Homemade: Teriyaki Flank Steak, Red Curry Lime Cauliflower, & Apple and Green Tomato Slaw

Here's an improvised recipe that turned out to be one of the best meals we've ever made! The flank steak was marinated in Kikkoman Teriyaki sauce for about a half an hour, then cooked on a cast iron plate on the grill. The rest of these were made up as I went, so the recipes aren't exact- you can adjust to your tastes.

Apple & Tomato Slaw

I chopped a quarter of a red onion, half a Granny Smith apple, and half a fresh green tomato. Then I tossed them in a little bit (maybe a teaspoon?) of soy sauce, several tablespoons of Kikkoman rice vinegar, and salt, and let it sit in the fridge for about 45 minutes. 

 Red Curry Lime Cauliflower

I chopped up a fresh head of cauliflower, and some stray red onions, and put them in a large ziploc bag. I added olive oil, a few tablespoons of Thai red curry paste (you can buy it in a little jar in the grocery store), garlic salt, red chili flakes, a few teaspoons of Sriracha, and sea salt. I shook it up and let it sit in the bag for about 20 minutes. Then I poured them onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper and roasted them in the oven at 400 degrees for 20 minutes. Serve with fresh lime wedges and squeeze it over the cauliflower just before eating. 

The finished product! Paired with a Sol with lime to cut the spice!

The Smiling Bison: Orlando, FL

This might turn into a homemade food and Smiling Bison blog, as I'd rather save money and only go out to eat here. Yes, it's that good.

Fried Green Tomato appetizer- lightly fried with goat cheese- the best fried green tomatoes I've ever had! We also had some Pate that was amazing too!

Karl had the duck breast with barley risotto 

Southern smoked chicken sandwich with apple slaw

Chocolate chip cookies with bacon & milk

The menu changes all the time, so it's like a different restaurant every time you go! The service is usually fantastic. It was just okay this time, but that won't stop me from going back!

The Gnarley Barley, Orlando, FL

A strange little place off the side of South Orange Avenue in Orlando, it was a great experience! Tons of beers on draft and in bottles, a small but delicious menu, and reasonable prices. I had the brisket tacos with a side salad, and a Great Divide Marzen that was super delicious- $5 bucks for a 1/2 liter! I'm not sure this place will be a destination restaurant, because it's a pretty long drive from here, but it's perfect if you're already in the area. The outdoor seating area was neat, and from the looks of the additional parking signs, it gets pretty crowded. I dub thee, Smiling Bison Light...

 

Homemade: Mojo Chicken & Black Beans

I can't get enough of the garlic mojo sauce they serve at my favorite Cuban restaurant. So I keep making it and putting it on everything. I put it on nachos, chicken, steak, beans, it doesn't matter. For this meal, we used chicken breasts on the bone and seasoned them with salt, pepper, cumin, garlic salt, and fresh orange, lime, and lemon, then grilled them up. The black beans are from the can, but I sautéed onions and garlic in olive oil before adding the beans to the pot, then simmered until they cooked down. They taste so good! The mojo sauce is freshly minced garlic and onion, with fresh lime juice, salt and pepper in a bowl. Then you heat oil on the stove (I used olive this time- 3/4 of a cup) and pour it over the bowl of veggies so they cook in the oil, then let it cool.

Little Saigon Vietnamese: Orlando, FL

Lunch at Little Saigon Vietnamese! The #53- pork with spring rolls- delicious!!!

Homemade: Cream Cheese Sausage Balls & Roasted Cabbage

Tonight's dinner was cream cheese sausage balls (a Pinterest find), and roasted cabbage.

Here's the Pinterest Link: http://pinterest.com/pin/232287293252700277/

Only four ingredients! Cream cheese, cheddar cheese, sausage & bisquick. Not the healthiest thing ever, but just don't eat too many and you'll be good. 

The cabbage is even easier- cut it into slices, put it on a tray, add olive oil, sea salt and the seasonings of your choice, put it in the oven, and roast at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes. Easy and cheap! 

Homemade: Banana Raspberry Walnut Flax Muffins (so many words!)

These are from this recipe: http://www.yummly.com/recipe/Banana-Bread-Muffins-Low-Carb-Low-Sugar-Recipezaar?columns=4&position=1%2F24

I added raspberries because I had some that were going to turn (I'm great at buying produce- I suck at using it). I also couldn't find almond flour, so I used and extra half cup of regular flour and a half a cup of milled flaxseed. These are pretty good!

Tibby's New Orleans Kitchen, Altamonte Springs, FL

While we are seasoned Tibby's vets, this was our first trip to their new location in Altamonte Springs. It seems roomier than the original Tibby's in Winter Park, but still pretty crowded, with lots of tables crammed together. 

All in all, the service was not great, and the food was good. I guess. Not my favorite trip to Tibby's ever, but hopefully they'll work out the kinks so we don't have to drive across town. 

Here's the dining room:

The half muffuletta, and seafood gumbo. 

We also had some bread pudding which was good, but a little dry. 

Homemade: Crockpot Lechon (Cuban Pork)

After our fabulous experience at Padrino's, I decided to make Lechon (Cuban pork) for dinner the next night. I found this recipe on Pinterest for Crock Pot Lechon http://pinterest.com/pin/232287293253823958/ 

I put it in the crockpot early in the morning and let it cook on low all day- for about ten hours

When it's done, you can pull it apart with a fork! You barely have to touch it- just shake it!

Here's the sauce, which tasted exactly like the restaurant's. Mostly just minced onions, garlic, salt, and heated canola oil that you pour over the veggies and cook in the bowl. 

We had leftover plantain chips from the restaurant the day before, so I heated those up in the oven.

And here's the finished product, served with salad & watermelon, and a Presidente for good measure!

Padrino's Cuban Restaurant: Orlando, FL

The best Cuban food I've had in Orlando was today from Padrino's in Hunter's Creek (South Orlando). Go here. Do it now. 

Your meal will start like this- complimentary plantain chips with some super tasty mojo dipping sauce

 We ordered Croquetas de Jamon for a starter- they were maybe the best I'd ever had. The dipping sauce was tasty too. 

My lunch was a Cuban Sandwich with maduros (sweet plantains). One of the best Cuban sandwiches I've ever had, by a long shot! The bread was flaky, crisp and buttery, and not to hard or dry. The meat was delicious! I saved half for lunch for the next day (mostly so we could try some dessert). Side note- it was equally good for lunch the next day. 

Flan for dessert! This was some amazing flan- soft, rich and creamy. There was none left for lunch dessert the next day.  We will be making a return trip to Padrino's for sure!