i was thinking back to my "spring fever" post from february and wanted to see how much progress i had made considering spring is long gone and summer is just about over.
*farmer's market...check. we've been a few times to the saturday market and even checked out the new wednesday market today. i can't get enough of the pupusas, by far my favorite thing at the market.
*run around gray's lake...check. it was more of a walk, but it still counts right?
*rent a paddle boat...check. worst paddle boat ever, but it was still fun.
*visit the meredith test gardens for a picnic lunch...not yet. but there's still time they are open through september.
*thursday summer concert series at jasper winery...missed it. the last concert was on thursday, so it'll have to make the list for next summer.
*run another road race...check. the dam to dam 5K was a success. such a fun race!
*go to an outdoor concert...check. 80/35 with some of my favorite people dancing the night away to girl talk was one of my favorite nights all summer.
*attend a baseball game...check. j-rod and i went with teddy and had a fun day at the ballpark.
*sit on a patio...check. i've lost count of how many i've been to, but my favorite has been our own. when i first made this list we didn't have our house, so it's been great taking full advantage of our deck.
Wednesday, August 31, 2011
Tuesday, August 30, 2011
restaurant week review
well restaurant week has come and gone and i'm happy to report it was an overall success. we were able to make it to five different restaurants this year. the receipts have been sent in and fingers are crossed for a trip to wine country (if you went to at least four places and sent in your receipts, you qualify for the trip.) i apologize in advance, this is a pretty lengthy post for me.
baru 66: i ordered the roasted tomato and sweet pepper bisque, mediterranean couscous and for dessert bitter chocolate tart. i thought the soup was good but the couscous and tart were just okay. the portions were small and we received terrible service. after three courses, i still left hungry. i had been looking forward to eating at baru since last october when i first started blogging and left beyond disappointed.
luna bistro: j-rod and i went to luna for lunch on a saturday. i ordered the niscoise salad, brushetta side and a peach and plum crisp. the place was so cute and our food was very good. the chef/owner use to be the chef at le jardin. i can't wait to go back.
centro: we went to centro for lunch one day during the work week with nic, lucas, j-rod and myself. i ordered the verde gnocchi and centro salad. i love the centro salad, it is my favorite in des moines. i've had a lot of gnocchi and this dish left me wanting more. it was on the gummy side and under-seasoned. Nic was gracious enough to give me a bite of her cavatelli and it was to die for. centro still remains one of my favorites in the city, despite their not-so-good gnocchi.
kirkwood lounge: i've been anxiously awaiting to try kirkwood since their chef won the DSM Top Chef Challenge. we started the meal with their famous bacon fat popcorn, it was full of smokiness but a little on the salty side for me. it was tough for me to decide what to order, all of their restaurant week choices looked delish. i had the waitress surprise me with the first two courses. i ended up with the fried green tomatoes (first picture below) and the game hen 2 ways and the lemon icebox cake for dessert. the fried green tomatoes were texturally perfect. i loved them. i really liked the entree as well but it came with a side of stewed beans. it was a strange combo in my opinion, i would have preferred mashed potatoes. i was excited to try a new place and would be willing to try it again.
alba: we saved the best for last. here's what i ordered, fresh sweet corn soup, prawn chive potato gnocchi (second picture below) and for dessert the salted toffee creme bruelee. it was by far the best meal i've ever had in des moines. i honestly dreamt about it that night, pathetic i know. the soup was absolutely amazing, i didn't want to waste a single drop. the gnocchi was the best i've ever had. it was light and fluffy just like a pillow. i love creme bruelee and this one was rich and creamy with just a hint of salt to balance out the sweetness. great service, great food and great ambiance. i love love this place! and it definitely deserves the number one slot on my top 10 list.
cannot wait for 2012 restaurant week!
baru 66: i ordered the roasted tomato and sweet pepper bisque, mediterranean couscous and for dessert bitter chocolate tart. i thought the soup was good but the couscous and tart were just okay. the portions were small and we received terrible service. after three courses, i still left hungry. i had been looking forward to eating at baru since last october when i first started blogging and left beyond disappointed.
luna bistro: j-rod and i went to luna for lunch on a saturday. i ordered the niscoise salad, brushetta side and a peach and plum crisp. the place was so cute and our food was very good. the chef/owner use to be the chef at le jardin. i can't wait to go back.
centro: we went to centro for lunch one day during the work week with nic, lucas, j-rod and myself. i ordered the verde gnocchi and centro salad. i love the centro salad, it is my favorite in des moines. i've had a lot of gnocchi and this dish left me wanting more. it was on the gummy side and under-seasoned. Nic was gracious enough to give me a bite of her cavatelli and it was to die for. centro still remains one of my favorites in the city, despite their not-so-good gnocchi.
kirkwood lounge: i've been anxiously awaiting to try kirkwood since their chef won the DSM Top Chef Challenge. we started the meal with their famous bacon fat popcorn, it was full of smokiness but a little on the salty side for me. it was tough for me to decide what to order, all of their restaurant week choices looked delish. i had the waitress surprise me with the first two courses. i ended up with the fried green tomatoes (first picture below) and the game hen 2 ways and the lemon icebox cake for dessert. the fried green tomatoes were texturally perfect. i loved them. i really liked the entree as well but it came with a side of stewed beans. it was a strange combo in my opinion, i would have preferred mashed potatoes. i was excited to try a new place and would be willing to try it again.
alba: we saved the best for last. here's what i ordered, fresh sweet corn soup, prawn chive potato gnocchi (second picture below) and for dessert the salted toffee creme bruelee. it was by far the best meal i've ever had in des moines. i honestly dreamt about it that night, pathetic i know. the soup was absolutely amazing, i didn't want to waste a single drop. the gnocchi was the best i've ever had. it was light and fluffy just like a pillow. i love creme bruelee and this one was rich and creamy with just a hint of salt to balance out the sweetness. great service, great food and great ambiance. i love love this place! and it definitely deserves the number one slot on my top 10 list.
cannot wait for 2012 restaurant week!
backup plan
i've had this meal, grilled spiced chicken and chickpeas, on my menu for two weeks in a row and i just can't get motivated to fix it. i think that means it shouldn't make my menu again. the chickpeas have to soak for 6-8 hours, then they must be cooked for 2 hours. way too much work for a weeknight meal. guess i should have thought that out a little more, lesson learned.
so instead a frozen pizza from trader joe's, i guess it is good to have a backup plan.
we had the arugula pizza and it was absolutely delightful. i highly recommend checking out their frozen pizza selection if you haven't already.
menu posting
well back to reality, restaurant week has ended so i have to get back into a routine of cooking and eating at home.
monday: cheese quesadillas with black beans and j-rod's homemade gauc
tuesday: grilled spiced chicken with chickpeas (this was on last week's menu but didn't get to it.)
wednesday: chopped greek salad with pita chips
thursday: quick meal out, location tba. we're volunteering at meals from the heartland.
friday: back to MP, cannot wait for a home cooked meal from my mom.
saturday: in iowa city - go hawks!
sunday: stacked sweet corn, beef and bean casserole
monday: cheese quesadillas with black beans and j-rod's homemade gauc
tuesday: grilled spiced chicken with chickpeas (this was on last week's menu but didn't get to it.)
wednesday: chopped greek salad with pita chips
thursday: quick meal out, location tba. we're volunteering at meals from the heartland.
friday: back to MP, cannot wait for a home cooked meal from my mom.
saturday: in iowa city - go hawks!
sunday: stacked sweet corn, beef and bean casserole
Monday, August 29, 2011
My Top 10 (via a guest blog)
Hey People,
You may be familiar with J-Rod, as that is what Stacy refers to me as in her blog, but I am Jared and I'm here to provide a guest blog post. Here we go!
Since you currently read Stacy's blog, you are well aware that we enjoy dining eating out and trying new, local restaurants as much as possible. We do that here in Des Moines and always do our best to find a good, unique, local place when we visit another town or city. It allows us to meet the locals, learn more about the surroundings and, obviously, enjoy some good food!
When the Des Moines Register and Metromix.com came out with the Top 100 Restaurants in Central Iowa list in 2009, Stacy immediately said she had to eat at all 100 of them. At first I thought this was a dumb idea:
1) who would want to spend a lot of money on food that is worse than what we (80% she; 20% me) could make at home? She's a great cook (I'm just her sous chef) and makes wonderful meals--her friends and family can vouch for that
B) after a quick gander at the list, I noticed a few restaurants that would have nasty food--sushi, Vietnamese, French? For most of my life I was a picky eater and leery of trying new things. Since being with Stacy, she's forced me to try new things and turns out, they're actually really good (except sushi...not too big on the raw fish).
3) this would be expensive! I'm sure you've heard, but I'm somewhat cheap...I'll admit it, charge my cell phone at work so I don’t have to pay to charge it at home (pathetic, right?). Or I'll keep the thermostat at a certain temp, even when family is visiting, to save a few $ on the electricity bill. However, I'm not opposed to splurging every so often and it's not like we live an uncomfortable life...we're blessed and we've got it pretty good. But seriously...take a look at the list and you'll see that 801 Chophouse has a minimum per plate cost of $31! I could buy 1/2 of an Iowa football ticket with that money (did I just say that?).
Stacy is determined to get to all 100 on the original list (she's at 80) and I've been to nearly every one of them with her. It has opened my taste buds, exposed me to new things and helped me get accustomed to trying new things. Also, I've realized that the money spent is sometimes worth it--enjoyable time with each other, good conversation with friends and togetherness with family. So thanks, Stacy, for letting me tag along.
Anyway, the point of this guest post was to reveal my voting for the new top 100 restaurant list coming out in September. Here it is:
1) Alba -- best meal I've ever had in Des Moines and probably the 2nd best meal I've had (sorry Mom and sorry Stacy).
2) Simon's -- the food is good, but the atmosphere and service are fantastic. Can't beat a place where the owner let's you hang out (with him) 2 or 3 hours after closing time while sharing a few bottles of wine (on the house).
3) Cosi Cucina -- great food, great service and decent prices. Best cheesecake in town doesn't hurt either.
4) 801 Chophouse (yep, this $31 minimum pre plate place made the list). We had a coupon to use here and it was fantastic. Great service, great food and a neat experience--felt like we were living in the 1920's.
5) Cafe di Scala -- fantastic homemade pasta, great location and ambience having this restaurant in an old Victorian mansion. Oh, and if you like tiramasu, go here.
6) Centro -- great location right in a busy part of downtown. The place is always bustling with excitement and it is neat to see into the kitchen. Oh, the food is great.
7) Jethro's -- best BBQ I've had, sides are great, drinks are great and there is always sports on the tv...perfect combo.
8) Proof -- never thought I'd like Mediterranean food, but boy is it good. Love me some lamb burgers with falafel and couscous. Plus, you get a great spinach salad to boot.
9) Sbrocco -- one of the best appetizers in town, the pomme frites--french fries coated in parmesan cheese and white truffle oil. Yum!
10) Bordenaro's -- pizza is one of my favorite foods and this place is the best in town. Some slightly spicy sauce and thin crust can't be beat.
There it is, my top 10. I'll end it now as m post is way too long as a guest post. I promise, it will be shorter next time.
Jared (J-Rod)
You may be familiar with J-Rod, as that is what Stacy refers to me as in her blog, but I am Jared and I'm here to provide a guest blog post. Here we go!
Since you currently read Stacy's blog, you are well aware that we enjoy dining eating out and trying new, local restaurants as much as possible. We do that here in Des Moines and always do our best to find a good, unique, local place when we visit another town or city. It allows us to meet the locals, learn more about the surroundings and, obviously, enjoy some good food!
When the Des Moines Register and Metromix.com came out with the Top 100 Restaurants in Central Iowa list in 2009, Stacy immediately said she had to eat at all 100 of them. At first I thought this was a dumb idea:
1) who would want to spend a lot of money on food that is worse than what we (80% she; 20% me) could make at home? She's a great cook (I'm just her sous chef) and makes wonderful meals--her friends and family can vouch for that
B) after a quick gander at the list, I noticed a few restaurants that would have nasty food--sushi, Vietnamese, French? For most of my life I was a picky eater and leery of trying new things. Since being with Stacy, she's forced me to try new things and turns out, they're actually really good (except sushi...not too big on the raw fish).
3) this would be expensive! I'm sure you've heard, but I'm somewhat cheap...I'll admit it, charge my cell phone at work so I don’t have to pay to charge it at home (pathetic, right?). Or I'll keep the thermostat at a certain temp, even when family is visiting, to save a few $ on the electricity bill. However, I'm not opposed to splurging every so often and it's not like we live an uncomfortable life...we're blessed and we've got it pretty good. But seriously...take a look at the list and you'll see that 801 Chophouse has a minimum per plate cost of $31! I could buy 1/2 of an Iowa football ticket with that money (did I just say that?).
Stacy is determined to get to all 100 on the original list (she's at 80) and I've been to nearly every one of them with her. It has opened my taste buds, exposed me to new things and helped me get accustomed to trying new things. Also, I've realized that the money spent is sometimes worth it--enjoyable time with each other, good conversation with friends and togetherness with family. So thanks, Stacy, for letting me tag along.
Anyway, the point of this guest post was to reveal my voting for the new top 100 restaurant list coming out in September. Here it is:
1) Alba -- best meal I've ever had in Des Moines and probably the 2nd best meal I've had (sorry Mom and sorry Stacy).
2) Simon's -- the food is good, but the atmosphere and service are fantastic. Can't beat a place where the owner let's you hang out (with him) 2 or 3 hours after closing time while sharing a few bottles of wine (on the house).
3) Cosi Cucina -- great food, great service and decent prices. Best cheesecake in town doesn't hurt either.
4) 801 Chophouse (yep, this $31 minimum pre plate place made the list). We had a coupon to use here and it was fantastic. Great service, great food and a neat experience--felt like we were living in the 1920's.
5) Cafe di Scala -- fantastic homemade pasta, great location and ambience having this restaurant in an old Victorian mansion. Oh, and if you like tiramasu, go here.
6) Centro -- great location right in a busy part of downtown. The place is always bustling with excitement and it is neat to see into the kitchen. Oh, the food is great.
7) Jethro's -- best BBQ I've had, sides are great, drinks are great and there is always sports on the tv...perfect combo.
8) Proof -- never thought I'd like Mediterranean food, but boy is it good. Love me some lamb burgers with falafel and couscous. Plus, you get a great spinach salad to boot.
9) Sbrocco -- one of the best appetizers in town, the pomme frites--french fries coated in parmesan cheese and white truffle oil. Yum!
10) Bordenaro's -- pizza is one of my favorite foods and this place is the best in town. Some slightly spicy sauce and thin crust can't be beat.
There it is, my top 10. I'll end it now as m post is way too long as a guest post. I promise, it will be shorter next time.
Jared (J-Rod)
Sunday, August 28, 2011
my top 10
after much thought, here is my top 10 list. the original top 100 has kept me busy and i am very anxious for the new list to drop.
you still have time to vote, click here. the polls close wednesday, august 31st.
you still have time to vote, click here. the polls close wednesday, august 31st.
Wednesday, August 24, 2011
driver's ed
i am pretty open and honest about my driving skills...they could use some improvement.
maybe the reason i'm a terrible driver boils down to my driver's ed teacher. i always thought he was a nice guy but overall pretty goofy and scatterbrained. my favorite driver's ed story is one day he wanted us to drive backwards through cones successfully without knocking one over. i knew there was no way i'd be able to do that and therefore never be able to get my license. when it came to my turn, i convinced him i had done it the week earlier and for whatever reason he believed me. phew.
well on Monday he was charged with providing alcohol to minors during a driving lesson. apparently they took a pit stop to olive garden, where he offered up wine to a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old and then let them get behind the wheel. DUMB. he is now facing a serious misdemeanor charge.
this story is getting all sorts of attention including a round table discussion topic on chelsea lately, the huffington post, a london newspaper and several other news outlets.
maybe the reason i'm a terrible driver boils down to my driver's ed teacher. i always thought he was a nice guy but overall pretty goofy and scatterbrained. my favorite driver's ed story is one day he wanted us to drive backwards through cones successfully without knocking one over. i knew there was no way i'd be able to do that and therefore never be able to get my license. when it came to my turn, i convinced him i had done it the week earlier and for whatever reason he believed me. phew.
well on Monday he was charged with providing alcohol to minors during a driving lesson. apparently they took a pit stop to olive garden, where he offered up wine to a 14-year-old and a 16-year-old and then let them get behind the wheel. DUMB. he is now facing a serious misdemeanor charge.
this story is getting all sorts of attention including a round table discussion topic on chelsea lately, the huffington post, a london newspaper and several other news outlets.
Monday, August 22, 2011
weekend love
i had an awesome weekend, i loved every moment of it. i was sad to see it come and go. here is a quick recap of all the fun.
friday night: great evening out with my friends! we finally got the chance to eat at baru 66 and take advantage of the first night of restaurant week. if i could use just one word to describe my visit, it would be disappointing. the food was fine, the service was okay, the portions were small and the bill was expensive. i am not in any hurry to visit again. afterwards we went and grabbed a drink at front row and i ended up using the men's room by mistake. i didn't realize it until i heard some guys speaking outside the door saying "dude, i just saw a girl go in there." oops, now i know.
saturday: went with LB to blond genius to take advantage of our groupon. of course i walked away with a new pair of jeans, i went with some AG's. j-rod and i had a great lunch at luna, they had this delish brushetta side. i can't wait to go back! it was a beautiful day so i decided to check something off my "spring fever" list and went paddle boating at gray's lake. paddle boating was definitely more glamorous as a kid, probably because my dad did all the work. on a side note, i think all the boats are dysfunctional at gray's.
sunday: we wrapped up the weekend by visiting the state fair and spending some time with my family. i loved seeing them and had so much fun watching my 4-year-old cousin show sheep. he came up a big winner, earning 1st and 2nd place.
friday night: great evening out with my friends! we finally got the chance to eat at baru 66 and take advantage of the first night of restaurant week. if i could use just one word to describe my visit, it would be disappointing. the food was fine, the service was okay, the portions were small and the bill was expensive. i am not in any hurry to visit again. afterwards we went and grabbed a drink at front row and i ended up using the men's room by mistake. i didn't realize it until i heard some guys speaking outside the door saying "dude, i just saw a girl go in there." oops, now i know.
saturday: went with LB to blond genius to take advantage of our groupon. of course i walked away with a new pair of jeans, i went with some AG's. j-rod and i had a great lunch at luna, they had this delish brushetta side. i can't wait to go back! it was a beautiful day so i decided to check something off my "spring fever" list and went paddle boating at gray's lake. paddle boating was definitely more glamorous as a kid, probably because my dad did all the work. on a side note, i think all the boats are dysfunctional at gray's.
sunday: we wrapped up the weekend by visiting the state fair and spending some time with my family. i loved seeing them and had so much fun watching my 4-year-old cousin show sheep. he came up a big winner, earning 1st and 2nd place.
some kinks
overall my new job is fabulous. i am loving the learning methods we are using, something different every day. i meet someone new every single day, all while still seeing familiar faces. i am also very proud about the company i work for and the industry i am now apart of.
but there are a few things that i'm working through:
shoes are not optional -- i try to get away with it in my classroom but often get strange looks.
the parking ramp gives me huge anxiety -- it freaks me out how many levels there are...it just keeps going and going, how fast people go and i'm afraid i'm going to forget where i parked.
someone stole my lunchbox -- with my lunch in it. i know i had a cute lunchbox (pictured above, one is now for sale on ebay...no joke) but come on, are we back in grade school? i guess ill have to sharpie my name on the next one.
i must buy another suit -- my BR one is getting a lot of face time. very grateful for my time in front of some important people, but i'm sure they are getting sick of seeing the same suit.
taking the stairs to the 6th floor -- after taking them for three weeks, two to three times a day, they aren't getting any easier.
Sunday, August 21, 2011
PSL
help me bring the pumpkin spice latte to the metro one week early. beginning monday, you can play a game on starbucks facebook page to bring the PSL to your city one week early.
check out this hilarious video from a "town" giving DSM some competition.
check out this hilarious video from a "town" giving DSM some competition.
menu posting
here is this week's menu:
monday: veggie stir-fry
tuesday: tavern sandwiches with tater tot/sweet potato fry combo (picture to the right is from the last time i made it.)
wednesday: steak salad with bacon, crispy potatoes and blue cheese dressing
thursday: grilled spiced chicken with chickpeas
friday: kirkwood lounge (restaurant week stop #3)
saturday: alba (restaurant week stop #4)
sunday: leftovers
state fair food
we spent some of our day at the state fair and had a great time sampling a variety of foods. oddly enough, we managed to get through the whole fair without getting anything on a stick.
here's a list of the food we shared and how much it cost us:
nitro ice cream - free sample x 2 (oops!)
gizmo grinder - $7.00
corn on the cob - $4.00
cheese curds - $5.50
my personal fave, the hot beef sundae - $6.75
we spent a total of $23.25. j-rod of course had to mention how this amount would have gotten us a nice meal out (not to mention the price of admission and parking.) he's not the biggest fan of the fair but was nice enough to tag along with me.
here's a list of the food we shared and how much it cost us:
nitro ice cream - free sample x 2 (oops!)
gizmo grinder - $7.00
corn on the cob - $4.00
cheese curds - $5.50
my personal fave, the hot beef sundae - $6.75
we spent a total of $23.25. j-rod of course had to mention how this amount would have gotten us a nice meal out (not to mention the price of admission and parking.) he's not the biggest fan of the fair but was nice enough to tag along with me.
Saturday, August 20, 2011
recipe recap : chicken spaghetti
this is a dish i've been making for years. it is so easy and i almost always have all the ingredients in my pantry. when working for summer games, we would travel from town to town, staying at different counselor's homes on the weekend. one of my friend's mom would always make this amazing comfort food dish, chicken spaghetti. it is creamy, gooey and filling. i just love it.
it is very forgiving, so feel free to add in your favorite ingredients or omit the ones you don't love - aka peas for a couple of my readers. i've done it without veggies or with a can of rotel.
chicken spaghetti recipe:
1 pound spaghetti
1 large can of chicken or 1-2 chicken breasts (cooked and chopped)
2 cups of cheddar cheese or velvetta
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 cup milk
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup of white onion
salt and pepper to taste
dash of garlic powder
1 cup of frozen peas
1 cup crushed corn flakes
preheat oven to 350 degrees.
boil water and cook pasta to al dente. after cooking is complete, rinse with cold water to stop the cooking. set aside.
melt butter in sauce pan, cook down onions until they are translucent. add soup and milk, stir until mixed well. add cheddar cheese and chicken. flavor to taste with salt, pepper and garlic. cook until mixture is almost to a boil, stir often. cheese will be melted.
combine cooked pasta, cheese mixture and frozen peas into a 9x13 greased baking pan. cover with crushed cornflakes.
bake 30 minutes or until bubbling.
enjoy!
Wednesday, August 17, 2011
BC '11
this past weekend was BC '11. it was our third annual voyage to celebrate NH and LB's birthdays. this event is something i look forward to every year and it never disappoints. the morning started off a little chilly but the sun eventually came out and we had a fun day on the lake.
we docked our boat and had a blast taking turns jumping off the dock. i felt like we were in a country time lemonade commercial. you know the one where they show the kids running barefoot, jumping off the end of the dock into the lake with the narrator talking about all the wonders of summer. man...life is good and i was reminded of that this weekend.
here are some of my favorite pictures from the day.
Tuesday, August 16, 2011
new top 100
this may be old news to some, but there is a new top 100 restaurant list coming out soon. since the first list was released in 2009 i've been working hard to check them all off. it has been a fun challenge, something i actually consider to have become a hobby of sorts. i am currently sitting at 80, only 20 more to go.
it has been so much fun trying new places around the metro. the list has also served as a great resource when no one can decided on where we should go for dinner.
i've been struggling coming up with my top picks. it's hard when i love so many places and i can only pick 10. i'll probably be submitting my list after restaurant week when i have the opportunity to try a few new places. one place i know that will for sure make my list is jethro's (their wings are pictured above.) it is consistently good and their mac and cheese is to die for.
make sure to submit your top 10 restaurants here, you have until august 31st to vote. the results will be released on september 14th, i can hardly wait.
i would love to hear everyone's picks for your top 10!
ps: please don't vote for dos rios.
Monday, August 15, 2011
double feature
this weekend i got to see not one but two great movies.
friday night j-rod, NH, JW and i headed to jordan creek to see Glee 3D (don't we look pretty thug in our glasses.) they were all kind enough to tag along with me and spend the $13.00, ouch.
i loved every moment of the movie. i found myself smiling, wanting to sing along and clap at the end of their performances. it was super entertaining, the music was excellent and the 3D effects were fantastic. at one point it seemed that rachel berry was singing two inches from my face. it is hard deciding on my favorite song from the movie, but once again teenage dream was pretty great. my love affair with that song has not gone away. the 4-year-old i blogged about back in june, made a cameo in the movie and was as adorable as ever. if you're a "gleek," i would highly recommend checking it out.
sunday, NH and i headed to see The Help. i'd been dying to see the movie since i finished the book a couple of weeks ago. and it did not disappoint. while i still feel that the book is better, the movie did an excellent job of following the storyline and developing the characters. it is humorous, endearing but overall a story of hope. another must-see!
menu posting
here is the menu for the week, enjoy!
monday: black bean burgers, lime rice and homemade guacamole
tuesday: leftovers
wendesday: chicken spaghetti (one of my favorite recipes, i'll try to do a recipe recap for you later in the week.)
thurday: chicago dogs, baked beans and coleslaw
friday: baru 66 (we're continuing the b-day celebration for LB and NH and the first night of restaurant week!)
saturday: luna bistro (restaurant week stop #2)
sunday: iowa state fair time, bring on the corn dogs. it's also extreme sunday, you get in for half price and free parking.
monday: black bean burgers, lime rice and homemade guacamole
tuesday: leftovers
wendesday: chicken spaghetti (one of my favorite recipes, i'll try to do a recipe recap for you later in the week.)
thurday: chicago dogs, baked beans and coleslaw
friday: baru 66 (we're continuing the b-day celebration for LB and NH and the first night of restaurant week!)
saturday: luna bistro (restaurant week stop #2)
sunday: iowa state fair time, bring on the corn dogs. it's also extreme sunday, you get in for half price and free parking.
Sunday, August 14, 2011
recipe recap : chicken gyros
this week i made chicken gyros for the first time. it was a delicious, easy recipe that gave us a ton of leftovers. on the side we also grilled up some corn on the cob. it was the first time i've grilled corn, typically we just shuck it and throw it in some boiling water. grilling the corn gave it so much flavor and i loved the smokiness. can't wait to do it again like this.
chicken gyros
ingredients:
for the tzatziki sauce:
16 oz. plain yogurt
1 regular cucumber, peeled, seeded and diced
2-3 cloves garlic, finely minced
1 tsp. white wine vinegar
salt and pepper
squeeze of fresh lemon juice
extra virgin olive oil
for the chicken:
4 cloves garlic, smashed
juice of 1 lemon
2 tsp. red wine vinegar
2 tbsp. extra virgin olive oil
2 heaping tbsp. plain yogurt
1 tbsp. dried oregano
salt and pepper
1 1/4 lbs. boneless skinless chicken, cut into small pieces
also needed:
pita bread (i found the selection at trader joe's, better than hy-vee)
fresh tomatoes, diced
red onion, thinly sliced
directions:
mix together yogurt, diced cucumber, garlic, white wine vinegar, salt and pepper to taste, and lemon juice. drizzle lightly with olive oil. refrigerate for at least 30 minutes before serving to allow the flavors to meld.
to prepare the chicken, combine the garlic, lemon juice, red wine vinegar, olive oil, yogurt, oregano, and salt and pepper to taste in a medium bowl. whisk together until mixed well. add the chicken pieces to the bowl and mix well to coat. cover and refrigerate for about 1 hour.
cook the chicken in skillet until completely cooked through.
warm pitas (i drizzled them with olive oil and threw them on the grill with the corn we were having.) top with chicken, tzatziki sauce, diced tomatoes and sliced onions.
source: adapted from Annie's Eats
Saturday, August 13, 2011
sam and gabe's
friday night j-rod and i dined at sam and gabe's. it wasn't my first time there, but since my first experience (NYE) was less than stellar i thought we should give it another try, considering it is in the top ten on the top 100 list and we had a groupon.
we arrived shortly after 5:00 (we weren't trying to catch an early bird special, but had an early movie to get to) and the place was empty. we asked for a table for two and they asked if we had a reservation. we did not, so they walked us through the beautiful dining room and down toward the basement. before the owner even got on the first step, i was having flash backs of NYE so i asked if we could sit somewhere else. to give you a little history, on NYE we had to eat in the basement on a plastic table with folding chairs, so i was in no hurry to do that again. when you're paying $20+ for an entree, no plastic should be involved. so we settled on a table in the bar.
to start things off, we ordered their famous italian nachos (shown in the top left) while i thought they were good, i wasn't blown away. while the cheese was pipping hot because they throw it under the broiler to melt, the italian sausage was still cold because that doesn't give it enough time to warm up.
onto our entree's. i love homemade pasta, it takes a dish to a whole another level. so i decided on the tortelloni modenese (homemade cheese and spinach-filled totelloni, tossed with peas, prosciutto and mushrooms, finished with a light marsala wine cream sauce. shown below.) when i went to take my first bite of the pasta, i found myself sawing through the pasta, not a good start. overall, i thought the dish had good flavor but it didn't make up for the poorly cooked pasta. j-rod went with the cannelloni al forno (tubular pasta filled with veal, chicken, pork and spinach. with a combo of red and white sauce.) he was so kind to share a bite and i thought it was just okay, as did he. the portion was also super small for the price. my favorite part of the whole thing was the red sauce.
after two so-so trips to sam and gabe's, i don't think i'll be back anytime soon.
Friday, August 12, 2011
LA food recap
while in LA i got to eat at some amazing restaurants. we actually ate about every three hours, no joke just so we could fit in all the great places we wanted to visit. everyone got to pick their restaurant of choice on the trip and i can say, my family has great taste. i came home over five pounds heavier, but it was so worth it. it was fun taking a "food network vacation."
here is a break down of some of the highlights:
Pinkberry- there are several places who try to duplicate it but they all fail in comparison. we enjoyed pinkberry daily, sometimes more than once. my typical pinkberry order includes their original tangy yogurt, pineapple, strawberries and fruity pebbles.
In-N-Out - best fast food, hands down. i always order the same thing. single with cheese, fries and a half chocolate/half vanilla milkshake.
El Carmen - J-rod and myself had been to El Carmen before and loved it so much, we had to go back, so this was his official pick. it has a such a fun atmosphere, great service and wonderful food and drinks. featured in the picture are their verde enchiladas.
Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles - while it might sound like a strange combination, it works! the salty and sweet flavor combination is one of my favorite flavor profiles. while they have a pretty large menu, how can you resist their signature dish? chicken and waffles. their chicken has a perfectly crisped skin but is also moist. the waffles are fluffy and fresh. roscoe's line is always out the door and is also considered a celebrity hot spot. it is also featured in several hip hop songs, just take a listen, even Notorious B.I.G. referenced it in his lyrics.
Sprinkles - i've spoken of my Sprinkles obsession several times so while in LA i had to take care of my addiction. we were able to sample some new flavors i had never had before including, key lime, orange, cherry, salty caramel and cinnamon sugar. my favorite this go around was a tie between the salty caramel and cherry.
Pink's - i've been wanting to go to Pink's for years and finally got there...for breakfast. it was the first time i've had a hotdog at 9:45 but was so delish! anyone who is anyone in Hollywood has been to Pink's. their walls are covered with autographed pictures of a-list celebrities varying from bobby flay to tom hanks. i went with the bacon chili cheese dog, it is featured in the picture along with j-rod's choice of just the plain chili cheese dog. they also serve bubble up, my favorite soda as a child and is now pretty much impossible to find. i figured if i was having a hot dog for breakfast, a soda would be perfectly appropriate to wash it down. great restaurant pick mom.
El Cholo - one of the oldest mexican restaurants in town, it has been there since 1923. this restaurant was my pick for the week. i wanted to eat there because of their green chile tamales, i love a great tamale and they are hard to come by in DSM. this restaurant and dish was featured on the originals with emeril, so i knew it had to be good. the dish has been on the menu since the day the restaurant opened. BAM! the tamales did not disappoint, they were full of flavor and had the perfect texture. even the rice and beans were so good, which speaks volumes in my mind for a mexican restaurant, as they are so often neglected.
Nickel Diner - can you see what is on that doughnut? bacon! i'm not a huge doughnut person but a maple bacon doughnut, yes please. it was fresh, right out of the oven. this was rach's pick and the day we drove downtown to check this place out, we discovered the staff lined up outside behind a table full of goodies. turns out some of their kitchen equipment broke down, so they decided to have a bake sale. pretty creative thinking if you ask me. not only did they have these fantastic doughnuts, they also served up homemade pop-tarts. yummo!
Philippe's - home of the french dip sandwich, established in 1908. their claim to fame is inventing the french dip. one day the owner accidentally dropped a slice of bread into the roasting pan with the juices that the meat was cooked in, the customer said he would take it anyway. the customer enjoyed it so much, he returned the next day with friends asking for the "dipped" sandwich, hence the french dip we know and love today. you can either get your sandwich, single-dipped, double-dipped or wet. i've heard of this place several times, it's been featured on man v. food, no reservations and many others. but i knew i had to go when wolfgang puck selected it as his pick for the "bang for your buck" episode of best thing i ever ate. not only is the sandwich cheap, they also have a $.09 cup of coffee, exactly $4.10 cheaper than my typical starbucks order.
The Oinkster - this was my dad's pick on the trip. all i have to say is homemade ketchup. i typically can take or leave french fries, but pair them up with this ketchup and i devoured them. one of the best things i've ever had. featured in this picture is my sandwich, the pulled pork, while it was good, it didn't even compare to the ketchup.
here is a break down of some of the highlights:
Pinkberry- there are several places who try to duplicate it but they all fail in comparison. we enjoyed pinkberry daily, sometimes more than once. my typical pinkberry order includes their original tangy yogurt, pineapple, strawberries and fruity pebbles.
In-N-Out - best fast food, hands down. i always order the same thing. single with cheese, fries and a half chocolate/half vanilla milkshake.
El Carmen - J-rod and myself had been to El Carmen before and loved it so much, we had to go back, so this was his official pick. it has a such a fun atmosphere, great service and wonderful food and drinks. featured in the picture are their verde enchiladas.
Roscoe's House of Chicken and Waffles - while it might sound like a strange combination, it works! the salty and sweet flavor combination is one of my favorite flavor profiles. while they have a pretty large menu, how can you resist their signature dish? chicken and waffles. their chicken has a perfectly crisped skin but is also moist. the waffles are fluffy and fresh. roscoe's line is always out the door and is also considered a celebrity hot spot. it is also featured in several hip hop songs, just take a listen, even Notorious B.I.G. referenced it in his lyrics.
Sprinkles - i've spoken of my Sprinkles obsession several times so while in LA i had to take care of my addiction. we were able to sample some new flavors i had never had before including, key lime, orange, cherry, salty caramel and cinnamon sugar. my favorite this go around was a tie between the salty caramel and cherry.
Pink's - i've been wanting to go to Pink's for years and finally got there...for breakfast. it was the first time i've had a hotdog at 9:45 but was so delish! anyone who is anyone in Hollywood has been to Pink's. their walls are covered with autographed pictures of a-list celebrities varying from bobby flay to tom hanks. i went with the bacon chili cheese dog, it is featured in the picture along with j-rod's choice of just the plain chili cheese dog. they also serve bubble up, my favorite soda as a child and is now pretty much impossible to find. i figured if i was having a hot dog for breakfast, a soda would be perfectly appropriate to wash it down. great restaurant pick mom.
El Cholo - one of the oldest mexican restaurants in town, it has been there since 1923. this restaurant was my pick for the week. i wanted to eat there because of their green chile tamales, i love a great tamale and they are hard to come by in DSM. this restaurant and dish was featured on the originals with emeril, so i knew it had to be good. the dish has been on the menu since the day the restaurant opened. BAM! the tamales did not disappoint, they were full of flavor and had the perfect texture. even the rice and beans were so good, which speaks volumes in my mind for a mexican restaurant, as they are so often neglected.
Nickel Diner - can you see what is on that doughnut? bacon! i'm not a huge doughnut person but a maple bacon doughnut, yes please. it was fresh, right out of the oven. this was rach's pick and the day we drove downtown to check this place out, we discovered the staff lined up outside behind a table full of goodies. turns out some of their kitchen equipment broke down, so they decided to have a bake sale. pretty creative thinking if you ask me. not only did they have these fantastic doughnuts, they also served up homemade pop-tarts. yummo!
Philippe's - home of the french dip sandwich, established in 1908. their claim to fame is inventing the french dip. one day the owner accidentally dropped a slice of bread into the roasting pan with the juices that the meat was cooked in, the customer said he would take it anyway. the customer enjoyed it so much, he returned the next day with friends asking for the "dipped" sandwich, hence the french dip we know and love today. you can either get your sandwich, single-dipped, double-dipped or wet. i've heard of this place several times, it's been featured on man v. food, no reservations and many others. but i knew i had to go when wolfgang puck selected it as his pick for the "bang for your buck" episode of best thing i ever ate. not only is the sandwich cheap, they also have a $.09 cup of coffee, exactly $4.10 cheaper than my typical starbucks order.
The Oinkster - this was my dad's pick on the trip. all i have to say is homemade ketchup. i typically can take or leave french fries, but pair them up with this ketchup and i devoured them. one of the best things i've ever had. featured in this picture is my sandwich, the pulled pork, while it was good, it didn't even compare to the ketchup.
Tuesday, August 9, 2011
i scream, you scream...
"...we all scream for ice cream!"
i have a serious addiction to ice cream these days, i just can't get get enough. not the healthiest of obsessions, but it is the perfect summer treat. here are my favorites:
ben & jerry's collaborated with jimmy fallon and came up with this gem of a flavor, "late night snack." it is a vanilla bean ice cream with a salty caramel swirl & fudge covered potato chip clusters. you don't need me to tell you, i'm sure you guessed right, it is insanely good. their quality of ice cream is top notch, my homemade flavors don't even come close.
starbucks knows my weaknesses, coffee and ice cream. too bad you don't get gold card points for purchasing their ice cream. if you're a lover of their caramel macchiato coffee drink, you'll love this and even if you're not, i think you'll be converted. this is the perfect combo of swirled coffee and vanilla ice cream with a ribbons of golden caramel.
both are conveniently on sale at hy-vee this week, just in case you're interested in trying them out for yourselves.
i have a serious addiction to ice cream these days, i just can't get get enough. not the healthiest of obsessions, but it is the perfect summer treat. here are my favorites:
ben & jerry's collaborated with jimmy fallon and came up with this gem of a flavor, "late night snack." it is a vanilla bean ice cream with a salty caramel swirl & fudge covered potato chip clusters. you don't need me to tell you, i'm sure you guessed right, it is insanely good. their quality of ice cream is top notch, my homemade flavors don't even come close.
starbucks knows my weaknesses, coffee and ice cream. too bad you don't get gold card points for purchasing their ice cream. if you're a lover of their caramel macchiato coffee drink, you'll love this and even if you're not, i think you'll be converted. this is the perfect combo of swirled coffee and vanilla ice cream with a ribbons of golden caramel.
both are conveniently on sale at hy-vee this week, just in case you're interested in trying them out for yourselves.
menu posting
here is my menu, but let me warn you, it is not too thrilling this week.
monday: mac-n-cheese & peas (j-rod's pick, and yes it was out of a box and was fantastic)
tuesday: work dinner
wednesday: chicken gyros with grilled sweet corn
thursday: work dinner
friday: sam and gabe's (even though my first experience here wasn't stellar, i am anxious to try it again. i've heard the italian nachos are worth the trip. i also have a groupon that is about to expire.)
saturday: BC '11
sunday: garden spaghetti
it's been kind of a crazy week so i didn't get to do my grocery shopping until tonight (i typically post my menu and do my shopping on sunday) before i left i did my usual routine, went through the ad and circled what i wanted to take advantage of. as i was shopping, i noticed what i thought the prices were and the coupons i had, weren't lining up. turns out when i went to go check out and handed the cashier my coupons, she informed me that ad ended yesterday...oops. lesson learned, look at the expiration date on the ad before leaving home.
monday: mac-n-cheese & peas (j-rod's pick, and yes it was out of a box and was fantastic)
tuesday: work dinner
wednesday: chicken gyros with grilled sweet corn
thursday: work dinner
friday: sam and gabe's (even though my first experience here wasn't stellar, i am anxious to try it again. i've heard the italian nachos are worth the trip. i also have a groupon that is about to expire.)
saturday: BC '11
sunday: garden spaghetti
it's been kind of a crazy week so i didn't get to do my grocery shopping until tonight (i typically post my menu and do my shopping on sunday) before i left i did my usual routine, went through the ad and circled what i wanted to take advantage of. as i was shopping, i noticed what i thought the prices were and the coupons i had, weren't lining up. turns out when i went to go check out and handed the cashier my coupons, she informed me that ad ended yesterday...oops. lesson learned, look at the expiration date on the ad before leaving home.
Sunday, August 7, 2011
LA recap
we spent some time in LA a couple of weeks ago with my family. it was a fantastic trip and i'm so grateful for the experience.
we were able to spend our entire time there without spending any money on anything other than food. i did some research online and found a bunch of free activities in los angeles. i also asked everyone to think of some places they wanted to visit and a few places they wanted to eat and then made an itinerary. while LA is a great city, you definitely have to have a game plan. it is difficult to just jet around and get from place to place due to all the traffic.
this was my sixth trip to LA and i was able to see places i'd never visited before including the griffith observatory and venice beach. i loved the observatory, you are able to see the lights of the city for as far as you can see. as far as venice beach goes, it was just okay. the beach was definitely the highlight. the boardwalk was full of vendors selling the same thing over and over, including a spot where can get botox on the beach.
also instead of staying in a hotel, i went onto vactionrentals.com and found a fantastic place to stay right in the hollywood hills. we had more space and had all the amenities of a house for much cheaper than the cost of a hotel. i highly recommend using this site when booking your next trip. we've used it twice now and have had great results each time.
there will have to be another blog post dedicated to all the amazing food or this would go on forever.
week one
well i survived my first week of working...actually i went from not working for a month to working 12 days straight. at moments it was overwhelming but at the end of the week i definitely felt a sense of accomplishment. it is definitely a different culture than i am use to but all for the better. i am so thankful to have good resources all around me, for example i had to ask NH where to put my lunch because i already already forgotten.
here are some highlights:
*on my first day i ran into two people i knew all in the first 10 minutes, pretty impressive considering i work in a building of thousands.
*i love all the people i sit next to, super friendly and nice.
*two lunch dates, one with friends the other with j-rod.
*had to give a presentation to all the managers and directors of our department, nothing like throwing you right in.
*made it the whole week without going to starbucks once.
very grateful to have a great job with a great company!
here are some highlights:
*on my first day i ran into two people i knew all in the first 10 minutes, pretty impressive considering i work in a building of thousands.
*i love all the people i sit next to, super friendly and nice.
*two lunch dates, one with friends the other with j-rod.
*had to give a presentation to all the managers and directors of our department, nothing like throwing you right in.
*made it the whole week without going to starbucks once.
very grateful to have a great job with a great company!
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