Spring has sprung! What is your favorite thing about Spring?
Sate Your Craving for Chocolate With These Molten Lava Cake Recipes
April 7, 2016 by
Molten lava cakes are the ideal dessert for a dinner party or other social gathering because their individual sizes give each person a little cake of their own to enjoy. When you cut into these warm, moist desserts an explosion of hot chocolate sauce spills out, which gives the cakes their fun name. If your mouth is already watering, try one of these molten lava cake recipes for dinner tonight.
Molten Chocolate Cakes [Food and Wine]
Food and Wine’s gourmet spin on the dessert classic brings an air of sophistication to the usual molten lava cake. Bittersweet chocolate and unsalted butter provide a rich, complex taste, and the thick chocolate inside is just the icing – or, rather, the lava – on the cake.
Molten Chocolate Cake [Pioneer Woman]
This recipe from the Pioneer Woman is just as indulgent as her other recipes, and the addition of an extra egg yolk ensures that the inside is even more runny than most lava cakes. Serve them with homemade whipped cream for an extra special treat.
Red Velvet Molten Chocolate Lava Cakes [Half Baked Harvest]
This recipe not only uses a red velvet cake exterior, but a chocolate ganache center as well. If that doesn’t already sound decadent enough, a coconut whipped cream topping should do the trick.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill: Steak, Seafood and Other Fine American Fare
March 24, 2016 by
At the Newark branch of Firebirds Wood Fired Grill, you'll find everything you'd expect of this local chain: glossy hardwood floors, softly lit stone walls, and decadent steakhouse fare. In fact, many Yelp reviewers have a hard time believing that Firebirds resides within a strip mall given its upscale aesthetic and high caliber cuisine. It does, though, so keep an eye out for the storefront when you get close.
Step inside to sink your teeth into juicy steaks, plump seafood, and other high end American eats. Locals highly recommend the coconut shrimp, which comes as both starter and entree. The main course version boasts tortilla slaw, mango habanero chutney, and a hearty serving of steak fries (the appetizer skips the fries). You can also opt for wood-grilled salmon, parmesan-crusted mahi, or cilantro-grilled chicken breast if you're not interested in steak. If you are, however, then try the bacon-wrapped filet mignon or the center-cut, pepper-crusted sirloin. You also might be able to order the slow-roasted prime rib if it's available.
Firebirds Wood Fired Grill
1225 Churchmans Road
Newark, DE 19713
(302) 366-7577
wilmington.firebirdsrestaurants.com
www.yelp.com/biz/firebirds-wood-fired-grill-newark
Recipes to Make With Spring Vegetables
March 17, 2016 by
Spring always means a plethora of fresh, seasonal vegetables that you’ve been missing all winter. Because fresh produce tends to go bad quickly, it’s helpful to shop with a few recipes already in mind. Here are some favorite recipes made with vegetables that grow in the springtime.
Glazed Carrots in Tarragon [Fine Cooking]
Cooked carrots may bring back memories of being forced to eat your veggies as a child, but this unique recipe is a grown-up take on the common side. The tarragon adds a little kick to the carrots' sweet flavor to make a complex and delicious dish.
Quick-Braised Baby Artichokes [Fine Cooking]
Cooking artichokes in lemon juice is one of the simplest ways to prepare the tasty vegetable, but this recipe also braises them for a smoky flavor that’s perfect for warm weather.
Asparagus with Butter and Soy Sauce [Oprah]
It’s safe to say that asparagus is having a moment in the food world, and there are so many new recipes popping up that it may seem overwhelming. This easy recipe is quick to make but still adds a bit of sophistication to your meal.
Warm Three-Onion Dip [Oprah]
Adding fresh spring onions that only grow in warm weather makes this savory dip a bit more special than your usual restaurant onion dip. Serve it with crusty bread or crisp chips at your next gathering.
Happy St. Patrick’s Day!
March 17, 2016 by
May your day be touched with a little bit of the luck of the Irish!
The Stone Balloon Winehouse: A Salute to the Grape
March 10, 2016 by
Some names, like the Stone Balloon, are just classics. The place that once played host to top rock and roll idols is now the Stone Balloon Winehouse, home to great wines and classic American cuisine. If you’re looking for a place for lunch, there’s no place better than the Stone Balloon. The menu has a varied selection of soups, salads, sandwiches, and shared plates that are also perfect for an after work nosh with friends. The options for cheese plates, appetizers, soups, and entrees on the dinner menu match perfectly with selections from the extensive wine menu. Check out the calendar for scheduled wine tastings, and if you want to know more, go to wine school! The Stone Balloon Winehouse is open Mondays through Saturdays for lunch, dinner, or drinks.
The Stone Balloon Winehouse
115 E. Main Street
Newark, DE 19711
(302) 266-8111
http://www.yelp.com/biz/the-stone-balloon-winehouse-newark
El Pique: No Frills, Just Authentic Mexican Food
March 3, 2016 by
Admittedly, El Pique doesn't look like much from the outside. Its caramel-colored storefront is really only distinguished by a sign that reads "El Pique" and a glowing neon sign declaring open hours. Even when you step inside, you might be left unimpressed with the aesthetic. A handful of wooden tables, a cooler of sodas, a freezer with some frosty treats—this is pretty much all the "decor" you'll find. But everything else melts away when you sit down with a plate of fresh tacos.
Despite the modest setting, El Pique wows its customers with fresh, authentic Mexican fare that many say is just as good as any you'd find south of the border. Try the spicy pork tacos if you're craving heat, or opt for tacos stuffed with beef tongue for a more adventurous eat. No matter what you order, you can rest assured that it's filled with the highest quality meats available, as well as extremely fresh veggies.
El Pique
805 N. Dupont Road
Wilmington, DE 19804
(302) 655-0659
www.facebook.com/pages/El-Pique/159927990702341
www.yelp.com/biz/el-pique-wilmington
Olive Tree Cafe: An Institution for Mediterranean Fare
February 25, 2016 by
Don't be surprised if the smell of baking bread greets you when you walk into Olive Tree Cafe in Newark. The kitchen team mixes, kneads, and bakes its own bread in-house. That's how you know it'll always be fresh. And the fresh bread is just the tip of the iceberg. The chefs at Olive Tree Cafe also source their veggies and meats locally when they can, so they're just as fresh and enticing as the bread.
These ingredients converge in authentic Mediterranean dishes, such as the shawarma platter. It showcases grilled chicken breast with a garlicky sauce and a house salad, as well as seasoned rice or fries on the side. You can also dig into a plate of salmon, rubbed down with Mediterranean spices and adorned with onions, olives, and cherry tomatoes. Olive Tree also offers tagines, which refers to the clay pot in which these meaty dishes are prpared and served, as well as a slate of sandwiches and savory pies.
Olive Tree Cafe
13 Chestnut Hill Plaza
East Chestnut Hill Road
Newark, DE 19713
(302) 266-4598
olivetreecafede.com
www.yelp.com/biz/olive-tree-caf%C3%A9-newark-4
No Green Thumb? No Problem! Grow These Houseplants at Christina Mill!
February 18, 2016 by
Even if you haven’t had the best luck with plants in the past, that’s no reason to give up on having a greenery-filled home. While certain houseplants are very finicky and seem to die as soon as you glance in their direction, others are hearty, resilient and made for people whose thumbs aren't exactly green. Here are just a few.
- Succulents. The desert native succulent plant is beloved by many for its very sparse watering schedule. Because it only needs watering once a month or so, this trendy houseplant is perfect for forgetful owners.
- Aloe plants. The unique looking aloe plant is another one that doesn’t need much watering (or even much sunlight). Simply give it a bit of water when the soil feels dry to the touch.
- Cast-iron plant. There’s a reason this great plant has a name that’s tough as nails: the cast-iron plant can tolerate everything from low light to changes in the atmosphere like a champ.
- Snake plant. The high-reaching snake plant (sometimes called mother-in-law’s tongue) not only offers a stylish, impactful look, it can also survive in low light and with sporadic waterings.
- Jade plant. This gorgeous plant will live for years without much care at all, eventually growing into a small tree with a large enough pot.
Houseplants for People Who Can't Grow Houseplants [This Old House]
How To Choose the Right Houseplant [Bayer Advanced]
Houseplants for the Forgetful Gardener [Better Homes & Gardens]
Happy Presidents’ Day
February 15, 2016 by
On this day we honor all of the Presidents of our great country. If it weren’t for them, our country would not be what it is today!
Equal Housing Opportunity