Dodgers Spring Training - Day 1

Aloha ~

Today was the first of three games that we will be attending on our Spring Training Mini-Pack. What better way to spend St Patty’s Day then with the boys in Blue---or in this case Green.

The Dodgers make a big celebration out of St. Patty’s Day. They put on the green uniforms and have green shirts and hats for the fans to purchase. I, of course, got mine.

My new shirt and hat

and from the back

They encourage the fans to get into the spirit of the season. Some fans are a little more spirited than others. It took me a couple of tries to get a picture of the leprechauns. They don’t usually like to be photographed on account of I might try to steal their pot of gold.

Me Lucky Charms

Obviously, all the green brought good fortune and a beautiful day at Camelback Ranch Baseball Facility in Glendale, AZ.

Great crowd for Spring Training...8,743 tickets sold

The View from our seats

The day was made even better when the boys in Green won, beating the Milwaukee Brewers 11-1. What a great way to start.

Cheering for the team really builds up an appetite so afterward we decided to head up to Scottsdale to Pinnacle Peak Patio Steak House. We were not disappointed.

When you drive up, it looks like an old western town just out of the movies. It is a huge facility. According to their website they can seat 1,800 people. During the summer months when the patio is open the number goes to 2,000. That’s a lot of food to be serving --- and serving well.

 The Sign Says It All 

This is one of those great places that play by its own rules. One of the rules is that if you wear a tie into the restaurant, it will be cut off. Evidence of this is found by looking up…

 Tie Anyone?

The theme is carried out throughout the restaurant. When asked where the restrooms were so we could wash up before dinner, we were told to simply follow the horseshoes.

Follow the Trail

Upon first walking into the restroom, I thought all of the stalls were taken. (In a way they were.)

Sorry to disturb. I will just go wait over here...

I just love how they have truly embraced the old west feel and run with it throughout the building. If you are someone who loves old west memorabilia, you could spend hours in there just looking at the decorations.

The menus is relatively simple…mostly steaks! They do have chicken and salmon but as the saying goes “When in Rome…”

I decided to go for the Baby Back Half Combo---a half rack of baby back ribs and a steak. I am so glad that I did. The steak was so tender and full of flavor. It practically melted in my mouth. The baby backs were done to perfection, falling off the bone. Their barbecue sauce is described as a “spicey-sweet/prickly pear chipotle”. It was very good.

 Doesn't that look yummy?

And don’t forget the dessert. We shared the Apple Pie A La Mode (Dan would not move it away from him so I could get a clear shot at a picture) and the Cowpie---warm brownie topped with ice cream and chocolate sauce.

 There may have been some fighting over this one

It is a wonder we were able to walk to the car after all the food. There was so much of it but it was so good. All four of us went in ordering big thinking we would take some back with us for lunch tomorrow. Only one of us actually stuck to that. The other three of us ate until we just couldn’t do it anymore. But it was just too good to leave on the plate. Oh well, food coma is not fatal---although it may feel that way at times.

I will definitely be adding this place to my list of restaurants when I am in the Phoenix area. Great atmosphere and great food. How could you go wrong?

Oh, I plan to!

Well tomorrow is another day and another game.

Until the next time…



Road Trippin to Spring Training

Aloha ~

I have never had the opportunity --- or invitation --- to go to Dodgers Spring Training. So when a group from work started talking last fall about making a pilgrimage to Glendale, AZ, I said I was in. While I am a life-long Angels fan, I am always a baseball fan. I would rather go to a game than no game at all, doesn’t matter the team. So the six of us decided to make a mini-vacation of it and hit the road.

 

Leaving a very cloudy and overcast Orange County, CA we headed east to Arizona. Some people may not enjoy the desert but I have always thought that while it can be remote, it is absolutely amazing that life can continue to exist (and thrive) in that heat.

                  It's like two Table Moutains

So Amazing to think this was formed by nature

                                                                              I think I will call this Devil's Range

We stopped for lunch in beautiful Blythe, CA. Since pictures cannot do justice to this small desert town, I opted to let you just imagine my appreciation. (Can you hear the sarcasm in my voice?)

We did stop to gas up just over the Arizona border and I got my close-up photo of cactus. We played a little hoops in the parking lot but had to stop when we lost our ball. Still not sure what happened to it. Oh well, on with the drive.

I hate it when this happens?

Now settled into our hotel, it was time to find out where things happen in beautiful Glendale, AZ. We headed to Westgate Entertainment District. I was excited to see where the Phoenix Coyote’s play. (Again, I am an LA Kings fan but you have to appreciate all sports teams). Apparently everyone else decided this was the place to be tonight as well. Reminded me of home….an hour plus wait to be seated at the restaurants. The shortest wait was at Jimmy Buffet’s Margaretville so that is where we ate.

While sometimes you sacrifice quality of food at a theme restaurant, I was pleasantly surprised. Wish the same could be said for the service but I digress. Of course, we started with cocktails. I ordered a Ragtop Day. It included Effen Cucumber Vodka. ..sounds interesting, no?

Ragtop Day  (see below for ingredients)

 I also ordered the Fish & Chips which were very good. I would recommend them on your next visit.

I love good beer-batter fish and chips. None of that breaded stuff. The coleslaw was also very good. Almost a cross between a mayo based and vinegar based recipe. It was a good balance. And of course, gotta love the fries. It you like tartar sauce, try dipping your fries in it next time. It's very good.

Desert Sunset

As the sun set on our first day, we are all excited about spending the next 3 days cheering on the boys in Blue!

Until the next time...


Ragtop Day Ingredients

Effen Cucumber Vodka
Monin Watermelon Syrup
Pineapple Juice
Cranberry Juice
Splash of Soda Water

Skillet Lemon Chicken

Aloha ~

It has been a while since my last post. Amazing how time flies.

I am making a bit more of an effort to cook dinners at home and thought I would share. Like a lot of people these days, I look for new and interesting recipes on Pinterest and then make them my own.

Tonight, I tried a Lemon Chicken Recipe in my cast iron skillet. I made a couple of adjustments from the original recipe and was very happy with my efforts. Next time I think I will put the lemon slices under the chicken instead of at the bottom of the skillet.

So here it is...

Lemon Chicken Skillet

2 lemons, thinly sliced
3/4 lbs trimmed green beans
8 small red potatoes, cut in 1/2 slices
4 tbsp olive oil
2 tsp lemon juice
1 tsp sea salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground pepper
2 tsp minced garlic
4 boneless skinless chicken breasts - sliced in half
       (or 10-12 skinless bones chicken tenderloins)

Preheat oven to 450°F.

In a large bowl, combine olive oil, lemon juice, sea salt, pepper and minced garlic. Coat cast-iron skillet or large baking dish with 1 tbsp of olive oil mixture. Arrange the potatoes on bottom of skillet or dish and then flip each slice over to coat. Next, arrange green beans on top of potatoes. Top green beans with layer of lemon slices

Place chicken in olive oil mixture and toss to coat. Place chicken in skillet or dish on top of lemon slices. Pour any remaining olive oil mixture over chicken.

               Ready for the oven

Roast chicken and vegetable for 50 minutes. Remove from heat and cut into chicken to make sure it is cooked through. Once chicken is done, plate into 4 servings. I would suggest plating chicken first and then placing some of the lemon slices on top for presentation. Then plate potatoes and green beans. Serve immediately.

Hope you enjoy this as much as we did.

Until next time....