Life without the Moo

So, unfortunately, Baby Girl has gastrointestinal issues. At 4 weeks old, she had blood in her stool and being the first time mom that I am, instantly freaked and called the doctor. He said it was most likely due to a sensitivity to something in my diet; the most likely candidate being dairy.

Since then, I've cut dairy almost completely out of my diet. And let me tell ya, a sandwich just isn't a sandwich without cheese. I don't really miss drinking milk, although I do miss milkshakes! I have never wanted a cookout milkshake so badly in my life! However, when I cut out the dairy, her fussiness went way down, so here I sit... cheese and milkshake-less.

So in efforts to make the best of it, I've gone in search for some yummy dairy-free recipes. Here are my favorites so far:

• "Loaded" Black Bean Soup
• Here's what I put in mine: avocado (this replaced the creaminess I would've gotten from the sour cream), cilantro, crumbled bacon, andouille sausage, lime (I squeezed this on at the end and it was wonderful!). And I didn't miss the cheese at all!
• Bourbon Chicken with my yummy green beans
• I served the chicken over brown rice and served my yummy green beans to go with. They's super easy to make. Here's the recipe!

Teri's Yummy Green Beans - serves 4

• 2 T butter
• 4 handfuls of frozen green beans (I like the long skinny kind, not the cut ones)
• One or two shakes of Lawry's Seasoning Salt
• 1 T dried minced onions

Melt the butter in a frying pan and add the green beans, seasoning salt, and onions. Toss to coat and allow the green beans to warm through.

• Steak and Mango Salad (made this for a lunch date with the lovely Carla)
• I used frozen mango chunks because fresh mangoes are hard to come by this time of year.
• Crispy Coconut Chicken Fingers
• So crispy and delicious, but it wasn't as good the next day, so only make as many as you think you'll eat!

Holiday Baking

So, I've gotten a bee in my bonnet about holiday baking/candy-making. I just have to make a mess in the kitchen or I'm going to implode with boredom. So, without further ado, I present to you this year's holiday baking list!

• Chewy Gingerbread Bars
• Cookie Dough Truffles
• Creamy Dreamy Fudge
• Chocolate White Chocolate Chip Cookies
• Shortbread Cookies

My mouth is watering already. Now, the worst part - grocery list making and grocery shopping. If I could figure out a way around these two tasks, cooking would be much, MUCH more enjoyable. As it is though, I happen to love cooking, so I guess it's a good thing that there is something to prevent me from cooking (and baking!) myself, and my family into an oblivion. :) I'll post pictures when I'm done! And if you're local and want some, let me know. I'll have more than enough to share!! :)

And if you find yourself with nothing to do over the next three evenings, might I suggest the Apex Nativity Celebration? It's a three night long celebration of Christ at the Mormon chapel in Apex. There's hundreds of nativities from all over the world, beautiful decorations and paintings displayed and wonderful music. And on Saturday night, there's a performance of Handel's Messiah with a full choir and orchestra. It's an amazing event and I highly recommend seeing it!

Some Homebaked Goodness!

While perusing one of my favorite websites (Tastespotting - Love it!) I stumbled across this photo.

Photo found at Jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com

Don't these make you want to run into your kitchen and make a huge mess with flour? Because I certainly did! The recipe was a bit fiddly (I'm not a great baker) but totally crazy delicious.

I made these puppies for Thanksgiving this year (mine did NOT look that pretty) and after that small success, I decided to try some of her other recipes. Matt and I had the braided sandwich loaf last night, and man was it good (but again, not as pretty as hers turned out, but closer to the mark than the rolls. That means I'm getting better at this baking business, right?)! And since it makes two BIG loaves, I froze one of them before rising and baking for after the baby comes. I'll let you know how that one turns out.

So, if you're ever looking for some totally delicious recipes for dinner, side dishes or desserts, look no further! You won't be disappointed!

 

There is nothing better...

Than an ice cold glass of apple cider. I just cannot explain for refreshing and delicious it is. The only thing I can conceivably come close is.... drum roll please!

Love the veggie baskets!

Totally awesome carved pumpkins and squashes!

My sister made that red dress!

Found this little guy over in the garden section.

The State Fair! Ok, ok, I know this is totally corny but I *love* the state fair. There is so much to see, do and taste that it can't hardly be fit into one day! My favorite parts have got to be the big giant vegetables, or maybe the hideously dressed people that come out every year, or perhaps it's all the food! I can't ever decide which part is the best!

Can anyone guess what I have in common with this watermelon?

And this year, the fair is even more fun because not only did enter one of the fair's competitions, but a few people I know did as well! My sister entered a few items, namely a quilt, and won 5th place!! I don't know if she won any prize money, but that's still an achievement! Also, a friend of mine, Britt Brostrom, was recently featured in the New and Observer for winning 3rd place in a pie contest! She also won 1st place in the horseshoe throwing contest! Way to go Britt!

I, on the other hand, did not do as well as I had hoped.

There were no ribbons on my pictures, which was a major bummer, but it was still cool to see my photo hanging on the wall like a real gallery. Here I am with my picture (sorry for the blurriness! It's the only one I got!).

I am *so* tired after the 5 hour trip to the fair. I just cannot keep up with my sister (power walking champion of the world) with my back and feet hurting like they do! I tried, but in vain. By the end, I was limping along quite pitifully. Oh, but I had such a great time, seeing the giant vegetables, eating lots of food and having the weight-guessing carnies comment on my immanency (which is not immanent enough!). Regardless of the heckling I received, I am glad I went today. And I'm looking forward to going again. On Thursday. With Matt. :) Hope everyone can make it to the fair this year (and if you do, be sure to go see my photo!!) and have a great time!

Chowda, of the corn variety

It has been entirely too long without a Teri-original recipe on here! So, to satisfy this urge, I decided to share the best corn chowda recipe you'll ever find. :) Be forewarned that this soup makes A LOT and is insanely delicious. The recipe will be after the break!

Recipe Time: Chicken Tikka Masala

So, this is one of my favorite recipes right now. I have always loved Indian food and this is a great recipe with authentic flavors and beautiful colors! It does take some time to prepare, so plan ahead. Most of the time, you're just letting the meat marinate and the longer it marinates, the better it tastes!

Yummy marinade - it makes everything better!

The ingredient list is long with a few spices you might not normally have on hand, but I easily found them at the grocery store. Try it! I know it'll become a family favorite.

Chicken Tikka Masala - from Jodi Kilpack's novel English Trifle

Marinade

• 1 cup plain greek yogurt
• 2 tablespoons lemon juice
• 2 teaspoons cumin
• 2 teaspoons cayenne pepper (or less for a smaller kick)
• 2 teaspoons black pepper
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon ground ginger
• 1 1/2 pounds boneless chicken thighs or breast (I like the thighs better for this)

             Combine all ingredients in a ziploc gallon sized bag. Knead the mixture so the chicken and spices are evenly distributed. Allow the chicken to marinate at least one hour in the fridge (but you can marinate it overnight as well).
             After marinating, remove the chicken from the bag and broil or grill the chicken until cooked. The marinade is thick and may cook off. You don't need to save it.

Sauce

• 1 tablespoon of butter or oil
• 2 garlic cloves minced
• 1 jalapeno minced (I usually leave this out)
• 2 teaspoons ground coriander
• 1 teaspoon cumin
• 1 teaspoon paprika
• 1 teaspoon garam masala
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 - 8 oz can tomato sauce
• 1 cup whipping cream (You can use half and half or milk as well, but it won't be as rich)
• Cooked Rice

              Melt the butter in a large skillet and add the garlic and jalapeno. Cook about a minute. Add the spices and tomato sauce, cover and simmer for about 15 minutes (this is a good time to start cooking the rice). After simmering, add the cream and cook until the sauce thickens. Add the cooked chicken to the sauce and cook a few minutes. Serve over rice.

Sorry I don't have a finished photo! It's just too good to wait to eat it! I like to heat up some frozen veg mix and put it on top of rice and then top with the chicken and sauce. :) I hope you enjoy this as much as I do!
 

Recipe Time: Kabobs, Pineapple and Sangria

Last night I was in the mood for some chopping. I know that sounds weird, but chopping massive amounts of fruits or vegetables is a relaxing activity for me. I love to just stand there and mow through some veggies like they were yesterday's news. So here's what was on the menu last night:

 Mormon Girl Sparkling Sangria

Doesn't that look refreshing?

Basil Rosemary Kabobs and Spicy Glazed Pineapple

I haven't had a more delicious dinner in a looooong time! I don't know what it was about the combination of the flavors, but it hit not just the right spot, but the left one and the bottom one and that so very hard to hit top one too!

I served the kabobs over plain white rice because I was starving and didn't want to take more time doctoring some rice. But you know what, I always buy the jasmine rice, so it already has a delicious flavor regardless of the addition of any extra spices.

I've put the recipes after the page break! Try them! I know you'll love them as much as I did!

Ummm, how did I not know about these?!

Image courtesy of www.Bakerella.com

They are the most delicious things ever! How have I lived 25 years on this Earth and not known about cake balls?!?!?!

Seriously easy to make (albeit time consuming), completely delicious and the possibilities for ridiculous cuteness are off the charts!

My sister and I checked out Bakerella's book on cake pops from the library and we decided since we've got some time on our hands, we'd try making some!

I've always excelled with fiddley things. I think it brings out my OCD tendencies.



I only realized afterward that I made cake balls in ECU colors, but I guess it's alright since I went there for *ONE* semester. :) Regardless of the color scheme, they tasted amazing! I will definitely be making these again! The recipes can be found on Bakerella's website (although in her book she recommends using 3/4 can of frosting to one cake instead of the one to one found on her blog).

Christmas cookies are a'baking

Last year, I made a few cookies and other items and gave them to a few people. Well, this year, I'm planning on expanding my route because of this fabulous Black Friday find!

These tins were 3 bucks for a set of 3 at Ikea! That is the right price! And they're totally cute too!

The only cookies I can remember making last year were florentines. They were pretty delicious, but a pain in the butt to make in large quantities. So, I'm trying to come up with 3 or 4 different kinds of cookies that are easy to make and taste fantastic!

If you have any ideas (or requests!) I'd love to hear them!

Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!

I am so grateful for so many things this year! I'm thankful for my family, for our home, our jobs, for living in a country with so many freedoms, for my education, my kitty, the nice things I have, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

This year for Thanksgiving Dinner, it was just me and Matt. We had baked salmon, with arugula salad, mashed potatoes, rolls, green beans, roasted sweet potatoes and beets.

For dessert we had an apple and pear galette. I got the recipe for the galette on allrecipes and it was pretty good. My crust was a little dry and crumby, but it had a good flavor. Click here for the link to the recipe. I added some sugar and salt to the crust to give it more flavor. I also used pumpkin pie spice instead of the spice mixture (because cardamom was 10 bucks for a little bitty thing!). I just realized that I forgot to add the brown sugar in the mixture, but I didn't miss it at all! I also brushed the crust with some egg whites (because I had some left over from something else) and sprinkled the whole thing with a little sugar in the raw. Any way, it was Matt approved which for a pastry is incredible! Try it! You'll love it! Here how it turned out.

Ummmm.... Heck Yes!

I've had some pretty amazing culinary adventures as of late, but I only have pictures from one of them. Yesterday, I tried recreating Cafe Rio's Pork Barbacoa Salad. I think I came pretty close, but I haven't had it in a while, so I may not be as close as I think I am. Any way, after searching for some recipes, I made up my own. Here it is:

Pork Barbacoa Deliciousness

• 3-5 lb. Pork Roast
• 1 7oz. Can of chipotle chiles in adobo
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1 tsp Cumin
• 1 tsp Garlic minced
• 1 tsp Dry Mustard
• 1 1/2 cans of Dr. Pepper (or 18 oz)

Mix all ingredients except for the roast in a bowl, chilies and all. Place the pork roast and the sauce into a slow cooker and cook on low for 6 hours. At the end of the 6 hours take out the roast and shred the meat. Put about half aside for other purposes (like yummy barbecue later!). In another bowl, mix the following ingredients:

• 18 oz Dr. Pepper
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup ketchup
• 1 tsp (or more if you like the heat) Franks Red Hot Sauce
• 1/4 cup Sticky Fingers Carolina Sweet barbecue sauce
• 1 tsp cumin
• 1 tsp garlic minced

Once you have the sauce mixed, reduce in a pot on the stove until the sauce is slightly thickened (about 5-10 minutes on medium heat). Mix in with the shredded meat and eat.

I think it's pretty good regardless. It know it's a little labor intensive, especially with making a whole new sauce, but the chilies added a great kick to the meat, but left the cooked liquid too spicy (It stings the nostrils). Any way, we used it to top a Cafe Rio-esque salad. Basically layer the following:

• tortilla
• rice
• beans
• lettue
• pico de gayo
• pork
• cheese
• squeeze o' lime

Also, I found a goo tomatillo dressing here. I actually used the recipe for the initial cooking liquid from her blog as well. I made up the second sauce on the fly with what I had. :) Any way, it was delicious.

My second adventure happened this afternoon on my way home. I stopped into the bakery on Salem Street in downtown Apex. I told the lady I wanted chocolate something and she suggested this.

I can't even remember what it was called, but I think it was something like, "The most delicious chocolatey thing you'll ever put in your mouth, ever." Ok, not really, but it should be called that! It was rich and creamy, but not too rich (which given it's size is a good thing!) I didn't eat all of it in one go, because I had to run, but boy did it fix my chocolate itch. If you ever find yourself in downtown Apex, you should definitely stop in and get this, or one of the many other delicious desserts they offer!

Recipe time Part Duex!

It occurred to me that I haven't been very good about posting Teri-original recipes on here, so I thought I should share with you one of my new favorite things: smoothies!

Now I know it doesn't take a genius to make a smoothie, but there is a science to it (sort of). A good smoothie should never require too much extra ice to be added, as it dilutes the flavor, and it should have a wide variety of flavors. Here's my favorite one right now:

Teri's Berry Smoothie

• 1 cup frozen tropical fruit (My mix had mangoes, pineapple, kiwi and melons)
• 1 cup frozen berries (My mix has blackberries, raspberries, strawberries and blueberries)
• 1 small container of strawberry yogurt (think yoplait sized containers and the like) 
• 1/2 cup or so (you might need extra depending on your blender) apple juice
• roughly 4 ice cubes

Put the liquid and yogurt into the bottom of the blender and pile the fruit in on top. Blend. Add more apple juice if needed. One of the tricks to getting a smooth texture is letting the blender run for about a minute once the mixture become visually the same. You want there to be a hole down the middle of your smoothie while it's running, so that everything can get down to the blades eventually. Once you've let it run for a minute, add the ice cubes one at a time until the hole down the middle disappears. (You may need more of less than the amount of ice cubes indicated. It's not going to be the same for everybody) I've also experimented with adding protein powder. While this makes a pretty good, easy breakfast for me, it makes the smoothie really frothy, so only add the protein powder at the very end so it doesn't explode out of your blender like mine almost did this morning.

If you have any left overs, store them in an airtight container in the freezer, but use it within the next month. To thaw, set it in the fridge for about an hour and half. That will get it to a similar consistency as when you started out! I hope you enjoy!!

Teri's Ridiculous Frosting

Ok, so my first day of work was... interesting. I pretty much screwed up big time in the first 3 hours of work, met with a client, became a running joke, and subsequently fell in love with the ladies I work with.
Any way, we're having a potluck tomorrow for a client who's turning 103. (Yeah, I know! That's amazing!!) I volunteered to bring chocolate cake. It's the same cake recipe I used for my sister-in-law's wedding. But, because I messed up the batter on the first time around, I didn't have enough cocoa powder for the frosting recipe. So I made one up. And it was ridiculously good. :) Here it is!

Teri's Ridiculous Frosting

• 6 oz (or half a bag) of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 8 oz cream cheese
• 1 cup powdered sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 tbls chocolate sauce

 Melt the chocolate chips over a double boiler or in the microwave and stir until smooth. Using a stand mixer or hand mixer (because this next part will be *really* difficult without it) beat the softened cream cheese into the melted chocolate. Add the powdered sugar, vanilla and chocolate sauce and continue to beat until smooth and fluffy. If you want your frosting stiffer, add more powdered sugar until it reaches the desired consistency. Likewise, if you want your frosting more fluid, add more chocolate sauce.

I think I might be in love with my new creation. *sigh* I'll try to get a picture of the cake tomorrow before we cut into it. :)

*update* So, I got to work that morning and frosted the cake (so it wouldn't get smeared all over the lid to my cake pan) and then they told me that I would be going on a client visit during the party. I got to meet and read to a pretty amazing woman, but when I got back, the cake was gone! So, no photos of the cake other than the ones taken by the official A Helping Hand camera, so I don't know if I'm allowed to post them or not... Any way, everyone said the frosting was delicious! I'm glad the cake was a hit!

I am the best wife ever*

*According to Matt

Saturday, I was craving something warm, gooey, and chocolatey. I think this qualifies. And can you say, "Holy block of butter, Batman!"

After a somewhat disappointing dinner disaster (say that five times fast!), I was looking forward to something delicious. (What can I say, I'm just not into fish)

Matt, through his traveling, has come to appreciate a certain restaurant called Flemming's. Since he doesn't have to pay for it (because it is *really* expensive) he goes there every week and every week he gets the chocolate lava cake for dessert. He loves it. He would write sonnets to it if he were lyrically inclined.

So, when I got the chocolate itch, I decided to satisfy it with this. Mouthwatering, isn't it?

As much as I would *love* to claim the credit for this gustatory masterpiece, all brownie points are owed to brandielle at Tasty Kitchen. I found the recipe via Tastespotting, which found it at The Pioneer Woman, who got it off of Tasty Kitchen. It was a long way to go for deliciousness, but it was worth it. The recipe can be found here.

I think, next time I won't leave it in the oven as long because my ramekins are on the small side. I would also like to note, that I halved the recipe and it still turned out great (which doesn't always happen in baking)! Also, Matt said (before I even asked him) that it was a "Make Again". That's a really good sign (because Matt is pickier than most three year olds).

P.S. - What do you think of my new apron? I made it with my mom when I visited. my favorite part is that one of the lines on the apron says, "If we were meant to pop out of bed, we'd sleep in toasters." Amen to that.

Ole Time Barbeque Review

I love me some good barbecue. The problem is that good barbecue is hard to find. Of the barbecue in the area, I firmly believe that Ole Time kicks all the other 'que shacks' trash.

I recently discovered that they have two locations and there's one ridiculously close to us! I haven't been there yet, but I'm sure that it will be just as good as the double-wide trailer in Cary. It won't have one thing that the Cary location has: charm.

Ole Time is nothing more than a double-wide, yellow dive on the side of Chatham Street in Cary. They serve up the best tasting pork in the area in addition to the most delectable hushpuppies this side of the Mississippi. The flavor of the food is only enhanced by the ambiance and the service that is only attainable by deep southern hospitality.

Matt and I went for a date a few weeks ago and here is our exact (well, almost) conversation:

Waitress: What do you want?
Me: I'll have the pulled pork sandwich plate with potato salad and beans please.
Matt: You're not going to get coleslaw?
Me: Um, Ew. No.
Matt (to the waitress): Can I have her coleslaw on my plate?
Waitress: What?
Matt: She doesn't want her coleslaw, and I want other sides, so can I have her coleslaw put on my plate?
Waitress: Um, no. You can get your own coleslaw (said with the most sass possible).
Matt: Oh, ok. I'll have (I can't remember) with (two sides I can't remember) and my own coleslaw.

We all laughed at this point, but seriously, that waitress was really abrupt and seemed esasperated by the very fact that we were there. And if happened in any other restaurant, Matt might've had words with the manager, but we laughed hysterically. Our waitress was an older black lady and you just knew she'd just about had it for the day. It was hot in the little double wide and it was kind of late in the day. I loved it! Service with a side of sass.

And honestly, isn't a large part of any reason you go to your favorite places the atmosphere it offers? I love that the wait staff treats you like family, and just like every family, they'll let you know when you're being dumb. I love Ole Time. It is truly a 5 star place, even if it is a little rough around the edges.

Oh, and I just found out you can order their barbecue online! So, if you're not living in Raleigh and want some good southern sunshine to brighten your evening meal, order some delicious North Carolina barbecue. You won't regret it!

Ole Time Barbecue's Website

The Pioneer Woman Cookbook: A Review of Awesomeness

Can I just say thank you to Ree Drummond from all the visual learners out there? THANK YOU! I love to cook, but it's hard sometimes to read the tiny print of a recipe in a cookbook when you're juggling the chopping and sauteing and mixing all at the same time without burning or dropping anything. This cookbook not only offers step by step pictures for each recipe, it also has plenty of cute pictures of her family and their ranch. She also spread little stories throughout the book like nuggets of sunshine. It's actually a book you can sit down and read! That's what I did after I bought it! She introduces each recipe with a story about where it came from or how it came to be. It's truly a joy to read as well as a feast for the eyes.

In addition to being visually and textually appealing, the recipes are delicious. They remind me of my mom's cooking. It's typical ranch/western food. Now I know what you're all thinking, But Teri, I thought you were born and raised in the South? Well, yes, that's true, but my mother was not. She was raised on a cattle ranch in Southern Alberta (that's in Canada, eh?) and that's where she learned to cook: By the said of my grandmother who not only fed their large family, but the ranch hands as well. So I grew up not with collards and fried chicken, but with beef and potatoes. That's not to say that there isn't a chicken recipe in here, because there are plenty, but that the entrees tend to lean more toward the beef side of life.

The flavors and smells of the foods I've cooked over the past couple of days remind me on mom. I can't quite put my finger on it, but it definitely screams: Narda! to me. The food isn't fancy or gourmet by any means, but it is tasty and comforting. And that's mostly why I love this book. I think it's just a big giant cookbook of my comfort foods, even though some of the recipes I've never seen or tasted before. I heartily recommend this cookbook to anyone. It is hands down my favorite cookbook ever.

And of course two days after I got the cookbook, I learned that she was doing a book signing tour and stopping in Charlotte! ARG! I so desperately wanted to go and say thank you, but obligations kept me in Raleigh. Not only is Mrs. Drummond a successful cookbook author, she started a blog a few years back  which actually launched the cookbook in the first place. I feel like everybody knew about this before I did! (I hate it when that happens!) But now, I love looking at all her pictures and reading her blog. It's definitely a great space on the interwebs. Go check it out:

The Pioneer Woman

Photo Courtesy of  thepioneerwoman.com

A Stroke of Pure Brilliance...

Hit me while making lunch on Sunday. I *love* breakfast, but I rarely ever eat breakfast foods for breakfast. I was making pancakes and eggs and asked Matt how he wanted his egg cooked. He said, "In a basket." Now, for those who aren't aware, an "Egg in a Basket" is a type of toast where you cut out the middle part of a piece of bread, drop the egg into the hole, and fry it. It's delicious. Now, I really didn't want to make any more carbohydrates for the meal (I mean, pancakes are enough!) and then it hit me. Cut out the middle of the pancake and drop the egg in!

I had my very first fried egg on a pancake when I was about 12. It was one of the most delicious things I had ever eaten. It might also have been the boysenberry syrup as well, but that's not the point. The point was that when you ate the egg with the pancake, the yolk runs out and get's absorbed by the bread and it's like having a really good bread pudding (which is one of my favorite desserts!). It's rich and moist, but you don't really get a huge egg flavor (because of the liberal application of syrup). You get the benefit of texture that the egg yolk brings to the party. It's simple, but delicious.

Any way, having had this stroke of brilliance, I cut out the hole, plopped the egg into it and cooked it. It was so good. I don't know if anyone has had this same "ah-ha" moment, but I think it should be a regular item on all breakfast menus from now on. I think I'll call it "Eggs in a Fluffy Basket".

Vegas: Redeems itself

So after the terrible anniversary night, I was pretty annoyed with Vegas in general and was not happy at all. The day after our anniversary, we decided to walk up and down the entire strip. Roughly ten miles all in all. In hind sight, it was not the best thing to do (seeing as I had blisters the size of my finger on both feet from the aforementioned killer heels), but I wanted to see all the casinos and walk through them.

The day started off well with me winning four dollars on the slot machines (wahoo!) but it's charms quickly wore off (read: I lost all my winnings in other slot machines) as my foot started hurting more and more. I've also had trouble with my left foot having pain when I walk (which I've since found out was a subluxed cuboid bone pressing on nerves and tendons causing sharp pains every time I step on it but recently remedied).

By the end of the day I was pooped and we didn't even make it into Caesar's Palace, Bellagio, Mirage or Treasure Island. We did get to see the Bellagio fountain show (which was incredible), the Mirage volcano show (which we saw from across the street and wasn't as incredible) and the Siren's of TI show (which was interesting, but lame at the same time).

That night, Matt tried to find somewhere to eat that was close and cheapish and after a few minutes of Urban Spoon-ing and Yelp-ing, he found this place called Ricardo's and decided to give it a try. We arrived at the restaurant (which from the outside sort of reminded me of a Chili's in terms of size and shape) and when we were being seated, Matt asked to be away from the kitchen. Now, what Matt meant was he didn't want the odor of cooking shellfish to make him uncomfortable. What the host interpreted was that we wanted something quiet and secluded. He took us to a little booth in the corner where there was no one else around (save for a few police officers who left a few minutes after we sat down).

Our waitress was polite, prompt and very considerate. I always take forever to order and sometimes you can tell that it annoys the server. She, however, did not miss a beat. Matt told her about his allergy which she carefully noted and when our food arrived, even made a little joke about him ordering the shrimp special. She was present, but not hovering, and the food was out pretty quickly. We also ordered guacamole as an appetizer to go with our chips and the three incredibly delicious (and obviously homemade) salsas. I ordered the enchiladas racheras and Matt ordered the chimichangas.

I cannot adequately express to you how delicious my meal was. I am not, in general, a big fan of mexican cuisine. I have to be in the mood for it, or it has to be prepared by Eduardo (our friend from Charlotte). But this enchilada was smothered in a delicious sauce (that wasn't your typical tomato sauce) with cheese and refried beans. As always when a restaurant offers chips or breads before your meal, I filled up on the chips and salsa, so I had a hard time making a dent in the plate, but dang it I tried my very best! It was hearty and cheesy and the beef inside was tender and incredibly flavorful. It was called machaca I think and I have no idea what it means, but I think it roughly translates to "the best tasting shredded beef you'll ever put in your mouth".

And even though there was a small TV right at our table, it wasn't too distracting and Matt and I had a great conversation. I remember saying to Matt at one point that this was the dinner we should have had on our anniversary. The food was great, the service didn't suck and I could actually hear Matt without him shouting at me.

We left happy and full and drove back to the hotel with the windows down, enjoying the warm night air. So, after Ricardo's, I didn't think Vegas was all that bad. Is there such a thing as an anniversary do-over, because that's what happened, even though it wasn't intended. I'm so glad we went.

Apollo Burger

Ah, my old friend! Where you can order pastrami as condiment. My Dad discovered this little chain of Greek burger joints when he was living in Utah a few months before my Mom moved out there. I go every time I visit them. It's tradition. I always order the gyro because it's delicious, but their other items are pretty good too. This place offers an Apollo Burger where you actually get pastrami as a condiment on top of your burger. Because, as you know, you can never have too much meat.

Most of the appeal of this place though is the one restaurant that is owned by a Greek fellow that used to live in Virginia. Every time my Dad and I walk in, the guy (whose name I cannot ever remember) warmly (and loudly) greets us and asks how Virginia is. After politely reminding him that I'm from North Carolina he simply remarks that wherever it is, it's humid.

And it's the same conversation every time I go. This guy always has a smile and even sings occasionally. He'll even throw in a free baklava from time to time when me or my sister visit. And even though the food is not five star caliber, that guy makes it completely worth it. I cannot remember where exactly this one particular restaurant is, but I'll ask my Dad. If you're ever in the South Jordan area, you should totally go and tell him you're from North Carolina.

The Dodo

While staying in Utah, I had the opportunity of catching up with my Sister and Brother-in-law and their adorable son at a restaurant called The Dodo. Apparently, they're known for their sandwiches, but being a little bored of sandwiches at the time, I went with the cobb salad. I honestly think that the cobb salad is one of the most perfect dishes ever, especially when eaten with The Dodo's honey mustard dressing. I cannot describe to you how delicious it was! I was literally honey with some whole seed mustard mixed in. It was mustard-y without being overpowering and wonderfully sweet. And the dressing totally counter-balanced the saltiness of the mounds of bacon and other toppings! I swear the salad was actually bacon (actual bacon, not "bacon" bits) and hard boiled eggs with a side of lettuce. I had them leave the dressing on the side and actually took most of the salad home with me. I had it two days later and it was still as crunchy and delicious as the day I ordered it. Ah, it was heavenly. I would definitely recommend this place if you're looking for an interesting, non-chain restaurant in Salt Lake.