A trip to paradise.........

When I was a child my family would travel
Down to Western Kentucky where my parents were born
And there's a backwards old town that's often remembered
So many times that my memories are worn.
 

And daddy won't you take me back to Muhlenberg County
Down by the Green River where Paradise lay
Well, I'm sorry my son, but you're too late in asking
Mister Peabody's coal train has hauled it away

--John Prine, Paradise

After 10 years away from Kentucky, I found myself once again back in the Bluegrass state for the second month in a row. The first trip is written into two blog posts - Lexington and Lousiville.

Ok, so maybe we weren't in Muhlenberg county, but it was a trip back to Western Kentucky, a visit to Mammoth Cave along the Green River and a stop at Paradise along the way. Not the Paradise Mine referred to in John Prine's song, but Lynn's Paradise Cafe, in Louisville.

Last time we were at this fun and eclectic (not to mention yummy) restaurant was to celebrate Kiddo's 1st birthday. He's now 11. It's been a while. First discovered when I was working for a wine & spirit distributor in Kentucky. Occasionally had lunches there with customers, or bites with co-workers when I was in town for a meeting. When we moved to Louisville, we discovered how great a place it is for brunch. Bobby Flay did a Throwdown with Lynn. (WTF, my second Bobby Flay mention in two days, and I'm seriously not *that* big of a fan)

Don't let these pictures fool you. The place is usually packed. This was mid-morning on a Monday. Not exactly prime time. As we were leaving the lunch crowd was beginning to arrive. Love how every inch is decorated. Even the bathrooms! Fun touches (and puzzles on the tables). Kiddo and I enjoyed a nice game of Would you rather...

 

Kiddo, Mom and I had fun from the second we pulled in the parking lot, right through brunch and a trip to the gift shop. The gift shop seems to be an addition (to the building) since we moved from Kentucky. Kiddo couldn't resist the fun Christmas hat.

 

After brunch we began the last leg of our drive to Nashville (this is the post on that part of the trip). Along the way we made a stop at Mammoth Cave. Kiddo has been asking to visit a cave...swears he's never been to one. Doesn't seem to remember that he did visit Mammoth Cave as an 8 month old in one of those baby pouches.Looks like they are re-modeling the Visitor's Center. Mom hung out in the Mammoth Cave Hotel while Kiddo and I enjoyed the 2 hour "New Entrance" (new in 1921) tour.

The tour is marked as moderately strenuous due to about 500 steps. Pace was leisurely, but we were always going up or down steps or ramps. Kiddo was suitably impressed. Which makes me glad.I love visiting caves. Kiddo and I want to go back and do one of the longer spelunking tours - a bit of crawling and climbing and exploring.

 

Who woulda thought such unassuming entrances and exits would hide such natural wonder. If in the area, a must visit. Because despite what John Prine sang, Mr Peabody didn't quite haul off all of Paradise!

Thanksgiving, It's all about the food....and the family...and friends...and......

Just back from a Thanksgiving trip to my brother's in Nashville. Great city, great company. Love visiting them. I've said it before, and I'll say it again, my brother hit the jackpot when he met his wife, Gina. In fact I said exactly that last year, when I wrote about the Thanksgiving 2009 trip here. The confirmed bachelor is now married, and a father. Last year my nephew was a newborn, this year a new walker.

Adding to the enjoyment, Gina's aunt is a great hostess - and from day one has welcomed us as extended family into her gatherings. For most of these gatherings, we are in charge of bringing the drinks - beer, wine, a bit of spirits. For the Thanksgiving feast, Jeff and Gina do prepare quite a bit of the food. Last year I did my part entertaining 2 week old Jack while his parents cooked, this year, kiddo had that duty....providing me an opportunity to help with the cooking.

Preparations began Wednesday evening and continued through Thursday morning with an eye on our 1 pm deadline. Thursday morning found four of us in the kitchen, and we quickly developed almost a dance...weaving between each other, passing ingredients, stirring while another measured, one manning the sink - washing the dishes. Lots of mumbling under our breaths, reading the recipe's next steps, thinking about what we needed next. 

 

I'd suggested to Gina that we do the Roasted Brussel Sprouts with pomegranate I'd seen on the Thanksgiving edition of Throwdown when Bobby Flay took on one of my favorite bloggers, Pioneer Woman. Gina put me in charge of making this dish. Highly recommend. Very highly recommend this dish. Even folks who think they don't like brussel sprouts will love it. As delicious as it is beautiful.

Also on the menu was a homemade version of the classic green bean casserole. Created without a single can or bit of processed food. the best green bean casserole I've ever tasted, and tons of fun to make. From sauteeing the fresh mushrooms to creating my own onion straws. So good, so worth the effort.

 

Gina and Jeff (with the help of her young cousin) made a fabulous pumpkin cheesecake- which had all of us licking the bowl. The bourbon laced sauce really, uh, topped the cake.

 

When the cooking was done, it took two cars to load up all the goodies and head to Gina's aunt's house for our feast. (Yep, plenty of my fav, Blue Moon)

We started with appetizers of artisan cheeses, homemade pumpkin hummus and babaganoush, spinach artichoke dip and lots of crackers and veggies to dip them with.

Then quickly moved onto the main course which even my little nephew loved!

After dinner, in a slight food coma, we all retired to the family room. Some watched the football game. Though electronics also came into play - folks in the same room texting each other, "Angry birds" being played simultaneously on the iPad, an iPod and an iPhone. Even the little ones got in on the fun.

 

Through it all, I was very impressed with kiddo and how good he did with his cousin. Makes me proud to be his mom.