Last night Ryan and I had drinks and dinner with the Cokers at Amore Pasta and Pizza in Grapevine. We started over at the Coker's home with drinks and appetizers. They have such a beautiful place and cute puppies too! It was so relaxing to just get out of the house and go have a couple of drinks on a Friday night, especially with such fun hosts!
After appetizers, we headed to the restaurant. We had to wait for a few minutes, but not too long. Amore is a restaurant that is owned by a very welcoming family. It was a quaint place with excellent bread and even better pizza. Taylor suggested we order a Florentine pizza and add Italian sausage. Sounded good to everyone, so we just got a large pizza for the whole table. It was one of the best and freshest pizzas I have ever had.
Overall, we had a really fun night hanging out and we can't wait to do it again soon!
Saturday, September 25, 2010
Saturday, September 18, 2010
Grapefest 2010
Last night, Ryan and I headed over to the 2010 Grapefest and had a great time! We got to people watch, eat, drink and be merry. After walking the length of the event, we decided on what we wanted to eat. I chose to have a foot long corn dog while Ryan had roasted corn and tacos al pastor. I then got a glass of wine and Ryan ordered a beer. After a bit more walking around to the booths and people watching, we decided to grab some German Roasted Cashews and take up a spot on a bench in the train depot. There, we waited for my parents, who had attended the People's Choice Wine Tasting. After they came out we walked back up the length of the strip. I got a cherry limeade, which was terrible, and Ryan got a couple more tacos with my parents. I wasn't feeling too well, so we cut the night short after only having stayed for about two and a half hours. It was a fun night though, and I think we'll probably go back again next year!
Sunday, September 12, 2010
Vegas Baby!
So Ryan, my parents and I went to Las Vegas for a few days this past week. It was so much fun! We stayed at the Signature Hotel which was amazing! We had a lovely suite complete with a kitchen, living area and jacuzzi tub. The balcony had a pretty good view of the strip, mostly of the New York, New York hotel.
Day one we just explored around town. Ryan and I have been to Vegas before, but my parents hadn't. So we got the chance to show them around a bit. We started off going to eat at the Spice Market breakfast buffet at Planet Hollywood. It was pretty good. I would say that I had more things I enjoyed than things I didn't. After breakfast, we started walking the strip. We took them to the LOVE Cirque theater. Even though we had tickets to 'O' this time, Ryan and I thought LOVE was a great show and the theater is very neat.
We also got the chance to take them to our favorite restaurant, BLT Burger. They have some of the best gourmet burgers I have ever had and they have amazing spiked shakes.
Late that afternoon we went to the Mirage as it is one of Ryan and my's favorite places to gamble. We are really into video black jack and video roulette. I guess I wish they had been more into us as we ended up the trip about $70 down. Ah, well it was for the entertainment value. Anyway, it was nightfall as we were leaving The Venitian and we stopped to take a quick picture in front of The Mirage.
On day two we got up and around for more hotel and casino exploration. We had breakfast in the room, a calzone from the small shop in the lobby, so we were ready to go. We went to the MGM Grand, Paris, and The Ventian. We also went to the Bellagio for lunch at a place called Noodles. It was fantastic and I highly recommend it! After that we went to the Bellagio gardens. This was the third time that I have been to the gardens and each time the decor has been different. I found a frog this time and had to take a picture by it. (Go Frogs!)
We also spent quite a bit of time at Cesars Palace watching silly shows, shopping and people watching. The weather was great so we picked up some $2 beers at Serendipity and continued around Cesars. The had some of the prettiest fountains out front.
That night we caught a cab to head to The Stratosphere for an amazing happy hour complete with half price appetizers and two for one martinis. I should say two for one STRONG martinis. They were really good as were the calamari, beef carpaccio, ahi tuna, and tomato fondue.
After dinner, we went down to Freemont Street, heard some great live bands, saw a few street performances and got to experience a little bit of old Las Vegas. And, on the way there, the cab driver took us past the pawn shop featured on Pawn Stars.
Day three was probably my favorite because we got to have breakfast the best restaurant I have been to in a long time. It was called La Salsa Cantina and for $3.95 you get scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, bacon and homemade tortillas. They also had cheep mimosas that were great! On day three we also went to the Monte Carlo, The Bellagio, Cesars Palace, NYNY, The Luxor, The Excalibur, and Mandalay Bay. At the Monte Carlo, Ryan and I picked up a Yard. That means we had a whole 32 ounce Pina Colada to carry around and drink. Quite fun!
That night we had dinner reservations at Shibuya and tickets to see 'O'. Shibuya has the second best sushi I have ever had. Yes, second best. Nothing has yet beaten my favorite sushi restaurant, Sake Toro. Anyway, dinner was amazing. We had some edamame and sushi. Then my parents had soup while I had vegetable and shrimp and vegetable tempura and Ryan had tuna with Japanese eggplant. The service and food were all great!
'O', like all of the Cirque shows I have seen was incredible. I still think that LOVE is my favorite. Ryan agrees. But, I have to say that I did enjoy 'O' more than La Nouba.
Day four was our last day in Vegas. Ryan spent the morning golfing at Bears Best while my parents and I went back to La Salsa Cantina for breakfast. We then took the car that Ryan rented out so that we could explore a bit beyond the strip. We went to The Rio hotel and The Palms. We intended to go to lunch at one of those two hotels, but didn't find one place at either hotel that looked any good. So, what else was there to do besides go back to BLT! More shakes, burgers, nachos and fried mac and cheese. Not too healthy, but I surprisingly lost 5 pounds in Vegas. It must have been all the walking. Anyway, after lunch, we put a few more dollars in the machines and won back a little of our money on Roulette before we headed to the airport.
This was one of the best vacations ever and I can't wait to go back to Vegas!
Day one we just explored around town. Ryan and I have been to Vegas before, but my parents hadn't. So we got the chance to show them around a bit. We started off going to eat at the Spice Market breakfast buffet at Planet Hollywood. It was pretty good. I would say that I had more things I enjoyed than things I didn't. After breakfast, we started walking the strip. We took them to the LOVE Cirque theater. Even though we had tickets to 'O' this time, Ryan and I thought LOVE was a great show and the theater is very neat.
We also got the chance to take them to our favorite restaurant, BLT Burger. They have some of the best gourmet burgers I have ever had and they have amazing spiked shakes.
Late that afternoon we went to the Mirage as it is one of Ryan and my's favorite places to gamble. We are really into video black jack and video roulette. I guess I wish they had been more into us as we ended up the trip about $70 down. Ah, well it was for the entertainment value. Anyway, it was nightfall as we were leaving The Venitian and we stopped to take a quick picture in front of The Mirage.
On day two we got up and around for more hotel and casino exploration. We had breakfast in the room, a calzone from the small shop in the lobby, so we were ready to go. We went to the MGM Grand, Paris, and The Ventian. We also went to the Bellagio for lunch at a place called Noodles. It was fantastic and I highly recommend it! After that we went to the Bellagio gardens. This was the third time that I have been to the gardens and each time the decor has been different. I found a frog this time and had to take a picture by it. (Go Frogs!)
We also spent quite a bit of time at Cesars Palace watching silly shows, shopping and people watching. The weather was great so we picked up some $2 beers at Serendipity and continued around Cesars. The had some of the prettiest fountains out front.
That night we caught a cab to head to The Stratosphere for an amazing happy hour complete with half price appetizers and two for one martinis. I should say two for one STRONG martinis. They were really good as were the calamari, beef carpaccio, ahi tuna, and tomato fondue.
After dinner, we went down to Freemont Street, heard some great live bands, saw a few street performances and got to experience a little bit of old Las Vegas. And, on the way there, the cab driver took us past the pawn shop featured on Pawn Stars.
Day three was probably my favorite because we got to have breakfast the best restaurant I have been to in a long time. It was called La Salsa Cantina and for $3.95 you get scrambled eggs, hashbrowns, bacon and homemade tortillas. They also had cheep mimosas that were great! On day three we also went to the Monte Carlo, The Bellagio, Cesars Palace, NYNY, The Luxor, The Excalibur, and Mandalay Bay. At the Monte Carlo, Ryan and I picked up a Yard. That means we had a whole 32 ounce Pina Colada to carry around and drink. Quite fun!
That night we had dinner reservations at Shibuya and tickets to see 'O'. Shibuya has the second best sushi I have ever had. Yes, second best. Nothing has yet beaten my favorite sushi restaurant, Sake Toro. Anyway, dinner was amazing. We had some edamame and sushi. Then my parents had soup while I had vegetable and shrimp and vegetable tempura and Ryan had tuna with Japanese eggplant. The service and food were all great!
'O', like all of the Cirque shows I have seen was incredible. I still think that LOVE is my favorite. Ryan agrees. But, I have to say that I did enjoy 'O' more than La Nouba.
Day four was our last day in Vegas. Ryan spent the morning golfing at Bears Best while my parents and I went back to La Salsa Cantina for breakfast. We then took the car that Ryan rented out so that we could explore a bit beyond the strip. We went to The Rio hotel and The Palms. We intended to go to lunch at one of those two hotels, but didn't find one place at either hotel that looked any good. So, what else was there to do besides go back to BLT! More shakes, burgers, nachos and fried mac and cheese. Not too healthy, but I surprisingly lost 5 pounds in Vegas. It must have been all the walking. Anyway, after lunch, we put a few more dollars in the machines and won back a little of our money on Roulette before we headed to the airport.
This was one of the best vacations ever and I can't wait to go back to Vegas!
Friday, September 3, 2010
Recipe: Microwave Bread Pudding
I found another recipe I just have to try! I am really into the microwaveable dessert trend lately. These are the ingredients for Microwave Bread Pudding.
You'll need:
- a microwaveable coffee cup or bowl
- bread (stale ok!)
- 1 egg
- 1-3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons of yogurt or milk
- 1-2 tablespoons of butter / margarine
Optional ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla
- dash of cinnamon
Pretty much you just rip the bread up and place it in a mug, mix up all the wet ingredients, and then pour it all over the bread. Then you just have to microwave the mixture for around 2 minutes.
Sounds yummy!
You'll need:
- a microwaveable coffee cup or bowl
- bread (stale ok!)
- 1 egg
- 1-3 tablespoons sugar
- 2 tablespoons of yogurt or milk
- 1-2 tablespoons of butter / margarine
Optional ingredients:
- 2 tablespoons applesauce
- 1 tsp vanilla
- dash of cinnamon
Pretty much you just rip the bread up and place it in a mug, mix up all the wet ingredients, and then pour it all over the bread. Then you just have to microwave the mixture for around 2 minutes.
Sounds yummy!
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