it's crockpot season and there have been a lot of creative recipes out there! everyone in Eastern NC has their own secret family recipe for this dish, but Hungry Bear's crockpot tuna casserole takes a simple dish and makes it almost effortless. HB had a hard time turning down a 3rd helping of this delicious family friendly staple!
tools:
can opener
colander
large pot (boiling noodles)
cutting board (chopping onions)
small skillet or pan (sautéing onions)
crockpot (HB uses a 4qt)
ingredients:
4 cups egg noodles (HB uses noyolk)
1 can condensed cream of mushroom soup (10.75 ounces)
1/2 water
1/3 cup chopped onions
1/2 cup peas or corn (or both)
12 ounces tuna, drained (2 cans)
cheese (optional)
directions:
thaw peas. cook pasta according to directions, minus 1 or 2 minutes (pasta will cook more in crockpot). cook onions over medium heat just until they begin to soften. remove noodles from heat and drain. spray slow cooker with cooking spray. at this point, you will want to either assemble the casserole in layers in the crockpot (starting with noodles, peas on top) or mix all ingredients in a large bowl and pour into crockpot.
cover. cook on high 1.5-2 hours or on low for 4 hours. if cheese is desired, add 20 minutes before turning off crockpot.
prep time: 20 minutes
serves 4-6
Hungry Bear's crockpot tuna casserole does great in the fridge for up to 4 days. works great as a main dish one night and a side dish the next. sometimes HB gets adventurous and adds cooked carrots, extra seasoning, or crumbled tofu. if come up with a creative addition to our casserole, leave a comment and share!
Tuesday, February 5, 2013
review-Lawson's Landing: A Riverwalk Cafe
on a recent visit to Lawson's Landing: A Riverwalk Cafe, Hungry Bear was charmed by more than just the view. for starters, HB is always excited to see an espresso machine and always makes a point to try out the local brew. in this case, there were loads of flavors to chose from and the sugar free latte was delicious. it was weaker than expected, but still flavorful, so next time HB will just order a double.
this visit was just for a light lunch, so HB ordered two side items, the chips and hummus and the cucumber pasta salad, along with a bowl of French onion soup. the crowd was light but steady, and the weather outside drove in a few more tourists. a group of four were dining outside, enjoying their drinks before their meal, and the waitress rushed outside to rescue them when the rain approached. with all the commotion, Hungry Bear had to wait a little longer than expected for side items and soup, but the latte and panoramic river views made the wait a little easier to endure.
once the food arrived, Hungry Bear couldn't wait to dig in. the chips and hummus were a visual disappointment, but the black bean hummus proved to be a pleasant and welcome surprise! the chips were clearly from a bag from their food supplier (and not the nice ones, either), but they were fresh and hummus' bold flavors made up for where the chips were lacking. no leftovers there! as for the cucumber pasta salad, the flavors were uninteresting, the pasta was tough, and the cucumbers were unappetizing. it could've been an easy, delicious dish but this side item remained entirely uneaten in the wake of the fabulous hummus.
the French onion soup is a dish that receives criticism from anyone and everyone on all fronts. we all have our favorite version and it's hard for anything to live up to those expectations. there are criticisms online about this particular French onion soup, with most comments circulating around the use of what has been described as "Wonder Bread." Hungry Bear doesn't know exactly what kind of bread was used, but can confirm that the soup is GREAT! once you're wrapped your head around the bread on top, dig in and enjoy because these flavors are delicious and are not to be missed.
in addition to these sides and the wonderful espresso bar and side items, Lawson's Landing offers sodas, beer, wine, salads, and sandwiches. almost everything is reasonably priced under $10. the dining room is clean and rarely crowded, but it could probably get loud in there quickly if there was a large group. the Cafe is attached to the Tryon Palace's NC History Center and is located on the Trent River in historic downtown New Bern. if you time it right, you can walk next door and pick up some wonderful produce and local products at the New Bern Farmer's Market.
Lawson's Landing: A Riverwalk Cafe
this visit was just for a light lunch, so HB ordered two side items, the chips and hummus and the cucumber pasta salad, along with a bowl of French onion soup. the crowd was light but steady, and the weather outside drove in a few more tourists. a group of four were dining outside, enjoying their drinks before their meal, and the waitress rushed outside to rescue them when the rain approached. with all the commotion, Hungry Bear had to wait a little longer than expected for side items and soup, but the latte and panoramic river views made the wait a little easier to endure.
once the food arrived, Hungry Bear couldn't wait to dig in. the chips and hummus were a visual disappointment, but the black bean hummus proved to be a pleasant and welcome surprise! the chips were clearly from a bag from their food supplier (and not the nice ones, either), but they were fresh and hummus' bold flavors made up for where the chips were lacking. no leftovers there! as for the cucumber pasta salad, the flavors were uninteresting, the pasta was tough, and the cucumbers were unappetizing. it could've been an easy, delicious dish but this side item remained entirely uneaten in the wake of the fabulous hummus.
the French onion soup is a dish that receives criticism from anyone and everyone on all fronts. we all have our favorite version and it's hard for anything to live up to those expectations. there are criticisms online about this particular French onion soup, with most comments circulating around the use of what has been described as "Wonder Bread." Hungry Bear doesn't know exactly what kind of bread was used, but can confirm that the soup is GREAT! once you're wrapped your head around the bread on top, dig in and enjoy because these flavors are delicious and are not to be missed.
in addition to these sides and the wonderful espresso bar and side items, Lawson's Landing offers sodas, beer, wine, salads, and sandwiches. almost everything is reasonably priced under $10. the dining room is clean and rarely crowded, but it could probably get loud in there quickly if there was a large group. the Cafe is attached to the Tryon Palace's NC History Center and is located on the Trent River in historic downtown New Bern. if you time it right, you can walk next door and pick up some wonderful produce and local products at the New Bern Farmer's Market.
Lawson's Landing: A Riverwalk Cafe
HB on Yelp & Urbanspoon
Hungry Bear is growing and you can be a part of it! read our reviews on Urbanspoon or find & friend us on Yelp. more reviews are on the way!!
Coming Soon: Hungry Bear RECIPES!!!
Saturday, February 2, 2013
review-Morgan's Tavern and Grill
Hungry Bear is ALWAYS in the mood for Morgan's Tavern and Grill in downtown New Bern! the 235 Craven Street location, has seen many different locations over the years, but Morgan's is proving to have some staying power and has created a positive buzz in the community. rightly so!
a Hungry Bear favorite are the steamed mussels and a trip to Morgan's almost always includes this delicious feature. the mussels are available as an appetizer or with noodles as an entree. the restaurant caught on and now includes pita points or bread for sopping up the mussel's delicious garlic juice. as with any shellfish, there is always a risk of getting a bad mussel, and Morgan's is no exception to this rule. management was accommodating and respectful and immediately offered a replacement or fresh bowl of mussels. HB was not discouraged and ordered them with no problem. to anyone unaccustomed to eating mussels, just avoid the ones that have not opened.
the crab dip is another deliciously decadent appetizer and comes with a generous amount of dip and pita points. some other tasty Hungry Bear favorites are the salads (big enough for 2!), salmon, pork chops, meatloaf, and the cordon bleu (limited quantities nightly). the burgers are considered the best in New Bern, and are cooked-to-order with 100% certified Angus Beef. if you're in the mood, the mac and cheese is fresh out of the oven and absolutely sinful.
Morgan's features their own beer on tap and they offer a large variety. on this particular visit, HB enjoyed a flavorful IPA and delicious pilsner. there are a wide variety of fruity martinis available on special, but don't let the sweetness fool you...they pack a pretty good punch!
since Hungry Bear's first visit a few years ago, Morgan's has changed the menu, each time for the better. the mussels were improved, new recipes kept old staples interesting, and some old favorites just got better. the bathrooms have been remodeled and look cleaner and newer.
the biggest problem HB found was the service, but the restaurant is not all to blame. in a small town like New Bern, it seems like servers move in and out of jobs quickly and the consistency appears to suffer. one of the neatest features at Morgan's are the honey covered croissants but on this visit, they were not offered. water refills were few and far between and drinks from the bar took long enough for HB to second guess ordering a second beverage. the dining room was clean overall, but the staff seemed casual and left note pads, debris, etc on the stairway to the extra (at the time, unused) stairway. the wait for the food was also a little longer that expected, but it was absolutely worth the wait.
the Hungry Bear left Morgan's Tavern and Grill with a happy, full belly and considers this restaurant to be a local landmark with the extra bonus of the handcrafted beers!
a Hungry Bear favorite are the steamed mussels and a trip to Morgan's almost always includes this delicious feature. the mussels are available as an appetizer or with noodles as an entree. the restaurant caught on and now includes pita points or bread for sopping up the mussel's delicious garlic juice. as with any shellfish, there is always a risk of getting a bad mussel, and Morgan's is no exception to this rule. management was accommodating and respectful and immediately offered a replacement or fresh bowl of mussels. HB was not discouraged and ordered them with no problem. to anyone unaccustomed to eating mussels, just avoid the ones that have not opened.
Morgan's features their own beer on tap and they offer a large variety. on this particular visit, HB enjoyed a flavorful IPA and delicious pilsner. there are a wide variety of fruity martinis available on special, but don't let the sweetness fool you...they pack a pretty good punch!
since Hungry Bear's first visit a few years ago, Morgan's has changed the menu, each time for the better. the mussels were improved, new recipes kept old staples interesting, and some old favorites just got better. the bathrooms have been remodeled and look cleaner and newer.
the biggest problem HB found was the service, but the restaurant is not all to blame. in a small town like New Bern, it seems like servers move in and out of jobs quickly and the consistency appears to suffer. one of the neatest features at Morgan's are the honey covered croissants but on this visit, they were not offered. water refills were few and far between and drinks from the bar took long enough for HB to second guess ordering a second beverage. the dining room was clean overall, but the staff seemed casual and left note pads, debris, etc on the stairway to the extra (at the time, unused) stairway. the wait for the food was also a little longer that expected, but it was absolutely worth the wait.
the Hungry Bear left Morgan's Tavern and Grill with a happy, full belly and considers this restaurant to be a local landmark with the extra bonus of the handcrafted beers!
review-T&W Oyster Bar
all New Bern locals know about T&W Oyster Bar in Swansboro, located a few miles north from the Emerald Isle bridge. if you are interested in fresh steamed oysters, shucked for you by the pros, then this is your spot!
Hungry Bear went with an appetite and wasn't disappointed. this was not HB's first visit, but it was the first time there was ever a line. the line went out the door and was filled with locals and people who had driven up to an hour for this unique experience. in spite of the line, the wait wasn't long and once inside, the service was prompt. HB is pretty serious when it comes to oysters, so sitting at the bar was the obvious choice. the hushpuppies (dipped in butter, of course) and fried clam strips were a perfect appetizer while waiting for the made-to-order oysters. the clam strips were fried to perfection and the hushpuppy recipe is classic and flavorful, and the waitresses kept 'em coming! once the oysters arrived, a master shucker served the oysters on a plate along with hot butter and cocktail sauce.
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| you can't miss this sign on HWY 58 |
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| plate of 'Roosters' (note: it's just good manners to offer your 'shucker' a Rooster!) |
for the bravest customers, upon request, the shuckers will put together a Rooster, and HB is no stranger to this local favorite. and yes, the Hungry Bear bought a t-shirt on the way out and all the shirts read the same thing: "I survived the Rooster at T&W Oyster Bar!"
a classic 'Rooster'
-1tsp horseradish on saltine cracker and top with 1 oyster and 1 slice of jalapeno
-add Texas Pete hot sauce and black pepper to taste
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| 'Rooster' close up on past visits, the Hungry Bear has enjoyed the shrimp bisque, fried shrimp, fried oysters, fried scallops, and cheap beer pitchers! |
empty bowls
one of the best annual food events in New Bern is the Empty Bowls lunch at Temple Baptist Church. this unique event is happening on February 14 from 11-2. Empty Bowls is a joint outreach of Religious Community Services and the Craven Arts Council & Gallery, designed to fight hunger and help support the Arts Council. the $25 ticket includes your choice of a homemade soup, homemade bread, and a bowl made by a local artist. the soup is always great, and the bowl you get to keep is 100% unique. the Hungry Bear won't miss this one!
Video from Empty Bowls 2012
review-Bethlehem Shop & Deli
one thing Hungry Bear can't resist is a great gyro! when the Bethlehem Shop & Deli opened up in the Berne Square shopping center, the Hungry Bear couldn't wait to give it a try. the gyro plate portions are generous enough to save for later, but are so delicious HB didn't end up having anything left. this plate comes with 2 half pitas fully stuffed with beef strips, lettuce, cucumbers, pickled turnips (yum!), and tzatziki sauce. this comes with 2 sides: more pickled turnips and a tasty olive on the side, and HB's pick, baba ghanouj. the baba ghanouj came with it's own extra pita points for dipping. HB also tried the side of hummus and it was delicious and perfectly creamy. the Hungry Bear loves dipping, so this is a big plus! see the menu pictured below for more info about entrees, sides, deserts, etc.
while waiting for the freshly made-to-order meal, the Hungry Bear browsed the shop and was excited to see some cheap authentic alternatives to some uncommon ingredients. the diverse selection included an HB favorite, lupini beans! in addition to the groceries, the gift shop has jewelry and other interesting trinkets and authentic decor, as well as flavored tobacco and coffee brewing accessories.
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| Beef Gyro w/ pickled turnips & baba ghanouj |
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| while visiting the Bethlehem Shop, HB picked up some cheap spices and some yummy lupini beans! |
the biggest temptation for the Hungry Bear was the dessert display. located next to the diverse selection of packaged candies, the desserts are freshly made and the owners advertise great deals making it nearly impossible to resist the ballorieh, borma, and baklava. the Bethlehem Shop's sugar-free baklava is the tastiest and cheapest the Hungry Bear has found in New Bern so far!
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| menu found at the Bethlehem Shop's facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Bethlehem-Shop/209906339043876 |
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