When I visited Tim Love’s new Love Shack I had to try the jalapeno and cucumber margaritas that he added to the expanded drink menu. I love a great margarita and if the man could put together drink recipes like he can deliver a burger, I knew I would be impressed. So not surprisingly, the drink was a hit. The spice mixed well with the usual tang of the sweet & sour, which made for quite the refreshing drink. My only complaint was the size and the price. It was a little on the small side for 8 dollars….whaaa….I thought this was a burger joint in Fort Worth. Maybe jalapenos are super expensive?
Well, it turns out they’re not. It also turns out it’s super easy to make your own, so I put on my bartender hat and got to work.
Juice from 1 1/2 limes
Juice from 1/2 lemon
1 jalapeno
1 slice of cucumber (1/2 inch)
1 tablespoon sugar
1 oz water
2 oz tequila
Juice the limes and lemon. Set aside. Slice the jalapeno open and de-seed. Then roughly chop the cucumber and jalapeno. Blend the jalapeno, cucumber, sugar, and water until smooth. It’s ok if there are small bits of jalapeno or cucumber left; it adds character to your drink. Also, if you are making these for a party rather than a single serving, pre-blend a batch and store it in a pouring container so you can just add this to your margaritas as the party moves along. It will save you a bunch of time. Next add the juices and tequila to a 16oz glass filled with ice. Add the blended mixture and then shake contents with a Boston shaker or any other device you use to mix drinks. That’s it. Now enjoy.
These things turned out spectacular. Let me know if you try it, would love to hear your thoughts!
EDIT: I like to add in a little bit (1 oz) of store bought sweet & sour (or margarita) mix, just to bring it all together.
Once upon a time there was a Celebrity Café in Las Colinas. It was pretty much ignored by me because on the three occasions I visited there, I was underwhelmed with a too-sweet cake, a dry cookie, and a sandwich that was just ok. Nothing there was bad per se, but nothing was worth coming back for.
Fast forward to a week ago when a friend at work, Matt, surprised us with cupcakes from a bakery called Outta the Oven. The cupcakes were delicious and Matt had really nice things to say about the ladies working there (and a certain panini he had for lunch).
The cupcake I had that day was delicious: banana (if you can believe that) with a cream cheese frosting. When I went to look up Outta the Oven, I found that the Celebrity Café I had forgotten about is now under a new name. The scoop is that this Celebrity Café franchise (along with another in Addison) has gone rogue, renamed itself, and is now working independently. I’m not sure exactly how different their menu is from what it used to be or if the recipes vary that much from what they were before. What I do know is that the almost magical banana cupcake made me give them another look. Yesterday on the last day of National Cupcake Week, I went back to try a German chocolate cupcake that was equally lovely. Nice cupcakes minutes away from my office and they’re only $2.25 a piece, which is a steal compared to Sprinkles. This could be a very bad thing…
7979 N. MacArthur Blvd., Ste. 130,
Las Colinas, 75063
972.869.0015
It’s Saturday and you know what that means? It means I get to do as I please! And when I said on Thursday that I was going to go to The Cupcakery on Saturday, I meant it! So I headed over there today after my bang trim with my guy Taury @ Pompeo. (He’s great if you’re looking for somebody.) What initially struck me was how fantastic The Cupcakery’s cupcakes look; they’re as pretty in person as they are online. I was disappointed to have only my iPhone for the visit because it really doesn’t do them justice. They also make some really cute custom cupcakes–today they had some examples of football ones they made for the Texas games, but you can get almost anything done. I picked a few of the most promising sounding flavors and headed home to share them for a taste test…
Tickle Me Pink – The Cupcakery’s signature flavor. It’s pink for cuteness, not because it’s strawberry, so don’t be misled. Vanilla buttercream frosting on either chocolate or vanilla cake. (I went chocolate.) It’s a straightforward cupcake, so I thought it’d be one of the best to really judge their merit. Delicious! Creamy frosting, moist cake, rich chocolate. It’s a killer cupcake.
Boston Dream – Take an awesome vanilla cupcake, fill it with a light Bavarian cream, and top it with ganache. Go straight to cupcake heaven. This one was my favorite.
Southern Belle – A classic red velvet. Nothing innovative about it, but that’s ok. I like the original version and this was a good execution of it.
Kir Royal – Sad times. This was the only unfortunate one in the group. Raspberry cupcake with champagne frosting. Sounds like a clever idea. Tastes like old alcohol and perfume. Couldn’t finish even my small tasting slice.
Damn I Forgot the Name – I wish I could remember the name of the cupcake. It was vanilla cake with tons of chocolate frosting and coconut on top. Amazing.
It might be a little too early to just let them runaway with the crown, but I have to say that The Cupcakery is my favorite cupcake in Dallas. Their frosting isn’t as sugary-gritty as Sprinkles and their cake isn’t as dry. They’re actually better priced ($3.00 a cupcake) and their flavors are really fun. If the little dish gave grades, they would get an A+, but since we don’t I’ll just say 5 stars.
2222 McKinney Ave. Suite 230
Dallas 75201
214.855.0003
Now I don’t want to drive anyone away, but if you want cupcakes 24/7, you should really know about Only Cupcakes. That site can really satisfy your cupcake needs like no other. Lots and lots of eye candy (and fondant). The only thing that makes me sad is that sometimes there’s the most amazing cupcakes and I want to know how to make them! Recipes, please 
Apparently, it’s National Cupcake Week.
W. T. F.
The one week a year where you can justify eating a cupcake everyday and I MISS IT? Let’s not dwell on missed opportunities. For the next four days, we’re talking cupcakes, cupcakes, cupcakes. Saturday morning I’m going to Dallas’ newest cupcake shop, The Cupcakery. Their reputation precedes them; About a week ago, a friend of mine was raving about the best cupcakes she had while visiting Las Vegas. Turns out, they’ve moved here! (Just for me?) Quite a fortunate coincidence, if you ask me. So that will be Saturday and I’m already excited.
Till then, stay tuned for more updates on Cupcake Week!
When we were making plans for our trip to London, there was one very special item on my list of things to do while there. Aside from the popular sites to see—the Tate, Trafalgar Square, Big Ben—I really wanted to have afternoon tea somewhere fantastic. On our last night in London that wish definitely came true. We had a champagne cream tea at the Ritz.
From the number of tables with cameras, you can see it’s a very popular place for those visiting the city or celebrating a special occasion. And it’s very obvious why. The tea room was beautifully done in ornate gold & rococo decor. The whole place was filled with a sense of excitement—lots of good people watching & servers running back and forth carrying three-tiered trays of sandwiches, scones & sweets.
The tea itself was served loose-leaf in a silver pot. I chose an elder-flower tea that was sweet all on its own & really delicious. I would love to buy some at a tea shop here. The selection of sandwiches featured ingredients popular in the UK: prawn, cucumber, “mature” cheddar, smoked salmon & watercress, plus egg and chicken salads made less creamy than the versions we have in the States.
The pastries, tarts, and mousses were rich & delicious. A raspberry & cream tart was made with a toasted pistachio crust. A strawberry napoleon was light & flakey with a vanilla custard layered in between sheets of puff pastry. The chocolate torte was beyond decadent.
While the sweets & sandwiches were wonderful, my favorite part by far were the scones. Light, not dense or dry, raisin scones were served with jam & the perfect clotted cream. It was the highlight of a fantastic experience. I really want to thank our friends Craig & Teresa for making it happen
My grandmother always would have tea parties with us when we were little. It’s one of my favorite memories of her. Sitting in such a magical place, I thought about our little tea sets and homemade cookies. This formality was a far way away from those tea parties at home, but the feeling of specialness was very much the same. I wish she could have been there. In a way, I feel like she was.
While it might not be London, you can have Afternoon Tea at the Ritz in Dallas. I bet it’s just as tasty & you don’t have to worry about the exchange rate!
In London, I had a pint at my first authentic pub. Obviously, it was a little different than our idea of a pub. Families can go there to eat dinner, there’s a wider variety of people and ages, and the atmosphere is very nice and laid back.
While there, I had my favorite beer of all time, Fruli. It’s almost unfair to call it a beer because it was more like an alcoholic strawberry juice. It’s a very mild Belgium wheat beer and it’s unbelievably good. The bar had it on draught and a lot of people seemed to be ordering and enjoying it.
Here’s the dilemma now: HOW TO GET FRULI IN THE STATES? I’ve seen some mentions of it being imported here, but I can’t find any sites where I can actually purchase it by the bottle… the case… the truckload.
Any suggestions?
It’s amazing how much nicer McDonald’s are once you get out of the States. The ones I’ve seen in England and France look like posh little bistros compared to their counterparts in America. We’re talking leather booths, overhead lighting, clean floors and restrooms. In Japan, the food they serve you looks exactly like the pictures in their advertisements. I was floored when I ordered a burger and it arrived, un-squished with all the ingredients properly spaced. It was almost as if it was put together by someone who cared. So it’s no surprise to find different menu items when visiting the Big M abroad, although it is surprising to find one that I like. Let me introduce the M.
While the McDonald’s stateside is relentlessly pushing their Angus 1/3lb burgers and fancy coffee drinks on us, their UK counterparts have opted for a more elegant new product.
The M from McDonald’s. Made with selected cuts of 100% beef, Emmental cheese, Batavia lettuce and juicy tomato—all in a toasted, stone-baked ciabatta.
Classy. As for taste, not bad at all. I’m unsure if it’s in the meat, because if you have ever been to the UK you are aware that their beef tastes different from what we eat in the US. However, the burger doesn’t quite taste like a McDonald’s creation. The ciabatta bun is what seals it for me though: soft, chewy, and a welcomed departure from the standard burger bun. It’s all topped with a creamy garlic and herb mayo that’s a perfect compliment to the fresh ingredients: no mustard and ketchup here.
So if you happen to be across the pond anytime soon, make sure you venture over to a McDonald’s and try one of these. I realize it’s no McRib, but what are you gonna do?
Camden Market is a popular tourist area in London. It’s made up of hundreds of stalls that sell lots of art, kitsch, street fashion, and semi-knockoff handbags. Imagine Canal Street in NYC plus some of the Deep Ellum Arts Festival and State Fair. Take that and then multiply. Not twice, not three times – more. Camden is huge. The part I liked most was the food stalls. Rows and rows of inticing options that all looked really good. This was the donut cart. (It looked tempting, but I resisted.)
I’m visiting London for the first time! We’re staying with friends outside of the city and it’s really beautiful. I’m hoping to try some of the local cuisine, but want to avoid anything involving offal. That seems like a good goal.
Last night I baked my first meringue with my friend Teresa. We followed a recipe from a grocery store here in the UK, Sainsbury’s. I’ve heard that meringues can be tricky, but ours turned out beautiful. Maybe is was a touch of beginner’s luck? Light and fluffy, yet crunchy! Between the meringues we sandwiched a lemon cream cheese and peaches. Apparently when you’re shopping in the UK, you can select the grade of produce quality you want. Level 1 is the best and the freshest, but it’s also the most expensive. Something like a level 3 is fine, but maybe not perfect and a little less expensive. These peaches were level 1. Delicious.
Although the meringues take a long time to bake (two hours), there wasn’t a lot of prep work involved. They’d be a perfect dessert to start before a dinner party and then quickly assemble after the meal. A really great choice for the final days of Summer!
Peach Meringues with Light Soft Cheese
4 egg whites
250 g. granulated sugar (sorry, i have no idea how many cups that is)
200 g. cream cheese
Zest of one orange
2 tbs. powdered sugar, sifted
2 peaches, washed and sliced
Preheat the over to 225 degrees. Place the egg whites in a dry glass bowl* and whisk until stiff. Add 1 tbs. of granulated sugar and continue to whisk until thick and glossy. Using a metal spoon, fold in the remaining sugar a little at a time until it’s all mixed in.
Line a baking tray with parchement to stop the meringue from sticking. Pipe or spoon round of meringue onto the parchment, spacing them out to prevent them touching as they bake. Place in the oven and cook for two hours, then turn off the oven and leave the meringues in there until they are cool.
Carefully remove the meringues from the parchment and store them in an airtight container until ready to fill.
To make the filling, mix the softened cream cheese with the orange zest and powered sugar. Use to sandwich the meringue together with a few slices of peach.
*The recipe offered these tips for beating the egg whites: Egg whites should be whisked in a bowl free from grease, a glass bowl is the best option. That being said, we used the kitchenaid fitted with a whisk and it turned out perfectly. Plus, we didn’t have to do ALL that whisking by hand!
