Ten Things Tuesday

So I was getting ready for my day this morning, standing at the sink and thinking about what the heck I’m going to write for a Ten Things Tuesday list. I’ve been a little short on inspiration lately - I’m not sure why that is, but there you have it - so I’ve been trying to come up with good, listable categories.

I came up with the seven deadly sins! HEY, I thought, I can work with that! Then I realized that, really, the only sin that I can come up with ten true statements about would be gluttony - and maybe wrath and pride, if I worked at it - but I’m completely screwed when it comes to lust, sloth, envy, or greed.

Whatever. I’ll work with what I’ve got. Under the heading of “gluttony,” here, in no particular order, are ten of my favorite places to go out to eat.

1. The Olive Garden. Our mode of operation in this place is to go in knowing that we’re going to take at least half of our entrees home because we load up on salad and bread sticks before the dinner plates ever hit the table. That’s okay, though; we’ve learned from experience that nearly everything they put out reheats nicely for lunch the next day. My current favorite dinner there is the mushroom ravioli with tomato sauce instead of the cream sauce that comes on it. Mr. Chili is overly fond of the chicken marsala.

2. Bertucci’s. We’ve got to drive an hour to get there, but if we find ourselves in the neighborhood anyway, we make a point of stopping in. I used to be in love with the olive oil they put out with the bread for dipping, until I got sick one day and the last thing I ate before I got sick was the olive oil. I’m sure my being sick had nothing to do with the food - I’d probably been brewing this sick for a few days - but now it’s doomed by association. No matter; the rolls are just as yummy slathered in too much butter, and the carmalized onion pizza is heavenly.

3. Ruby Tuesday’s. We’ve grown fond of the mini-burgers and salad bar at our local restaurant, though I’ve tried their ribs and found them to be quite yummy. Beanie likes the mac and cheese they offer there - it’s not the usual Kraft, orange cheese variety (though I’m sure it comes to the store in frozen bricks, regardless), and Punkin’ Pie is fond of the kid sized ribs and salad, so everyone’s happy.

4. The 99. We end up there when we’re not quite sure what it is we want. More often than not, they’ll let me order off the kids’ menu (not very gluttonous, I know, but what can I tell you?) and they do a mean little steak. I sometimes like just getting the potato skins as my dinner, too, though I feel guilty about that and usually add a salad to the order, just to try to feel somewhat virtuous.

5. Uno’s. We haven’t been there in a long time, come to think of it, but I like it just the same. I had a long stretch of being addicted to their house salad dressing - a lovely, light, red wine vinaigrette - and really enjoyed their large salad with crispy chicken on top. I’m also quite fond of the deep dish pizzas, and Mr. Chili and I have, on more than one occasion, shared a bbq chicken pizza - he gives me the onions and I scoot some of my chicken over to his side (they always put too much chicken on).

6 . T.G.I. Friday’s. Here’s another place that I go to for one dish; their pecan crusted chicken salad. The dressing, a balsamic vinaigrette, is tangy and sharp, which is a nice contrast to the sweet cranberry raisins and the earthy pecan coating on the cold, baked chicken breast. I was addicted to this salad last summer, when MeadMaker and I would meet at our local Friday’s on Tuesdays for lunch together.

7. McDonald’s. Hey, we’ve got little kids, and McD’s is a good place to stop when everyone’s hungry. I get the same thing every time - and have for years - a Quarter Pounder without cheese, add extra onions, and then I smother the thing in catchup. For all that I love catchup on the burger, I won’t eat any fries that have catchup on them; McD’s fries should be naked and over-salted. I know it’s terrible food, but if we’re in the mood, it’s the only thing that will do.

8. Macaroni Grille. We don’t have one of these near us - the closest one is nearly an hour and a half away and we’re almost NEVER in that neighborhood, but it makes the list because whenever we ARE near one, we go in. I’m very fond of the pasta bowls; the chicken scaloppine, with sauteed chicken breast and mushrooms, artichokes, tangy capers and smoked prosciutto in a lemon butter sauce, is my favorite.

9. Panera. It’s a sandwich shop and doesn’t really belong on a gluttonous list, but it’s on there anyway because I really love the portobello and mozzarella panini with half a cafe salad. The focaccia they make the sandwich with has little bits of carmalized onion in it and it’s just yummy.

10. Longhorns. I only go there with WeedWoman, it seems, but I enjoy it every time we go. I’ve worked my way around the lunch menu a bit, which is strange for me, given that I tend to find something I like and stick with it. I’ve had a couple of different salads, the steak tips (yummy) and have made a perfectly sufficient lunch from their loaded baked potato and a small side salad.

Now I’m hungry….

Happy Tuesday, Everyone!