Tag Archives: Food

Nov9

Spaghetti Squash Deliciousness

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Spaghetti Squash Deliciousness

Hello! I really enjoy cooking and, unfortunately, my favorite after work activity fell by the wayside this past summer. We had an unbearably hot summer which made my apartment even more unbearably hot and even the thought of turning on the stove top or oven was too much to bear. Needless to say, I have been loving the cooler weather of fall and was eager to get back to making real meals. This past week, I decided to make spaghetti squash for the first time. I have always wanted to try it and I had the perfect occasion to: I knew Johnny was going to have a big lunch because a food truck was coming to his work and he wouldn’t want dinner on top of it. He also wouldn’t like spaghetti squash anyways so it was the ideal time to give it a shot! I’m so glad I did because it was phenomenal and I can’t wait to make it again:

Prior to starting prep for my spaghetti squash, I looked up several recipes online and they confirmed what I already planned on doing: Half the squash, remove seeds and pulp, and dress with olive oil, salt, and pepper. The hardest part was cutting the squash in half but the rest was easy peasy even though taking out the guts kind of grossed me out! After the squash was ready, I put it in the oven at four hundred degrees and baked for forty minutes and let it sit for another ten. When I was ready to dig in, I truly understood why it’s called spaghetti squash because it really does look just like spaghetti!

My first bite was a crisp blast of buttery, salty, peppery heaven and I had an entire half for dinner! I was genuinely surprised by how filling the spaghetti squash was, although I will say I was a little bit snacky a few hours later. To diminish the sensation of needing a bag of chips or a sweet treat shortly after dinner, I plan on adding on a few ingredients to my next batch. Spaghetti with pesto, cherry tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, and pine nuts is one of my favorite dishes and I’m sure it will taste just as great with spaghetti squash. I’m super excited to try it! 😀

When it comes to cooking, simple but delicious meals are the name of my game and spaghetti squash is that to the T. I know for a fact Johnny would have hated it but I enjoyed it enough for the both of us! ❤

What toppings do you like on spaghetti squash? What are your favorite fall foods to make? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov4

Last Day In Lake Como

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Last Day In Lake Como

Hi!! Our Italy adventure through AAA and Collette came to a close in glorious Lake Como and it was the most spectacular day. As you read, we spent some lackluster time in Venice and we were all ready to go home during our full day there. Then, we arrived at the lake the following morning and ate our words – we never wanted to leave! Our single day in Lake Como consisted of a ferry ride, a walking tour, and a delicious farewell dinner to celebrate the end of an amazing trip. It went from magical to literally painful when we had to depart from the Milan airport the next day – especially when we had a view like this from our room at the Hotel Barchetta Excelsior:

After a quick break in the hotel, we boarded a ferry that took us on a one hour ride around Lake Como. It was so relaxing to look at the water, feel the breeze, and take in the beautiful scenery. This was, easily, the most leisurely activity we did on this entire trip and I think we all really needed it. We had to rally for the bon voyage bash in the evening! During our ferry ride, I was delighted to be sitting by a couple from Paris and got to put my French to the test. We had an excellent conversation and they told me I spoke French very well which was such an awesome compliment! I didn’t think it was possible for our time on the lake to get any better but that chit chat really thrilled me and I am still on cloud nine about it. 😀

Once we returned from the ferry ride, a walking tour commenced and Johnny and I decided to fly solo. We wanted some time with just the two of us before it was back to Akron, Ohio! Johnny and I strolled through the streets, popped in different shops, and enjoyed a drink on the patio of a cafe. It was the most charming afternoon and it felt so good to be feeling so good after I hit my wall in Venice. I genuinely can’t believe I ever wanted to go home lol! While our little date was a joy, it was also bittersweet because all good things must come to an end. I’m just so thankful I got to share in all of this with my main squeeze! ❤

Our day concluded at the restaurant of the hotel for the farewell dinner and it was DIVINE. In fact, this was one of my favorite meals of our whole trip. My vegetarian option was a cheesy risotto, fried eggplant, and a berry crumble for dessert. And, of course, ALL the wine! The risotto was seriously the best and I ate two helpings – I just couldn’t help myself lol and by the time my eggplant arrived, I was regretfully stuffed. What I did have of it was impeccable with crisp, fried breading and juicy eggplant in the middle. And, although I was full to the brim, I had to make room for dessert! The berry crumble was buttery, airy, and packed with juicy berries with a scoop of gelato on top for good measure. They definitely don’t make food like this in the A-K-Rowdy:

When the meal ended, we said goodbye to all of our new friends that were on the tour group with us. Then, Johnny and I returned to our hotel room with the wine we didn’t finish and had a nightcap on our balcony. It was the perfect way to end a remarkable trip and this view will forever be in my heart:

This whirlwind tour of Italy was everything I could have hoped for and so much more. Some day, I will be back. Until then, Italy will never be far from my mind!

Where is your dream vacation destination? How often do you go on vacation? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Nov1

Finishing Up In Florence & Arriving In Venice

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Finishing Up In Florence & Arriving In Venice

Hello!! Florence was one of my favorite cities when we went on our Italy adventure through AAA and Collette and the remainder of our time there was so wonderful. We visited a winery in the Chianti region that was directly behind a scenic twelfth century castle. We explored the winery, enjoyed an excellent cooking class, and got to try our dishes during a lunch with a wine tasting. It was the most lovely day that, unfortunately, came to a bit of a screeching halt when we arrived in Venice. More on that later but let’s discuss the cooking class!

Our cooking class was led by Stefano and he taught us how to make pasta and two different sauces. One option was vegetarian with delicious crisp veggies and the other was a bolognese. We started the class with pasta prep and we got the most fabulous tutorial as Stefano stretched, kneaded, and folded the dough with expert ease. After we watched him for a while, it was our turn to try and we each had a go at either stretching or cutting the dough. Stefano carefully watched our efforts, shared tips, and before we knew it we had a ton of fresh made pasta ready for our lunch.

The main prep for the sauces was already done by Stefano but he talked us through the process, the ingredients used, and his tried and true methods. By the time the class concluded we were all famished and ready to sip on wine and do a taste test. We were led to a gorgeous dining hall in the winery and ate like kings which was a blessing as we would learn later. Our dinner at the hotel in Venice was terrible so we were thankful for a good and filling lunch:

With our bellies full, it was time to get back on the bus and make our way to Venice. I was very excited to get there because it’s such a famous location but the getting there was the problem lol. After our bus dropped us off, we had to get on a water taxi to make it to our hotel. In theory, this was no problem. In practice, it was a panic attack worthy affair. My family was in the back of the line to board our water taxi and the dock was not stable whatsoever. It rocked and swayed as people boarded and departed their boats and it was terrifying. I wasn’t scared for me, but my mom doesn’t have the best balance and it was a recipe for disaster.

When it was our turn to get on the water taxi, that was nerve wracking too because the steps to get on them are small and very steep. Once we were safely into the taxi, I was treated to a full blown panic attack. I couldn’t stop shaking and crying because it was just scary and unexpected and I was genuinely worried something terrible would happen. That moving dock was really no joke! It was such a relief to be on solid ground once we were at the hotel and it took me a while to calm down. I had to rally, though, because we were having a group dinner. The company was delightful but the food at the Hotel Carlton on the Grand Canal? Not so much:

The vegetarian meal at the hotel consisted of a sad salad, cold potato things, some type of falafel I think, and a veggie medley. I poked around at the salad for a bit, tasted the potatoes and said hard no, didn’t bother with the falafel, and had a few bites of the veggies. All of the food was lukewarm or downright cold, flavorless, and barely looked appetizing. Every single person on our tour had something bad to say about this meal and we all agreed that it was the worst of the trip, for sure. The food was so unappetizing that I didn’t even feel like trying the tiramisu and my one bite was lackluster AF. This was not a strong start in Venice, indeed, but the following day was much better!

We are nearing the end of my vacation blog recap with one more day in Venice and our final stop in Lake Como. Stay tuned and read all about it!

Do you have any holiday travel plans? Have you ever had a scary travel experience? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct29

Fabulous Florence

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Fabulous Florence

Hello!! We spent about a day and a half in Florence during our Italy adventure through AAA and Collette and our full day there was a busy but amazing one!! We spent the entire day immersed in activities from a guided walking tour of the city to an after hours stop at a fourteenth century Certosa monastery and an excellent Tuscan feast to wrap up the night. Our meal was complete with opera singing and dancing and cutting a rug on the dance floor with my family was one of my favorite memories of the trip! Let’s discuss:

Our walking tour was a fascinating trip through Florence exploring all of the marvels that the city holds. We enjoyed sights of the Duomo, the Baptistery, the Palazzo Vecchio, and the Piazza della Signoria. The Piazza della Signoria was, easily, the best part of this tour for me and I could have stood there for hours taking the magnificent church in and it still wouldn’t have felt like enough. It was breathtaking! An ultra cool part of the tour was seeing “wine windows” which were used WAY back in the day and were brought back during the Covid pandemic. There was nothing better than getting a cool glass of wine directly through a window and sipping as we stepped through the city!

Once our tour was complete, we spent an hour or so shopping around and then went to the hotel to freshen up before an after hours tour of a monastery. Our guide for the tour was named Andrea and he took us through the monastery with such care and a delightful enthusiasm. We even got to go into one of the apartments that served as a home for the monks who lived there. It was awesome and I was overjoyed with the handful of picturesque shots I got:

Little did we know after our tour, that Andrea would be joining us at a restaurant a short drive away for the Tuscan feast. In fact, he was the star of the show! Throughout our multi course meal, Andrea treated all of us to the most beautiful opera music as he is a celebrated singer. And, in between courses, we got to join him on the dance floor to boogie to old and new favorites. Andrea was a hit with all of the ladies on the tour but especially my mom lol she totally had a crush and it was so funny! Heck, if we’re all being honest, I definitely had a crush too!! I’m not sure what the best part of this night was – the company or the food:

My vegetarian meal began with a spread of mushrooms and olives on Tuscan bread and a Caprese salad. I freaking loved the bread spread and actually had this several times during the trip. The mushroom spread was rich and creamy and the olive spread was bold, flavorful, and salty. So, so good! The next course was a dish of pasta and eggplant which was like heaven with every bite. The sauce was bursting with sweet tomato and the smokey eggplant pairing was sheer perfection. I wasn’t crazy about the following dish was an egg souffle thing but I was all about that dessert which tasted like Neapolitan ice cream in cake form. I think I could have had several more pieces of that!

After our Tuscan feast was complete, we took it to the dance floor for the rest of the evening before it was time to head back. A winery tour and arriving in Venice was next on our agenda and we all needed our beauty sleep!

What is your favorite Italian dish? What is your favorite travel activity? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct22

Golf Cart Tour Of Rome

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Golf Cart Tour Of Rome

Hi! As you saw in yesterday’s post, our day in Rome continued after the tour of the Vatican Museums and St. Peter’s Basilica with a golf cart tour of Rome. In our tour’s itinerary, the evening was ours to do whatever our heart’s desired. You could fly solo or go out to dinner with the tour group. As we were prepping for the trip, my dad thought a golf cart tour would be fun and allow us to see all of the different landmarks in person as opposed to on the bus. We are all so glad he came up with this idea because it was SO much fun and the perfect way to see Rome! Check it out:

Our golf cart tour guide, Alessio, picked us up from our hotel promptly at five in the evening for a three hour tour of Rome. Johnny and I opted to sit in the backseat of the golf cart so we could face traffic and wave at everyone! As soon as we were buckled in, we hit the road and it was so crazy! I feel like there are no traffic rules when you drive in Rome and everyone just kind of does what they feel like lol. Our driver took us around with expert care but when we would go fast it was almost like being on a rollarcoaster! All we could do was put our hands up and enjoy the ride and we sure did. It was just really nice to do something on our own away from the group and it was so wonderful to take in the sights firsthand with the wind in our hair.

The first stop on the tour was the Colosseum and that was simply spectacular. We had seen it from the bus already but that is nothing like being outside and seeing it right before your very eyes. We spent some time taking pictures and marveling at such an incredible piece of history and then we stopped in a cute cafe for some gelato before we zipped over to the Trevi Fountain. This was my first taste of Italian gelato and the vanilla did not disappoint. It was so rich and vanilla-y and I couldn’t eat another bite by the time I was halfway done. How fabulous to see the Colosseum and have a little treat afterwards! 😀

The Trevi Fountain was our next stop and my favorite landmark of the night. I was expecting its location to be more pronounced like the Colosseum but the fountain actually emerged in the middle of a block filled with shopping. It was so random to see it in all of its glory in what felt like the middle of nothing! I don’t know if this is bad or not so you tell me but I had no idea what the Trevi Fountain looked like until that moment. I’m glad I didn’t, though, because it was even better than I could have imagined and I just wanted to dive right into the cool blue water!

After the fountain we made a few more stops at scenic areas for photo ops and ended at the Pantheon. By the time we got there, it was getting dark and it was beautiful to see the Pantheon all lit up. It wasn’t all beauty because someone in the square definitely got pick-pocketed – we could hear them yell “STOP! THIEF!” but when in Rome, I guess lol? Once we walked the space and took some pics, it was time to start heading back to the hotel and our tour guide recommended an excellent spot nearby to stop for dinner. We all could have used some real food after the gelato!

Alessio got us reservations at Terme Di Diocleziano and his recommendation was spot on. In fact, we all agreed that this was the best pizza we had in Italy, period. We got a veggie pizza, a spicy salami one for the non vegetarians, and a buffalo mozzarella and tomato which was my favorite. The crust was thin and crisp but the inside was soft, the tomato sauce was sweet, and the buffalo mozzarella was ooey gooey heaven. We barely had room for biscotti for dessert and basically had to roll ourselves back to the hotel. So worth it. 😀

Our whirlwind day in Rome concluded with a quick drink at the rooftop bar of our hotel before heading to Assisi the following morning. I was asleep as soon as my head hit the pillow!

Tune in tomorrow for the next stops on our tour of Italy: Assisi by day and Perugia by night. See you then!

What is your dream vacation location? Have you been to Italy before? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Oct19

Welcome To Rome!

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Welcome To Rome!

Hello!! My family and I enjoyed the most wonderful vacation in Italy and spent ten days traveling and city hopping. This tour was compliments of AAA and Collette and it really was a whirlwind adventure. Johnny, myself, my parents, and older brother went here, there, and everywhere with thirty-five other people and our amazing tour guide, Savio. We made forever friends, unforgettable memories, and fostered a love and knowledge for every location we visited and its surrounding areas. This was our first time out of the country and it truly couldn’t have gone better thanks to the meticulous planning and guidance of our beloved Savio. We may be back in the A-K-Rowdy, but Italy will never be far from our hearts.

Our travels began with margaritas at the airport at ten in the morning (obviously), a quick flight to Chicago where more margs were consumed (obviously), and an overnight flight that brought us to Rome for the start of our tour. Due to the other members of our group all arriving at different times, we were able to get ourselves checked into the hotel to rest, spend some time in the city, and have a big welcome dinner that evening. As soon as we made it to the Mediterraneo Hotel (I will be reviewing every hotel we stayed at), Johnny and I freshened up and made our way into Rome for some shopping as his sunglasses broke on the flight. That is when our adventure really began…

Johnny and I emerged onto the streets of Rome with no other plan then to find him some sunnies. We decided to ask the first people we saw who looked close to our age and learned that they were not from Rome but Austria. We chatted, laughed, and made up in the air plans to meet up for drinks after our welcome dinner. Rather than keep asking for help, we took it to the streets and hit up a bunch of different stores. Johnny and I found sunglasses and I also purchased a GORGEOUS purse which you will see later! After our shopping we returned to the hotel to have some drinks and wait for our dinner featuring regional specialties.

Our welcome dinner was absolutely delicious and I was so appreciative to the attentiveness of our tour guide to ensure that my mom and I always had vegetarian options. The meal started with a yummy flatbread and a rich pasta with veggies. Next was a divine pastry filled with cheese (I was in heaven) and the most tasty pistachio ice cream for dessert. It was actually one of my favorite sweets we had on the entire trip! And, of course, the wine flowed freely as we dined and got to know all of the other guests who felt like family within days.

After our meal, the fun didn’t stop because Johnny and I hit up the rooftop bar at the hotel to meet with our new friends from Austria. Guys… We got absolutely wasted and spent hours drinking Prosecco, sharing stories of our respective countries, and laughing hysterically. One of our new pals wants to visit us in Ohio for a “hillybilly time” of drinking moonshine and shooting guns and we’d love to make it happen lolol. We are still in contact with them! As much as we would have loved to keep the night going, Johnny and I were beat and had an early following day filled with sightseeing. This day set the vibe for the whole trip and it promised to be fabulous. I can’t wait to tell you all more about it so stay tuned because lifewithlilred is having an Italian takeover!

In under two weeks, Italy felt like home. We are thankful beyond measure for this beautiful time with friends and family and I am so excited to relive it all here with my dear readers. Keep it posted!

Have you been on vacation this year? Where did you go? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug30

Terrific T OOTD Bloopers

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Terrific T OOTD Bloopers

Hello everyone and welcome to the Blooper Reel from my Terrific T OOTD! Wearing jeans and a T-shirt is my standard throughout the work week. However, T’s rarely have a place in my weekend OOTDs as I love to get dressed to the nines. This outfit was an exception, though, because I just couldn’t wait to wear my Twilight “I ❤ Hot Dads” T-shirt from Hot Topic! It’s never not going to be funny to me and, honestly, it somehow felt so appropriate to the lunch date with Johnny I wore it to because it was the most subpar meal we have ever had lol. And these pictures? Rank even lower than subpar:

I’m *almost* ready for my closeup

Probs singing some Repo! The Genetic Opera (IYKYK)

Beaming with pride over my purchase

Finding my center of gravity as I often lose it after popping my foot lol

I LOOK GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Waiting for the bartender to notice me

Sup dudes

Obviously there are no good barbecue restaurants in Ohio but there is Jimmy’s Backyard BBQ which has somehow stayed open for years. Johnny and I drive by it several times per week and always have to take note of a beloved Cuyahoga Falls mascot: Their giant Sasquatch statue that watches over the premises. It once got stolen a few years back and finally got replaced to everyone’s delight! Out of nowhere a few days before our lunch date, Johnny suggested we try it. Although I am a vegetarian, I go hard on BBQ side dishes and sheer curiosity got the best of us so we locked it in the calendar.

After dressing for success and taking pictures, we made our way to Jimmy’s with stomachs rumbling. We were served quickly and couldn’t wait to dig in. And that first bite? Lackluster at best! Believe you me, Johnny and I weren’t expecting blow your mind BBQ but we weren’t expecting that. The meat was dry, my mac n cheese was watery, and the most noteworthy thing we had were the hush puppies. Credit where it’s due: They were bomb AF. Needless to say, we would never go to Jimmy’s again. BUT it’s always nice to support local, it made for a fun story, and we got to get up close and personal with Sasquatch. This situation was still a massive win and that’s saying a lot considering I take my mac n cheese very seriously!

Although our meal was disappointing, the company couldn’t be beat. Johnny and I can always make a good time out of anything!

What is your favorite local restaurant? Is there a restaurant you visited that didn’t live up to the hype? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Apr24

Best Toast EVER

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Best Toast EVER

Hello! I absolutely love to cook for my family and friends. Nothing pleases me more than seeing people enjoy what I have made and whenever we have company, trust and believe I have to whip up a little something something! Although Johnny and I think my cooking is the bomb.com, there is something about other people’s cooking that just hits different. For example, my mom and I make the exact same mac n’ cheese recipe and I always think that hers tastes better than mine. In fact, I recently had her mac n’ cheese and shared my sentiments and told her a little story about Johnny’s scrambled eggs…

Two or so years ago I got really sick after getting one of my Covid boosters. I was having hot flashes and chills, my body felt like I got ran over by a truck, and it was straight up agony. During that time, I wasn’t eating much and drinking ALL of the blue Gatorade. Then, when my appetite came back I requested scrambled eggs and toast that Johnny made for me. I kid you not when I say it was the best scrambled eggs I had ever had in my life and Johnny was so pleased with himself! 🙂

This past Monday I was feeling pretty lousy. I didn’t sleep well on Sunday night and I was so busy in the morning that I didn’t have time to eat breakfast before my shift. By the time I got home after work, I was so exhausted and freaking starving. I made myself something quick and easy but that didn’t curb my hunger one bit and I knew I would need a snack before taking my nighttime medication. My beloved Johnny tapped in for the assist and made my order of toast with “lots of butter” while I went upstairs to lay down.

A few minutes later he returned with my toast and, once again, I kid you not that it was the best toast I ever had lol. Was it because I was so hungry or because it was made with love? Who’s to say? All I know is that it tasted like manna from heaven! I repeat, there is just something about when other people make food for you that hits different! As I ate, I could literally feel myself feeling better and I could tell it made Johnny happy. I think he felt how I feel when I make food for him! He’s, admittedly, not the best chef but my main squeeze can make a mean scrambled eggs, toast, and oven pizza like nobody’s business! What a heck of a guy. ❤

A snack as simple as toasted sourdough bread, beaucoup butter, and Johnny’s secret ingredient of a pinch of salt got me feeling right again. I think he needs to make it for me from now on!!

Do you and someone else like to make the same recipes? Whose dish tastes better to you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Mar23

New Orleans Eats

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New Orleans Eats

Hi!! My sister and I took an amazing weekend trip to New Orleans for our cousin’s wedding and had the best time! Even with our travel turmoil due to our flight home being cancelled, nothing beats quality time with Kristen and I reveled in it. Outside of attending our cousin’s beautiful wedding, we did a fair amount of sight seeing and shopping. As far as food goes… We ate what we could lol. Kristen and I have been strict vegetarians since childhood and New Orleans cuisine isn’t the most accommodating to our dietary needs. We made do with a lot of breakfast food and just had to try beignets and a hurricane too! Let’s chat about our New Orleans Eats and my favorite part of every meal – GRITS!!!

We attended a pre party for my cousin’s wedding on Friday night and it was such fun. There was a tarot card reader, a caricature artist, and a lovely spread of seafood that we couldn’t partake in. After chatting it up with family and new friends for the evening, we were completely famished and had to stop somewhere for some grub. We landed upon Cafe Beignet for some late night breakfast. Kristen went for a veggie sandwich which was just okay and I opted for a cheese omelette. My breakfast plate was fine but the grits reigned supreme. I could have ate a bucketful and still wanted more! With some fuel finally in our tanks, we decided to stop by a bar for a hurricane to share because when in New Orleans…

Let me preface this by saying that Kristen and I were doing a-okay pre hurricane. Post hurricane is a different story because holy cow was that drink strong!! After we got our drink at the bar, we decided to sip it on the way back to our hotel and that was a blessing. I don’t think we could have found our way back if we drank our cocktail before our trek to the Chateau Orleans! Although the hurricane is a force to be reckoned with, it sure was tasty. However, one was definitely enough for our weekend because I was feeling the consequences the next day lolol.

On Saturday morning, we decided to swing by Loretta’s for beignets as per our Uber driver’s recommendation. She said they are the real deal as opposed to Cafe Du Monde and we couldn’t wait to try them. We were starving! Unfortunately, the line for both Loretta’s and Cafe Du Monde were the equivalent of an amusement park line and we were too hungry to wait. Instead, we had brunch at The Market Cafe and it was wonderful. There was a band playing during our meal that was freaking awesome and we so enjoyed sitting outside in the pleasant seventy degree temps.

Kristen went for the breakfast buffet at The Market Cafe and I ordered a plate of their Cajun Alfredo. Shout out to my sis because my pasta took forever to arrive and she added grits and biscuits to her buffet plate for me to snack on. The biscuits were fluffy, buttery, and absolutely divine. The same sentiment goes to the grits too! Oh my god were they good. By the time my pasta arrived, I was getting full but I had to put in work. The Alfredo was creamy, spicy, and oh so buttery too and I thought I was going to burst halfway through. SO worth it!

For our final meal in New Orleans, Kristen and I went to a lovely restaurant called Curio and our breakfasts were delicious. Their jalapeno white cheddar grits were sadly just okay but those potato wedges saved the day. YUM! After we filled up, we visited the Garden District to take a look at our future mansions. Then, we made our way back to Cafe Beignet in the French Quarter to finally try beignets. They were… okay lol. The beignets were incredibly dense and I couldn’t even finish one of them. The Cafe offered three beignets for five dollars which is a deal but I couldn’t even imagine eating a full order to myself. I’m glad we got to try them, though, because (once again) when in New Orleans!

As our trip wrapped up, Kristen and I were craving Taco Bell in a bad way as per usual. I think we both deserve some after our weekend of being world travelers!

What is your favorite restaurant in New Orleans? Do you like to try new food when you are on vacation? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Feb6

Middle Class Fancy At Applebees

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Middle Class Fancy At Applebees

Hello! Johnny and I only have streaming services so we don’t see commercials very often except for on Peacock. It’s mainly just insurance and medication commercials lol but sometimes we are gifted by seeing the new items on the menu at pizza shops and restaurants. The one that really caught our eye last week was the OM-Cheese Burger from Applebees. It is basically a burger placed in a bath of melted cheese and it looked absolutely beautiful. Johnny asked if I wanted to go get it for lunch the following weekend and my answer was a resounding YES. I was looking forward to it all week and it was a wonderful Middle Class Fancy afternoon on the town! Check it out:

Saturday was an exciting day not just because of Middle Class Fancy but because it was the Royal Rumble, baby! Every year we watch with our bestie and turn it into a big event. Our lunch at Applebees was the perfect way to fuel up for the big show! From start to finish, our experience was excellent – as per ushe. Our server was a delight, the drinks were just right, and our food was dynamite. I think I should start a career in poetry! We also were able to utilize their fantastic 2 for $25 deal for our meals that offers one appetizer and two entrees. You can’t beat that and we opted for the mozzarella sticks and two OM-Cheese Burgers. Our server wasn’t sure if they could make the entree with an Impossible Burger but they pulled through and I am eternally grateful. This dish was what dreams are made of.

I was completely starving when we went to lunch and our food arrived blessedly quick. As soon as that fajita plate was put in front of me, it was go time. Unlike Johnny, I am a fries first kind of girl because fries will never be better than when they are first placed in front of you. The French fries were crisp, salty, and were good until the very last one. Then, it was burger time. When I told people we were going to Applebees to try this concoction, the majority of responses were that it looked disgusting lol. I replied that you had to see past the initial disgust to get to the beauty inside and it was a very accurate sentiment! This cheeseburger was in a pool of ooey gooey queso dip and it was just divine. The burger was juicy, the buns were fluffy, and that cheese though! I err on the side of cheesy whenever the option is available and it was like this meal was made for me. It was so tasty and filling and I honestly could have benefited from a nap afterwards. Exactly how a Middle Class Fancy date should end! ❤

If you are a cheese fiend, the OM-Cheese Burger from Applebees is a must try. Get your Middle Class Fancy on and have a blast!!

What is your favorite chain restaurant? What is your least favorite commercial? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah