review: target red garlic curry sauce

Authentic ethnic food at home can be a dream...but sometimes you want the same flavors quickly and in the comfort of home.  Instead of reaching for a delivery/take-out menu (which I wouldn't have found for Indian food anyway because I still haven't found an Indian place in Dallas. *gasp*)...I decided to warm up Target's Archer Farms Red Garlic Curry Sauce.

So what's the sitch?

jalapeno poppers? don't mind if I do!

It's been too long!!! Life hit, and well, y'all know how it goes. But we're back!!!

First up, a quick and SUPER easy recipe for jalapeno poppers I made for Thanksgiving appetizer (yes, Thanksgiving, don't judge me). Plus it's a great recipe if you're looking to put your food processor to use! For the recipe and pics...

celebrity eating in orlando

My mom and stepdad LOVE Orlando, so since I've had some time off, they invited me along on their most recent trip.  For some restaurant dining this trip had a specific theme - restaurants owned by celebrity chef.  We started off with lunch at Emeril's restaurant in Universal CityWalk.  They had a great prix fixe lunch menu - three courses for $22.

My mom had the fish of the day - salmon with a slightly crispy skin on top of a yummy green sauce and a bed of okra and tomatoes.

To see what I had...

delivery, anyone? (the wok and grubhub)

The Wok

Rating: ***

Location: Oak Lawn

Price: $

Reviewed: Dinner, Lunch, Delivery

Attire: I was definitely in PJs...they came to me!

Reviewer: Jenn

After watching the TX/OU game (hook 'em!) on Saturday (which had a way too early kickoff time), I was exhausted and too disheartened to brave the crazy Dallas traffic...or look presentable.  Thus began my hunt for a great delivery place.  (I originally searched for good Indian takeout...but was disappointed. I won't give up, however.)

I stumbled upon a great and free app for the iPhone called GrubHub, which searches for takeout/delivery near your location, gives you the menu, and lets you order all at once.  Be forewarned however, once I got my order (with the requisite menu for next time), I noticed that The Wok doesn't charge for delivery, but I definitely paid a $2 fee (which is how GrubHub makes their money, of course).  However, some places don't have a fee on the app.  Check it out!

For the review of this American Chinese fare...

manny's uptown tex mex - Yes Please!

Rating: ****

Location: Uptown

Price: $$

Reviewed: Dinner

Attire: Casual, but feel free to get a little jazzy

Reviewer: Jenn 

Manny's Uptown Tex Mex is a cute little spot off Lemmon Avenue with great standard enchiladas and delicious drinks.  No muss, no fuss Tex-Mex at a great price!

taco diner - meh/yum

Rating: ***

Location: Uptown

Price: $$

Reviewed: Dinner

Attire: Casual, but feel free to get a little jazzy

Reviewer: Jenn

Taco Diner definitely embraces the diner ambiance while serving mostly tacos and Mexican food.    The mambo taxis are strong and delightful, but the tacos somewhat missed the mark for me.

fuzzy taco's? ABSOLUTELY!

Rating: ****

Location: Waxahachie

Price: $

Reviewed: Lunch, Dinner

Attire: Casual

Reviewer: Jenn

Fuzzy's Tacos has great, inexpensive tacos with delicious, fresh flavors.  Compared to similar taco places, like Torchy's, Fuzzy's tacos are way less greasy, and sooo good!

mckinney avenue drive-by (dallas)

BBQ, bacon, and cheddar burger featuring haystack onions

Smashburger

Rating: ****

Location: McKinney Ave.

Price: $$

Reviewed: Lunch, Dinner

Attire: Casual

Reviewer: Jenn

The Cupcakery

Rating: ***

Location: McKinney Ave.

Price: $

Reviewed: Dessert

Attire: Casual

Reviewer: Jenn

I'd been dying to taste Smashburger, even though it's chain (but it only has a few locations in the DFW area, so sue me).  Afterward, I saw the cutest cupcake place a couple of doors down, so I decided to check that out too!  Both places are super casual and great to pop in, sit a while, or take your orders to go.

the reheating pizza dilemma

Yoda says, "For all of your pizza reheating problems, read we3foodies, you will!"

After solving the pizza dilemma in Local Pizza Wars, the next day I was faced with another dilemma: how to reheat my pizza!!! Wood-fired pizza shouldn't be submitted to the microwave (shudders), but what  is the best way to reheat pizza in the oven? Searches on Google come up with different results, which may leave you with burnt leftovers.  Thankfully you're on the we3foodies blog, where we constantly seek to provide you with all of the cooking questions that have been keeping you up at night!

Preheat your oven to 400 degrees. Place pizza on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper (wax paper burns in the oven...huge difference). Bake for 6 minutes, and enjoy!

local pizza wars!!!

Jersey Shore on Thursday night is a weekly staple for me (Jenn) and a friend of mine, so we decided to get pizza and keep it Italian! Besides, Snooki and crew are working in a Italian pizzeria this season, so how perfect is pizza as the menu choice?  Unfortunately, after reaching a consensus on pizza, we began to fight as to which local pizzeria to pick.  My friend said Dallas institution Campisi's.  I said my Victory Park favorite, Neo Pizzeria.  Hence, pizza wars.  We each bought a pizza from our favorite place, and battled it out.

village burger bar - YES, PLEASE!

I mean, goat cheese on a burger? HEAVEN.

*****
Location: West Village
Price: $$
Reviewed: Dinner
Reviewer: Jenn
Attire: Casual
Village Burger Bar features fresh ingredients, including one of my faves: GOAT CHEESE.  The space is casual but chic enough to pair a martini with your juicy cheeseburger.  Plus, they stay open late. So for an after-bar meal, these quality burgers are better than the mystery meat at any other fast food dive.

Sidenote: Yay! This is our first (of many) Dallas posts! Jenn and Cat now live in Dallas, so we'll be splitting our reviews between Dallas and Houston with Yas!

Anyhoo...about Village Burger Bar...

white chocolate toffee almond cookie bars...WHY NOT?

So, I'm moving soon, so I'm on a mission to get rid of a lot of things I like to keep on hand - almonds, pasta, flour, cake mixes, white chocolate chips, toffee bits, etc. I  wanted something on hand while I study that could go with coffee in the morning or be a nice end to the day.  I was going to make a boring sock-it-to me cake, but thought I'd shake it up and do a little research (instead of learn Texas Criminal Procedure).

Duncan Hines has AMAZING ideas for recipes often using cake mixes in non-cake ways!  I made these cookie bars with a Butter Golden mix I had lying around.  The recipe called for yellow cake mix, but do whatever! In the comments, someone used a chocolate cake mix.  The bars came out with a great consistency.  I only added 1/2 of the almonds required in the recipe...but had I added more, it would have tasted just like these toffee almond bars that Starbucks had a few years ago. OMG.  

For the recipe...

Cadillac Bar– LOVES IT!

*****
Location: Shepherd
Menu
Price: $$$
Reviewed: Dinner
Reviewer: Yas & Jenn
Attire: Casual
The Cadillac Bar is Houston Tex-Mex at its best! From the ambiance, to the service, to the delicious food, your taste buds will leave this place craving for more! But, your pocket might be slightly dented.

Farrago– Meh.

Cajun Benedict

**
Location: Midtown
Menu
Price: $$$
Reviewed: Brunch
Reviewer: Yas & Jenn
Attire: Casual
When you walk into Farrago during Brunch hours, it definitely looks like the place to be. Cool modern ambiance with an amazing DJ spinning tunes. However, horrible service makes this experience less than enjoyable despite the tasty food.

The Easiest Salmon (with pesto) Recipe EVER.

I love this recipe because it takes less than five minutes to prep, requires NO MEASURING, and cooks in 15 minutes.  Pair the salmon with fresh veggies, a baked potato, pasta...(or some leftover pasta salad from La Madeleine's like I did), and you have a fresh, healthy meal that you didn't have to slave for.

For the recipe...

Piranha Killer Sushi - Meh.

**
Location: Downtown
Price: $
Reviewed: Lunch
Attire: Casual
Reviewer: Jenn
Somewhat chic sushi bar tucked away downtown. Cheap rolls, but not really a bang for your buck. Piranha Killer Sushi ends up being more of a victim to bad presentation than a "killer" place to find great rolls.

italian sausage & sausage baked penne

On our blog, I (Jenn) wanted to do a series of easy and simple recipes that can be made quickly. My inspiration? Studying to take the bar this summer. Unfortunately, I'll have to spend more time memorizing law rather than spending hours in the kitchen making culinary masterpieces. Keep reading for yummy pictures and the recipe!

Max's Wine Dive (Brunch) - YES, please!

****
Price: $$
Reviewed: Brunch
Attire: Casual
Location: Downtown
It's a rare occasion when all 3 Foodies get together for a meal, but Yas came to Austin, and we grabbed brunch before seeing her return to Houston!  Max's Wine Dive is a great place to get your friends together, nurse your hangover, and have an amazing fattening brunch!

Parkside - YES Please!

****

• Price: $
• Reviewed: Happy Hour
• Attire: Casual chic (but feel free to get jazzy)
• Location: East Sixth Street
• Short Description: With the weather getting warmer, head to the sixth street you never see during the day and sit on Parkside’s rooftop patio.  If it’s too hot, head inside to the swanky indoor space with its loft style and hardwood floors.  This happy hour, honestly, cannot be beat.

tenOak - YUM.

***
 Price: $$

 Reviewed: Dinner

 Attire: Snappy Casual (whatever that means)

 Location: Warehouse District

 Short Description: Affordable menu where the “ten” in tenOak stands for nothing being more than $10 dollars. Come here to share tapas before you head out for a night on the town. Or a fun ladies night.