Hey folks! I’ve been away for a few days but am back and with something new. I’ve decided to start reviewing restaurants on a 5 star scale.

Today’s review is of Logan’s Roadhouse. Because I just can’t hold it in, I’m gonna go ahead and say it. Logan’s gets 5 STARS from me! I’ve been a huge fan of this place since my first visit. Now keep in mind, there is one particular thing about this place that certain people won’t like and I’ll discuss in a minute.

APPEARANCE

Outside: Not nearly enough parking space but normal for a popular place. Landscape consists of shrubs and rock gardens. No benches outside.

Inside: I mentioned there are no benches outside to sit on (assuming you’re on a wait-list), but instantly stepping inside, you will find a room with benches around each wall, as well as when you walk into the actual restaurant. The wood is beautiful and there is a bar to one side, dining area at the other. The first thing you are going to notice (aside from the friendly help) is peanut shells laying all over the floor. WHAT THE HECK? Did someone forget to sweep the dang floor? NOOOOOOO! While this may not appeal to some people, this is just one of the things I love about this place. It is a place to relax, have fun, and snack while you’re waiting on your main course. When seated, you will find a bucket of peanuts on the table. You can eat and eat as many as you want because refills are free. Best of all, you don’t have to mess with the shells because you simply throw them on the floor. That’s right folks, you throw them on the floor! This may sound unpleasant but I assure you that the place is clean otherwise and such a warming environment.

Bathrooms: Clean, always have toilet paper, and mirrors clean. NO smell in any of the bathrooms I’ve been to at any of the Logan’s restaurants.

STAFF

From the moment you are greeted at the front desk to the moment you leave, you are made to feel welcomed. I’ve been to Logan’s on MANY occasions and have only had 1 waitress that was not as friendly as the others. One thing I like about the waiters and waitresses, is that they address my children no matter their age. They make them feel important by asking them directly what they want, even to my not quite 2 year old.

Everyone is dressed appropriatly and neatly. Hair is out of the way of faces AND food;)

FOOD!

OMG…..there food is sooo good. We’ve tried several items on the menu and have been very happy with all of it. Are you a steak lover? Or perhaps you aren’t sure as to what that piece of meat or fish look like? You can walk up to a window with the different cuts labeled for you’re viewing & decision making pleasure.

When you order a steak and they bring it out to you, you are asked to cut it open to see if it’s done to your liking. I LOVE that, well, my husband loves that because he’s a steak man and that means they care about whether or not you’re happy with it and if you’re not, they’re gonna make you happy by-golly!

My top food recommendations are Rib-eye, Grilled Salmon, sauteed mushrooms and the loaded mash potatoes! Those potatoes are to die for. You are basically getting a “loaded” baked potato without the work.

I failed to mention that peanuts aren’t the only thing you get free, you also get their melt-in-your-mouth rolls! Gah, I could just eat those for the main course.

While I usually drink sweet tea, I do enjoy their HUGE daquiries! Of course my husband is partial to the cold beer but they have something for everyone and if it’s not on the menu, they’ll try to figure it out and make it.

PRICES

I think the prices are outstanding for the quality of food they serve, not to mention the proportions. They are generous and worth every cent.

FINAL THOUGHTS

The food is wonderful, the place is inviting & fun, and the staff is super friendly. I love it and recommend it. It’s a great place to hang out with friends and take your kids too.   I’ve seen people of all ages there so give it a try.

Popularity: 5% [?]

Hmmm, I hope you’re not thinking what I think your thinking!…LOL.  A great sweet to eat this is.  Easy to–the kiddos would enjoy this!

INGREDIENTS:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, melted
• 3 1/2 cups powedered sugar
• 2 cups creamy peanut butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups (2 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 tablespoon solid vegatable shortening (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Combine the melted butter, powedered sugar, peanut butter, and vanilla in a large bowl and stir until well blended and smooth.  Chill for 2 hours, or until firm enough to easily handle.  Roll the mixture into 1-inch balls and place on a sheet of wax paper.  Melt the chocolate chips and shortening, if using, in the top of a double boiler over simmering water, stirring until smooth.  (The shortening makes the chocolate shiny.) With a thin skewer or a toothpick, spear each ball and dip it into the melted chocolate, leaving a small area uncovered to make it look like a buckeye nut.  Place the dipped balls back on the wax paper to cool and remove the toothpicks.  Drip a bit of melted chocolate over the holes make by the toothpicks.  Chill until firm.  Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 weeks.

Popularity: 5% [?]

First, woohoo, we have a winner for the Cuisinart Food Prep Processor.  There were sooooo many entries!!  Thanks so much for entering:) 

May 1st officially kick started my 3 month long giveaway!  Every week from May 1st until July 31, I’ll be giving away a prize.  Let me tell you people, you won’t wanna miss this.  I’ve already given away a Cuisinart Food Processor and I currently have a Kitchenaid Stand Mixer giveaway going on right now!

The best way for you to keep track of each weekly giveaway, is to subscribe to my feed via RSS reader or by EMAIL.  If you choose email, you MUST confirm your subscription or you won’t get any updates.   I promise you will receive NO spam!  Only email updates when I make a new post here. 

I’ve made it VERY easy to enter so everyone can win.  What is that you ask?  Do I ship anywhere?  ABSOLUTELY!  I have always made my contests & giveaways eligible to everyone no matter where you live.  If UPS or USPS can deliver there, I’ll mail it there. 

TODAY’S PRIZE: GIFT SET THAT INCLUDES A KITCHENAID CHEESE & FOOD MILL, COOKING USA COOKBOOK, & 3 DISH TOWELS!…. with a Wooden Spoon;)

Prize Details: 1 Kitchenaid Professional Cheese & Food Mill.  2 blades are included–Course Grating Blade for nuts, coconut, and eggs.  Fine Grating Blade for cheese, garlic, spices, breadcrumbs, dry herbs, etc.  You basically put your stuff in it and do a little twisting action!  Viola, your stuff is grated:)  The cookbook is called Cooking USA- 50 Favorite Recipes from Across America.  This has great recipes with some fun facts about each state.  You also get 3 dish towels.  2 darker red, striped ones and 1 tan striped one and of course, you get a wooden spoon;)

HOW TO WIN:

I’ve made it super simple to enter.  You can do one or all.  You get 1 entry for each one you do, with the exception of the banner.  Please try to leave everything you’ve done in ONE comment.  It makes it easier for me to keep up with;)

1. Leave a comment. EDITED: Only ONE comment per person will count!  I seem to have one particular person that thinks he can leave several comments for additional entries.  NOT THE CASE!
2. Blog about this week’s giveaway linking to this prize page OR my home page.
3. Stumble this post.  You must be a member of Stumbleupon.  Don’t lie and say you did because I can track everyone who stumbles.  Besides that’s not fair to the others  who really did stumble.  Don’t know what Stumbleupon is?  Read about stumbling here.
4. VOTE for My Wooden Spoon as the Best Food Blog at the Blogger’s Choice Awards.  Not because of the giveaways but because you genuinely enjoy my food blog.  Be sure to tell me your username in the comments.  If you have already voted for me, leave your username in the comments for me too:)

BONUS entry:  Add a banner  to your sidebar for the duration of the giveaways (which is 3mths) and I’ll automatically give you 5 extra entries into each giveaway that you choose to enter!  I MADE FOUR BANNERS THAT YOU CAN CHOOSE FROM.  CLICK HERE!  Remember, if you already have a banner up, just let me know in the comments to remind me.

The Fine Print

Every week, the 4th entry will vary.  Number 1,2, and 3 will always remain the same.   If you choose to blog about it, you must do this for each prize, each week.  Each winner (each week) will be selected randomly.  The winner will have 1 week to claim his or her prize.   You MUST contact me to claim your prize!!

THIS WEEK’S PRIZE GIVEAWAY WILL END ON MAY 15TH, 2008 AT ABOUT 10:00PM CST. 

 Good luck to all who enter!!

Popularity: 13% [?]

I’ve received a number of requests for dutch oven recipes and since I have some experience with that, I thought I would share one with you today. You can use your dutch oven in the home as well. Just bake it at 350′ until done.

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 (30 oz.) can fruit cocktail
• 1/2 tsp. ground nutmeg
• 1 (30 oz.) can sliced peaches
• 1 yellow or lemon cake mix; dry
• 1 (12 oz.) can crushed pineapple
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 1/2 cup instant tapioca
• 1/4 lb. butter; cut into pieces
• 1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS:

Into a 12″ Dutch oven add canned fruit (juice included), tapioca, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Stir to mix. Sprinkle cake mix evenly over top of fruit. Sprinkle brown sugar over top of cake mix. Dab butter all over top of brown sugar. Place lid on oven. Bake for 45 minutes to an hour using 12 briquettes top and 12 briquettes bottom heat. Cobbler is done when top is brown and cake has absorbed fruit juices and is no longer dry.

Variation: Combine 1 cup of crushed pecan halves with the brown sugar for a crunchier topping.

Serves: 8-10 depending on how much your family can stuff in their mouth!

Popularity: 6% [?]