Morimoto NYC - my first meal back from school!

Okay, so its official...as of tonight, Morimoto NYC is the best restaurant I have ever eaten at during the 18 years that I have been alive.  Seriously though, my family and I have eaten at loads and loads of great restaurants (including ones belonging to other Iron Chefs), but tonight was my favorite meal.  Absolutely everything that was placed on the table was extremely delicious, gorgeously presented, and super creative too!  I need to thank my brother David for picking this as the restaurant the family would go to for my first official meal home.  Because of his decision, I was able to eat the best food I've ever had!  Here are a few of the things that we ordered:

Tuna Pizza - this so incredibly yummy with a great crunch and spice to it

Morimoto Sashimi - this was so refreshing and delicious

Tempura Calamari Salad - this was my mom's favorite and towards the top of my list - just simply SO great

 

Kakuni - this slow cooked pork belly was actually incredible - the waiter told us it was one of his favorites, so we tried it...boy did he steer us in the right direction! 

Eel Cucumber Roll and Soft Shell Crab Roll - the eel in the roll was probably the freshest eel I've ever had the pleasure of eating

Sea Bass - this was probably my favorite of everything we tried...a very very close second would be the calamari salad - I simply loved everything about this fish dish and ate every last vegetable making sure to dip each bite in the sauce

Warm Flourless Chocolate Cake - all I can say is WOW! - this dessert was so spectacular and the center melted as I put it in my mouth

In addition to all of these wonderful things we also had the Crispy Rock Shrimp Tempura, Pork Gyoza, and Australian Wagyu Filet.  Overall, I think that every member of the family - mom, dad, David (and obviously I) - would recommend Morimoto NYC to anyone...aside from the fact that it's quite pricey...but absolutely and completely worth it.  The food was outstanding and its a really cool place with a great atmosphere and vibe.  My brother has set the standards high, but I am hoping that we will go to a lot more great places while I am home this summer!  I can't wait!

Sava's Ann Arbor - awesome breakfast!

All I can say is yum!  Every time my parents come to town, we visit Sava's at least once for the purpose of their banana nutella crepe.  Whether we go for breakfast, lunch or dinner, we always order one either as our entree or our dessert.  Since my dad was in town today to help me pack up my things, of course we went to Sava's for breakfast!  Let me tell you..not only is the crepe outstanding, but so is the bananas foster french toast.  I ordered it this morning and it was so great!  A HUGE portion that I wasn't able to finish, but none the less great.  Check out how great these look!  Maybe David and I will try to reproduce something similar (without the nutella of course, since he is allergic...which will make it not at all the same...but I'm sure we'll come up with something great).

Insomnia Cookies - will David and I be able to top them?

Hi guys!  So, yesterday I went into the brand new Insomnia Cookies store that opened in Ann Arbor...I wanted a little break from studying and a sweet treat for myself.  Well, when I walked in the door it smelled absolutely incredible!  It was the perfect aroma of freshly baked cookies mixed in with a s'mores campfire smell.  I couldn't resist buying more than one!  There I stood - deliberating what cookies to order.  Then, I decided that my best way to insure that I purchased the best kinds was to text one of my best friends who is a little bit of an Insomnia Cookie addict.  She told me that the s'mores cookies are to die for and the sugar cookies are a close second - of course, that's what I bought - one of each.  When I got back to my dorm room, I tried a bite of each cookie.  Drum roll please....I didn't even like the sugar cookie!  I didn't think it was flavorful and honestly it was not anything special.  The s'mores on the other hand is one of their deluxe cookies and I think it is deserving of that title.  It was far superior to their regular sugar cookie.  I would say I would only have the s'mores again - and maybe try a few new flavors.

I'm thinking that because I was so unimpressed with the Insomnia cookies, it would be cool for David and I to try and better them.  Maybe we will make the same flavors but play around with different recipes to try and find the perfect ones!  I will keep you posted on our progress!  Until Tuesday, wish me luck on my last finals of freshman year!

Peanut Butter Pretzel Truffles!

Hey guys!  As I have been studying for finals this week, I have also been doing my fair share of procrastinating -- much of which has come in the form of wasting time surfing Pinterest.  I came across the awesome recipe by Sweet Peas Kitchen and I am thinking that I MUST give them a try!  These bite sized Peanut Butter Pretzel Truffles sound absolutely delicious.  I am thinking that I will make these and sell them at my first sale, which will hopefully be at RCS soon after I get home!  If you try making them soon, let me know how they turn out!

Here are the ingredients you need to make these truffles full of wonderfulness:

• 1½ cups whole tiny twist pretzels
• 1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1 tablespoon unsalted butter, at room temperature
• 2 tablespoons light brown sugar
• Pinch of salt
• 3 tablespoons powdered sugar
• 1 tablespoon vegetable shortening
• 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter chips

And here are the cooking directions:

Directions:

1. Line a baking sheet with waxed paper; set aside.
2. Place pretzels in a resealable plastic bag and run a rolling pin over the bag crushing the pretzels into small bits; set aside.
3. In a small bowl, combine the peanut butter, butter, brown sugar and salt until completely blended and smooth. Add the pretzel bits and mix thoroughly. Add the powdered sugar and mix until completely combined. Chill in the freezer until firm, about 15 minutes.
4. Shape into balls using 2 teaspoons of dough for each ball (use your fingertips to shape the balls-the mixture is sticky). Place on prepared pan and place in the freezer until firm, at least 15 minutes.
5. Melt shortening and chocolate chips together in a metal bowl over a pan of lightly simmering water. Stir occasionally until smooth, and remove from heat.
6. Working about 4 balls at a time, dip balls in chocolate using a spoon or a dipping fork and place on a waxed paper lined baking sheet. Keep the undipped balls in the freezer until ready to dip.
7. Once you have covered all the balls in chocolate, place in the refrigerator until the chocolate coating is set. Once the coating is set melt the peanut butter chips and drizzle over each truffle. Return to refrigerator until drizzle is set. Store in an airtight container in the refrigerator.

(All credit for this recipe and the photo go to http://sweetpeaskitchen.com/)

Who can argue with Babbo?

According to David, dinner at Babbo was one of the best meals of his life.  He sent me this photo to prove it. 

Now, I know that he deserves to go to the best restaurants around, but I can't say that I wasn't just a little bit jealous to see that he was eating this incredibly delicious pasta dish while I was eating plain grilled chicken and boiled veggies in the college dining hall.  He promised me that we would go together to Batali's restaurant when I get home though...which I am so excited about!  We are planning to cook lots of yummy meals and desserts together as well as visit some of New York City's best restaurants.  I look forward to sharing recipes and experiences with you on this blog!  

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies - who could say no?!

Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies - another incredibly delicious dessert that I am planning to sell starting when I get home from college in nine days.  When I was home last, David and I baked these...and oh man were they good!  Who can resist a melting Oreo cookie surrounded by gooey chocolate chip cookie dough?  I know I can't.  To make these cookies, my brother and I wrapped Oreo cookies in Nestle Toll House Cookie dough as shown below.  We then followed the cookie instructions on the back of the cookie dough roll.  This was a quick and easy way to make extremely yummy treats that neither of us could stop eating!  Don't worry, this blog will not only be filled with recipes made from pre-made cookie dough and mixes - but, I figured I should start off the blog with some of David's favorites!  I plan to have these Oreo Stuffed Chocolate Chip Cookies be a staple item at all of my bakesales...I think they will be a crowd pleaser for sure!

Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes!

While walking today for Relay For Life at University of Michigan, I stopped at multiple different tents to check out all different things they were selling.  Some had cookies, lemonade, chips, hotdogs, etc.  You know, the usual things you would sell out of a tent.  I kept walking, trying to find something special that I would really enjoy eating - after all, I was breaking Passover with whatever this delicious pastry was going to be, so I wanted it to be good!

After walking about half way around the track, I stumbled upon a small tent...but what they were selling was anything but small!  They were selling deliciously perfect cupcakes...INSIDE ICE CREAM CONES! And the best part was that the people purchasing these wonderful cupcakes got to decorate and frost them on their own!  After purchasing and decorating two cupcakes (one chocolate and one vanilla) I bit into the vanilla cupcake.  Wow!  I had never had a cupcake in an ice cream cone before tonight, but man, let me tell you...it was soo good!!  My friend ate the chocolate one and completely agreed!

So, I am planning to add these delicious cupcakes to the list of things that I will be selling in order to raise money for leukemia research!  I am hoping to have my first bake sale fundraiser this spring at Riverdale Country School.  The date and time is still to be determined, but I am extremely excited to get this project rolling!  Hopefully it will be a big success!!