Monthly Archives: September 2011

And we’re back to What I Ate Wednesday!

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Happy Wednesday, foodies! I’m finally back to participating in the big Wednesday link party– What I Ate Wednesday. I hope you enjoy my eats from yesterday… (it wasn’t as healthy as I would have liked)

BREAKFAST

I couldn’t decide if I wanted cereal or yogurt, so I had both. It was kind of a weird mix of flavors and consistencies, but I just can’t get enough of Vosko’s Greek Yogurt, honey vanilla bean flavored. It’s so delicious and filling. The cereal is also new to me–gluten free and somewhat sweet, maybe a little too sweet but I love the crunch of it.

LUNCH

Lunch was at one of my favorites in Dallas: The Porch. I met up with two of my very best friends (we’ve been friends for almost 11 years!) and had a nice relaxing time. I had their three cheese grilled cheese with a side of tomato basil soup. So good and satisfying.

DINNER

Yeah, dinner was boring. I didn’t get to have dinner til late, and by that time, I wasn’t feeling too foodie inspired. I had spelt whole grain spaghetti with pesto, and a side of my favorite honey crisp apples.

And finally just for fun…

My sweet boyfriend took me to go look at puppies last weekend, and I can’t seem to get this one cutie off my mind. I’m waiting until graduation (May) to get one, but I absolutely love these golden doodles. Anyone have one? What are they like?

You are what you eat: be healthy today

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It’s that dreaded first day of work, school, or whatever else you may be doing. Nobody likes Mondays. And for that, I decided it’s time for some inspiration. Inspiration in the form of health.

You might have spent the weekend tailgating, going out and hitting the dance floor, or maybe just going out to the movies. Regardless of which event you chose to do (or maybe you did all three), you probably weren’t putting the best things in your body. Since tailgating season is here, chicken wings, popcorn, queso, burgers and pretty much any type of junk food is rampant. Now, this isn’t me trying to preach health or tell you that it’s wrong to ever eat these types of food, because I certainly do from time to time (or maybe more). This post is simply meant to spark your inner self that strives to be healthy and strives to put only the best things in your body. Your body will thank you later. I hope these images and words will inspire you to lead a healthy lifestyle starting this week.

Now you may be thinking, hey, That Foodie Girl goes around to several restaurants trying all sorts of foods—not just healthy ones. That is true and I don’t claim to be a health expert nor perfect in this area whatsoever. I thought it was time to talk to my readers about something I’m very passionate about and something I believe in.

Something I’ve read online and elsewhere is that you should be on your best health behavior 90% of the time, and the other 10% you can cheat. So, maybe that means during the week you eat the healthiest foods and avoid junk food, and you let yourself eat what you want on the weekends.

Today is my day to be healthy. And here are my healthy day essentials and ideal foods (give or take quite a few things, but these are highlights).
[none of the photos in this post are mine]

1.Juice Plus

It comes in three forms: orchard, garden, and vineyard. The orchard and garden capsules come packed with 17 different types of raw fruits and vegetables. The vineyard is complete with a variety of berries and grapes, bringing you antioxidants in their purest form. I also take the Juice Plus gummies just because they’re tasty and make for a good snack. I could not live without my daily dose of Juice Plus. Although I’m usually healthy and love the produce section of Whole Foods, having this added nutritional value to my day is priceless. And cooked broccoli does not count. Juice Plus capsules include raw vegetables, which retains the vital nutrients you need for pretty much every function of your body. Since most people don’t eat their necessary dosage of fruit and vegetables, Juice Plus is convenient, inexpensive and gives you the most natural forms of vitamins, nutrients and even fiber. Juice Plus is NOT a vitamin. I repeat NOT a vitamin. It’s much better than that.

If you’re interested in more info, please let me know. I’m a distributor and would love to share with you all.

2.KeVita

You may have read my review on this sparkling health drink, but this drink rocks. Not only does it aid in digestion and make you feel awesome, but it tastes great too. I’ve also noticed it gives you energy. It’s a nice coffee replacement/alternative.

3.Spinach

You may think I’m lying, but after rigorous exercise (i.e. running), I don’t want carbs, my body craves greens. And no, I don’t just sit there and eat straight spinach. I love to combine my caprese salad with a mound of spinach. So filling and healthy. Spinach does so many great things for your body—fiber, digestions, blood pressure and much more.

4.Honey Crisp Apples
One of the best parts about fall is that Honey Crisp apples are in season! These sweet and tangy apples are so delicious and I’ve been loving dipping them in peanut butter for breakfast or a snack. They curb cravings and make for a much better alternative to desserts.

5.Broccoli
“Eat your trees, honey”. I heard that all the time growing up, and now I can’t get enough of my broccoli. I usually sautee it in garlic, salt and olive oil, and I’m happy eating a bowl of grilled broccoli. Weird? Maybe. But delicious.

6.Quinoa

Sometimes when I’m feeling really creative, I’ll substitute quinoa for pasta. Instead of my boring pasta routine, I’ll cook some quinoa and mix with broccoli, bell peppers or any other grillable veggies. I love quinoa, but my recipes haven’t been that exciting. Anyone have a good recipe?

7.Ezekiel bread

When I’m trying to be good, I veer away from the simple carbs. But most days, my body craves some kind of substance. Yes, veggies and fruit can be filling, but sometimes it just won’t cut it. So in comes the Ezekiel bread. It’s organic and it contains live grains, and the grains and legumes contained in the bread give you a kick of protein. What to pair with the bread? Almond butter? Sometimes I make grilled cheeses on my Ezekiel bread…not sure if that defeats the whole purpose, but I figure it’s better than wheat bread!

8.WATER

I’ve been horrible at drinking enough water everyday. And for this, water makes my healthy list. I carry around this water bottle when I remember, and since it’s there, I tend to refill it and drink a lot more water than I used to. Drink up!

And my favorite exercise routines lately?

ZUMBA

It’s not exactly hardcore cardio, but it makes you sweat, but better, makes you smile. A fun latin-inspired mix of music and moves, it’s fun to grab some friends and not be afraid to make a fool out of yourself when your instructor screams “make it sexy, girls!” as she’s doing a belly dancer-esque move with her hips. Fun, and it gets your body moving.

RUNNING

I’ve always loved running, but now that the weather is (sort of) cooling down, running on the Katy Trail here in Dallas is a lot more fun than hitting the treadmill at the gym. It’s shaded in a lot of spots and there are mile markers, so you still know how far you’ve gone. No excuses, people!

That concludes my health post. What are your go-to healthy foods?

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

A fall celebration: pumpkin choc chip bars

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It’s time for fall! Although here in Dallas we don’t get to experience much of a seasonal change, we can still be filled with the “fall” spirit. For me, fall is all about the pumpkin and spices. Whether that be in pumpkin spice latte at Starbucks form or pumpkin muffins, I declare pumpkin the official fall food.

In honor of the first day of fall, I baked some chocolate chip pumpkin bars. After wasting plenty of time on Pinterest, I stumbled upon (oops wrong social media site!) a photo of these delicious bars. I decided to go for it and see how they turned out.

Get ready to be hooked. These bars are an incredibly delicious spin of the classic blondies, just a kick of spices (nutmeg, allspice and cinnamon) and some pumpkin. A bit of a cakey consistency, these bars make for a not too rich, not too sweet, better version of brownies. Think grandma’s pumpkin pie as a cake with chocolate chips (only better)!

RECIPE:

1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1 whole egg
2 egg whites
1 tbsp vegetable oil
1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground allspice
1/4 tsp ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp salt
2/3 cup brown sugar, packed
3/4 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 8″ square pan (or whatever size you see fit).
In a large bowl, combine pumpkin puree, eggs and oil. Add the flour, baking powder, spices, salt and brown sugar. Mix well. Add chocolate chips. Stir. Pour into pan and bake for 15-20 mins. Cool completely before cutting.

ENJOY!

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

Featured Foodie Product: KeVita

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Alright, alright, calm down. It’s not exactly kombucha. Reaping the same benefits as drinking kombucha (which most people think tastes like vinegar), KeVita is a tastier way to get your probiotics that promote healthy digestion and an overall healthy immune system. As a health conscious young woman, I’m always on the lookout for healthy alternatives that taste great. Sometimes hard to achieve, but KeVita hits the nail on the head.

KeVita is a sparkling probiotic drink that contains tea or water, their own “KeVita cultures” (which are basically kefir-based probiotic strains), blended with plant extracts and organic fruits. Maybe that description doesn’t appeal to you, but wait til you hear about their amazing lineup of flavors:

-strawberry acai
-mango coconut
-original coconut
-lemon ginger
-living greens
-green tea

My favorite is the original coconut–the perfect combo of sweetness and sparkling tea. I love the strawberry acai, but sometimes it’s a little too sweet.

This beverage is refreshing, makes you feel great and truly helps digestion. It puts a spring in your step! Trade your Diet Coke in for a KeVita NOW. Although KeVita is slightly pricey, your body is begging you for it. KeVita can be found at your local health shop or any Whole Foods.

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

ACL Food Heaven

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When you think of Austin City Limits festival, you think about the food right? Ok, well I do. Yes, there’s awesome music (this year was great!) but another important factor: the food. As usual, Austin did a great job with 30 different food stands all comprised of local restaurants ranging from Daily Juice to Torchy’s Tacos to Mighty Cone.

Mighty Cone

What: sliders & cones

Where: Austin, TX

If you saw from one of my previous Austin posts, I looove Mighty Cone. Owned and operated by the five star Hudson’s on the Bend (my family’s favorite restaurant in Austin), they serve up a special twist of their popular dish, the hot and crunchy trout. Instead, the Mighty Cone, a food truck on South Congress, serves up hot and crunchy chicken, avocado and shrimp wrapped in a tortilla with delicious cole slaw, served in a cone. It’s “chicken in a cone”! Sounds weird, I know, but it’s the most amazing chicken you’ll ever taste. At an awesome price too, especially for five star food.

The Mighty Cone got its start after Hudson’s on the Bend began serving their chicken/avocado/shrimp in a cone at ACL one year. After the crazy high demand and continuous long lines at the music festival for years, Hudson’s decided to make a permanent food truck that would serve those suckers year round. Now Austinites can get their fix whenever–they don’t have to wait for ACL to roll around!

This year, Mighty Cone had two separate stands, two lines and a million hungry people. It seems everyone found out about the little Mighty Cone secret. People come from near and far to get to ACL, and now everyone knew about the best food at the whole park.

And just for your viewing pleasure, here’s a little snippet of my ACL weekend:

Enjoy.

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

Local, an out-of-this-world culinary experience

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Local

What: organic upscale American

Where: Deep Ellum, Texas

Located inside what used to be a hotel in Deep Ellum, Local has been serving delicious all locally grown food for quite a while now, picking up attention from The New York Times, Texas Monthly, Paper City, Town & Country, The Food Network, Travel & Leisure and many more.

Although I had never heard of Local before, I went in hoping it would be what I expected: creative, healthy and delicious. Local satisfied my expectations and more.

When you step inside the door, you’re greeted by the head chef and owner, Tracy Miller. I loved the personalization of the place–everyone greeted you with a smile, and because of the small size of the restaurant, you almost felt as if you were at home. But this place is much cooler than a home, with trendy and modern couches, lamps and art work, you feel like you’re at a New York City hot spot. A hot spot you feel hasn’t quite been discovered by most Dallasites.

Since everything is local, they do not have any liquor (if I have that right?). I opted for their prosecco mojito with fresh lime and mint. I hadn’t ever had a drink quite like it–the prosecco was a nice alternative to rum.

I wish I had more photos of food, but I was at a large dinner party and felt a bit silly taking photos of my plates. So forgive me! But I will be back sometime for photos.

To start, I had their special salad that night: mixed greens with fresh peaches and goat cheese. The dressing was light and made for a slightly sweet, very tasty starter. For my main course I had the cornflake panko crusted sea bass. It was the perfect culinary combination of lemon, spring pea risotto, herb beurre blanc and an haricot vert sauce. Easily one of the best dishes I’ve ever had in Dallas. The entire menu struck my fancy with creative flavor combinations like a hazelnut mustard halibut with thyme and spinach salad. Mmmm, I can’t wait to go back.

We couldn’t skip out on dessert, so we got the brown sugar almond upside down cake with pistachio praline and chocolate ice cream. It melted in your mouth and was the perfect ending to a delicious meal. Other dessert items I can’t wait to try are homemade cardamom spiced donut holes and their banana pudding.

The service was spectacular, the food was refreshingly creative and delicious and the whole experience felt upscale–without the snobby hostess and the run-of-the-mill filet mignon with potatoes. If you’re searching for a nice date spot or perhaps a place to celebrate a birthday, I highly recommend Local. But try to keep it a secret. :)

Delicious eats at The Porch

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The Porch

What: trendy American

Where: Knox/Henderson, Dallas

One of my favorite restaurants along the trendy Knox/Henderson eatery mecca, The Porch never ceases to satisfy. Little known to many, The Porch is just one sibling in a family of food awesomeness. Consilient restaurants, owned by Tristan Simon, also owns Hibiscus, Fireside Pies and Alma, all awesome restaurants right around the corner on Henderson.

Although this was my first time to actually get to dine on the porch itself, I usually enjoy the ambiance on the inside as well. A giant bar that takes up the entire wall of the back of the restaurant, tall wooden bar stools and bar tables, paired with booths and cozy tables, always makes me feel right at home. Because Dallas has gotten a sudden week of fall-like weather, I decided to take advantage of the “cool” weather (a.k.a. under 100 degrees). Because it was just two of us, we got lucky and got a table outside, which made for a casual and fun evening. Since The Porch is so popular especially on the weekends, they don’t take reservations (which is a bummer), so I’d recommend getting there early to snag a great table al fresco.

We started with my favorite cocktail in Dallas: the strawberry crush. Anything with fresh fruit in a cocktail is a go for me. Muddled strawberries and mint with vodka, St. Germain Elderflower, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and ginger ale. If the photo doesn’t make your mouth water, then you probably wouldn’t like it. My guess is you now know where you’re stopping by this weekend! This beverage is refreshing, relatively light and not too sweet. Perfection.

As an appetizer, we went with the spinach and parmesan dip. I’ve had it before and it was awesome, this time no different. A huge portion of spinach dip, I think it’s a good amount for four or more people at least. A creamy concoction with parmesan baked on top and a side of tortilla chips, it’s like heaven. Do not skip out on this appetizer.

For the entree, we got so full on the spinach dip, that we decided to split the pan roasted chicken breast. As you can see from the photo, they split the dish for us, and it was the perfect amount. The chicken is so tasty and perfectly seasoned, it melts in your mouth. The potatoes are a nice pairing, and the spinach adds a bit of a nutritional value. A repeat entree for me means consistent goodness- The Porch does an amazing job at keeping its dishes delicious.

Speaking of nutrition, as if we hadn’t had enough food as it was, we couldn’t pass up dessert. We had the salted caramel & chocolate bread pudding. Enough said. So rich and decadent I forgot to take a photo of it. Mmmmmmm.

Prices are a bit high, but in my opinion, worth it. The service is always great and the food reminds me of little corner cafes in NYC. So, if you’ve never ventured over to the Porch, grab some friends and make a night of it. And try to avoid weekends if you can.

Please become a fan of That Foodie Girl on Facebook, and follow @thatfoodiegrl on Twitter for updates and fun foodie tips.

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

Pho is for Lovers

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Pho is for Lovers

What: Vietnamese

Where: Dallas

Located on Lovers Lane (fitting), Pho is for Lovers opened shop fairly recently and already seems to be bustling with in-the-know Dallasites. Now, some of you may be wondering what the heck is pho? Pho (pronounced [fuh]) is a traditional Vietnamese soup dish with rice noodles, chicken or beef (or anything else really), and green onions, basil, lime and bean sprouts.

After hearing only great things about this little pho shop on Lovers and Greenville Ave, I had to pop in and give it a try. I brought along my lover (because my boyfriend and I both appreciate delicious food) and we were greeted by a small and quaint restaurant with one menu board that offered only a handful of items. A simple menu that is easy to read, you have your choice of chicken or beef pho, different types of banh mi (their version of a sandwich made with baguettes), some noodle options and a few appetizers. The simplicity of the menu is like a sigh of relief, and the cleanliness of the place is comforting.

We both stuck with what we knew would be good, the chicken pho. The broth was delicious, the chicken just melted in your mouth and their were enough noodles to feed two. They brought out the garnishes that you can dress your soup with to hearts content: basil, lime, jalapeños, and bean sprouts. Mmmmmm.

The service was nice and fast, a perfect spot for a lunch break. You can even get pho to go. Now, where else in Dallas can you do that?

And finally, Vietnamese cuisine is super healthy, low-fat and satisfying to boot. This little pho eatery is run by a Vietnamese family (so you know it’s authentic) and the ingredients are only of the highest quality. You can tell.

If you’ve never tried Vietnamese food, this is your chance. Especially you SMU kids. It’s right around the block. Enjoy!

Please become a fan of That Foodie Girl on Facebook, and follow @thatfoodiegrl on Twitter for updates and fun foodie tips.

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

That Foodie Girl Dinner Party Ideas

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Good morning foodies!

It has been a while since I’ve done a post, and I just have to say life has been crazy busy. From road tripping to College Station (to get our butts kicked) to going home to Austin to class and catching up on homework, it’s been a lot. Anyway, on with the good stuff.

I love to cook as you know and also love perusing DIY/craft/dinner party idea blogs. For my good friend Katie’s birthday this year, I got together with the girls and we decided to put on a little dinner party for 6.

To start, I made this wonderful cream cheese frosting chocolate cake, with a recipe sent to me from Katie’s mom. The frosting turned out to be a strange off-white color (maybe because of the organic powdered sugar I used?), but turned out very tasty and cute. I decorated with edible pearl “sprinkles” to give it a girly look.

Since we were all super busy with class and meetings throughout the day, we didn’t get the time to truly decorate, but our gifts all seemed to follow the same color scheme.

For quick and easy decorations, we used flowers (lilies and hydrangeas) for a festive and feminine touch, and also a bouquet of balloons to amp up the party feel.

To start, we popped in some frozen spanakopita in the oven and took them out 10 minutes later for our passed hors d’oueuvres. Flaky little triangles of film dough stuffed with spinach and feta, these little treats are delicious and perfect for walking around with your drink and are super easy to heat up.

Everything else we made was completely homemade. Our wonderful bartender, Ali, made the cocktails. A recipe from our friend Eme’s family, the peach cocktail made for a fun and dangerously delicious concoction.

Made with one part vodka, one part pink lemonade, blended fresh peaches and some ice. I loved the peach as a garnish, and could really envision these drinks served in Bell jars. How cute! These tasted incredible and really turned out to be the perfect summer drink.

Next up, the appetizer. Our personal favorite: the caprese salad. To add some nutritional value (and presentation too), we put some extra mixed greens at the bottom, grape tomatoes, some little mozzarella balls, drizzled balsamic and oil, basil and some pepper. So simple and so yummy.

For the entree, we did a rosemary pesto grilled chicken with a side of Eme’s amazing spelt spaghetti with a vodka sauce on top. Mmmm she made the sauce herself and it turned out to be super rich and satisfying. I won’t show a photo of it because the photo just doesn’t do the dish justice.

A successful dinner party, and many more to come. What are your dinner party essentials?

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

SMU vs. A&M Weekend

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Happy Labor Day weekend everyone!

It’s officially football season and SMU will be taking on the Aggies tomorrow night. I’m currently in Austin but will soon be heading towards College Station for some tailgating, friends and of course the classic game day food. A nice cold beer and a burger are essential. No need to think about health this weekend, that’s what the weekdays are for.

Have a safe and wonderful football filled weekend.

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl