Bad Weather Brewing Company

Date night happened at Bad Weather Brewing Company in St. Paul this weekend.
That has been on our list of places to go what seems like a real long time now and finally the stars aligned and we made it!
That made for a very happy husband.
It was a cool building, very spacious, it sorta divided into two sections.
It was not insanely busy but busy enough, we did get a table after only a couple minutes of waiting.
I loved the vaulted ceilings and wood work.
There are a couple of old school video games to play and a shelf of board games for anyone to play.
You can order your drinks on either side of the bar & they are real quick at serving you.
I tried the Migration, it was really good!

Ill let the husband tell you in his own words about his beer tasting experience!  "Loved the Cask Hopcromancer which is their house IPA, Had a coffee infused Ominous (their double brown ale) on nitro, brought home a growler of Hopcromancer, those are my notes."
OH a man of many words!  Thanks buddie.
They have food trucks on site that evening it was Potter's Pasties, a British food truck.  I had never had British food before, not a huge fan.  But it was alright.
At Bad Weather Brewing you can rent out space to hold your private event.
Check out their website to see what special events they are having game night or what food trucks will be visiting.
You can buy a growler to go.
If you don't like what food truck they have, bring your own or have some delivered.
Or just drink beer!  Just don't drink and drive ;)
Check them out right on West 7th in St Paul you can't miss them!

Bacon Crescent Wrapped Jalapeno Popper

There are all sorts of Jalapeno Poppers out there, bacon wrapped (yes please), deep fat fried and breaded, just to name a couple.
Here is another this one is cream cheese filled and wrapped in a crescent roll and a bit of bacon tucked in there, how easy is this gonna be!?!
They are hot but cooled off a bit by the creaminess of the cheese and the fluffy flaky bread.
Then you get that salty crunch of bacon, who doesn't like bacon!
Everything pairs together perfectly.
And they look pretty!
Even my 13 year old who would not eat this because it's to spicy for him thought they were really professional looking.
Anytime you are working with seeding and de veining jalepenos, I would suggest wearing kitchen gloves.
I have severely "burned" my hands not wearing gloves and let me tell you that is very painfully and can last hours.
And just a tip if you're stubborn and did not listen to me and that happens to you, soak your hands in milk that really helps.  Now is the part where I tell you I told you so! ;)

This is what you need:
5 Large Jalapenos
6oz Cream Cheese, softened
5 Slices Bacon, cut in half
10 Crescent Rolls, prepared dough
The whites from one egg
Sesame & Poppy Seeds

How to make them:
Preheat oven to 375
Cook the bacon, drain off fat. I line a baking sheet with tinfoil and bake the bacon.
Cut the jalapenos in half, lengthwise, deseed and vein.

Fill your jalapeno halves with cream cheese.
Lay out your triangles of crescent rolls, lay out one piece of bacon lengthwise on top of that, on the fatter end of crescent roll lay the cream cheese filled jalapeno.
Now roll it up!
Brush the top of the roll with egg white and sprinkle with your choice of sesame or poppy seeds.
Bake on the lower rack of your oven for 13 minutes.

Hope you enjoy!

France 44

What a fun Saturday today was!  It was perfect (so far).  I love getting up on Saturday grab some coffee head out the farmer's market, there is no shortage of them here.  Even in the winter months you can find a handful of them.
In the summer, oh nelly I may hit 3 of them up!
Ok this blog post is not about farmers markets it is about this amazing cheese shop, France 44!
I only rambled about the farmers market because we went there 1st today.

They have 3 locations, I believe one is in Minneapolis, St. Paul and Edina.
Edina is the one we went to today. First off I love that they have their own lot.  I hate parking on the street, I don't know why maybe cause I can barely parallel park a honking suv.
What a great shop, I love cheese!  But not only do they have cheese, there are prepared food items, meats, sandwiches, olives, breads, beer, wine.  Just to name a few.

Everyone there was so helpful and friendly.
We sampled some amazing cheese.  Ended up buying some wonderful goat cheese.  It was hard to hold back and not buy everything!

Hubbie ordered the surprise sandwich & I got the prosciutto, fig and greens sandwich.

WOW, they were SO good.  I can not wait to go back and try out some new items.
They have a cheese of a month delivery, get some cheese sent right to your door step !

They were so nice I got a free sandwich coin, maybe I will have to check out the St. Paul shop.
I told them I was their Instagram stalker that is what brought me in, hope I didn't scare them off, I'm really not a stalker I just enjoy drooling over their photos!
There is a cute little area to eat your sandwiches, grab a beer or a glass of wine, pick on of the cute cheese related books off the wall and relax.

I spotted a few cute little journals they would like to you sign, draw a picture just to share with them and others to read, made me smile.
So stop in grab a cheese plate and a glass of wine, watch the. hustle and bustle of the streets and kickback and eat some good cheese.

Cedar + Stone, Urban Table

Oh la la time to put on your fancy pants for this one people.  Get your pinky out and your wallets!
Friday night date night was at the new JW Marriott at the Mall of America.

Now, the website says casual and we even sat in the lounge area by the fireplace, but I felt a little underdressed. Especially the husband, I TOLD you to change your shoes!  Maybe next time you will listen to me, you know I'm always right :) GOSH!
It was a pretty quiet night out, I think that was due to the cold weather.  The parking lot was full so we did valet parking at the hotel.
They are well staffed at this hotel, the minute you walk in you are stormed by employees holding doors, asking how you are, if you're checking in, if you're eating, arghhh give me a little space please!
We decided to sit in the lounge area by the fireplace, one of those hot fire stone fires, or whatever you call it.
The server was a little to helpful, I felt as though he was watching my every chew, he even walked me to the restroom!  What the heck!?! I just wanted to know where it was dude, awkward!
Also he was trying to talk to us about beer, but he had no clue what he was talking about, it was pretty comical.
The menu was small but that is ok, I understand when you make some foods well, why have a menu with tons of items.
They did tell us about some items on the lunch menu if we were interested.

We ended up choosing to share a few things, the kale & chicken flatbread.  It was presented very nice but I found it to be dry and I do not care for dark meat, it was all dark meat chicken.

We also got a side order of the mac and cheese, that was amazing!  Lastley the slider, appetizer that came with a little cup of french fries, that too was very good.

We both had 2 beers, our bill was over $100!  Then valet & a tips, what a spendy evening that was.
The hardest part of the evening was sitting next to the table of Seattle Seahawk fans, while biting my tongue trying not to get into their conversation.
It was a very beautiful hotel & lounge.

Thats that.  The end.  I have no more to say. Good Bye.

Cheesey Stuffed Spinach Bread

Do you love a stuffed bread, if you said no I no longer want you to read my posts.
My site is packed full of delicious stuff yo face carbs, I mean come on we only live once right!
Just even it out with some veggies and fruits, do a little exercise.
Ok maybe don't take my advice :)
Hey this bread has spinach that's a vegetable!
But seriously this Cheesey Stuffed Spinach Bread is really good.

Here is what you need:
1 loaf french bread
1 Tablespoon Olive Oil
1 box, 10oz frozen spinach, thawed and drained
1/2 white onion, diced
1/2 red bell pepper, diced
3 cloves garlic, chopped
2 Tablespoons pesto, you can use store bought.  I had some frozen that I made this summer here is that recipe Garlic Scape Pesto.
1/2 Teaspoon Worcestershire (don't grab the soy like I did the other day!)
1/4 Teaspoon salt
1/4 Teaspoon pepper
1/2 Teaspoon Paprika
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 cup sour cream
3/4 cup grated parmesan
1/2 cup sharp cheddar cheese, shredded
1/2 cup mozzarella, shredded


How to make it:
Preheat your oven to 350 degrees
Cut a lid off your bread, cut about half way through, save that bread you can use it to dip into the spinach mixture or do like me and make some homemade croutons with it.
Heat the olive oil, add onions, cook about 10 minutes on medium heat, add peppers cook a few minutes add garlic cook a few more minutes.
Add in your seasonings, worcestershire and sour cream.
Next melt in your cream cheese, once that is incorporated well, mix in the cheese.

I'm getting a lot of use out of my new spoon!

After everything is warmed through and mixed, spoon the cheesey goodness into your bread "boats".
I used one of the real long french breads, I ended up cutting that in half to place onto a baking sheet.
Fill to the top, and sprinkle with the shredded mozzarella.
Bake at 350 for 25 minutes
Let it rest a few minutes before you slice it.
Be Careful it is piping hot!

Do you love my new cutting board?!  I shall name her Philomena :) kidding.

Enjoy!

*I had a little of the spinach mixture leftover, I think we will snack on that another day with some crackers mmmmm......

White Chicken Chili Dip

I have a serious love for my cast iron skillets. I have only 2 but that is just enough for me.
A beautiful large red one, my accent color in my home and a cute little tiny one in black.
I get excited at the chance to use either of them.
And today my friends is one of those days.
We have family lingering in town still after Christmas & New Years, and my wonderful Aunt Julie is having us ladies over to hang out and guess what night it is?!  Appetizer night!
This season is all about appetizers, I have not eaten a meal in forever, it's all been snacking!
Good thing I'm taking up some new winter sports.
My aunt makes a mean white chicken chili, omg it is so good!
I thought I would give this White Chicken Chili Dip a go & hope that she loves it!
But seriously family are you reading this?  I can cook other things other than appetizers!  ;)

So here we go this is what you are going to need to make this awesome dip:
1 1/2 Cups Rotisserie Chicken, Shredded (no skin, if you're like me you will eat that while chopping)
2 14oz Cans White Beans
1/2 Cup Sour Cream
3 Cloves Garlic, chopped
1/2 Lime, juice
1 Teaspoon Cumin (I love that stuff!)
1/2 Cup corn, canned & rinsed
1 Tablespoon cilantro, chopped
3 Cups  Mozzarella & Cheddar Cheese, finely shredded
1/2 of a red bell pepper, diced
3oz salsa verde
Cilantro for topping
Pinch of salt


How to make it:
Preheat oven to 350

In a food processor add your 1 1/2 of the cans of beans, sour cream, cumin, pinch of salt and lime mix well.
Fold in the chicken, corn cilantro and 1/2 of the cheese.
Spread that into the skillet, top with the remainder of your beans, the bell pepper, salsa verde and finally the cheese.
Bake for 30 minutes.
Serve with tortilla chips.

Enjoy!

Hope you love it!
Wishing you all a Happy New Year & Here's to a great 2016 !!!

*revised from Heartbeet Kitchen

*Forgive the horrible photos! It was late, lightening was off, I needed to get the dip out and my hand model (Mother) was telling me she was not ready every time I snapped a picture hahahaha!  Trust me it was good!

Revival

I wanted to do a repost on Revival, I may have been a little harsh on them my first review.
We have visited Revival time and time again, and everytime the food impresses us, it is down right good eats!
Totally worth the wait, and trust me I know, we have actually waited up to 2 hours to get a table, but you know what?
That means that people are there, it's busy because they want that good food!  So you need to be patient, you will be happy that you stayed.
The chicken is perfectly crunchy on the outside and moist on the inside, just like it should be.

The burger, I am at a loss for words on this burger, it seriously melts in your mouth. And you get an instant grin on your face.

The sides are so fresh and full of flavor.  My favorite being the collard greens.

The pies, good Lord, the pies.   I could be full to the brim, but managed to eat a couple bites of a slice of pie.  Banana cream anyone?

Oh and these are the johnny cake appetizer, AMAZING!

There are so many things we have not tried yet and they keep creating new items, I hear they have a new pimento stuffed juicy lucy.
I love this place, they are the talk of the town and the people who run it are fantastic, they seriously take care of you and want your experience to be a good one.
I hope you all get a chance to get over to Revival, it will be one of the best decisions you make!

Here is a video of a couple of the owners/chef of Revival, reading ridiculous reviews.  Makes me giggle :) They seem like really great guys.      Video Link.