Category Archives: Food

Orange Ricotta Pancakes

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I love breakfast! Especially pancakes. So whenever I have time to whip up a batch, I try to make them as delicious as possible.  From white chocolate chip, coconut, pecan, and pumpkin – You can pretty much throw whatever you want in the batter and create a mini flap-jack master piece. This weekend I tried something a little different.  Instead of the usual pancake batter, I used ricotta cheese.  I found the recipe on MarthaStewart.com and luckily I had all of the required ingredients on hand.  The result…Well, after getting a handle on the cooking process and tossing a few burned pancakes out, they were actually pretty good. With a total of seven ingredients, this is a must try if you have about 30 minutes to spend on breakfast.

OR Pancakes

Orange Ricotta Pancakes
Adapted from Martha Stewart

Ingredients

  • 1 3/4 cups (15 ounces) part-skim ricotta cheese
  • 1/3 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 2 teaspoons grated orange zest (1 orange) – I used 1/4 teaspoon of orange flavoring
  • 2/3 cup all-purpose flour
  • 3 tablespoons canola oil
  • Confectioners’ sugar or maple syrup

Directions

1. In a medium bowl, whisk together ricotta cheese, granulated sugar, eggs, and orange zest (or orange flavoring is you decided to go that route). Whisk in flour until just combined.

2. Heat canola oil in a large nonstick skillet over medium-low heat. Working in batches (and adding more oil to skillet as needed), add batter, using about 1/4 cup for each pancake. Cook until browned, 3-4 minutes or so per side. Transfer pancakes to a paper-towel-lined plate to drain. Serve hot, dusted with confectioners’ sugar or drizzled with maple syrup. Enjoy!

Date Night at Dapar

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Thanks to Groupon, my husband and I were introduced to a great new restaurant in Fort Lauderdale.

Dapar is an Asian and Thai eatery that serves small plates in a trendy yet inviting atmosphere.  With a deal we just couldn’t pass up – three small plates and two drinks for $30, we headed to dinner with an open mind and empty stomachs.

DaparWe started our night with Strawberry Basil Lemonade (a must try) and proceeded with Chicken Satay, Kobe Beef Sliders, and Vegetarian Spring Rolls.  Out of the three, my favorite was the Kobe Beef Sliders.  The two sliders were served on a sticky rice bun and perfectly seasoned. At $14 without a coupon they are a must if you want to splurge.

The portions were great for sharing and enough food for two, but why stop with small plates when big plates are offered too.  We ordered an entrée, just because and we were glad we did.  With so many delicious things to choose from we opted for Mandarin Chicken, a savory dish of orange glazed chicken served with vegetables and rice.  Priced at $16, the main dish was really good and a great option if you are looking for something that is not too spicy and full of flavor.

Surprisingly, after all that food, we still had room for dessert. My husband is on a rice pudding craze so of course, he ordered the Jakarta Rice Pudding. An amazing concoction of Jasmine rice and creamy pudding topped with sliced bananas and sprinkled with cinnamon. Amazing!

Why you should go: Good food, great music, and delicious drinks!
What you should know: Complimentary valet parking, pricey without a coupon, and sharing is caring

Dapar
1620 N Federal Hwy
Fort Lauderdale, FL 33305
(954) 306-2663

Fluffy Pumpkin Pancakes, Oh My!

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Remember when there was a shortage of canned pumpkin? It was a few years ago and the worst experience ever. Well, not ever.  But close to it.  Luckily this year, pumpkin is fully stocked at the grocery store and I happened to have a can on hand to whip up some delicious pumpkin pancakes. Paired perfectly with Santa’s White Christmas Coffee by Barnie’s Coffee and Tea Company – Another commodity I thought was lost forever until I stumbled upon it while shopping at Wal-Mart. It’s delicious and I will bravely scour the aisles to score a bag.

The pancakes were easy to make and worth every second I spent following the recipe I found on marthastewart.com. 

So, without further ado….Here is the recipe, complete with tips and commentary.

 

Pumpkin Pancakes

whisk 1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour – I used 1 cup white flour and 1/4 cup  whole wheat flour
2 tablespoons sugar – No sugar, no problem! I added 2 tablespoons of agave nectar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon each cinnamon, ground ginger, and salt
1/8 teaspoon nutmeg
add a pinch of ground cloves

in a separate bowl, stir together 1 cup milk
6 tablespoons canned pumpkin puree
2 tablespoons melted butter
1 egg – make sure not to drop the egg….not a fun experience cleaning it off the tile floor

fold mixture into dry ingredients – for fluffy pancakes, avoid over stirring

feeling crazy? add 1/2 cup chocolate chips and 1/2 cup chopped walnuts to the mix

melt some butter in a skillet over medium heat
pour in 1/4 cup batter for each pancake
cook pancakes about 3 minutes per side
serve with butter and syrup
makes 8 to 10 pancakes

Enjoy! xoxo

Wedding Dress Code

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I found this handy little etiquette guide while on Pinterest and thought you might like to take a look.   These simple rules will help you determine what is appropriate to wear and even help determine a dress code for your next event.  I see a “Creative Black Tie” affair in my future!

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Happy Planning! xoxo

Dirty Thirty – The Big Bash

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A few weeks ago I hosted a 30th birthday bash for my husband.  The fiesta inspired soiree was a huge hit thanks to all the little details and the steady flow of alcoholic beverages.

Here’s a few pictures from the big bash! enjoy!

{Dress festive. Sombreros and mustaches will be provided}

 The table was set with a burlap runner, colorful margarita glasses,  and each chair adorned with a sombrero. To create an outdoors feel inside,  streamers and lights were draped across the room. It wasn’t Mexico…but it was close.

{Nom Nom Nom}

The night started with light snacks which included Corn Salsa, Beer Cheese Dip, Salsa, and Guacamole. To add a festive flair,  I  created a make shift menu board using the black background of a huge picture in my dining room.  I also posted a smaller menu on one of the tables.

The corn salsa and beer cheese dip appetizers were both a huge hit and the recipes can be found here and here.

For dinner we made delicious tacos thanks to the two recipes I found on How Sweet It Is blog.  We served Crockpot Beer Cheese Tacos and BBQ Pulled Pork Tacos. They were both amazing! And How Sweet It Is blog is a must read for any fabulous foodie.

On another note -I highly recommend Crock Pot cooking for a party – you basically just throw a bunch of stuff in a pot, turn on the heat, leave it for a while, and when you return a delicious meal is ready to be served.  Genius!

{Cheers}

A small bar was sent up using the “Bar” sign I created in my last post.  I strategically mounted each letter to the wall using Command Restickable Hooks. I also used the restickable hooks outside to hang the lights and streamers. When you remove them they leave no marks, so you don’t have to worry about ruining your walls.

{Say Queso}

A DIY photo booth was set up using a piece of Damask fabric from a local fabric store and….

Hand made props were set up on a table for guests to grab and strike a pose!

{Hit me with your best shot}

We couldn’t have a fiesta without  a pinata! It was filled with candy, toothpaste and erasers….Random. But funny. Especially when everything fell to the floor.

{Sweet}

For dessert we served cake, of course! Plus root beer floats, ice cream, and cupcakes.  I’m not sure if carrot cake is a fiesta staple but that is what the birthday boy asked for and that is what he got.

The night was a lot of fun.  We incorporated a beer tasting with four craft beers, one was a maple bacon doughnut beer that everyone was really excited to try.  At every party I like to add an element that allows everyone to interact somehow.  We tried to have a dance off, but only one person was brave enough to break out their moves.

At the end of the night the 30th birthday fiesta was a huge success and worth the weeks of planning.   Everyone had a great time and I can’t wait to plan the next party!

Happy planning! xoxo

Thirsty Thursday: The Dreamer

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Meet The Dreamer. A simple cocktail made with pink lemonade, Bacardi rum, and a dollop of cool whip.

{image source}

 

This drink can be prepared in a large batch before a party and served in a pretty decanter or beverage server.  If you want to get super fancy….replace the Cool Whip with cotton candy and you got yourself a party in a glass.  Enjoy!
Happy planning! xoxo

 

 

 

 

Simple and Delicious Pumpkin Pancakes

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Florida has two season – Summer and Fall.  Unlike other parts of the country, where seasons change by a drop in temperature and leaves changing colors, in Florida, we know it’s Fall when Dunkin Donuts introduces their pumpkin line-up. Pumpkin donuts, pumpkin lattes, and this year pumpkin cream cheese.  It’s always exciting and to celebrate the season, I decided to jump on the pumpkin band wagon and make some pumpkin pancakes.

I found this recipe on Epicurious.com and even though I hate following recipes, I pushed through and managed to make a delicious breakfast.

Simple and Delicious Pumpkin Pancakes
Recipe adapted from Epicurious.com

What you need:

1 1/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/4 teaspoons pumpkin pie spice
a dash of cinnamon
3/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/3 cups whole milk or skim milk
3/4 cup canned pure pumpkin
4 large eggs, separated
1/4 cup (1/2 stick) unsalted butter, melted
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips (optional)

What you need to do:

Whisk first 5 ingredients in large bowl to blend.
Whisk milk, pumpkin, egg yolks, melted butter and vanilla in medium bowl to blend well.
Add pumpkin mixture to dry ingredients; whisk just until smooth (batter will be thick).
Using electric mixer, beat egg whites in another medium bowl until stiff but not dry.
Fold whites into batter in 2 additions.
Brush large non-stick skillet with oil; heat over medium heat.
Working in batches, pour batter by 1/3 cupfuls into skillet. Cook until bubbles form on surface of pancakes and bottoms are brown, about 1 1/2 minutes per side.
Repeat with remaining batter, brushing skillet with oil between batches.
Serve with syrup.
Enjoy!