I recently impulse bought an ice cream maker because 1) it was on sale for a very reasonable price ($32 compared to $79 reg) and 2) I had heavy whipping cream and whole milk in my fridge that I wanted to use up. Not very logical or practical, but it’s winter right now and I’m trying to keep myself busy inside to distract myself from the fact that it’s a froze tundra outside.
The Cuisinart Ice Cream Maker is built to make about 1.5 quarts of ice cream. It comes with an electric base, bowl, paddle, and lid. It’s about the size of a large blender and comes in red or white. There was also an instruction and recipe book included in the box, however, the machine is pretty easy to put together sans instructions.
Luckily, David has agreed to be my sous-chef for life so he was able to help me put this thing to the test. The first thing we had to do was freeze the mixing bowl because there is a liquid in there that must be solid before any ice cream can be made. Sixteen hours later, we had a frozen bowl, whole milk, heavy whipping cream, vanilla extract, and some sugar waiting to be transformed. After mixing all of the ingredients together, we turned on the machine and poured the contents into bowl as it spun. The mixture started to thicken after every minute, and after about 15 minutes, we had a soft-serve textured 1.5 quart of vanilla ice cream. We also added crushed pineapple to the mixture to take it up a notch.
Overall, the Ice Cream Maker completed it’s mission exactly as described in the instruction manual. I was pretty impressed at how fast everything came together – and clean up was a breeze. The only thing I would change is to use higher quality vanilla extract because the one we used tasted more like alcohol. Pretty pumped to test out different ice cream recipes over the next couple of weeks!
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One of the things that we love about the Keto lifestyle are the substitutions or modifications we can make that can realistically be sustained long term. Like will cauliflower rice ever be able to fill the void of jasmine rice for us? Probably not, but it serves its purpose as a flavor neutralizer underneath whatever flavorful dish is on top of it.
When we first started Keto, there weren’t many tips and tricks floating around at our disposal – luckily, we came across a super awesome Instagram account that offered many hacks to get us through this new way of eating. @ketohackershop is one of our favorite accounts to follow because the information is easy to process and it’s presented in a simple, yet effective way. We’ve noticed that people who are new to this way of eating can get very discouraged or overwhelmed at the beginning due to the amount of information being thrown their way. This account simplifies the concepts and lays out a lot of information for the masses. There are many recipes for keto versions of comfort food and tips on how to order fast food, the keto way. If you are just starting keto or know someone who could use some guidelines, this is just a highly recommended resource.
Below are some examples of the helpful content that can be found on this account:
When my little sister graduated high school, her goal was to get the hell away from the little suburb we grew up in and never look back. Guess what? Mission accomplished. She moved away for college and upon graduation, found a big girl job in the big city – San Francisco to be exact. As a fellow foodie herself, she found herself in the perfect place to explore new culinary delights…and explore, she did. One of her best finds has got to be the Roli Roti Truck that is parked outside of the Ferry Building on Saturdays.
The first time I ever visited her in San Fran (btw, she tells me if you call San Francisco “San Fran” that you will be immediately labeled a noob tourist) this was one of the first stops on our foodie tour. Roli Roti is a food truck that has the rotisserie built on the outside of the truck. It has several spitz rotating at the same time filled with chicken and Porchetta. The fat from the meats drip onto baskets of roasted potatoes and Brussel sprouts which creates the most perfect tasting sides a foodie could ask for. My favorite item to get from Roli Roti has got to be the porchetta sandwich, which is a big slice of porchetta served with onion jam and arugula on artisan bread. The porchetta is perfectly cooked, tender and seasoned with Italian herbs on the inside, crispy and light on the outside. The bread just soaks in the juices and fats dripping from the meat i.e. SO MUCH FLAVOR.
If you find yourself in San Francisco on a Saturday, be sure to stop here for a more than satisfying Porchetta sandwich.
If Willy Wonka had a super zen Yogi cousin who owned a Tea Factory, this would be it.
Straight from the Tea Factory itself:
Visit the Celestial Seasonings headquarters in Boulder, Colorado and unlock the mysteries of tea with a guided tea tour. During the 45-minute tour, you’ll get a behind-the-scenes look how tea is made – from raw ingredients to finished products – plus see unique attractions like our famous Mint Room, Tea Shop and Celestial Café.
Celestial Seasonings is nestled in the Gunbarrel neighborhood of Boulder. Our campus is easily accessible from Boulder, Denver, Fort Collins and the Denver International Airport.
While children of all ages are welcome at the Tour Center, only children aged 5 and older are allowed to go on the factory portion of the tour.
For me, Boulder was beautiful, but I got bored hanging out downtown-maybe I’m not doing it right?! The vibes of the city weren’t necessarily my style, but the Celestial Seasonings Factory tour is definitely something I would recommend. It’s fun, interesting, and includes free tea tastings – so pretty much the recipe for a successful experience. As soon as you walk in, you’ll be greeted by the smell of several teas they have brewing for curious tour takers as they wait for the tours to begin.
Once the festivities commence, a leader takes everyone into a screening room to watch a short overview video, explains the ground rules, and hands out hairnets. The factory tour is cool because it gives you an inside look at how the tea we all love to drink is processed from a-z. The mint room, of course, is a highlight because it’s like walking into a winter wonderland made of candy canes. The aroma of mint packs a punch and leaves (no pun intended) an impression on your olfactory glands…it’s like you almost leave with a peppermint high.
The tour itself ends in the Tea shop where there are lots of goodies and treats available for purchase. Overall, it’s a short tour but filled with a lot of info and tasty teas. Add this one to your Yelp bookmarks fo sho.
Traveling is hard…but traveling with people is EXTRA hard–especially when those people are family. I feel like any time we take a family trip, people stop being polite and start getting real. However, I do have to give my 27 year old baby sister props for being super type A and always taking the lead when we go anywhere together. She does all the research and plans out each and every spot, stop, and Insta photo ops. I literally just show up and she does the rest.
During our most recent trip together, we made the trek over to good ole Toronto, Canada. I heard it was like the New York of Canada…but after visiting, I feel like it’s more of a Chi-town. It’s way too chill to be like New York. Something that surprised me about Toronto was the diverse population. There were so many different types of people walking around the city. Everywhere we walked we would hear all kinds of languages being spoken and see all types of foods being eaten.
One of the most memorable experiences from Toronto was the Kamayan dinner experience at Lamesa. This was a feast completely eaten by hand and it included a variety of traditional Filipino food served on a banana leaf. Not only was the food delicious, but i was a beautiful spread. My favorite foods were the garlic rice and the ube cake – my god that stuff was sooo good. Filipino food is like a flavor punch to the face, so it’s never boring or bland. The staff at the restaurant gave us a cultural lesson about the Philippines after each bite and it was just nice to take a step out of our Vietnamese/Chinese/Korean/Japanese food comfort zones for a change. My pro tip for visiting this restaurant is to make reservations and bring wet wipes!
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Recently, I purchased the Fenty Beauty: Universal Lip Luminizer Gloss Bomb (try saying that 3 times) in Diamond Milk. After my initial application, I was immediately brought back to my 7th grade blue eye shadow + frosted lips days. Even though I’m always trying to chase my youth, that was not the look I was going for #immediateregret. I went back to the mothership (Sephora) and exchanged Diamond Milk for Fenty Glow, a shimmering rose nude.
Rihanna claims this is the “unicorn of nudes, explosive shine, and nourishing wear” and what better place to try it out than a good ole family get together. I applied MAC “whirl” lip liner all over my lips and then topped them “Fenty Glow”.So then, the test began…
Something to note – it comes to planning parties in our family, the most important topic is liquor quantity and what to serve to sustain the masses. At my nephew’s ONE-derful Birthday Bash, we had to supply enough food to feed a small country and their neighboring territories. Our Menu was a mix of Lao/Thai/Viet cuisine with a special appearance of Que Viet’s famous eggrolls (shout out to Vy whoop whoop).
From eating sandwiches, stews, salads, desserts, I forgot I had any product on my lips. So the verdict? This Gloss Bomb definitely lived up to the hype. It was long-lasting, hydrating, smooth/not sticky, and I only applied another layer at 11pm to “freshen” up.
Quick, someone queue the Popeye’s Fried Chicken commercial to set the scene for this post.
There’s something about the big easy that keeps me coming back time and time again. Maybe it’s the friendly people, maybe it’s the rich history, or maybe it’s the mouth watering food found everywhere you go. New Orleans is one of my favorite places to visit in the United States. There is literally something to do at all times. The locals are friendly, the tourists are chill, and the culture of the city is unlike anywhere else.
Here are the top 10 things to see/places to eat/what to order…beyond the beignets.
Willie Mae’s Scotch House: do you hate fried chicken? Well, let Willie Mae’s make you a believer after just one bite.This is in the first stop zone. The fried chicken is ON POINT. Crisp and slightly spicy on the outside, tender and juicy on the inside and so full of flavor. Try it with the butter beans.
Central Grocery: Home of a the Muffuletta. Get a giant sandwich to share with your travel buddy. David and I shared half a sammy in the market and then walked to the park to devour the rest.
Mahony’s: Shrimp Po’Boy all dressed, DAT BREAD DOE.
District Donuts: I’m getting hungry thinking about this right now – get the raspberry cheesecake donut y’all.
French Market: lots of little shops and food stalls, get the cajun fried peanuts!
Riverwalk: Shopping, sight seeing, people watching galore.
Lakeshore Drive: the perfect place to eat and chill near the water. Grab a couple pounds of crawfish boil and bring extra wet naps and enjoy the sunshine.
9 Roses Cafe: Vietnamese food for when you need a break from the holy trinity – loved the sweet and sour fish soup and broken rice platter there.
Commander’s Palace: go here when you want to class it up and feel like royalty. The crawfish etouffee is next level along with the Sangria salad.
Felix Oyster House: you haven’t lived until you’ve tried gulf oysters. Felix oyster house specializes in char grilled oysters, but their fresh oysters rival Acme with half the wait time.
I think it’s safe to say that a lot of us have a love/hate relationship with carbs. We love to eat them but we hate how sometimes the bad carbs can make us feel. One of my biggest weaknesses when it comes to carbs is eating chips. I literally cannot say no to a bag of chips. There’s something about the crunchy, salty, oily combo that throws me off any type of diet wagon…EVERY TIME. Queue Wilde’s Chicken Chips. I walked past the display at Whole Foods and was like W(here’s)T(he)F(ood) I gotta try these. Low carb, four flavors, three ingredients?!?! At first I was having low carb flashbacks of those Quest chips (*cough*so dry and felt like I was eating cardboard*cough*) but since I’ve made it a point to find the perfect low carb chip alternative, I just needed those in my life. Four dollars later, I popped open bag of these babies and tried the Jalapeno variety. First impression – loved it! It pretty much tastes like low fat deep fried chicken skin with a sprinkling of jalapeno to give it a kick. There’s a slight sweetness from the coconut oil it’s fried in so it’s a nice balance from the saltiness of the chicken skin and jalapeno. I don’t know if I could swap these for Lay’s Jalapeno kettle chips, but when I’m feeling fluffy and am trying to get my ass back into gear, I think these are going to be my new go-to.
Meatless Mondays just got a lot easier with the new Impossible Slider from White Castle. For those of you who are unfamiliar, the Impossible beef patty is a creation out of Impossible Foods. This is a plant based “beef” patty that smells, tastes, and looks like a real burger. If you are trying to cut red meat out of your life or want to change things up, this is a really great alternative that will leave you satisfied. We were a little weary at first but the second we bit into the slider, we were sold. The texture is on point and the taste is just like the original beef slider at White Castle. The only difference between the Impossible slider and regular slider is that the Impossible patty is actually thicker than the beef ones that we’re used to. We totally recommend giving this one a try the next time you drive by a White Castle – Harold and Kumar would approve.
Earlier this year, we took a girls trip down to Chi-town aka Chicago for Regina’s big 3-0. She wanted something low-key but exciting enough to have options dependent on our mood…or appetites. The American Beauty Show happened to be in Chicago the same weekend we wanted to go so we couldn’t have chosen a better time and place. Since we are based in Minneapolis, MN, Chicago is always a super easy trip to take with any number of people. We packed up a rental and hit the road with Lan and Maryna, i.e., us if we were older and took smoke breaks.
The drive down to Chicago is about a 6.5 hours long, 7-8 hours if you make pit stops, which if you leave early in the morning, you might as well. Before you hit the Minnesota/Wisconsin border, stop at Ha Tien, an Asian grocery in St. Paul, just about 20 mins from Wisconsin. It’s the perfect initial stop for Banh Mis, spring rolls, salty snacks, and beverages. I can’t think of a better way to kick off a road trip with your besties, can you? This post is dedicated to the pre-Chicago stops before the party starts in the citayyy.
Here’s the break down of pit stops and pro-tips when road trippin’ to the Chi:
WisCAaaaansin
Wisconsin has a lot of open land and cows – and because of that, the cheese curds and beef sticks are plentiful, which is good for anyone stopping at any of their gas stations. My favorite variety are garlic dill cheese curds and spicy beef sticks. Knock those down with an ice cold diet coke and you’re golden.
Three hours into the drive, you’ll hit the Dells i.e. the Las Vegas (but not really) of the Midwest. There are a few casinos but it’s known for the plethora of indoor water parks. Save the dells for a pit stop on the way back from chi – that way, you can stop at the Outlet mall to pick up the Adidas sweat suit you’ve been eyeing on Insta.
The Pink Elephant – photo op time, stop here to take a pic with a statue of a pink elephant wearing glasses – just a cute memory to capture. It’s off exit V. Yes, you drive through farm land to get here and it is borderline sketch, but do it for the ‘gram.
Four hours into the drive, you’ll hit Madison, the Capital if Wisconsin, also home to the Badgers. It’s a big city but feels like a college town, so take a drive down to the campus if you have time, and go State Street for some eats and goodies. There’s a food spot near Memorial Library on campus that has little food carts parked and ready to serve. Go for the empanada truck, there some kind of crack avocado salsa they serve there and it is BOMB. If you have some cash on you, stop at Rising Suns Deli for Thai/Laotian/Cambodian food. Love their beef dried noods.
On your way out, hit up La Michoacana for authentic Mexican paletas and Ice cream. I personally loved their flamin’ hot cheetos snack box with cheese sauce slathered in the container.
Pro tip: Get your dolla dolla bills and coins ready once you hit the five-six hour drive mark because the tolls will start as you start heading into Illinois.
Illinois aka Chicago suburbs
At this point, if you didn’t stop in Mad-town for a snack, you’ll probably be pretty hungry. Good thing there are several spots to stop before you hit the heart of Chicago.
One of the first stops once you’re in Illinois is Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights. This is like Disneyland for Japanese food and drinks. I ALWAYS bolt to the food court and get in line at Santouka Ramen. Pro tip: this stall is cash only, so be prepared! Santouka serves up fresh ramen and has maybe a dozen items on their menu. The Salt Ramen is hands down the first thing you should order, along with an extra side of pork cheek. A small bowl is shareable but they have large bowls for those who are HANGRY.
A few stalls down is an ice cream stall – get the Matcha Green Tea parfait and black sesame ice cream!! The presentation is beautiful and the black sesame soft serve is so hard to find, so its nice to have that option.
Walk around the corner from the food court and you’ll see the bakery – GET THE CRUSTLESS PRE-SLICED loaf of bread. You will NOT regret this decision. I dare you to make a grilled cheese or peanut butter and jelly sando and hate it. Really, I dare you! There’s also a huge variety of Japanese buns to select, you can easily burn 15-20 mins browsing the bakery.
The grocery section itself is like a wonderland filled with perfectly cut meats and cutely arranged snacks and bento box accessories – the presentation in this grocery chain is just on point and worth a lap.
Before you leave, the Lady M cake shop within the store is also worth a stop. They have crepe cakes in a variety of flavors – the matcha green tea and vanilla are muy delicioso.
If Japanese fare is NOT your jam, then a detour down to Niles to visit the Super H Mart would be a solid stop. This is a Korean supermarket/k beauty shop/gift shop/bakery/food court/Korean Fried Chicken mega center. If you’re not into getting food and just need a break, go next door to King Spa-Korean Spa. If you are not familiar with Korean Spas, search “Conan Korean Spa” and watch it – it is hilarious!! You can eat, relax, and sleep at this spa and it is decently price. Just be aware that there will be naked people walking around (separated by males/female areas) all over the place.
Chicago Pizza – you don’t have to be in the middle of the city to get a slice of Chicago Style pizza. Check out the Lou Malnati’s in the burbs prior to hitting the city so you don’t have to scramble for parking or wait in line.
Pro-tip: if you don’t mind being a little last minute, check out hotels once you hit the city. Every time we’ve gone, we’ve never struggled to find a room and they are always cheap if you book right before your stay. The hotels close to the airport are nice because you can park in their over night lots and then the train station will take you any where around Chicago.
At this point, you should be in the City or pretty darn close. If you’re a shopper, stay near the Magnificent mile. If you’re a foodie, you can’t go wrong in the Lakeview area. Chinatown is always fun, and exploring Lincoln park is classic. Stay tuned for a deep dive into things to do and places to go when you’re in Chicago!
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