What I Do and Why I’m Not Doing It

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Blog writing tips, Danny's Kitchen, finding writing inspiration, Huge pool float, Kai float, Organic Pineapple and Mango Margarita, pool floats for dogs

Bet you’re surprised to be seeing this!  It’s definitely been awhile.  Life is good and I’m still enjoying delicious foods, I’m just enjoying myself so much I don’t have time to write about it.  And I’m about ready to do a whole lotta this…

Oh, yes the Kai float…best birthday gift ever!  Daisy and I will be floating our way through a carefree summer in the pool.

Recently I’ve had several comments about my writing and I thought I’d go ahead and just post my response here for all to read.  It’s so nice to know that I’m entertaining at least a few of you out there.

Hi! Thanks for your interest in my blog. It’s my one and only creation that came about out of necessity. Basically, my family constantly found themselves at restaurants texting me to get my advice on what to order. I thought I should write it down because, well, I have a HUGE family and the texts kept pouring in  I’m not a professional, just your typical girl who wants to share her passion for food and document the fun times I have with family and friends.

In response to your question: You asked what I do to clear my mind and find a center of focus…well, I wait to feel inspired. I typically take pictures of most meals and wait until I get “tickled” about something and decide I MUST turn it into a blog post. I wait until I WANT to write about it. It’s definitely hard to force creativity and I don’t want this to be a chore (which is why I’m taking a break from posting….3 hour posting times were getting to be a lot while I’m trying to enjoy life in the meantime). So I guess you could say I’m currently waiting to get inspired, and when I do, I’ll write about it.

Tip: Oh, and the other tip is to start a few posts. I’ll write an intro to one (some funny story or something I think will be interesting) and just leave it for awhile. Then later I’ll add to it when I get more of an angle or direction. Sometimes I also upload photos to a post with comments underneath, and then wait to be inspired to find something to tie it all together. What inspires me….laughter and having fun (my husband is hilarious and should be studied), and good food of course!

Hope inspiration floods over you soon!
-Kacey

Until next time, just imagine me happily floating through life while enjoying drinks poolside from Danny’s Indoor/Outdoor Kitchen!  It doesn’t get any better than this.

Organic Pineapple and Mango Margarita

New Year, New Love

Tags

bakery, best coffee in Dallas, best English Muffin, Brunch, cappuccino, coffee shop, Daisy, Danny's Kitchen, gluten-free desserts, homemade English muffins, homemade lattes, Kristin #3, La Duni, La Duni Latin Kitchen and Coffee Studio, milk frother, miniature schnauzer, NorthPark Mall, restaurant review, Starbucks home coffee system, Verismo System by Starbucks

I have a new love.  No not this….

Daisy

She is my old and continuous love.  My new love comes in a much, much smaller form and smells like Heaven (in my mind, Heaven will most definitely smell like a coffeehouse and will manage to make coffee actually taste just as good as it smells).  My new love is coffee!  Not just any coffee, specifically the perfection that rolls out of La Duni Latin Kitchen and Coffee Studio on a daily basis.

Cappuccino Caramel (music) and regular Cappuccino (heart)

Start with a real cup, add espresso combined with hot milk, milk froth, and caramel sauce, and serve at a bistro table with one elegant orange rose, and you’ve got my recipe for a perfect morning.  Sure La Duni can serve this up right, but I’m just saying that this is seemingly something that could be created in our kitchen on a daily basis…hint, hint Danny if you’re reading 😉

I’ve had coffee in the restaurant, as well as to go, and the result has been the same every time.  This is definitely a place you should frequent and by frequent, I mean go weekly.  Don’t just take it from me, Kristin (sister #3) has met me here a few times.  Seriously, one day we stopped in to the NorthPark mall location twice!  This is good stuff.

La Duni Cappuccino Caramel and gluten-free chocolate crispy treats –the perfect combination!

Come in for the coffee and stay for breakfast and bakery goodies.  I’m obsessed with their use of gruyere cheese and their skilled crafting of a homemade English muffin.  They combine them both in their Gruyere and Ham Scramble.  Skip the Hollandaise and red jam, something this buttery good doesn’t need it anyway.  The texture of the muffin is a cross between what you have previously known as an English muffin and a toasted piece of Texas toast.  It is thick and chewy and browned perfectly on top.  Serve it along side honey baked ham with scrambled eggs covered in gruyere cheese and with a side of roasted potatoes that are good enough to be a featured entree….and you have my current breakfast obsession.

Gruyere and Ham Scramble with Homemade English Muffin

La Duni got me hooked on coffee again; however, their four Dallas locations are not that convenient for me on a daily basis.  That’s okay, Danny has taken care of me here at home with the new Verismo System by Starbucks.  With a few punches of a button, some tiny coffee and milk pods, and a new separate milk frother, I can have a lovely latte served right here in the comfort of Danny’s Kitchen.

So what have I been up to the last few months, you ask?  Thanksgiving to New Year’s is every foodie’s dream!  Let’s just say it’s been my busy season.  Danny’s Kitchen has been in full swing and cooking for crowds, which means I’ve been entertaining and unfortunately, cleaning….a lot!  The New Year looks like it will be filled with more home-cooked meals courtesy of Danny’s New and Improved Kitchen.  We love our new place so much, we just may not find as many reasons to leave it.

Where to Go/What to Order:

La Duni Latin Kitchen and Coffee Studio:  

1.  Cappuccino Caramel

2.  Gryuere and Ham Scramble with Homemade English Muffin

 

 

 

Unfortunately I Cook….Sometimes

Tags

Amy's frozen meals, brussels sprouts, cheese plate, how to boil an egg, Leon's Real Fine BBQ, no cook meals, pulled pork sandwich, reviews, sweet potatoes, Waxahachie Restaurants

When Danny is nowhere to be found, I have no choice but to feed myself.  I can usually make do on salads, Amy’s frozen dinners, cheese plates, and fruit.

However, sometimes (and I mean this happens wayyy infrequently) I find myself in the kitchen wanting something a little more substantial.  I’ve figured out a way to steam veggies and bake sweet potatoes and I actually do these things quite well.  I’ve also perfected the boiled egg–bring water and egg to boil, remove from burner and cover for 14 minutes before cooling with ice and peeling right away.  This is about all I’ve got at this point.

Thankfully, you can put together quite a meal consisting only of the skills I currently possess.  This particular fall evening it was steamed brussels sprouts (my favorite vegetable), sweet potato with a tiny amount of butter, and pulled pork with cabbage on a roll.  The pulled pork was courtesy of Leon’s Real Fine BBQ, a new local joint in downtown Waxahachie (107 S. Monroe St.) that is open solely on the weekends.

Leon’s Real Fine BBQ in Waxahachie, TX

Their ribs are quite amazing, by the way.  Danny brought home some of his Friday pulled pork lunch leftovers and I was able to add it to my plate.  If there’s one thing I’m not quite ready to tackle, it’s cooking meat.  You can actually poison people if you don’t do this right, so I’m not taking any chances anytime soon.  You’re welcome dinner guests.

Steamed brussels sprouts, sweet potato with a tiny amount of butter, and pulled pork with cabbage on a roll

Now this is a pretty plate and for a second here, I was even able to fool myself into thinking that perhaps this cooking thing just might take.  Nahhh….just kidding 😉

Easiest Halloween Treat Ever

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E.L. Fudge Original Cookies, easiest halloween treat ever, easy halloween treat ideas, kid-friendly halloween dessert, no-cook halloween treat, Nutter Butter cookies, quick dessert ideas, trick-or-treat

It does not get easier than this.  If you are looking for a last minute treat for a party or to pass out as trick-or-treaters get ready to knock on your door, then these white chocolate dipped treats may do the trick.  I found this clever recipe that includes Nutter Butter cookies, melted white chocolate baking bars, and mini chocolate chips.

Nutter Butter Ghosts

I put my own spin on it and added E.L. Fudge cookies and Ghirardelli white chocolate to the mix as well.  I figured it is a better idea to hand out non-peanut items to children and because I really love E.L. Fudge cookies!

To make these tasty treats:

1.  Melt white chocolate

2.  Dip 3/4 of the cookie in chocolate and place on wax paper

3.  Add mini chocolate chip eyes

4.  Let chill in the fridge for 20-25 minutes

The E.L. Fudge cookies made it look like someone is dressed up in a ghost costume with only the torso and legs showing.  Add a little more “cute” by placing two of these cookies side-by-side in a clear bag with some curling ribbon and you’ve got a crafty treat to be proud of.

The best part is that these cookies are so easy anyone (and I mean anyone….if I’m doing it 😉 can do it. I had a blast making these with my family and it was a fun way to kick off the holiday season.

Happy Halloween!

A No-Cook Birthday Dinner that Even a Mother Will Love

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Birthday gift ideas for her, chocolate flour less cake bites, gluten-free cookies, gluten-free crackers, gluten-free desserts from Whole Foods, gluten-free meals, Happy Birthday, KaLynn #8, Kristin #3, mother gift ideas, no cook dinner ideas, parent birthdays, peanut butter cookies, quick dinner ideas, smoked salmon, Whole Foods, wine and cheese plate

Sometimes my mom will even let me do a little something for her…when she doesn’t know about it AND it’s a complete surprise AND she’s distracted because she’s putting on a garage sale the next day. Here’s a quick no-cook meal I was able to put together courtesy of Whole Foods. I would not be able to put together a dinner without them.  Okay, fine and Danny sliced the salmon and cheese for me.

-Smoked salmon, Applegate Salami, Robusto, Manchego, and Cheddar cheeses, English cucumbers, broccoli, red peppers, pears, and apples…just add gluten-free crackers for a completely gluten-free meal.

-Chocolate flour less cake and lemon tarts from Whole Foods bakery.  These two items are crowd pleasers!  Serve them up together and chocolate lovers and non-chocolate lovers alike will thank you.  The chocolate flour less cake is coated in hard chocolate and the inside is similar to a truffle.  My 11 year old sister, KaLynn (#8), could not get enough of the lemon tarts.  Apparently these are not too tart for kids.  You can get a baker’s dozen of these tiny dessert in any combination for just under $15.

-Gluten-free brownies and peanut butter cookies from the gluten-free freezer section at Whole Foods. Thanks, Kristin, for turning me on to these two delicacies.  My favorite are the chewy peanut butter cookies.

Whole Foods makes it easy to serve up an impressive meal with NO COOKING!  Sure, it may cost you, but what it saved me in time and confusion in the kitchen is most definitely worth it!

Happy Birthday to my biggest fan! I’m so glad I’ve been able to celebrate your birthday with you, Mom.  Hope you have a wonderful day.

-Kristin (#3) and Mom

Where to Go/What to Order:

Whole Foods Bakery Section:  Chocolate Flour Less Cake bites, Mini Lemon Tarts, Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Cookies