Restaurant Review: The Settles Hotel

   It is a Johnson family tradition to never celebrate a birthday or holiday on time. My mom is a pediatric nurse, my brother Nathan is an ER nurse, my oldest brother Zach is a homicide detective, and my dad oversees the blood bank. Basically everyone can be called to an emergency at the drop of a hat. So we all celebrated my birthday last night at an historic hotel in Big Spring, Texas called the Settles hotel. It is a swanky place that was originally built in the 1930's. We started with an appetizer of roasted meatballs in a marinara sauce that wasn't very appetizing. I love meatballs in a smoky sauce but I found these to be lacking. I am pretty sure I could have made a better product in my own kitchen.

  Along with the meatballs I ordered a minted lemonade which was Divine! This drink was so splendidly good I ordered two.

   Thankfully, dinner more than made up for the appetizer. Steven and I both ordered the New York strip steak with garlic mashed potatoes and bourbon onions. I added mac & cheese onto my meal because I can be a glutton at my birthday dinner. The meat was cooked just right and the potatoes were a succulent mash of loveliness. The mac & cheese was very decadent and creamy.  I ate everything on my plate. No shame in my game!

   Happy Birthday dinner to me!!! The food, and company was just what I wanted after a long week of working two jobs and busting my ass in school. Hope everyone has a great Sunday!

Waiting for the family at the entrance to the hotel. 

Me and my daddy before our food coma. 

Burritos and Coffee

    So it's 10 pm here in the bustling metropolis that is Odessa Texas (totally kidding about the metropolis thing) and I am roasting poblano peppers. They smell utterly fantastic and will taste wildly good in the queso I'm making for +Steven Larizza. I better be earning some serious wife points for staying up past my bedtime making homemade steak queso burritos. His favorite restaurant Qdoba is back in Virginia along with his beloved burritos. So I brewed some French Market coffee with almond milk to help me stay up for the next few hours. This burrito will contain chopped steak, queso, jasmine lime rice, habanero sauce, and pinto beans. Can you dig this? Tons of wifey points being made here y'all.

    As I stay up with my coffee and ingredients I cannot help but think of my soul sister +Shawntee DesaRay Goff who is going through some adversity. However, I have the utmost faith that she will be able to handle whatever is thrown at her. I have always said that I am truly blessed by knowing her and her beautiful soul. This woman will move mountains one day and be an inspiration to many people. This lovely gal is a loud mouthed, loving, feisty, and intelligent human being who will bake a cake in a crisis and give you courage to face anything. During some of the hardest times in my life she has stood by me, when many abandoned me. If words could heal a broken heart or act as a salve to soothe an emotional wound, I would write for an eternity to brighten up this darling woman.
 
    +Shawntee DesaRay Goff know that you are loved and needed in this world. Your family is very blessed to have you in their corner. Remember you have this tiny viking in your corner and that God will give you unfailing strength to bear. Love you sis! xoxoxoxo

P.S. I totally talked about food but I know you will eventually forgive me ;)