Saint Arnold, A Summer Staple

If you live in the Houston area, there is a very good chance that you have tried or know of the Saint Arnold Brewing Company. Located just outside of downtown, Houston's oldest craft brewer is a great place to beat the summer heat. They offer brewery tours Monday thru Saturday that are both informational and interactive. The tour is a mere $7 dollars and includes a souvenir glass and four samples. These are not one sip samples, so it's definitely a great deal. They usually have about six beers on tap, including the seasonal Summer Pils.

The brewery currently produces about 50,000 barrels a year in the facility. The unique thing about Saint Arnold is that they adhere to the German beer making standard of Reinheitsgebot, which only allows beer to be made with water, barley, hops, and yeast. This allows them to create deeper aromas in the beer, but it is also a more expensive production method.


I don't want to give away all the fun facts about Saint Arnold or where the name came from, so grab a pair of closed toe shoes and head on over to this wonderful little brewery!

Pizza, Pizza!

After you visit the birthplace of Italian food, some how nothing at home seems as good. In my travels in Italy, I had some absolutely delicious pizza. The special thing about their pizza is the super thin, cracker like crust which allows the toppings to shine. I am not one for large amounts of dough with my pizza, but unfortunately around here is seems like that's the norm. However, I did find a place that may come pretty close to some of the real deal pizza from Italy... Alto Pizzeria, located in West Ave.

I don't go out for pizza often, so when I found this place I was totally thrilled. The menu is simple, offering a selection of starters, soups, salads, pasta, calzones, and pizza. They have a pretty extensive wine list, however, the white wine sangria is what caught my eye. Unlike some of the ones I have had in the past, it had a natural sweetness from the fruit. Garnished with a swizzle stick of blueberries, this was definitely a perfect summer treat. I could imagine myself sitting in a piazza, sipping sangria anxiously waiting for my pizza to arrive.

Going to dinner with others is always fun because usually they are willing to share with you, so you get to try more of the menu. We opted for the classic male pizza, chock full of mushrooms, onions, and a variety of meats, and the margherita pizza. The first pizza surprisingly had a good amount of heat to it and enough toppings to actually recognize what they were. The margherita used cherry tomatoes, which exploded in your mouth when you bit in. The freshness of the basil complemented the tomatoes and saltiness of the mozzarella all came together to form the perfect bite of pizza.

This is a place to write home about and I will be going back for another trip down memory lane. If you have been there, let me know what you tried so that I can be sure to put it on my list for next time. Stop by and enjoy a little slice of Italy!

Happy Memorial Day!

Today means going to the beach, hanging out with friends, sitting by the pool, or enjoying great food. However, I would like to take a moment to say thank you to those very, very brave men and women who have taken on the challenge of protecting this country. I can only imagine what it must be like to be separated from your friends and family, but know that I am thinking of you and hoping for your safe return. I am so very thankful for the wonderful life you all have allowed me to live and I am very proud to be a citizen of this nation. Thank you to everyone who has served, is serving, or will serve! I am forever grateful. I hope you all have a very Happy Memorial Day!

Essential Kitchen Tools

The kitchen is a place where magic happens and you can create some of the most wonderful things for your tummy. However, without the right tools it can be very time consuming. Creating the perfect toolbox for the kitchen doesn't have to expensive or overwhelming. What I have found is that it is an evolving process. I love finding new things that make being in the kitchen fun. One year for Christmas, I had found a garlic zoom at Williams Sonoma. All it was was a little circular box with wheels and a blade. You put the garlic cloves in and rolled it on the counter to chop the garlic. Let's just say garlic got put in everything.

I think that some of the essentials are a spatula, whisk, tongs, kitchen scissors, turner, and a spoon. From there, you begin to see what you might need based on the things you like to make. Kitchen tools are there to make your life easier, so for me I make pasta a lot and a pasta or slotted spoon comes in handy all the time. Once you have the essentials, then you get to add fun ones that you don't absolutely need to have but are just fun. I bake quite a bit, so a cake tester is very useful. Luckily for me, I got a really cute one, but toothpicks are usually something that are on hand and do the job just as well.

One of the newest ones, I have gotten is a lemon and lime juicer. I don't do a ton of juicing, but when I have to it's a pain. Somehow my hand is not as effective and I feel like I am wasting a lot of juice, especially with limes. I have seen the individual colored ones, like orange, yellow, and green for oranges, lemons, and limes, but not one like this. It can be used for lemons and limes. The larger bottom section holds the lemons and the middle section is for limes. All you do is put the half of whatever you are juicing in the appropriate section and squeeze. I think that it will be much better than me squeezing them by hand.

Though you can buy garlic chopped or minced, somehow using freshly peeled garlic makes everything ten times better. Since I use a lot of garlic, I decided it was time to invest in a garlic press. This one has a removable tray for easy cleaning. However, I was slightly upset when I found out this one did not have an awesome cleaning tool that pushes the garlic remains out of the holes. Oh, well. If you have never used one before, all you do is put the peeled clove in and squeeze directly into the pan.

I know that you are probably thinking that this is a pretty expensive toolbox, but it doesn't have to be. I am not a seasoned chef, so I am okay with not having professional grade tools, which can be very pricey. The higher end kitchen stores, like Willams Sonoma and Sur La Table, have these tools, but are more expensive. I have found that Marshalls has a lot of these for about half the price and they have well known brands like KitchenAid. I hope that you have a better idea of how to put together your own kitchen toolbox. Feel free to leave any questions you have. Let me know what your favorite kitchen tool is and if you know of any places to get great deals on tools.

Fresh From the Oven

I just got this brand new KitchenAid mixer as a graduation present and decided to put it to good use. While trying to think of what I wanted to make, I looked at the counter and saw that I had some bananas that were ripening quickly. Not wanting to make a dessert, I thought why not make something I haven't had in forever. Chocolate chip banana nut bread. As much as I like regular banana nut bread...and know that it is much healthier, the combination of chocolate, bananas, and nuts is magical. Plus, I knew it was someone's favorite, so I decided to make it especially for them.

Almost done, just a bit longer!

Sometimes banana nut bread can be very fussy. The bread can be overcooked and dry or it can have a golden crust and be barely cooked on the inside. I took a shot and used a recipe I found via Pinterest from Tidy Mom. What I found interesting about this recipe was that it did not use buttermilk. I have not made tons of banana nut bread, but I am fairly certain that most recipes called for it. Visit my 'Foods to Die for' board on Pinterest to find the recipe or feel free to find it on her website.

Perfect Golden Brown Crust

Luckily for me, I had a kitchen helper which made it more fun and a bit more interesting. Sometimes carefully reading directions is not always easy for him, so we had a few mishaps. However, those are usually just his added touches to make everything more enjoyable. Despite a few mix ups, the batter came together and made it into the pan in one piece. The most difficult thing was mashing the bananas since I don't have a potato masher. Other than that, it was super simple. You mix the wet ingredients and dry ingredients separately and then combine. Fold in the chocolate chips and nuts and put into the pan. I have found that my oven bakes much more quickly, so I usually cut the baking time down. The recipe called for 60 minutes, but mine was done in 45 minutes.

Ready to be Devoured!

Let's just say that this recipe was a keeper and I will be using it again because it was fantastic! The outside had a golden crust and the inside was thoroughly cooked through. It was moist and the chocolate chips had melted slightly, but still held their shape. Honestly, I am not sure if it was the new mixer, my kitchen helper, the new pan, the recipe, or all of these things, but this was the most perfect loaf of chocolate chip banana nut bread I have ever made!

If you have another great recipe you would like me to try or decide to make this one, come back and let me know how it turns out. Make sure that you try out this recipe immediately. For now, the smell of freshly baked chocolate chip banana nut bread that has just been pulled out of the oven is calling my name! Bon appetit!

A Visit to a Meat Mecca

I don't usually frequent steakhouses, but I do make the trip every once in a while. Guri do Sul, a Brazilian Churrascaria and steakhouse in The Woodlands, offers a unique dining opportunity. This place is not like other steakhouses because of the method of meat preparation. Meats are cooked over an open flame and served by Guachos, or Brazilian cowboys. Boasting about 11 different varieties of meat, this a destination for all meat lovers. It is a place were you will most certainly eat too much and feel uncomfortably full when you leave, but it will be well worth it.

Don't think that this place doesn't cater to those who aren't that fond of meat. They had a salad bar that also features a variety of cheeses and vegetables. A word of warning, especially if you have never been to this type of place before. As tempting as the salad bar is, make sure you aren't filling up on that and not leaving room for the main event. I do, however, encourage indulging in the to die for cheese bread. It is gooey with cheese running throughout and baked to perfection with a crunchy outside.

Cheese Bread

When you sit down at the table, there are two additions to the setting. A pair of tongs and a card with a red and a green side. One might ask what these are used for. The green side of the card indicates to the Guachos that you are ready for more meat, while the red side indicates that you don't want any at the moment. The tongs are used to grab the piece of meat off the skewer. What's even better about this, is that you can still say how you would like the meat cooked, like medium or rare. As if you aren't getting enough food, they will bring out some side dishes. The sides are fried plantains, green beans with onions and mushrooms, mashed potatoes, and fried polenta. Honestly, I didn't eat much, but I did try them all. The fried plantains were a good change of taste from all the salty meat and the green beans were good, but the mushrooms were delicious. I was not really impressed with the polenta, as it was a bit on the flavorless side. However, the mashed potatoes were definitely not a disappointment, so I would stick to those.

They do serve dessert and it looked very sinful, but we were much too full to even consider it. This was definitely a place that I will be going back to even though it is a bit of a drive. If you have been there before, please feel free to comment on your experience or if you have any other suggestions for Brazilian steakhouses. Visit their website to make your reservation today and enjoy!

Bottoms Up

Specialty cocktails are becoming more popular, but they are also getting more creative with names that will immediately win you over. Getting to try these new concoctions is always fun, though I can't say I have never tried a bad one. Here are the four I got to try during my stay in Austin.

Driskill Bar

The historic Driskill hotel in Austin has been around for a long time and is a place where guests may encounter ghosts. Though I didn't meet one of their in house ghosts, I did get a chance to visit their bar to try some of their house specialties. Claiming to have the 'official' drink of Austin, the batini is a modern day twist on the martini. Since Austin is known for the bats under the Congress Street Bridge, I decided it was only appropriate to give it a try. This treat was topped with a summer blackberry and was ripe with the sweetness of the fruit, making it very easy to drink. The Texas Orange Blossom, pictured on the right, was another summery drink that mimicked the flavors of an orange creamsicle. Made with locally made Tito's vodka, this was something I wish I could make at home.

La Condesa

One of my new favorite Mexican restaurants, La Condesa didn't disappoint in the drink department. The yellow colored one was a passion fruit and spiced mango margarita. This was not your typical margarita because it was not overwhelmingly sweet. The cayenne and salt rim provided a tiny bit of heat that paired well with the natural sweetness of the fruit. The pink one is a watermelon-elderflower martini. I had never really heard of the elderflower before, but it was pretty delicious in this drink. The fresh watermelon flavor added sweetness and made it the perfect summer drink. Though I was a bit confused as to why the martini was a bit foamy, it was thoroughly enjoyable. Let me know if you know what makes it foamy!

If you had a chance to try any of these let me know what you thought. Feel free to leave suggestions of your favorite drinks or places to visit next time I am in Austin.

Teeing Up

Family Golf Park in Cypress, TX

Way back in the day, I used to play a lot of miniature golf and became pretty good at it. I, however, never actually held a club or hit a real golf ball until this weekend. It has become more and more popular with my friends, so I finally caved and decided to give it a shot. After getting a quick lesson of holding and hitting a ball in the front yard, we headed to the driving range. I have never been to a driving range before so I had no idea what to expect. The Family Golf Park in Cypress was nice and since we went at dusk, we were graced with the presence of some deer. My pseudo golf instructor did his best to teach me how to make contact with the ball, but I am sure he quickly realized that golf does not come naturally to me. The beginning was a little rocky with some swings and misses, but towards the end I was making contact pretty consistently. Let's just say the ball was going in no particular direction and not very far, but at least it was getting off the green. I am no natural, but I think to be fair to myself I will try it again. So stay tuned to see how the next session goes...

Sunday Morning Breakfast

Breakfast is a meal that I could eat at any time because there are so many options. You can either opt for the sweet side, like pancakes and waffles, or the savory side, like eggs and potatoes. To me, there is something about Sunday that means a big leisurely breakfast with the whole works. I love hearing about great breakfast places and the Food Network gave me a great option. When you are in San Antonio, you absolutely must stop by The Magnolia Pancake Haus. This place is only open for breakfast and lunch, and there is always a wait! If you want to go on Saturday or Sunday, expect a long wait, but I promise it will be worth it.

When you first open the menu, you are greeted with a wide variety of pancakes, waffles, and all sorts of egg dishes. However, there is one thing that will surely catch your eye. This place offers something that you can't find anywhere else. "Authentic Munchener Apfel Pfannekuchen", pronounced fan-e-koo-kan. This is basically a Bavarian apple pie pancake that's a family recipe. Though I really wanted to try this amazing sounding dish, I have found that I like to try my good ole favorites to see how they do them. For me, this is a stack of chocolate chip pancakes. All I can say is that the batter was light and airy and the chocolate chips melted perfectly into the batter. They weren't overly sweet and had the perfect chip to batter ratio. I think they definitely nailed the pancakes! Plus they are the size of a plate, so you most likely have leftovers to enjoy again.

They also have a fabulous pecan waffle that was very light and the added sweetness of the maple syrup gave it a pecan pie like taste. As big the plate, this waffle is sure to fill you up with just the right amount of morning sweetness. I have been to a fair number of breakfast places and sometimes the hash browns are a real disappointment. They are usually dry and bland or not crispy and limp. However, I was very pleasantly surprised at how delicious these hash browns were. They were grated with just the right thickness, had plenty of flavor, and were definitely crisped to perfection. Let's just say there were no leftovers of these.

The Magnolia Pancake Haus definitely lived up to all the hype and it's a good thing that I don't live closer because I might just become a regular. If you are going to be in the area, be sure you stop by at any time and try it out because I promise it's worth it!

 

 

A Star is Born!

The La Cantera area outside of San Antonio is beautiful. Known to be the home of Fiesta Texas and the Shops at La Cantera, this area has a new star. The Eilan Hotel Resort and Spa is brand new and will be having their grand opening celebration on June 7th. Luckily for me, I got to get a sneak peak during a girls weekend. The gorgeous grounds have a very European feel with fountains galore, gazebos, and blooming flowers. When you walk into the lobby, you are greeted with a cool color palette that immediately calms you, making you feel very much at home. The back patio overlooks the piazza below that will soon boast shops and restaurants, making it its own little piece of paradise.

Upon our arrival, we were greeted with a plate of edible art. These handcrafted truffles, peanut butter and chocolate, accompanied by chocolate covered strawberries were almost too beautiful to eat. But boy am I sure glad we did! They were creamy, melt in your mouth treats that were absolutely delicious. The hotel also provided some romantic comedies for our viewing pleasure and some keepsakes to bring home.

The hotel has a wonderful new restaurant called Sustenio, which puts a Southwestern twist on their dishes. We opted for appetizers that we could share so that we could try more of the menu. Don't get me wrong these were not two bite appetizers. They were well portioned and very filling. We were able to enjoy the tamale tart with crabmeat, sea scallops, Southwestern caesar salad, and poblano-asiago soup. In addition, there was a wonderful assortment of bread and a lobster bisque compliments of the chef. The perfect ending to this meal was "coffee and doughnuts", which was a espresso creme brulee and homemade baked doughnuts. This was truly an incredible meal and a must try restaurant if you are going to be in the area.

No girls weekend would be complete without a visit to the spa, which is always a real treat for me. I opted to go for a pedicure and ended up with "pink flamenco" toes. This was a huge spa with many different relaxation rooms, a patio, locker rooms, and of course the spa rooms. The calming water features and ambiance made time seem to stand still and I really got to enjoy the service. It seemed to not last long enough and was very relaxing.

The Eilan Hotel Resort and Spa is a fabulous place and should definitely be a place you stop into when you are in San Antonio. Whether you are looking for your own little piece of the European piazza or an incredible meal, this is the place. If you get a chance to stop in, come back and let me know how your experience was.

What to do in Austin

 Austin is a great place to visit for a quick day trip or a weekend getaway. Though I have not been as often as I wanted to, I have found that there are always things to do and see. You can always visit the capital, the art museum, or watch the bats, however, I wanted to do something a little different. The South Congress district has a very eclectic shopping area and lots of food trucks. There were definitely some interesting costume stores, but it was great to see all the promotions of local artisans and businesses. Austin is a place where everyone seems to watch out for others and aren't afraid to talk about other places of business. I was disappointed that none of the food trucks were open around lunch time because there are several I would have liked to try.

Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum

If you are looking for something to a bit on the educational side, the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum was great. It was an interactive look at the history and development of the industries in Texas. Each of the three floors covered the major development periods, starting with the Native Americans and early settlements and ending with all the major industries, like oil and cattle ranching. This museum also had an IMAX theater that was showing a film about the arctic. It was a very inspiring and educational film.


Unfortunately, I was only there for a day, so I didn't get to do to much, but post your favorite things to do so I can be sure put them on my list for next time I am in Austin.

Austin's Buried Treasure

While taking in the sights and sounds of Austin with my sister, I was gifted with one of the best restaurant suggestions that I have been given in a while, La Condesa. It's the real Mexican food that you have always wanted...seriously. Situated a short walk from the river, this super trendy place is full of life and food that is beyond words. Since this was a celebration trip, we decided to go for it and do the whole works. Here is the run down of my to die for dinner.

Chips, Salsa, and Guacamole

It started out with four different homemade salsas and one of the best guacamoles I have ever had. The ridiculously smooth texture and the perfect balance of salt made it absolutely delicious. The salsas were a creamy avocado, a habanero and green apple, a smokey red sauce, and a spicier salsa. These were literally dripping with freshness and should be salsa staples. The chips were the perfect thickness, handling the thicker guacamole and the delicate salsas.

Tortilla Soup

I am always a fan of tortilla soup and was very pleasantly surprised that this was not a broth based soup. It was creamy and spicy, with chunks of avocado and chicken. I usually try tortilla soup at most Tex-Mex places I go, and this was the best tortilla soup I have ever had. The freshness of the cilantro tones down the heat, but gives the soup the extra boost of flavor.

Pollo Rostizado Taquitos

Alongside the soup, I had pollo rostizado taquitos, which were small tacos. They had pulled roasted chicken with a citrus rub and salsa verde. These were even more perfect when I added a little bit of guacamole. The queso flameado taquitos were not what I was expecting. There were three corn tortillas served with a bowl of toasty goat cheese and queso mixto. It was almost as good as the Tex-Mex version of queso, but the authenticity made it ten times better.

Dulce de leche

Of course, this meal couldn't be complete without a sinful dessert. Though this one was a bit out of the ordinary, I thought I would give it a try. Dulce de leche is always a delicious dessert, but this one had a sweet corn sauce and was topped with caramel popcorn. Weird combination, I know. But... do not judge it without trying it first. It was a surprisingly magical combination. It was a melt in your mouth cake served with a cream cheese ice cream. The ice cream had a true cream cheese flavor and cut through the sweetness of the cake. The popcorn powder added crunch to the dessert and the perfect amount of savory to cut through the super sweet cake. 

This was one of the best Mexican restaurants I have been to and my sister said it made it on her top 10 restaurant list. This says a lot because she has been to quite a few restaurant around the world. If you live in the Austin area or visit Austin frequently, this is an absolute must the next time you are there! If you have been there, let me know what your favorites were or your favorite Austin restaurant.

Haute Wheels Houston was on a Roll!

All I can say is that if you didn't get a chance to visit the Haute Wheels Houston food truck festival than you really missed out! It was a fantastic gathering of about 30 different vendors, offering a wide variety of food and drinks. I tried to eat as much as I could, but was only able to try six of them! Here is a run down of all the treats I was able to try, starting with the appetizers and ending with desserts.

Fried Mac and Cheese Balls

1. H-town Streats: This place was the start to my adventure. Here I was able to try the Monte Cristo balls. I know this might surprise some of you, but I have never had a Monte Cristo. It was a ball filled with ham, melted cheese, covered in a funnel cake like batter and served with powdered sugar and a strawberry jam dipping sauce. These were delicious, though they were not all the way melted in the middle, which was slightly disappointing. Though not completely perfect, it was a great first Monte Cristo experience.

2. Fork in the Road: I was really surprised to find out that this was from HEB. I had the fried green chile mac and cheese balls. They were absolutely delicious. The kick from the green chile and the melty, gooey, and crunchy texture from the fried mac and cheese was the perfect combination. This truck also offered a spicy Moroccan meatball that had spice and flavor. The spice gave the meatball depth with a little bit of heat. They were definitely on the list to try again, so I will be following Fork in the Road to its next location!

Sister and her Bahn Mi Sandwich

3. Pho Cup'd: Not having access to bahn mi sandwiches is a real issue for my sister, so of course we had to stop and get her one. The crispy baguette bread and the crunch of the carrots makes this sandwich music to her ears. I opted for a bite or two and was not disappointed.

4. Ladybird: Ladybird, Ladybird where art thou Ladybird? This simple food truck took two of my favorite treats, grilled cheese and tater tots, and turned up the flavor. Truffled tater tots are not something you find very often, but boy were they good. The best part was the nice big basket you got, so you weren't left feeling hungry.

Caprese Grilled Cheese

Grilled cheese is one of my favorite things. This caprese grilled cheeses was tucked between two pieces of delicious bread topped with red pepper jelly. Sounds spicy, right? Surprisingly, it was a bit on the sweet side and added a smokier flavor to the sandwich. The basil and fresh mozzarella with giant slices of tomato gave it a very sophisticated look and turned this basic children's favorite into a must have for grown ups.

Homemade truffles

5. MMM Cupcakes: Who doesn't love a good cupcake, especially when you can get a mini sampler pack? This cupcake truck was serving red velvet, lemon, strawberry, chocolate, and salted caramel. The cakes were moist and not to crumbly, making them very easy to eat. The icing to cupcake ration was just right, where every bite of cake had a bit of icing. It wasn't to sweet and the texture was like eating clouds.

6. Chocolate d'arte: What better way to end a meal than with these beautiful, handmade truffles. The flavors include lemon blueberry and goat cheese, chocolate mousse, and dulche de leche. The shimmery powder on the truffles made you want to dive right in and so that's exactly what I did. The lemon blueberry and goat cheese was something I was a little weary of, but it turned out to be a wonderfully summery flavor combination. The dulche de leche just melted in your mouth, so that was an immediate hit. The beloved chocolate mousse was airy and not overwhelmingly sweet. 

I hope that you enjoyed my little visit through the food truck festival. If you had the opportunity to go or have a favorite food truck, then please comment below because I would love to be able to try it. If you didn't be sure to stop by their location in the area and try them out. These are places not to be missed!

Have a Sweet Mother's Day!

In honor of today, I wanted to whip up something sweet. The summer is already here and the heat doesn't make me want to turn on the oven. So what to make is the question. I decided on a simple variation of the no bake cookie. They are super easy and these nuggets of deliciousness are the perfect thing to satisfy any sweet tooth. They take no time to make and best of all they can be in whatever shape you want. I choose to make mine into balls. Mine made 12 little balls, so you can adjust the proportions as necessary.

No Bake Cookies:


1/4 peanut butter
1/4 cup raisins
1/8 teaspoons vanilla
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1 1/2 tablespoons of cocoa powder
1 pinch of salt


Combine all ingredients, except chocolate chips in a blender. Roll into balls or cookies and press in chocolate chips. Pop in the frig to firm. Enjoy!

*Recipe notes: I don't have a food processor, so I have to sub a blender. It didn't work as well, and the dough needed to be scraped from the sides, but it got mixed all the same. The only difference would be the smoother texture that you would get from using a food processor. Also, I put my chocolate chips in before blending which probably didn't make the blender's job easier. If you prefer the whole chip, then you can mix everything together. 

This recipe can work with any mix-ins, like nuts or cranberries, so try them and let me know what you did!

Fresh Take on Flowers

Photo credit: Michael Partenio

If I had a million dollars, I would want fresh flowers in every room. There is something about the bright colors, interesting shapes, and wonderful smells that keeps me smiling. Some of my favorites are the iris and the orchid, but I usually use alstroemeria. Known as the Peruvian Lily, it comes in so many different color combinations that I usually have a few different options. I look for ways to combine flowers and the ambiance of candles and saw this precious piece on Pinterest. It was a great twist on displaying flowers and perfect for my small table. These super simple votives are actually cordial glasses filled with water with a single daisy placed on top. Top with a ribbon covered tea light and you you good to go.

Another great way to spice up flowers in a vase is to add slices of lemon or lime to the water. It won't hurt the flowers and adds a great spring touch to the arrangement. I used these beautiful orange pink alstroemeria and tied a cream ribbon around the vase. I don't have that many vases and ribbons can change the look of the arrangement in a second. If you are feeling even more creative, you can line a cylinder vase with the slices for a more polished look. The free floating pieces make it less fussy and more playful. Oranges would also be a great fruit to slice and use as well. If you want to forgo the flowers all together, fruit can also be another fantastic go to for table decor.

Post a picture of your favorite arrangement, and hopefully these summertime hints will help keep your flowers looking super summery.

Wait, Come Back Food Truck!

Bernie's Burger Bus

One day I was driving along and was surprised to see a yellow bus parked on the side of the street. What caught my attention even more was the fact that it was actually a food truck, which have begun to revolutionize the industry and how people eat on the go. I admit I was not very keen on eating something that came out of a kitchen on wheels. Sadly, traffic started moving again and I didn't catch the name of this truck. However, I kept randomly seeing the bus and decided that it needed to go on my "places to try" list. Though, it seemed like it was evading me because we were never at the same place at the same time.

As I was driving down the freeway last year, I passed a parking lot full of people and what I saw to be food trucks. I later learned that this was a food truck festival, but unfortunately I missed this wonderful event. I made myself a promise that I would not miss out this year! What is this event? It is Houston's Haute Wheels Food Truck Festival.

I am so excited to be going this weekend and my tummy is already crying out for something new and delicious. I am a food truck newbie, so this will be the perfect opportunity for me to try them all out at once. These trucks serve every kind of food from barbeque to pizza to French cuisine and then of course desserts, including waffles. I cannot wait to finally try Bernie's Burger Bus and everyone else participating. This is a foodie event not to be missed!

For more information and to buy your tickets, visit www.hautewheelshouston.com. The website will also give you an in depth list of all the food trucks that will be participating. So head on over and join me as I sample my way through the day. If you get a chance to visit, make sure to post your must haves and check back for my favorites and the ones you need to try!

Spice Up Your Life

One of my favorite at home pasta dishes is pasta topped with olive oil, salt, and black pepper. There is something about the simplicity of the ingredients and the warm satisfaction it brings that really makes me feel complete. What makes pasta even better is that it is pretty inexpensive and can make a few servings at a time. As much as I love it, there are times when I am feeling adventurous, but I am not really sure what to do because sometimes things can go really wrong with spices. Recently, I have been hearing how beneficial spices are for your metabolism and diet, so I decided I would try to add more spice to my life. As I sat looking at my spice rack, I pondered what combinations might work. Finally, I grabbed whatever I saw first and gave it a go.

I had grabbed crushed red pepper, salt, black pepper, and Italian seasoning. Sounds like a pretty reasonable combination, so why didn't I think about that immediately? Honestly, I don't know. I think that it is because for me spices can be a bit intimidating. I know how they taste individually, but striking the perfect balance between multiples ones can be difficult. Here's what I have come to find. Just being willing to try things out. You might get some good, definitely some bad, and then a few that are just so so, but no one can say you didn't try. But back to my dish. The kick from the crushed red pepper seemed to bring out the flavors of the Italian seasoning even more, and took me back to my Italian rendezvous. This is definitely a recipe to make again!


My other way to keep pasta interesting is to change up the shapes. I remember all the trips to the store where I insisted that shaped pasta was much better than spaghetti. Fortunately, I usually won that argument and got to pick out my favorite shape. When Barilla introduced there line of mini pasta, I was super excited. I love anything and everything small and bite sized, and this pasta was definitely a throwback back to my childhood days. The tomato or spinach pasta is also great and works really well if you are trying to get kids to eat more vegetables. One of the best and most surprising pastas I have had recently was lemon pepper pappardelle pasta from Trader Joe's. The intense lemon and pepper flavor turn a bland noodle into a shining star. If you have a Trader Joe's near you, you need to try it out!

I am always on the look out for great new pastas or spice mixes, so post your favorites below and I will be sure to try them out.

It's a Zoo Out There!

As a child one of my favorite things to do was go to the zoo. I remember riding in my stroller and seeing the huge display of pink flamingos at the entrance to the San Diego Zoo. They were the highlight of the trip and could sit and look at them all day. Only now do I realize how much they smell, so I usually spend less time around them. Nonetheless, I still enjoy watching those long-legged, pink birds. Whenever I take a trip, I always want to see the zoo, even though most zoos have the same animals. To me, going to a zoo is means I get to become an explorer. You never know what you will find around each corner and where the path will lead you.

Rain or shine, hot or cold, nothing can stop me from getting my zoo fix. The Houston Zoo is fantastic and I will never grow tired of going to visit. They are constantly changing and rearranging, so there is always something new. For me, I feel like it is literally in my backyard which makes it even easier for me to pop in. Located in a bustling part of town, there is a serene and calming feeling that I get when I enter the park. Being a bystander and watching the animals go about their normal routines, reminds me that there is an ebb and flow to life. Just like animals, life gets loud and crazy at times, but there will always be periods of calm, and those much needed afternoon naps.


One of the best experiences I had, was when I went for my birthday and was able to get up close and personal to feed the giraffes. It was an incredible experience! A mom and baby giraffe swayed to the music as they chomped on leaves of lettuce, delighting all those around them. I was truly amazed at how regal they are.


In case you haven't heard, the Houston Zoo will be hosting a Dinosaurs! exhibit, so check out www.houstonzoo.org for all the details, as well as all their other exciting events. Leave a comment with your favorite zoo memory or those crazy stories like of the monkey taking a visitor's hat. Even if you aren't an avid zoo lover like me, be sure to visit your nearest zoo because you never know what you will find!