My goal is to use this page as a food blog and as I travel, review the foods that we eat. Many of the places we intend to go to are from the show Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives starring Guy Fierri but I also want to hit up many of the smaller mom & pop places also because sometimes the hidden gems are the best ones!
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| Ahi Tuna Tostados |
I love food. No, seriously I LOVE food. Then again, who doesn't? In my opinion, food is art just like painting and writing. Not everyone can do it or do it well. I cannot claim the Expert Chef title but I can definitely hold my own in the kitchen especially when it comes to baking.
My grandmother who just celebrated her 90th birthday this past April created her own chocolate chip recipe that is at least as old as I am (29). They are simply AMAZING! I don't mind sharing any of her other recipes but her cookie recipe is going to be kept sealed tight, kind of like Bush's Baked Beans except without the smiling dog. Here is a picture so you can judge for yourself:
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| My Grandmother's secret recipe using Easter M&Ms |
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| My Sweet Grandmother Blowing out the candles for her 90th Birthday! |
Kate's Pancake House
Carolina Beach, NC
My father has a beach house in Carolina Beach and I try to come visit as much possible being the water baby that I am. Usually for breakfast we end up at Sawmill Restaurant but a few weeks ago we decided not to venture off the island and to try a local dive. Boy was that a good decision! Katie's has an unbelievable amount of options for breakfast alone; I couldn't even fathom what the lunch menu is like. The waitstaff was very friendly, courteous, and didn't bat an eye when I asked him for sugar-free syrup and no whipped cream or butter on my french toast. Our local Ihop knows to bring out the sugar-free syrup when they see us coming. =)
Below is a picture of what is left of possibly the best french toast I have EVER eaten! This is Katie's fabulous Pumpkin French Toast. For all you out there thinking ewww I can tell you that this was mouth-watering, melt-in-your-mouth, GOODNESS. The pumpkin taste wasn't too noticeable, and there seemed to be just enough balance between the sweet french toast batter they used and their pumpkin bread which, I would think, would be more bland. What makes this dish even better is that they grill their french toast so you get that outside crispiness while inside of the toast stays nice and moist. I had eggs and 2 sausage links and they were good too but honestly, the french toast is so good that it is a good thing that I don't live closer to Carolina Bach.
For more information, locations or menus please visit the link bellow. This is definitely a restaurant worth a try on your next (or first) visit to beautiful Carolina Bach.
Britt's Donut Shop
Carolina Beach, NC
Nestled in a quaint little corner on the boardwalk at Carolina Beach is a small taste of absolute donut heaven! Forget the HOT sign, these donuts are always hot and so delicious! A family owned business started in 1939 Britt's has maintained that family-owned feel ever since. On good days, you can find a line snaked around the corner of people waiting to get their taste of the famous donuts. On bad days you may wait 30 minutes but either way, it is completely worth it! Imagine a hot, fresh glazed Krispy Kreme donut but lighter and flakier and soft! Britt's
http://www.carolinabeach.net/britts1.html
Majik Beanz Coffee Shop
Carolina Beach, NC
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Majik-Beanz/131668070210893
http://foodies.blogs.starnewsonline.com/27250/carolina-beach-coffee-shop/
Another small slice of heaven on Carolina Beach is Majik Beanz Coffee Shop. Locals and tourists alike love their coffee selection and fresh home made muffins, pastries, and other goodies. They even have ice cream for the little ones. Hand made jewelry, hair accessories, clothing, and keepsakes line the walls of the homely coffee shop and are not-to-be-missed items for sure!
Personally, my idea of a great morning on the island is a Hot Chai Tea Latte from Majik Beans and then a couple of Britt's hot donuts! Now THAT is paradise!
Perfectly Franks
Summerville, SC
Our first Guy Fierri stop was just a few weeks ago at a booming place called Perfectly Franks in Summerville, SC. My mother had been telling me about the restaurant but I was not prepared for what I found!
The Front of Perfectly Franks in Summerville, SC
Forget where's Waldo. Where's Guy Fierri?? haha
This is a pulled pork and macaroni and cheese sandwich! It was AMAZING! At first sight you think the it is going to be gross with the noodles in it but honestly, you don't even taste the noodles. It is just one big ooey gooey barbequey, porky, mess. DELICIOUS! Served with your choice of a side (their fries are excellent) and homemade pickles!)! In the words of Rachael Ray YUMMO!!
My choice for the night: Bleu Cheese Shrimp & Grits. It's exactly what it sounds like… but BETTER. Creamy, buttery grits topped with cajun seasoned sauteed shrimp, bleu cheese crumbles, and scallions to top it off. The grits and shrimp marry together to provide a delicious melt in your mouth experience! The BEST shrimp and grits that I have EVER tasted hands down!
The French Toast Frankie: A hot dog bun dipped in french toast batter then grilled and stuffed with a sweet Italian Sausage link, a fried egg, and bacon drizzled with maple syrup with a dash of powdered sugar on top. Firstly, do I even NEED to go through that description again? All of your favorite breakfast foods put together in one dish. Personally, I do not like my eggs, sausage, and bacon to touch the syrup but I must admit, this monstrous frankie was out of this world!
Perfectly Franks even makes their OWN Bleu Cheese slaw. It is a delicious combination of crunchy cabbage, carrots, spices and bleu cheese!
Not to mention their delicious home made pickles are to die for!
I strongly encourage my other foodies out there to visit their website even if for the pure satisfaction of reading their menu. Perfectly Franks is revolutionizing the way we look at food. And it is ALL delicious!
Starbucks' Salted Caramel Mocha
Revamped!!
This past holiday, Starbucks released one of the BEST concoctions of sweet and salty caramely, chocolatey deliciousness in the history of all civilization! Usually holidays at Starbucks for me mean being able to get their Cranberry Bliss Bars (AMAZING), Pumpkin Spice Lattes, and White Chocolate Peppermint Mochas. If you can't tell, I am a Starbucks fan. Usually I ask for soy milk or skim milk and no whipped cream but I am sure that the sugar added accounts for the few extra inches I need in my pants by the end of the year. Not realizing that the Salted Mocha was not a permanent item on the menu, I went to my local Starbucks to order one only to be told that it is a seasonal item. Talk about a coffee-aholic's devastation!
*Side note: you CAN still get something similar to this drink. Just ask them to make you a Salted Caramel Mocha without the sea salt because they claim the salt is what they don't have. You would think it would not be TOO hard to get sea salt but in any event it is still delicious*
Just as last year when I was craving their Cranberry Bliss Bars, I decided I couldn't wait for the holidays and knew there was some way I could figure out how to make one of these tasty treats myself without having to pay $4.00 a cup. ABRACADABRA I present to you my recipe.
Low-Sugar, Low-fat Salted Caramel Mocha.
PURE HEAVEN in a mug!!
The Ingredients:
Fresh Brewed Coffee
Fat Free Cool Whip
Smuckers Sugar-Free Caramel Syrup
Skim or Low-Fat/Fat-Free Soy/Almond/Lactose Free Milk
Sugar-Free Hot Chocolate Mix or Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
Fat Free Cool Whip
Smuckers Sugar-Free Caramel Syrup
Skim or Low-Fat/Fat-Free Soy/Almond/Lactose Free Milk
Sugar-Free Hot Chocolate Mix or Unsweetened Cocoa Powder
2-3 packets of Splenda or other sweetener
Sea Salt
Sea Salt
Instructions:
Start with a freshly brewed cup of coffee. I use 1 cup to 1 1/2 cups.
Add in a tsp of sugar-free hot cocoa or unsweetened cocoa powder.
*I just happen to have a Keurig and use the K-cups but you can use any coffee or coffee maker*
Steam 1/4 cup of Skim or Low-Fat/Fat-Free Soy/Almond/Lactose Free Milk in the microwave for around 35 seconds. It should be steaming when you take it out but be careful because it can be scorched. Add this to the coffee and stir. Sweeten with 1 to 3 packets of Splenda or other sugar-substitute. *I use 2 packets of Splenda and 1/2 of another one.* Stir well.
Next, add in 1 & 1/2 Tbsp Smucker's Sugar-Free Caramel Syrup. Stir well.
Add 1/2 tsp to 1 tsp of grinded Sea Salt to the coffee mixture and stir well.
Top with Fat-Free Cool Whip to your desire but the nutrition values I have calculated are based on a serving which is 9grams (who knows how much that is?).
Finally, top with 1/2 tsp of caramel sauce and sprinkle 1/4 tsp. coarse sea salt on top. And there you have it!!! A Low-Sugar, Low-Fat Salted Carmel Mocha!
Doesn't it look delicious?
Nutrition Values:
(based on a 16 oz. cup (grande size))
Starbucks' Salted Carmel Mocha:
420 cal/ 16g fat/ 66g carbs/ 56g sugar
My revamped version:
127 cal/ 0.5g fat/ 34g carbs/ and 7g sugar
Try it and let me know how you like it! If you prefer yours cold just let the coffee cool, don't heat the milk and throw in some ice cubes or put it in a blender with ice for a great Frap!
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