From the Desk of Jim R: Dining Out, A to Z: Refreshing Summer Drink Recipes, Part 2 (From Our House to Yours)

 

By James V. Ruocco

Looking for summer drink recipes? Or something that's simply cool and refreshing to quench your thirst.

Every summer at my house, my mother Frances gathered up lots of fresh ingredients from outdoor markets or family gardens to make several, mouth-watering, home-made drinks from scratch. She enjoyed it. We enjoyed it. The neighbors enjoyed it. And yes, everyone always came back for more.

These are some of her recipes.
Quick and simple. Lots of fun to make.
No fuss. No mess. No bother.

Popsicle Punch 

Fresh strawberries.

Fresh mangoes.

Lemonade.

Lemon-Lime soda.

Plain seltzer

Cut the strawberries and mangoes into small pieces for garnish.

Mix the lemonade, seltzer and lemon-lime soda.

Add a strawberry and mango single fruit pop into a tall glass for flavor/garnish purposes.

 

Old-Fashioned Lemonade

Six to eight lemons.

Mint.

Sugar or artificial sweetener.

Six to eight cups of ice cold water.

Ice cubes.

Slice the lemons in half and squeeze them to make the juice.

If using a clear pitcher, add three or four lemon slices or halves for extra flavor and garnishment.

Add water, ice cubes, mint and sugar or sweetener. 

Stir and chill in refrigerator.

Strawberry Limeade Slush

Fresh strawberries.

Lime juice.

Sugar.

Ice cubes.

Lime slices.

Six to eight cups of water.

Place everything in a blender and process until smooth.

Pour into tall glasses. Add cut strawberries and lime slices for garnishment.

 
Berry Splash

1/2 cup of blueberries.

1/2 cup of blackberries.

1/2 cup of strawberries.

Sugar or artificial sweetener.

Six to eight cups of cold water.

Mint (optional for garnishment).

 Ice cubes.

Cut the strawberries in half.

Add blueberries and blackberries.

Add water, fruit, ice cubes, sugar or sweetener into a clear pitcher. 

Stir and chill in refrigerator. 



Old-Fashioned Iced Tea

Six to eight Lipton tea bags.

One or two lemons.

Sugar or artificial sweetener.

Six to eight cups of cold water.

Ice cubes.

Add cold water, ice cubes, sugar or artificial sweetener.

Add tea bags into clear pitcher of water and let them steep.

Cut the lemons into slices and squeeze them for juice. Add five or six slices into the mix for garnishment and additional flavor. 

Stir and chill in refrigerator.

Iced Coffee

Ground Coffee.

Sugar.

Milk.

Water.

Ice Cubes.

Pour ground coffee (your choice) into French Press and mix with hot boiling water. 

Let it steep.

Add sugar and milk.

Pour ingredients into a glass pitcher.

Stir and and chill in refrigerator.

When cold, pour mixture into tall glasses.

Add ice cubes.

Limeade

Eight to ten limes.

Six to eight cups of cold water.

Sugar or artificial sweetener.

Ice cubes.


Cut the limes into slices and squeeze them to make the juice.

In a clear pitcher, combine the lime juice, sugar or artificial sweetener. Use four or five lime slices for garnishment or extra flavor.

Add ice cubes. Stir and chill in refrigerator.

Lemonade/Mint Refresher

Six lemons.

Five fresh mint leaves.

Sugar or artificial sweetener.

Six to eight cups of cold water.

Ice cubes.


Slice the lemons in half and squeeze them to make the juice.

If using a clear pitcher, add 3-5 lemon slices or halves for extra flavor and garnishment.

Add water, ice cubes, sugar or sweetener. Stir and chill in refrigerator.

Add fresh mint leaves to the mix for special flavoring.

Tomato Juice Refresher

 

Three or four large garden ripe tomatoes.

Tomato juice.

Celery stalks.

Salt and pepper.

Mint.

Parsley.

Cayenne pepper.

In blender, add fresh tomatoes, parsley, celery and tomato juice and process until smooth.

Season with salt and cayenne pepper.

Add mint leaves for garnishment.

Vanilla Ice Cream Float Cooler

Vanilla ice cream.

Ginger Ale

Whipped Cream (optional)

Cherry (optional)

Scoop vanilla ice cream into tall glasses.

Pour ginger ale over the top.

Add cherry and whipped cream for garnishment.

Serve immediately.

Strawberry/ Orange Cooler

1 1/2 cups of strawberries.

1-2 oranges.

Orange juice.

Sugar or artificial sweetener.

Six to eight cups of cold water.

Ice cubes.


Cut up strawberries, toss in blender and puree.

Cut up oranges and squeeze them for juice.

Add orange juice, cold water, ice cubes, sugar or artificial sweetener in clear pitcher.

Toss in sliced oranges and sliced strawberries for additional flavor and garnishment.

Stir and chill in refrigerator.

Orange/Pineapple Cooler

Orange juice.

Pineapple juice

Canada Dry Ginger Ale.

1 lemon.

1 orange.

Ice cubes.


In a clear pitcher, combine the orange juice, the pineapple juice and the ginger ale.

Cut the lemon and the orange into slices and squeeze them to make the juice. 

Use 2-4 orange slices for garnishment.

Add ice cubes.

Stir and chill in refrigerator.

Raspberry Lime Cooler

Raspberry lime soda.

Limes.

Raspberries.

Mint.

Ice cubes.

Pour raspberry lime soda in tall glass.

Cut lime into slices and squeeze them to make the juice.

Add ice cubes.

Add lime slices, mint and fresh raspberries for garnishment.

Serve immediately.

Vanilla Egg Cream

Vanilla syrup.

Seltzer.

Milk.

Sugar.

In blender, mix vanilla syrup, seltzer and milk together until creamy.

Add a dash or two of sugar.

Serve immediately.

Virgin Bloody Mary Cocktail

Tomato juice.

Celery.

Lemon.

Freshly ground pepper.

Salt.

Worcestershire sauce.

Tabasco hot sauce.

Ice cubes.

Pour tomato juice into tall glass.

Add freshly squeezed lemon juice, Worcestershire sauce and Tabasco hot sauce and stir.

Add a dash or two of pepper and salt.

Add ice cubes.

Add celery stack with leaves for garnishment.

Serve immediately.

This column is dedicated to my mother Frances Capizzi Ruocco 

The Top 10 Fast Food Restaurants In The Country

By James V. Ruocco

It's not exactly the healthiest menu, but fast foods - French fries, tacos, hamburgers, hot dogs - are totally fine for people on the run who don't want to cook, do the dishes or clean greasy pots and pans.

The choices are endless depending on what you want to eat (or not eat) at the moment.

You can order ahead and have it delivered to your door. Or pick it up curbside.

You can use the drive thru or just park your car and go inside to place your breakfast, lunch or dinner order.

It's as simple at that.

The service at whatever establishment you choose is relatively quick.

The menu has lots to choose from.

The food is prepared to satisfy almost any appetite.

And it's relatively cheap if you find the right deal, uses coupons or pick out items from the value menu.

Listed below are my choices for the 10 best fast food restaurants in the country.

Sonic Drive-In

Anytime I have to travel to Wallingford, one of my first stops is Sonic Drive-In. It's not only a fun place to visit (it's steeped in nostalgia), but the menu itself ranks as one of the best ever with lots and lots to choose from.

I love the Slushes (1/2 price when you order on line or use the app) - Blue Raspberry, Grape, Cherry Limeade, Lemonade, Strawberry (I order a medium and if I gulp it down in a hurry, a get a second one), and the made-to-order sodas, iced coffee and iced teas.

For food, it's the American Hot Dog - diced onions, ketchup, mustard, sweet relish. Or the Footlong Quarter Pound Coney Hot Dog with the same ingredients plus a hearty smattering of melted, shredded cheddar cheese. The burgers - Super Sonic Double Cheeseburger, Bacon Jam Cheeseburger are also great choices if you're in the mood for a burger. Other great selections are the Honey BBQ Sauced Cheeseburger, the Buffalo Sauced Cheeseburger and the Jumbo Popcorn Chicken. For fries, there's nothing better than an order of Sonic's Chili Cheese Tots.

Starbucks

Any time I use the drive thru, Blond Roast or Dark Roast Coffee - hot or cold - is my preferred choice of drink. But if I'm not in the mood for coffee, I'm quick to purchase those delicious Starbucks' Refreshers - Kiwi Starfruit, Mango Dragonfruit, Very Berry Hibiscus. Or a mouth-watering Iced Guava Passionfruit Drink or a Hot Steamed Milk with a shot of Vanilla.
I rarely purchase food, but if, on occasion, I need to grab something quick, it's the Cheese and Fruit Protein Box (it's always very fresh) or the Prosnax Gala Apples, Egg, White Cheddar Cheese and Almonds Snack Box with an Iced London Fog Tea Latte or an Iced Black Tea.

Subway

Subway offers a variety of choices and toppings, which, upon visit after visit, you get to pick what you want on your foot long sandwich as you move through the line. There's black olives, green peppers, banana peppers, pickles, jalapeno peppers, lettuce, tomatoes, avocado, cheddar cheese, bacon, feta cheese, carrots, red onions, cucumbers and spinach. You can also have your choice of mayo, hot sauce, oil and vinegar, barbeque sauce, buffalo sauce and salt and pepper. It's that simple. And if you want a little more or less of something, the Subway staffer quickly obliges.
For me, it's a toss between the Cold Cut Combo (ham, salami, bologna, cheese) or the Black Forest Ham Foot Long. Both are tasty, fresh and always enjoyable. Other popular items are the Italian B.M.T., The Meatball Marinara and The DrayPotle Steak Sandwich. I've seen all three of them prepared for other customers and will eventually try them one of these days.

Kentucky Fried Chicken

If you love fried chicken (who doesn't?), you can never go wrong with KFC. It's delicious. It's freshly prepared. There are 11 herb and spices in the Colonel's chicken recipes. And as the KFC slogan once proclaimed before being dropped in 2020 due to the spread of the coronavirus, "it's finger lickin' good."
Whenever I go to KFC, my choice (the only one at the moment) is the Chicken Pot Pie right out of the oven. It's savory. It's well worth the price. It's better than the pot pies for sale at Aldi's, Shoprite and Stop and Shop. The cream sauce and crust are heavenly. And the chicken chunks, carrots and onions are cooked to perfection.
If I'm not in a "pot pie" mood (that is rare), it's a toss between the 3 pc. Chicken Box, the 6 pc. Kentucky Fried Wings or the Nashville Hots Tenders. Mashed Potatoes & Gravy or Cole Slaw are my picks for KFC side orders. 

Boston Market

The closest Boston Market in Connecticut for me are the restaurants located in Meriden, West Hartford and East Hartford. The food, as always, is very good. The staff is eager to please. And if you're hungry - really hungry - there's lots to choose from the actual menu. 
Most often, I get the Rotisserie Half Chicken, the Meatloaf Dinner or the Rotisserie Prime Rib, all of which is on display in the glass Boston Market food showcase. The portions are huge, comforting and fast food appropriate. All three dishes are freshly prepared with just the right amount of flavorful spices that heighten the "dining out" experience.

Panera Bread

It's vastly over priced (that's because they offer freshly-prepared options), but the menu is so diverse, who cares? There's home style soups, croissants, bagels, eggs, salads, muffins, sandwiches, scones, flatbreads, pasta, panini, and so much more.
The best soups are the Bistro French Onion Soup, the Cream of Chicken & Wild Rice Soup, the Creamy Tomato Soup and the Summer Corn Chowder. All of the salads are well worth trying, especially the Fuji Apple and Chicken Salad and the Caesar Salad. Flatbread Pizza's are a must as are the Asiago and Cinnamon Crunch bagels. If it's a scone you want, the Blueberry and Orange scones go great with Panera Bread's freshly brewed coffees and teas. So do the freshly-baked Cranberry Orange and Blueberry muffins.
Panera Bread also boasts a more-than-satisfying array of specially prepared beverages including the Frozen Lemonade, the Passion Papaya Green Tea, the Prickly Pear Hibiscus Fresca and the Agave Lemonade.

McDonalds

Quick service mixed with a concentration on popular menu items - burgers, fries, beverages - is key to the ongoing success of McDonald's fast food story.
Nothing, and I mean nothing beats an order of hot, lightly-salted fries dipped in ketchup. It's one I call "a guilty pleasure" and one that's impossible to resist, day or night. It's the best fries out there and one I simply can't live without.
The menu has a variety of items that are tasty, delicious and affordable. The best of the burgers are the Big Mac and the Quarter Pounder or Double Quarter Pounder with Cheese. When it comes to Chicken or Fish, the Spicy Crispy Chicken sandwich is a must. So is the Chicken McNuggets and the Filet-O-Fish.
The beverages are grouped accordingly - Slushies, Shakes and McCafe Drinks. Standouts include the Minute Maid Pink Lemonade Slushie, the Minute Maid Strawberry and Watermelon Slushie, the Vanilla, Chocolate and Strawberry Shake, the Iced Caramel Latte, the Caramel Cappuccino, the Iced Mocha and the Iced French Vanilla Latte.

Popeye's

Founded in New Orleans, Louisiana, Popeye's blend of New Orleans-style spicy chicken, Surf & Turf and Cajun inspired rice dishes are just a few of the reasons why Popeye's remains a popular fast-food chain all across the country. The chicken, for example, is marinated for over 12 hours. It's fresh. It's juicy. It's crunchy. It's full of flavor. The Louisiana seasoning is the absolute best. And when it comes to pleasing customers, there are no shortcuts. It may take a little longer to prepare, but Popeye's keeps it real.
The menu is diverse. The Chicken Combo dishes, the Rip 'n Chicken Big Box, the 1/4 Popcorn Shrimp, the Cajun Flounder Fish Sandwich and the Spicy Chicken Sandwich Platter are among the menu's most popular items. So are the Cajun Fries, the Red & Beans Rice and the Mashed Potatoes with Cajun Gravy.

Taco Bell

You won't find any high-end, traditional Mexican cuisine at Taco Bell, but if your palate craves something quick and easy - tacos, burritos, nachos, quesadillas, Taco Bell's Mexican style menu has something for everyone.
Taco's rule with plenty of delicious choices - Crunchy Taco Supreme, Quesalupa Black Bean, Cheesy Gordita Crunch, Supreme Taco Party Pack. If you're  in the mood for a burrito or quesadilla. the Bean Burrito, the Crunch Wrap Supreme, the Black Bean Quesarito and the Chicken and Steak Quesadilla are well worth the investment. The best of the nacho dishes are the Nacho Bell Grande Combo  and the Nacho Party Pack.
To wash it all down, it doesn't get any better than the Mountain Dew Baja Blast, the Blue Raspberry Freeze, the Brisk Mango Fiesta and the Wild Strawberry Lemonade Freeze.

Dunkin' Donuts

Its catchy slogan "America Runs on Dunkin' " is still ranked  #1 by most Americans as is "Dunkin' Donuts' " commitment to providing its customers with tasty, flavored drinks, inspired refreshers, toasted bagels, signature donuts and a wide variety of hot and cold coffees.
Coffee, of course. remains the preferred beverage at "Dunkin' " and the coffee category boasts a number of popular choices - French Vanilla, Hazelnut, Caramel Swirl, Americano, Expresso, Macchiato, Cappuccino. As always, donuts reign supreme with Boston Kreme, Bavarian Kreme, Old-Fashioned, Glazed, Strawberry Frosted, Cruller and Jelly at the top of the leaderboard. Bagels are a continued tradition with favorites that include Cinnamon Raisin, Sesame, Everything and Poppy.

Finally, there are the refreshers, which, after drinking just one, I find myself back in line 20 minutes later for another one. All of them are exceptional from the Strawberry Dragonfruit and the Peach Passionfruit to the Coconut Milk refresher trio - Purple Pomegranate, Golden Peach and Pink Strawberry.

From the Desk of Jim R: Dining Out, A to Z: From My House to Your House, Sharing Two of my Favorite Recipes

By James V. Ruocco

From my house to you house.

Sharing two of my favorite recipes.

Both are easy to make.

They taste read good.

You don't have to spend hours in the kitchen.

All you have to do is sit back and enjoy.


Carmen's Sausage Recipe

Ingredients

Hot Italian Sausage

Italian frying peppers

Italian hot peppers

Onions

Goya Adobo

Goya Sazon

Goya tomato sauce

Olive Oil

Red pepper flakes.

Salt

Pepper

Directions:

Place sausages in a pan of boiling water for about ten minutes. When done, cut them into pieces and set aside.

Saute the peppers, onions and garlic in a frying pan with olive oil. Toss back and forth so they get coated with the olive oil and garlic. Next, add the sausages and brown them in the mixture.

Add the Adobo, Sazon, salt, pepper, red pepper flakes and the tomato sauce. Let simmer for 5-6 minutes. 

When done to your liking, place on a plate and serve.

(This recipe was given to me by "Facebook" friend and former co-worker Carmen Louis-Charles. Some variations were made to the original recipe)

Escarole and White Bean Soup

Ingredients

Escarole

White cannellini beans

Chicken Broth

Garlic

Olive Oil

Salt

Pepper

Directions:

Cut escarole into 1/4 inch-wide pieces, rinse and drain leaves.

In large pot, add chicken broth and bring to a boil. Add escarole, white beans, salt and pepper.

In frying pan, saute garlic in olive oil and cook until fragrant. Add garlic to the soup and stir occasionally until soup is ready to serve.

Garnish with Parmesan cheese before serving.

For Sushi Lovers: The 25 Best Sushi Restaurants in Connecticut

By James V. Ruocco

Bluefin Tuna Nigiri

Hamachi Citrus Sashimi

Doen Jang Geegae

Smoked Salmon Sushi

Yaki Udon

Ginger Shrimp on Crispy Rice

Kalbi Tang
Nabeyaki Udon
Dumpling Rice Cake Soup
Tekka Don
Kimchi Jeyuk Bokkeum

Truffle Wasabi Tuna Dumpling

Boo Samm

Kumamoto Oysters
Baby Bok Choy & Napa Cabbage

Connecticut is responsible for gifting sushi lovers with a number of restaurant choices to wet their palate, indulge in menu-friendly appetizers, soups, dinners and afters and utilize the traditional and inventive delicacies handcrafted by chefs and prepared authentically to satisfy your cravings.

It's dining culture of every price range expanded attentively to your liking to cities like Westport, Fairfield, New Haven, Greenwich, Hartford and Farmington, among others.

You can order a prix fixe gourmet sushi classic. You can splurge on quintessential Asian cuisine that's well worth kicking your American Express card into overdrive. You can enjoy colorful, creative plates from an eclectic menu of high-quality food. And finally, you can take a chance on something new that can easily pack a surprise punch.

The choice, of course, is yours.
To make things easy, here's your guide to the very best sushi restaurants in the state.
Indulge.
Enjoy.
Relax.
Feel the spark.
Let the true star of the plate shine.
Succumb to the vibe of meals of freewheeling creativity.
Set your expectations high when naming and selecting the restaurant of your choice.

That said, here's your list of the very best,

In alphabetical order:

Bamboo Asian Cuisine
3 Melrose Drive
Farmington, CT
Phone: (860) 409-0888

Daiko Japanese Restaurant & Jerry-San's Sushi Bar
400 Derby Ave
West Haven, CT
Phone: (203) 392-3626

Dozo Asian Bistro & Sushi

1450 Whalley Ave

New Haven, CT

Phone: (203) 387-4898

Feng Chophouse

93 Asylum St

Hartford, CT

Phone: (860) 549-3364

Fin Japanese Restaurant
1241 Post Road
Fairfield, CT
Phone: (203) 255-6788

Fusion 25
123 S Main St
Newtown, CT
Phone: (203) 304-9688

Ginza Japanese Restaurant

1295 Silas Deane Highway

Westhersfield, CT

Phone: (860) 563-8855

Ichiban Japanese & Korean

530 Farmington Ave

Hartford, CT

Phone: (860) 236-5599

Ichiro Hibachi & Sushi
962 Farmington Ave
West Hartford, CT
Phone: (203) 465-1055

Jade Garden in Woodbury
670 Main St S
Woodbury, CT
Phone: (203) 586-5070

Kama Sushi Japanese Restaurant

2410 Main St

Stratford, CT

Phone: (203) 381-9366

Ki Asian Bistro & Sushi

7 Eagle Rd

Danbury, CT

Phone: (203) 942-2916

Little Kitchen of Westport
420 Post Road E
Westport, CT
Phone: (203) 454-5540

Meadow Asian Cuisine
532 Hopmeadow St
Simsbury, CT
Phone: (860) 408-9800

Miku Sushi

68 Greenwich Ave

Greenwich, CT

Phone: (203) 900-7676

Miso Japanese Restaurant

15 Orange St

New Haven, CT

(203) 848-6472

Miya's Sushi
68 Howe St
New Haven, CT
Phone: (203) 777-9760

OKO
6 Wilton Rd
Westport, CT
Phone: (203) 557-8404

Red Corner Asian Bistro

780 Lakewood Rd

Waterbury, CT

Phone: (203) 753-8889

Sakura Japanese Steak House

544 Straits Turnpike

Watertown, CT

Phone: (860) 417-6010

Singo Sushi
1480 Meriden Road
Waterbury, CT
Phone: (203) 465-1055

Tengda of Westport
1330 Post Road E
Westport, CT
Phone: (203) 255-6115

Tisumi Sushi

2850 Main St

Glastonbury, CT

Phone: (860) 408-2826

Tokyo Japanese Restaurant

172 Queen St

Southington, CT

Phone: (860) 276-0706

Wild Rice
370 Main St
Norwalk, CT
(203) 849-1688