Eat In Recipe: Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole

My grandma’s candied yams have been on the table every year for Thanksgiving for as long as I can remember.  I love traditions, but this year we changed things up a bit and tried out the much-praised Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole recipe straight from Ruth’s Chris Chef Pat Gallagher (you can even watch a video of him whipping up a batch of this tasty dish on NOLA.com).

If you haven’t tried this recipe yet, let me tell you…it is divine!  It has a mashed potato base with an amazing brown sugar & pecan topping.  That topping is what makes this dish so delicious….it’s so good I’d eat it for dessert (and actually have).  It’s seriously like praline pecans on top of your sweet potatoes. 

I loved the turkey, the mashed potatoes, and rolls, but what I really couldn’t stop thinking about were these sweet potatoes!  

Ruth’s Chris Sweet Potato Casserole from NOLA.com
Sweet Potato Mixture:
3 c. sweet potatoes, mashed*
1 c. sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs, beaten
1/2 c. butter, melted (you can omit or reduce if desired)

Crust:
1 c. brown sugar
1/3 c. flour
1 c. chopped nuts (pecans preferred)
1/4 c. butter, melted (do not omit or reduce)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat a medium-size casserole dish with nonstick spray. (I used a 9x9 pan.)
2. Combine sweet potatoes, sugar, salt, vanilla, eggs and butter in a large mixing bowl in the order listed. Beat thoroughly with a hand mixer to increase the fluffiness of the sweet potato mixture.
3. Pour mixture into the baking dish. Bake for 30 minutes. (At this point, dish can be covered and refrigerated.)
4. Sprinkle the surface of the sweet potato mixture evenly with the crust mixture and return to oven for 10 minutes. Allow to set at least 30 minutes before serving.
5. The brown sugar and pecan crust should be slightly browned and crunchy.

Serves 12. 

*Notes:  I baked my sweet potatoes before mashing, but the chef from Ruth’s Chris recommends boiling before mashing.  I actually assembled the whole thing & then baked for 30 minutes instead of baking twice & it still came out delicious. 

Average Fork Rating:  4.3
Mrs. Diner:  5
Amazing Diner:  5
Sweet Diner:  3

Giveaway: Peeled Snacks

My family had several fruit trees while I was growing up, and my parents did a lot of preserving of all that fruit:  canning, drying, dehydrating.  We had a dehydrator, but they would also dry the fruit on racks outside.  I have great memories of home-dried fruits of all kinds, but so many of the store-bought dried fruit has a lot of added sugar.  Not so with Peeled Snacks, which have no added sugar or preservatives and are organic.  Each list of ingredients just has one single ingredient! 

I was actually wondering how the fruit would look and taste with no preservatives added.  Would it be the pretty, bright-colored fruit that we find so visually appealing?  Would it still be soft & tasty? 

Our six-flavor sampler of single-serving pouches arrived in the mail.  We tore open each of the bright-colored & creatively-named pouches (Apple-2-the-core, Apricot-a-lot, Banana-a-peel, Cherry-go-round, much-ado-about-Mango, & pine-4-Pineapple).  Most of them were still “pretty”, but the Apricot and Banana were browned and not as visually appealing. 

Little Diner & I spread the fruits out and had a little sampling spread ready when the other kids came home from school.  We tried each of them and found the flavors really good and the fruits chewy, but still soft.  The cherry was on the sour side, but the rest of the fruits were sweet.  Pineapple and Mango were our favorites. 

Peeled Snacks come in the six flavors we sampled plus Raisin and three fruit mixes that sound delicious!  They are now available in Starbucks throughout the US and Canada in addition to Whole Foods, Bed, Bath, & Beyond, and other stores.  You can find them online in their own online store or at Amazon.  Check out the Deal of the Month in their online store, where you can save as much as 50%!

much-ado-about-Mango Average Fork Rating:  3.8 Mrs. Diner:  4 Amazing Diner:  3  Sweet Diner:  4 Little Diner:  4	pine-4-Pineapple Average Fork Rating: 4.3 Mrs. Diner:  5 Amazing Diner:  2  Sweet Diner:  5 Little Diner:  5	Apricot-a-lot Average Fork Rating: 3.5 Mrs. Diner:  2 Amazing Diner:  3  Sweet Diner:  5 Little Diner:  4
Apple-2-the-core Average Fork Rating: 3.3 Mrs. Diner:  3 Amazing Diner:  2  Sweet Diner:  3 Little Diner:  5	Banana-a-peel Average Fork Rating: 2.8 Mrs. Diner:  4 Amazing Diner:  3  Sweet Diner:  1 Little Diner:  3	Cherry-go-round Average Fork Rating: 2.5 Mrs. Diner:  2 Amazing Diner:  1  Sweet Diner:  3 Little Diner:  4

Want to win your own set of snacks?  Peeled Snacks has generously donated their Organic Fruit Picks Variety Pack for one reader to win!  The pack features twelve single-serving packages – two of each of the six flavors in our review!  Winner must be at least 18 years old and have a US address. 

To Enter: Go to Peeled Snack’s website and then comment on this post about which variety sounds the best to you. Additional entries are available for liking Peeled Snacks’ Facebook page, following Peeled Snacks on Twitter, & following Rate the Plate Utah on Google Friend Connect (top sidebar). Please use the Rafflecopter form to enter.

Giveaway Closes: 12:01 am EST on Monday, December 5, 2011. Winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond. You must be at least 18 years old and have a US address to enter. Good luck!

Cookbook Review: Feeding the Dragon

You obviously know that I have a passion for all things food.  The cookbook Feeding the Dragon: A Culinary Travelogue Through China with Recipes by Mary Kate Tate & Nate Tate (hello – how cute are the rhyming names of this brother & sister pair?) combines that passion with one of my other passionate obsessions:  travel! 

We were sent this unique Chinese cookbook by the publisher.  This is one of those cookbooks that has fantastic & interesting recipes, but you can also just sit down at read it.  It is the story of a brother and sister backpacking through China to explore the culinary adventures throughout nine of its regions.  Along the way, they share their experiences, the history and culture of the Chinese people, and the recipes and techniques they learned from the beautiful people they encountered. 

Recipes?  Yes, I love the recipes…there are some traditional take-out favorites (Hot & Sour Soup, Kung Pao Chicken), delicious meal-ending desserts (Mango Pudding, Chocolate-Sesame Balls), dishes that are not as well known to us in America (Dai Tomato-Mint Salad, Laghman Noodles with Tomato Sauce), and recipes that are influenced by other culinary influences (Macanese Fried Rice, Nepalese Chicken Tarkari).  But I especially love the pictures and stories of the everyday people of China cooking, harvesting, and eating.  That’s what brings a beautiful charm to this cookbook.  The only thing I think could be improved upon in this book is to have a picture of every recipe.

I marked many recipes to try in this book, but the first one we selected was the Guotie Pot Stickers from Shanghai.  (In case you are wondering, “guotie” means “pot-stick” in Chinese).)  My little diners have an obsession with all Chinese dumplings, so these were an easy choice.

We love to cook Chinese recipes and have several that are pretty regularly on our menu, but we’ve never made pot stickers from scratch.  We did have to substitute a few ingredients, but they still turned out great.  We used rice vinegar for the black rice vinegar and (surprisingly) couldn’t find round dumpling wrappers, so we used square wonton wrappers.  Our dumplings might not have been as beautifully folded because of it, but they were still delicious. We also didn’t have toasted sesame oil, so we tried toasting our regular sesame oil in a frying pan.  

This recipe is really simple and easy.  Sweet Diner and I worked together and mixing the ingredients and assembling.  She even got creative and came up with several of her own unique dumpling folding designs. 

The result was delicious!  A crisp bottom of each dumpling with a tender, tasty filling and a gingery sweet-sour dipping sauce. Mr. Diner was not with us for our culinary tasting, but Amazing Diner made up for it by eating ten dumplings in one sitting!  He said, “We need to give this six out of five forks!” Sweet Diner agreed.  Little Diner was the only one who was unsure about what was on his plate and never even tried his pot stickers. 

Feeding the Dragon is available online at Amazon in addition to be available at many bookstores.  Check out the book’s fun website & blog, too!

Guotie Pot Stickers (Shanghai) from Feeding the Dragon
Dipping Sauce:
1 c. Chinese black rice vinegar
1/2 tsp. minced fresh ginger
1 tsp. toasted sesame oil
1 T. minced fresh cilantro
1/4 c. light soy sauce
1 T. sugar

Dumplings:
12 oz. ground beef or ground pork
1 T. light soy sauce
1 T. cornstarch
1 tsp. minced fresh ginger
3/4 c. minced green onions, green & white parts
1/2 tsp. sugar
2 tsp. toasted sesame oil
Pinch of salt
About 36 round dumpling wrappers (purchase or use the recipe on p. 258)
3 T. vegetable oil
3/4 c. water

1. To make the dipping sauce, whisk together the black rice vinegar, ginger, sesame oil, cilantro, soy sauce, & sugar in a small bowl.  Set aside.
2. To make the dumplings, combine the meat, soy sauce, cornstarch, ginger, green onions, sugar, sesame oil, and salt in a bowl and stir in one direction with a chopstick until just mixed.
3. Fill a small bowl with some water. Hold a dumpling wrapper in the palm of your hand and place 1 heaping teaspoon of filling in the center. Dip your finger in the bowl of water and run it around the edge to help make a good seal. Lightly fold the wrapper over on itself, but don’t touch the edges together. Starting at one end, use your fingers to make a small pleat on the side of the wrapper closest to you, then press the pleat into the other side and pinch together firmly. Keep making pleats down the dumpling opening in this way until completely sealed (see Dumpling Folding Tips on page 255).
4. Repeat this process with the remaining filling and wrappers. Freeze any dumplings that you don’t intend to cook immediately (see Dumpling Freezing Tips on page 256).
5. Heat 1 tablespoon of the vegetable oil in a nonstick skillet over medium-high heat. Place 12 dumplings pleat side up in the pan so that they are just touching each other. Cover and cook for 1 minute.
6. Decrease the heat to medium-low, pour 1/4 cup of the water into the pan, and cook, covered, for 8 to 10 minutes, until all the water is absorbed by the dumplings and their bottoms are crusty brown.
7. Repeat this process 2 more times with the remaining dumplings, oil, and water.
8. Serve the dumplings with a side of the dipping sauce.

Makes about 36 dumplings.

Average Fork Rating:  4.7
Mrs. Diner:  4
Amazing Diner:  5
Sweet Diner:  5

We were given a complimentary copy of Feeding the Dragon for this review, but all opinions are our own.

Dining Deals: Black Friday Gift Card Edition

There are gift card deals galore right now.  Not only are gift cards fantastic to receive, but when you can get a great deal on them, it’s a great way to plan ahead and save on your own dining.  Most of them equal about a 20% bonus.  All of these should be available for awhile except (my favorite) Café Rio…hop on that one today.

• Café Rio – According to their Facebook page, today (11/25) only when you purchase a $25 holiday gift card, you will receive a free meal from Cafe Rio.  Purchase Café Rio gift cards online or find details at your nearest location.
• Applebee’s — Buy $50 in gift cards, get a $10 bonus card.  Available in-store only.  Bonus card expires Feb. 29, 2012.
• Ben & Jerry's - Free scoop of ice cream with purchase of a $10 gift card.
• Benihana – Get a $10 bonus card with purchase of a $50 gift card.  Available through Dec. 31, 2011.  Bonus card is valid Jan. 2 – Mar. 31, 2012.
• Black Angus  - Get $5 in Bonus Bucks with every $50 in gift card purchased. Orders of $75 or more get an extra $5 and free shipping.  Available through Dec. 31, 2011.  Bonus Bucks are valid Jan 1 – Feb. 13, 2012.
• Carl's Jr.  - Get a coupon for a free "Six Dollar Burger" when you buy a gift card of $20 or more.
• Carrabba’s Italian Grill – Get a $20 bonus card with you buy a $100 gift card. Also this will enter you in a $5,000 sweepstakes. Available through Dec. 31, 2011.  Bonus cards are valid Jan. 1 – Feb. 10, 2012.
• Chili’s — Save 10% when you buy $100 or more in Chili’s gift cards.
• Chipotle – Get a free lunch on your next visit when you buy a $30 gift card.  Must show receipt.  Purchase gift card through Dec. 31, 2011.  Must redeem by Jan. 31, 2012.  Not valid for online gift card purchases.
• California Pizza Kitchen – Get a $20 Rewards Card with a $100 card bought on their site.  Rewards card may be used Jan. 3 – March 6, 2012.
• Del Taco – Get free food with gift card purchases:  two free tacos with a $10 gift card, two soft tacos with a $15 card, a free combo meal with a $25 card, two free combos and a Frisbee with a $50 card, and four free combos, a Frisbee and a hat with a $100 card.  Plus free shipping on all gift card purchases all the time!
• Fuddruckers - Get a $5 bonus with every $25 gift card you buy. Available through Dec. 31, 2011.  Bonus cards valid Jan. 1 – Feb. 29, 2012.
• IHOP – Get a $5 off coupon with every $25 gift card you buy.  Expires Jan. 31, 2012.
• Joe's Crab Shack - Get $5 in Bonus Bucks with every $25 gift card you buy. Bonus cards valid Jan. 1 – Feb. 12, 2012.
• Macaroni Grill - Get a $5 bonus card with every $25 gift card you buy. Available through Jan. 1, 2012. Bonus cards valid Jan. 2 – Feb. 29, 2012.
• Maggiano's Little Italy – For every $100 in gift cards purchased, get a $20 bonus card and a one-year subscription to Food & Wine magazine.  Available through Dec. 31, 2011.  Bonus cards are valid Jan. 1 – Feb. 29, 2012.  $20 bonus card must be used toward purchase of $50 or more and cannot be combined with other discounts.
• Noodles & Co. — Buy $25 in gift cards, get a card for a free sandwich duo.
• Outback Steakhouse – Get a $20 bonus with every $100 card you buy.  Available through Dec. 31, 2011.  Bonus card valid Jan. 1 – Feb. 10, 2012.
• Red Robin - Get a $5 bonus card with every $25 gift card you buy or get 20% off gift card orders of $500 or more. Bonus cards valid Jan. 1 – Feb. 29, 2012.
• Rubio's Baja Grill  - Get a $5 bonus with a $50 gift card purchase plus free shipping!
• Ruby Tuesday – Get a $15 bonus when you buy a $50 gift card, plus free shipping!  Available Dec. 5-31, 2011.  Bonus cards are valid Jan. 2 – Feb. 28, 2012.
• Ruth's Chris Steak House  - Get a 10% bonus for any gift card order of $250 or more.  Available through Dec. 31, 2011.  Bonus gift cards are valid Jan. 1 – March 31, 2012.
• Starbucks – Get a $5 bonus card when you buy 4 e-Gifts with your Visa card.
• Souplantion/Sweet Tomatoes – Get a free meal pass with any $50 gift card.  Available through Dec. 31, 2011.
• Taco Bell – Get a free Chicken Flatbread Combo with a $20 gift card, or $5 off a future visit with a $25 card.
• TGI Fridays - Get a $5 bonus card with every $25 gift card you buy.

If you haven’t ordered your Entertainment Book yet, today’s the day to do it:  get 30% off and free shipping plus if you go through Ebates, get 40% cash back!

Dining Deals: Black Friday Edition

Going to scoop up some Black Friday deals?  While you’re out & about, grab a cheap bite to eat or snack with these deals.  All are national deals, but verify with your participating location.  Happy shopping!

• Subway – Buy 1 get 1 free 6” sandwich before 9:00 am.  No coupon necessary.  Valid through November 30, 2011.
• Arby’s – Enter your name to print a coupon for a free Chocolate Turnover.  Valid Nov. 25 only.  Or print this coupon and get a free 22 oz drink and small fries with the purchase of a sandwich.  Expires Dec. 31, 2011.
• Dippin’ Dots – Free small cup of Dippin’ Dots with this coupon.  Valid Nov. 25, 5:00-10:00 am only.  Check with your location to verify hours & participation.  Also, grab some gift certificates at 50% off while you’re there!
• Chili’s – Buy one entrée and receive a free appetizer with coupon.  Valid Nov. 25 only.
• TGI Friday’s – Free appetizer at the bar only with a group of three or more when you use this Facebook coupon.  Expires Dec. 31, 2011. 
• Carl's Jr. – Get a free Oreo ice cream sandwich with the purchase of any Steakhouse burger combo. Expires February 1, 2012. Or print this Carl's Jr. coupon for a free Coke Zero with purchase of a charbroiled turkey burger.  Expires Dec. 14, 2011.
• Ruby Tuesday – Buy 1 get 1 free entrée when you use this coupon.  Expires Dec. 6, 2011.
• Denny's - Save 20% off your entire purchase with this coupon.  Expires Nov. 29, 2011.
• Quizno’s – Get free chips or a cookie plus a free drink with purchase of a regular sub or salad with this coupon.  Expires Nov. 28, 2011.
• SouperSalad – Get the lunch or dinner buffet for only $4.99 with no drink purchase required with this coupon.  Expires Nov. 27, 2011.

Eat Out Review: TGI Friday’s

TGI Friday’s bills itself as a neighborhood spot for “food, friends, & fun.”  If you’ve been in one TGI Friday’s restaurant, you know to expect the red and white stripes, the walls decorated with memorabilia, and the expansive menu. 

The restaurant was fairly empty when we arrived; so empty, in fact, that we thought it might be closed.  We were seated quickly, but at a table by the kitchen, which is a little odd since it was so empty. 

Our server was prompt and served our drinks quickly.  Mr. Diner ordered an the Pick Three For All appetizer with fried mozzarella, buffalo wings, and (my favorite) green bean fries, served with accompanying sauces.  The fried mozzarella is served as large rectangles, which is a little different.  The green bean fries are nice and crisp and really tasty with the wasabi ranch dressing. 

I ordered the Pecan-Crusted Chicken Salad, a popular dish at Friday’s.  It features strips of their pecan-crusted chicken served over romaine lettuce with dried cranberries, mandarin oranges, candied pecans, bleu cheese, & balsamic vinaigrette.  I just love the combination of chicken with fruit, bleu cheese, & a good vinaigrette!  If you feel the same way, you’ll love this salad, too.

The kids menu is pretty standard.  Amazing Diner ordered the pasta, served with a marinara sauce and fries.  Sweet Diner had the chicken sandwich with a fruit cup (she’s our healthy eater).  Little Diner ordered a hamburger (his favorite food these days) with fries.  No big surprises, but they were all satisfied with their food.

I generally feel like I know what to expect at Friday’s.  I’m usually not wowed, but the food is decent, and we have our favorites.

Entrée Price:  $$
Average Fork Rating:  3.6
Mr. Diner:  4
Mrs. Diner:  3
Amazing Diner:  5
Sweet Diner:  3
Little Diner:  3

Food, Fun, & Shopping at the Riverwoods!

This month I got to be a part of an amazing blogging event at the Shops at the Riverwoods in Provo.  I remember when Wynnsong opened as the first stadium seating theater in Utah County and how everyone wanted to go there.  Then the Shops at the Riverwoods opened with some amazing stores and restaurants, but it has just gotten so much better in the last couple years with the addition of top-notch restaurants, unique stores, and a new great activity center.  

Our morning started off with us seriously as kids in a candy (and toy) store:  Blickenstaff’s.  If you haven’t been there, you are missing out on some serious fun.  This is the way toy shops were meant to be:  surrounded by a plethora of vintage toys from floor to ceiling that are there for you to touch and play with.  I’ve taken my kids there and they love it!  And the bloggers there were no different…we couldn’t get enough play time in.  And talk about candy!  This place has all sorts of favorite candies from years gone by plus the latest favorites. 

What’s the best way to end a trip to the toy store?  Ice cream!  We headed over to the new Provo Beach Resort for a ice cream scoop from Ike’s Creamery, the only place in Utah that serves Blue Bell Ice Cream.  The Resort also features so many great indoor activities (perfect for our recent winter weather onslaught) from a ropes course to an arcade, mini croquet, a FlowRider, and more. 

Then we explored Zion’s Mercantile, an LDS bookstore that is also filled with beautiful artwork and gifts.  Sheri treated us to some incredible and touching inspirational art, and what made it even better was that she had a story to tell about every piece that just enhanced and enriched the experience and my love for each piece she shared.  She also shared the lightest, fluffiest bread with honey butter from La Jolla Groves.  While we were at Zion’s Mercantile, we got to meet Robert A. Boyd, who is a renowned photographer and artist who has created some very beloved LDS temple artwork. 

Our last stop on our Riverwoods tour was one of my favorite restaurants in Provo, La Jolla Groves.  We were treated to a divine tasting of much of their menu, which focuses on fresh, quality ingredients combined to create dishes that please the eye and the palate.  I absolutely love La Jolla Groves and was thrilled to meet the executive chef behind it all and indulge in listening to his passion. 

The Shops at the Riverwoods make a great date spot and I can’t wait to go back with Mr. Diner.  Watch for dining reviews about La Jolla Groves and Ike’s coming soon!

Thanks to the Casual Blogger’s Conference, Blickenstaff’s, Ike’s, Zion’s Mercantile, & La Jolla Groves for sponsoring this great event!  Photos courtesy of Bryce Olsen Photography.  Thanks Bryce!

Eat Out Walt Disney World Review: Les Chefs de France

I cannot go to Epcot without a trip to the French bakery, Boulangerie Pâtisserie, but I’ve never eaten at the other eateries in the France pavilion until this visit.  We had made advanced dining reservations at Les Chefs de France and arrived with a little extra time.  We waited a reasonable amount of time to be seated and were delighted to sit in a corner of the atrium area with beautiful glass windows on two sides of our table.  It was nice to be tucked out of the way.  The dining room, although beautifully lit and decorated with a lot of arched windows, dark woods, and warm gold tones, is quite crowded and on the noisy side (like a lot of Disney park restaurants).  Though our server seemed experienced at navigating the maze of tables and chairs, it did seem a challenge, and we heard one major crash of china from across the room during our visit.

Les Chefs de France is one of several Disney restaurants that offers a 3-course fixed price menu or an a la carte menu.  If on the dining plan, one credit covers the 3-course fixed price menu with a drink or you can choose an entrée, dessert, & drink from the a la carte menu.  If you are interested in one of the entrees on the fixed price menu, that is definitely the best way to go.  The a la carte features French favorites with plenty of variety to suit all types of tastes.

To start our meal, we were served a lovely, warm baguette, which we each broke a piece from.  It was fresh and wonderful. 

Mr. Diner chose the Grilled Beef Tenderloin with Black Peppercorn Sauce which was served with potatoes au gratin and green beans ($34.99).  (I could give you the French name from the menu, but this is more helpful, don’t you think?)  The beef was tender with a rich flavor.  The beans were fresh and still crisp, and the potatoes were wonderful (how can you go wrong with potatoes, butter, cream, & cheese?). 

I chose to order from the fixed price menu ($39.99) because I really wanted a soup or salad…that turned out the be the hardest choice at the restaurant since I really wanted both the Lobster Bisque and the Salade au Bleu (romaine hearts, bleu cheese dressing, bacon, walnuts, & croutons).  I opted for the salad this time, but didn’t hesitate to sample the Lobster Bisque when someone else at my table offered.  They were both excellent and I would order either again, just depending on my mood.  For my entrée, I chose the Beef Short Ribs in Cabernet, which was served with pasta, pearl onions, grape tomatoes, and mushrooms.  The ribs were extremely tender and wonderfully flavorful.  My serving of pasta had mostly onions with one mushroom and one tomato.  Other diners had more, but even with the addition of more mushrooms and tomatoes, the pasta was nothing spectacular. 

For desserts, Mr. Diner chose the Profiteroles au Chocolat (a puff pastry with vanilla ice cream and lots of chocolate) and I chose the Chocolate Mousse Cake.  Both were excellent.

For the kids, a salad or cheese puffed pastry with a hamburger, chicken strips, or fish.  Dessert choices are ice cream or a chocolate chip cookie.  My little diners all chose the salad and hamburger with vanilla ice cream.  However, I would love it if Disney would offer a few more interesting options on their kids menus; with all the interesting adult entrees, it would be nice to give the kids a little more variety.

One of the unexpected delights of our dinner was to be able to watch IllumiNations from our table.  The view was mostly of the fireworks since there were so many trees, but since we hadn’t planned to watch it that night, it was a very nice bonus.

Entrée Price:  $$$$
Average Fork Rating:  4
Mr. Diner:  5
Mrs. Diner:  4
Amazing Diner:  4
Sweet Diner:  4
Little Diner:  3

Giveaway: Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Bean Paste

We go through a lot of vanilla extract in our house, so I was really intrigued when I heard about Nielsen-Massey Vanilla Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Bean Paste.  It sounded wonderful, but I didn’t really have a very good idea of what it was.

Nielsen-Massey sent us a 4 oz. bottle to review.  I opened it and found, to my delight, that the vanilla bean paste smells wonderfully sweet and vanilla-like, not like the overly strong & alcohol-based extract.  Vanilla bean paste is syrupy instead of paste-like and is so good you’ll find yourself licking it from your fingers.  Now, you wouldn’t do that with vanilla extract, would you?  My favorite thing about it?  The gorgeous little black specks from the vanilla bean seeds that enhance everything you use it in.  And for those who are interested, the “Bourbon” in the title refers to the Bourbon Islands, not the liquor.

You can use vanilla bean paste in place of vanilla extract or a vanilla bean.  In place of vanilla extract, use an equivalent amount (1 tsp. extract = 1 tsp. vanilla bean paste); in place of a vanilla bean, use one tablespoon vanilla bean paste. 

It was a 2011 SOFI Gold Award winner in the Outstanding Baked Good, Baking Ingredient, or Cereal category, and it our house, we give it a gold award, too!  After sampling a teensy taste straight from the jar, we used it in both our vanilla cupcakes and vanilla buttercream and they both turned out delightfully vanilla-y in addition to having lovely little black vanilla specks throughout. 

You can find Nielsen-Massey Madagascar Bourbon Vanilla Bean Paste at Williams-Sonoma and Sur La Table stores in addition to online at Amazon.  It retails for about $11 for a 4 oz. jar.  Nielsen-Massey has many more amazing baking products that you might want to check out, too.

Nielsen-Massey has generously offered a 4 oz. jar for a giveaway to one of our readers!  You must have a US address and be 18 years or older to enter. 

To Enter: Go to Nielsen-Massey’s product page and then comment on this post about another of their products you would like to try.  Additional entries are available for liking Nielsen-Massey’s Facebook page, following Rate the Plate Utah on Google Friend Connect (top sidebar), liking our page on Facebook. Please use the Rafflecopter form to enter.

Giveaway Closes: 12:01 am EST on Monday, November 21, 2011. Winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond. You must be at least 18 years old and have a US address to enter. Good luck!

Eat In Recipe: Billy’s Vanilla Cupcakes

I find a lot of vanilla cakes a little dry and underwhelming, so I tend to stick with other cake flavors.  However, when I got some Nielsen-Massey Madagasgar Bourbon Pure Vanilla Bean Paste to try, I knew I wanted to find a really great vanilla cupcake recipe to use it in.  After some searching, I found Billy’s Vanilla Cupcake Recipe (from Billy’s Bakery in New York City) on Martha Stewart’s website. 

Here’s Billy’s Yellow Daily Cupcake from Billy’s Bakery in NYC. Used with permission of Billy’s Bakery.

It’s an amazingly light cake with a good vanilla flavor and topped with a vanilla buttercream.  Our family couldn’t get enough of these cupcakes.  Little Diner kept sneaking them when no one was looking, and everyone was disappointed when they were gone.  Give these a try; you won’t be disappointed!

Billy’s Vanilla Cupcakes from Martha Stewart
1 3/4 c. cake flour, not self-rising
1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour
2 c. sugar
1 T. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
1 c. unsalted butter, cut into 1” cubes
4 large eggs
1 c. whole milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Line cupcake pans with paper liners; set aside. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine flours, sugar, baking powder, and salt; mix on low speed until combined. Add butter, mixing until just coated with flour.
2. In a large glass measuring cup, whisk together eggs, milk, and vanilla. With mixer on medium speed, add wet ingredients in 3 parts, scraping down sides of bowl before each addition; beat until ingredients are incorporated but do not overbeat.
3. Divide batter evenly among liners, filling about 2/3 full. Bake, rotating pan halfway through, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, 17 to 20 minutes.
4. Transfer to a wire rack to cool completely. Repeat process with remaining batter. Once cupcakes have cooled, use a small offset spatula to frost tops of each cupcake. Decorate with sprinkles, if desired. Serve at room temperature.

Yields about 30 cupcakes.

Billy’s Basic Vanilla Buttercream from Martha Stewart
1 c. unsalted butter, room temperature
6-8 c. powdered sugar
1/2 c. milk
1 tsp. vanilla extract

1. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter until smooth and creamy, 2 to 3 minutes. With mixer on low speed, add 6 cups sugar, milk, and vanilla; mix until light and fluffy. If necessary, gradually add remaining 2 cups sugar to reach desired consistency.

Notes:  My cupcake batter was quite lumpy, but it still baked up quite nicely.  You can be generous when frosting the cupcakes; the recipe makes more than enough.  I substituted equivalent amounts of vanilla bean paste for the extract in both recipes.

Average Fork Rating:  5
Mr. Diner:  5
Mrs. Diner:  5
Amazing Diner:  5
Sweet Diner:  5
Little Diner:  5

Nov. 14: Dining Deals

National

• Ruby Tuesday – Login through Facebook to get a coupon for a free Classic Burger with the purchase of two drinks.  Coupon will be sent via email and is valid through Nov. 15, 2011.
• Jamba Juice – Get a small frozen yogurt with one topping for only $2 every Sunday – Thursday after 5 pm until Dec. 1, 2011.  One per person, no coupon necessary. 
• Golden Corral – Free dinner today, Nov. 14th, to all who have ever served in the military (no ID required) from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm.
• Omaha Steaks – Pay $59 for The Coveted Collection with Free Shipping  ($168.99 value) from Plum District.  Includes 2 (5 oz.) Filet Mignons, 2 (4 oz.) Boneless Pork Chops, 4 (4 oz. approx.) Boneless Chicken Breasts, 8 (3 oz.) Gourmet Franks, 8 Potatoes au Gratin, and 4 Individual NY Cheesecakes.  Available through Friday.  This offer is not for a voucher; the item will be shipped 3-10 business days after the close of the sale.

Utah

• Spark Restaurant (Provo) – Pay $10 for a $20 voucher from Groupon.  Available through Wednesday and expires June 6, 2012.
• Mrs. Fields (Sandy South Towne Mall location) – Pay $7.50 for 6 cookies and 2 medium drinks from Big Deal Utah.  Available today (Nov. 14) only and valid Nov. 15, 2011 – May 14, 2012.

This post contains referral & affiliate links.

Saturday Spotlight: Lizzy from That Skinny Chick Can Bake!

I’m so excited to share today’s Saturday Spotlight with you!  Meet Lizzy from That Skinny Chick Can Bake!  She not only has great baking posts, but other wonderful recipes, too.  I know you’ll enjoy checking out her blog as much as I do. 

Tell us about you & your blog.

I'm a mom of 3 grown kids who are all living at home (2 post college, one a senior in high school) along with my hubby and our sweet dog, Lambeau. I've always loved to bake and entertain...so my blog is just a new avenue to share my favorite recipes. I think the number one question on my blog, is how I am able to stay slim.   Well, I am careful about what I eat (my real life friends will attest to this), and I exercise daily...but today, for example, I sampled a bit too much banana cream pie! I hit the treadmill each day and attend hot vinyasa yoga practice 2-3 times a week.

How long have you been blogging?

About a year and a half.

How did your blog get started?

I'd been reading other blogs, and I thought I'd share photos and recipes with my friends.  Now I have a LOT of new friends...most of whom I've never met!

What are your favorite foods?

Peaches, garden tomatoes, rare ahi tuna

Favorite restaurants?

SO many...locally (Indianapolis), I love Taste, Recess, Meridian, Cafe Patachou.  In Chicago: Table 52; Las Vegas: Bouchon; San Francisco:  Boulevard; Aspen: Olives.

Favorite recipe? 

One of my favorite recipes is Nigella's Chocolate Raspberry Pavlova. It's impressive and delicious. 

Favorite childhood memory of food?

It must be my mom's love of experimentation.  We lived in a small midwest college town, but she would go to the small international store on campus to find orange flower water, wonton skins, etc. to use in new recipes. She would build gingerbread houses each Christmas and deep fry rosettes.

Favorite food tradition?

It has to be our holiday baking!  My kids and hubby LOVE when I make the first batch of fudge for the plates of Christmas goodies I give to our friends and neighbors.

Ever been to Utah?  If so, do you have a favorite Utah restaurant?

Growing up, we spent our summer vacations in our family van driving across the states...so, yes, I've been to Utah, but I think we were only passing through. I remember the Bee Hive road signs :)

If you’d like to be featured in our Saturday Spotlight, email us at ratetheplateutah@gmail.com. 

Photos courtesy of That Skinny Chick Can Bake!

Eat Out Walt Disney World Review: Boma

One thing I love about Disney World so much more than Disneyland is that it has so many amazing and diverse restaurants.  This post is the first in a series of posts featuring some of the amazing Disney World table service restaurants that we had the privilege to eat at on our most recent trip. 

I had heard great things about Boma and this trip was our first time to try it for ourselves.  Boma is located at Jambo House of the Animal Kingdom Lodge.  Boma is a buffet that serves breakfast and dinner featuring African-inspired dishes plus some more traditional American favorites.

At $32.99 for adults and $15.99 for children, it is among the more expensive Disney buffets, but on the Dining Plan it is a great value!  Prices include a non-alcoholic specialty drink. 

The restaurant has a similar feel to the resort with warm woods, rich colors and patterns with dim lighting that I find soothing.  With a group of seven, we were seated at one of the large wooden tables that was in the shape of Africa. 

Our server took our drink orders and gave us an overview of the buffet, explaining some of the foods we’d find at each station.  Some of the foods included wood-fired meats at a carving station, salads, African breads with assorted hummus spreads, soups and stews, vegetables, fruits, and casserole-type dishes…plus a nice assortment of desserts.

We tried a lot of new and interested dishes with wonderful spices and flavors.  Some of our favorites included the Bobotie (a quiche-like dish), Curry Pasta Salad, Pap (a corn-based porridge), Chakalaka (a spicy tomato dish), Nut-crusted Salmon, Kokonut Rice, African-Carved Strip Loin, and the soups.  For the less adventurous eaters, they have a section that includes options like Macaroni & Cheese, Spaghetti, & Chicken Tenders.  The desserts are small - just a few bites – which is perfect for trying several.  A couple favorites were the Peanut Butter Mousse with Peanut Brittle & Butterscotch Ganache and the Banana Bread Pudding and Vanilla Sauce and Caramel Sauce.

We loved Boma and I would go back in a heartbeat, especially when on the Dining Plan.  For the adventurous eater, it’s a delight.  For the less adventurous eater (which we have some of in our party), there were still some really great dishes.  We’d definitely recommend making a reservation here if you have a Disney World trip planned.

Entrée Price:  $$$$
Average Fork Rating:  4.4
Mr. Diner:  4
Mrs. Diner: 5
Amazing Diner:  5
Sweet Diner:  5
Little Diner:  3

Nov. 11 - 14: Dining Deals for Veterans

Photo by Beverly & Pack.

There is no “thank you” that can ever repay those who have served our country.  I have a heart full of gratitude every time I see our flag or think of the sacrifices and service that have been paid. 

If you know a veteran or someone who is actively serving, let them know about all the dining deals that are available, mostly this Friday.

Available Now

• Outback Steakhouse – Veterans and active duty military receive a free Bloomin’ Onion and choice of Coca-Cola product when they show their ID. Valid Nov. 7-11, 2011.

Nov. 11th

• IHOP – Free meal (up to $10) on Nov. 11th to all veterans & active duty military (ID required).
• Mimi’s Café – Free entrée (up to $10 value) for all veterans and active duty military with any $20 purchase on Nov. 11th when you use this coupon and show ID.
• Olive Garden – Free entrée from select choices for all veterans and active duty military on Nov. 11th with proof of service.
• Applebee’s – Choice of free entrée from signature menu for all veterans and active duty military on Nov. 11th with proof of service.
• Texas Roadhouse – Free lunch choice from select menu plus soft drink for all veterans and active duty military on Nov. 11th with proof of service.  Available 11 am – 2pm only.
• TGI Friday’s – All veterans and active duty military who purchase an entrée on Nov. 11th will get and additional one free.
• Chili’s – Free entrée from select menu for all veterans and active duty military (ID required) on Nov. 11th from 11 am – 5 pm.
• Famous Dave’s – Offer varies by region.  In Utah, veterans & active duty military choose a free entrée from a select menu (ID required) on Nov. 11th.
• Sizzler – Buy one 6 oz. steak entrée and get one free for veterans & active duty military (ID required) on Nov. 11th. 
• Subway – Select stores will offer a free 6” sub sandwich for veterans & active duty military (ID required) on Nov. 11th.  Call to verify at your local location.
• Krispy Kreme – Participating stores are offering a free donut to veterans & active duty military (ID required) on Nov. 11th.  Call to verify at your location.

Nov. 14th

• Golden Corral – Free dinner on Nov. 14th to all who have ever served in the military (no ID required) from 5:00 pm – 9:00 pm.

Am I missing a great Veteran’s Day dining deal?  Fill me in with a comment!

B1G1 Free Dark Chocolate Dreams

 

If you loved our review of Peanut Butter & Co.’s Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter, you’re in luck ‘cause they have a 3-day promotion where you can buy 1 jar and get another jar free (only of the Dark Chocolate Dreams flavor) when you use the code PEOPLESCHOICE.  See their website for details and to take advantage of this deal.  Expires Nov. 10, 2011. 

Nov. 9: Dining Deals

I know it’s been awhile since I posted some dining deals…there have been a lot of things to catch up on since we got back from our trip (which there are more posts coming about).  Here are some deals to check out for now.

National

• Outback Steakhouse – Veterans and active duty military receive a free Bloomin’ Onion and choice of Coca-Cola product when they show their ID.  Expires Nov. 11, 2011.  Also, they have a holiday gift card offer:  when you buy $100 in gift cards online or in the store, you get a $20 bonus card to use January 1 – Feb. 10, 2,012.  See details here.
• PeiWei – Get a Buy 1 Get 1 Free coupon by email when you watch a short video.  Coupon expires Nov. 15, 2011 & will be sent via email the next business day.  Go here to watch the video.
• Baskin Robbins – Buy 1 Scoop or Swirl get one free when you use this coupon.  Expires Nov. 22, 2011.
• Chili’s – Get a free dessert with purchase of an adult entrée when you use this coupon.  Valid Nov. 9 only.
• Arby’s – Get a free Chocolate Turnover with the purchase of any sandwich when you use this coupon.  Mine expires Nov. 15, 2011.
• Pollo Loco – Get a free Chicken Carnitas Taco with any $5 purchase (except for combo meals) when you use this coupon.  Expires Nov. 14, 2011.
• Quizno’s – Get $2 off a large sub sandwich or $1 off a regular sub or salad when  you use this coupon.  Expires Nov. 28, 2011.
• Chik-fil-A – Purchase their 2012 calendar starting this week for $6.  It has about $35 worth of coupons in it (one for each month).  See what coupons are included here.  If you’re a cow lover or collector, you might want it anyway…the pictures are hilarious.
• Rubio’s – Save $1 on a Langostino Lobster Two Taco Plate when you use this coupon.  Expires Nov. 13, 2011.
• Subway – Get a $10 gift card for only $5 from SaveMore (first-time buyers only). 

Utah

• Doolie’s Wings (Clearfield) – Pay $8 for $16 worth of wings from KSL Deals.  Expires Jan. 31, 2012.
• Yogurt Nut (West Valley City) – Pay $10 for a 5-yogurt punch pass ($20.55 value) from KSL Deals.  May use two punches per visit.  Each punch is valid for an 8 oz. cup of yogurt plus one topping.  Available through Sunday & expires Jan. 31, 2012.
• NYPD Pizza (four locations) – Pay $5 for $10 voucher from KSL Deals.  Available through Sunday & expires April 30, 2012.
• Godfather’s Pizza (Taylorsville or West Valley City) – Pay $10 for a $20 voucher from KSL Deals.  Expires Feb. 1, 2012.
• Fendall’s (Ogden) – Pay $5 for $10 worth of ice cream form KSL Deals.  Available through Sunday & expires Dec. 31, 2011.

This post contains referral links.

Giveaway: FortiSalt

Yep, it’s a second giveaway for this week:  FortiSalt.  FortiSalt is another great product we were introduced to at the Taste of Utah event in September.  We got to sample it on popcorn, and it tasted great!  FortiSalt gave us a table-size bottle to try at home.

FortiSalt is a “mineral supplement” according to their site.  However, it is to be used wherever you would normally use salt and actually tastes salty.  It has sodium in it, but also has many other minerals in it and is designed to not just make your food taste salty, but make it taste better. 

According to the FortiSalt folks, “FortiSalt enhances food's natural flavor adding richness and depth you just won't find with ordinary salt or sea salts. To truly understand how FortiSalt tastes on food, we like to say that FortiSalt doesn't necessarily taste like a better salt, but more like salt added to better food.”

We tried it on popcorn (again) and on several vegetables, and I have to agree with them:  the foods didn’t just taste salty, they tasted richer and more flavorful…just better.  We loved it!

It is so easy to use, too.  You just spritz it on whatever you’re eating.  You can also use it in cooking and baking (except in yeast breads); one teaspoon of salt equals three teaspoons of FortiSalt, however in that three teaspoons you are actually adding less sodium than in one teaspoon of salt! 

FortiSalt is available at specialty stores, in their online store, and at Amazon.  FortiSalt is giving away one Table-size 250 mL bottle of FortiSalt. Must be at least 18 years old and be a US citizen with a US address.

To Enter: Follow Rate the Plate Utah on Google Friend Connect (top sidebar).  An additional entry is available for liking our page on Facebook. Please use the Rafflecopter form to enter.

Giveaway Closes: 12:01 am EST on Monday, November 14, 2011. Winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond. You must be at least 18 years old and have a US address to enter. Good luck!

Giveaway: elete Electrolyte Add-In

If you use sports drinks, you will definitely be interested in today’s giveaway!  elete Electrolyte Add-In is a zero calorie concentrated add-in that turns water into an electrolyte-rich beverage.

We were lucky to try the original elete Electrolyte add-in at the Utah State Fair Taste of Utah event.  It tasted just like water!  The original adds magnesium, chloride, sodium, and potassium without adding the extra calories, sugar, etc. that sports drinks include.  I think this is a fantastic product!

elete sent us their newest add-in, CitriLyte.  CitriLyte has a slightly tart flavor similar to adding lemon to your water.  Just like the original, CitriLyte adds the same four electrolytes to any drink without the calories.  It also has zinc and citric acid.  Each of us tried the CitriLyte added to water and found the slightly tart flavor did taste like just a hint of lemon.  Since I usually drink plain water, I prefer the original elete, but both are good options.

Both elete add-ins are easy to add either by measuring them or with their easy-to-use and very portable little flask.  Just fill it with the electrolyte solution and add it on-the-go to your sports bottle.  elete has a handy chart to use showing how much to add with either method in their brochure.  A cup of water (8 oz.) requires just 16 drops of original or 20 drops of CitriLyte to add the recommended amount of electrolytes. 

Find elete products at stores near you with their locator.  You can also purchase from their online store or on Amazon.

Now, to the giveaway:  elete is giving away a 4 oz. bottle of CitriLyte (enough to make 10 gallons!) with a pocket flask and 20 oz. sports bottle so you can easily refill on the go (approximate value $30)!  Must be at least 18 years old and be a US citizen with a US address.

To Enter: Make a comment on this post saying when you use electrolyte drinks.  Additional entries are available for following Rate the Plate Utah on GFC (top sidebar), liking elete’s Facebook page, and liking our page on Facebook. Please use the Rafflecopter form to enter.

Giveaway Closes: 12:01 am EST on Monday, November 14, 2011. Winner will be contacted by email and will have 48 hours to respond. You must be at least 18 years old and have a US address to enter. Good luck!

Eat Out Walt Disney World: Epcot Food & Wine Festival

For a second year in a row, Mr. Diner and I got to enjoy a trip to Disney World during Epcot’s Food & Wine Festival.  If you haven’t been, it is an event to savor…and one that keeps me wishing I could have spent more time there. 

The Epcot Food & Wine Festival runs on select dates September through November each year and features events with renowned chefs, the Eat to the Beat Concert series, and (my favorite) the international food booths.  There are about 30 booths that feature foods from a specific country or region.  The foods are appetizer-sized with most of them costing $3-5.  There are also also wine and beer pairings at each booth, which we didn’t sample since we don’t drink.  Some favorite foods return year after year and other new ones are introduced. 

This year our little diners went with us, which was fun, but they just weren’t as into the Festival as we were (“Mom, when are we going on another ride?”).  As a result, we didn’t get to try as many foods from the booths as we would have liked.  (I have a long list of foods I meant to try that I didn’t get to, but I won’t bore you with that.)  Instead, here are the foods we sampled and a list of each of our favorites. 

Argentina:  Grilled Beef Skewer with Chimichurri Sauce & Boniato Puree ($5.00).  This was a favorite from our last visit and we couldn’t pass up getting it again.  The beef is great, but partnered with the fresh tartness of the Chimichurri sauce, it’s amazing.  I also am in love with the boniato puree.  I had no idea what a boniato was, either, so let me tell you:  it’s a white sweet potato, and it’s YUMMY.  Somebody please tell me where I can buy some of these!

Photo from Disney Food Blog.

Australia:  Shrimp on the Barbie with Pepper Berry Citrus Glaze ($4.50).  We love shrimp, so we couldn’t pass up these five shrimp on a skewer (one for each of us!).  The shrimp were grilled and had a slightly spicy & tangy seasoning and glaze.  Loved it!

Photo from Disney Food Blog.

China:   Black Pepper Shrimp with Sichuan Noodles ($4.50).  Shrimp and noodles both tasted fresh, especially with the addition of the cilantro.  Most of us loved the shrimp best, but Little Diner ate up every little bit of noodle left on the plate!

China:  Xinjiang Barbecue Chicken Stick ($3.50).  Tasty, sweet, & slightly spicy chicken on a skewer.  It was nice & moist, too.

France:  Escargots Persillade en Brioch ($4.95).  Yep…tried escargots for the first time…this is a great way to do it…tucked inside a mini bread bowl.  It tasted a lot like shrimp scampi too me…lots of butter & garlic. 

Photo from Disney Food Blog.

France:  Crème Brulée au Chocolate au Lait ($3.95).  Very creamy crème brulee with just a little chocolate flavor.  It reminded me very much of chocolate milk.

Photo from EatingWDW.

Hops & Barley:  Linda Bean’s Lobster Claw Cuddler with drawn Butter  ($6.50).  Some of the greatest flavors are the most simple…a nice lobster claw dunked in melted butter.  Wish I had tried the Lobster Roll, though…turns out it is much better than 2010’s.

Hops & Barley:  Pumpkin Mousse with Ocean Spray Craisins and Orange Sauce ($1.50).  This was soooooo good, and the least expensive item on the Festival menu!  One of these only lasts a few bites, but I’m definitely making this at home…maybe for Thanksgiving.

Ireland:  Lobster and Scallop Fisherman’s Pie ($5.75).  This is a classic Festival item and I love it!  Nice chunks of scallops and lobster in a bisque topped with mashed potatoes.  Probably expensive to make at home, but I’m tempted.

Photo from Disney Food Blog.

South Korea:  Lettuce Wraps with Roast Pork and Kimchi Slaw ($3.00).  Served on a huge lettuce leaf, the roast pork and kimchi filling was sweet and tangy with a fresh kick to it, too.

South Korea:  Boolgogi BBQ Beef with steamed Rice and Kimchi ($4.25).  A slight disappointment, the beef was a bit tough and dry with an overpowering sauce.

Mr. Diner Grilled Beef Skewer Black Pepper Shrimp

Mrs. Diner Grilled Beef Skewer Pumpkin Mousse Fisherman’s Pie Lettuce Wraps Shrimp on Barbie

Amazing Diner Grilled Beef Skewer Shrimp on Barbie  Boolgogi BBQ Beef Xinjiang Chicken Black Pepper Shrimp

Sweet Diner Black Pepper Shrimp Grilled Beef Skewer

If you’re interested in seeing more amazing food from the Festival, go check out the Disney Food Blog and Eating WDW….I love them both and find myself drooling over their posts frequently.  If you want to try some of these at home, look above for the foods in red…they are linked up to recipes to try.  You know I will!