Tortilla Press Cantina, SABROSO!

Mom and I just attended a Gluten Free Cooking class hosted by one of my fav restaurants, Tortilla Press.  Tortilla Press has two delish locations- one location is the Collingswood BYOB (they will bring you pitchers of margaritas, you bring the tequila) The other is Pennsaukens Cantina, drinks provided.
 A few weeks ago I attended a brunch in Collingswood that I am still dreaming about....And dinner last night was no disappointment!  They started our class with red sangria with a sunken cherry and a skinny orange slice.  The table had three options to dip your chips; a black bean, a salsa, and avocado mix.  Chef Mark is so sweet.  He is the also the owner of the Press and you can tell he has a real love and passion for what he does.  While he was cooking up a storm for us he would give us tips and let us in on where he shops for some of his products.  He started us with a taste or three apps, followed by a yummy red chile chicken soup and then prepared a perfect chipotle shrimp dish with quinoa.  All of this was so good at every bite, but then the dessert came out and stole the show.  If you have ever tried to eat GFree, you know that fighting the sometimes bland taste is your biggest battle.  Welcome, Boston Creme Yummy.  This is not sugar free, but it is dairy and gluten free.  Before I put fork to mouth I boldly said," I am definitely trying this." What would have been more accurate is, "I am killing this plate and licking my fork." It was AH MAZE ING.  Besides my mothers chocolate chip banana bread, it was the best Gfree dessert I have ever had.  And because life is good, the bakery in Collingswood that Chef Marks pulls his Gfree desserts from has more then one option.  Insert plug for the fabulous DiBartolos Bakery, Haddon Ave, Collingswood NJ.  I am now one of their biggest fans.

Best Brunch

 Next week we are celebrating my grandparents !60th! wedding anniversary.  I will most certainly be making a pit stop at DiBartolos before the party. I can't wait until Chef Mark hosts another event, but in the meantime I can grab his lunch, dinner or brunch to hold me over.

Avocado Crab Tostada

I think I will always add cabbage instead of crackers in my soup from now on

Perfectly cooked shrimp

Kind Chef Mark

I wish I had this again right now

As you can see, we didn't like our dessert at all

Apple Crisp Recipe

This has my kitchen smelling so good right now I have to share.........  

Courtesy of Springdale Farms

 I have a few friends coming over tomorrow night to sit around the fire. The plan is to sip some wine before we walk over to a local haunted house.  I wanted to put out a few desserts and when I found this Apple Crisp Mix at Springdale Farm this past weekend, I couldn't resist. (www.mccutcheons.com) Of course they also had baskets of freshly picked apples sitting right next to the mix. Don't short yourself this time of year, go to your local farm and get them fresh.  I stole a taste while I was cutting them up, and it was so worth it.

9" crisp

Preheat oven to 375. Peel and slice 5 medium apples.  Blend together 1-1/4 cup of mix and 4 tablespoons of melted butter.  Spread apple slices in a buttered 9" pie dish and sprinkle with crumbly mixture.  Bake for 30 minutes.  THAT EASY

*For anyone who is gluten free, I also have a healthier option I will offer.  Slice a few pealed apples, sprinkle with cinnamon and bake for 20 minutes.  You can serve them on a plate with almond or peanut butter.

What can smell better in your kitchen in the fall? .... Oh, a handsome man who wants to do your dishes you say? I agree, but no one showed up tonight so I will stick with the crisp.

I will also mention that I did my slicing while burning a warm autumn wax cube over a tea light and that smell had me in the mood to bake. I also stuck to the Sinatra station on Pandora which  offers up greats like Ella Fitzgerald, Dean Martin and Louie Armstrong.  It is all about setting a mood baby, never know when the cologne guy will walk in to do the dishes!

Throwing a Halloween Bash

Hello Shocktober! I have never been into decorating my house with all things horror.  Come fall I stick to pumpkins, leaves and cinnamon sticks.  But this year when we decided to throw a Halloween bash, I went all in.
 Those who know me know I love playing the hostess for any event, and I don't like ordinary. So when a friend wanted to throw a Halloween party together, I started making lists. Because of all the hype around HBO's True Blood and Twilight's Breaking Dawn, we went full Vampire.  We loving named it the "Fangtastic" Party, and played with our theme.

 Having a picture opportunity to capture your guests is a great idea. When you first stepped in the breezeway you were greeted by sounds of horror, black lights, a strobe light....and the perfect picture taking opportunity.  We built a life size coffin, threw up a sheet and put cobwebs anywhere possible.  It made the perfect entrance for our soiree. Inside you could find drink options like peach champagne and jolly rancher soaked vodka with enough snacks for the block.  I turned my office into a murder scene with an outline of a dead body, ghost standing behind.  We kept a strobe light in that room as well and played it up further by making the bathroom right across the hall the scene in which the murder took place.  A bloody shower curtain, body parts, and dripping blood brought it all together.
 A fabulous idea to save any hostess time is to promote a dessert contest.  We bought a gift of wine and candy for the winner and our guests went above and beyond to supply creative and creepy desserts.  We had fingers, spider cupcakes, a grave yard, and delicious brownies and cupcakes.
 We also offer prizes for a beer pong tournament and drew up a bracket to make things more interesting outside.  Hanging some Halloween lights, having the tiki torches going and fire pit blazing, added to our outside ambiance.  A closer look would show you ghosts in the tree, a welcome sign from the Cullen's, and pumpkins with tea lights chasing them.
 It was a blast to decorate and watch everyone enjoy our own little haunted house.  Next year I am thinking old Hollywood theme, with the red carpet.....

Best Dessert Winner

I had blood red contacts to Vamp it up

Delish Oreo Balls

Ahh the wind down, huge success, in bed by dawn...when a Vampire should be