hello deactivation versus delete feature!  Oh Facebook, how well you know your addicts.)

Facebook has become my primary interface of communication with many friends around the world, so hopefully they will understand and seek me out via good old email.  I will miss the cat memes ("15 Best Cat Memes Ever") and pictures of my friends' kids acting silly, but hopefully I can stay strong and devote the extra time in my day to curing cancer or watching more TV ... 

I'm interested to see how long I can last before I break down and reactivate my Facebook account and scream "Friends, friends- I'm back!  Send me some Candy Crush lives and your political ranting posts!" 

One of the down sides is that I suspect some Facebook friends will jump to the conclusion that I unfriended them.  Of course this actually could work to my advantage - if I receive a text saying "Hey did you unfriend me on Facebook?"  I could reply: "YES AND YOU KNOW WHY I DID IT!"  May provide a wealth of information in response.  "Oh noooo!  You found out that I kidnapped all your cats and replaced them with robots with hidden cameras!  Oh noooo!  You found out we hosted a party and watched the hidden camera video of you lip-syncing in your underwear!  Oh noooo!"

Damn robot placing friends!  A woman needs her privacy!

I read the article "Facebook Is Bad For You - and Giving Up Using It Will Make You Happier."  It seemed really heavy-handed and I wanted to say "Come on, it's not THAT bad."   

Time will only tell if deactivating Facebook is a good thing or if this is the move that sends me on a downward spiral into madness!  

So stay tuned LilyOnTheLam.Com readers as I try yet another deprivation experiment.  Will I become happier for being off Facebook or will my blog posts evolve into an endless repetitive stream of the sentence "All work and no Facebook makes Lily a dull girl"?  Run Shelley Duvall, run! 

The Best Lobster Roll in Tampa Bay - Copper Fish Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar

Hello LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers: 

When Tampa Bay Times Food Critic Laura Reiley pronounced that CopperFish Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar may be the best new Tampa restaurant of 2013, I sat up and took notice.  Ms. Reiley has never steered me wrong before and if she was saying CopperFish was good, I had to go.  Plain and simple.

Once upon a time I used to live down the street from where CopperFish is located in the noisy, free for all, food and drink loving "South of Howard Avenue" section of South Tampa - which some call SoHo.  (And for some people who have actually been to SoHo areas in NYC and London, trying to call anyplace in South Tampa SoHo is a bit comical.)  

I moved in to my overpriced apartment in the "SoHo" area of South Tampa and in return for crazy expensive rent, I received a coupon for a free bottle of wine at a restaurant called St. Bart's Island House.  My beloved friend Ms. DDR accompanied me on a long roadtrip from Minneapolis to Tampa in a tiny Nissan 200SX SE with three cats in the back seat.  (I believe that is referred to as "the luxury sport package" model of this particular Nissan.)  Any friend who helps me move cross-country deserves a bottle of wine.

(Hopefully my friend "Decadent Cutie" doesn't read this because he'll be demanding a bottle of wine from road tripping from Cleveland to Los Angeles with me on my move to California.)    

We had dinner at St. Bart's Island House and I was in love - fresh fish and a mango Napoleon dessert that was so good I wanted to slap someone.  Unfortunately St. Bart's Island House closed and became the new location of Ceviche restaurant.  Not as good but I still went there quite frequently, especially for fabulous Sunday brunches with a not-so-fabulous boyfriend.  Then Ceviche moved to a new location in South Tampa and the spot became "The Samba Room."  When I first moved to Tampa, "The Samba Room" was located where Timpano Chophouse is today.  It closed before I was able to try it back then and history repeated itself as the new Samba Room closed before I could visit.

Now the location is CopperFish Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar and I have to say, I hope this restaurant sticks around because Tampa Bay Times Food Critic Laura Reiley was right once again - the food here is FABULOUS.

My friend "Ms. Chicago" spent the Fourth of July weekend in Boston and Maine and fiendishly would post pictures of mouthwatering one pound lobster rolls.  Unfortunately I find the lobster rolls in Tampa to be "ehhhh" and usually disappointing.  So when I saw that CopperFish has a lobster roll on its menu, I was cautiously optimistic.

I told Ms. Chicago it was a moral imperative that she come to dinner with me.  

First, I must say that the restaurant has been completely redesigned and looks completely different than previous incarnations.  The air is smoky and sweet from what I assume is a woodfire grill.  I love the light fixtures and the aged wood accents.

Our server was a tall, extremely friendly man named Nicholas.  If all of CopperFish's waitstaff has the customer service skills as Nicholas, then they are going to do well.  It's been a long time since I had great customer service at a restaurant.  Nicholas took time to explain the menu, make thoughtful recommendations and had impeccable timing on when to check in with us to make sure our meal was moving along nicely and that we were fully happy with everything.  Five stars for service alone, CopperFish.

There was a private event at CopperFish and I had to circle the block four times before being able to pull into the long valet line.  Needless to say, I needed a cocktail after that craziness.

I started with the Pink Vespa - G French Vodka, Peach Liqueur, Rhubarb Bitters and Pineapple Juice.  I first announced that my drag name is going to be Rhubarb Bitters and then I took a sip of the cocktail.  A pink fluffy cloud of heaven in a glass.

Our server, Nicholas explained that their seafood is day boat fresh - as in caught that morning.  You can absolutely taste the freshness in the seafood.  Ms. Chicago and I both ordered the lobster roll that comes with a pickle and a side of Old Bay seasoned potato chips.  

The lobster was so fresh tasting and silky tender, I felt like it had been poached in a Barbra Streisand song - pure butter melty deliciousness.  It came in a very light mayonnaise-style based sauce that did not hide any of the lobster flavor.  The toasted open top bun was very traditional, but a little too thick for my liking.  I like my lobster to bread ratio to be very lobster-heavy.

CopperFish's lobster roll is absolutely the best lobster roll I have ever had in Tampa Bay.  

The Old Bay seasoned potato chips were delicious - not too heavy on the seasoning, just a light sprinkle that hits the back of your tongue.  

Ms. Chicago insisted we also order the sea salt and vinegar potato planks, proving why she is a friend of mine!

These potato planks were the longest pieces of potato I have ever seen.  They were incredibly fluffy and had a great sea salt taste.  I would have liked a bit more malt vinegar flavor, but overall they were quite delicious.

Time for another cocktail - this time I tried the "Summer Rain" which sounds a little too much like a ladies' hygiene product for my taste.  Lemon tea, lavender simple syrup and fresh lemon.  It was tart but not my favorite cocktail.

For dessert, Ms. Chicago had the ginger spice cake with caramelized peaches, ginger citrus caramel and vanilla ice cream.  Ms. Chicago loved this dessert.  I thought it had a nice autumn/winter taste but it seemed weird to see on a July menu.  

Being a berry shortcake fan (have you read my post "A Tale of Three Shortcakes"?), I ordered the "seasonal berries poached in citrus vanilla bean, sweetened cream and biscuit" dessert.  The biscuit to berry ratio was waaaaaaay off.  The biscuit was super huge with an OK taste but nothing special.  It was drizzled in honey which was absolutely not necessary.  The vanilla ice cream was delicious but the sweetened housemade whipped cream had a viscous taste to it as if a thickener or gelatin had been added.  It tasted gummy and not fresh.  

A lot of biscuit and whipped cream, not a lot of berries.

I would have liked the biscuit to be a lot smaller and more gourmet - maybe fresh ground pink Tellicherry pepper baked in or lavender or fresh basil.  I would have liked a lot more berries - keep the ice cream and find me some better whipped cream and this dessert would have been out of this world.  

I definitely will go back to CopperFish - their menu is chock full of great seafood dishes that I cannot wait to try.  If you're looking for delicious fresh seafood, check out CopperFish Seafood Grill and Oyster Bar.

Loss Is A Hard Thing To Deal With - Especially When It Comes To Frozen Treats

Happy Sunday (or in this case Sundae) LilyOnTheLam.com Readers!

TheSavory.Com published a slideshow on 20 discontinued flavors of Ben and Jerry's Ice Cream that readers still miss.  I reviewed the slides and was amazed at how many of the flavors I have never head of - was I living under a rock when Miz Jelena's Sweet Potato Pie (1992-1993) was on the market?  

The slideshow had two flavors that I do mourn (um I mean miss) - Purple Passionfruit Sorbet and Cool Britannia - strawberry ice cream with shortbread chunks.  

But the Ben and Jerry's flavor that I miss the most did not make the list.  I have been missing the fabulous treat of Ben and Jerry's Pink Lemonade sorbet for almost 20 years now.  

If you tell me that the Ben and Jerry's retail ice cream stores sell a lemonade sorbet, I will bark at you "THAT IT'S NOT THE SAME!"  

Almost twenty years and I am still angry. 

I am a bitter curmudgeon when it comes to my beloved Pink Lemonade Sorbet.

Do you have a discontinued Ben and Jerry's flavor that you are still mourning its loss?  Tell me about it in the comments section! 

Thought Provoking Blog Post

One of my friends shared the link to a blog post from The Wise Guy Diaries titled "Next Time You Think `I Don't Like Cops.'"  It was very thought provoking and moving.  

I hope you will take time to read it and share your viewpoints in the comments section below.

Please check out the follow up to this blog post and an August 6, 2013 effort to honor fallen police officers here.  Thank you!

Today's Food Porn: Ciro's Speakeasy South Tampa, Florida

Happy Saturday, LilyOnTheLam.Com Readers!

Awhile back there was a skit on NBC's Saturday Night Live that said The Food Network cable channel was pornography for fat people.  While funny, I think there is an underbelly (BELLY!) of truth in the statement.  Many of my friends are foodies and we fill up Facebook bandwidth with pictures of cocktails and yummy delights we are eating.  Some would say this is just another sad display that America's priorities are misaligned and we live in a state of gluttonous debauchery.  Others may say that we wouldn't post pictures of crack pipes if we were crack addicts, but yet it is socially acceptable to post pictures of food which also to some may be an addiction.  All good points and if you feel strongly that pictures of food are "food porn" and a sad, sad statement on a person - then perhaps you may want to skip the rest of this blog post.

Seriously.

Still with me?  OK check this out ...

Today's LilyOnTheLam.com Food Porn picture is from South Tampa's very own prohibition style bar and restaurant - Ciro's Speakeasy.  You have to use a secret password that changes daily to enter the Speakeasy (you receive the password when they confirm your reservation).  It feels a bit cheesy at times but if saying "Mai Tai" at the door last night gets me treats like this, I will gladly say it.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you ...  

THANKSGIVING ON A BUN!

Ciro's Speakeasy has dropped their three burger slider trio from the menu and replaced it with a weekly slider special.  Which I appreciate, but that also means that this lovely treat I am about to show you is not on their regular menu.  Get yourself to Ciro's Speakeasy NOW so you can enjoy this creation.

Is it November? Because that's Thanksgiving on a Bun!

The "Thanksgiving on a Bun" slider is smoked turkey, peppery gravy, stuffing, fig compote and extremely thin very crispy sweet potato fries on a brioche-like bun.

This slider was amazing.  I have had sliders at Ciro's before (see my previous Ciro's blog post here), but this was the absolute freshest slider bun I have ever eaten there.  It was like biting into a savory cloud.  The turkey had a great smoky taste which went well with the pepper.  

The stuffing got a little lost in the mix - I would have liked maybe a sausage and apple stuffing or stuffing with celery and water chestnuts for a bit of a crunch.  The fig compote was extra smooth and lent a little pop of sweetness.  However since it was dubbed "Thanksgiving in a bun" I would have liked some cranberry to go with the theme.  

The thread-thin sweet potato fries added crunch but were so thin you could barely get the sweet potato flavor.  I would have liked more fried threads or thicker pieces.  I also would have enjoyed a rich turkey broth to dip the slider in - even though it had gravy on it, it would have been a nice touch.     

Thanksgiving on a Bun Sliders and remnants of our cheese fondue with mushroom garnish

We also had Ciro's classic cheese fondue with mushroom garnish that never disappoints.  And for dessert, their Valrhona chocolate fondue with blackberries, strawberries, raspberries, blueberries, bananas, kiwi and mini cinnamon sugar dusted churros.  If you've never tried a chocolate dipped blackberry, you need to do so immediately.

Valrhona Chocolate Fondue with Fruit and Mini Churros Dippers

For cocktails, I had the (off the menu, have to ask for it specifically and insistently) Rooter Rebellion and the French 75.  Both were fabulous as always.

I was disappointed to learn that Ciro's stopped doing their chicken and waffle sliders, but instead went back to their chicken and waffle entree- except this time with fried eggs and a different sauce other than their maple chipotle gravy.

I was also disappointed to see that the lobster deviled eggs are no longer on the menu.

Next time, I would like to try the chocolate and ancho chili pepper dusted popcorn.  My favorite truffle popcorn and duck fat cooked french fries are luckily still on the menu.

We had a great time at Ciro's Speakeasy.  Have you been lately?  What are you favorite menu items?  Please leave a comment below!