Author: Alison P.

Nothing Bundt Cakes Review

Alison P. on

Recently, I have heard praises of Nothing Bundt Cakes, a bakery specializing in (surprise!) bundt cakes. Of course, I wanted to try it. And let me tell you, this bakery offers more than good puns, they have a variety of different flavors of moist bundt cakes in tons of sizes, from bite-sized “bundtinis” to large two-tiered cakes. Each bundt cake is adorned with signature sweet and thick cream cheese frosting “petals” on the sides, although you can opt for a lighter drizzle of frosting if you want. For my brother’s birthday earlier in May, we bought the chocolate chocolate chip flavor of cake which was delicious, chocolatey, and definitely satisfied my sweet tooth. (FYI, the leftovers are as good as the original.) I have also tried the lemon and carrot cake varieties in miniature “bundtlets”, as well as a sample of this month’s featured flavor: strawberries and cream. All of the cakes were flavorful and tasted of high quality ingredients, yet personally, I agreed with my family that lemon was the most delicious and prominent flavor of the assortment that we had. This little yet vibrant cake shop is located next to Cafesano near the Dulles mall and welcomes you with a sweet aroma of cake and frosting and free samples of the featured flavor. I encourage you to give Nothing Bundt Cakes a try!

*picture from https://www.winningcause.org/agapechristi/25-gift-card-to-nothing-bundt-cakes.html

Review: Sub Zero Nitrogen Ice Cream

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Over spring break, I went to Atlanta, GA for a volleyball tournament, and I got to try Sub Zero NItrogen Ice Cream, and it’s not like your normal Ben and Jerry’s. Their ice cream is made to order with liquid nitrogen, the coolest (get it) part! You can customize everything about your order, with any type of cream, including lactose-free and vegan, and with countless flavors and mix-ins. If you’re indecisive, like me, then there are also delicious pre-decided menu orders you can get. The “cool chemists,” what the employees that are ice cream mixers are called, make your order right in front of you, and you can see the vapor of the liquid nitrogen. When I went, I ordered mint and fudge with twix mix-ins. The ice cream had a really smooth and creamy texture, and I wouldn’t have guessed it was made with liquid nitrogen. All-in-all it was a unique experience, with tons of options, and puts a twist on the causal ice cream shop! Anyway, it’s totally worth it to see and take a picture of the steam-like vapor coming off the ice cream!

 

Shows to watch if you love food

Alison P. on

Image result for food network competition

Being the foodie that I am, my feeds are constantly filled with food-related content, and I have a knack for wanting to check what’s on the Food Network channel when I turn on the TV. From cooking competitions to your grandma’s favorite cooking shows that are on at 7 in the morning, I’ll watch it all! Some of my favorite shows are Chopped, any of the Baking Championships, Cupcake Wars, Pioneer Woman, and Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives (a classic). You’ve probably heard or seen Chopped before but if not, here’s a refresher: it’s a cooking competition in which four competitors receive a basket of challenging ingredients (that sometimes go along with a theme) and have to create a meal incorporating those ingredients in three rounds, appetizer, entree, and desert. Each round the plates are judged by a table of renown chefs and one competitor is kicked off, or “chopped.” It’s a pretty entertaining and intense show, and will keep you watching. For seasons and holidays, Food Network airs different Baking Championship competitions in which the bakers are given a topic and goal of baking something, and whoever produces the best baked treat wins! Sometimes Food Network also airs a Kid’s Baking Championship, in which I watch as 8-13 year-olds make scones and Swiss-meringue buttercream while I can’t memorize a chocolate chip cookie recipe. Anyway, Cupcake Wars is yet another competition show that is all about (you guessed it) cupcakes! Bakers are chosen from bakeries and cupcakeries around the country to create cupcakes that will compete against other chefs to be displayed at a large event. The Pioneer Woman is all about the delicious recipes ranch-living Ree Drummond dreams up. Fun fact: she actually began as a blogger, and eventually got her own Food Network show and wrote a cookbook! Check out her blog about life on the ranch and recipes and videos that’ll make you drool here! Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives is fun to watch if you want to explore different restaurants around the country with Guy Fieri’s engaging commentary. Besides these picks, there are so many more shows to watch! Comment what your fave foodie show is below!  If you made it this far on this post, let me know what you want to see next on my blog!

Pics from: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Food_Network_New_Logo.png 

http://www.foodnetworkgossip.com/2014/01/chopped-tournament-of-stars-coming-in.html

 

Vanilla and Chocolate Cupcakes Recipes

Alison P. on

For this Friday Fun Foods blog, I’m sharing two baking recipes that are great for practicing frosting cupcakes and fillings or if you just want some delicious, simple cupcakes. I was actually recommended these recipes from a cake-decorating instructor when I went to a cupcake-decorating class once, so there’s some credibility here. The recipes are Easy One-Bowl Chocolate Cupcakes by Martha Stewart and Perfect Vanilla Cupcake Recipe by Natasha’s Kitchen. There were actually multiple one-bowl chocolate cupcakes by Martha Stewart, but I included the recipe that seemed like the more popular (and tastier) one. Also, I haven’t tried these recipes yet, so when I do I’ll make sure to take a picture and write up a post on it! Maybe when I make these I can do a taste test between the two to settle the chocolate v.s. vanilla debate! Not that I would be a very fair judge, because I like chocolate a bit more (it’s the best, lets be real), but really who doesn’t have an opinion when it comes to chocolate and vanilla? Let me know if you try these recipes and if you prefer chocolate or vanilla by commenting below!

Links to the recipes:

https://www.marthastewart.com/968996/easy-one-bowl-chocolate-cupcakes

https://natashaskitchen.com/2012/06/29/perfect-vanilla-cupcake-recipe/

 

Restaurant Review: B. Doughnut

Alison P. on

* Excuse my terrible photography (but good donuts)

For this Thursday’s post, I dug into my distant food-related memories and remembered this donuts place I went to last year. It’s called B. Doughnut, and I remember waking up early on a Saturday to drive to the historic Leesburg area to wait in a long line in the cold that stretched far outside of the small donuts shack to get these donuts.The donuts themselves, I think, were worth the wait. They were much different than other donuts I’ve had in that they had the thick, fluffy consistency of Shopper’s Donuts but less dense and with a fresh, hand-made taste. According to their website, B. Doughnut’s recipe is based on Hawaiian style Malasadas, which are Portuguese donuts. B. Doughnut is the home of the Everything Bagel Doughnut, filled with different cream cheeses and topped with chives, bacon, and smoked salmon. In addition, there is also a variety of other filled and non-filled donuts as well as Vegan donuts, and their weekly specialty flavors. They have multiple locations in Northern Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Maryland. Although, be sure to get there early because when they sell out for the day, they close up. Anyway, I highly recommend trying B. Doughnut for their fresh tasting donuts and unique flavors or just a drool-worthy picture! Check out B. Doughnut online at http://www.bdoughnut.com/

Would you try an Everything Bagel Donut? Comment below!

Mac & Cheese Recipe

Alison P. on

Image result for baked mac and cheese

https://www.flickr.com/photos/chewychua/94420914

Hi everyone! For today’s post, I have a recipe for everyone’s favorite comfort food, mac and cheese. This recipe was adapted from Cooking Light Magazine by my mom. You may disagree, but to be clear, homemade mac and cheese is WAY better than that boxed Kraft (no insult to Kraft) and Velveeta semi-cheese stuff. Stove-top mac and cheese just doesn’t compare to the crispy edges and creaminess you get when mac and cheese is baked in the oven. Although maybe it’s not the healthiest dinner option, that doesn’t mean it’s not worth it to splurge every once in a while! So without further ado, here’s the recipe! What other recipes are you hungry for? Leave a comment below!

Ingredients

  • 4 cups uncooked medium elbow macaroni
  • 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
  • 2 1/4 cups milk
  • 1/4 cup (2 ounces) 1/3-less-fat cream cheese, softened
  • 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
  • 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic
  • 1 1/2cups shredded cheddar cheese

How to Make It

Step 1

Cook pasta according to package directions, omitting salt and fat. Drain and set aside.

Step 2

While pasta cooks, place flour, salt, and pepper in a large saucepan. Add milk, stirring with a whisk until well blended. Drop cream cheese by teaspoonfuls into milk mixture; bring to a boil over medium-high heat, stirring constantly. Reduce heat; simmer 2 minutes or until thick and cream cheese melts, stirring occasionally. Stir in mustard, Worcestershire, and garlic; simmer 1 minute. Remove from heat. Add cheddar cheese, stirring until cheese melts. Combine pasta and cheese sauce in a large bowl; toss well.

Bake at 350 for about 15 minutes.

Restaurant Review: Coal Fire

Alison P. on

Coal Fire is located in the new Epicerie Plaza in Cascades near Cava and Chuy’s Tex-Mex. I have had Coal Fire’s pizza a few times after late-night practices and on weekends, and the unique style and garden-fresh flavor of the pizza was memorable. The restaurant is a chain, but just to be clear, their pizza isn’t like the mass-produced Papa John’s or Domino’s. At Coal fire, the crust is thin and slightly blackened, which gives it a subtle burnt taste that is actually very appetizing. The pizza is baked in a 900 degree coal fire oven, hence the name. This style of pizza is different than the usual thicker and crispy crust, but it just depends on your preference. Another reason I found Coal Fire’s pizza to be so delicious was the fresh tasting cheese and other toppings. Besides choosing your own sauce and toppings or a signature pizza, Coal Fire also offers wings, salads, pastas, Coalby’s (sandwiches), and side orders. All in all, Coal Fire is a great restaurant if you want to try a different pizza place than your usual go-to! Where should I go next? Comment below!

Banana Bread Recipe

Alison P. on

For this post, I’m going to be sharing a recipe for banana bread that I made about a month ago. It’s a healthier version of the popular baked good, but doesn’t compromise on taste. The recipe is from another blog, called Cookie and Kate. If you’re looking for some tasty vegetarian recipes, check them out! Link:

Healthy Banana Bread!

Healthy banana bread recipe—you're only a few simple ingredients and one bowl away from the best banana bread ever! cookieandkate.com

*Picture from recipe link

What do you want me to make next? Comment below!

 

Restaurant Review: BurgerFi

Alison P. on

Hi everyone!

About two weeks ago I went to a restaurant called BurgerFi in the Village at Leesburg.  BurgerFi is what you would think it is, just by reading the name — a casual burger joint, one of the many that have been popping up recently. Yet, it’s totally worth choosing over your local sports bar to get a satisfying, juicy burger. BurgerFi’s menu isn’t overwhelming, but definitely not lacking in options. You can choose from the original BurgerFi Cheeseburger, with two patties (although you can opt for one), the Breakfast All Day Burger, complete with hash browns and a fried egg among other toppings, a VegeFi Burger for the vegetarians out there (or if you’re just curious). The menu is not limited to these three selections, as there are other mouthwatering burgers and toppings to choose from, as well as hot dogs, crispy french fries and onion rings, and, of course, shakes, custard cups, “custard concretes,” and custard floats with your choice of soda. When I went, I ordered a single BurgerFi cheeseburger and fries to share with my family, and it was all crazy delicious, complete with the burger hot off the grill, and freshly stamped with the BurgerFi logo. I tried some of my brother’s vanilla shake he got, and I’m glad I didn’t get one, because it was creamy, delectable, and would have been gone in two minutes. Overall, BurgerFi is the perfect place to go if you’re craving a tasty burger and maybe a dessert! What restaurant do you want me to try next? Comment below!

Picture from: https://burgerfi.com/menu/

 

 

1st official post

Alison P. on

1/5

Today for my first “official” post I am going to share a pound cake recipe with you guys that I got from my grandma. I actually used this recipe for a project in eighth grade and it was really delicious and simple so here it is! Also, feel free to add different zests, spices, and mix-ins to this recipe as it’s pretty basic and great for experimenting with flavors.

Ingredients:

3 cups sugar

3 sticks softened butter

3 cups flour

1 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla

5 eggs

Steps:

1. Preheat your oven to 300 degrees.

2. Grease a tube or bundt pan (whatever you have).
3. Mix all ingredients together until fluffy, adding the eggs one at a time (beat one at a time with other ingredients and then put another in and beat, etc) .

4. Bake the cake for about an hour and a half, although the cooking time may be more or less depending on your oven.

5. Let it cool in the pan for 15 minutes when you take the cake out of the oven.

6. To remove the cake from the pan, run a knife around the edge of the pan, turn the pan upside down, and the cake should fall out onto a plate.

7. Drizzle the top of the cake with icing and let the icing drip down the sides. This is a link to an icing recipe you can use, but any recipe you like will work. https://www.thespruce.com/basic-cake-glaze-with-variations-3034188

8. Enjoy!

I sadly do not have the picture from when I made this pound cake, but I think it looked something like this picture.

https://www.google.com/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwiUjd-AqsHYAhVSdt8KHaYgAgAQjRwIBw&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.pinterest.com%2Fexplore%2Fpound-cake-icing%2F&psig=AOvVaw1nU5CmTW84AJeTD4QsU7uq&ust=1515259001596280

Comment below if you tried the recipe or about what you want to see next on my blog!