My Favorite Ice Cream Place - Harbor Creamery

 

There is a place that I think has the best ice cream. It is a small place in Newburyport MA. It is called Harbor Creamery. I think it is the best because they make their own ice cream and they have some unique names for them. They are also open most of the year. 

The odd metal piece is to hold the cones while one gets to the end to pick it up.

They also sell chocolate candy too. 

The also sell candy and different beverages too. 

Here is a close up of the ice cream. It shows the strawberry ice cream (really good).

I took the photos myself. I would take it before I would start eating it and soon after I started eating it. I always get the whipped topping which is a little more. The after photo is to show the inside of the ice cream and its flavor (which I have forgotten since I took the photo). 

TomLeeM

2023 / 09 / 13 

Common Man Chips from the Grab and Go at the rest area.

 When I go to the Common Man at the route 104 rest area; Route 104 Diner, I try to get some of their chips. I believe they make it themselves. 

They come in small-ish bags. It has a small window to see what is inside. The bags are brown and have a special resealable metal piece at the top. One can enjoy them but not have to eat them all at once. This way they last longer; good since I don't get there that often. I am not sure if they have them at their other restaurants but I will check when I do. 

It is unfortunate that they don't have any Common Man restaurants in MA but I am glad I am close enough to NH so that isn't really a problem. The Common Man restaurant is worth the trip. I read that it isn't easy opening a restaurant in Massachusetts  (perhaps being a Democrat state makes it non-business supporter? - perhaps for a different kind of blog / post?).

This is the bag that the chips came in; grocery style bag. It has the outline of the state of New Hampshire. It has the different locations of the Common Man restaurants. It is a plastic bag but I might reuse it for other things. It looks nice. 

Here are the four bags that I bought. One can see it is paper bags with a small window to show what is inside. Two on the left are simply salted chips and the two on the right are uncommon barbecue chips. 

The simply salted chips were not too salty. They were not greasy either. I have found some chips to be greasy and would show it when placed in paper bags. This was delicious. 

The uncommon barbecue chips were really good. The flavor was not overwhelming but just the right amount of flavoring; in my opinion. It wasn't too salty. It had - in my opinion - the right balance of flavor and chips. 

I have enjoyed them in the past and will enjoy them in the future. It is something that I think everyone can enjoy.

 

Thomas Lee Mullins

 

TomLeeM at Cafe Press

Steak Sub with Sweet Potato Fries and Poutine Fries at a Common Man On the Go / Grab and Go

 I was helping a friend (dropped him off) and was on my way home when I stopped at this Common Man On The Go / Grab and Go at a rest area on the highway. When I am in the area - something that does not happen a lot - I try to stop there to get some food. It is a really neat place. 

It is at a rest area; one on either side of the highway so one can go to either; depending on which direction one is going. The rest area includes not only the Common Man restaurants but also a liquor store (NH Liquor Store), a small general store and tourist information. There are rest rooms one can use. There is the diner but also tables and chairs in the open area. It is a really neat place to rest. 

Here is where one can get ones food. There was a nice variety of foods. The entrance is to the left and this is where one exits and pay for the food. When I was there, one paid for the food after one ordered it. One picked up the food toward the right where one ordered and paid. To the right of this place was a coffee shop but I think it was closed when I got there. 

Here is the Common Man diner. It was not open due to the 'pandemic'. If other restaurants are open, this should have been too (actually this part is for another blog / post). I have eaten at this diner before and it was really nice. The burger I had was really good. 

This is the sign near the inside of the entrance. It shows a lot about the Common Man restaurants. It looked really nice. 

Here is the steak sub that I ordered. It was really good. I ate the contents of the sub since I had not only fries (sweet potato in this case) but also poutine. I ate the bread later. It was neat just eating the contents of the sub; really good together. It was a nice size sandwich and one got a lot of fries with it. I think one got ones money worth; in my opinion.

Here is the poutine fries that I ordered. At first I thought it was more cheese fries than poutine fries since I didn't notice the gravy. After eating some of it, I did get to the gravy. It was good but would be better with more gravy. I didn't eat it all at the rest area. I finished it off at home. One really got ones moneys worth; in my opinion.

I have weird tastes; at least according to some. I added mayonnaise to my fries and to my cheese steak sub. I like that way. I like mayonnaise more than ketchup; even though at times I put mayonnaise plus ketchup on things (Heinz has one where they combine ketchup and mayonnaise together [they also have other combinations too - for another blog / post]). 

Here is my poutine with not only mayonnaise but also ketchup. I think it is really good. There are those who would disagree but I like it and that is what counts with me. 

Common Man.

 

Route 104 Diner.   

I also got four bags of Common Man chips. It was two bags of two different flavors. I am blogging / posting them separately.

Thomas Lee Mullins

 

TomLeeM at Cafe Press.

Scrappled Scrambled Eggs - My Own Creation

 I like to cook and eat scrapple. It is not often one hears of people like it but I do. I like to fry it up, eat it by itself or with other things. It is not easy finding scrapple at the store. One really has to look for it. Lately it is in the frozen section. 

I remember being able to get the beef scrapple or pork scrapple. Lately I can barely find it at all - just the pork scrapple. I don't really mind since I think the pork scrapple is better tasting than the beef scrapple. 

I wonder if haggis is just a type of scrapple that uses lamb or mutton parts? I always want to try it. It seems really cool yet disgusting to some. 

Here is the end result; almost. 

I took some scrapple and cooked it in the frying pan. I like using my cast iron pan but sometimes I use my copper pan. I fried it up but it doesn't take long since I preheat the pan. I use a timer to wait about 5 minutes before starting cooking. I spray the pan with cooking oil and a little bit of butter. I use the spatula to 'chop it up'. I don't want it to become one big piece of meat but lumps of meat. 

The egg mixture is 2 eggs, grains (flax seed meal, wheat bran and oat brand), baby spinach, a little bit of milk (I don't really measure it), some oil (I don't measure it either, just a 'splash' of it). I stir it up with a fork. I think it works better than a spoon (not a 'professional opinion' but just something I like to do). 

I pour it on the cooking meat / scrapple in the pan. Instead of an omelet (one big piece), I scooped it and chop it while it is cooking. It doesn't take long to cook this either. I keep using the spatula since if it lays too long on the heat, it seems to over cook / burn on one side. 

I think it is pretty good. It might not be what a real cook wood do but I am usually just cooking for me so it doesn't rally matter. I post this to show how strange my taste can be. 

This time I decided to 'doctor it up' with some cheese and some ketchup. I like putting ketchup on my scrambled eggs; even the scrambled eggs looks really odd and not really like scrambled eggs. 

I thought it was good but others might not care for it. I am okay with that since I cook for me and thought it would be neat to blog about not just what I eat but also about some of the unique foods I consume. 

PS I wonder if one cook make Hamburger Helper using scrapple instead of beef? It would be interesting to give that a try. It would be another blog about it; after I gave it a try. 

TomLeeM 

TomLeeM at Cafe Press

 

My Version of Banana Nut Bread French Toast?

 I like banana Nut. There are times I had it made it for me. I have not made banana nut bread, yet (it would be neat to give it a try and post the results - good or bad - here on my blog). It might not be perfect but I like it. I like some strange things. It might not appeal to everyone or even most. 

I was at a restaurant that had banana nut bread that they used to make French toast. I thought it was really good. Unfortunately the restaurant that made it is no longer in business. The restaurant was nice. I am saddened by their closure. 

I believe it was closed before the pandemic. There are a lot of restaurants that have closed - directly or indirectly - because of the pandemic. It is sad that it has happened. Why this happened is for another blog. 

I was given banana nut bread. Friends made it for me since they heard of the restaurant I went to that had it as a basis for French toast. I had tried this before. This is the first time - that I remember - I had taken photos to post on my blog. The results isn't always the same; the recipe isn't always the same since I don't go by an actual recipe. I just wing it. 

I take two eggs, different grains (flax meal, wheat brand, oat brand), baby spinach (sometimes when I have it), some milk (I don't measure it, I just pour some in), cooking oil (which depends on what I have on hand and I just add a 'splash' of it). I mix it all together. The photos that is above does not show spinach but there are times I added it and it shows. 

I have a cast iron pan. It is really neat. It is not light. It is not easy to lift but I do like cooking with it. It has a non-stick coating but I still like to coat the bottom with a cooking spray. When I cook eggs, I use some butter too (in addition to the cooking spray). 

In the photo one can see one of the banana nut bread after it had soaked a little bit in the 'sauce' (I couldn't think of what to call the liquid that one puts it in before frying). This is before I added the second slice of banana nut bread; it was still soaking in the 'mixture'. I try to not have it cook too long. I have it burn on one side if it was too long. 

Here one can see the 'mixture' or 'sauce'. One can see the different grains that is in it. One can see the other banana nut bread above the container that is going to get dipped / soaked. Perhaps a little out of order - in how I made it. 

I use the leftover mixture to make scrambled eggs with it. Sometimes I add stuff to it to make it even better. I did this time but I will post it separately. This time was even more unique than the times I did it before. There are times I just add the extra mixture to what is frying on the pan to make it thicker. It is all depends on what I feel like doing. 

PS One can tell that I an not a professional cook; or even an amateur one. I just like to cook since I like to eat; a good combo in my opinion. When it comes to cooking, I have a lot to learn. I like to experiment too. Since I have strange tastes in food, I usually don't have a problem with what I make (there are rare times even I wouldn't eat it - yes it was that bad). 

TomLeeM

TomLeeM at Cafe Press.

Honey BBQ and Honey Mustard Wings From Wing-Itz in Hampton NH

 There was a Burger King in Hampton NH that had closed and later made into a Wing-Itz restaurant. The Wing-Itz restaurant had moved in and converted it from what it was before. 

I had not had the chance to try it till just recently, it hasn't been opened long. There were other places that they had restaurants but this one was near where I normally travel. 

I found this online. 

While there was seating, I decided to have it to go. They have a menu one can take home. I just took it outside while I was deciding what I wanted. I didn't want to take up any seats inside since I was planning on taking it home (more seats available for others so more business for them). I was just outside when I viewed the menu and made my choices. I went in and placed my order and paid for it. It was told 10 to 15 minutes for it be ready. I waited in my car since it was cold out. I went in when I thought the time was up and it was waiting for me inside. 

I believe they had spaces for when one orders so they would comply with social distancing. A face mask was required for entering. I believe they cleaned the areas to also comply and make things safer.

It was not easy on the way home since I could smell the honey BBQ and honey mustard. I was able to get it home. I shared it with my brother. We both had some. I had ordered enough for both of us.

I ordered 15 wings. One can chose two sauces for the wings without having to cost more. One can have the sauce on the side or have it tossed with the wings. I chose to have the honey BBQ and honey mustard sauces. I had half of them with one and the other with the other. I had them tossed in the sauce instead of on the side. One can get a side (for dipping) of either ranch or blue cheese. I chose the blue cheese. It was really good dipping in the blue cheese but I also ate the wings just by themselves. It was good without the dipping sauce too. 

Here is the back of the menu. It showed the chicken wings and the different sauces that one can order. It was not easy to order two since there seems to be a lot of good ones listed. 

Here is the front of the menu. It shows a lot about the restaurant; hours, and items one can buy.

Here is the inside left of the menu. It shows they have more than just wings. I want to go back and try their other items. I want to sit inside and eat. 

Here is the inside right part of the menu. It shows more options. It shows a kids menu. There are a lot of choices.

I think this is a neat idea. It is a 'loyalty' card. I believe it gets stamped or punched whenever one eats there (I haven't checked but I assumed this is what happens since I have other loyalty cards that do this).

Here is the back of the 'loyalty' card. It has some information on it.

Thomas Lee Mullins

TomLeeM at Cafe Press.

Jumbo Shrimp and Fried Clams at Woodman's in Essex MA

 My brother and I was going to go to different restaurant in Essex MA but it was closed by the time we arrived. We saw this on the way to the other restaurant and wanted to give it a try. It is Woodman's in Essex MA. 

It seems Woodman's has been around for quite awhile. The receipt indicated 100 years. 

Woodman's was still open. We were able to go in an order what we wanted and were able to find a seat. We wore face masks when we entered, ordered and sat down. We took off the face masks to eat but wore them when we departed. They cleaned the tables before we sat down and after we left. It wasn't crowded. Since it was late and there was a lot of room - both downstairs and upstairs, they can accommodate quite a few people safely. They also have outdoor seating that will be great when it gets warmer out.  

When one entered, there is a counter where one ordered the food. One gets a receipt for ones purchase. One waits till they call your number when the food is ready. They call your number when it is ready. Near where one picks up the food is the area where one gets accessories; ketchup, napkins, forks, salt, pepper, etc. Near where one orders the food is a refrigerator where one gets the beverage that one ordered. After getting the food, one can sit anywhere permitted. 

This is what my brother ordered. He ordered the fried clams. It was called Chubby's original fried clams. He really enjoyed it. It is not minced but whole clams.

I was able to try a fried clam. It was an 'exchange program'. I got one of his fried clams and he got one of my jumbo shrimp.

He also got the New England clam chowder. He said it had a lot of clams in it. It seems he got more than I did.

This is what I ordered. I ordered the jumbo shrimp. It comes with both onion rings and French fries. I also ordered sweet potato fries and a cup of New England clam chowder.

The jumbo shrimp was big and there wasn't too much breading on it. It was good. I tried it with and without the tartar sauce. I enjoyed it.

The onion rings was cooked well. Like the shrimp, it wasn't too heavy on the breading. It was good. I tried it with ketchup and ketchup with tartar sauce. It was good both ways.

I enjoyed the sweet potato fries. It was really good. It - like the French fries - wasn't too salty but was really good. I ate them with ketchup and with ketchup and tartar sauce. It was good both ways.

I had a side of New England clam chowder. It came with oyster crackers. It was really good. I liked the amount of clams it had. I am glad it wasn't too thick. It was delicious.

Woodman's Menu. 

Thomas Lee Mullins

TomLeeM at Cafe Press.