Texas Eats & a GIVEAWAY!!!

Howdy Y'all!!!

I'm FINALLY back...well, to tell you the truth, I got back Sunday but my laptop just got here Wednesday and I've been kinda busy...
We had a fabulouso time in South Texas...let me tell ya...it was H O T - H O T - H O T!!! I'm talking 98-102 everyday...but I'm not complaining, I got a great tan!

Our first stop was McAllen for the first night and then we were Padre Island bound...we were only going to stay a few nights but since things at the office changed a bit, we ended up staying for 5 nights. We had a blast. We went fishing, ate great seafood, spent time with family, saw some old friends and most of all....Matt got to relax (even though he was on the phone for a few hours everyday) and take a break from his crazy schedule...



Prime Steaks and Twice Baked Casserole
The Seel Residence
McAllen, TX



Our fresh catch...blackened redfish and fried trout.
Blackbeards
South Padre Island



It was damn good....



Fried mozzarella and fried portabellas at Gabriella's.
South Padre Island

Braised Beef Parpadelle
Gabriella's
South Padre Island



Cool pic, huh???



Ceviche
Laguna Bob's
South Padre Island

Whole Red Snapper
Sea Ranch
South Padre Island

Garza Special
Garza's Mexican Restaurant
1 Taco 2 Enchilada's Rice Beans
San Juan, TX



Ribs and Jalapeno & Cheese Sausage
The Seel Residence
McAllen, TX





Ok...Now on to the FUN part. My first giveaway!!!

When I started this blog back in January, I really had no idea what sort of response I would get...in all honesty, I didn't care, I just wanted a place to be able to share my love of cooking with others out there and get some new ideas.  Now, five months later, 44 followers and 206 fans on facebook later...I thought it was time to show you how much ALL of your support means to me!!! Seriously, I have met so many great people in these last few months its incredible and hope to meet many many more in the future.

Up for grabs is my favorite go-to cookbook, La Pinata. Since I just went to Texas, I though this was fitting :) It is a collection of recipes from The Junior League of McAllen. It's first printing was in 1976 and I gotta tell ya, It has a little bit of EVERYTHING!!! You're going to love it, I promise!

Here's all you gotta do...

Leave me a comment telling me what your favorite "go to" cookbook is.

~If you are a fan on facebook and/or a follower on twitter, let me know in your comment and you will get an extra entry for each~

I will choose a winner using random.org and announce the winner next Friday, June 23.

Good Luck!!!

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I'm still here!

Hey all!!!
I apologize for my lack of posting...We ended up staying longer than we expected at the beach and have been eating out since Friday! I must say it's been nice but I am starting to miss the kitchen and my blogging buddies :) I just wanted to say Hi!! I will be back soon and will be doing my first giveaway!!!

I caught the biggest redfish! 32 inches!

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Australia Eats!

Well, I've been back almost a full week now and it's about time I start blogging again!!! I feel so out of the loop in the blogging world, I have spent the last couple of days checking up on all my blogging buddies and friends on facebook!

I haven't really had a chance to cook anything new and exciting this week...so I though I would share with you some of the delicious meals I enjoyed while on the other side of the world...I wish I could tell you about them all...but there were just too many and some of them I didn't take pictures of...Do you ever feel weird about taking pictures of your food at a restaurant? I don't usually but when the restaurant is very dim inside...I feel kinda funny about it...so that is also why!

It all started in Beverly Hills. We had a ridiculously long layover at LAX, so I decided to hire a car and give us a quick tour of the LA area. It was about 2pm so we decided to have a late lunch and our driver recommended a fabulous Italian place called, Il Pastaio, and fabulous it was...and so was the people watching, but that's besides the point...They had quite possibly the BEST Carpaccio Di Tonno, tuna carpaccio, but it looked so delicious...I dug in before taking a picture even crossed my mind! Sorry!

What remains of my Mezzelune aka lobster ravioli..simply divine!

Mom's Cappellini

How cute are these salt & pepper shakers they had on the plane? I told the flight attendant on the flight home how adorable I though they were and he said I could take them! So, I snagged mine at dinner and then again at breakfast. I'm tellin ya. V Australia rocks!

So 16 hours later...we finally made it to Melbourne...and off we went!

Lunch at Cafe Andiamo, Degraves Street, Melbourne.
We shared chicken Parmesan and vegetable foccacia with a lovely salad!

Mint Chocolate Chip & Red Velvet Cupcakes
The Cupcake Bakery, Melbourne
Seriously DELISH! Good thing these do not exist where I live...or I would  be in trouble...

Goat cheese stuffed zucchini blossom...I will be attempting these this summer when zukes are everywhere!!!
ARIA Bar & Lounge
Langham Hotel
Melbourne, VIC

Matsuhisa
Belvedere Vodka & Hokusetsu Yura Yura Saki and shaken with fresh ginger and cucumber
Nobu
Melbourne, VIC

Skinny Latte
Somewhere in Melbourne and many other places throughout the trip.
How adorable is the little heart?????

After Melbourne, we hopped on a plane and headed to Brisbane. We then drove down to Yamba. It takes about 3.5 hours total. So we stopped in Byron Bay along the way to have lunch...and do some shopping of course.

Gorgonzola Salad
My first introduction to poached eggs on a salad. I have been in love ever since!
The Balcony Bar & Restaurant
Byron Bay, NSW

It was SOOOO hot...so I had a Mint Julep to cool me off :)

We continued our journey south and made it to Angourie and Yamba...gorgeous beach towns so close together they could be one! First order of business...

 

 

Fish & Chips
Flake & Squid
Yamba Fish Market
Yamba, NSW

Absolutley DELISH!!!



We wandered around and stumbled upon a really cute kitchen store, Kitchen to Table, where I saw this...

OMG!?!?!

And apparently that's a BARGAIN! 



Alas...the Big Brekky!!!
2 poached eggs, sausage, bacon, mushrooms, grilled tomato and 2 slices of delicious crispy toast
I have no idea what the name of this little joint was...but boy...was it good!

 We then flew to Sydney and headed to Katoomba in the Blue Mountains, which was about a 90 minute drive from the airport. Unfortunalty, I only have one meal photo to post from here...

Kangaroo Burger...yes sir...kangaroo! Slightly tough...and had a mild game taste to it.
I cant think of the name of the restaurant....oops
Katoomba, Blue Mountains, NSW

And the last stop on our trip was Sydney...Oh Sydney...how you are my favorite city in the world. There is just something about being there that has a special feeling to me...anyways, we spent our last two days here...and savored every moment!

My Mom had...
Seafood Pie
Jordan's Seafood Restaurant
Darling Harbour
Sydney, NSW



And I had...
Fried Soft Shell Crab with Asian Greens
Jordan's Seafood Restaurant
Darling Harbour
Sydney, NSW

  And that is the last of the photo journey...I do want to mention a 2 spots where I did not take pictures...but had AMAZING meals.

Darley's at our hotel in the Blue Mountains...stunning old house transformed into an amazing restaurant. We did the 3 course menu and it was worth every penny...I probably can't spell half of the things we ate...so I won't bother trying but think...rabbit & beef cheek.
The Cut in Sydney...After all the fish I had been eating, I was ready for a good steak. The concierge at our hotel recommened this place, it was a mere two months old but he assured us it would not dissapoint...and it sure didn't...I had the house specialty...Wagyu Standing Rib, sliced right in front of my eyes and ate almost every bite...best.i've.ever.had...and my Mom had the Wagyu Filet and for someone who doesn't eat much steak...ate almost all of it.

Check out the door handles in the bathroom...

How COOl is that?!?!?!?!

Well...I hope you enjoyed reading about my adventures in eating...I will be back to cooking this weekend!!!!!Pin It

I'm baaaaaaaaack!!!

Hello all my blogger buddies!!!!

I have made it back safely and am desperately trying to get over my jet lag...when I returned from my trip back in 2006, I distinctly remember it taking 5 + days to get back to normal...so I was kind of expecting this...but hoping it wouldn't be as bad!

I had really good intentions of blogging while I was away, but just never seemed to find the time or sometimes WiFi! I only brought my iPad along and for those of you who have one...know blogger.com isn't always the most cooperative when it comes to the iPad...

We ate at so many great restaurants...I'm afraid to get on the scale...

Anyways, I had a FABULOUS time but I'm glad to be back in my own bed and ready to get cooking!!!!

Please check out my facebook page for some pitctures!!!

I must go home and take a NAP!Pin It