Fabulous Contest & my favorite breakfast

I would first like to say that I have been awful as posting these past couple weeks and I am sorry. But we have had a lot the "sick" going around at our house and every time I looked at the computer I just felt overwhelmed. So anyways I am back and will have to be posting double time to keep up with all the yummy things I have been waiting to share.

But before I do I would like to tell you about this awesome contest for my BIL's business. They restore furniture and have the most awesome pieces.

This is one of my favorites, they are giving away $200 to spend on their stuff, all you have to do is put a couple of comments on their blog. So head on over as fast as you can, because the contest end tomorrow. Restoration Furniture

Now onto my new favorite breakfast

If you have not gone to Jamba Juice and tried their steel cut oatmeal with fresh fruit and a sugar and nut topping, you are Seriously missing out.

After the first bite I KNEW that this was the "One" I have been waiting for, and I just couldn't get enough. So if you still aren't convinced the best part is the the price go here for a printable coupon and you can get it for only a $1- um SCORE!!!!!

Here I have done my best to recreate it.

The first time I didn't have steel cut oats so I used cream of wheat- which was good but once I got the steel cut oats it was Way Better.

The thing is with Steel cut oats is that they take quite a long time, around 45 min. But they ARE worth it, I then toasted up some brown sugar and pecans with a tiny bit of butter, and added some craisins and bananas ( though any fruit you like will do). Wow, lets just say Awesome.

But if you don't have the time just head on over to Jamba Juice where I think it is only $2 regularly.

Best part is that it is Super good for you.

There you have it now check back tomorrow for some more yummy recipes.

My time in Virginia Beach

My mom and I took a girls trip over to Virginia Beach this past weekend to visit my oldest friend Jill Tyler and her fam. It was such an fun trip, we spent the first day at Colonial Williamsburg enjoying the crisp fall weather, shopping and of course amazing food.

Jill told us about this place that has AMAZING Hot Cocoa, and she was right it was Amazing even the homemade marshmallow inside was to die for.

Here is Jill dipping it into her Hot Chocolate ( or what we like to call the cup of melted chocolate)!

While this is one of the most extraordinary cups of Cocoa I have ever had, you must not drink one all by yourself after about the 8th sip or so it's overwhelming richness makes you want to chuck it! I know it sounds weird but both Jill and I had the exact same reaction and couldn't even make it through a 1/3 of the cup. Anyways if you do happen to make it out to Williamsburg hit up this place and see for yourself.

The Blue Talon

Both Jill and I have both been wanting to try these delicious looking Apple Pie Caramel Apples off The Girl Who Ate Everything .

We both aren't the best "candy makers" but we gave it a try.

Jill doing her special "tap" technique to get the excess caramel off.

"I am so proud of Me!"

We ran out of sticks so the knife made do.

Mixing up the white chocolate

adding the cinnamon sugar

ours didn't turn out quite as perfect as hers, but of freaking my they were MMMMMM Good!

I don't know exactly how many we ate, lets just say the kids didn't get much.

Will I make these again, Yes indeedy!

While we were there the Tyler's took us to the famous Wood Chicks BBQ, who won the Throwdown with Bobby Flay for their pork sandwich and is also on Pit Masters.

Well BBQ Pork sandwiches are one of my many food weakness and I couldn't wait to try it

I apologize that I ate it too fast and was unable to take a picture. But I will tell you it Rocked! So if you have a chance please stop in to Wood Chicks.

Thanks for a GREAT time Tyler's you fed us well!

Jill will also be featured in an upcoming guest food post! Till then, happy trails.

Easter Goodness

Easter is one of my favorite holidays for many reasons

Family

Faith

Food

I especially enjoyed this holiday since we were able to listen to the prophet speak on Easter Sunday. Only problem was that I had a little trouble with my "Roll" making, for the 2 dinners I was attending and I wasn't able to sit down and enjoy it as much.

I told you I am still learning the ways of the "Yeast"

Reading this you already know that I have an extreme LOVE of Food! Well I have also passed this down to my daughter as well.

She spent the first part of the morning hiding in a room stuffing candy into her face as fast as she could! It reminds me of myself as a child.

So onto the Food. I decided to try a new roll recipe for my Easter dish. I thought I would just Double the batch and make it for both of our families.

Well things did not go as planned- I think maybe it was that I didn't have enough time to let the dough rise properly before I had to start baking them.

So I only got enough for 1 family- so I had to start all over again after we got through with lunch!

But regardless of my troubles the Rolls were fantastic. I did 2 separate takes on the Lion House Roll recipe that I got from here . You make the recipe for her Lion House Rolls and then turn them into Orange Rolls.

Now I don't really like Orange rolls ( since the one time when I was in HS and ate so many that I threw up) but I am trying to gradually ease back into them. This seemed like the perfect recipe to do that.

The were extremely easy, beautiful, and divine. Thought I am glad I did both the normal rolls and orange rolls, since we had just eaten the cinnamon rolls for breakfast. Which are basically the same things as the orange rolls!

Here is the wonderful spread my mom had for us.

My grandma made an Out of this World Potato Salad. The BEST I have ever had. I will have to get the recipe from her. ( secret ingredient her homemade pickles)

My brother and his wife gave us this super cute basket of goodies for Easter filled with Trader Joe's delectables.

These eggs were To Die for.

I went back to get more but they were all out.

They blow the Reeses Eggs out of the water. I am hooked for life and can't wait till next season when I get to enjoy all this great food once again.

Make your own Take-Out- Fontina Burger

I like to think of myself as a "food connoisseur" (yes I had to look up the spelling of that).

Always out to find the next best thing, and always up to try something different. I love sharing my love of food as well and introducing people to new places and good food.

One of my fav. places is Joes Farm Grill with is one side of the Joes Trinity- Joes Farm, Joes BBQ and Liberty Market. All of which are my favorites of the specific food style.

I will even wait in line for an hour to get a Free Hamburger! Course with me it is just as much about the Free as it is about the Food.

Now onto the meal.... My favorite menu item at Joes Farm Grill is the Fontina Burger. It was my fav. even before it was featured on Diners Drive-ins and Dives (another favorite show of mine).

So I decided to re-create this masterpiece of a Burger.

of course I would never get anything at Joes without their Fabulous Sweet Potato Fries- these are killer and MUST be tried.

I got some great baby portobella mushrooms and sauteed them up a bit

some Fontina cheese - which took me awhile to find. Trader Joes is where I ended up getting most of my ingredients

Some pesto and arugala

Then put it all together with some Roasted Red Pepper and a great grilled patty of Ground Beef to create this beauty.

It was a Hit! I loved it as did my mom and husband. All those same great flavors melted together to produce a symphony in my mouth. I inhaled it and then had it for leftovers 2 days in a row.

*All those ingredients cost me so much I had to get my money's worth.

So while it is cheaper to make a single burger at home- you still have to buy all the ingredients for about 6 burgers so the price can get a little high. But if you are looking to impress, this meal will definitely do it.

If you don't want to take the time and effort I would just go down to Joe's and have them make it for you. (Their fries were much better than mine anyways!)

Flancer's

The other day at work the boss bought us lunch. I didn't have a lot of time to go through the menu so I just got the first thing that looked good.

Chile Verde Birdie Turkey
Set the tone with real turkey breast (off the bone), served with provolone, tomato, lettuce & our homemade, one of a kind, New Mexican green chile mayonnaise.
with bacon & avocado add 1.50

I didn't have a chance to eat it for a couple of hours, so I thought it would be just o.k.

I was wrong, it was Out of this World Good! I savored every last bite. The bread was chewy, the flavors outstanding, even the side of coleslaw was the best I have ever had.

I know Flancer's has been around forever but I have never gone. Now I am kicking myself since apparently I have been missing out on some Fabulous food. So if you haven't gone yet, I would make a trip to try it. It is on Gilbert Rd. a 1/4 mile south of Guadalupe. I just might see you there, cuz I will definitely be going back

Check out the menu here

Best Bread EVER!

If you live in Mesa and have been to the Whole Grain Bread Company, you already know that their best bread is the Cinnamon Swirl. It doesn't last long once you bring it home, because it will get gobbled up just like that. One of the Young Women in our ward works there and I asked her to score me some bread since I was going to give her a tutorial on Oreo Bon Bons. She came through, and the other night dropped off a loaf!!!! I was so excited and have been being quite selfish with it. Thanks Em- you rock!

The next morning I made myself a scrumdiliumptious breakfast with a big fat piece of toast with butter.

Next up French Toast!

Thank Goodness for Blogs!!

Last night around 7, I was checking some of my favorite blogs, while my husband was cooking a pizza in the oven. When I checked one of my favorite cooking blogs Becoming Betty where Rachel had just put up a post about this little "backyard" restaurant. Talking about the great carne asada tacos, just like the ones from the little stands in Mexico. Now I LOVE little tacos like that, one of my favorites places is a little stand at the Alley's in Cali.

So I started telling my husband about it since I knew he would totally be into it too. Well not only was he INTO it, but he got up and said "k I am going, you want some". Ummm, we were cooking dinner so no. But he didn't seem to care, he had the itch and he decided to scratch. So long story short. He went, We Got and We LOVED!

We tried all three kinds and they were all to die for. The sides were the best and they came free. This whole meal was $11 and we were STUFFED! I think they are each about $1.50.

(This is an insert from her original post)

They are open on Friday and Saturday nights starting at 6:30pm. They serve carne asada tacos, carne asada quesadillas, and carne asada gorditas. They also have these amazing sauces to put on top.

No rice and beans. No chips and salsa. Just amazing carne asada.

*Directions: Go north on Stapley from Southern. Turn left on 8th. (First light after Southern). Take first left on Spencer. (Tree blocking sign). It's the first house on the left with white, metal, decorative fence. Find a place to park (good luck) and walk right into the backyard. Rueben will take your order. See you there!

If you went to Mesa High it is right behind M&M, which I know all you jackrabbits know where that is.

Sauce

If there is anyone still out there who hasn't been to Sauce, you NEED to go!

First time I went I fell in love with it, the place is very NY chic- you go and order and then find a table. Their menu consists of pizzas, pasta, salad and sandwiches.

I will start with the pizza. They are thin crust, yet chewy ( which I love) my 2 favorites are the "Chicken Caesar Salad" pizza, which is just like it sounds, salad on a pizza. It is yummy and super filling ( plenty to share). Their chicken which is in most of their dishes is so good, it's shredded and tender. My other favorite is the "Sausage and Carmelized Onion" pizza. It is sooo sweet and juicy. Oh how I love this one. ( I am definitely going to attempt making this at home)

Next is the pasta, I have only tried the "Chicken and Broccoli, which comes with the big shell noodles and sauce that they use in their "Mac & Cheese" (which is also great). It is really good, even my kids were gobbling it up.

Lastly their Salads, my favorite is the "Chicken, Pine Nut & Gorgonzola" salad ( I have also substituted mozzarella balls for the gorgonzola before and that is perfecto) This salad is very filling and has so many great flavors plus their isn't a lot of dressing and it doesn't need it.

They have their lunch special right now from 11-4 which is $7.50 for a drink and 2 meals of either soup/salad/pasta. They are smaller portions but it is still a ton of food. I went today with my husband and we shared a lunch special between us and our 2 littlest ones and were stuffed.

This place is also not to expensive most everything is under $10 and I always go with someone and share. I hope this little spiel has convinced you to try it. Happy Eating!