It’s that time of year! Fall baking!! So I’m always on the lookout for a delish, yet easier, pumpkin cookie. I stumbled upon this recipe… Soft Pumpkin Sugar Cookies. This recipe is from “Simply Joy”. Let’s dive right in.
Few ingredients and very simple instructions
To start, this recipe requires few and simple ingredients. Ingredients include an egg yolk, flour, room temperature butter, and of course pumpkin puree! Nothing crazy and most of these ingredients I already had. As per the instructions, you mix the dry ingredients and the wet ingredients separately. Then you pour the wet ingredients with the dry ingredients. (The one thing that I did differently instead of adding only cinnamon, was adding pumpkin spice seasoning. I felt it would add more of a warm flavor and more of an “Autumn” taste ?)
They come out soft and sweet! Yum!
Afterwards, they say to preheat your oven to 350 degrees and refrigerate the cookie dough for 20 minutes. (Which makes sense, especially when you have to form the cookie dough into balls.) Once out of the fridge, roll the dough into one inch sized balls. Roll in sugar. Place on a parchment lined baking sheet and press down slightly. Space the cookies about two inches apart. (They do bake at a decent size!) Bake for 15 minutes, rotating the pan halfway through the baking. (I forgot to rotate, but it did not affect the baking of the cookies.) Let cool on the pan for about two minutes before moving to a cooling rack to cool completely.
Finished product! As you can see, I’m almost out!
These cookies are absolutely amazing! Deliciously soft sugar cookies, full of pumpkin fall flavor! As you can see, they were a big hit and were almost all gobbled up! (There were more then what you see in this picture.) Definitely try this recipe. You will not be disappointed. Below is the website for these yummy cookies. Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
“Eating out doesn’t have to be a formula. Eating out is about having fun. I get really frustrated when it’s badly done.” – Gordon Ramsay
Cowan’s is one of my favorite places to eat. I have gone there with the husband numerous times. Located in Nutley NJ, this restaurant has a 1930’s charm, which I love! Guests can enjoy a rotating selection of 16 craft beers on draught, cocktails featuring artisanal spirits with seasonal ingredients, and a modern twist on the traditional pub menu, all in a space that transports you back to a time gone by.
Devil Eggs with Truffle, Lava Sea Salt
Bao Buns with spicy pulled pork, sesame, ginger, pickled cabbage
Appetizers, as always, are amazing. Let’s start with the Devil Eggs! I’m usually not a big fan, but these were exquisite. The were creamy and delicate in flavor. The truffle added a nice touch to this dish. The Bao Buns were savory and fun to eat! The actual bun was soft and fluffy! The combo of the spicy pulled pork with the sesame, ginger and pickled cabbage just meshed so well!
Hot Noodles with Miso, Tofu, Carrots, Spinach, Bok Choy, Shiitake mushrooms, Scallions, Sambal
Three Cheese Ravioli with Spinach, Wild Mushroom Confit and Chardonnay
Our two entrees were amazing. The Hot Noodles consisted of only vegetables and Tofu and you would think that this noodle dish would be bland, but not at all. It was the total opposite! It was was rich with many flavors and strong seasonings! The vegetables were tender and tasty. The noodles were flavorful and plentiful! This soup just hit the spot and definitely made me a happy camper.
The Cheese Ravioli was delicious! I expected it to be heavy and filling, but it was actually more delicate and light, which was a welcome surprise. The taste was a nice balance between the mushrooms and the cheese. Loved the parmigiana shavings… they added a nice touch!
Chocolate Chip Bread Pudding with Ice Cream and Honey Drizzle
Dessert is always a treat here! Their desserts and ice creams are made in house. This bread pudding was stellar. It was not too sweet, but just enough with a good amount of chocolate chips. The ice cream on the Bread Pudding was a Black Cherry and it paired very nicely. All the components of this dish were delicious and it gave me a homey vibe.
Violets are Blue Made with Brooklyn Gin, Yellow Chartreuse, Rocky’s Herbal Liqueur, Butterfly Pea Flower, Lemon, Orange Blossom
Love, Love, Love, their drinks! Their drinks always have great presentation and taste. This particular drink is one of my favorites! The “Violets are Blue” is not too sweet, with a light and refreshing taste. It was easy to take down, but don’t be deceived… it’s strong, lol.
Overall, this place never disappoints! Food and drinks are always on point. The staff is attentive, friendly, and helpful. The atmosphere… very vintage and chill. Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
“My weaknesses have always been food and men – in that order”. -Dolly Parton
Back in early September, after one of our weekend hikes in Sussex County NJ, my husband and I stopped at this place for an early dinner. It’s located in Augusta N.J. When first stumbling upon it, we got hit with a glorious smoked meat smell! The atmosphere is a smokehouse that makes you feel at home. They have options for the whole family to enjoy: classic BBQ options, a vegetarian section, and both vegan and gluten free options – all that paired with four of their home made BBQ sauces. ?
Fresh and Flavorful popcorn
Pork Empanadas
Yummy goodness inside!
So we sat down and we were immediately greeted with a fresh cannister of popcorn. Simple enough, but the spices that were on this popcorn made it very difficult to stop eating them. For our starter, we decided to try their pork empanadas. They were pretty good! The outside was nice and flaky, not at all oily. The pork inside the empanada was very flavorful and seasoned nicely, with portion inside this pastry goodness.
Half a rack of ribs with nice dry rub with garlic mashed, mixed vegetables, and corn bread.
Pulled pork with garlic mashed, salad and corn bread.
Entrees: let’s start with Rack of Ribs. This is my first time with a dry rub. It was actually very tasty. The spices on the rub were very flavorful, with a combination of sweet, salty and heat. These three flavors just worked well together. The actual rib meat was moist and it fell right off the bone. The pulled pork had a smokey flavor and seasoned nicely. However, it needed a sauce to bring out more of the flavors. (More on the bbq sauces later).
Regarding the sides… this place has a lot to choose from, from their Collard Greens with bacon to their baked beans. Both the hubby and I wanted to get their Garlic Mash. OMG, their mash was sooooo good! It was fluffy, creamy and so flavorful! Both our dishes came with cornbread. The cornbread was moist and fresh. However, to me it was more on the sweeter side, like a dessert.
What’s your poison?
As we ate, we had the option of using their housemade sauces. I personally love a good BBQ sauce and enjoyed having these sauces tableside. Love all the options that they provide. The hubby and I especially used them on our entrees and the sauces definitely enhance the flavors of our meats. All four sauces were very good, however they could be a bit thicker and seemed a bit watered down.
Homemade Brownie! Yum
For dessert, we a had delicious homemade brownie! It was warm, chocolatey, and gooey!! It was really good!! Highly recommend!!
Mason Jar!!
Will go back to this smokehouse!
Overall, it was a great experience! I would love to try other things that they have on the menu! Service was fantastic! They were attentive, kind, and helpful. The outdoor seating was nice with panoramic views of the farmland in the surrounding area. The place has a nice unique atmosphere which I found cozy. Fyi, this place is a BYOB. Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
When the fall comes I always like to use fall ingredients in my baking such as apple, pumpkin, etc. This recipe is one of my favorites to bake. Let’s dive right in!
Try to get organic pumpkin Puree
Creamy Cream Cheese Frosting!
Mixing Chopped Pecans with sugar, flour, and cinnamon
The innards of the muffin! Eggs, Pumpkin, Olive Oil, flour, sugar.
The recipe is very easy to follow. However, there are a lot of steps due to the muffin having three different components. The first step is to make the cream cheese icing. Simple ingredients such as cream cheese, an egg, brown sugar, and vanilla extract… you mix well and then set aside. The next step is making the streusel topping. Again, simple enough, mixing together chopped pecans, cinnamon, flour, sugar, butter etc. The only thing I found tedious was cutting the butter with a fork with the dry ingredients to create a crumbly consistency. It took forever!!! So I used a combination of my hands and the fork to speed up the process. I also noticed that the amount of chopped pecans that they ask for (3 tablespoons), for me at least, was not enough so I added a little more to the topping. Finally the muffin batter was very easy! Presto! You are ready to assemble your muffins!!
1st the muffin batter
A tablespoon of the cream cheese frosting.
Finally the Streusel topping!
Assembling the muffin is three steps. Very easy, but can be time consuming. First the muffin mixture… try to fill the tins about 1/2 full. Next is the cream cheese. Before putting a tablespoon of the cream cheese on to the muffin batter, make sure you give it a good mix again. I noticed that after I initially mixed and then set it aside, it started to congeal. Your cream cheese has to be a smooth and creamy texture. Finally the Streusel topping… it can get a bit messy while pouring over the tin. Time to bake them!
In my belly!
Muffin perfection!
So baking them was very easy! They bake for 375 degrees between 20 to 25 minutes. I did the full 25 minutes and they came out great!
Yummy!!
The finally verdict – these muffins are absolutely delicious! They are moist and have a subtle pumpkin flavor! The sweetness was not over the top, but just right. These muffins were gobbled up instantly at my house! Here is the link to this delicious recipe:
“Let food be thy medicine, thy medicine shall be thy food” -Hippocrates
On this food adventure, my sister-in-law wanted to take me out to dinner as my birthday gift. She knows I love food, lol. She decided to take me to DeNovo European Pub, in Edgewater, NJ.
As they describe in their website, De Novo is styled after the family-oriented casual pubs of Europe. Guests can enjoy house-made breads, small plates, charcuterie, flatbreads, salads, burgers, house-made pastas, entrées, house-made desserts and late-night bar bites.
Tomato Heirloom Salad with
Burrata, Onions, Honey, Pistachios
Fois Gras with a honey sauce, greens, tomatoes and peaches.
So first, the appetizers. Both appetizers in my opinion were very delicious but in different ways. The Heirloom tomato salad was excellent. The tomatoes were fresh and juicy! The Burrata was flavorful and creamy! The seasoning of pistachios with the drizzle of honey added a nice touch to this dish. The Fois Gras was not part of the usual menu but on their specials list. It was very delicious! It had a nice char on the top and the inside was creamy and seasoned well! I encouraged the sister-in- law to try it. She was not a big fan, however she did love the ingredients that surrounded the dish. The combination of the honey sauce, peaches, tomatoes and greens added a nice sweet touch to the Fois Gras.
Lamb Shank Over Mushroom Spinach Risotto
Lobster Ravioli with
Cognac Cream Sauce, Topped with Lump Crab
Both dinners were phenomenal!! The Ravioli pasta was cooked to perfection, and it was filled with a good portion of lobster. The taste and consistency of the cream sauce was very well balanced. The pieces of lump crab were good, but they were not needed. The Lamb Shank was juicy, seasoned perfectly and it just fell right off the bone. The risotto was cooked well and it was creamy! The Shank and the Risotto both complemented each other very nicely in this dish.
The Squeeze Lobos Joven Tequila, Fresh Squeezed Watermelon, Mint Syrup, Aperol, Club
Both the sister-in-law and I had this cocktail. It was a great summer drink. The mix of the fresh watermelon, tequila, and other ingredients made for a perfect light and refreshing drink. It was a drink that was both colorful to the eye and easy to drink.
So overall, our experience was a good one! Beautiful ambiance with amazing views. The food was flavorful, fresh and beautifully presented. The only negative comment I had was the inconsistency in service. In the beginning of our dining experience, our waiter and the restaurant staff were very attentive. However, as the evening progressed and the restaurant became crowded, we saw less and less of our server and it was hard to get his attention. But other than that, it was a great dining experience and will consider going back. Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
“The only thing I like better than talking about food is eating.” -John Walters
While vacationing in Newport, Rhode Island, we decided to get all fancy and try this gem, The Chanler! This place is an elegant hotel with a Gilded Age vibe that is near the gorgeous Cliff Walk and picturesque views of the ocean. Within this hotel, there are two types of dining experiences… the Cara and the Café. We decide to try the Café.
We decided to try the Café!
The Café is located on the outdoor terrace of the hotel. The terrace has breathtaking and relaxing views of the Atlantic Ocean. Their food is locally sourced to create that New England Cuisine vibe. Let’s dive right in!
Housemade Petite Loaf, with Sea salt butter & Narragansett creamery Angelito cheese
Appetizers… excellent! The housemade bread was so fresh! It was warm and the sea salt butter and angelito cheese were a perfect spread. Then there were the oysters! This was my first time with raw oysters and I was not disappointed! Presentation was elegant. The oysters were nicely shucked, cool and briny. They were consumed quickly 🙂
North Atlantic Swordfish, with braised leeks, spring legumes, Szechuan chili bouillon.
Campenelle with Newport Lobster, scallops, caper, shallots and meyer lemon.
Our main courses were both exquisite. The Swordfish had a great sear! It was light and the seasoning was on point. The Campenelle was just amazing! I wish there was more on my plate, because I definitely wanted more. The homemade pasta was cooked to perfection and the lemon sauce was so buttery and flavorful without being overpowering. Generous portions of lobster and scallops, however I felt that the scallops were not needed. It would still have been delicious just with the lobster alone. The cook on the lobster was flavorful and the texture was perfect!
Rosehill Heirloom Peaches with brown butter almond cake, honey, thyme, crème fraiche .
We were actually full from our meal that we decided to share a dessert. This particular dessert was very light and yet had tons of flavor! It was delicate, refreshing and all the ingredient just melded so well. The presentation as you can see was lovely and refined.
Beautiful and serene views of the ocean
Overall great dining experience! Beautiful setting and great service. The servers were extremely knowledgeable about the full menu and described the dishes beautifully. Everything about my dinner here was perfect. The prices are a bit steep, but this is fine dining and you’re in Newport. You are paying for an experience. It was an experience I would definitely come back too. Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
Vacationing at a luxury Bed and Breakfast in Newport, Rhode Island
It has been a while since my hubby and I went on vacation (this horrible pandemic). We decided this year we would venture off to lovely Newport, Rhode Island! This was my first time there and we decided to stay at the Francis Malbone Inn.
Beautiful Sitting Room
Love the Colonial Vibe
Going back in time
The Francis Malbone Inn is a Colonial Bed and Breakfast that is dated to 1760. It is located in the heart of Newport. This house has an interesting history… it used to be a private residence for Colonel Francis. It then was seized by the British at the start of the Revolutionary War. It was then used to store looted gold and treasures, leading to its nickname, “the Treasure House.”
Love the Colonial Vibe
Beautiful Sitting Room
Beautiful Dining Room
My hubby enjoying the Francis Malbone!
The property and the grounds were very beautiful and picturesque! Delightful and charming! Beautiful artwork and décor everywhere. My husband and I felt that this place was very relaxing with an air of romance to it. 🙂
Cinnabon Style Pancakes! Heavenly!
Classic Eggs Benedict!
Roasted Pear & Almond French Toast!
Banana Foster Waffles
Baked Cinnamon Scones with Fresh Fruits.
Assortment of pastries and baked goods.
Malbone Breakfast Pizza
Lemon Blueberry Ricotta Pancakes!
Now, to my favorite part of my review… the food! Hands down, the Francis Malbone’s breakfast was phenomenal! Every morning, it was always something new. The presentation of their dishes were beautiful and on point. The flavors of these dishes were amazing. You definitely notice the freshness of their meals (they have an herb pot in their court yard that grows basil, thyme, chives, etc). In addition, they provided an assortment of pastries, breads, yogurts, and fresh fruit. Breakfast was always an exciting event for me at the Francis Malbone.
Broccoli Salad
Strawberry Poppy Seed Muffin
Fresh Cookies!
Homemade gooey brownies!
Tomato Gazpacho
Blueberry Cheesecake
More baked goodness!
Impressive Teatime Spread!
Do I see Quiche? 🙂
Teatime was another treat we got to experience at our B&B. Teatime was always a great experience! Again, homemade and fresh! From the savory to the sweet, they always had an amazing spread. My husband and I would try not to miss teatime, but it was hard, especially when we had dinner reservations in the next two hours, lol.
The Francis Malbone
Overall we had an amazing experience staying at the Francis Malbone! This place is charming, perfect location, attentive, friendly and helpful staff. They had an amazing afternoon tea and breakfast everyday. Quite an elaborate spread of food and delightful treats all beautifully presented. The grounds and rooms were tastefully decorated and well maintained. Comfortable beds and the attention to details show that the owners really love to pamper their guests and make sure they enjoy their stay in Newport. In the age of Covid, they also took safety and cleanliness very seriously. My husband and I will definitely return. Thanks for reading my review and continue to Chomp away!
I am always a big fan of trying new baking recipes and this recipe, I have to say, was stellar! This recipe is from the Francis Malbone House Inn Cookbook. I bought this book when I was up in Newport, Rhode Island and staying at this Bed and Breakfast. Let’s dive in!
This recipe was simple to follow. The ingredients were easy to acquire, such as apple cinnamon, eggs, flour, sugar, etc. However, one ingredient that I didn’t expect to use was an orange in the recipe. The recipe called for 1/4 cup of squeezed orange juice and a table spoon of orange zest. I felt that the orange was a key ingredient in making this Bundt moist and it gave it acidity.
There were some minor changes I made to the recipe. First, the recipe asked for 2 1/3 cups of sugar. I felt it was a tad too much, so I just put the two cups. It still tasted amazing!! Second, the recipe asked for vegetable oil. Unfortunately, I did not have vegetable oil, but I did have Canola oil and used that instead. It did not effect the taste or consistency of the Bundt.
Overall this cake was unbelievably delicious, very moist and so flavorful. It was a crowd pleaser at my house. I’m excited to try other recipes in this cook book. If you are ever in the Newport Rhode Island area must stay at this Bed and Breakfast. If you do, definitely grab this cookbook! Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
A beautiful day full of fun beverages and delicious food!!
One of the many places we visited while we were vacationing in Newport, Rhode Island, was Newport Vineyards and Taproot Brewery. The winery has over 50-acres of vines, spread across 100-acres of historically preserved farmland. They have been around for over 25 years. Taproot Brewing Co. has been around since 2018. Equipped with a state-of-the-art seven barrel brewhouse… this place is a two for one, lol!
A tour of how their awesome beer is made!
The process!
Kevin Beachem, Brewer at Taproot, was nice enough to explain the process!
A sample of their new beer that is coming out. The WITBIER!
We entered and we were greeted by Kevin Beachem, who is the Brewer at Taproot Brewery (and a friend of my husband’s). He explained the process to us and how he creates his beers. One beer that he talked about, that we got to taste, was the Whitbier. According to Kevin, it is a Belgian Wheat, with ingredients of Elderberry, Orange Peel, Coriander, and Local Lemon Balm. I’m not a big fan of Belgian beers, but this beer was so light and refreshing. It was so delicious, that I may convert!
Wine Flights!
So let’s start with our flights. My husband had a beer flight and I had a wine flight. The wine flight I had was amazing!!! The one on the far left is called the Great White, this white wine was excellent! It is a blend of Cayuga, Riesling and Vidal Blanc. The taste was light with some sweetness, but not overly sweet. The next wine was the Pinot Noir Rose. This was a bit dry, but loved the rich flavors of strawberry! The third is the Pinot Noir. This wine is dry with light fruit notes (earthy, pomegranate, raspberry). Low in tannins, it is an easy drinking red, especially in the summer (the day we were there, it was hot). Last but not least, was the Cabernet Franc. The flavor was smoky, with a hint of raspberry. It was very good!
Beer Flights!
My husband’s beer flight… starting from the left was the Brosé. This beer had a sour taste with a blend of raspberries (which are local). This combo creates a tart and refreshing flavor! The next beer was the Zappa and according to my husband it had a combination of fruity and hoppy flavors. The third, was the F-Bomb, (lol)! This was my husband’s favorite! This beer had a tropical flare, with hints of spices and coconut. Finally the Vineyard Pills, which had a clean, crisp flavor with light floral notes.
Local Cheese Bite Board
Great Hill Blue, Atwells Gold, Crescendo, house jam, local honeycomb, dried fruit, spiced nuts, focaccia crostini
Bluefin Tuna
Landot herb roasted tuna, summer potatoes, local veggies
On top of their drinks being phenomenal, the dishes were not that far behind! Their cheese board was amazing. All the ingredients on this board melded so well. The cheeses were creamy and flavorful and the house jam was sweet and fresh. The fruits were fresh and paired nicely with the other ingredients. It was just such a great cheese board all around. The tuna entree was excellent! It had a nice sear and it was seasoned very nicely. The summer potatoes were cooked to perfection. Both dishes were amazing, as well as their beautiful presentations.
Checking out the winery!
Perfect day!
So overall, my husband and I had a great time! Great place, the staff was friendly, and the service was on point. The people here enjoy what they do and it is reflected in their beer, drinks, dishes and overall atmosphere. I highly recommend this place and if you are in the area please stop by! Oh, and it is recommended that you make reservations! Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
Enjoying Brunch with the view of the City and the Hudson River!
“When I give food to the poor, they call me a saint. When I ask why the poor have no food, they call me a communist.” ― Dom Helder Camara, Dom Helder Camara: Essential Writings
I wanted to go with my husband and long time college friends for an outdoor brunch and we decided to try this place. (They are big foodies, just like yours truly :)) This place is located in Weehawken, NJ on top of the ENVUE Hotel. It is a rooftop restaurant that has beautiful views of Manhattan and the Hudson River. Chef Marcus Samuelsson is the owner. (Chef Samuelsson is the acclaimed chef, cookbook author, TV personality, philanthropist and food activist behind the iconic New York City restaurant Red Rooster Harlem and Marcus B+P in Newark.) His menu is inspired by locally sourced seasonal items from local farms and suppliers.
WATERMELON SALAD with Heirloom tomato, Cucumber, Y
Toasted seeds, MintLOBSTER MAC N’ CHEESE with
baked mac, lobster bisque, breadcrumbsBUFFALO BROCCOLI with Coconut dressing
M’S CORNBREAD with honey butter
Starting with the appetizers… the best one was the Mac and Cheese! The taste was creamy, warm, and delicious! The pieces of lobster were generous and paired nicely with the creaminess of the cheese. The Cornbread was not out of this world, but it had a nice, moist taste. The honey butter for the cornbread… amazing! So creamy and light with a touch of sweetness from the honey. I felt the butter elevated the muffin. The Watermelon Salad… loved the freshness of the watermelon and vegetables! It is a perfect summer salad. The Broccoli was cooked well and the buffalo sauce had a nice kick. However, there was supposed to be a taste of coconut, but I and none of my guests tasted any of the coconut flavor.
“THE SWEETEST THING” Red Velvet Pancakes, white chocolate, berries and orange glazeFRIED CHICKEN & CORNBREAD WAFFLE,
hot honey, picklesED’S SLAM toast, fried eggs, sausage, bacon, potatoesBALLER ROLL
lobster & crab, celery, butter-toasted roll
On to the Entrees. The best one that was popular with our party was the pancakes. They were soft and moist. The combination of the fresh berries and the white chocolate was perfect. The homemade whip cream added a nice touch as well. The cornbread waffles from both the Ed Slam and the Fried Chicken dish were amazing! The waffles were crispy on the outside yet soft on the inside. The cornbread flavor of the waffle was buttery and sweet. Delicious!! Unfortunately, the Fried Chicken that accompanied waffle was very dry and it lacked flavor. The rest of the Ed Slam was ok, but the sausages and bacon were prepared nicely. The Baller Roll bread was “ok,” but the crab/lobster filling was good and not heavily soaked in mayonnaise.
Unfortunately, our overall experience was not spectacular. The time we went was not at all crowded, yet the service was a bit lacking. For example, I ordered a drink called the Lavender Spritz. Unfortunately, a good time had passed and I still didn’t have my drink. Then our server finally approached us and said they were out of Lavender. While it’s definitely possible the server did not know about the lack of Lavender, it took a VERY long time to get that info back to the table. This happened quite a few times when we asked for something. It just seemed uncoordinated. The staff was very friendly… just seemed overwhelmed on a day when it wasn’t too busy.
Our entrees were not delayed, however they made several mistakes with some of our parties’ dishes. One of our guests is lactose intolerant, and he informed the waitress of his allergies and worked out a perfect dish. However when his dish arrived, there was cheese on it. Another member of our party is allergic to garlic. She also informed our waitress and the waitress stated that the dish she ordered had no garlic. However, when our meals were delivered her meal was missing. The server informed her the reason it was missing was that there was garlic in her dish. This was something that should have been known prior to her ordering the dish. It’s a miscommunication between front of the house and the kitchen. I will say, even though there were several mistakes, the staff and management did all they could to rectify the errors in our dining experience. Beautiful place for the scenery and the ambiance. However, I’m not sure if I would return for this dining experience. It wasn’t a terrible experience, but there were a bit too many misfires for me to return. Thanks for reading my review and continue to chomp away!
