Category Archives: Inspiration

Dough Pizzeria Dallas, Feb photo a day and more

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Hi, everyone! Hope you’re all having a wonderful weekend.

I thought I’d pop over & give some updates on what’s been going on over here lately. First off, WOW I’m busy. Between work, class, homework & physical therapy, I’ve hardly found time to sleep.

I did, however, find time to try out Dough Pizzeria with 2 of my very best friends, Lisa & Stephanie. Ever since hearing about Guy Fieri’s christening of the place, I knew it had to be good. Although it’s not in the most glamorous part of Dallas (Preston & Forest–nothing wrong with the area, just a strange place for a hip spot like this), the food was delicious.  We started out with this little guy:

Please excuse the ugly iPhone photo and poor lighting. But this was their special appetizer that night–the bufala mozzarella with sun dried tomatoes and balsamic. The waiter told us the mozzarella was especially delicious and is flown over from Italy and that “it’s totally worth it because they let [the waiters] try some, but only a tiny piece since it’s so expensive”. Ummm…how much is it? $14. For this TINY dab of mozza. Yes, it melted in my mouth, but $14? No. We also shared their pancetta pizza which was also extremely overpriced but the sauce was right on point. It’s clear they know how to make true Italian food, but the atmosphere most definitely did not match their prices. Hmph.

Onto another subject, I am participating in the #FebPhotoADay mostly on my instagram account (@natalieblanken) but now I will share them with you all over here too!

1. View today:

2. Words:

3. Hands:

4. Stranger:

Now, these can be as literal or abstract as you want. Just one prompt a day and one photo a day! I love this idea and can’t wait to take some more photos…hopefully with my good camera, not my iPhone.

And on a final note, I just want to say I can’t get enough of my absolute favorite blog, Peanut Butter Fingers. Julie @ PB Fingers knows how to make her blog the perfect amount of personal that just keeps me coming back multiple times a day to see what’s she’s eating and what she’s up to. She’s an inspiration to me and I’d really like to start filling you all in more on what I eat on a day-to-day basis.

Would you all like to see what I eat each day? More recipes? Stick to restaurant reviews? Comment puhhh–lease! I know you’re out there! Don’t be shy.

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

My New Years resolution: cook more food

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It’s the second to last day of 2011 and naturally we’re all thinking about our new year’s resolutions…right? Ummmm, not really, but I just thought of mine. Cook more food. Now, do not fear. This doesn’t mean That Foodie Girl won’t be out on the town scoping out the newest and best (and sometimes not so great) eateries around Dallas. It just means she’ll be cooking up some great new recipes for all sorts of people to enjoy.

And because Pinterest is so “pinspirational” (shoutout to Ellen here) I naturally gather and hoard plenty of recipes I plan on trying. Here are my top 5:

1. Vegan cinnamon pull-apart bread


(www.naturallyella.com)

2. Roasted Veggie Strudel


(www.prouditaliancook.blogspot.com)

3. Butternut Squash Lasagna
butternut squash lasagna
(www.designsponge.com)

4. Strawberry Greek Yogurt Bites
strawberry yogurt bites
(www.weheartit.com)

5. Veggie Soup

(www.butterflyfoodie.blogspot.com)

Hope you all enjoyed my recipe choices. Here’s to 2012–the year I will come up with my own recipes, and cook even more!

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

It’s time to get thankful

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I stumbled upon this gem of a photo. Taken about 4-5 years ago in Oklahoma City, where I will be later on today. Pictured are my siblings, cousins, second cousin and myself.(Front row, left to right: Travis, Matthew, Teddy, Steven.; Back row, left to right: me, Caroline, Maddy, Phil)

As Thanksgiving approaches rather quickly, it’s time to reflect on what we’re thankful for. Yes, this is a food blog, but I thought it was important to show you a little bit of my family.

I’m thankful for my relationship with God.

My caring and supportive family.

My loving other half, Ryan.

My friends, old and new.

My grandparents who are still so in love:


(I love this photo)

My education.

Delicious food.

Akumal.

and my wonderful readers who have inspired me so much! (that means YOU)

I hope this inspires you all to really think about what you’re most thankful for.

I’m off to Oklahoma City to see my grandparents, family, cousins, aunts, uncles, etc.

Have a great Thanksgiving!

Love,

That Foodie Girl

My Halloween food inspiration: Pinterest.

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It’s that time of the year again, and all the cool people are calling it “Halloweekend”. Not sure how I feel about that, but we’ll just roll with it. Since Halloween isn’t until Monday, I feel I have a bit of time to think about what I want to bake for the occasion. And I look no further than Pinterest, my new favorite time-wasting, obsessive, online collage-making website.

Since trick-or-treating is out of the question for this 22-year-old, and the costume parties don’t come til tonight, I thought baking and coming up with some fun recipes for the fall/Halloween would be a great way to ring in the holiday.

And I want YOUR help. Please comment and let me know which recipes you’d like to see made, and I will make the recipes with the highest marks!


(from nutmegnanny.com)

The honey crisp apple sangria. (mixing the most delicious apple into an awesome cocktail? I’m in.)


(from foodgawker.com)

Sweet potato cupcakes with a toasted marshmallow frosting. Looks challenging, but definitely some awesome flavor combos.


(from jamiecooksitup.blogspot.com)

Pumpkin Pie Sheet Cake. Mixing pumpkin pie with a yellow cake sounds heavenly. What do you think?


(from picky-palate.com)

Cinnamon Roll Pumpkin Vanilla Sheet Cake. Well that’s a mouth full. And probably quite literally. Sugar overload perhaps, but looks mouth-watering to me.


(from legumeloyalist.com)

Salted Chocolate Caramel Pretzel Bark. No, it doesn’t contain pumpkin. But something about these candies scream fall.

These are just my top picks for dessert recipes. If you’d like to see more of my Pinterest boards, click here.

And please feel free to comment and let me know your top choices you’d love to see featured on That Foodie Girl.

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

My Dallas Restaurant Wish List

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I’ve reached a point in my food blogging world where I need to go experience a new restaurant in order to provide new content for you all! This never happens to me seeing as I’m constantly trying out new eateries around here. Unfortunately, school work and my A&E duties for the newspaper have taken over me lately. Enough excuses. I’m going to share something I usually like to keep secret: my restaurant wish list. This means places I’ve been dying to try, and for some reason have never gotten around to trying them.

(These are in no particular order, and will be reviewed as we go along. Stay tuned ;) )

1. Smoke

What: BBQ & other upscale bites

Why: I’ve been dying to try their weekend brunch. Think blueberry ricotta pancakes. YUM.

2. Bolsa

What: organic, funky Mediterranean

Why: I’ve only heard good things. Oh, and award winning, epic mixologists. Mmm..

3. [Rohst]

What: fresh, Asian inspired/ Korean

Why: looks like a fun atmosphere, and I love Asian food. New kid on the Greenville block.

4. Alma

What: Mexican

Why: the building looks awesome & I always appreciate good, true Mexican food.

5. Company Cafe

What: natural, organic American/ a little bit of everything

Why: it’s all natural and for the most part, local. Does that photo not make your mouth water?

6. Oddfellows

What: fun, experimental, & comfort food all in one

Why: How cute is the front of the restaurant! I’m always impressed by little Arts District eateries like this, so I have high expectations.

7. Rise

What: soufflé

Why: it’s devoted to soufflés. It’s gotta be good.

Have you all tried these places? Comments? Other places you think should be added to my list?

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl

Saturday Foodie Inspiration

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I just got a Pinterest (www.pinterest.com/thatfoodiegirl) and would love to have you follow me! I will be making boards to inspire you for meals, to eat healthier, to indulge and to just enjoy some visual pleasure.

As for today’s image…I can’t get enough of raspberries. I’ve always said it’s my favorite food, even in kindergarten when everyone else said “pizza” or “ice cream”. It’s all about the raspberries.

Have a lovely Saturday.

Bon appétit,

ThatFoodieGirl