Coconut

Posted on January 2, 2012 by Mandy

In adulthood, coconut is one of the things I’ve really grown to love.

While I don’t ever remember declaring I hated coconut, I know I wouldn’t have even considered it as an ingredient a few years ago. However, you might remember my making of coconut shrimp recently, which I love and was also a hit with Jeff’s family.

In the Dominican Republic, coconuts were very popular. There was the Coco Loco drink, which essentially was a Pina Colada inside a coconut. So yum!

You’d also, obviously, find coconut in many other drinks like the mango colada. I also fell in love with the coconut macaroon-like cookies.

And so, now that I’m back in Oshkosh, I’m craving coconut like a crazy woman. As it turns out, there isn’t a guy with a machete in our living room ready to make me a drink.

So, I have to settle on things that come from around here. Haagen-Dasz’s pineapple coconut ice cream does the trick when I’m having a coconut craving, as does International Delight’s Almond Joy coffee creamer.

If you have any coconut recipes to share (especially if they aren’t baking recipes), I’ll take them!

Before I go, I must also comment on the pineapples. They were also to die for.

In fact, I ate so much pineapple (usually my breakfast of choice each morning) I’m pretty sure I gave myself a cold sore. So, on the later days of our trip I had to slow down on the pineapple (not the booze, don’t you worry). It was hurting my lips!

Before we left, I knew the fruit on the trip would be one of my favorite things. And really, it was. It was all fresh and sweet and so very refreshing after a swim in the ocean or pool (we’re underwater in our hotel the photo below (yes I’m in my swimsuit on the Internet, but you sort of have to be for an underwater camera photo)). I miss that place.

Categories: Cha Ching, Family, In love, Just talkin', Picture perfect | Leave a comment

New Year’s Resolution

Posted on January 1, 2012 by Mandy

As far as years go, 2011 was a busy one.

I didn’t write as much as I wanted to and the plan for 2012 is to change that. So, I’ve developed a list of things I’d like to attempt cooking in 2012. My thought is cooking new recipes will give me a lot to talk about and no excuse not to blog.

So, the list:

  • Home made pasta. Like, from scratch. For Christmas, Jeff’s family got us the pasta maker attachment for our Kitchen Aid mixer. We’re excited to try it out.
  • Beef wellington. This comes by recommendation from the chef at the restaurant where Jeff bartends.
  • A lamb dish. I’ve never tried to prepare lamb, so it’s time.
  • A veal dish. I don’t use veal nearly enough.
  • A Julia Child recipe. I put this on the list because I haven’t prepared anything from her giant cookbook since the challenge I participated in.
  • Tamales. We both love tamales so much. I hear they actually aren’t that hard to make. I’m up for the challenge.
  • Submit a 24X24 concept to Foodbuzz. Even if I’m not selected, make some variation of the meal.

Truth is, I’d like to add three more to this list. I’m looking for ideas of dishes that are classics that I probably haven’t tried to prepare or dishes that are a little bit of a challenge. However, I feel this list is a very good start.

Besides writing more, I’d also like to photograph more. When we got smartphones, I got in the horrible habit of leaving my real camera in its bag. I snap crappy photos with my phone of the yummy stuff we make instead of taking the two minutes to pull out my precious Nikon. This year, I’m reverting back to a camera that can do my food some justice. Resolution two is to photograph better and more.

With that, I wish you a happy, healthy and delicious 2012!

Categories: Holidays, Just talkin', Picture perfect | 1 Comment

Chicken (on the beach)

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Mandy

As you know, I’m not much of a chicken fan.

Which isn’t really even true.

If I came to your house for dinner and you made chicken, I’d eat it. And, I’d probably really like it. I just don’t prepare chicken. In the six plus years Jeff and I have been together I’ve prepared and subsequently eaten chicken approximately three times.

Enter, our trip.

Each day on the beach,  around noon, it would start to smell good, like the sweet smell of grill. Made you miss Wisconsin a little, even. The smell was from the big grills they’d get going for a barbeque of sorts on the beach. And the chicken, along with everything else, was amazing. The chicken was usually served with seafood-loaded rice, which was also too good to pass up.

There were also woodfired pizzas, hot dogs, egg rolls, burgers and more. Even better, the service was over-the-top good. Everything always came with a smile and if you asked for something special, the cooks were always agreeable. I always asked for white meat and then they’d proceed to use a giant knife to just chop the whole chicken in half.

I honestly do not know what it was about the chicken. Usually, I don’t really like to look at chicken because it’s gross and slimy and reminds me it was once alive with cartilage and stuff. But this chicken was really juicy and really tender and didn’t remind me it used to be alive. Except for that part where there was an alive chicken who roamed by the bar about 20 yards away. The other interesting thing I noticed about their food in general, including the chicken, is they hardly use any seasoning. I noticed you could really taste the flavor of the meat, poultry and fish there because the seasoning was so minimal.

I’m not sure if I’ll become a chicken eater (or preparer) here at home. Again, there’s something about it’s raw form that I think is kind of gross. However, I don’t think I’ll be so hard on chicken, either. I don’t think I really can be after eating it and enjoying it so much on the trip.

I might even stop saying, “Uhhh, I hate chicken.”

Categories: Grilling, In love | Leave a comment

Resolution help needed

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Mandy

A few years back, I made a new year’s resolution to try one new recipe per month.

These days, I sometimes feel like I hardly cook once per month. Now, that’s kind of an exaggeration, but the fact is, I sucked at blogging in 2011. I want to change that for 2012.

So, I’m thinking something along the lines of try making these 10 things. However, I don’t have the list of “these” developed, yet. Which is why I need help. What 10 things should I attempt to make this year?

In turn, cooking 10 new things will force me to blog more, which is my real resolution. No excuses!

The only must-make item I have on the list so far is homemade pasta, which is inspired by the pasta maker Kitchen Aid attachment we received for Christmas.

Help! Thanks.

Categories: Holidays, Just talkin' | 2 Comments

Memories

Posted on December 27, 2011 by Mandy

Reminiscing about our trip is still a daily occurrence around here.

We dream of the sunshine and umbrella drinks, we think about poking around the buffets to check out all the cool options, the outdoor sports we did like dune buggies and ATVs and we think about the times we spent with great friends and family.

And in true things-that-matter-to-Jeff-and-Mandy form, one of our favorite memories happened with our friends around a dinner table. The night my best friend arrived – Wednesday, or day 3 for us – we all decided to try out the Italian restaurant. And there’s something about sitting around the table looking at two strong, married-before-us and still very happy couples. It’s inspiring to be around, really. Especially in the nights leading up to your very own wedding.

Prior to leaving our trip, Jeff and I had decided the Italian restaurant would be the “safe” restaurant. I think we also thought it wouldn’t be the greatest meal we’d eat. We were wrong! Plus, they kept the wine coming, something we really cannot complain about!

As a group, all three couples kind of decided that we’d do all the dishes we ordered family style so everyone would be able to try a lot of things. All of the food was amazing and the company was something we’ll never forget about when we think about our trip. We’ll talk about that meal for years and years to come.

As it turns out, we liked the Italian restaurant so much that during our four days alone on the island, we went back. And, I ordered a chicken dish. I cannot think of a time I’ve ever ordered a chicken dish at a restaurant in my adult life. The dish was amazing.

Fair to say the restaurant had a lasting impression on us.

I leave you with a few more photos from the evening.

 

Categories: BFFs, Friends, In love, Picture perfect, Restaurant review, Wine! | Leave a comment

Mr. and Mrs. Potts

Posted on December 20, 2011 by Mandy

We’re married. I’m a wife!

I have many things to write about the trip. The food. Ohhh, the French restaurant. And the wine, and sushi and chocolate sauce.

My new year’s resolution goes like this: Blog. Like you mean it. And so, in 2012, I promise, promise, promise to tell all the wedding trip foodie stories and more. Happy Holidays, friends!

Categories: Cha Ching, Family, Friends, Holidays, Out to eat, Picture perfect | Leave a comment

Excited

Posted on December 3, 2011 by Mandy

I’m excited.

For the seafood. Toes in the sand. A private wedding dinner on the beach. The helicopter ride. To see what our hotel room looks like. To swim in the ocean. And in the pool. To walk and walk and walk and talk on the beach. To try all – 10 of them – restaurants. To drink a lot of wine. And drinks with umbrellas. To become a wife. To have two weeks off of work. For the airplane ride. To wear my wedding dress. To eat all the fresh fruit. And native foods.

To marry the man of my dreams.

My married self will see you in a couple of weeks!

Categories: In love, Just talkin' | Leave a comment