Raine's Raves

all things food

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Oregano, the overlooked wonder herb for colds and overall health

Oregano is an often overlooked and underappreciated herb. Most of us are aware that it's on pizza and that is the extent of our interest with it. The word oregano literally means "joy of the mountains". Greek sheperds encouraged their sheep to graze on the wild oregano that grew on the hillsides because it caused the meat to become sweeter. It is traditionally used in the cuisine of Greece, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Mexico, and the Caribbean. It is customarily used in poultry seasoning and turkey stuffings, as well as pizza. Oregano combines well with garlic, thyme, parsley, and olive oil. Its flavor is described as slightly bitter and pungent, lemony, with a hint of sweetness. Dried, it has a stronger taste. When preparing a dish, it is advised to add it in the last few minutes of cooking, as the process evaporates it's volatile oils, causing it to lose its distinctive flavor. Medicinally, oregano can be used to treat the common cold, asthma, nasal congestion, and menstrual cramps. The regular use of oregano in diet can also prevent certain cancers, such as breast and prostate cancers. It has been proven effective in lowering cholesterol and is beneficial to heart health. Here are the recommended guidelines for using this incredible herb as a home remedy. Colds- 1T per 1 cup, drink 2-3x day Asthma- 1T per 1 cup, drink 4-5x day Cramps- 1/2T per 1 cup, drink 3-4x day Congestion- 1T per 1cup, inhale steam 3-4x. day (Steep all recipes for 10 minutes. Honey can be added to taste.) A convenient way to prepare oregano for teas in advance is to use coffee filters to make individual tea bags. Perfect for person use or as gifts for any occasion. Here is a link to step-by-step directions for diy teabags; http://www.herimajination.com/2012/02/diy-heart-shaped-tea-bags.html?m=1 This often overlooked herb is beneficial in so many amazing ways. Be sure to take full advantage of the wonderful properties of oregano by sprinkling it on your pizzas, soups, salads, and even in your morning smoothie. The information provided in this post is not a substitute for the services of licensed medical professionals and is not intended to treat or diagnose any medical condition. I would love to hear about any experiences that you have had with oregano, so feel free to share them below! And don't forget to subscribe so that you never miss an article.

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Tines Up vs Tines Down https://www.facebook.com/groups/743119465791032/permalink/775090515927260/

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Alessandra's Restaurant, Summerville, South Carolina

To celebrate our anniversary, my husband and I decided to go to Alessandra’s. I made reservations and we arrived at 5. It was a warm and rustic atmosphere, full of promises of authentic Italian cuisine. A small place, perhaps a hidden gem of gastronomic delights. They had no record of our reservations but there were plenty of tables, so no problem. We were able to choose seating with a lovely view of downtown Summerville. The flowers on the tables were a pretty accent, it was quiet, relaxing, a wonderful prelude to a romantic evening. And…that’s where it ended.

Our server constantly hovered over us as we looked over the menu, it felt very rushed. Not the relaxing start that I would expect. We ordered drinks, the Blue Moon came with no glass, no orange. When these basic items were requested, a warm glass and three orange wedges were brought, it seemed a bit passive aggressive looking back. At the time though, we marched on ordering our entrees, salads after the meal, please.

Our food was brought out less than ten minutes after ordering, it was a bit concerning, an obvious red flag. The pasta with sausage and a meatball was fused together and had to be cut to be eaten, it was dry, overcooked. The manicotti was sheets of pasta rolled around a meager amount of ricotta. It was soupy. Both had hot and cold spots, we were clearly served microwaved entrees.

During this underwhelming meal, we were served cold bread twice. My daughter’s food was taken before she was finished and I had to request more. It came back scalding hot, thank goodness I checked it before serving.

After a ridiculous wait, we finally received our salads. My white salad bowl had food particles, dirty fingerprints, and smudges all over the outside. We disceetly requested a new salad, the server seemed very agitated. My salad came in a blue child’s bowl with the dressing dripping down the side. It looked as if my old salad had been dumped into this bowl.

At this point, we request to speak to the manager, who, as it turned out, was our server…we asked her if this new bowl was my original salad. She said yes, then no. We explained how disappointing our experience had been and she informed us that, in that case, she did not want us to come back. Not a problem, we left the table without eating our questionable salads and had to track down our check to leave. She comped the glass of wine, but was very adamant and rude about it. I would have preferred paying for the wine and getting an apology. Or a real effort to rectify the situation.

We never brought up the disgusting microwave dinners or the cold, rock-hard bread. We just requested a glass and orange slice for the beer and for the opportunity to eat salad out of a clean bowl. The escalation of defensiveness, by the manager no less, makes me fear that Alessandra’s is a sinking ship biding its time as it slips into the deep abyss of failed restaurants that are nothing more than a memory.

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Upcoming reviews

There will be two bonus reviews over the next week! St. Paul's Vineyard in NC and Alessandra's in Summerville. Make sure to subscribe so that you never miss a post!

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Burntshirt Vineyards, Hendersonville, North Carolina

A quaint, peaceful road leads into Burntshirt vineyards and ends in convenient parking right next to the rustic main building. As I walk up, I can see fields brimming with rows of grapes, an apple orchard in the distance. A cafe-style outdoor patio creates a welcoming environment. Inside, it is crisp and clean, with various merchandise lining the walls and there are two tasting stations. There are two different flights of wine offered or you can try both. I choose both with a feeling of optimism. The first three wines are unremarkable. The next three…decent. The Meritage is an exquisite red blend. It’s dry but not overly so and the notes of each wine in the blend create a symphony of taste. A beautiful wine. On to the floral and fruity wines, the Apple wine is excellent. It is not overpowering and could be paired with a multitude of fall dishes, the Riesling is a triumph as well. The Rosé is a beautiful marriage of berries, a fun drink for throughout the year. The two that really exceed expectations are the Villa Rosa and Sunset Sippin’. The Villa Rosa is a semi-sweet red that delights the senses with its fruity bouquet. The Sunset Sippin’, true to its name, is the perfect sipping wine. Easy to drink, excellent bouquet, multiple notes, a beautiful masterpiece! Sunset Sippin’ is so enjoyable that I purchase a bottle to enjoy on my vineyard picnic. It pairs perfectly with the crackers, cheeses, meats, biscuits, spreads, olives, and fruits. The vineyard provided an adorable top hat ice bucket to chill the bottle. Overall, Burntshirt vineyards is a fun place to visit. The selection is enjoyable, the atmosphere inviting. If it’s during a busy time of day, you may end up waiting a ridiculous amount of time in between tastings, but all-in-all, a fun experience. If you are traveling to the mountains of North Carolina, it’s worth the trip to stop in and enjoy the Burntshirt experience.

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Tines Up vs Tines Down https://www.facebook.com/groups/743119465791032/permalink/775090515927260/

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Tines Up vs Tines Down https://www.facebook.com/groups/743119465791032/permalink/775090515927260/

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Book your cooking classes! https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B_LrLV06K_RgQnpIelAteDB0azg/view

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What makes a meal more than food

Today I find myself contemplating what makes a meal more than food. This morning we had a dear family friend over for brunch. We all took turns making the various components of the meal. There were moments of creative genius and moments of absolute flops. But it was fun. There was freedom and creativity, teamwork and laughter. An authenticity that can't be forced or faked. We ended up with so much food that the term gluttony comes to mind. As we stepped away from the table, or more accurately, waddled, there was a sense of true contentment. We had created something so much more than a meal. We had created a moment, a true memory of authentic joy.

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Book your classes, availability is limited!

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Go All In and Take Chances! The only real stumbling block is fear of failure. In cooking, you've got to have a what-the-hell attitude. -Julia Child

http://www.goodreads.com/quotes/tag/cooking

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Pepper-Crusted Cowboy Rib Eye Steak

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Elegant dinner of roasted lamb chop as a first course, followed by vegetables in sauce mornay, this was finished with a basic cheese course of smoked gouda, edam, blackberry jelly and french bread

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Fresh baked french bread for French Toast tomorrow!