Foodie Night In: Simple Rosemary Foccacia Recipe

For the longest time, I have been promising myself to start to bake and cook more. Not only does
this save money and time, but it's also fun and rewarding! Fun to share the recipes with friends and
have them try something they wouldn't necessarily have a chance to get from any ordinary restaurant. There is nothing better than having a table full of random ingredients and when you're done, and
the aromas are filling the house, you end up with a masterpiece created with your own two hands! And you can eat it!

In the past few months, I have been addicted to The Food Channel ( Food Network Who?) It keeps me up late and never ceases to amaze me with all the different shows. I have become obsessed with "Simply Baking" because it's just that. Simple. You don't need crazy ingredients and 10 different techniques to get a boring cupcake. Plus, I am forever obsessed with Lorraine Pascale now (possibly more than the witty Nigella....ummmm, I think not!). She is so happy and non-threatening, you can't help, but think--"if she can do it, so can I!" So, sometime last week I decided to try her Rosemary Foccacia. Seriously delicious. I mean I was completely transported to Italy scrumptious. Check out the crazy easy ingredients:

3 1/3 Cups of Flour
2 Teaspoons of salt
1/3 Cup of Good Extra Virgin Olive Oil
1 Cup of Warm Water
1 Packet of Yeast
Rosemary, Olive Oil and Salt for topping (to taste)

Right out of the oven--piping hot!

If you don't have half of these ingredients already, you should be ashamed of yourself. OK, ok, too harsh? What about seriously disappointed with yourself? Better? Literally, all you have to do is mix the flour, salt, oil and water in a mixing bowl and knead it for 10 minutes for it all to come together. Too dry? Just add more water. Sticking like crazy everywhere? Sprinkle flour on the dough. Then roll out the dough to a circle or square (more common, but harder to do), cover with cling wrap on the baking sheet and then let it rise for an hour. It should double in size. Then take off the cling wrap, poke holes in dough (c'mon have a little fun with it!) and drizzle your extra virgin olive oil (because why would you use anything else?) and sprinkle your rosemary and salt to taste. Bake at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for 25 to 30 minutes and your done. Best part? You don't have to wait for it to cool off. Eat it warm!!!

Cross section view of Foccacia

Delmonico's Orlando

This review's coming to you before my leftovers are even cold! (well, not quite, but you get the point I think.)

When you visit Delmonico's...you will always have food to take home, unless you have an extra stomach or something.  I actually really enjoy Delmonico's.  The food's pretty good, the atmosphere is great, and the servers have all been very knowledgeable and kind. 

Charles and I attended this afternoon (before the sun ran away - stinkin' Winter...).  For some reason, every time I go there, I get seated in their "wanna-be italian" room.  Not sure if they're trying to tell me something.  The AC was really high, and it was seriously freezing in there, but once you adjust to the temperature...not half bad.  I'm a Northerner at heart, so I endure colder temps better than most "Floridians" (How many of us are imports? Come on...be honest.  Someone reading this is gonna be from Jersey, I just KNOW it!).  Charles was chilly throughout our meal...poor guy.  The decor was lovely.  They had everything done up for the holidays.  There were even ornaments hung from the chandeliers.  It was very festive, and I totally appreciate dedication to decoration!

But now, for the most important stuff: FOOD and SERVICE!:

Our server was very friendly, smiled often, and always had us covered with fresh drinks.  She also didn't complain about how hard her job is...which has been a sad trend in my recent dining experiences.  She seemed very excited to be done with Finals though.  I don't miss that part of college one bit.  She was also generous with the cheese for my meal, which I was happy about it, cause I am a lover of cheese!

Complimentary Bread - FREE

The bread they bring to the table pre-meal is pretty darn good, and I love their herb-infused butter.  It's got your usual "italian herb blend' mixed in it, but that's fine with me.  I don't consider myself a connoisseur of Italian cuisine, just a consumer, and I think this butter is pretty dynamite.  Little bit on the bread, dipped in a little olive oil and balsamic vinegar (and anyone who's read my previous posts knows how much I love balsamic vinegar) is a beautiful thing.  Enjoy it, it's complimentary! <3

Next is my favorite thing to order pretty much anywhere it is an option: Tomato and Mozzarella salad.  After the debacle at BJ's Brewhouse with the micro portions, this is on the complete opposite side of the scale.  It's a hefty portion, peeps, and I love it!

Roma Tomato and Mozzarella Salad - $6.99

I didn't eat the onions (onions are very hit or miss with me from day to day - not a raw onions eatin' sort of gal), but the rest was devoured quite quickly, leaving my tummy happy.  It's dressed with their balsamic vinaigrette.  I wish it had been a simple balsamic reduction, but I guess the general populous might enjoy their dressing with a little less..oomph.  This dish was delectable though, and I will continue to order this EVERY time I come here.

Veal Parmigiana - $19.99

Charles ordered the Veal Parmigiana - his staple for our visits here.  It was just as tasty as usual (he gave me a bite! :D), but the portion of veal was a little less than usual, but still plenty for the price, served atop angel hair pasta.  He cleared his plate, so I'd say - as far as I can tell - it's a winner.

Portabella Mushroom Parmigiana - $7.99

My entree was actually an appetizer: Portabella Mushroom Parmigiana.  These are breaded and covered in provolone cheese, and REALLY good.  The breading on this batch was a wee bit overdone, but it was still quite tasty.  Needed my handy Ginsu knife to cut through the mushrooms.  Can't split this thing with a fork, believe me, I've tried!  Very filling.  Each one was at least 4 inches across.

All in all, it was a lovely meal.  Got a cannoli for the road. It was good...creamy and not too sweet, but I think I took too long to eat it because the shell lost it's crunch.  I've had this before at its' freshest, and it's really good!  I love the chocolate drizzle over it, and the chips it's dipped in.

So go give Delmonico's a try!  You won't regret it!

BJ's Brewhouse - Millenia & Heinz Balsamic Ketchup!!

So I'm a little bit of a facebook fanatic.  I feel there's no shame in it.  It leads me to make a lot of discoveries of myself, my friends, and the rest of the world around me.  I found out I really needed to join a group for people who enjoy sleep.  I discovered how one can only truly know how good of friends they are based on the interactions monitored by facebook and the number of facebook events you've both attended. (...yes, that was sarcasm.)  But there are many things you find on facebook that are just great in general.  Restaurant coupons have always been a favorite of mine, but a well-placed ad on the side of my Restaurant City game was most fortuitous: Heinz Tomato Ketchup with Balsamic Vinegar.  The image on their page moved me: "...a sophisticated spin on the classics and more." (image source: Heinz Facebook Page)

"I'm sophisticated!" I thought, and immediately liked the page, waited for the day the bottles became available, and I order myself some fancy ketchup!  Waiting for it to arrive left me filled with excitement...and finally...IT ARRIVED.  Given, I was a little overly excited for a food I had not yet tried, but COME ON...it's KETCHUP.  And it's HEINZ.  (A girl who grew up outside of Pittsburgh, PA can respect that name more than most, let me tell you.)  So, I grabbed Charles after he got home from work, and we simply had to go and try this out.  We took our bottle and made our way to BJ's Brewhouse, which is located at 4151 Conroy Road, Orlando, FL 32839.

We've gone to BJ's Brewhouse several times ever since it opened in 2007.  For quite a while, it was one of our favorites, and we visited quite frequently.  I'm not 100% sure when it fell largely out of favor for Charles and I, but it did, and we go...maybe once in a 3 month period, if that.  They have some good dishes, but nothing that stood out to me as being overly original or crave-worthy (with the exception of their beignet...but more on that later.)


BJ's has a great atmosphere for me...especially on nights were there's a sporting event I actually care about. Lots of televisions, giant garage doors to separate dining sections...a sports bar vibe without actually being a sports bar (so to speak).  We ended up there during their happy hour - which is 10pm til closing on Thursday - so we got some good eats at a good price: Half Price Apps!

I decided to kick off the meal the way I usually do at BJ's, and it seemed fitting for the evening's focus: Fresh Mozzerella and Tomato Salad.  I am a sucker for tomatoes and cheese with Balsamic Vinegar. There was, however, the issue of portions and perceptions:

 

Each time I've ordered this dish...something seems a little off.  This current version was the abyssmal portion discrepancy.   One other time I have more onions than tomatoes (and I have actually ordered it WITHOUT those onions...).  BJ's has issues with consistency.  The only thing they're consistent on is that very inconsistency.  But it tasted good, and for around $3, usually quite a steal - if it's done right.

After that, we shared an order of their Angus Beef Sliders with a side of french fries (thin cut, not wedge.).  We figured if this Ketchup was a Ketchup worthy of the Heinz branding, it should be able to handle a burger and fries. 

 

The buns may look a little smooshed, but these sliders were darn delicious!  The fries were slightly overdone, but not to the point where they weren't still pretty tasty.  Not to mention - a crispy fry is a good ketchup vessel.  The burgers were cooked well, which most sliders are, but they were still juicy (and joyfully free of pink.  Where I come from, we cook the meat til there's no pink left, and it's how I like it! I'm a Ferelden girl (for those who don't get this: Ferelden Cuisine - Dragon Age: Origins)

The ketchup was hardly discernable from Heinz original on the fries, but on the burgers, it sang.  It had a more robust flavor, with a hint of sweetness, and a slightly smoother consistency.  I highly recommend it.

I would be doing BJ's a disservice to not mention their drinks.  They brew a lot of different beers on site, but I don't drink, so I can't speak to their quality, but I can say their sodas are great.  More lightly carbonated than most sodas, I would definitely recommend the Orange or Root Beer.  They also serve some mixed drinks using their sodas, which Charles had (I think it was called 'orange twist'.  Look under the non-alcoholic drinks to find it!).  I took a sip, and it tasted pretty good.  

Now, let's bring it on home - DESSERT!  Since I discovered the BJ's Baked Beignet, I always have to order it.  It's always a delight...sometimes it has a case of the wonky portioning (like the poor salad above), but I can't help but have this when I go there.  It's the perfect sweet finish to any meal.

To end a particularly verbose blog post, I leave you with the TL;DR version: Try the Balsamic Ketchup from Heinz - preferably on some tasty meat or meat-like substance (you can order yourself a bottle here - online only :P).  BJ's Brewhouse is definitely worth a try, and don't write them off for one bad service. There's good food to be had there, and it's better than most of the other chain places in the mall area.

Welcome to Food Monsters Orlando #1: PIZZA XTREME!

Hello, World! Welcome to the very first blog from your Orlando Food Monsters.  I'm Jaclyn.  For those who don't know me (I'm sure a few of you don't...this is a new blog, after all! I guess it's understandable...for now.), I am a food lover.  Have I taken classes? No.  Do I have any professional training? You bet I don't!  But, Do I love food? Very yes.  SO, let me start by letting you know where to get your pizza on in this great town of Orlando: Pizza Xtreme.

Pizza Xtreme's Menu/Online Ordering
7250 S Kirkman Rd # 103  Orlando, FL 32819-8952

(407) 226-3333

I have only known of this place for about 2 years now.  I'm sad that I didn't know about this gem for all 7 years of my being a Florida resident.  Ann Marie, the wonderful owner of this establishment, and her whole crew make each trip more memorable than the last, and the food is spectacular too! 

(A shoutout to Tiff and Leo for letting their shirts and arms be in our lovely pizza photos. TY guys!)

My personal favorites for a quick lunch on a budget is the 2 slice pizza deal (comes with a drink!) or the Pepperoni rolls.  Each of those will get you outta there for about $7 or less.  Sweet eats!  (Try pepperoni and pineapple on your pizza sometime if you haven't before.  It's a tasty combo, and most people I've talked into it have been pleasantly surprised!)


For those of you who don't want pizza or pizza-like items, there's a great selection of delicious foodstuffs that are sure to hit the spot!  Their salads are top notch, and they have pastas (LASAGNE = WIN!) and various other tasty vittles. 

 

Well, that pretty much wraps up my two-cents on Pizza Xtreme.  I did let them know we were going to be featuring them, and they were as excited as we were here, so I am able to offer you a special deal just for our readers! (Yeaaaaaah! DEALS!)

This cannot be used when you pay online, but it's still a sweet deal nonetheless (AND you get to visit all the wonderful people who work there when you go in!):

Get 1 large 2 topping plus bread sticks for 11.99
Coupon code:foodmonster

Well, I've got more food to eat somewhere...I hope when you eat next, you'll give Pizza Xtreme a go!  (Come for lunch and there's a chance you might bump into a Food Monster...we eat there a lot!)

To you all, I wish you many OM NOM NOMs,

Jaclyn