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Say Hello to Rubio’s Coastal Grill…Formerly Known as Rubio’s Mexican Grill!

/ Food, Let's Eat!, Restaurant Reviews

rubios-coastal-grillWhen I think about Rubio’s®, I always think of fish tacos! It was the first place I tried a fish taco back in the day and I’ve been hooked ever since!  In addition to its signature dish, The Original Fish Taco, this popular chain which has locations in California, Arizona, Utah, Nevada, and Colorado, is known for its uniquely delicious coastal cuisine. Have you seen their new name yet? It’s now called Rubio’s Coastal Grill! I love it! Inside the restaurant, you’ll still find the same great Mexican cuisine, but with a lot more delicious options added to the menu and a new look added to many of the stores.

drinksThroughout the month of May, several of Orange County’s locations re-opened to guests as Rubio’s Coastal Grill, after undergoing a redesigned transformation! The redesign of 45 of their California-based restaurants reflect the brand’s evolution and culinary progression. Some of the first locations to undergo this transformation already include:

  • Laguna Niguel
  • San Clemente
  • Rancho Santa Margarita
  • Foothill Ranch

Would you believe me if I told you that I frequent 4 out of 5 of the locations listed above? If the 5th location was closer to me, I’d go to that one too! Rubio’s has plans to expand to other areas within the county in the near future as well.

for-startersI recently had the opportunity to dine in one of the newly re-opened locations with Mr. Ralph Rubio.  We sipped on Sangria and munched on some of their delicious chips and guacamole during introductions. Their guacamole is amazing and I’m pretty sure it’s because they insist on only using Haas avocados in their restaurants.

chips-and-guacamoleMr. Rubio talked about the concept behind the new look. He also talked about how the restaurant design draws inspiration from the sea and features elements and aesthetics reminiscent of the brand’s beach heritage. There are hues of cobalt, green, indigo and sand sparkle throughout the restaurants and patios with shimmering blue tiles that guide guests to Rubio’s signature salsa bar. The salsa bar is one of the best parts because everything on it is always so fresh!

rubios-salsa-bar

Mr. Rubio had the staff bring each of us attendees an order of Tostadas Frescas to start with. These are one of the limited time offerings on the new menu. I had one shrimp and one chicken and just looking at this picture of lime getting squeezed onto them, makes me want to go back and do it all over again. Limes just make everything taste even better.

tostadas-frescas-with-shrimpThe shells used for the Tostadas Frescas are freshly prepared and you can tell just by tasting them.  I couldn’t decide if the shrimp or the chicken were my favorite one? They were both delicious and I can’t wait to return to try a beef one, as well as one with grilled veggies.

regal-springs-tilapia-tacoDid you know that Rubio’s uses sustainable seafood in nearly all of its seafood dishes and continues to expand its menu with innovative recipes ranging from sustainable shrimp to Atlantic salmon? This Regal Springs Tilapia taco was so delicious and I could taste how fresh the fish was. I also got to try a Grilled Gourmet Taco with Shrimp! How have I never had one of those before? It’s seriously in a category of its own!

grilled-gourmet-taco-with-shrimpIn addition to seafood, Rubio’s also offers crisp fresh salads, grilled marinated chicken and steak, “no-fried” pinto beans, handmade guacamole, a variety of proprietary salsas, and craft beer and sangria to complement any meal. Now here comes another new feature at Rubio’s Coastal Grill….dessert! I know we’re all aware of the churros because we go there specifically for their Cinnamon Churros but now there are also a variety of more gourmet desserts being offered! And they’re featured a beautiful dessert case in the front of the store!

limon-coconut-barsMr. Rubio must’ve known my weakness for desserts because he had ALL of them brought to our table to sample! There were Caramel Chocolate Ganache Brownies, Limon Coconut Bars, and Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies. They tasted as good as they look, too!

chocolate-chip-oatmeal-cookie

dessertsI’m really excited about the new look of Rubio’s Coastal Grill but I’m even MORE excited about the newest menu items. As a busy mom, who’s often on the go, I’m always grateful for take out options that are healthy both for myself and my daughter. Rubio’s is somewhere I can go and always feel good about getting quality food for us.

meeting-mr-rubio

In honor of Rubio’s recent transformation, I’m hosting a giveaway. Rubio’s has provided me with 6 cards that are each valid for a complimentary entree. I’m going to pick one lucky reader to win all 6. Just enter below in the Rafflecopter and be sure to read the directions carefully. Good luck everyone!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

 

Stay up-to-date about Rubio’s happenings, events and more by visiting Rubio’s on Facebook  and  Twitter.

Disclosure: I was invited to attend a media dinner and provided with dinner in order to write my post. No other monetary compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.

 

 

Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour For Birthday Celebrations: A Family Tradition Passed Down From My Own Childhood

/ Family Fun, Food, Let's Eat!, Orange County, The Shops at Mission Viejo

farrells-squareI have very fond memories of visiting Farrell’s as a child with my family. It was mostly on special occasions like mine or my brother’s birthdays, but we did get to go there on other occasions as well! Going to Farrell’s for our birthdays was something we’d look forward to every year.  It was the original Farrell’s children’s menu that’s responsible for my love of Peanut Butter and Banana sandwiches! Yep, the original Farrell’s had them on the kids menu and they were my fav! (I wish we had digital cameras back then so I would have pictures of it all to post now!)

all-about-the-stacheOver the past few decades, Farrell’s has gone through some restructuring. At one point, they only had one location anywhere near me. Imagine my excitement when I started to hear about new locations opening up in California over the past few years! I hopped on the chance to be able to create an annual Farrell’s birthday tradition with my own daughter that was similar to what I enjoyed doing as a little girl. Did I mention we have a Farrell’s location within 5 minutes of our home? How lucky is that?

farrells-sticker

our-farrellsAfter having a super 9th birthday celebration at our local Farrell’s last year, my daughter couldn’t wait to get there again this year for her 10th birthday celebration! I don’t think we ever get tired of the ambiance in there.

junior-zookeepers-menuThe kids keep pretty busy with the fun Junior Zookeepers menu. Even at 10 years old, they’re still into it. The offerings on their menu are items that they actually enjoy and want to order. They’re also generous portions. Nothing beats a good old-fashioned grilled cheese!

grilled-cheeseDid you know that Farrell’s offers gluten-free options for guests and also has a nut allergy menu? I think that’s really important. It allows guests who might not be able to dine out of their own home normally, because of food allergies, to have options and the freedom to eat out in a restaurant without worrying. Not only does Farrell’s have these menus, their servers are educated about the different items and know the menus really well.

farrells-gluten-free-menu-options

farrells-nut-allergy-optionsThe kids always find it necessary to request an extra plate of pickles from our server to munch on. It’s all about the pickle for them! Bob Farrell’s Motto is “Give Them The Pickle and They’ll Come Back!” Well I know it keeps us coming back! That’s for sure!

pickle-buttonAlthough I love the food at Farrell’s, we all know that the BEST part comes last….the dessert! Their dessert menu can be overwhelming (in a good way) to look at because there are so many different sundaes to choose from. It just means that you need to go back and try different sundaes on other occasions! For my daughter’s birthday, we decided to ring in “double digits” properly….with The World Famous Farrell’s ZOO! This was in addition to the complimentary birthday sundae they already bring you!

zoo-and-sundaeIf you have never heard of The World Famous Farrell’s Zoo, pay attention to this because it’s a must-try for any and all Farrell’s go-ers!  It’s made up of 4 scoops of their famous ice cream, 3 fruit flavor sherbets, 4 delicious toppings, whipped cream, cherries, and bananas! Oh and I forgot to mention the animals! (Hence the name “Zoo”!)  Not only is it a ridonkulous sight too see but the crew at Farrell’s makes it an extra big deal by ringing the fire station siren to grab your attention when it’s time to deliver it to a table.

here-comes-the-zoo

zooThis concoction is so huge that it takes 2 servers to deliver it to your table and they bring it out on a stretcher! It’s quite the way to celebrate and sure made my birthday girl feel like the center of attention! After all of the hoopla and the birthday song of Farrell’s choice, the server will help dish out the zoo to all of the guests. It’s beyond yummy in the tummy. My daughter chose to set all of the animals aside to take home with us.

zoo-animalsWe had the best time celebrating my daughter’s 10th birthday at Farrell’s and want to send a special thank you to our server Brooke, who really helped make it a special night! We’d also like to thank Chad and Steven who are always accommodating during our frequent visits to Farrell’s!

thank-you-brookeIt looks like my daughter has started a new collection of her yearly birthday stickers from Farrell’s on the inside of her closet! Well, until next year…..

farrells-stickers

 

10Have YOU been to Farrell’s to celebrate a birthday or special occasion? If not, what are you waiting for? Get there!

Connect with Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour Restaurants on Facebook, Twitter & Instagram!

 

Sweet and Savory “Boutique” Waffles at Newport Beach’s The Waffle Affair!

/ Food, Let's Eat!, Restaurant Reviews

Disclosure: I was invited to a media tasting as a guest of The Waffle Affair in order to write my review. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own. 
The-waffle-affairThe Waffle Affair is an adorable storefront, located in a shopping center off Bayside drive in Newport Beach. Situated extremely close to the water and Balboa Island, the area is known for residents who enjoy a leisurely and active outdoor lifestyle. The Waffle Affair is the perfect place to stop at to grab a hand-crafted coffee or tea and a waffle to go! If you’re thinking that the words “waffle” and “to go” don’t pair well, you must keep reading! (I suggest everyone keep reading anyway though)

waffles-to-goIt might seem “untraditional” to imagine grabbing waffles to go but these waffles are different. They don’t require any toppings or syrups and can easily be taken out to enjoy. (Don’t worry, they do also offer classic, traditional waffles with maple syrup & whipped butter, if that’s what you’re looking for!) You can choose from regular-sized waffles or waffle bites! Waffles are offered in both sweet and savory flavors, made from scratch and baked fresh to order. This means the waffles are very light and not greasy at all. There are some deliciously unique waffles on the menu at The Waffle Affair.

Here are just a few of the savory ones:

  • Cheddar & Cherry Hardwood Smoked Bacon
  • Prosciutto Di Parma & Gruyere Cheese
  • Oven Roasted Turkey & Havarti Cheese
  • Genoa Salami & Fontina Cheese genoa-salami-and-fontina-cheese-waffle
  • Waffle Bites with Hot Dogs or Breakfast Sausage (my daughter LOVED these) hot-dog-bits-and-dips

Here are just a few of the sweet waffle options:

  • Liege (Belgium-style)
  • Madagascar Vanilla Bean
  • Chocolate Chip

sweet-waffle-bitesOther waffle offerings include daily waffles and specialty & seasonal waffles. We had the pleasure of trying coconut waffle bites and carrot cake waffle bites that had a cream cheese frosting topping. They were both considered seasonal items, which are offered from time-to-time. They were amazing!

carrot-cake-waffle-bite

coconut-waffle-biteThe Waffle Affair also has its own coffee bar and proudly serves Illy’s sustainably grown Arabica beans, as well as a selection of Dammann Teas, and freshly squeezed orange juice.

the-waffle-affair-coffee-barTo view the full menu, click here.  The Waffle Affair is a truly adorable place to go for breakfast, lunch, or an early dinner. The people are friendly and you’ll fall in love with the decor…especially the chandelier! But you’ll mostly fall in love with the waffles! I know I did!

love-the-decor chandelierThe Waffle Affair is located at:

 1064 Bayside Drive Newport Beach, CA 92660

949.720.8155

Connect with The Waffle Affair on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

You Are Invited to the Grand Opening Festivities at We Olive & Wine Bar San Juan Capistrano! (May 1-3)

/ Food, Lifestyle, Orange County

You are invited to join in on a weekend of festivities at We Olive & Wine Bar San Juan Capistrano’s Wine Bar to celebrate the grand opening of their new wine bar. From Friday, May 1 through Sunday, May 3, the store will be conducting wine tastings, presenting live music, offering an olive oil culinary demo, providing free olive oil ice cream, and more! There will even be an opportunity for someone to win free olive oil for a year!

wine and food 2We Olive & Wine Bar San Juan Capistrano, the unique culinary retail boutique located in downtown San Juan Capistrano, recently announced the opening of its quaint wine bar. Designed to be tasting-oriented and educational, the wine bar will offer small-production artisan wines, a selection of specialty handcrafted beers and small tapas plates that feature We Olive products. With over 20, small production California wines offered by the taste, glass, or bottle, guests are invited to shop and taste in the store’s comfortably elegant environment.

Wine and foodHere’s a schedule of grand opening weekend’s events:

  • Friday, May 1
    Wine Tasting + Live Acoustical Music (5:30 p.m. – close)
    Celebrate the start of the weekend with a wine tasting of We Olive & Wine Bar San Juan Capistrano’s small-production artisan wines with live music all in We Olive & Wine Bar’s comfortably elegant environment.
  • Saturday, May 2
    Events all day starting at 11:00 a.m. and wrapping up at 8:00 p.m.
    Stop by for free olive oil ice cream at We Olive & Wine Bar San Juan Capistrano from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    Attend an olive oil class with Carol Firenze, founder of The Passionate Olive and author of The Passionate Olive – 101 Things To Do With Olive Oil from 12:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. followed by a special book signing from 1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
    Meet the award-winning Fandango olive oil growers and learn the stories of the growers themselves from 2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
    Join Brian Cameron of Levendi Winery in Napa Valley for a delicious wine and cheese pairing from 5:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
  • Sunday, May 3
    Events all day starting at 11:00 a.m. and wrapping up at 6:00 p.m.
    Stop by for free olive oil ice cream at We Olive & Wine Bar San Juan Capistrano from 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
    Attend an olive oil grower demo with Olivas De Oro from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
    Attend an olive oil culinary demo featuring “Fast and Easy Flavor with California Olive Oil” presented by Suzie Lewitan and Olivas De Oro from 2:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
    Hungry? Join us for a beer and cheese pairing with Max from Aniata Cheese from 3:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.

In addition to artisan wines, We Olive’s wine bar will also offer delicious, healthy foods, including shareable bites, salads, hummus and spreads, flatbreads and sweets. Specialty menu items, include: an Artisan Cheese and Charcuterie Plate featuring an ever-changing selection of artisanal cheeses and hand-made salumi with crackers, fruit, nuts, sweet balsamic mustard and Colorado sweet yellow clover honey; Stuffed Peppadews, mild, sweet South African pickled peppers stuffed with goat cheese and salami and then drizzled with aged balsamic vinegar; and an Arugula, Blue Cheese and Apricot Salad, which comes complete with toasted almonds and blue cheese, tossed in peach white balsamic vinegar and Ascolano olive oil.

Just in time for spring, We Olive & Wine Bar San Juan Capistrano will offer its guests a happy hour, every Monday through Friday from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The happy hour specials will include $3 off all wines by the glass, $2 off craft beer and $3 off select menu items. In addition, We Olive will offer a weekly “Wine Wednesday” where guests can enjoy half off wines by the glass all day. These specials will constantly change based on the new wines and ever changing seasonal menu.

Martini-Lover-1024x1024Whether you’re shopping for a unique gift, in search of some lite, healthy bites, or want to do some wine tasting, stop by We Olive & Wine Bar San Juan Capistrano and you can find it all.

We Olive & Wine Bar San Juan Capistrano is located in downtown San Juan Capistrano.

31760 Camino Capistrano Suite B
San Juan Capistrano, CA 92675

 Visit them on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram!

(images provided by We Olive & Wine Bar San Juan Capistrano)

“Mommy Time in a Mason Jar” Parfait! My New Favorite Indulgence With DOVE® Fruit!

/ Food, Let's Eat!, Recipes

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are 100% my own. #LoveDoveFruits #CollectiveBias

indulge-in-a-mommy-time-in-a-mason-jar-parfaitI’m a mom, a very busy mom. I’d say that I spend most of my time doing everything but worrying about myself. Yep, I fully admit that I’m guilty of not doing much for myself on most days! I sometimes feel like I wear about 100 different hats…all of them invisible, of course! The running around usually starts around 5 am and doesn’t stop until I fall into bed, well after 10 pm!  Honestly, I’m OK with this though, or I should say I’ve always been OK with this until now. I feel like it’s just what most moms do, but and I’m ready to put a stop to it!

a-mom-wears-100-different-hatsI can’t say that I’ll stop doing all of what I do, because I know I wont, but I am learning to take a little time for me now! I’m learning the importance of “me time”. It’s just a small window each day. It doesn’t even happen every day, but I’m trying to make it happen for myself on most days. One of my challenges is that I get so wrapped up in what I’m doing, I forget to eat throughout the day. This usually results with me shoving not-so-great food choices into my face because I’ve gone too long without eating,  I’m now trying to make a conscious effort to change my eating habits though and incorporate better-for-me snacks into my day.

dove-fruits-blueberryI NEED to share one of my new snacking favorites with you! Have you tried DOVE® Fruit yet?  This delicious combination of real fruit (cherries, blueberries, and cranberries) dipped in silky smooth DOVE® Dark Chocolate, combines the wellness benefits of dark chocolate with fruit.

dove-fruits-in-your-handThe first time I found these in the grocery section of Walmart, I ripped open the bag as soon as I got to my car because I was dying to try them! I also ate the entire bag! Do you see why I needed to share with you? Oh my goodness, they are soooo yummy! My daughter loves them too! I now carry around a couple of bags in my purse, just in case I need to grab a quick snack.

dove-fruits-boxesI recently started incorporating DOVE® Fruit into one of my snacks at home that I like to call “Mommy Time in a Mason Jar“! I just mix vanilla Greek yogurt with granola because the smooth and crunchy textures mixed together are delicious. Adding some of the DOVE® Fruit, makes it all taste even better! They are great to have pre-made in your fridge so you can just grab one when you get home from work and school!

mommy-time-in-a-mason-jarLook at how simple the recipe is:

Ingredients:

  • 1 32 oz. container Vanilla Greek Yogurt
  • 1 12 oz. bag of your favorite granola (I prefer the kind with almonds in it)
  • 1 bag of DOVE® Fruit (I used blueberry for this recipe)

3-simple-ingredients

 

3-simple-ingredientsPreparation instructions:

  1. In a mason jar, spoon a bottom layer of yogurt in the bottom, about an inch thick.
  2. Top layer of yogurt, with a layer of your favorite granola.
  3. Drop a couple of DOVE® Fruit on top of granola layer. spoon-in-layers
  4. Repeat all 3 steps until your Mason jar is filled to right below the lip.
  5. Enjoy immediately or refrigerate for later.

layered-in-a-jarHow delicious does that all look? After I’ve made my “Mommy Time in a Mason Jar Parfait”, I like to take it out on our back patio and enjoy the sunset. Isn’t this a beautiful view? It truly is relaxing…even if it just lasts a couple of minutes before I hear “MOOOOOMMMMMYYYYY!” again!

sunsetWalmart carries all 3 varieties of DOVE® Fruit. (cherries, blueberries, and cranberries). As I mentioned before, I found mine on the end of an aisle in the grocery section.

walmart-end-aisleDo you take time for yourself each day? Comment below with something that you do for YOU!

See more great DOVE® Fruit recipe ideas on the DOVE® Fruit social hub. You can also download a coupon to save on your DOVE® purchase, here. 

 

Who Else is Excited That OC Restaurant Week Begins THIS Sunday March 1? Let’s Eat!

/ Food, Let's Eat!, Lifestyle, Orange County

oc-restaurant-weekThe 2015 Orange County Restaurant Week begins Sunday, March 1st and ends Saturday, March 7th.  More than 100 restaurants are participating in the countywide event. During the event, participating restaurants will offer special three-course menus, many with a cocktail or signature item at no additional charge. Each restaurant will showcase its best offerings by talented chefs who will personalize each menu to reflect their individual culinary style. Participating restaurants will offer prix-fixe menus within the following price categories: lunch for $10, $15 or $20, and dinner for $20, $30, $40 or $50.

Here is a list of this year’s participating restaurants. (each name is linked to its menu):

The list of participating restaurants is also searchable by name, location and price point at http://www.orangecountyrestaurantweek.com!

Slapfish_GirlScoutDessertAlso, in case you hadn’t heard, OC Restaurant Week is teaming with The Girl Scouts of Orange County this year to celebrate the world’s largest girl-led business….Girl Scout Cookies sales! OC Restaurant Week happens to be the last week that Girl Scout Cookies will be available on sale in Orange County until 2016. Select restaurants will offer delicious desserts inspired by and featuring Girl Scout Cookies! Some of the OC Restaurant Week participating restaurants are even hosting local Girl Scouts for a Preview Tasting, where girls will get the chance to taste the sweet treats and meet with the restaurant’s chef, helping them strive towards earning culinary and business badges. To see the full list of restaurants participating in this, click here.

win-dinnerWere you aware that you could also win dinner and a movie for a year? This year, the OC Restaurant Association is offering one lucky diner the opportunity to win! The public is encouraged to post photos from their dining experiences during OC Restaurant Week and use the hashtags #OCRestaurantWeek2015 or #OCRW2015. The photos will be entered to win a grand prize of twelve (12) $100 gift cards and 24 movie passes to enjoy dinner and a movie for two once a month for a year! Diners must post photos between March 1st and March 7th to qualify. How fun is that?

Who’s ready for Orange County’s favorite culinary event to start now? Where should we eat first on March 1st? 

Presenting sponsor for the 2015 Orange County Restaurant Week is The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, in Huntington Beach. Other sponsors include Orange Coast Magazine, The Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel, 95.5 KLOS, The Fork Report with Neil Saavedra, Irvine Spectrum Center, Fashion Island, Celebrity Cruises, Sub-zero and Wolf, Orange County Register, OC Mom Network, Archive, Melissa’s Produce, Ketel One Vodka, Open Table, Anaheim Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, Greer’s OC, BREAD Artisan Bakery, and The Toll Roads.

M&M’s® Crispy Are Back! Best Comeback EVER!

/ Food, Let's Eat!

This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #CrispyIsBack #CollectiveBias

best-comeback-ever

Let’s talk about one of my favorite subjects…M&M’s®! I’m probably one of the biggest fans of these delicious chocolate candies! I love all things M&M’s® and always hurry to try any and all of the new flavors that come out. They are my favorite go-to snack, a movie theater necessity (as a mix-in for my popcorn, of course) and something I love to incorporate into any special occasion and holiday!

so-good-theyre-backIt was such exciting news to hear that M&M’s® Crispy were coming back!   I have no idea how I missed M&M’s® Crispy the first time when they were around in the 90’s though? Did you try them when they were last available? Watch this adorable  M&M’s® “Fans” Commercial sharing the big announcement!

As soon as started seeing the tweets and articles about them and after I watched this, I headed straight over to Walmart to grab my very own stash of M&M’s® Crispy! I may have missed them in the 90s but I was determined not to let that happen again!

checkout-aislesI found the bright green “Share Size” bags in the checkout aisles! They’re perfect for sharing with a friend or someone fun in your life! M&M’s® Crispy contain only 180 calories per serving. They are also available in a big bag in the candy/baking aisle. Whatever the case, I stocked up on a bunch of the share-size bags, just in case they ran out. I’m sure once the word gets out to everyone, they’re going to be flying off the shelves!

FullSizeRender (89)M&M’s® are something I grew up loving as a child. Now that I’m a mom, there’s an even greater significance behind them. My daughter’s name is “Emily” and early on, we started calling her “M & M” for short. At age 3, she even made a connection between her nickname and the candies and it just sort of stuck. She, too, has grown up loving M&M’s® just as much as I do. FullSizeRender (91)Our love for M&M’s® runs deep. I can’t think of a more perfect person to share my new M&M’s® Crispy with! Since we try to set aside some quiet time after school each day to read, I think the next time we do so, I’ll break out one of my share-size bags to share with her while we read.

not-so-quiet-reading-timeOf course, with the delicious crunch inside each one, I’m not sure how “quiet” our reading time will actually be, but I’m OK with that! (and I’m sure she will be too).

I-love-youI also plan on stashing a few bags in my purse to take to my classroom. Sometimes I need a pick-me-up right around 1 o’clock in the afternoon, which happens to be my last hour of teaching each day. It’s going to be a little tricky to eat them during class time without my students hearing the crunch. Oh well, I’ll figure out a way.

Have YOU gotten a chance to try M&M’s® Crispy yet? If not, guess what I’m going to tell you to go do…like right now? You guessed it! (Go grab some of your own!)

See more great M&M’s® Crispy recipe and party ideas on the M&M’s® Crispy social hub where you can also download a coupon to save on your M&M’s® purchase.

Girl Scouts and Chefs Team Up During 2015 OC Restaurant Week! Did Someone Say Girl Scout Cookies? 


/ Food, Let's Eat!, Lifestyle, Orange County

Girl Scouts of Orange County is partnering with OC Restaurant Week from March 1st – 7th to celebrate the world’s largest girl-led business, Girl Scout Cookies sales, during Orange County’s favorite culinary event!

Slapfish_GirlScoutDessert Slapfish Girl Scout Cookie Dessert 

During OC Restaurant Week – which happens to be the last week that Girl Scout Cookies will be available on sale in Orange County until 2016 – select restaurants will offer delicious desserts inspired by and featuring Girl Scout Cookies! Some of the OC Restaurant Week participating restaurants are even hosting local Girl Scouts for a Preview Tasting, where girls will get the chance to taste the sweet treats and meet with the restaurant’s chef – all important as many of them strive to earn culinary and business badges.

unnamed (8)Provenance Girl Scout Cookie Dessert

Featured desserts include:

Maro_GirlScoutDessertMaro Wood Grill Girl Scout Cookie Dessert

Watch this video featuring adorable Girl Scouts of Orange County as they prepare a decadent dessert!  https://vimeo.com/channels/foodenthusiast/119776627

ABOUT OC RESTAURANT WEEK
The 2015 Orange County Restaurant Week will be held Sunday, March 1st through Saturday, March 7th with more than 100 restaurants participating in the countywide event. During the weeklong event, participating restaurants will offer special three-course menus, many with a cocktail or signature item at no additional charge. Each restaurant will have the freedom and flexibility to showcase its best offerings by talented chefs who will, no doubt, personalize each menu to reflect their individual culinary style. Participating restaurants will offer prix-fixe menus within the following price categories: lunch for $10, $15 or $20, and dinner for $20, $30, $40 or $50. Guests will have the opportunity to search the list of more than 100 expected participating restaurants by name, location and price point at http://www.orangecountyrestaurantweek.com.

Pascal_GirlScoutDessertPascal Girl Scout Cookie Dessert

Presenting sponsor for the 2015 Orange County Restaurant Week is The Waterfront Beach Resort, a Hilton Hotel, in Huntington Beach, who will host the event’s official launch party on February 28, 2015. Other sponsors include Orange Coast Magazine, The Waterfront Beach Resort, A Hilton Hotel, 95.5 KLOS, The Fork Report with Neil Saavedra, Irvine Spectrum Center, Fashion Island, Celebrity Cruises, Sub-zero and Wolf, Orange County Register, OC Mom Network, Archive, Melissa’s Produce, Ketel One Vodka, Open Table, Anaheim Orange County Visitor & Convention Bureau, Greer’s OC, BREAD Artisan Bakery, and The Toll Roads.

Will You Be My PFF? Let’s Be PEEPS®Friends Forever This Valentine’s Day!

/ Celebrations, Food, Holiday Fun, Let's Eat!, Printables

Will-you-be-my-PFFValentine’s Day is just around the corner! It’s my most favorite holiday! This year I got a head start on my Valentine’s treat preparation and stocked up on PEEPS® Valentine’s Day products. You can’t go wrong with   PEEPS® because they’re irresistible and everyone loves them!

FullSizeRender (78)As you can see, our Valentine’s Day this year is going to be all about the PEEPS®! They come in a variety of shapes and seasonally-inspired flavors to satisfy your Valentine’s sweet tooth.

This year’s PEEPS® Valentine’s offerings include:

  • Pink Marshmallow Chicks
  • Pink Marshmallow Bunnies
  • Chocolate Dipped Strawberry Crème Flavored Chicks
  • Marshmallow Hearts
  • Cherries Drizzled and Dipped in Chocolate
  • Chocolate Covered Raspberry Flavored Hearts
  • Strawberry Crème Flavored Marshmallow Hearts
  • Vanilla Crème Flavored Marshmallow Hearts

In addition to serving as a savory token of affection, PEEPS® Valentine’s Day products are also fun to incorporate into snacks at home and Valentine treats for others. I put together a couple of cute printables to add to some of the PEEPS®Valentine treats I’ll be sending to school with my daughter, for her classmates and teachers!

in-case-of-emergencyI LOVE these Vanilla Creme PEEPS®Marshmallow Hearts! I made this little “In Case of Emergency: Break Seal!” labels to stick onto this package. I think I’ll give these to my daughter’s teacher. Being a teacher, I’m SURE there are times she has an “emergency” and will be able to utilize these properly, don’t you think?  It’ll be as easy as breaking open the package seal and enjoying them!

youre-one-of-my-favorite-peepsI made these little heart “You’re one of my favorite Peeps!” printables to attach to these 3-packs of new Strawberry Crème Flavored Milk Chocolate Dipped PEEPS®. I know the instructional assistants for my daughter’s class are going to love them!

will-you-be-my-PFFI also made these “Will you be my PFF?” tags to attach onto a single pack of the new flavor, Milk Chocolate Covered Raspberry flavor! “PFF” stands for Peeps Friends Forever!

I cannot wait for Valentine’s Day to get here! Do YOU love it as much as I do? What’s YOUR favorite part about Valentine’s Day?

Try one or all of the seasonal varieties and express your PEEPSONALITY® by incorporating them into your favorite Valentine-inspired creations! PEEPS® Valentine’s treats can be found nationwide at grocery and drug stores, PEEPS & Company retail stores or at http://www.marshmallowpeeps.com.

I was provided with some PEEPS® Valentine’s treats in order to write my feature. No other compensation was received. All opinions are 100% my own.