I had a class this afternoon that ended early enough to make a quick run to the grocery store before I needed to get home to meet the kids after school...Oh, and I needed to go to the liquor store too.
Now, I am 37 years old, and I have never been to a liquor store. But I have a recipe for a Penne with Vodka Sauce that I've been dying to try, so I had to go to the liquor store to buy the vodka.
The liquor store is across the street from the store I teach at. It's in a seedy little strip mall next to an even seedier restaurant called The Pear Tree Inn. I've been to the Pear Tree once for a drink after a class - some of my students took me out. But that's the closest I've been to the liquor store.
I fully expected the store to be dark, and dusty. I also expected there to be a pot-bellied old man with plaid polyester pants behind the counter smoking a cigar. I felt certain there would be other men staggering around the store in a drunken stupor.
Instead, there was the cutest little short haired woman with a big smile on her face at the checkout, one very distinguished businessman looking at the brandys, and the whole place was lit up like a nice gourmet grocery store. Well, color me surprised!
The checker helped me pick out a good quality, resonably priced vodka and I was on my way. Mission accomplished.
I stopped at the grocery store nearby to get some pasta and a ham for Sunday and some fruit since we have been severely fruit deficient lately. I found some whole grain penne with milled flaxseed in it - a good healthy pasta I'll serve for dinner with the vodka sauce... love that I can sneak something healthy in for my husband especially, since he's not one to eat much in the way of fiber.
It was a good day at the grocery store. Coke products were 5 for $10.00, they had Hershey's Cinnamon Chips (which I haven't been able to find for at least a year) and the bananas weren't too green.
Now I'm home, and the kids are outside jumping on the trampoline with the dog... a lovely Thursday afternoon.
Time to start the Vodka Sauce.
I'll let you know how it turns out.
HOw funny. I had to make my first trip to the liquor store the other day to buy gin. I kind of had the same expectations. I ended up buying a $25 bottle of gin for a cocktail recipie that required 4 oz. of gin because I didn't realize they kept the smaller bottles behind the counter. So, if you ever need any gin for a recipie, don't go back to the liquor store. Give me a call and we can share our big bottle of gin.
ReplyDeleteOk I have never heard of cinnamon chips! go figure, something I havent actually had to eat! lol
ReplyDeletesounds like a spectacular thursday!
ooh, cathy - is that rachel ray's "you'll never be single again" vodka cream sauce? if so - it's one of my FAVs. did you love it? if not, let's exchange recipes because every girl needs two vodka sauce recipes! ;)
ReplyDeleteooooh, Cinnamon chips? I have never heard of these. I must to get them!
ReplyDeleteHope your dinner turned out great.
I know what you mean about the liquor store. I'm 44 and I still feel like people will think I'm a lush if they see me go into a place like that. It's like I'm 15 all over again.