Belly Up to the Bar With Bendy and Her Friendies!!! Button Pics & New Thread Started!

[snapppyd]

Briar is coming back to the US? woo hoo

 

[Briarmom]

Briar is coming back to the US? woo hoo

NO! We hope not! I'm not ready to be back there!

 

[Briarmom]

How much time does one need to let their sangria sit in the fridge before it's consumed?

 

[ChelleinNC]

How much time does one need to let their sangria sit in the fridge before it's consumed?

Just long enough to write an update on trip report

 

[oybolshoi]

How much time does one need to let their sangria sit in the fridge before it's consumed?

Fill glass with ice ... pour sangria into glass ... drink, drink, drink ...

 

[oybolshoi]

Grand Marnier Cream Sauce ... serves 8 (maybe ... ).

Ingredients:

10 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
1 cup (8oz) sour cream
1/2 cup plus 6 tablespoons powdered sugar
1/2 cup heavy cream

2 1/2 tablespoons Grand Marnier

Combine all ingredients in a food processor and blend until smooth. Taste and adjust booze accordingly. **I used a hand mixer because our food processor is crapola, and it turned out perfectly fine.*

Use as you will ... it would look pretty layered in goblets with fresh fruit, ya know, like a boozy-fruity parfait. Or serve it in a bowl and let people discover how addictive it is on their own.

 

[UGABelle]

Finally caught up and had some time to respond-

Sweet tea isn't something that's offered in Stinktown - we're not quite Southern enough. Seems like we don't come across it until we are in Kentucky, but that's OK since neither Jay nor I take our tea sweetened. Having said that, a sweet tea martini sounds like something that I could enjoy with no trouble at all.

I'll keep an eye on some of the trendier stores that I like to visit and see if that vodka shows up on the shelves at all.

I forgot to mention ... our grocery store was selling Rosa Regale for $15 per bottle because they are discontinuing it. Needless to say we picked up a bottle or three. At that price how could we not???

Since I'm from South Carolina - home of Firefly Sweet Tea Vodka - I had to chime in. I really like it mixed with lemonade, but I can't drink more than one - it's just too sweet to drink large quantities!

Our staycation is two weeks away ...

I think I've got it all sketched out. Let me know what you guys think.

As a precursor to vacation we're going to use our $50 gift certificate next Saturday (5/16) at Wasabi ... a sushi place here in Stinktown that gets really good reviews.

Then on 5/21 we're attending another guest chef dinner at Oceano Bistro.

We're planning to use a $25 gift certificate at the Scottish Arms on Sunday, May 24.

Tuesday, May 26th is my doped up, wasted day since that's when my endoscopic ultrasound is scheduled.

Wednesday, May 27th we're attending a wine dinner at Soulard's (downtown STL).

Thursday, May 28th we're going to use a $25 gift certificate at Monarch ... a trendy-bendy kind of place.

Friday May 29th is our 10th anniversary. I think I'm going to order something special for breakfast (I don't know just where yet ... still thinking about it) and then we've decided to create our own beer dinner with Unibroue!

We're planning on

Welsh Rarebit
Crab Cakes with Jalapeno Butter
Spinach Salad with Feta Cheese, Strawberries & Granny Smith Apples
??? - The Mysterious and as Yet Unnamed Entree -
Bread Pudding Souffle with Whisky Cream Sauce (no beer with this course ... we're breaking out the fancy desesrt wine).

Saturday May 30th ... restart diet.

This sounds so fun. Hope everything goes well with the ultrasound and you can enjoy all the boozie and foodie goodness!

First of all, Brenda, I'm sure your test will turn out fine and I will be sending good wishes your way. Secondly, I am very interested in how to make your Grand Marnier Cream Sauce. I sure do love me some Grand Marnier!!

Briarmom, you really need to take that driving trip. You will regret all the things you missed. Do it while you can!

Lastly, We have booked a trip to Vegas, baby!!!
We will stay 6 nights at Paris on October 11-16. Does anyone have sugestions for a few places we should make reservations for nice dinners? I really wanted Disney's Food and Wine Festival but was out voted. Maybe next year!!! I'm sure Vegas will be amazing though.

I was in Vegas last summer for our anniversary and we ate at:
Hofbrauhaus - hubby's choice; food wasn't remarkable but great beer and fun atmosphere
Mon Ami Gabi (Paris) - a good basic "French" dinner - I had Thyme-Seared Salmon and hubs had Steak Frites
Fiamma (MGM) - This was our anniversary dinner and it was SOOO good - I had the linguini with prawns, bacon, tomato, basil and roasted garlic butter, hubs had short rib ravioli and we shared the corn ragu with pancetta. Dessert was tiramisu - one of my faves

Where are you staying?

 

[UGABelle]

Our vacation was great - I did nothing but relax by the beach or pool and read for 6 days...can't beat that Being an all-inclusive, the food wasn't amazing (more quantity than quality), but they definitely did somethings very well - like chocolate croissants It was fun ordering things we normally wouldn't since it was all "free" and we could always try something else if we didn't like it. Their chateaubriand steak was excellent!

Sorry I don't have any food porn - most of it wasn't worthy though!

Now I need to start planning our next trip - I've always gotta be planning something!

 

[oybolshoi]

I hate making this cake ... just so you know. I only make it for Jay's birthday every blue moon or so.

Here goes:

Mocha Cream Torte

Ingredients:

Crunch Layer:

2 cups graham cracker crumbs
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup finely chopped nuts (optional)
1 tablespoon instant coffee or espresso powder
3/4 cup margarine or butter, melted


Cake:

1 package Pillsbury Plus Dark Chocolate Cake Mix
1 1/4 cup water
1/4 cup margarine or butter, softened
3 eggs


Frosting:

3 ounces cream cheese, softened
2 tablespoons margarine or butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1 tablespoon instant coffee or espresso powder
2 tablespoons half-and-half


Directions:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 8-or-9-inch round cake pans.

In a large bowl, combine all the crunch layer ingredients until crumbly. Firmly press one third of the mixture into the bottom of each prepared pan. **Note - I really only had enough to adequately cover the bottom of two pans, so you may want to adjust accordingly.**

In the same bowl that you mixed that crunchie stuff in, blend all the cake ingredients until moistened - then beat for 2 minutes at highest speed. Pour batter evenly into the three pans (yep, over that obnoxious crunch layer).

Bake for 25-30 minutes for 9-inch pans and 30-40 minutes for 8-inch pans, or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. **If you use a dark pan like I do, decrease your oven heat by 25 degrees.**

Cool cake for 10 minutes in pans & then get 'em out of there to cool completely on wire racks.

And then ... in a small bowl blend all frosting ingredients until smooth.

Place one cake layer, crunch-side up, on a serving plate and spread with one-third of the frosting. Repeat with the remaining cake layers and frosting.

Garnish as desired and store in refrigerator until ready to serve.

Good luck because most times I have to chisel those cakes out of the pans because of that crunch layer and that results in much swearing and crying and kicking and throwing of objects that shall remain nameless. And for some reason when I made this last week it turned out perfectly and I have no idea what I did differently.

 

[oybolshoi]

Our vacation was great - I did nothing but relax by the beach or pool and read for 6 days...can't beat that Being an all-inclusive, the food wasn't amazing (more quantity than quality), but they definitely did somethings very well - like chocolate croissants It was fun ordering things we normally wouldn't since it was all "free" and we could always try something else if we didn't like it. Their chateaubriand steak was excellent!

Sorry I don't have any food porn - most of it wasn't worthy though!

Now I need to start planning our next trip - I've always gotta be planning something!

Glad you had a good trip ... right now I wish I was anywhere but Stinktown.

 

[blissventure]

Mon Ami Gabi (Paris) - a good basic "French" dinner - I had Thyme-Seared Salmon and hubs had Steak Frites
Fiamma (MGM) - This was our anniversary dinner and it was SOOO good - I had the linguini with prawns, bacon, tomato, basil and roasted garlic butter, hubs had short rib ravioli and we shared the corn ragu with pancetta. Dessert was tiramisu - one of my faves

Hi UGABelle, Just jumping in, hope it's OK. We have ressies at Fiamma soon!! So good to hear your thoughts about your visit there.
They have a nice prix fixe until the end of May. (And one of the dessert choices is the tiramisu. )

We'll be making a few trips to Las Vegas this year due to work. We find plenty of time to play, too!

If the Bendies can't be in Disney, well, there's always Vegas!

 

[madameleota71]

Thanks for the recipes Bendy...especially the one for the torte. I am into cake decorating and am always in search of the ultimate frosting recipe!

 

[Tink rules]

How much time does one need to let their sangria sit in the fridge before it's consumed?

Fill glass with ice ... pour sangria into glass ... drink, drink, drink ...

Ahhh well aged, I see...

 

[MA pigletfan]

As for Vegas ... that's a great alternative to F&W - you will have a great time.

When we were there last spring we ate at tons of great restaurants:

Red Square (Mandalay Bay)
House of Blues (Mandalay Bay ... lunch and breakfast)
Isla Mexican Kitchen (Treasure Island)
Payard's Patissiere (Sleezer's Palace)
Alize (The Palms)
The Burger Bar (Mandalay Place)
Aqua Konx (The Venetian)
L'Atelier (MGM Grand)


I've heard good things about Emeril's Delmonico Steakhouse (I think that's at the Venetian) and Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill (Sleezer's Palace). Jay's aunt an uncle are crazy about the Grand Lux Cafe at the Venetian (operated by the same folks who own the Cheesecake Factory).

So many good places to eat ... so little time!

YAY!!! our first honeymoon stop is in vegas for 3 nights ( CAN'T wait..well i can wait until the wedding because we still have quite a bit to do for it..but the honeymoon, i can't wait for!)...so this list is coming with me!

EDIT: 8000 posts! I need to spend more time away from the computer! HAHA!

Oh no you don't...why would you want to deprive us!

How much time does one need to let their sangria sit in the fridge before it's consumed?

HA! mine never makes it to the fridge..just the glass with a ton of ice

 

[Briarmom]

Just long enough to write an update on trip report

OK, OK...I'm working on it. Uploading photos stinks!!

Fill glass with ice ... pour sangria into glass ... drink, drink, drink ...

HA! mine never makes it to the fridge..just the glass with a ton of ice

I heart you boozies.

 

[travelmel]

$14 for a churro???

Ohhhhh! See.. having never been to WDW I didn't realize that was a joke!

 

[travelmel]

YAY!!! our first honeymoon stop is in vegas for 3 nights

Hey girl, Long time no see!

 

[Briarmom]

ANNOUNCEMENT:

I will never be writing another trip report.

Why, you ask?

Because every time I do, my laptop breaks. This time it was my fault, as I accidently knocked it off the coffee table while it was open. The screen looks like it was shattered.

In other mind-blowingly expensive news, I broke our cuckoo clock this morning. It's been a bad week.

 

[ChelleinNC]

ANNOUNCEMENT:

I will never be writing another trip report.

Why, you ask?

Because every time I do, my laptop breaks. This time it was my fault, as I accidently knocked it off the coffee table while it was open. The screen looks like it was shattered.

In other mind-blowingly expensive news, I broke our cuckoo clock this morning. It's been a bad week.

Oh honey, I'm sorry It really has been a bad week

It was a good trip report, I was really enjoying it

 

[oybolshoi]

ANNOUNCEMENT:

I will never be writing another trip report.

Why, you ask?

Because every time I do, my laptop breaks. This time it was my fault, as I accidently knocked it off the coffee table while it was open. The screen looks like it was shattered.

In other mind-blowingly expensive news, I broke our cuckoo clock this morning. It's been a bad week.

Poor Briarmom ... you need more booze.