Jaycee Ford's Blog

Happy “the Mexican Army defeated the French Empire” Day! Better known as … CINCO DE MAYO! (It’s not Mexico’s Independence Day. If you think it is, put down the cerveza.)

For the occasion, I decided to be festive and make my Budget & Belly Friendly Burrito Bowl for this week’s dinner. (Click the link for the recipe.) But in my Walmart Grocery Delivery order, I accidentally bought 20 Fajita-sized tortillas. And I also ordered 18 eggs, but they sent me 2 dozen.

Welcome back to Sunday Meal Prep! My website has awakened from the dead like a White Walker and brought a bottle of wine with it.

One of my favorite dishes is Chicken Marsala. I’ve never attempted to make it at home (and I’ve never actively looked for Marsala wine at the grocery). But I made a recent Walmart Grocery haul and had a few things to use for lunch. (They also deliver! Click here for $10 off our first order.) I had chicken, onions, mushrooms, and garlic, but I eat chicken all the time and needed to jazz it up.

The best way to jazz things up is to booze it up!



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This past Christmas, my extended family held it’s first annual Dirty Santa game, and I became Queen of the Seven Kingdoms with this win. I had been saving these bottles until this weekend when we FINALLY GET THE EIGHTH SEASON.

I’ve read that Pinot Noir is a decent substitute Marsala, so instead of Chicken Marsala, I give you Game of Thrones Chicken Noir!

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Ingredients:

3 – 4oz Chicken Breast10 – Baby Portobello Mushrooms2 – Cloves of Garlic chopped (Don’t go out of your way for garlic. If you have powdered garlic, just use that.)1 – Small Onion chopped3/4 Cup – Pinot Noir Wine1/4 Cup – Chicken Broth1 Tsp – FlourDried Parsley (or fresh if you have it)Olive OilSaltPepper



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I purchased already frozen chicken breasts to keep in my freezer. If you use fresh, I recommend pounding out the breasts or cutting them in half to make them thinner and cooking time quicker.

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Pour a tablespoon or so of olive oil in a pan, salt and pepper the chicken, and put them in the pan on medium-hight heat. Since they’re thin, it’s so much easier to know when the middle is cooked. They usually take around 4 minutes per side. When the juices run clear, take them out of the pan and let them rest on a plate.

[image error]Saute Onion[image error]Add Mushrooms[image error]Add Garlic

Leave all the bits in the pan and throw in the chopped onion, and when it has softened, toss in the mushrooms. When those have browned, add the garlic. Once the garlic becomes fragrant, add the wine and scrape off any brown bits from the bottom of the pan. I then added a few shakes of parsley, a few cracks of salt and pepper, and a tablespoon of flour. Make sure the flour gets incorporated well. Bits of raw flour is yuck. Let this simmer as it thickens. Some of the alcohol will burn off but not all of the alcohol will. So if you’ve sworn off alcohol or it’s just not your thing, substitute it with a non-alcoholic red wine.

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I added the chicken broth and let it simmer, and then another guzzle of wine for an extra bit of happiness. And … that’s it! Pour the sauce over the chicken and some wine in a glass!

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I couldn’t believe how easy this was and how much flavor was added to a boring chicken breast.

I meal prepped it with zucchini and yellow squash (forever low carbing it … carbs in wine don’t count.)

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This would also be great with pasta or mashed potatoes. Whatever you want! Make it your own culinary adventure.

So fill up a glass of wine…

Fire up the TV …

Get ready for battle …

And do whatever it takes …

#ForTheThrone

For your reading pleasure, check out my cowboys and cops available on all ebook platforms. #DoYouHearTheBuzz

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Sometimes, I crave chicken and sometimes, I crave a steak, but then I hit a phase where I don’t feel like eating meat at all. I just want all the veggies … and I want pasta. This week turned out kind of perfectly. My tax refund came in, I was tired of meat, and Lent starts Wednesday … and then we have the fun conversation among southern Louisianians regarding whether Alligator is considered meat or seafood. (For the record, the Archbishop of News Orleans said Alligator is seafood.)

Since the food stars aligned, I hit the produce section hard at my local Rouses grocery store.

[image error]What a glorious sight.

I also grabbed a bag of Italian blend cheese to go along with a jar of pasta sauce that I purchased from Brandless and a pack of Penne pasta I purchased on a previous excursion to Sam’s Club.

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Here’s all the ingredients I used, but if you don’t like one of these, simply omit it and make it your own.

1 – 16oz package of pasta (aim for penne, rigatoni, elbow, etc … but any noodle will always work)1 – 24oz jar of your favorite pasta sauce 1 – medium sized Eggplant2 – medium sized Zucchini2 – medium sized Yellow Squash4 – Roma tomatoes6 – baby Portobello mushrooms1/2 – sweet onion (or any onion; I prefer sweet)1 tablespoon – minced garlic1 tablespoon – butterItalian Seasoning (basil, marjoram, oregano, rosemary, and thyme)Olive OilSaltPepper

I decided to make things go a lot easier and pulled out my trusty mandoline slicer.

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To have a pleasant presentation and for even cooking time, it’s best to have uniform cuts of your veggies; however, this dish could also be made the rustic way and the oven can be avoided all together. I’ll get to that improvisation in a bit. But be careful with this slicer. It’s sharp.

Also, put your water on the stove to boil and salt the heck out of it.

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After spending some time with the slicer and jamming to The Greatest Showman soundtrack courtesy of your Echo Dot, you’ve cut up everything and you’re ready to cook the pasta. Drain the water from the pasta and return to the hot pot and add the tablespoon of butter and about a handful of the Italian cheese. Stir it up so it’s melted together. Pull out a casserole dish or whatever oven safe vessel you’d like to present your dish in, and line the bottom of the dish with your pasta. Sprinkle some salt, pepper, and Italian Seasoning on top.

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Cover the pasta with a layer of pasta sauce.

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Sauté the onion and the garlic until they’re soft.

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Add the onion and garlic to the top of the sauce.

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I ended up having a tomato that was hard to slice, so I ended up using this as a layer in the middle of the dish. And I added a layer of cheese. I don’t use a lot of cheese, but totally cheese it up however you wish. Then, top that with a layer of thinly sliced mushrooms. I used a knife to cut these. I wasn’t risking another finger to slice mushrooms on the mandoline.

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Then you start layering your veggies (while still jamming to The Greatest Showman soundtrack). My pattern was: Eggplant, Zucchini, Squash, Tomato, Squash, Zucchini. Then start again with the Eggplant.

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It’s time consuming, but if you’re like me and like pretty food …

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… it’s worth it.

Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.

I find that it’s difficult to season all the veggies in this form. I do recommend to spray olive oil on top or drizzle with olive oil, and then season with salt, pepper, and Italian Seasoning. If you want to add some garlic powder or garlic seasoning, I’m all for it.

Cover your dish with foil or an oven safe cover and place it in the oven for 40 minutes covered. Take off the foil/cover and continue for 20 minutes uncovered.

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And then go watch Ratatouille with Remy the Rat Chef while you eat because it’s one of my favorite Disney-Pixar movies.

[image error]Photo Credit: Disney



Rustic Ratatouille Pasta

This dish can also be done in a lot less time in a more rustic, yet still tasty, way.

Simply sauté all your veggies together and when they’re softened, add a jar of pasta sauce to the pan.

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It’s a quicker version of this veggie staple and a frequent meal plan of choice.

Have you made any of my meal plan recipes, or do you have a favorite? Let me know in the comments or on Facebook.

Over the course of my past few trips to Disney, I’ve noticed a few attractions were complete walk-ons and I had no idea why. There are other instances when people roll their eyes because not all rides are Big Thunder Mountain Railroad or Space Mountain (or any mountain, really). There may be some people who don’t really appreciate the meaning behind some attractions, or in other instances, how beautiful they are.

I’ve went back and forth with my list, narrowing down my number one and number two, but after some thought, we’ll start with my fifth most underrated attraction.

#5. Under the Sea – Journey of the Little Mermaid



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While I know this isn’t a fast ride in the Magic Kingdom, but this under appreciated ride puts you inside bits of the movie with Arial wanting legs and Ursula wanting her voice. It’s a sure win attraction with the kiddos and a nostalgic throw back for the kids from the 80s. Even if it’s not your favorite Disney movie or Disney princess, it was the starting point for the new age of Disney. The Little Mermaid was the beginning of the Disney Renaissance, and without it, we probably wouldn’t have what Disney is today. The movie was also a concept Walt Disney himself had visited in the 1930s. He knew all the way back then that this would be a hit. And it was, fifty years later.

Check out this ride through with Theme Park Review on YouTube for all wonder Under The Sea.

#4. The Seas with Nemo and Friends



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Yes, yes. I’m taking you under the sea again, and yes we’re greeted by seagulls again, but these animatronics chirp “Mine Mine Mine” over and over again. That alone makes you want to step inside this Epcot clown fish adventure. What gives this sea journey an added twist, part of the ride really is under the sea! The end of the adventure gives you a glimpse into Epcot’s 5.7 million gallon Caribbean Coral Reef Aquarium with Nemo swimming along with you.

Join iThemePark for a full ride through and don’t forget, Just Keep Swimming.

#3. Journey into Imagination with Figment



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Okay, okay. This ride isn’t very good, but for the kids of the 80s who remember when Figment had the Dream Finder, we appreciate this, even though Disney took away its former glory. We still do have that “One Little Spark,” and we can take this journey for a minimal wait at Epcot.

It’s ranked third because it’s all we have of Figment (it’s all we have!

Also: Review of Green Giant Zucchini Veggie Spirals

There’s a chicken recipe that I absolutely love, but it calls for parmesan cheese and bread crumbs. In order to keep my body feeling somewhat normal, I’m staying away from dairy as best as possible. I also attempt staying away from added carbs. And this puts a damper on my favorite chicken recipe, so we’re going to improvise and see if it’s still my favorite without the added ingredients.

On a recent trip to Walmart Fresh Market, my goal was to buy a good bit of zucchini and yellow squash to freeze for future recipes. Well, my trip to Walmart’s produce section was a fail. All of the zucchini had appeared to be gnawed by a dog with random chunks taken out from each one. This was frustrating and I didn’t have time to go to another grocery to get the items Walmart didn’t provide. So, I took a stroll down the frozen vegetable aisle and spotted a new steamed veggie from Green Giant.

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I grabbed two bags. And steamed means microwave, which means a quick meal prep. I’m going to give it a go and let you know what I think. So let’s start with the chicken.

[image error]Yep. Mayonnaise.

Pre-heat the oven to 425º and gather the ingredients. Besides salt, pepper, and mayonnaise, you can pretty much add whatever seasoning you want. I went for Paprika, Italian Seasoning (which consists of basil, thyme, marjoram, rosemary, and oregano), Garlic Pepper Seasoning, salt, pepper, and Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning.

For Creole Seasoning, I use Tony Chachere’s. For Cajun Seasoning, I use Slap Ya Mama. There’s a difference between Creole and Cajun. Creole food is essentially Louisiana food in New Orleans. Cajun food is essentially Louisiana country food. Maybe I’ll do a future blog post all about the differences, but for now, we turn back to the chicken.

Scoop out about a tablespoon of mayonnaise for each chicken breast you’re cooking and put it in a bowl. Add whatever spices you want. I added Italian Seasoning, Garlic Pepper Seasoning, salt, pepper, and Tony’s. Stir it all together and set to the side.

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I prepared my chicken with salt, pepper, Paprika, and Tony’s. Place the uncooked chicken into a baking dish, and then slather your mayo mixture on top of the chicken. Sprinkle the top with a dash of extra seasoning. Put it in the over for 20-25 minutes.

[image error]If you’d prefer adding cheese and breadcrumbs, add the cheese to the mixture and the breadcrumbs on top. It’s amazing with just the cheese as well.

To prepare the zucchini, I placed the bag front side up in the microwave and set the time for six minutes. When it was done, I drained the water using a mesh colander. It looked a tad bit mushy and definitely not the pretty spirals in the picture on the front of the bag.

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But I added some seasoning to it and it tasted like zucchini. It wasn’t crisp by any means, but it’s a good substitute when you need veggies in a pinch. AND it was really easy.

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My favorite chicken recipe has been saved. I do miss the nuttiness of the parmesan cheese, but the chicken is moist and delicious.

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My work week is a tad skewed, so I only made two. The package for the zucchini said it was enough for four servings. Those two servings don’t seem like four servings, so this turned out to be the perfect amount for a two day meal prep or a quick Monday night dinner.

Come back next week as I’m sure I’ll be tired of meat.

When people hear the words New Orleans, they automatically think of all the eating and drinking we offer. It’s a stigma we’ve given to ourselves, but there are a lot of things to do that are fun, educational, and will probably make you burn a few of those calories from that Gumbo and Hurricane you had the day before.

Whether you’re in New Orleans for an extended weekend or you’re a local, the one place that must be on your list without question:

The National WWII Museum



[image error]Photo Credit: The National WWII Museum

People often wonder how the third ranked museum in the US and the eighth ranked museum in the world found a home in New Orleans. This museum originally opened in 2000 as The D-Day Museum, which focused solely on the US invasion of Normandy. The boats that brought us to Normandy’s shore were called Higgins Boats, which were made in New Orleans. By 2003 with the designation of Congress, this became the official World War II museum of the United States.

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This is a whole day experience that requires some mental focus. It’s a lot of information, but it’s delivered in a way that’s beautiful and terrifying.

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Visit their site for an extensive look at each pavilion, and yes, spend the extra $7.00 to see Beyond All Boundaries.

It’s ranked the #1 Attraction in New Orleans. You’ll understand why when you go.

New Orleans City Park & New Orleans Museum of Art

When you want to stay within the city, but you don’t want to feel like you’re in the city, spend the day or an afternoon at City Park and make a special visit to NOMA, which is inside the park.

[image error]Map of New Orleans City Park

With 1,300 acres, there’s definitely fun to be had. A little bit of fun is City Putt, which is a 36-hold mini-golf course, themed around New Orleans and the state of Louisiana. I’ve personally done both and it can be a pretty fun date-night. If you’re searching for a more intense round of gold, check out Bayou Oaks or the driving range. City Park also has it’s own amusement park with Carousel Gardens. Classic rides under the shade of the oak trees.

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THE SYDNEY AND WALDA BESTHOFF SCULPTURE GARDEN AT NOMA

The Sculpture Garden is a free exhibit outside the New Orleans Museum of Art that’s home to over 60 sculptures along walking paths anchored by the centuries old oak trees. It’s absolutely stunning. You won’t regret the adventure.

[image error]Photo Credit: New Orleans Museum of Art

For $15.00, you can continue the adventure indoors at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Per their website, “The New Orleans Museum of Art, the city’s oldest fine arts institution, has a magnificent permanent collection of almost 40,000 art objects. The collection, noted for its extraordinary strengths in French and American art, photography, glass, and African and Japanese works, continues to grow.” Louisiana residents get in free on Wednesdays.

Audubon Nature Institute

The Audubon Nature Institute is the home of the Audubon Zoo, the Audubon Aquarium of the Americas, and the Audubon Butterfly Garden and Insectarium. If you hadn’t had your fill of parks, Audubon Park is located Uptown new Orleans, near the zoo.

The Audubon Zoo was built in the early 1900s with refurbishment during the Great Depression, sending you back to a simpler time. To get out of the sun, head over to the edge of the French Quarter and hang out with some stingrays at the Aquarium of the Americas. And then there’s the Insectarium. Just because I use bugs to title my books doesn’t mean I like them.

More to Enjoy:

New Orleans Jazz MuseumChalmette BattlefieldSt. Charles Avenue Streetcar LineFaulkner House Books

Do you want to add to the list? Comment below with your favorite non-food/non-beverage NOLA place.

For your reading pleasure, check out my cowboys and cops available on all ebook platforms. #DoYouHearTheBuzz

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A half-day at any Epcot festival will never be enough, but five hours is enough time to try a few artisanal eats and view all the art for sale by Disney and individual artists as well. And even though I was only there for a short time, I could see how the Festival of the Arts has become a favorite fest for Disney junkies.

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After a quick trip Soarin’ Around The World, I stopped at Decadent Delights just as I entered World Showcase from Future World. There was one eye stopping food item I had to get: White Chocolate and Purple Sweet Potato Mousse.

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White Chocolate and Purple Sweet Potato Mousse

White Chocolate and Sweet Potato? Yes, Indeed! In the end, the best part of the bite was the sight of the vibrant purple (and you know how I like to eat colorful things). The mousse mellowed out the sweet potato, which didn’t give it much of a taste. It was very creamy, but I had hoped the sweet potato flavor would come through just a bit more. All in all it was an okay dish, but for $6.50, it’s one that I would skip in the future.

The next booth was up ahead, and I needed a savior. Thankfully, our neighbor to the north always prevails.

[image error]Mushroom Risotto

O Canada, thank you for this Risotto. Found at The Masterpiece Kitchen, it was creamy and rich and what dreams are made of. The mushrooms laid on top, so if you’re anti-mushroom (what’s wrong with you?), they can easily be pushed to the side. The gravy had the flavor of the filet in Le Cellier, a steakhouse in the Canada pavilion. This was a tie for first place for me. So much so, I had it once more before leaving my day of festivities. It was a pricey item at $9.25, but worth it in so many ways.

After taking a stroll and seeing some friends …

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I headed over to L’Arte di Mangiare, better known as Italy, and had the Costine di Maiale Aceto Balsamico, better known as Ribs.

[image error]Costine di Maiale Aceto Balsamico: Sweet & Sour Balsamic-glazed Pork Ribs

I didn’t understand the concept of Ribs in Italy, but wow. These ribs were tender and juicy, and the balsamic glaze added an Italian touch to what seemed to me as an American staple. Just when you think the glaze is going to be too sour on your tongue, a sweetness mellows out the tang, and it becomes your favorite complete meal of the fest. The sweet potato fries were excellent, yet normal sweet potato fries. For $11.00, it’s steep, but you’re really getting a complete meal here. For normal Disney prices, it’s a steal. This was the best of the fest.

There was one dish, though, that I had been waiting for. As soon as I saw it on the menu, I instantly knew it was going in my belly.

Beef Wellington.



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Beef Wellington with Mushroom Bordelaise, Fennel Cream, and Roasted Baby Vegetables

This savory bit is found at The Artist’s Table in the America pavilion. I knew there would be a risk of having overcooked meat. I crossed my fingers and hoped for perfection.

Unfortunately, it was overcooked, but it was warm and the flavors were suburb. It’s hard to keep beef cooked to a medium-rare when you’re feeding hundreds of people a day. For an $8.00 dish, I would skip it the next time, just because you do run the risk of it being overcooked.

Before departing, I had my final serving of Mushroom Risotto to hold me over for my flight. All in all, it was an excellent festival. I would have loved to stay longer to see the Disney on Broadway Concert Series, which showcases some of the most talented people on Broadway, performing songs from Disney musicals like Mary Poppins, Frozen, Aladdin, and Tarzan.

The prices for this fest seem slightly steeper than the prices at the Food and Wine Festival in the Fall, but the portions are a bit bigger which evens things out.

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I also scored these AMAZING Figment ears. To me, it’s the Holy Grail of all Disney ears. (Click ‘Figment’ above to find out who this fellow is.)

This festival ends February 25th, which I think is too soon, but the Epcot International Flower and Garden Festival starts on March 6th and I’m so ready for it.

Come back next week to figure out how to plan one of these Disney Adventures. It’s complex and exciting all at the same time!

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As I continue on this adulting journey, there are things I have to do besides earning a paycheck to which I give it directly to several companies in order to keep my house with electricity and water. I also have to eat. And, unfortunately, I have to clean. Not tidy up. Deep clean. Wash all the bedding, wash the dog’s bedding along with the dog as well, sweep, vacuum, mop the floors, clean tubs, etc etc etc. This leaves little time to stand by the stove and cook lunch for the upcoming week, and frankly, I don’t want to. These are the kind of weekends when I utilize other cooking vessels, like a slow cooker and an oven.

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I have a simple round Crock Pot that uses a dial for temperatures of High, Low, and Warm. Since it’s just me and not a family, this size is perfect for my weekly meal prep. I also dug in my freezer again for four 3 oz chicken breasts from Omaha Steaks. There’s 26 grams of protein in 3 oz of chicken, and that’s enough for one meal for me. This recipe works for 2 chicken breasts at 6 oz each as well. (Yay Math!) Just cut them in half for easier and faster cooking. I’m the typical eyeballer when it comes to cooking, but here’s the list of ingredients I used for this recipe:

4 – 3 oz Chicken Breast1 – 1 1/2 cups Barbecue Sauce (eyeball it)1/2 cup Honey Mustard (eyeball it)SaltPepperGarlic PowderPaprika

Season the chicken with salt, pepper, garlic, and paprika. Only use paprika if you have it. Don’t make a special grocery trip for it. (I do recommend a decently stocked spice rack. Perhaps grab a few new spices after that tax return comes back.) Pour a half cup of barbecue sauce in the bottom of the slow cooker followed by a tablespoon of honey mustard. Lay all four chicken breasts on top. Pour the remaining barbecue sauce and honey mustard on top of the chicken. Sprinkle with salt, pepper, and garlic.

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Cover the slow cooker and set on low for five and a half hours. Go do laundry, wash the dog, and mop the floor. After five and a half hours, look inside the pot.

[image error]ooooh yeah baby

For the fun part, take two forks and start shredding the chicken with the prongs. Just rip it to shreds and stir it all up so the sauce is coating all the pieces.

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At this point, I turned off the slow cooker, but let it sit covered for another 30 minutes. During those 30 minutes, I started on the Roasted Sweet Potatoes.

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2 – 3 medium sized Sweet PotatoesOlive OilSaltPepperGarlic Powder or Garlic Pepper Seasoning

Pre-heat your oven to 425 degrees. Wash the sweet potatoes and peel them with a vegetable peeler. You can leave the skin on, just scrub them good. They were once in the ground and all. Cut them into bite-sized cubes and dump them in a mixing bowl. Pour a tablespoon of olive oil over the sweet potatoes followed by salt, pepper, and garlic seasoning. Toss with a pair of tongs or a spoon. Just get the sweet potatoes coated.

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Spray the foil covered baking sheet with cooking spray or olive oil spray to prevent sticking. Shove the pan in the oven for 30-35 minutes. If you like them slightly more browned, aim for 40 minutes. In the meantime, add another veggie to the mix.

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I love, love, loooooove roasted green beans. I love most vegetables, and roasting them brings out a richer flavor and crisper texture opposed to using the stove top. And the clean up is easy peasy. To prepare, cut off the ends of the green beans and toss them into a mixing bowl. For easier clean up, just wipe out the one used for the sweet potatoes. Pour a drop of olive oil in followed by salt, pepper, and garlic seasoning. Toss to coat and lay on another baking sheet covered with foil. When the sweet potatoes are done, knock down the heat to 400 degrees and place the green beans in the oven for 20-25 minutes. I give them a toss after 15 minutes and decide if they need another 5 or 10. They should be browned and wrinkly when done.

[image error]For an extra special version, add parmesan cheese prior to roasting and thank me later.

Then divide and conquer.

[image error]I added a bit more Honey Mustard to top it off because Honey Mustard is a gift from the gods.



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I had enough chicken left for one more serving. I put it a separate container for a weeknight dinner on toast, but if you want to use all the chicken for your lunch, then girl, you do you.

There are carbs involved with this meal from the barbecue sauce and the sweet potatoes, but sweet potatoes are a super food. They have fiber, lots of vitamins and minerals, and are a complex carbs, which means it takes the body a while to break down. In other words, it keeps you fuller for longer. I can’t give much benefit to the barbecue sauce, but it tastes good and you’re only having 1-2 tablespoons of it.

When the drinks are well poured and
food is so good, you don’t care that it’s full of tourists.

We’re called The Big Easy for the “gentle pace of life and somewhat lax morals,” which The Times-Picayune used to describe my hometown in 1887. Sometimes we’re called The City That Care Forgot, which doesn’t sound appealing, but it’s referenced in a positive light. Geography plays a role in our nickname with The Crescent City, because the Mississippi River hugs our city in a crescent shape. Whichever nickname you give it, it’s been a beacon for tourists for a dozen decades. But for me, I call it home.

New Orleans.

Having grown up here, you can’t cross Canal Street without passing by a few amateur photographers, being drawn effortlessly toward the shining light of Bourbon Street as if being called to their Mothership. Aside from the glamour of Mardi Gras and the excitement of our New Orleans Saints (we were robbed), New Orleans is known for two things: Food & Drinks (and sometimes known as draaaaaanks).

When people come to visit our little foodie Mecca (as all people should do once in their lives), they go to certain places everyone tells them they have to go. Here are some of my favorite options where I personally believe the food and drinks are excellent, but you’re going to run into a bunch of tourists to get there.

Café du Monde

When a place opens during the middle of the Civil War in 1862, you know it’s a gotta be fine establishment. The key to their longevity is rich Café au lait, hot beignets, and a simple menu.

Here’s pretty much the only French I know: Café au lait means coffee with milk. Beignets are essentially a French kind of donut.

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Check out the original on Decatur Street. They’re open 24 hours a day and only close on Christmas Day, but remember to bring your cash as no cards are taken at this location.

Gumbo Shop

Like many locals, I always thought this was a tourist trap, until I went, and I was greatly mistaken. This is actually damn fine gumbo.

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I know some people don’t exactly know what gumbo is, so here’s a picture. You really don’t know all you’re going to get until you dig it. Ooo I found crawfish. Ooo I found sausage. Oooo … okra.

My preference at the Gumbo Shop is the Seafood Gumbo, but the Chicken Andouille Gumbo is also excellent. In a city where your grandma’s gumbo was always the best, the Gumbo Shop fills the void quite nicely.

Lafitte’s Blacksmith Shop

More than likely built as a house which began construction in 1722, Lafitte’s is one of the oldest buildings in New Orleans and supposedly the oldest structure used as a bar in the United States. It’s also one of the best places to go for the famous (infamous?) Hurricane.

No, not the swirling mass in the Gulf of Mexico, the fruity beverage made with rum … and some more rum … and a little more rum.

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Everyone should have at least one in their lives. Go for the Hurricane and stay for the piano player surrounded by the dozens of votive candles that illuminate the cozy bar. If you’ve heard of a place in New Orleans that has hurricanes and doesn’t go by the name “Lafitte’s” then don’t get it. You’re going to get a quality Hurricane at Lafitte’s, and if you’re lucky, you might be swirling around afterward. It’s my favorite spot on Bourbon Street. Just keep walking … you’ll get there eventually.

The Ruby Slipper

It almost pains me to call this a tourist trap, but for two locations, this new brunch eatery is definitely the place for tourists to go for a well needed morning Mimosa or Bloody Mary after that Hurricane you had the night before. This brunch spot opened its doors in 2008 as the city of New Orleans continued to rebuild after the seriously infamous hurricane called Katrina. The name was chosen to go along with the famous Dorothy line “there’s no place like home.” But really, there’s no place like The Ruby Slipper.

[image error]Ruby Slipper Mimosa



[image error]The Peacemaker: Eggs Cochon Benedict & Eggs Blackstone Benedict

There’s no longer just one location in the New Orleans area, but there are two within walking distance of Bourbon Street and the French Quarter. They’re only open until 2:00pm or 3:00pm, but this place is what brunch dreams are made of.

The Sazerac Bar

If any city can mix a drink, New Orleans can. It’s because we started the trend. Legend has it, this bar tucked inside The Roosevelt Hotel is the birthplace of the mixed drink. And that first mixed drink was called the Sazarac.

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It’s not like a Hurricane when you only taste fruit and the rum hits you later. This mixed drink hits you immediately being a concoction of absinthe, rye whiskey, and bitters. Personally, I’ve drank half of one to say I’ve had it. I went for the history and stayed for the Veuve. And The Roosevelt Hotel can’t be beat during the holiday season.

As a local, I do frequent these establishments and saddle up next to someone from another city. And when they mention their friends said to go to Pat O’Brien’s for a hurricane, I can wince and tell them where to really go for the drink. Go to Pat O’s for the dueling pianos.

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Yes! Now, leave me alone.

This seems to be a question tons of people are always asked who don’t live within driving distance to Walt Disney World or Disneyland. Sure, if I lived in Orlando, going to Disney World wouldn’t be a big deal. Disney has been a part of Central Floridians lives since 1971. But for some reason, when you live not so close, say in New Orleans, you get asked this question, almost with a snarl of discontent. Perhaps if I had children, this would make more sense to other humans, but since I don’t, I receive comments like, “I would not be one of those people who just goes to Disney World.”

Some people can’t be convinced. They ask why again, and you have to explain yourself. Instead of doing that, ask them why aren’t they going. Yes, it costs money, and yes, Florida is hotter than Hades…

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But it really is a fun time, even if you want a relaxing vacation.

The food alone is reason enough to go. Disney is not only just hamburgers and french fries. (That’s so 1993.) Walt Disney World is home to Orlando’s only AAA 5-Diamond rated restaurant with Victoria & Albert’s, which is located in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort. Amazing steakhouses with Yachtsman Steakhouse in Disney’s Yacht Club Resort and Le Cellier in Epcot’s Canada pavilion.

But really, Epcot has the most insane food choices I’ve ever seen. There are roughly fifty places within Epcot alone that offer food or beverages. Unlike Magic Kingdom, it has always allowed the sale of alcoholic beverages since it opened in 1982, which set it apart from the family friendly Magic Kingdom at the time. In recent years, the Magic Kingdom began selling alcoholic beverages only inside select table service restaurants with the exception of Be Our Guest, which is technically a counter service restaurant for breakfast and lunch. On top of that that fun, Epcot has four different festivals that offer even more delicious choices.

Festival of the Arts starts off the year with culinary artistry that will make your eyes shine and your taste buds sing. Shortly after, Flower & Garden Festival blooms, covering Epcot in radiant botanical gardens. A short summer period looms without any festival — at the moment, at least — but once late August comes around, Epcot turns into a gift from Dionysus with Food & Wine Festival. This lasts until November when Epcot is then transformed into a winter wonderland with the Festival of the Holidays.

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Besides all the food choices, which are a few blog posts all on their own, there are tons of shows and entertainment in the parks and at Disney Springs (which also has insane food choices). Disney Springs has a glorious amount of shopping with Coach, Kate Spade, Johnston & Murphy, Lacoste, Vera Bradley, etc etc etc.

Okay, okay. But what about actual relaxing …

Hop off the monorail in paradise, better known as Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, and lounge on the sand with a Krakatoa Punch as the sounds of a ukulele lull you into an afternoon snooze.

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Or sit back and watch the animals graze at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge.

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Or be pulled into pure relaxation at Senses Spa located in Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort and Disney’s Saratoga Spring’s Resort. Or just sit back and people watch with a Dole Whip.

So, the next time someone asks why you’re going again, give them a shocked stare…

Look taken aback…

And say, “You don’t?!”

And then ignore it.

“You enjoy your Wednesday while I enjoy my Orange Slush from Epcot.”

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