Pork, Vegetable, and Lentil Soup

After a few days in the hospital and several more days recuperating at home, I was ready to attempt to prepare a meal. A pot of soup seemed a good place to start.

Once again, a well-stocked freezer, refrigerator, and pantry paid off. No trip to the grocery store was needed.  I had everything I needed and made the recipe up as I went along.

1 T. olive oil

3 boneless pork chops, sliced and cut into 1/2 inch cubes

1 large yellow onion, chopped

3 medium carrots, peeled and sliced

3 ribs celery, sliced

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 - 28 oz. can diced tomatoes

1 cup dried lentils

3 - 4 cups of water

2 t. Better than Bouillon Ham Base
2 bay leaves

a few grinds black pepper

1 - 2 T. EACH chopped fresh parsley and basil

grated Parmesan cheese for garnish (optional)

In a medium Dutch oven (4 quarts), heat olive oil, over medium-high heat. Add cubed pork, and stirring frequently, brown well.  Add onions, carrots, and celery and stir to combine. Let vegetables soften for 3 - 4 minutes and then garlic and diced tomatoes. Bring to a gentle boil.

Add lentils, water, and ham base. Add bay leaves.  Reduce heat so that soup is simmering. The lentils will only need about 25 - 30 minutes to cook. If you want a thicker "stew" let the liquid reduce. If you want soup, add water as needed.  

Add a few grinds of black pepper and taste. Remove bay leaves. With the ham base, salt is usually not needed. Stir in the chopped parsley and basil just before serving.

Dining Out on the Outer Banks: The Fish Hook Grill, Harkers Island, NC

We've finally reached the last restaurant on our OBX journey.  We've enjoyed fresh seafood in neighborhood restaurants, fine dining establishments, those who are somewhat new, and those who have had a following for years.

It was fitting that we have our last seafood meal on the Outerbanks at The Fish Hook Grill on Harkers Island, NC.  You can find them on FB.  

We left Ocracoke Island EARLY for a 2 1/2 hour ferry ride to see the Cape Lookout lighthouse before leaving for home.  Needless to say, we were starving when we arrived a little before lunchtime at The Fish Hook Grill.

When we pulled into the parking lot, I already knew we had chosen wisely.

Isn't this great?

The interior was cozy and welcoming.

Devon was our server, and she was excellent. She offered suggestions and explanation to my questions about the menu. We were the only diners when we entered, but that didn't last very long. By the time we were finished with our meal, people were waiting for tables!

Devon promptly brought our sweet teas (and they were great!) along with some hushpuppies to nibble while we looked over the menu. These can be ordered as a side for $1.99.  Still a little sweeter than I'm used to, but delicious nonetheless.

This was my LAST opportunity for OBX crab.  But I also wanted fried oysters. The "mini crab bites" were actually small flatter versions of a crab cake.  $9.99 Bring them on!

These were a little larger than the average size sausage patty. Cooked on a flattop grill (I believe?), the exterior was the perfect crunchy version that I love. Absolutely non-greasy and served with a creamy dipping sauce which carried a little heat. I requested a few lemon wedges to squeeze over the crab bites.

 Now, look at the inside of these babies. No heavy seasoning, so the mild taste of the crab was evident. The Fish Hook Grill tied for 1st Place on our "Best Of" List for crab.  And deservedly so.

I could eat this every day.  But instead of ordering another order of these little crab bites, I was ready for oysters!

I know the month of May has no "Rs." I do not care. I could eat THESE every single day.  Sometimes you order fried oysters, and they are all about the size of a quarter.  And yes, I'm one of those people who think if that day's oysters are small, throw in a few extra for good measure. More on that in just a minute.

I dislike heavy breading on seafood in any form. I want to taste the fish or shellfish, not the breading. You can see from the photo that this a very light breading and they are fried perfectly. They were removed from the oil, not a second too early nor too late. And none of that "old oil" taste which means the kitchen hasn't changed the oil in far too long. These were delicious.  Lunch portion $11.99  Dinner portion $17.99

Remember, when I talked about the size of the oysters? I was amazed at these. So much in fact, before I even took a bite, I wanted to make sure y'all had a point of reference so you could be amazed like me.  Look at this oyster placed next to my fork.

A loud round of applause for the oyster fryer at The Fish Hook Grill.  I will dream of these.

Now, look at the surprise which survived not only the shucking of the oyster but a trip through the fryer! A tiny, tiny pearl! Absolutely perfect! Devon was as excited as I was and quickly brought me an empty salad dressing container so I could bring it safely home.

If any of you want to read the lines on my palm, send me a message and let me know what you see!

Of course, we all know what Sweet Harold ordered....fried shrimp! As with the oysters, the breading was light and delicate, the seasoning was spot on, and they were perfectly fried. Lunch portion $8.99 Dinner portion $16.99

Here are the ratings on our "Best Of" list

Best Fried Shrimp
Best Oysters
Tie for #1 for Best Crab Cakes

A grateful thank you to The Fish Hook Grill for an amazing and fun lunch and a special thanks to Devon who I hope to see again someday!

Dining Out on the Outer Banks: The Flying Melon, Ocracoke Island, NC

We started our trip with an exceptional dining experience at Curate, and we enjoyed an excellent dining meal for our last night on the Outer Banks.

The Flying Melon Cafe offers Creole and Southern Cuisine prepared with fresh ingredients and local seafood.

We arrived just as they opened and, in fact, we were the first diners of the evening! Jennifer was our server and directed us through the menu along with the great specials of the night menu.  While we perused the menus, we enjoyed a Long Island Iced Tea and a Cucumber Basil Martini.  Both were perfection.

We chose fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade $12.00. The fried green tomatoes were expertly fried, extraordinarily crunchy and well seasoned.  They would have been excellent on their own. But then The Flying Melon tops those delicious slices with perfectly cooked shrimp and a flavorful remoulade.  The best appetizer of the trip!

  

Oh my.  Now here's a salad that I wish I could eat every day! The rice wine vinaigrette was absolutely addictive on the fresh greens and vegetables of this salad.

Sweet Harold chose the Fried Seafood Platter $33.00.  It included the fish of the day (bluefish), scallops (YUM!), shrimp, and a jumbo lump crab cake.  I had never tried bluefish, so I was eager for my taste!  Bluefish has a rich, full flavor and coarse, moist meat with edible skin.  The crab cake had onions and bell peppers and a definite spicy flavor. I love food with some heat, but for those that don't, the crab cake does pack the flavor.

His side dishes were sauteed green beans and roasted red potatoes. Of all the green beans we enjoyed that week, these won the "best of" award.  The potatoes were very flavorful as well.

I ordered from the Specials Menu.  Seriously.  Look at this menu.  Is there anything on there that doesn't sound amazing?

Sheepshead is another fish I have never tried.  I wasn't going to miss an opportunity to enjoy this fish.  Sheepshead eats crab and shrimp.  Therefore, they have the taste of shellfish.  Pretty cool, huh?

The fish was grilled and topped with sauteed jumbo lump crabmeat and a tasty lemon beurre blanc sauce. $34.00 I chose the turnips and roasted potatoes.  

I took a close up shot of the jumbo lump crab.  This was an extremely generous portion. Everything on this plate was elegantly served, delicately seasoned, and a feast for the eyes as well as the tummy.

And if we weren't stuffed enough at this point, Sweet Harold decided we MUST try dessert.  I told him to choose whatever he wanted, and I'd taste.  lol

Kudos to the pastry chef for this delectable dessert.  Lemon cheesecake with blackberry sauce.  The cheesecake was creamy and the blackberry sauce complimented the lemon well. $6.00.

Sweet Harold ordered a chocolate martini to enjoy with his dessert.  We had a great evening.

And here are the categories which The Flying Melon placed on our informal "best of" list!

Best Cocktails

Best Salad

Best Green Beans

Best Crab:  for the sauteed jumbo lump crab

Honorable Mention: crab cake 

Best Fish:  Sheepshead

Honorable Mention:  Bluefish

Best Atmosphere

Best Meal Overall

Thank you for a wonderful evening and meal.  Special thank you to Jennifer for being an excellent server.  

Dining Out on the Outer Banks: The Pony Island Restaurant, Ocracoke Island, NC

We were fortunate to stay at the Pony Island Motel on Ocracoke Island. Of course, we HAD to eat breakfast the next morning at the Pony Island Restaurant.  They are only open for breakfast and knew this would be a very casual breakfast. We were fortunate to have Kathy as our server.  She never let the coffee cup get empty!

Sweet Harold enjoyed these fluffy biscuits along with scrambled eggs, sausage patties, and grits.

I chose two eggs cooked over easy (I always order scrambled). I was a little nervous about how they would be cooked, but these were perfection! No crunchy browned edges, no hard cooked yolks, just a delicious perfectly cooked over easy eggs.  The hashbrowns (or home fries) were nicely browned and tender on the inside.

Pony Island Restaurant is only open for breakfast at 7:30 - 11:00 a.m. If you are lucky, you'll have Kathy as your server!

Dining Out on the Outer Banks: Jason's, Ocracoke Island, NC

Ocracoke (pronounced Okra-coke) Island, NC is a beautiful and wonderful spot on this earth.  It's a small village with the beautiful 1823 Ocracoke Lighthouse located on Pamlico Sound.  I'll be doing additional blog posts with pictures of the area and attractions, but this post will sing the praises of Jason's.  Click on that link and check out their great menu!

We were given this recommendation by the manager of our motel and we're certainly glad he did.  Jason's serves subs, pasta, steak, pizza, and seafood.  The night we dined, there was a mixed crowd of locals and visitors.  If you have kids, you'll be fine.  You have a group of fun friends who are on vacation? You'll fit right in with the diners here. We overheard one gentleman at a neighboring table say he had been there the night before for a steak and it was so perfect, he was back that night to have another!  The "starch of the day" was corn on the cob. We observed this corn on the cob with other diners' meals were delivered.  This was none of that little frozen half cob yellow corn. These were normal people servings of corn on the cob and looked delicious.

Y'all know how important it is to me personally to be greeted well when you enter a restaurant. For me, that sets the tone for the entire meal. A Host/Hostess which appears to be bothered by having to seat you, or irritated that you interrupted their texting, well, that doesn't sit well with Lolly.

Thankfully, Daniel our server for the evening graciously welcomed us and made us feel "at home."

I was in the mood for comfort food.  But here was my situation.  I wanted to continue to try crab in as many restaurants as possible while on the Outer Banks.  I consulted with Daniel and explained that I really wanted to try the Angel Hair Pasta with Alfredo, but oh I really wanted to have one of their crab cakes.

Daniel to the rescue! He asked the kitchen if they would prepare just one crab cake for me.  They agreed.  I had the best of both worlds! On our "best of" list, this crab cake tied for #1!

This crab cake had a great crunchy exterior and a light crab filled interior.  Very little filling and the seasoning was perfect. I loved the tartar sauce as well.  Not just a condiment to fill up space on the plate, this sauce should be bottled.

Now we'll move on to the pasta dish.  I did mention I was craving some comfort food.  Well, this PLATTER was an enormous serving of that very thing. There was enough with this generous serving to feed three people.  $15.99 and served with garlic bread and a side salad.  You can also choose to add spinach, chicken, or shrimp for an additional small upcharge.  The angel hair pasta was a perfect al dente and the homemade sauce was a ooey gooey cheesy serving of heaven. I enjoyed the toasted garlic bread as well.

The side salad was filled with fresh mushrooms, red onions, cucumbers, and tomatoes. The Italian dressing was a great choice.

One of the specials of the night featured Cobia.  Cobia has a very white flaky texture and a mild flavor.  Sweet Harold chose to have it fried with slaw and french fries.  Again, a very generous serving.  It's always great to know the food you are enjoying is this fresh. The catch of the day is literally what was caught nearby! The breading was extremely light so the flavor of the fish wasn't hidden behind a thick batter.  I had a sample and I can tell you if you're ever at Jason's and cobia is on the menu, Order It!  

Jason's coleslaw is the chopped version instead of shredded cabbage.  Lightly dressed and very fresh and crunch. This serving wasn't prepared days before.

Sweet Harold ordered a beer from a nearby brewery, 1718 Brewing Ocracoke.  He looks pleased!

From our own personal "best of" list, Jason placed with a #1 tie for best crab cakes, honorable mention for the cobia in the fish category, and honorable mention for that delicious salad.

Thank you Jason's for a wonderful dinner and a special thank you to Daniel for great service and going the extra step to get me that delicious crab cake!

Our score?  10/10 based on food quality, atmosphere, service, and a wide variety of food from which to choose on the menu.

Dining Out on the Outer Banks: Diamond Shoals Restaurant and Seafood Market, Buxton, NC

Time for breakfast before continuing on our journey down the Outer Banks.  We chose the Diamond Shoals Restaurant and Sushi Bar located about a mile from the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse.  This restaurant has it all!  Not only do they serve breakfast, but they also have a great lunch menu featuring seafood baskets, wraps, quesadillas, burgers, and sandwiches.  Diamond Shoals also offers an extensive dinner menu PLUS they have a sushi bar.  On top of all this, there's a gift shop and a seafood market!  It's literally a one-stop for all meals, fresh seafood, and your souvenirs!  

Sweet Harold gave two thumbs up for his sausage and cheese omelette and home fries.  

I had some scrambled eggs with cheese, toast, and home fries.  The menu lists the potatoes as hashbrowns, but these aren't the hashbrowns to which we are accustomed.  The eggs were yummy, the potatoes were cooked with sliced onions and all in all we enjoyed our breakfast.

Dining Out on the Outer Banks: Sandbar and Grille, Buxton, NC

After a day spent exploring Cape Hatteras including the famous lighthouse, we were ready for a great dinner.  Speaking of the lighthouse, I'll be writing some blog posts and sharing some pictures of all five of the lighthouses in the next week or so.  

We chose the Sandbar and Grille which is enjoying their 22nd season in business.  We arrived around 6:30 or so and the parking lot was full.  The overflow parking lot was full.  I know many people who say they won't wait at restaurants because there are other choices.  BUT, we were on vacation, had nowhere else to be, and we knew their deck would allow a breathtaking sunset.  We were correct!

We were warmly greeted and welcomed which was nice after our not so pleasant entrance into that other Buxton restaurant I blogged about previously.  We found two stools at the bar and enjoyed people watching, a delicious top-shelf margarita that was generously poured (AND garnished with blue salt) along with a top-shelf Long Island.  We were perfectly content to wait our turn for a table.

I really liked this guy!

After we were seated at a lovely window table that allowed us to enjoy the view of the water, Sweet Harold realized it was time to get those sunset photos!  Isn't that amazing?  

Jenny our server was a very busy lady, but never made us feel rushed. She had several tables to serve but was gracious, friendly, and extremely welcoming.  We asked her opinion on several of the menu items and chose the blackened scallops with a pineapple/jalapeno salsa as our appetizer.

The scallops were perfectly cooked.  Of course, they had some heat because of the seasoned.  Extremely tender and not a bit of that rubbery text you can get when they are improperly cooked.  The salsa was a nice cooling extra against the blackening seasoning.  A lovely presentation as well.

I chose a half-pound of steamed shrimp and drawn butter with a side dish of green beans.  The shrimp were steamed perfectly with no "mushy" ones in the bunch.  The green beans were tender and seasoned well.

An extremely fresh side salad with house-made Italian dressing was also served with my meal. I would be remiss if I didn't give this salad its due.  It was beautifully plated, served cold and crisp, and the dressing was extremely flavorful with garlic and herbs.  

We all know Sweet Harold and his fried shrimp and flounder obsession.  Of course, he chose the fried shrimp dinner.  His choices for sides?  Y'all should really know by now!  lol 

The potatoes were served hot and still had those "homemade" little lumps in there and that he adores!  I'm encouraging him to write his own blog post comparing and contrasting all the different slaws he tried.

Doesn't he look happy?

We thought we were too full for dessert so we ordered a peanut butter cup cheesecake to go.  When Jenny brought it to our table, I opened the box to take a picture and then we both picked up our forks.  It was INHALED immediately.  My apologies to the pastry chef who made this masterpiece.  I've regretted that I don't have a better picture that would do this amazing dessert justice. 

We compiled a "Best Of" List of our dining experiences on the OBX.  I'm proud to say that Sandbar and Grille made the list in the following categories:

Best Steamed Shrimp
Best Coleslaw
Best Mashed Potatoes
Best Dessert
Best View
Honorable Mention for Best Cocktails and Best Salad

Server Jenny, Thank You!

Our score 10/10.....based on SERVICE, atmosphere, food quality, and taste, and just all around nice people.

Dining Out on the Outer Banks: Pigman's BBQ, Kill Devil Hills, NC

What with all the delicious seafood we were enjoying on the Outer Banks, we knew we must try some North Carolina BBQ.  We were still in the Kill Devil Hills area and chose Pigman's BBQ.

This is one of those BBQ joints where you know the minute you walk in the door whether they know what they're doing or not.  These guys know what they're doing.

Of course, Carolina BBQ is quite different from Alabama BBQ.  I'm not going to say whether it's better or worse, just different.  And that is one of the wonderful things about our nation's cuisines.  By traveling a few hundred miles in any direction, you get to enjoy totally different foods!

I wanted to try the Pork BBQ Boat because I was intrigued as to what that would be.  Here it is!  Authentic slow smoked North Carolina BBQ pulled and then mixed with their regular vinegar-based sauce and served with fries, a small cup of cole slaw, and hush puppies.  $8.99

I enjoy my BBQ with an ample amount of sauce so I was happy there were two versions on the table so I could add as much as I wanted.  Fries were average.  The slaw was crisp and tasty.  The hush puppies were sweet and served with honey butter as opposed to the savory and served with ketchup version I'm familiar with.  So I basically saved them as my "dessert."

Harold chose the pork BBQ plate served with baked beans, slaw, and hush puppies.  $11.99  That's a great look plate of BBQ, isn't it?

Their menu is extensive with beef, turkey, TUNA, ribs, chicken, wings, and shrimp.  They offer a wide variety of side dishes as well as a great kid's menu.

This was a great lunchtime stop in Kill Devil Hills!

Dining Out on the Outer Banks: Awful Arthur's Oyster Bar, Kill Devil Hills, NC

This meal was probably one of the most fun we had while on the Outer Banks.  Awful Arthur's Oyster Bar has been serving raw oysters at the copper-topped bar for over 30 years.  The night we dined the restaurant was filled with both locals and visitors alike, and the atmosphere was fun, noisy, and the food and drinks were delicious.

Here's the cover of their menu.

The oyster bar menu!

The drink special of the night was Gin and Tonic for $4.00.  Sweet Harold's decision was made, and I chose a Raspberry Margarita $7.95.

Yummy!

We decided to share a bowl of the Crab and Lobster Bisque.  $6.99.  Great decision! One of my biggest pet peeves is to be served food that is lukewarm, especially soups. This bowl of creamy deliciousness was served piping hot, and the bowl was filled to the brim as you can see.  Large pieces of crab and lobster. The bisque did not overpower the delicate flavor of the seafood. I could eat this on a very regular basis!

Because we absolutely could not decide what we wanted from the extensive menu, we once again decided to share. So a three-item Seafood Platter $25.99 was a perfect choice. Shrimp, oysters, and a crab cake along with fries, cole slaw, and hush puppies.  I ate the majority of the oysters, Sweet Harold claimed the majority of the shrimp, and we halved the crab cake.

No greasy seafood here. Everything was wonderfully seasoned, lightly battered, and fresh. Thumbs up to the coleslaw. The hush puppies had a slightly sweet flavor.

Now on to the crab cake, which is what we really want to know about, right?  This crab cake did edge out the previous crab cake selection. This one was very lightly seasoned so that the crab flavor was very pronounced.

We gave Awful Arthur's a 9/10 based on the overall service, atmosphere, and quality and flavor of the food.