Gimme Some Sugar…….no, not like that. But, the moment you walk into the new bakery, aptly named, Gimme Some Sugar, that’s exactly what you’ll be saying. Already famous from their creatively dramatic cakes for celebrities like Kim Kardashian and Kid Rock, Gimme Some Sugar opens their new storefront in Henderson, NV.
A couple of friends and myself were lucky enough to attend the grand opening of this sweet little gem and let me tell you, the delectable treats are unforgettable! Here are the highlights and the must-try’s….
Cake Pops – The cake pop is the perfect marriage of candy coating and sinfully rich cake. Gimme Some Sugar makes a Red Velvet Cake Pop that is TDF (To Die For)! Imagine this…deeply rich red velet cake, coated in white chocolate and served on a stick, just like a lollipop. COME ON! What’s not to love! It’s mobile dessert!
Cherry Marshmallows – Pair your favorite campfire delight with the tangy-ness of cherry and what do you get? Cherry clouds, that’s what! Ok, they’re not called that but when you put these little squares in your mouth, cloud-like is what you’ll get. Light, airy but with a full burst of flavor, the Cherry Marshmallows make you re-consider the conventional smore.
Pumpkin Cheesecake – SHUT UP! … I CAN’T! IT’S TRUE! … the Pumpkin Cheesecake is a party in your mouth. And by party, I mean the, sparkling disco ball-champagne fountain-fireworks, kind of party! Pumpkin+Cinnamon+Cheesecake = LOVE.
I think I’ve said enough – Gimme Some Sugar – VISIT. TASTE. DROOL. LOVE.
PS. – Here’s the website -- http://gimmesomesugarlv.com/
28 September 2011
21 August 2011
Dear God - Thank you for Lola's
Lola’s is a magical little place that serves the most soulfully delicious New Orleans cuisine, this side of, well, New Orleans! Nestled in a charming building that used to be a bakery, this little gem dishes up delightful fares like: Shrimp Creole, Crawpuppies (a marriage of crawfish and hush puppies – YUM!), and a signature dish - New Orleans BBQ Shrimp.
My family and I recently visited Lola’s and I must say we were all thoroughly impressed. From the sweet tea to the absolutely delectable oysters, to the jambalaya and the simplicity of the bread, Lola’s packs a culinary punch! Everything from the luscious but down home food to the excellent service draws you into a warm and inviting world where life is always good. You can’t help but leave Lola’s with a full belly and a smile on your face.
Whether you’re from Las Vegas or just visiting, Lola’s is a spot that you HAVE to visit!
Lola’s – A Louisiana Kitchen
241 W. Charleston Boulevard
Las Vegas, NV 89102
(702) 227-5652
www.lolaslasvegas.com
20 August 2011
A Date with Me
One of my favorite indulgences is sneaking away from family and friends and grabbing some quality “ME” time at Starbucks. With a good book, a cup of chai, and a slice of that delicious lemon pound cake (that I swear, is laced with crack), I make myself cozy in a quiet corner to enjoy a lazy afternoon.
Sometimes though, getting away isn’t so easy. Life has a way of keeping us busy, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t set aside some “ME” time in the comfort of our own homes. That’s what inspired me to make my own version of that amazing Starbucks Lemon Pound Cake. This is a surefire hit for those days that call for curling up on the couch for those well deserved “ME” moments.
Lemon Pound Cake
1 ½ cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup of butter (2 sticks)
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
¼ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
Zest of (1) lemon
Glaze – see recipe below
Directions
1. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs (1) at a time. Add Vanilla.
2. In a separate bowl, combine: flour, baking powder, and salt. Add Zest.
3. Add the flour mixture and lemon juice to the butter mixture, ALTERNATING between the flour and juice until incorporated.
4. Pour into prepared loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 65-75 minutes.
5. Let stand in pan for 10 minutes. Remove onto a wire rack.
6. Glaze and serve
Glaze
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
3-5 tbls lemon juice
Zest of (1) lemon
Add all ingredients in a bowl and mix. If glaze is too thick, add additional (1) tbls of lemon juice at a time until desired consistency is reached.
Sometimes though, getting away isn’t so easy. Life has a way of keeping us busy, but that doesn’t mean that we shouldn’t set aside some “ME” time in the comfort of our own homes. That’s what inspired me to make my own version of that amazing Starbucks Lemon Pound Cake. This is a surefire hit for those days that call for curling up on the couch for those well deserved “ME” moments.
Lemon Pound Cake
1 ½ cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
½ tsp salt
1 cup of butter (2 sticks)
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
¼ cup fresh squeezed lemon juice
Zest of (1) lemon
Glaze – see recipe below
Directions
1. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs (1) at a time. Add Vanilla.
2. In a separate bowl, combine: flour, baking powder, and salt. Add Zest.
3. Add the flour mixture and lemon juice to the butter mixture, ALTERNATING between the flour and juice until incorporated.
4. Pour into prepared loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 65-75 minutes.
5. Let stand in pan for 10 minutes. Remove onto a wire rack.
6. Glaze and serve
Glaze
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
3-5 tbls lemon juice
Zest of (1) lemon
Add all ingredients in a bowl and mix. If glaze is too thick, add additional (1) tbls of lemon juice at a time until desired consistency is reached.
Banana (+) Bread = Love
When I was growing up, my mom would make banana bread for every occasion – birthdays, Christmas, Tuesdays, etc. She LOVED making it. And we, well…we loved eating it.
When I moved away from home, I craved my mom’s banana bread. I started to play around with different recipes and the recipe I developed is not like my mother’s recipe at all. In fact, it couldn’t be farther from it. While my mom’s banana bread is traditional, my recipe has a certain unconventionality that reflects my own quirky personality. Instead of the usual walnuts, I add chopped dates to the batter and I must say - it is DELIGHTFUL!
Get your bake on and ENJOY!
Banana Date Bread
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ cup butter
¾ cup brown sugar (preferably dark, but light will work too)
2 eggs, beaten
2 1/3 cups mashed ripe bananas (approx. 2-3 bananas)
2 tsp cinnamon
3 handfuls of chopped dried dates (if you’re feeling saucy, you can reconstitute them in rum.)
Glaze – see below for recipe
Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine: flour, baking soda, salt. (If you have time, sift these ingredients but it’s not necessary.) Add the dates to flour mixture.
2. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar. Stir in the eggs and mashed bananas.
3. Stir the banana mixture into flour mixture until just moist. Do NOT over stir – it will make the bread dense or dry, or BOTH.
4. Pour into a prepared loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 60-65 minutes. Test for doneness in a few different spots.
5. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes then, turn onto a rack.
6. Glaze and enjoy!
Glaze
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
3-5 tbls milk
1 tbls vanilla
Mix all ingredients in a bowl. If glaze is too thick add additional (1) tablespoon of milk at time until desired consistency is reached.
When I moved away from home, I craved my mom’s banana bread. I started to play around with different recipes and the recipe I developed is not like my mother’s recipe at all. In fact, it couldn’t be farther from it. While my mom’s banana bread is traditional, my recipe has a certain unconventionality that reflects my own quirky personality. Instead of the usual walnuts, I add chopped dates to the batter and I must say - it is DELIGHTFUL!
Get your bake on and ENJOY!
Banana Date Bread
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
½ cup butter
¾ cup brown sugar (preferably dark, but light will work too)
2 eggs, beaten
2 1/3 cups mashed ripe bananas (approx. 2-3 bananas)
2 tsp cinnamon
3 handfuls of chopped dried dates (if you’re feeling saucy, you can reconstitute them in rum.)
Glaze – see below for recipe
Directions
1. In a large bowl, combine: flour, baking soda, salt. (If you have time, sift these ingredients but it’s not necessary.) Add the dates to flour mixture.
2. In a separate bowl, cream the butter and brown sugar. Stir in the eggs and mashed bananas.
3. Stir the banana mixture into flour mixture until just moist. Do NOT over stir – it will make the bread dense or dry, or BOTH.
4. Pour into a prepared loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 60-65 minutes. Test for doneness in a few different spots.
5. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes then, turn onto a rack.
6. Glaze and enjoy!
Glaze
1 ½ cups powdered sugar
3-5 tbls milk
1 tbls vanilla
Mix all ingredients in a bowl. If glaze is too thick add additional (1) tablespoon of milk at time until desired consistency is reached.
Sally’s Sweet Shoppe
Having my own storefront is a dream of mine. I don’t exactly know when this dream developed but I think I’ve discovered how…
When I first moved away from home, I didn’t really know where I was going and in what direction my life was leading. All I knew was that I needed a fresh start and a fresh start was exactly what I found. I moved to Las Vegas 8 years ago and have been floating about ever since. I don’t really have a career, per se, unless you count the amazing skills I’ve expanded through the many assistant jobs I’ve had. Actually, I shouldn’t marginalize what I’ve learned in my numerous years as an administrator. It’s taught me a lot about the virtues of organization and honed my gift of multi-tasking (more on this subject later).
Anyway, what was I saying? Oh yes, the Sweet Shoppe dream… Well, as I was saying, I moved away from home and I was wholly unprepared. I knew how to cook all the basics (eggs, rice, pancakes, etc.) but I never looked at cooking as an art form. I cooked because I was hungry and when I wasn’t hungry, I didn’t give it a second thought. As the years passed, I came to have a real appreciation for cooking, and baking especially, and I began to try my hand at preparing various dishes and baked delights.
Pretty soon, I was branching off and creating dishes all on my own. I was hooked. My kitchen is my workshop and the wild world of food are the paints I use to create. (Ok, that sounded supercilious, I know. But it’s true! )
This blog has had many incarnations but at the end of the day, I want it to be a reflection of my passions. My family and friends AND cooking are my passions… SO… this blog is getting a re-boot. This is not only about a single girl but a single girl with a dream. I’ll be sharing all the things that I love with you and I hope that you’ll share some with me too!
WELCOME TO SALLY’S SWEET SHOPPE! Get your bake on!
When I first moved away from home, I didn’t really know where I was going and in what direction my life was leading. All I knew was that I needed a fresh start and a fresh start was exactly what I found. I moved to Las Vegas 8 years ago and have been floating about ever since. I don’t really have a career, per se, unless you count the amazing skills I’ve expanded through the many assistant jobs I’ve had. Actually, I shouldn’t marginalize what I’ve learned in my numerous years as an administrator. It’s taught me a lot about the virtues of organization and honed my gift of multi-tasking (more on this subject later).
Anyway, what was I saying? Oh yes, the Sweet Shoppe dream… Well, as I was saying, I moved away from home and I was wholly unprepared. I knew how to cook all the basics (eggs, rice, pancakes, etc.) but I never looked at cooking as an art form. I cooked because I was hungry and when I wasn’t hungry, I didn’t give it a second thought. As the years passed, I came to have a real appreciation for cooking, and baking especially, and I began to try my hand at preparing various dishes and baked delights.
Pretty soon, I was branching off and creating dishes all on my own. I was hooked. My kitchen is my workshop and the wild world of food are the paints I use to create. (Ok, that sounded supercilious, I know. But it’s true! )
This blog has had many incarnations but at the end of the day, I want it to be a reflection of my passions. My family and friends AND cooking are my passions… SO… this blog is getting a re-boot. This is not only about a single girl but a single girl with a dream. I’ll be sharing all the things that I love with you and I hope that you’ll share some with me too!
WELCOME TO SALLY’S SWEET SHOPPE! Get your bake on!
09 July 2011
The Love of a Good Man
I watched a marathon of romantic comedies this weekend. In these movies, the plot goes like this: girl meets boy – sparks fly, they fall in love – something happens to break them apart – chaos ensues –– girl and boy overcome all the obstacles and supposedly, live happily ever after. WHEN DOES THAT EVER HAPPEN???
As I sit here thinking about it, I realize that I actually DO believe in the kind of love these movies are selling me and that it does indeed, happen in real life! All I have to do is look around me and I’ll see that in my little life, I am surrounded by couples that exemplify the profound love that we all see in movies. It may not be as photo-shopped but it’s real and it’s something that always inspires me.
My cousin, Monica and her husband, Karl are a great illustration of what it means to really love someone. Let me preface this by saying that they are by no means perfect but they are hardworking. I say, “hardworking,” because while they love each other very deeply, they also understand that the love they share requires dedication and practice, and a mutual respect for each other’s growth. That’s the wonderful thing – they let each other develop into the people they are supposed to be and they accept each other without judgment.
I’m not dating anyone right now but when I do find that special someone, I’ll be ready because I’ve got such good teachers around me who have shown me the way. I’ll be prepared to open my heart and let him in, all the while, keeping true to my own spirit.
04 July 2011
MMA Fights and Friendship
MMA (Mixed Martial Arts) is a full contact sport which uses a myriad of techniques from different disciplines (judo, muay thai, boxing, etc.) in order to knock out or pin an opponent into submission. It is a sport that has developed from the early days of Greece into the commercial success it finds itself in today.
How do I know this, you ask? Well…
A friend of mine is an MMA Fighter and he kicks ass. Literally. He is quite honestly one of the hardest working people that I know and when I grow up I want to learn how to live with the same kind of determination and certainty of purpose. And when he fights, my friends and I are there to support him.
It’s not easy though, watching a friend get into the ring knowing the intense physical challenge that they have willingly chosen to put themselves into. But here we are, nonetheless. That’s the beauty of friendship. Friends, true and honest to goodness friends, will stand beside you and support you through every trial that you face. They congratulate you when you succeed and they’ll buy you a shot to take the edge off when you fail. I consider myself very lucky to have the friends that I have in my life. We’re all very special and quite different from each other but I think that it’s that difference that bonds us together. We are teachers to each other and in that is a most wonderful gift – the gift of growth and acceptance and true fellowship.
So, here’s to friendship and the adventures we share.
(PS. Check out the gym my friend trains at. It's awesome. http://www.xtremecouture.tv/)
How do I know this, you ask? Well…
A friend of mine is an MMA Fighter and he kicks ass. Literally. He is quite honestly one of the hardest working people that I know and when I grow up I want to learn how to live with the same kind of determination and certainty of purpose. And when he fights, my friends and I are there to support him.
It’s not easy though, watching a friend get into the ring knowing the intense physical challenge that they have willingly chosen to put themselves into. But here we are, nonetheless. That’s the beauty of friendship. Friends, true and honest to goodness friends, will stand beside you and support you through every trial that you face. They congratulate you when you succeed and they’ll buy you a shot to take the edge off when you fail. I consider myself very lucky to have the friends that I have in my life. We’re all very special and quite different from each other but I think that it’s that difference that bonds us together. We are teachers to each other and in that is a most wonderful gift – the gift of growth and acceptance and true fellowship.
So, here’s to friendship and the adventures we share.
(PS. Check out the gym my friend trains at. It's awesome. http://www.xtremecouture.tv/)
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