Learn to Bake This Simple Black Forest Ice Cream Pie

When you think of the easiest baked goods to make at home, pies usually aren’t top on the list. After rolling the dough, making the filling, and adding all that elaborate crust decoration, making a pie seems downright difficult. This delicious Black Forest Ice Cream Pie recipe is so simple, it will put all of your pie-baking fears to rest.

Black Forest Ice Cream Pie

12 sugar ice cream cones, broken into pieces
5 tablespoons butter, melted
1 pint chocolate chip ice cream
1 pound fresh or thawed frozen cherries, pitted (about 3 cups)
3 tablespoons sugar
2 teaspoons cornstarch

For detailed instructions on preparing this Black Forest Ice Cream Pie, visit Oprah.com.

Antique Junction: Where Everything Old Is New Again

Pasadena's Antique Junction is a two-story facility that hosts a wide variety of dealers who sell everything from furniture to jewelry. Regulars rave that the prices here are a fraction of what you’ll pay at high-end antique shops in other parts of town, and the merchandise is of the same or better quality.

Located in a nondescript strip mall, what Antique Junction saves on rent allows the business to operate with low overhead and pass the savings on to shoppers. Unlike many antiques stores, Antique Junction has a real sense of humor about their merchandise, so be sure to check out their Facebook page! The staff is pleasant and happy to help you dig through the shelves to find that treasure you’re looking for.

Antique Junction is open 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays and noon to 5 p.m. Sundays.

Antique Junction
111 W. Southmore Avenue
Pasadena, TX 77502
(713) 473-9824
www.facebook.com/pages/Antique-Junction/163440833679218
www.yelp.com/biz/antique-junction-pasadena

Tropical Chill: Texas Shaved Ice

Get your chill on at Tropical Chill, where the treats are cold, sweet and tasty. With 20 years serving shaved ice in the same location, it’s a Deer Park landmark, where everyone goes with the weather gets hot and they need to chill out with a cold, flavorful snowball.

If you don’t know the difference between a snow cone and a snowball, here’s the deal. Snowballs consist of finely shaved ice, which gives them a soft, creamy texture that’s more like ice cream than the crunchy crushed ice in snow cones. Plus, these babies come in an array of delectable flavors, like Mango, Banana, Black Cherry, Root Beer, Coconut, Watermelon, Peach, Pineapple and Strawberry Daiquiri. Specialty flavors include Chamoy, Chocolate, Leche, Diablo and Tamarind.

Have them add cream to make yours extra swet!

Tropical Chill
7446 Elbridge Lane
Deer Park, TX 77536
(281) 476-9893
http://thetropicalchill.com/
http://www.yelp.com/biz/tropical-chill-deer-park

Vicki’s Antiques on Main: See What’s In Store

Located in a historic building, Vicki’s Antiques on Main is a sight to behold. From the building itself, which was once a popular toy store, to the stock of fabulous merchandise, lovers of nostalgia will find much to admire here. The stock of Vicki’s is ever changing thanks to the influx of merchandise from customers.

On any given visit you may find something completely unexpected. New items are added daily, meaning the constantly changing merchandise offers a unique find on every visit. Everything from glassware to furniture is available here.

Browsing is encouraged at Vicki’s, whether you have something specific in mind or just want to check out what’s available. Vicki’s also offers appraisal services for any merchandise you may have.

Vicki's Antiques on Main
228 West Main Street
La Porte, TX 77571
(281) 471-7389
http://www.yelp.com/biz/vickis-antiques-on-main-la-porte-2

Antonio’s Italian Grill & Seafood: Tasty Italian Cuisine

Antonio’s Italian Grill & Seafood is a family owned and operated establishment that has been serving La Porte diners fine Italian cuisine since 1986. With nice sized portions and a family friendly atmosphere, Antonio’s is the perfect place for a hearty lunch or dinner. Start your meal with one of Antonio’s tasty appetizers. The fried combo platter is a mix of veggies and seafood, while crab cake limone is a fresh take on the classic crab cake dish. Pasta dishes at Antonio’s feature heavily, with homemade lasagna, linguini and sausage, as well as eggplant parmigiana. The grilled salmon salad offers diners fresh seafood and veggies, while the grilled tuna steak salad contains tri color and lemon vinaigrette. If you save room for dessert, as Antonio’s features many classic desserts to enjoy.

Antonio's Italian Grill & Seafood
1438 West Fairmont Parkway
La Porte, TX 77571
(281) 867-9001
http://www.yelp.com/biz/antonios-italian-grill-la-porte

Keep These Cooking Conversion Charts Handy in the Kitchen

Have you ever encountered a recipe that called for 3/8 of a cup, but you only had a tablespoon? What about a recipe that measured all of the ingredients using the Metric system? We’ve all gotten into sticky situations involving measuring while cooking, but these simple measurement equivalent websites will help you the next time you’re in a jam.

Info Please
With a simple chart comparing equivalents of teaspoons, tablespoons, cups, pints, fluid ounces, and more, Info Please is a fast and easy resource to use while cooking. There’s even a metric conversion chart and a conversion calculator that enables you to find the equivalent of everything from weight to temperature.

Nutrient Data Laboratory
If you’re only looking for a very simple conversion chart for a quick measurement equivalent, the Nutrient Data Laboratory’s website is the place to look. The site contains one chart that compares units like cups, tablespoons, and ounces as well as a metric chart with units like grams and kilograms. Because these charts are made to use while cooking or preparing food, it’s very easy to find the units that you likely need.

Pasadena Dog Park: Let Fido Run Free

Being on a leash can’t be any fun. The minute your dog finds anything interesting, he’s pulled over to the next stop. When he encounters another dog on the street, there’s barely time for an introductory sniff before the meeting is over.

Paws In the Park, Pasadena’s Dog Park, gives Fido a chance to run free and play with his buddies in their nearly two acres. He can even swim in the dog swimming pool. Worried about him throwing his weight around? There are separate areas for large and small dogs. Be sure to clean up after your dog at the designated dog waste stations. There are also two pavilions, benches, and several obstacles.

The park is open all week, from sunrise to sunset. Check the website for Pasadena Dog Park rules.

Pasadena Dog Park
5170 Burke Road
Pasadena, TX 77504
(713) 475-7048
http://www.ci.pasadena.tx.us/default.aspx?name=prk.fac-dogpark

Order the St. Charles Tenderloin Sandwich at Savannah Café and Bakery

Regarded as one of the best kept secrets in Pasadena, the Savannah Café and Bakery has made a name for itself serving up delicious baked goods both sweet and savory. Some of their trademark offerings include the Beacon Hill cookie with chocolate chips, white chocolate, pecans and macadamia nuts, as well as the moist, delicious Coca Cola cake. Made with chocolate and marshmallows, it’s a rich, decadent delight. Their cupcakes are also incredible.

Lunch sees the place get packed with patrons enjoying some truly exceptional sandwiches. The St. Charles Tenderloin sandwich is one of their most popular; it starts with fork-tender slow-cooked pork and adds in Monterey Jack cheese, country fried onions, lettuce, mayo, and a raspberry chipotle sauce on grilled sourdough bread. It’s an explosion of flavor that will leave you satisfied. Also awesome is the Beaufort, which pairs home-made pot roast with Provolone cheese, citrus pepper sauce, and ancho chile mayonnaise.

Savannah Cafe and Bakery
5968 Fairmont Parkway
Pasadena, TX 77505
(281) 487-1400
www.magnoliacafeandbakery.com
www.yelp.com/biz/savannah-cafe-and-bakery-pasadena

Dine On ‘Armadillo Eggs’ at Andy’s Barbeque

Texas is one of the states most famous for barbecue, as people here really love their meat. If you’re hankering for a sample of some of the best, Andy’s Barbecue will scratch that carnivore itch. This hidden treasure tucked away in a small neighborhood draws a devoted clientele who raves about Andy's spectacular brisket. Beef brisket is a famous Texas barbecue institution, and they nail it here, with a tender pink center, perfectly-smoked ring and crispy ends. The pulled pork is also well worth trying, and the house-made barbecue sauce is out of this world.

Of course, no barbecue is truly complete without a selection of side dishes, and the fried okra at Andy’s is among the best in the state. The cole slaw is tangy and complements the richness of the meat very well. Don’t leave Andy’s without ordering one of their famous “armadillo eggs,” jalapeno peppers stuffed with cream cheese, wrapped in sausage and bacon, smoked, and deep-fried. They’re a decadent delight.

Andy's Barbeque
2826 Dedman Street
Pasadena, TX 77503
(281) 487-7388
www.andyshawgwildbarbque.com
www.yelp.com/biz/andys-bbq-pasadena-2

Chicken Stock, Decoded: 4 Easy Recipes for Chicken Stock

Used in the base for sauces, soups, and more, homemade chicken stock can put the "wow factor" in even the most ordinary of recipes. If you believe homemade chicken stock is too complicated to make, think again! These four recipes break the process down into easy-to-manage steps, so you'll be enjoying the fruits of your labor in no time flat.

Delicious Homemade Chicken Stock [Instructables]

How to Make Chicken Stock [The Kitchn]

Stock Convictions [Michael Ruhlman]

How to Make Chicken Stock [Simply Recipes]

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