Last Vacation post

Here it is November and I am finally finishing our vacation posts. These last two are of some food you can only get (or it was originally made) in the small town where my aunt and uncle live. 

First up Sceamin' Mimi's. An ice cream shop that sells flavors like lavender along with traditional flavors. We took a walk down there one evening and that place was so busy. 

Totally worth the exercise and calories. 

Now this is my aunt's business. When I was little and we would visit I would watch her get ready to go to work in her dad's restaurant. We went to that restaurant often through the years. I loved the house dressing (made with anchovies) so yummy. As time went on her dad retired and the restaurant was no more but my aunt and her brother have kept the family food traditions going. First they had a deli for a few years a few towns away from where they live. Now they are distributing minestrone. While there I asked for some. It is available in gallon bags. There was no way I'd be able to eat a whole gallon during the few days we were there so my aunt opened one and gave me a jar of it. Yummy.

I am so glad that we were able to get out of town for a week. Especially since life can be hectic and I'm not sure when we will be able to go away again.

Another vacation post.

When I was growing up and we would go on vacation we always took the time to visit the small town cemetery where my maternal grandmother and several other family members are buried. 

Once I was married and my hubby came with me I was a little surprised when he said it was fun to go to the cemetery with my family. I have always loved to go because it is an adventure trying to remember where everyone is buried. I loved hearing my mom and her cousins 

speak about family members and the people they grew up with. 

Since we were close we set up a time to go and place flowers on all our family's graves.

The cemetery is at the end of a one lane winding road up a hill that has several houses on it.

The grandma's grave. There was a red rose bush planted here and that was one of the reasons we visited frequently to help keep it trimmed back and looking good. The grave stone has lost its footing a few times but it was looking good on this day.

My grandfather. 

My boys have only been to a cemetery once when their grandfather was interred.

 It was very hard for my youngest as we walked around.

Back down the hill and in town. This is a foot bridge but it used to be the bridge to come into town. See how narrow it is? I remember traveling over it to get to my cousin's house so scary especially when big trucks would need to cross too.

Biscuits and chocolate gravy

When I was a young teenager my next door neighbor asked me to ride with her to her mom's to pickup her kids and stay a few days. We drove the six hours and stayed with her mom. In the morning she made biscuits and chocolate gravy. I had never had chocolate gravy before. I was hooked but have been unable to have it until I saw this recipe on the food network.

Now I used canned biscuits but the gravy tastes exactly as I remember. So good and a once in a while indulgence.