Food has taken me everywhere this month...and then some. First off...the stove saga. We last left off where Suzy Suburb blew out her oven three months ago. On Christmas morning, the stove took a turn for the worse. The broiler died, and I managed to smash a glass bowl containing corn cake batter into one of the burners. Down to only three burners, the oven was sending me an urgent message and I had to listen. After loads of emails offering tips (thanks to all and I apologize if some were not answered), I went in search of a super hero stove at Sears in the Independence Mall. Have any of you ever applied to get a Sears card? I've been turned down for 14 years straight even with a credit score well over seven hundred! What do you have to do to get one of these cards? I'm watching all of these people, no different from me, pulling out their wallets and paying with Sears cards. I wanted to kick them in the teeth. Do you need to be a specific blood type? Does your breath have to smell like roses? Do they have a red flag on me? Did my mom call them? Maybe an exboyfriend?

After an eighteen year old pulled out HIS Sears card, I had quite enough. I marched right up to the sales associate and decided to be humiliated for the 15th time by applying for this piece of plastic. I watched the computer like a hawk. I made sure the associate plugged in all information accurately...and then I waited. It felt like twenty years had passed when the receipt printed with the final result. Finally after fifteen years I was deemed worthy and they approved me. I wanted to dance on top of all the ovens, do cartwheels across the store and jump from fridge to fridge in sheer delight. Finally, I could get my new stove. I opted for a 36" JennAir stainless steel gas model with six burners and a nice big oven. I purchased the 22" back splash for it and there went all the credit Sears allowed me. Well worth it. No interest and no payments for six months and I qualified for a 15% cash back rebate. Sears quoted me on the installation to switch to gas and I received a second quote from Dan Maybruck, a Kingston resident with a business under the same name. Their quote was better than Sears and Dan came personally to the house on a Monday night to quote the job. Not to mention, they were there the very next afternoon to begin work on installing it. My dog Diva barked incessantly and fantasized about eating Roberto the Plumber , but he still worked with a smile. I'd highly recommend Dan Maybruck Plumbing & Heating and I would use them again and again. They took care of the permit, meeting the inspector and the final installation. Everything went off perfectly. I think Roberto was hoping I'd boil Diva as my first culinary experiment.

My husband is now terrified of the thought of me and gas so he went out and bought another carbon monoxide detector for the house. I must admit I was afraid to break her in too but I had no choice. I had to serve as a personal chef for a dinner party for thirteen the following day and needed to make several Italian breads, roasted garlic, and candied pecans. This oven delivered and I absolutely love it. The personal chef gig was a hoot too. I cooked for a wonderful family in Plymouth who were determined to get me tipsy on the best Key Lime Martinis I have ever tasted! (Thanks Bill!) The menu consisted of a dipping station of flavored olive oil, roasted heads of garlic, assorted gourmet olives and chunks of my homemade focaccia bread. A little drizzle of balsamic vinegar, hearty shavings of Parmesan cheese and the platters were complete. Rave reviews. The meal was completed with a delicious baby spinach salad with oranges, red onion, goat cheese, candied pecans and an orange vinaigrette. Sooo good! Beef tenderloin, garlic parmesan risotto and roasted asparagus wrapped in prosciutto put their bellies in paradise. Dessert consisted of flourless chocolate tortes and the most beautiful lemon butter cake with strawberries, whipped cream and an arrangement of fresh flowers on top. It was a rustic masterpiece. I only set their fire alarm off once, and my assistant Ginger only broke one dish so I considered the night a success.

After all that cooking, I needed someone to cook ME a meal. So I headed off with the kids to the Roo Bar in Plymouth. Located in historic Cordage Park, the Roo Bar opened in May and features an eclectic menu with traditional infusions. We arrived at 5pm, just as the dining room opened and we were seated promptly. The decor is jazzy and crisp and I felt like I was in Boston. The real test would be how kid-friendly there were. Normally, the kids talk me into Chilis, Friendly's or Applebees, but I wanted a healthy meal and made them try Roo Bar out. They were highly skeptical. Our waitress was Mary and she was awfully sweet. She mixed the boys up two Shirley Temples with two cherries each. They liked this place already. I enjoyed the warm selection of breads and dipping oil that preceded the meal. The kids threw in a special request for plain ole butter and Mary had it back in no time.

Don't expect to find chicken nuggets on this menu. The only item I knew the kids would eat was the fire grilled pizza. They feature a diverse selection of gourmet pizzas including Shrimp & Feta pizza, and Lobster and Roasted Bell Pepper pizza. Although cheese and pepperoni pizzas are not on the menu, they gladly made them to order for the kids. One pizza is enough for two kids and at a mere $9.00, I considered it a bargain. I was trying to be good so I ordered a salad consisting of brick oven roasted beets with shaved red onion, frisee lettuce, fresh goat cheese and walnuts. It was lightly dressed upon request and I loved it. For dinner I ordered the mussel appetizer consisting of Prince Edward Island mussels steamed with Pinot Grigio,Rayes lemon pepper mustard, slivered shallots and flat leaf parsley. If you are watching your weight, ask them to leave off the giant garlic crostini. It is too much of a temptation.

Head Chef Tim Miller's menu is right up my alley. Next time I will definitely dip into the crunchy barbeque native lobster taco appetizer, or the pan seared New England crab, lobster and crawfish cakes. Entrees include pan roasted Atlantic salmon with gnocchi, dry aged sirloin of beef with mango zombie pepper sauce and red wine braised lamb shank. I didn't dare look at the dessert menu but Mary brought the kids over chocolate and vanilla ice cream in adorable blue latte mugs with fresh whipped cream. Beware: my kids hated the fresh whipped cream so you may want to hold it for your kids. What the heck do they know about good whipped cream anyway? It took all my might not to slather it all over my face.

Their bar opens at 4pm, dinner at 5pm and they are not open for lunch. The menu is available for takeout and you can eat the full menu at the bar. Mack Gallant is the General Manager and you can visit them on the web at www.theroobar.com. Being an English major, I couldn't help but notice the typo of their website on the takeout menu. You're missing an "e" on the word "the" Mack. I give them two thumbs up in the kid friendly department. Although the menu is limited for kids, the bathroom had a changing table for moms and if you go right at 5pm, it is quiet enough just in case the kids act up. I'm already planning my next visit sans kids.