Fruit-Filled Sponge Cake

As I was walking through the grocery store, I saw this cake sitting on display. It was neither fancy, presumptuous nor expensive. Sometimes those are the perfect snacks to pick up on a whim.

Linn St. Cafe

Linn St. Cafe is considered by many to be Iowa City's nicest restaurant. We go there several times a year (only when they have a Groupon). While I think that the food is really good, I think that it is overpriced. The Linn St. Cafe presents itself as an upscale restaurant but every time that we go, both Leigha and I think that the ambiance is truly lacking. They have mismatched chairs and plastic covered tables. The kicker is that every single time that we are there, the manager paces back and forth while answering the phone and talking loudly.

Denny's Grand Slam

Denny's is the type of place that is all about comfort food. By comfort food, I mean food that is familiar, not too bad tasting and that you could make at home for half the price. It is also the type of place that reminds me of childhood. Growing up, this was the type of place that a family of six would go out to eat. I remember convincing my little sister to drink the little "cup of coke".  For some reason, after that, she didn't believe me when I told her that it was a tiny ice cream scoop on the pancakes. 

Drinks #34 Agua Fresca

Strawberry, Blueberry and
Mint Agua Fresca

Agua Fresca translates to "Fresh Water" and it is pretty aptly named. Perhaps the most common is Agua de Horchata. This is made with rice flavored with cinnamon and other spices. With the popularity of flavored waters growing, Agua Fresca was popular in Mexico and Central America long before the current fad started. You can make your own Agua Fresca in two easy steps:

Edgewater Grille

The Edgewater Grille is the restaurant located inside the Coralville Marriot. I was there for a rehearsal dinner and ordered their Grilled Cuban sandwich. I thought that it was pretty good. My biggest problem was the bread. It was too hard on the outside. This wouldn't have been a problem if it was a panini. My second problem was that I accidentally deleted my picture of the sandwich. It can still be seen below the fries and olives.

Pancheros

I have written many times about my love of Panchero's. This is no different. I don't think that I've ever had something to eat there and NOT liked it. This is a Carnita Burrito Con Chile Verde. Or to English speakers, Carnita Burrito with Chile Verde. Or to people that don't speak food,

Caprese Sandwich

A Caprese sandwich is a sandwich of simplicity. You could say that it is the Italian BMT. Basil, Mozarella & Tomato. All that you NEED are four ingredients:

Bluebird Cafe Blueberry Pie

On the eighth floor of the University of Iowa Hospital, there is station that sells baked goods and other foods that are donated from area restaurants. While I was participating in my Biggest Loser competition, I started to walk up all eight flights of steps on my breaks. Once the competition was over, I never stopped doing my walk, but I

Spring Roll

While visiting Leigha's aunt and uncle in Colorado, she proposed making our own Spring Rolls. While I've eaten plenty of them in my time, I have never even considered making homemade spring rolls before. Surprisingly, they are incredibly easy to make.

El Cactus

El Cactus is just like any other Mexican restaurant that you can find in Iowa. Quick service. A polite and friendly staff. Acceptable food. The reason we find ourselves at Mexican restaurants a lot is the fact that the kids actually eat when we go there.

House of Lords

House of Lords is a restaurant that specializes in prime rib and kitsch. It is located inside the Best Western in Coralville. As you walk in to the hotel, there is a sign welcoming you to the House of Lords but Leigha and I couldn't figure out where to go. We were told to go down the stairs at room 14, to which Leigha replied "We go into a room and down the stairs from there?"

"No," we were told. "Go to the room and THEN go down the stairs."

Indian Treats

Kaju Katli is an Indian treat made from ground cashews. It is generally

Cucumber, Avacado and Brie Quesadilla

I'm not sure if I truly love testing varieties of Quesadillas, or if I am practically using the 100s of tortillas that I had bought from a restaurant supplier for $1. Regardless, I've come up with many different types of quesadillas.

Bacon Pancakes

One morning, as I was making pancakes for the kids, I decided to put some bacon on my pancake on a whim. As I did it, I wondered why I had never thought of doing it before.

Oasis Falafel

Falafels are a food that are relatively new to me. In fact, this was one of the foods that I had never tried until I started this blog. From the time that I first tried falafels, I fell in love. They are now a staple in our house, especially since Leigha became a vegetarian. This one is from 

Desserts # 60 Chocolate Covered Bacon

 

One day I was talking to a man that had been a vegetarian for over forty years and I asked him why he was a vegetarian. He told me that he started as a vegetarian due to financial necessity in college. Over the years, it had progressed to more of a philosophical reasoning. Then he told me that he (as well as most of the other vegetarians that he knows)is only tempted by one thing: bacon.

Sriracha, Why Dontcha? Contest

Win a bottle of Sriracha!

Sriracha sauce is a Thai Chili hot sauce that has started to gain popularity in America within the last few years. In fact, Bon Appétit declared it the ingredient of the year for 2010. While there are many varieties of the sauce, Huy Fong’s green-capped, Rooster –labeled sauce is king in the U.S.

For as long as I can remember, I’ve liked adding heat to my food. I honestly think that it all started when my dad bought some “Hot Ass Chili Powder”. As a kid I loved being able to say “ass” without getting in trouble. Not only did I like the flavor, but I also liked the tingle at the tip of my tongue when I ate the spice concoction. As I got older, my go-to spice became cayenne pepper. I was willing to try it in anything. Then I found Sriracha. Its heat level is lower than a jalapeno and is actually pretty sweet. I like it so much because it blends sweet, sour and hot so well.

I am always looking for new recipes to try featuring this magic sauce. That is where you come in.  By sharing your favorite Sriracha recipes, you can win a bottle of the miracle sauce. Here’s how you can win an entry (or 10):

Sriracha, Why Dontcha Official Rules

Sriracha, Why Dontcha?
Official Rules