by amvandenhurk | Dessert, Holiday
When I worked for Girl Scouts in Delaware, I always looked forward to the macaroons served at the end of every event at the Hotel DuPont. They are made with almond paster, sugar, and egg whites. They are divine. And a Wilmington tradition.
At Thanksgiving I made a coconut custard pie and had a lot of shredded coconut left over. On the back of the package, there was a recipe for coconut macaroons. I thought I’d try it for our annual Christmas Parade Porch Party to go with my hot chocolate bar.
It was my first time making macaroons and I was a bit unsure. They turned out very nice and easy to make:
2 egg whites
2/3 cup of sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
pinch of salt
1/2 bag of coconut flakes
Preheat oven to 325F. Grease cookie sheet.
Beat egg whites until they are fluffy. Slowly add sugar as you continue to beat the egg whites then add the vanilla and pinch of salt. Once soft peaks have formed then fold in the coconut. Mix the ingredients.
Place drops about 2″ apart on the cookie sheet.
And bake at 325F for 20 minutes.
You could melt chocolate and dip the baked macaroons for some added.
Were they are good as the Hotel DuPont’s? Nope. Not even close. Maybe with practice and their recipe.
by amvandenhurk | Lifestyle, Restaurant Review
Quality over quantity. That’s a foreign concept to many of the restaurants where I reside in eastern North Carolina. The mantra of cheap and plentiful rules when it comes to dining. Where most meals are disappointing. At least for me. I crave fresh and interesting combinations. Don’t get me wrong, I do enjoy my fried foods. Just once in a while.
Choosing a restaurant on a Friday or Saturday night can be cumbersome. And frankly we often just end up cooking at home those nights because there is minimal choice unless you want chain restaurants or “home-cooking.” And we usually make the thirty minute drive to Greenville for any ethnic food such as Indian or Thai.
This is where
Milton & Miles enters the picture. It is located in the Imperial Centre in Rocky Mount. The Imperial Centre is a cultural hub for Nash county housing museums and performing arts venues as well as this small cafe. In another life, it was a tabacco processing plant and the bones are still there giving it a modern industrial feel.
I didn’t know Milton & Miles existed until I recently when I had a business meeting there in the morning. So glad my friend Ken suggested we meet there. I’m glad I found it. It serves breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday and dinner on Thursdays and Fridays. I came back with my guys for a Friday night dinner.
For Milton & Miles, they serve small plates or bites. To me, the dishes were perfect in portion allowing diners to get a handful of dishes to share. All of us felt comfortably full at the end of the meal. The quality of ingredients was high. Presentation was pleasing to the eye. The prices were reasonable ($4-$9 per dish.)
So what did we have?
Biscuits with Strawberry Jam & Maple View Butter. It was a lovely way to start the meal.
Turkey with Cucumber & Cranberries. Light and refreshing.
Beef Braised in Red Wine with Roasted Veg. The classic beef dish done right.
Pulled Pork with Sweet Korean Pickles. Wonderful combination of an eastern North Carolina staple of pulled pork with Korean condiments.
Liege Waffle with Vanilla Cream, Honey Almonds, & Maple Syrup. The Liege Waffle is a house speciality and is devine.
Two Coconut Macaroons with Chocolate Espresso Glaze. A classic with a twist.
I like the fact that the owner Brian is there interacting with patrons and sharing his passion for the coffee, wine, and/or food. He shared with me that his meats are locally sourced from
Blazing Cattle Company, a well-respected butchery in Tarboro known for their quality meats.
What a refreshing place! I have to say it was one of the most relaxed meals I’ve had living in eastern North Carolina. While we were there, there was a group of professional women enjoying wine and different small plates while sitting on comfortable chairs and a couch. It is a place to have leisurely meal while enjoying the company of whoever you are with. That’s golden to me. Dining should be an experience. One to be enjoyed not rushed.
We’re going back. We want to support small, local restaurants which are focusing on quality over quantity. This restaurant would not be out of place in any larger city.
And I suggest you pay Milton & Miles a visit. Support local.
Milton & Miles
270 Gay Street
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
252.210.9515
Hello! I'm Ann Marie and I wear the well-worn apron. Join me as explore plant-based eating while I live on an island off the U.S. state of Rhode Island.