mac-n-cheese

Yummy.There is something SO comforting about eat spiral shaped macaroni and cheese by Kraft. Yes, the educated side of me says that this is pure processed crap, but a little indulgence never hurt. I simply loved this box of goodness while I was growing up. I even went so far as to have one box sent to me while I was living in Japan. Sometimes the memories associated with the food are more satisfying then the food itself.

A Delicious Tummy Ache

A Delicious Tummy Ache

Restaurant: T.G.I. Fridays

Dish(es): Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie

Drink: None

Cost: $6

OK. So it is the middle of my shift at CABO and one of my coworkers pressured me into getting a bite to eat from TGIFridays. I reluctantly agreed (bad experiences at this restaurant chain). My coworker came back and handed me this - something I should have loved. I paid the $6 (it actually costs less on the menu) and took my first bite. Yummy! Chocolate and peanut butter - two of my favorite things paired together. I ate it all and kept on working. Well...before I finished my shift...a tummy ache was in full force. Maybe I should have prefaced this entry by stating that I have eliminated most dairy products, all beef, and all pork from my diet. I am also pretty mindful of what I eat. With that being written, I should have known better. Best of luck if you want to take a risk.

Fun Fact : I have some fond memories at T.G.I. Fridays. From sharing Grateful Deads in Pensacola, FL with Miss.Janice to a farewell dinner in North Las Vegas, NV with Seth to an absolutely amazing dinner of boneless buffalo wings in Tokyo, Japan with Nazm. It can be a great place, just be mindful of your menu choices.

Leftovers for breakfast?

Leftovers for Breakfast

1 Campari Tomato (for garnish)

4 Spears of Asparagus

1 Large Brown Egg

8-10 Baby Potatoes

1/4 Cup Sliced Red Onion

Kosher Salt

Freshly Cracked Pepper

Olive Oil

Sirracha

Frying Pan

Slice red onion anyway you like.

Slice baby potatoes in half.

Slice asparagus spears into bite sized pieces.

Place frying pan onto burner.

Add a drizzle of olive oil.

Medium high heat.

Once oil is warm, add onion, potatoes, salt. and pepper.

Crack egg into a bowl and add sirracha (if desired).

After potatoes have started to brown, add asparagus.

Brown asparagus.

Add egg.

While waiting for egg to cook, slice campari tomato and place onto plate.

When egg is cooked, serve.

Enjoy!

This breakfast was simple. I had leftover baby potatoes from a previous meal. This was a great way to use them. Feel free to add other vegetables (red bell pepper, green bell pepper, yellow chilies) or even add some pine nuts. This breakfast can be modified to suite anyone so get creative!

Vegan Donuts!?!

Vegan Donuts

Restaurant: Ronald's Donuts

Dish(es): Apple Roll, Apple Fritter, Glazed Donut

Drink: None

Cost: $3.40

I first read about this place in my Las Vegas Weekly magazine (the one with the 50 best restaurants to visit). I had just finished my violin lesson and was a little hungry. I wanted to spend my afternoon getting things ready for my yard sale and thought...let's have a little snack. I order 3 donuts - an apple roll, an apple fritter, and a plain glazed donut.

Apple Roll - Amazing. The outside was like a baked crepe and the inside was like semi-sweet apple pie filling. It was wonderful and went well with my homemade espresso.

Apple Fritter - Rich and delicious. This donut was monstrous. I shared it with my mother and we enjoyed 4 servings from this one donut. I bought it because it reminded me of my Dad (he loved apple fritters). He would have loved this one.

Glazed Donut - Lightly sweet. As this was my mother's donut I enjoyed my one bite. It was great and my mother did not even know it was vegan!!!

I did not enjoy a donut at this restaurant. I will next time. There are some small tables to sit and relax while enjoying your donut and people watching. They have a variety of drink available too. What I found most amazing - their donuts are vegan! I never would have thought that vegan donuts would taste so great. The true test - my mother didn't taste a difference.

I would love to share a website for this blissful place, but they do not have one...yet. I did find a couple sites that reviewed this place. Yelp and VEGGUIDE .

Fun Fact: This little place is in Chinatown. There are so many restaurants here that are on my list of places to try.



The Big Kahuna

THE BIG KAHUNA

I wandered down the aisle of Fresh and Easy. I rarely go down this aisle. I am not sure why. But on Thursday, I did and what did I find? A whole new selection of wines! While I do enjoy really nice bottles of wine, my job does not allow me the budget for extravagant purchases. I saw this bottle and thought - why not?

It was a light tasting red wine with a strong raspberry presence. I enjoyed it and thought that it went well with roasted baby potatoes and the romesco dip (see previous entries). I would also like to try their Merlot. The cost - $2.99 (before tax). Who would have thought?

A Complete Disappointment

Combination Platter

Restaurant:Rosati's

Dish: Combination Platter

Drink: Coke

Cost: $10.90 + tax, delivery fee, and tip

This dish was a complete disappointment. The menu described it as Mozzarella sticks, onion rings, Pepperjack cheese balls, and breaded mushrooms. There were absolutely NO Pepperjack cheese balls...I was really looking forward to tasting them. I had been thinking about trying this appetizer since my first visit to the actual restaurant way back when (I went with my Mom and my Dad). I have tried their pizza, Greek salas, cheese ravioli, chicken fetticcini alfredo, and a variety of their flavored chicken strips (just not all within the same visit). Today, my Mom and I ordered throught their delivery service. I opened my dinner and was a little disappointed by the fact that everything was the same color, but no worries. I tried an onion ring, a mozzarella stick, a breaded mushroom, and searched through the entire thing for a pepperjack cheese ball. I am not sure if the restaurant was out or if they were forogtten, but it does not matter. I would NOT order this again. If I am going to put such an unhealthy thing into my body, I at least want it to be worth it. 

Fun Fact:  This place delivers soda in a can.

Make Your Own Pancakes!?!

Make Your Own Pancakes!?!

Restaurant: Denny's

Dish: Peant Butter Cup Pancake Breakfast

Drink: Coffee

Cost: $6.99 + coffee + tax and tip

This breakfast was SUCH a treat. I have loved chocolate chip pancakes ever since my first encounter with them at Sunshine Cafe in Lansing, MI. There is something so comforting about pancakes topped with peanut butter...but this breakfast took it to a whole new level.

Instead of customizing my own pancake selection (batter, add-ins, syrup toppings, and your choice of whipped cream) I went with the Peanut Butter Cup Pancake Breakfast. I loved that is was all laid out for me. However, I did alter their recipe. I left out the white chocolate chips (that's NOT chocolate) and asked for the chocolate sauce and peanut butter on the side...and my pancakes showed up without any whipped cream. With these pancakes, I aslo enjoyed scrambled eggs and hash browns. I could have also had bacon or sausage - but I do not eat any pork products (no cow either at this time).

The chocolate chip pancakes were just as I remembered - deliciously comforting. I would have been OK without the eggs and hash browns...maybe then I could have eaten both pancakes. I loved the peanut butter, but found the chocolate sauce too sweet. The chocolate chips in the actual pancakes added just enough sweetness. No chocolate sauce needed.

I took some time to look over the rest of their menu too. Denny's has a lot of great choices believe it or not. They have added some healthy selections to their breakfast menu. Denny's used to be a place to visit after a night of drinking and dancing back at university. It became an incredibly dreary and depressing place not too long ago, but my recent visit...well, it was splendid. I would go back to try a few other things on their menu.

Fun Fact: Denny's has amazing shakes! I used to love their Oreo (cookies and cream) shake and learned today that they now offer.......a CHOCOLATE PEANUT BUTTER SHAKE! I will have to try that next time.

Fun Fact 2: Denny's actually offers whole wheat batter for your pancakes!

Fun Fact 3: The first Denny's opened in 1953.