Tag: Travel

The Best Thing I Ever Ate: 2018 Disney Edition

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Mickey shaped foods are the best.

I just got home not too long ago from Walt Disney World! My best friend Sarah and I spent a long weekend over the Martin Luther King holiday, exploring the parks and eating so much good food! For those of you who may not know, I’m a huge Disney fan. I participated in the Disney College Program in 2012 at Walt Disney World, I got engaged in the Magic Kingdom in front of Cinderella’s castle and I’ve traveled to Disney World nearly every year since I was born. This girl was born and raised on Disney and it continues to be a huge part of my life. Needless to say, I’m always excited when I get to go back and visit the mouse.

Meeting our crush Gaston.

Sarah and I had a wonderful trip! We hit all four parks, got to explore Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios for the first time, which by the way is AMAZING! We hit all of the rides and of course we indulged in some good eats. Not all food at Walt Disney World is created equal. And what I mean by that is when I travel there, it’s been hit or miss when it comes to food. When I visit Disney there is usually a handful of meals that are great and others not so much. However, everything we ate on this trip was fabulous! For this blog post, I decided to do my own version of “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” inspired by the well-known TV show and share some of my favorite meals from my trip. Again, not all food at Disney is created equal, so I am picking my two favorite meals, one at the quick service level and one at the table service level.

Let’s start with quick service. For those who may be unfamiliar with some of this wonky Disney terminology, quick service is just a fancy way of saying “Fast Food.” Some of us Disney peeps use quick service and counter service interchangeably. All that you need to know is in most quick service restaurants you don’t need a reservation, it’s reasonably priced and you order your food at a cashier and pick it up at a counter.

The best quick service meal that I ate on this trip was the Baked Macaroni and Cheese with Pulled Pork at Flame Tree Barbecue at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. I’ve been a huge fan of Flame Tree BBQ for years. For one, it’s very reasonably priced for the amount of food you get. Also, its real food meaning you can order something other than chicken nuggets and fries. I’ve eaten here many times over the last couple years and this is the first time I’ve noticed the Baked Macaroni & Cheese with Pulled Pork on the menu, so I decided to give it a try. And oh my goodness I am so glad that I did because it was literally incredible.

Baked Macaroni and Cheese from Flame Tree BBQ at Disney’s Animal Kingdom

I’ve had various macaroni and cheeses at quick service restaurants at Disney and historically they are more of a creamy, soupy texture similar to Stouffer’s frozen mac and cheese. Because this mac and cheese had a bit of a crust, I immediately knew it was baked as well as homemade. I really appreciated that it wasn’t overly cheesy because it let the amazing flavors of the pulled pork shine through. The pulled pork was super tender and flavorful. Lastly, two crispy onion rings were plopped right on top of the pulled pork and mac and cheese, which added some depth and texture to the dish. This dish also comes with coleslaw on top. I don’t like coleslaw, so I opted to omit that from my meal. Instead, I drizzled some BBQ sauce right on top and it was perfection. The best part about this meal? It was only $11.99! This meal was very delicious, very filling and so inexpensive. I will definitely be ordering this again on my next visit to Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

Onto my favorite table service meal. Table service essentially means a more formal sit-down restaurant. For the first time ever I dined at the Flying Fish, which is a fine/signature dining restaurant located on Disney’s BoardWalk. This restaurant is known for contemporary American cuisine and I would classify as a bit more upscale than other table service restaurants, which is why this falls into the fine/signature dining category.

My friend Alex and I snap a photo in front of Disney’s BoardWalk Resort after our dinner at the Flying Fish.

My friend Alex and I dined at the Flying Fish on the night I arrived. Alex and I originally met on our Disney College Program in 2012, so it was so fun to catch up with her over dinner. I had very high expectations for this dinner since she is a server at Disney and it’s one of her favorite restaurants. She recommended that I try the Wagyu Filet Mignon, which is what she ordered, and I followed suit. The Wagyu Filet Mignon is priced at $57.00, which is very pricey. However, I can report that this steak was worth every single penny.

Wagyu Filet Mignon at the Flying Fish located on Disney’s BoardWalk.

I am not exaggerating when I say this is literally the best steak I’ve ever eaten. Quite frankly, I think this is the best thing I’ve ever eaten in my life. The steak was seasoned perfectly, had an amazing crust on the outside and yet the inside was incredibly tender. The steak literally melted in my mouth, which Alex attributed to it being cooked on a wood-fire grill. The steak was served over a creamy mushroom risotto, which was very rich and filling. It was also drizzled with a truffle and red wine demi glaze that was to die for. I’m literally drooling just talking about this steak. This meal was incredibly expensive, however if you are willing to splurge on a fancy meal for a special occasion, I would highly recommend the Flying Fish. The service was amazing and in my opinion the food was worth every dollar spent. I’m most definitely going to take my husband to this restaurant when we return to Disney. So that wraps up “The Best Thing I Ever Ate: 2018 Disney Edition.” Gosh, I’m literally still drooling thinking about that steak…until next time.

Our Jamaican Honeymoon at Sandals South Coast

I’m back! And I’m officially a married lady! Derek and I were married on June 3, 2018. We had a beautiful ceremony and reception at the Mount Airy Mansion in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. It was a very special day that we shared among family and friends. I will be sharing a wedding recap, along with our wedding photos in an upcoming blog post. Stay tuned!

Until then, don’t mind me while I gush over our phenomenal honeymoon at Sandals South Coast resort in White House, Jamaica. I found out about this resort through a fellow food blogger (check out her blog here), who honeymooned at Sandals South Coast in May 2017. She and her husband loved it and we took their word for it. After honeymooning there for a week, we are obsessed with this resort and deemed this our best vacation EVER!

The day after our wedding, my husband and I flew to Jamaica. It was our first time traveling to Jamaica and we were so anxiously excited! When we arrived at the airport, we got our passports stamped, grabbed our bags and headed to the Sandals kiosk. After checking in with the Sandals staff members, they took our bags, provided us with complimentary refreshments and directed us to complimentary shuttles that would transport us to our resort. Our resort was approximately an hour and a half away from the airport. Although it was a bit of a drive, I really enjoyed the scenic ride.

The view from our room.

As soon as we arrived at the resort, we were immediately greeted by friendly Sandals greeters, who provided us with cool towels and champagne. They quickly took our bags and whisked them away to our room. After a quick resort briefing, we headed to our Beachfront Luxury room in the French Village. Our room included a king size bed, couch, standard bathroom and a balcony that overlooked the beautiful sparkling blue ocean. Clean and very well kept, our room was cleaned every day, mini fridge was restocked every afternoon and we received turn down service every night.

Beachfront Luxury room in the French Village.

The resort was breathtaking. Set on a 500-acre nature preserve, the resort’s landscaping, as well as it’s wild life was picturesque. Turquoise waters, surrounded by rolling mountains, covered in lush greenery was the perfect backdrop for our romantic getaway. It was truly a tropical paradise. Enchanting creatures, such as majestic peacocks, beautiful birds and funny looking crabs were often seen roaming the resort.

One of the beautiful peacocks that roam the resort.

Sandals resorts are all-inclusive, which means that alcoholic beverages, meals, water sports and entertainment is all included in the price that you pay for your stay. This was my first time staying at an all-inclusive and it was such a treat! It was so nice to know that everything was paid for, so we could easily walk around the resort with no wallet and not have to stress about money.

My husband and I enjoying a beautiful evening at Sandals South Coast.

One of my favorite things about our trip was that we had no agenda and it was pure relaxation. Each day on our trip, we slept in and started our day by enjoying a nice hot breakfast at Bayside Restaurant prior to hitting the beach and pools. During the day, we relaxed on the beach and participated in some of the many water sports. We did it all! We took a glass bottom boat out to see the coral reefs, went kayaking, tubing, sailing and Derek paid extra to learn how to scuba dive! The beaches were gorgeous and so much fun to play on during the day!

Fun in the sun!

After going to the beach, each afternoon we headed back to the room to shower and get ready to go out to dinner. Sandals South Coast had a total of 9 restaurants, which offered a variety of cuisines. The food was fabulous and some of the best meals that I’ve ever eaten! One of my favorite dishes  was the lasagna at Giuseppe’s. It was literally the best lasagna I’ve ever had in my life! I actually gave my compliments to my chef, that was how impressed I was.

I also was able to try some Asian inspired dishes that I don’t get to eat back home. Asian cuisine is often prepared with peanut ingredients, which is a no no for this peanut allergic girl. Sandals was extremely accommodating with food allergies and dietary restrictions. I was able to meet with the head chef at the beginning of our trip and he provided me with a background of things to avoid, how they prepare the food and notified me that if I wanted any alternate menu options, to just let the restaurant know and they would make something special for me. Every time we sat down at dinner, the server asked if we had any dietary restrictions and would make a note for the kitchen. I honestly can’t say enough wonderful things about our dining experiences at this resort and I’m pretty sure I came back 5 pounds heavier because we ate a lot!

My first time trying Sushi! The chef made me a special veggie roll.

Following dinner, we typically would hang out at the bars or go to see a show. They had a lot of fun evening activities like a dance party on the beach, a newlyweds game show and my favorite was the Silver Birds Steel Orchestra! In addition to the complimentary activities, we also booked some other activities at an additional cost. We booked a romantic candle lit dinner on the beach and a relaxing couples massage. We also went out on a Catamaran cruise. Another important note about Sandals is that it is adult only, so there are no kids on property. This is a nice perk for couples who are looking for a quiet and romantic getaway.

Derek and I on our Catamaran cruise excursion.

Derek and I had such a fabulous time at this resort. More importantly, we were able to relax and enjoy some much-needed time together as newlyweds. If I can provide any advice to those who are planning a wedding, I would recommend leaving for your honeymoon the day after your wedding. I was told from various people that I was nuts for flying out the next day, but I’m honestly so thankful we did! It was so exciting and such a relief to wake up the day after our wedding and know that we would shortly be in paradise, and on a fun adventure together as newlyweds!

Romantic candle lit dinner for two.

The entire Sandals experience was nothing short of amazing. The beautiful beaches, friendly staff, delicious food and all the fun activities made for a honeymoon that we will never forget. Derek and I were so pleased with our experience that we have already booked our next Sandals trip for our 1 year wedding anniversary at Sandals Royal Caribbean in Jamaica. We are already missing Jamaica, but we are so excited to go back in a year! If you have ever considered booking an all-inclusive stay with Sandals…DO IT! You surely won’t regret it.

 

Easy Lemon Sheet Cake

Today I’m sharing a delicious recipe for an Easy Lemon Sheet Cake that is to die for. Before I get to that, I wanted to catch you up to speed on the rest of my bachelorette party.

For those of you who may have missed last week’s blog post about my struggle with epilepsy, I had a seizure while in Florida for my bachelorette party and was hospitalized. Although the situation was not ideal, I was still able to enjoy the weekend thanks to my bridesmaids and some very special cast members at the Walt Disney World Resort. I wanted to take some time to share my experiences at Walt Disney World and how they made my bachelorette weekend truly magical, and something that I will never forget.

Enjoying a beautiful night at the Magic Kingdom.

Being hauled off by ambulance and hospitalized for a day was obviously not part of our bachelorette party itinerary, so I was super bummed knowing that we were missing out on all the fun. When I had the seizure, I was at the pool at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort and one of the resort managers rushed to the scene to help. He provided my friends with his card and told them to contact him if we needed anything.

Goofing around with my Maid of Honor at Epcot’s 2018 Flower and Garden Festival.

Once I was discharged from the hospital, I really wasn’t sure if we should even use our park tickets. We had purchased two-day park hopper tickets and I wasn’t sure if it would be worth the money spent to use them when we were only going to be in the parks for partial days. One of my bridesmaids called the manager at the resort, explained our dilemma and he kindly offered to give myself and each of my bridesmaids two 1-day park hopper tickets, free of charge to use in the future. I was beyond thankful for the kind gesture because we were able to use the tickets we already purchased and enjoy the parks, without stressing about getting our money’s worth.

Lunch at The Garden Grill Restaurant in Epcot.

When I got back to the resort after being discharged from the hospital, the resort had also sent a complimentary wheel chair and a gift basket with bridal Mickey ears and four beautiful champagne glasses. People always ask me why I continue to travel back to the Disney Parks repeatedly, and this is exactly why. Despite the circumstances, Disney did their best to make me feel comfortable and make my weekend as special as possible. Even though we only got to spend a short amount of time in the parks, we still had a blast! We were even able to get a reservation for a character meal and the resort manager got us VIP access to a special viewing of the fireworks at Epcot. It was truly magical!

Complimentary VIP viewing of Illuminations Reflections of Earth fireworks at Epcot.

Now I’m back home and getting back into the regular grind, work, blogging, wedding planning and school. With all that has been going on, I’ve felt the need for some sweet treats to brighten up my spirits. When I’m feeling down, stressed or anxious I head to my kitchen to bake. For me, baking is so therapeutic. Now that spring is officially here, I felt compelled to bake something fruity and lemon cake sounded like the perfect spring time treat! And lemon things just make me happy! This lemon cake is great because it’s just the right amount of lemon and the flavor isn’t overbearing. I love this cake because it has such a complex flavor. It’s dense, but very moist with a slight lemon flavor and a buttery finish. This cake is pretty much perfect. So if you are having a rough day or just feeling a little down in the dumps, don’t fret! When life gives you lemons, you make lemon cake!

Print Recipe
 Easy Lemon Sheet Cake
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
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Prep Time 30 minutes
Passive Time 35 minutes
Servings
servings
Ingredients
Lemon Sheet Cake
Lemon Frosting
Prep Time 30 minutes
Passive Time 35 minutes
Servings
servings
Ingredients
Lemon Sheet Cake
Lemon Frosting
Votes: 0
Rating: 0
You:
Rate this recipe!
Instructions
Lemon Sheet Cake
  1. Pre-heat the oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9x13 pan with butter.
  2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt, and whisk together.
  3. Melt the butter in a microwave safe bowl in the microwave and set aside.
  4. Add the eggs, melted butter, sour cream and lemon juice to the flour mixture. Beat until smooth.
  5. Pour the mixture into the greased pan and bake at 350 degrees F for 35 minutes. Remove the cake and press a tooth pick or fork into the cake, ensuring that it comes out clean and that the cake is completely baked. Set the cake aside to cool, while you make the frosting.
Lemon Frosting
  1. In a stand mixer, beat 1 cup of softened butter on medium speed.
  2. Zest a lemon and measure out 1 tsp of lemon zest.
  3. Add the vanilla extract, lemon zest and lemon juice to the butter and beat on medium speed until combined.
  4. Finally, add in powdered sugar to the mixture, one cup at a time and mixing until thoroughly combined and the frosting is smooth. Frost the cake once it’s completely cool.