The Blue Moose-CO

This 2 hour time difference and being up since before the sun has risen is taking its toll on everyone. So for dinner tonight we headed over to The Blue Moose for some pizza. 

We decided to split two different specialty pizzas and I must say both were equally good. The dough was really great. 

So the first pizza I tried was the Autumn Pizza-

This pizza had mushrooms, parsley, garlic, truffle oil, olive oil, and goat cheese. We had this pizza on a whole wheat dough. It was great! Now I couldn't wait to try the other pizza- the Vonnderful.

This one was loaded with grilled chicken, artichoke hearts, garlic, sun dried tomato, pesto, mozzarella, and goat cheese. There is no way I could possibly pick between the two. All of their speciality pizzas looked great. 

Well it's time for me to hit the hay. I've got my first ski lesson bright and early tomorrow morning! I will keep you posted on my further adventures and eats! 

Jersey Boys Pizza & Deli-CO

So traveling to Colorado my boyfriends family always makes a stop at this place called Jersey Boys. Nick has been bragging about this place forever and how its better than some of the actually cheesesteaks he has had in Philly. So it was my turn to put the food to the test. What better than a true New Jerseyan to try out this place.

So like many great cheesesteak places-its a small hole in the wall type of place. Try not to be disturbed-most of these places have some of the best food.

I decided to try their basic Philly cheesesteak- beef, white american, fried onions and peppers. The key thing I was looking for, was the roll going to be too soft or have a bit of a crunch?

Drumroll please....

It was a pretty good cheesesteak. Nick thinks it gives Pat's and Geno's a run for their money and I just might have to agree with him. It doesn't surpass my favorite steak-Jim's on South Street. 

Colorado

So if you didn't figure it out from my prior post I'll be spending the next few days in Colorado. I will be learning how to ski and if that doesn't work out too well I'll just be eating the entire time I am here. The real goal is to get some great exercise and be able to eat all the carbs that I want!

My day started out around 3:30am!

Doing my best to be awake.

Got ready and out the door to the airport.

The flight was only about 3 1/2 hours and it seems to go pretty quickly. I slept for about the first hour and occupied the rest of my time  with useless girlie magazines and a quick episode of Sherlock.

Then...BAM...I'm in Colorado. Riding along taking in the amazing scenery. My pictures barely do any justice to what I was seeing.

It was pretty exciting to see this fellow on the side of the highway as we continued on our way.

 Next stop-Jersey Boy's for a Philly Cheesesteak-Yes in Colorado! 

This is where I'm Headed...

Tomorrow I will be on the plane headed here....

Stay tuned for more details while I am tasting and traveling!!

Pom Pom's Teahouse & Sandwicheria

Where to start- I've been hearing great things about Pom Pom's for a while now. I've driven past it, thought about going, forgot about it, and then finally months later-I ate there. Tuesday night before the Magic game Nick and I dropped in on Pom Pom's to see what the fuss was all about.

Pom Pom's is located on Bumby Ave in a small plaza. The cafe itself is pretty small inside and has about 6 tables. You can order takeout if you wish and I might suggest that. They blasted dubstep the whole time we were in there-not saying I do not like dubstep, but at 5pm at night?

So first lets order something to drink. I was so excited to see milk tea on the menu. Last year I spent a month in China and I fell in love with milk tea. I decided to order green milk tea. Not bad, seemed like it had been watered down a little too much, but passable. Nick had a beer, but it was 5 bucks! Pass on that and get something tastier and more unique. The drink menu is pretty large.

Now its sandwich time. I've read great reviews about Momma Ling Ling's Thanksgiving so I figured I would go with that.

Bring your A game if you order this sandwich because it is HUGE!!!! It's a thanksgiving meal between two slices of bread. Turkey, ginger cranberry chutney, gouda, stuffing, cream cheese, and ofcourse a side of gravy to help it slide down.

Nick ordered the Fu Man Chu, another great sandwich we read reviews about. Asian pulled pork, watercress, goat cheese, and the ginger cranberry chutney. How could you go wrong?

Nick's sandwich was much easier to handle. I didn't get thru half of mine when I started to throw in the towel. I did manage to try the Fu Man Chu which I thought was great. Between the both of us, we made it through the turkey dinner on a plate.

As usual, I saved room for dessert. Pom Pom's does not make their own, but they do have cupcakes from Blue Bird Bake Shop-another place I've been dying to go to!

Red Velvet with cream cheese icing is a win!

Overall, Pom Pom's wasn't bad. It was interesting and fun, but don't go there if your expecting to find a quiet and cozy corner to sip tea and eat a sandwich. 

Grits!

Hey yall! After living in the "South" for three years I have finally made edible grits!!! This is pretty exciting stuff, being a "Northerner" I never even tried grits until I reached Savannah on my move down to Florida.

My mother and I decided to stop in Savannah for a few days before arriving in Orlando. Best decision ever. My life changing experience took place at The Old Pink House. This place doesn't even have it's own website, but its amazing! It was at the Pink House that I had grits for the first time. They were so creamy and cheesy! Amazing! Why don't we have these up North, I will never know. After settling in my new home, Orlando, I decided I give it a crack-how hard could it be right?! WRONG! I followed the directions on the box-first wrong decision. My grits stuck to the pot, burned, and the cheese did nothing to help these grits. What a disaster!!! I pretty much gave up on trying to recreate what I had and longed for the day I would return to the Pink House.

About a month ago I had grits at Tuscany Grill and it rekindled my love for grits. So once more I set out to make them and this time I would conquer it!!!!

Ok-here's the recipe I used ( Sorry I don't have any pictures-next time I will be prepared. It's a quick process)

2 cups water
2 cups skim milk (use heavy whipping cream if you like)

Bring this mixture to a boil
Then add a tbsp of Kosher Salt
1 cup of grits
Continuously stir this mixture
Bring temp down slowly, but keep it to a boil
1 tbsp butter
2 cups of sharp cheddar cheese (add it slowly and fold it in)

*** I used just under 2 cups and I think if you use the heavy whipping cream you could go a little lighter, but its all preference!

Serve hot and enjoy!!

How do you eat your grits??

My 1st Cheese Fondue!

Maybe I should have born in the 70's, but I love fondue. Several years ago my mother and I started a tradition to go to The Melting Pot near the holiday season. I was hooked ever since and so was my mom. She wanted a fondue pot for Christmas so I saved up my money and bought her one, but she never used it. Since moving to Florida, we have tried to keep up the tradition and always make time to go to The Melting Pot, but never replicating what we have had at home.

This year after returning home to Jersey after Christmas ( what my work schedule would allow) my mother surprised me with my own fondue pot and recipe book. I was determined to actually use mine!! I wasn't patient enough to look through the book, but there is a great website Best Fondue that guided me through my first cheese fondue.

If you use this link, I made this cheddar cheese fondue. Some things I will give you a warning towards. Making this cheese fondue-I did NOT use tomatoes. I used a 1/4 of the dry ranch seasoning (to taste). I used two cups of cheddar and 1 cup of mixed colby jack. I just used a white wine I already had-nothing fancy. I thought it turned out great!!

For dippers- I cup up a stale baguette- (I know your thinking stale? Trust me with the cheese its great) One red and one green apple-(Granny Smith are always the best with cheese) We also cooked steak, mushrooms, and boiled potatoes.

First time and it was a success-watch out melting pot you have got some new competition from Leann's Kitchen. Next I will be trying chocolate fondue!