Best dessert ever!
How do I back that claim up?
First off I have enjoyed many great desserts from all over the world. I've had Swiss chocolate, Belgian pastries, French crapes, Mexican fried ice cream, Greek baklava etc. but there was one dessert that I spent 15 years searching for after the first time I had it. If something makes you search for it for so long it has to be great.
It all started on my LDS mission in Alberta Canada in 1990. My first area was in Red Deer. There were 4 of us missionaries in this awesome city. One Elder, Elder Southwick, was part of the other companionship. Early in the spring of 90 he received a package from his Grandmother back here in Utah. They were brownies. When he first pulled them out of the fridge for a district meeting I thought to myself why would someone go to all the trouble to send brownies by mail hundreds of miles away. That's one diligent Granny! They had grocery stores in Canada. Go buy some Duncan Heinz brownie mix and make them yourself. Duh! They were cut in little two inch squares and I thought I'm going to need 5 of them just to enjoy them. I took my little itsy bitsy brownie took one bite and was blown away. First off there was at least 5 caramels in each square and I love caramels. It was so rich and delicious I had to have a glass of milk just to wash one square down. Needless to say I became quite a pain in Elder Southwicks side as I bugged him for another square and then tried to get his grandmother to send me the recipe to no avail. I even thought about breaking into his apartment like Mission Impossible to get my hands on a few more. Just as I was starting a dangerous addiction I got transferred to another area and the mystery of the brownies lied dormant for 15 years.
That was until 2005 when I was at a neighborhood bunko party a few streets over from my house and the hostess pulled out these brownies. They were cut in 2 inch squares. I thought to myself "man those look familiar". When she started pulling them out and the caramel was stringing all over my heart skipped about two beats. My wife could see the hungry dog look in my eyes and wondered why I was so excited. The first bite I took transported me back through space and time to 'Oh Canada' so many years before. I immediately hounded the host for the recipe before she started the bunko game as I did not want to go another 15 years. I was pretty insistent. Almost Kramer Seinfeld insistent but she relented and I had the recipe in my grasp at long last. I have been adding insulation to my frame with these beauties consistently ever since.
Without further adieu I give you GERMAN CHOCOLATE CARAMEL BROWNIES:
1 box German chocolate cake mix
3/4 cup butter (real butter, please!)
1/3 cup sweetened condensed milk
1 cup milk chocolate chips (no semi-sweet with these....trust me)
Caramel:
60 caramels (you heard me right! 60)
1/2 cup sweetened condensed milk
Mix cake mix, butter and condensed milk. Press half of mixture in greased 9X13 pan. Bake 10 minutes at 350 degrees. Melt caramels and condensed milk together on stove and pour mixture over hot brownies, sprinkle chocolate chips over caramel. Cover with remaining dough (finger press a nice thin layer) and bake for additional 15-18 min. CAREFUL NOT TO OVERCOOK! Let cool awhile so the caramels can set up and cut into small two inch squares. Taste great refrigerated.
I think we figured each square had about 11 grams of fat so do not over do it....if you can control yourself!
Chase with a gallon of milk and enjoy!
Let me know what you think!
Thursday, February 24, 2011
Friday, February 18, 2011
Historic 25th St. Ogden
A few months back I was in Madison Square Gardens Christmas Carol at Rogers Memorial Theater in Bountiful Utah as the part of Bob Cratchit. Mr. Scrooge was played by the very talented Nick Cash. We had good stage presence together and got along great. But what we really had in common was food. When I found out he was the owner of Bistro 258 in Ogden on historic 25th street I knew I had to check that place out. Some of the dishes he described during our run sounded emotional (emotional is the term I use for food that makes you want to cry from its goodness!). I had eaten at a few places on 25th like:
Roosters: http://roostersbrewingco.com/ awesome lunches like the pepper jack pasta. Can't go wrong.
Rovalis: http://www.rovalis.com/ ate there for my brother-in-laws wedding luncheon. Awesome Italian sandwiches.
Jasoh!: http://www.jasoh.com/ I first at at this place when they were in the old Mulboons location on Harrison but I love their place on 25th now. Had their prime grad top sirloin recently. Excellent!
So needless to say I felt very comfortable with my surroundings up there. You definitely step back in time when hanging out on 25th. Ogden had a wild past due to the train station that anchored the downtown area for 100 years. There are spooky tunnels that run under the city and you can do ghost walking tours there. I've got to do that as well.....but I digress.
Valentines was Monday and I had to get reservations so I gave Nick a call and he hooked me up. The place was hoping that night and they had a busy weekend with the holiday. The place is very trendy and comparable to the eating establishments in Park City or Jackson Hole. We asked our hostess, waiter and Nick what dishes they recommended. They gave us some great options. So we went with the spinach artichoke dip that was so cheesy we looked like we were hanging a spider web with every spoonful. Yummy!. My wife went with the coconut macadamian halibut and I went with the filet mignon. Both were spectacular. I would've gone with the garlic mash instead of the risotto however as the risotto was good but I liked my wife's garlic mash better. But before we even got to the main dish I had some of the best soup I have ever slurped. It was a Gorgonzola Mushroom soup and it was the kind of soup I used a few baskets of bread to sop up every last drop. My wife got the salad but she wished she would've gotten the soup as I could tell by her puppy dog eyes as I spooned every mouthful. It was Valentines day so I let her have TWO spoonfuls. What a nice husband right! I would definitely go on a night when they have that soup. The crem brulee was great as well for dessert.
http://bistro258.blogspot.com/
Great place. I will not wait until Valentines day to go back.
Roosters: http://roostersbrewingco.com/ awesome lunches like the pepper jack pasta. Can't go wrong.
Rovalis: http://www.rovalis.com/ ate there for my brother-in-laws wedding luncheon. Awesome Italian sandwiches.
Jasoh!: http://www.jasoh.com/ I first at at this place when they were in the old Mulboons location on Harrison but I love their place on 25th now. Had their prime grad top sirloin recently. Excellent!
So needless to say I felt very comfortable with my surroundings up there. You definitely step back in time when hanging out on 25th. Ogden had a wild past due to the train station that anchored the downtown area for 100 years. There are spooky tunnels that run under the city and you can do ghost walking tours there. I've got to do that as well.....but I digress.
Valentines was Monday and I had to get reservations so I gave Nick a call and he hooked me up. The place was hoping that night and they had a busy weekend with the holiday. The place is very trendy and comparable to the eating establishments in Park City or Jackson Hole. We asked our hostess, waiter and Nick what dishes they recommended. They gave us some great options. So we went with the spinach artichoke dip that was so cheesy we looked like we were hanging a spider web with every spoonful. Yummy!. My wife went with the coconut macadamian halibut and I went with the filet mignon. Both were spectacular. I would've gone with the garlic mash instead of the risotto however as the risotto was good but I liked my wife's garlic mash better. But before we even got to the main dish I had some of the best soup I have ever slurped. It was a Gorgonzola Mushroom soup and it was the kind of soup I used a few baskets of bread to sop up every last drop. My wife got the salad but she wished she would've gotten the soup as I could tell by her puppy dog eyes as I spooned every mouthful. It was Valentines day so I let her have TWO spoonfuls. What a nice husband right! I would definitely go on a night when they have that soup. The crem brulee was great as well for dessert.
http://bistro258.blogspot.com/
Great place. I will not wait until Valentines day to go back.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Phoenix AZ.
My wife's best friend from Phoenix called the other night to say hi and in our conversation she mentioned it was 71 degrees. 71 DEGREES! How awesome would that be right now here in Utah where we haven't been over 50 since Thanksgiving. So I started thinking about some of my favorite eats in the valley of the sun. Some of the best HOT Mexican in all the land can be found there.
The first place that jumps to mind it Aunt Chilada's http://www.auntchiladas.com/
This cantina, located in the middle of a business/residential neighborhood, is like an oasis in a desert. It is one of the most unique restaurants I've ever been to. Once inside you are transported to Cancun at some beach resort. They have done a great job blending their building into a true "Three Amigos" movie set. I need to start with the chips and salsa. They give a couple of different types of salsa which is nice as you want to have a good blend of hot and mild, green and red. But its the chips that still the show. They have your traditional corn tortilla chips but it's the tostada chips that are unique. It was the first restaurant I've ever had those as a chip. Usually they are sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. I go with the Carnitas (Pork) burrito as the spices they marinate the pork in should be illegal. I love when the meat really stands on its own and is not lost in a ocean of cheese and sauce. Kudos to them! My wife's chicken spinach burrito was very good as well. Sort of a California Pizza kitchen twist to a burrito. Get there Chilli Relleno with your burrito in a combo if your really hungry. Can't go wrong there. If you haven't hurt yourself on too many chips and salsa, get their deep-fried ice cream. The best I've had. Make sure you go to their website and read about the history of the building. You could make a movie with that history alone. The line that kept going through my mind from the "Three Amigos" while I have eaten there is "Dusty, do you want to kiss me on the veranda" to which Chevy Chase replies "the lips will do"......classic!
A close second is Arriba Mexican Grill http://www.arribamexicangrill.com/
It's a local Mexican chain but well worth the visit. The thing I like about the place is the colorful motif of their restaurants. Lots of nooks and crannies to get lost in and well place TVs for sports viewing. At least at the Phoenix location I visited. Pay close attention to their chili rating scale as the 3 chili dishes truly are 3 alarm hot! I love the Adobada Pizza. Its got a little bit of a kick but is a fun way to eat traditional ingredients. The Bandera Enchiladas are bursting with flavor from the chilis and queso sauce. There are enough menu items to please anyone in the family or your traveling group. For lunch get the Chili Verde. Nice size chunks of pork in a real hearty sauce. YUM YUM!
Now a warning when going to Phoenix. DO NOT GO IN AUGUST! I was there one year when it hit 117 degrees with monsoon thunderstorms that feel like a hot steamy blow dryer blowing on you. I literally felt like my skin was sliding off my bones. No joke! Your appetite will disappear and all you will want to do is drink slushy drinks. So try to go when you can actually go outside with out a trip to the dermatologist upon return.
There are other types of eating establishments I will mention in the future. Please let me know what you recommend from your visits and I hope you enjoy these.
The first place that jumps to mind it Aunt Chilada's http://www.auntchiladas.com/
This cantina, located in the middle of a business/residential neighborhood, is like an oasis in a desert. It is one of the most unique restaurants I've ever been to. Once inside you are transported to Cancun at some beach resort. They have done a great job blending their building into a true "Three Amigos" movie set. I need to start with the chips and salsa. They give a couple of different types of salsa which is nice as you want to have a good blend of hot and mild, green and red. But its the chips that still the show. They have your traditional corn tortilla chips but it's the tostada chips that are unique. It was the first restaurant I've ever had those as a chip. Usually they are sprinkled with cinnamon and sugar. I go with the Carnitas (Pork) burrito as the spices they marinate the pork in should be illegal. I love when the meat really stands on its own and is not lost in a ocean of cheese and sauce. Kudos to them! My wife's chicken spinach burrito was very good as well. Sort of a California Pizza kitchen twist to a burrito. Get there Chilli Relleno with your burrito in a combo if your really hungry. Can't go wrong there. If you haven't hurt yourself on too many chips and salsa, get their deep-fried ice cream. The best I've had. Make sure you go to their website and read about the history of the building. You could make a movie with that history alone. The line that kept going through my mind from the "Three Amigos" while I have eaten there is "Dusty, do you want to kiss me on the veranda" to which Chevy Chase replies "the lips will do"......classic!
A close second is Arriba Mexican Grill http://www.arribamexicangrill.com/
It's a local Mexican chain but well worth the visit. The thing I like about the place is the colorful motif of their restaurants. Lots of nooks and crannies to get lost in and well place TVs for sports viewing. At least at the Phoenix location I visited. Pay close attention to their chili rating scale as the 3 chili dishes truly are 3 alarm hot! I love the Adobada Pizza. Its got a little bit of a kick but is a fun way to eat traditional ingredients. The Bandera Enchiladas are bursting with flavor from the chilis and queso sauce. There are enough menu items to please anyone in the family or your traveling group. For lunch get the Chili Verde. Nice size chunks of pork in a real hearty sauce. YUM YUM!
Now a warning when going to Phoenix. DO NOT GO IN AUGUST! I was there one year when it hit 117 degrees with monsoon thunderstorms that feel like a hot steamy blow dryer blowing on you. I literally felt like my skin was sliding off my bones. No joke! Your appetite will disappear and all you will want to do is drink slushy drinks. So try to go when you can actually go outside with out a trip to the dermatologist upon return.
There are other types of eating establishments I will mention in the future. Please let me know what you recommend from your visits and I hope you enjoy these.
Thursday, February 3, 2011
Chic Cafe's
So what is a "Chic" Cafe????
They are those trendy cafes that offer gourmet sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts, breads, massages etc....OK I was kidding about the massages but that would be a novel idea. A nice back rub while your eating you turkey avocado sprout panini and reading your e-mail via their free wi-fi connection would really be productive!
My all time favorite is Panera Bread http://www.panerabread.com/
They are in every state except Utah of course but if you have spent any time traveling you will stumble onto one near any mall. The thing that makes them standout from most cafes is their.....you guessed it! Bread! You walk into one of their restaurants and the first thing you notice is all of the breads and pastries that cease your eyeballs and saliva glands as soon as you walk in. Cookies, cakes and muffins Oh my! and their orange scones are heavenly. But that is just the starter. Most of the places have sample bread out as you wait in line so you actually hope you will have some time to snack while you read the menu. My all time favorite combo is the Broccoli Cheddar soup with the Asiago Roast Beef. This combo makes me smile every time. The Broccoli soup is the best I've ever had. I always get the baguette as my side as its hard to sop up the soup with the apple. Their Tomato & Mozzarella panini is awesome for the non-meat lover.
I also have to mention their breads. Imagine going through the airport and in your carry-on luggage is a loaf of Asiago Cheese and Sesame Semolina. I did this a few times and the looks I got from the security personnel were amazing. I always had to say that we didn't have bread in Utah to deflect my embarrassment. I can only imagine now with the TSA protocol how intense their search would be on a guy sneaking bread out of their state.
Utah has some nice cafes of their own but the one that stands out to me is Zupas http://www.zupas.com/
I was recently turned onto this joint by a buddy of mine who was a chef at Deer Valley and I have always trusted his opinion. The first time there I had the Lobster Bisque and the Turkey Spinach Artichoke panini. Talk about a heavenly combo. The Lobster Bisque was the most unusual I have ever had. At most places it is creamy and smooth with small chunks of lobster which is good but this was chunkier which made it better. Just thinking of writing about Zupas today made me go back. Today I had the Wild Mushroom Bisque with the Turkey Bacon Avocado (see a pattern here?). The Mushroom Bisque should be outlawed. It was just as good as the lobster and for a fungus that is saying something. You can ask for a small taste of any of their soups while your in line so don't be shy in asking for all 10. The people behind you might get perturbed but they will usually ask you which one you liked the best. Just make sure you blow on them as I made the mistake of pounding my first sample right off the bat and burned my tongue. Not recommended. I'm not a big salad guy but about 5 ladies I was standing by in line ordered the Nuts About Berries salad. So you salad lovers give that a go and let me know what you think.
Two additional things about Zupas is you get a chocolate dipped strawberry for dessert and you can add flavors from their flavor bar to your soda. Nothing like a vanilla coke to wash it all down. I can't wait to try some of their desserts.
Now go hit the spa and then have lunch at one of these places as asking for a massage when you order could get you arrested......except in Vegas!
They are those trendy cafes that offer gourmet sandwiches, soups, salads, desserts, breads, massages etc....OK I was kidding about the massages but that would be a novel idea. A nice back rub while your eating you turkey avocado sprout panini and reading your e-mail via their free wi-fi connection would really be productive!
My all time favorite is Panera Bread http://www.panerabread.com/
They are in every state except Utah of course but if you have spent any time traveling you will stumble onto one near any mall. The thing that makes them standout from most cafes is their.....you guessed it! Bread! You walk into one of their restaurants and the first thing you notice is all of the breads and pastries that cease your eyeballs and saliva glands as soon as you walk in. Cookies, cakes and muffins Oh my! and their orange scones are heavenly. But that is just the starter. Most of the places have sample bread out as you wait in line so you actually hope you will have some time to snack while you read the menu. My all time favorite combo is the Broccoli Cheddar soup with the Asiago Roast Beef. This combo makes me smile every time. The Broccoli soup is the best I've ever had. I always get the baguette as my side as its hard to sop up the soup with the apple. Their Tomato & Mozzarella panini is awesome for the non-meat lover.
I also have to mention their breads. Imagine going through the airport and in your carry-on luggage is a loaf of Asiago Cheese and Sesame Semolina. I did this a few times and the looks I got from the security personnel were amazing. I always had to say that we didn't have bread in Utah to deflect my embarrassment. I can only imagine now with the TSA protocol how intense their search would be on a guy sneaking bread out of their state.
Utah has some nice cafes of their own but the one that stands out to me is Zupas http://www.zupas.com/
I was recently turned onto this joint by a buddy of mine who was a chef at Deer Valley and I have always trusted his opinion. The first time there I had the Lobster Bisque and the Turkey Spinach Artichoke panini. Talk about a heavenly combo. The Lobster Bisque was the most unusual I have ever had. At most places it is creamy and smooth with small chunks of lobster which is good but this was chunkier which made it better. Just thinking of writing about Zupas today made me go back. Today I had the Wild Mushroom Bisque with the Turkey Bacon Avocado (see a pattern here?). The Mushroom Bisque should be outlawed. It was just as good as the lobster and for a fungus that is saying something. You can ask for a small taste of any of their soups while your in line so don't be shy in asking for all 10. The people behind you might get perturbed but they will usually ask you which one you liked the best. Just make sure you blow on them as I made the mistake of pounding my first sample right off the bat and burned my tongue. Not recommended. I'm not a big salad guy but about 5 ladies I was standing by in line ordered the Nuts About Berries salad. So you salad lovers give that a go and let me know what you think.
Two additional things about Zupas is you get a chocolate dipped strawberry for dessert and you can add flavors from their flavor bar to your soda. Nothing like a vanilla coke to wash it all down. I can't wait to try some of their desserts.
Now go hit the spa and then have lunch at one of these places as asking for a massage when you order could get you arrested......except in Vegas!
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