What the world needs now is DESSERT!!!

Where would this world be without dessert??!! actually I think I know unfortunately...we'd all be 10lbs skinnier...but hey! we would also be grumpier!!  Dessert makes me smile...oh yeah!! nothing like a warm brownie w/ice cream on top....here is a list of some of my favorite desserts & the places I can find them....
Please comment & let me know what your favorite desserts are & where I can find them too, so I can try it...don't be greedy!!! lol

Coldstone Creamery - Founder's Favorite (caramel, brownies, pecans, chocolate, vanilla! what more can a girl ask for?! oh wait I also have them add sliced bananas!! mmmmmmmmm....)

Dairy Queen - Banana Split Blizzard (basically, a banana split mashed up into a shake with chunks of banana lingering in your mouth!)

Cheesecake Factory - Banana Cream Cheesecake (geesh! can you tell I like banana's yet?! this one has creamy whipped cream on it & is surrounded by sliced bananas...mouthwatering!!)

um...I'll be back to discuss more of these desserts...this made me too hungry to keep going, I can't think anymore...I have to stop now...to be continued....

Rivera Restaurant...Oh Wow!!!

So Saturday night, my friends and I hung out & stumbled upon a gourmet Mexican Restaurant in downtown LA.  The group of people we were hanging out with told us about it & took us there.  Rivera's is famous for the unique & delicious cocktail concotions.  I had one with cucumbers (rivera's cup) in it that was sooo good, my friend had one with cricket salt (donaji cocktail) around the rim, another had the "barbacoa" which had a piece of beef jerky in it.  All of them were soooo good & soooo unique.  We sat at the bar & were amused at how the bartenders made the drinks.  Peeling an orange & burning the peel with a lighter & then rubbing it around the rim of the glass...it was cool.  Here is the link to their cocktail menu, make sure you try one if you go... cocktail menu.

Also, while we were sitting there we had some appetizers that were to DIE for!!! geez, either they were the best I ever tasted or I was buzzed...lol, either way, I just remember them being sooooo yummy!!! We had some of their homemade corn tortillas that have roses pressed into them served with some spicy guacamole spread & then we had some of their mouth-watering, delicious "jamon serrano" (thinly sliced spanish ham served w/toasted bread)  that I couldn't get enough of....soooooooooooooooooo good, we ordered it 3 times because we kept devouring it.  A bonus on top of all of this is that the decor is soo cool, the chairs, tequila corks, walls, napkins, etc, all has the Rivera "R" on it.  Very cool.  http://www.riverarestaurant.com/ I can't wait to go back & try everything else!!!!

the Barbacoa cocktail

Jamon Serrano

Porto's Bakery

World Famous for their Potato Balls & pastries, Porto's Bakery is delicious!  Not only do they have a huge selection of freshly baked pastries that melt in your mouth, but they have a full menu of to-die-for cuban food.  My boyfriend and i picked out about 9 different pastries and 7 potato balls & our total was only $12.  We were like "huh? really? ok throw some more in there!" we thought it would be about $60.  Porto's is located in Glendale, CA  off Brand Blvd. and they have a new location opening soon in Downey, Ca.

Potato Balls...
inside these are mashed potatoes & seasoned ground beef...warm & delicious...


a variety of cheesecakes, mousses, red velvet cupcakes & lots more yummy desserts...


oh yum! Chocolate Covered Strawberries & a delicious moist white cake w/strawberry filling


strawberry & cream cheese danish, apricot cheese danish, guava filled danishes,
cookies made completely of smashed almonds dipped in chocolate, more cookies & cupcakes...

Oh My! Frida's Mexican Restaurant!!!!

Frida's Mexican Cuisine, Glendale, CA...located at the Americana on Brand Blvd.

I am in looooooooooooove with this Restaurant!!!!! OMG!!!! The food is sooooooo delicious!!! I love the open setting of the restaurant.  You can sit outside, eat & people-watch.

I had the Salmon Diabla (pictured below)...and a Michelada of course! & my bf had the Sunday brunch which includes an omelette, sope, chilaquile, pancake, etc, bar & bbq ribs & chicken.  Every Sunday for brunch there are also Mariachis & clowns making ballon animals for the kids.

Bahia Mexican Restaurant!!!! Yum!!

Bahia, 144 S. Tustin Ave, Orange, CA

I finally got some pics of the meals we regularly order at my Favorite Mexican Restaurant (see my previous post)...so here you go...it makes my mouth water all over again, just looking at the pics!!

Camarones al mojo de ajo plate
Shrimp sauteed in garlic butter, with beans, rice & a side salad
at lunchtime on a weekday, you can get this plate for $6.99. After that, it goes up to $12.99

This is what my BF always orders...Pollo a la diablo...Chicken sauteed in a spicy red sauce w/beans, rice & sid salad & tortillas.  During lunch this plate is $5.99 (I think), otherwise I believe it goes up to $9.99.

Here is the kid's plate my son ordered...a creamy, yummy bean & cheese burrito w/ a side of beans & rice OR french fries...I think $3.99

And the yummy tostada chips & salsa...

and another fave of mine...I didn't order it, so I had to take a pic of it on the menu.  The Shrimp Cocktail...Now I've tried alot of different shrimp cocktails & different places & I have to say this is the absolute BEST one that I've ever tasted!!! It has the perfect combination of sauce, shrimp, lots of avocado, etc! I am salivating as I type this...yummmm!!!!!  The price for this size is $9.99, but they also have smaller sizes available...

Hope you enjoyed drooling over the photos of the food...See ya at Bahia!!!

My Favorite Fast Food Spots or hole in the wall joints

In-N-Out (of course you have to add a Neopolitan shake)
Paradise Bakery, Mainplace Mall, Santa Ana, CA (I love everything here)
Sarinana's, Santa Ana, CA (their hard shell taco plate is the BOMB!!)
McDonalds (love their fries & hamburgers)
Jugos Acapulco, Santa Ana, CA (jugos, jugos! yum!)
Tacos Mexico (various locations)
El Toro Meat Market, Santa Ana (carnitas please!)
El Gallo Giro, Santa Ana, Ca (that big thing is a quesadilla? you should try one!)
Philly's Best (I love cheesesteaks!)
KFC (give me some mashed potatoes & I'll be cool!)
Miguels Jr.

Restaurants!!

Here are some of the Best Restaurants that I've tried & loved...

Bahia - Orange, Ca
Frida's - Glendale, Ca
Rivera Restaurant, Downtown Los Angeles, CA
Lonestar Steakhouse, Tustin or Corona, CA
Avila's El Ranchito, Santa Ana & multiple locations

Appetizer: Creamy cheesy Jalapeno Popper Dip

So, we had another family party this weekend at our house & I had to find something quick that I could whip up.  I searched my favorite website (www.allrecipes.com) and found a Jalepeno Popper Dip.  It seemed quick & easy to make with not a whole lot of ingredients & rave reviews.  So I made it, everyone loved it & it was eaten up in a flash. On top of all that, it was so quick & easy.  My boyfriend couldn't get enough.  It tastes just like a jalapeno popper & is good with tortilla chips, baquettes, pita chips or whatever you want to eat it with.

• Ingredients
• 2 (8 ounce) packages cream cheese, softened
• 1 cup mayonnaise
• 1 (4 ounce) can chopped green chilies, drained
• 2 ounces canned diced jalapeno peppers, drained
• 1 cup grated Parmesan cheese
• Optional: Bread Crumbs

Directions

1. Stir together cream cheese and mayonnaise in a large bowl until smooth. Stir in green chiles and jalapeno peppers. Pour mixture into a microwave safe serving dish, and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese.
2. Microwave on High until hot, about 3 minutes.

I put the dish in the microwave for a couple minutes & then I put bread crumbs & parmesan cheese on top & "broiled" in the oven for a few minutes until breadcrumbs got toasty brown.   I also added almost the whole 4oz can of jalapeno peppers instead of only 2oz...to make it spicier, but that's up to you.

Best Dish ever at Cheesecake Factory

I've never been a big fan of Cheesecake Factory...that is until I tried their "Chicken Bellagio"  OMG...it is to die for.   It is skinny noodle pasta (linquini I think) in a creamy white sauce with very thin breaded chicken breast on top, proscuitto, & argula salad.  It is sooooooooooo good.  The portion size is HUGE too, so it's enough to share with one other person...but if you're like me & don't like sharing your food, lol, then there's plenty to take home as leftovers.

FYI: My favorite cheesecake there is the Banana Cream Cheesecake...sooooo delicious & creamy with slices of bananas all over...can't wait to go back!!

Famous Butter Chicken---so moist & delicious!!

Ok I've made this about a dozen times already and everytime I make it, I get rave reviews & people ask me for the recipe.  Sometimes chicken breast, depending on how you make it, can taste dry & rough.  However, in this recipe, the chicken is sooooo tender, juicy & moist that it just melts in your mouth & you can't get enough!! Well at least my family & I can't.  And the best part of all of this is that this recipe is so EASY to make, with few ingredients to buy...test it out & let me know what you think.  FYI...I got this recipe from http://www.allrecipes.com/  so it isn't my own to claim, but I like sharing the recipes that I've tried & have turned out really yummy!!

Ingredients


2 eggs, beaten
1 cup crushed buttery round cracker crumbs
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
ground black pepper to taste
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves
1/2 cup butter, cut into pieces
 
Directions


Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C).

Place eggs and cracker crumbs in two separate shallow bowls. Mix cracker crumbs with garlic salt and pepper. Dip chicken in the eggs, then dredge in the crumb mixture to coat.

Arrange coated chicken in a 9x13 inch baking dish. Place pieces of butter around the chicken.

Bake in the preheated oven for 40 minutes, or until chicken is no longer pink and juices run clear.


Nutritional Information ...
Amount Per Serving Calories: 448
Total Fat: 31.2g