Feature of the Week: Nov. 29-Dec. 5

A Taste of Heaven would not exist if it were not for the audience, so I want to show my appreciation by dedicating Thursdays to the fans. If you eat or make a dish of your own and its camera ready, then you can email me your photos. I will review and post them on Thursday.  It’s important to remember presentation, style, and taste. I look forward to seeing your Taste of Heaven.

FYI: Email Pictures...

Description: Smothered, drowning, and swimming in sweet honey barbecue sauce. I wish I was the barbecue sauce on these spare ribs. I was anxious about this feature because I haven’t had any barbecue posts in a minute. Although its the winter time, it’s never too cold to have the grill going. I was invited to a birthday party and the family threw DOWN. We had macaroni and cheese, spare ribs, sweet potato soufflé, collard greens, baked chicken, and potato salad. I was in southern heaven once I made my first plate. Thumbs Up Tiggs!

Yellow Bird

It’s been a long week, and you’re dying for a break. Well, I have the perfect solution. Every Wednesday I will offer a drink to the viewers for “Whine Down Wednesdays.” You don’t have to wait until the weekend arrives to enjoy a great drink. Take a break and have a sip of A Taste of Heaven.  

Each day of the cruise was complimented with a signature drink. On the second day of cruising, Carnival offered a cocktail called the Yellow Bird. It’s a tropical mixture with white rum, Galliano, orange juice, sweet and sour, and pineapple juice. I ordered one with an extra shot because I was demonstrating NO LIMITS. The Yellow Bird was one of my favorites because of the pineapple and the white rum. After drinking three, I was on my level.

FYI: Carnival Cruise

FOOD TIP: Galliano is a sweet herbal liqueur that was created in Italy in 1896.

Slappin' Strawberry Shrimp Salad

 

Currently, I am in class looking through my pictures trying to see what I’m going to post for the day. My mouth is watering as we speak. I have NEVER had a salad that taste this GOOD. I’ve had plenty of salads in my day, but this one blows everyone out the water. This taste of heaven is called the Strawberry Summer Salad. It’s a spring mix salad with tarragon vinaigrette, feta cheese crumbles, caramelized almonds, and blackened shrimp. I don’t know if the tarragon dressing set if off or if the blackened shrimp sealed the deal. I ate every last spinach leaf on the platter. The Strawberry Summer Salad was SLAPPIN'!!!!! I wish I could have one right now.

FYI: Buckhead Bottle Bar & Bistro

FOOD TIP: Tarragon is also known as dragon's wort.

Mini Philly

Sometimes I feel like I eat the same things for dinner. Fish, chicken, shrimp, and turkey are always on the menu. I wanted to eat something delicious that was homemade, so I ventured to Philly in my kitchen. This taste of heaven is a Philly cheesesteak with sautéed mushrooms, onions, peppers, provolone cheese, and tender strips of steak. The wheat roll is spread with mayonnaise and stuffed with all the sautéed ingredients. I love mini Phillies because they are easy to make and its hardy sandwich that will fill you up. In the future I plan to make a foot long Philly for my next friendly gathering.

FYI: Further Details...

FOOD TIP: Slice veggies into strips when making your Philly cheesesteak (avoid dicing).

Birthday Wishes

THEN: Eating a Banana

NOW: Celebrating on the Cruise

Today is my 22nd birthday!!!! As you can see, I still look the same. It feels great to be able to see another day. I celebrated my birthday while I was in Jamaica, and I had an AMAZINGGGGG time. I hope I have many more great birthdays to come in the future. I love you all, and I’ll be back Tuesday with more delicious dishes. 

The Handsome Strawberry

This taste of heaven is a Chocolate Covered Tuxedo Strawberry. What a mouthful? This juicy red strawberry is covered in white chocolate, and then it's dipped in milk chocolate. For detail, a fine point is used to make the buttons and the festive bow. I saw this design some years ago, and I said I would try to imitate the handsome strawberry. However, Carnival's dessert shop beat me to the punch. The sweet silky chocolate was divine. Although the little gentleman was pricey, he was worth every penny in my pocket.

FYI: Carnival Cruise

FOOD TIP: Make sure the strawberries are fully dried after the washing process because the chocolate will NOT stick.

Feature of the Week: Nov. 15-21

A Taste of Heaven would not exist if it were not for the audience, so I want to show my appreciation by dedicating Thursdays to the fans. If you eat or make a dish of your own and its camera ready, then you can email me your photos. I will review and post them on Thursday.  It’s important to remember presentation, style, and taste. I look forward to seeing your Taste of Heaven. 

FYI: Email Pictures...

Description: As I've said before, I’m trying to demonstrate better eating habits. I don’t eat regular hamburgers anymore; however, I will devour a turkey burger in a heartbeat. Although I haven’t had a hamburger in a while, this feature made me have second thoughts. This taste of heaven is an 8 oz gourmet burger, on a toasted Kaiser roll, with sauteed mushrooms, onions, bacon, tomato, and Swiss cheese. The healthy spread is served with French fries and ketchup for dipping. The toppings look phenomenal in this feature. It almost resembles the “Locked & Loaded” post. Nice selection Fred!

Kiss My Red Lips

It’s been a long week, and you’re dying for a break. Well, I have the perfect solution. Every Wednesday I will offer a drink to the viewers for “Whine Down Wednesdays.” You don’t have to wait until the weekend arrives to enjoy a great drink. Take a break and have a sip of A Taste of Heaven.

When I asked the bartender what was the name of the drink with the strawberry and mango, he said, "Kiss My Red Lips." Well, excusssse me sir, but I would like to try one. Of course he looked at me like are you old enough to drink. However, this didn't bother me because I was on vacation and I was trying Whine Down on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. I told everyone that there are NO limits in Jamaica, so leave all the rules and guidelines at home! I have NO morals.

FYI: Carnival Cruise

FOOD TIP: Fresh mangoes can be dressed with ground black pepper and vinegar. 

5 Plates

I think my favorite part about cruising was the fact that you can eat as much as you want whenever you want. It's limitless. One night I ordered the broiled Maine lobster tail with grilled jumbo shrimp, roasted broccoli roses, and potato mash. Remember there are NO limits, so I ordered five plates. Yes, I ate everything, and no I did NOT feel full afterwards. My friends and family have always said I must have a tap worm inside of me because it's impossible for me to be so little when I eat so much. I just roll with the punches until a problem arises. I have ONE life and I'm going to live it regardless if I eat one or two plates.

FYI: Carnival Cruise

FOOD TIP: Seafood should NEVER smell fishy. 

My Escapade

I'm back!!!! I went on an escapade to Ocho Rios, Jamaica and the Grand Cayman Islands. I said I was going somewhere with flava, so I hopped on a Carnival Destiny ship to set sail. For those who don't know, I've never been out the country, so it felt great to finally experience a different culture and lifestyle. I snapped so many pictures, and I can't wait to share all of them with you. I will be showing every dish I devoured on my vacation. There will be desserts, sandwiches, appetizers, snacks, late night room service, and much more. Hold on tight because this ship is sailing off.

I'm sitting on Lido Deck trying to catch a tan, but I'm not getting any luck because I can't sit down for two seconds. I thought to myself, what can I do to kill some time (Side Note: I'm smiling on the inside right now). If you know me, then you know what I'm thinking about at this very moment. I got up from my chair and headed toward the deli line. I ordered a corn beef sandwich with Swiss Cheese, mustard, and two pickles. I was already sipping on a Bud Light, so the corn beef sandwich sealed the deal for me. When I got back to my seat, everyone looked at me like where is my sandwich. I sat down and said, "You're on your own."

FYI: Carnival Cruise

FOOD TIP: Corn beef pairs well with cabbage, carrots, and potatoes.

Feature of the Week: Nov. 8-14

A Taste of Heaven would not exist if it were not for the audience, so I want to show my appreciation by dedicating Thursdays to the fans. If you eat or make a dish of your own and its camera ready, then you can email me your photos. I will review and post them on Thursday.  It’s important to remember presentation, style, and taste. I look forward to seeing your Taste of Heaven. 

FYI: Email Pictures... 

Description: I’m SUPER excited about this feature of the week for four reasons: 

1.  It’s the FIRST recipe to premiere on A Taste of Heaven
2. The recipe came from another fellow blogger. (Blog: The Soapbox)
3. It’s a vegetarian dish that’s healthy for the diet.
4. I plan on making this recipe for a holiday appetizer.

Everyone knows that I’m a strong advocate for eating healthy. I’ve tried to become a vegetarian, but I didn’t work out because I lost too much weight. Since the veggie scene wasn’t for me, I tried to become a pescatarian, but I’m deeply in love with other types of meat (Pescatarian: People who abstain from eating all meat and animal flesh with the exception of fish. More and more people are adopting this kind of diet for health reasons or as a stepping stone for a full vegetarian diet). Unfortunately, the whole vegetarian/pescatarian movement is NOT going well; however, I maintain a balance diet as much as possible (Side Note: Please don’t judge me). This taste of heaven is homemade Vegetarian Mexican-Style Layer Bean Dip. Boy, I wish I had a bag of tortilla chips sitting next to me. I would take the first bite because I know this dip heavenly. The best part about it is that it’s loaded with tons of delicious ingredients. The Vegetarian Mexican-Style Layer Bean Dip would make a great appetizer or Scooby Snack. Thanks for this great feature Neel!

Ingredients:
(2 cans) Refried Beans
(1½ bottle) Taco Bell Brand Restaurant Sauce
(16 oz) Sour Cream
(3) Medium Tomatoes
(1) Medium Onion
(1½ Jar) Sliced Jalapenos
(1 bunch) Green Onions
(1 bunch) Cilantro
(½ tsp) Cumin
(½ tsp) Cayenne Pepper
(½ tsp) Lime Juice
 
Recipe: Vegetarian Mexican-Style Layer Bean Dip

Believe It Or Not

It’s been a long week, and you’re dying for a break. Well, I have the perfect solution. Every Wednesday I will offer a drink to the viewers for “Whine Down Wednesdays.” You don’t have to wait until the weekend arrives to enjoy a great drink. Take a break and have a sip of A Taste of Heaven.

Out of all the beers I've posted, Bud Light Lime is my FAVORITE. Whenever I visit the bar, I always ask for a Bud Light Lime with an extra lime. The bartender always looks at me sideways, but I never pay it any attention. I know it's kind of weird for a female to buy a six pack, but I can hang with the fellas. Believe it or not, I'm usually the one that buys the brews for the kickbacks and friendly gatherings. I even have a private stash in the fridge. 

FYI: Bud Light Lime

FOOD TIP: Bud Light Lime launched a ready-to-drink margarita with a twist called Lime-A-Rita (8% alcohol content).

Feature of the Week: Nov. 1-7

A Taste of Heaven would not exist if it were not for the audience, so I want to show my appreciation by dedicating Thursdays to the fans. If you eat or make a dish of your own and its camera ready, then you can email me your photos. I will review and post them on Thursday.  It’s important to remember presentation, style, and taste. I look forward to seeing your Taste of Heaven.

FYI: Email Pictures...

Description: Two golden fried chicken wings, a waffle, roasted pecans, whipped cream, and warm syrup for breakfast. Is your mouth watering yet? I love dishes with weird combinations. Some people would be against a combo like this, but I would dive in with no remorse. The fried chicken is speaking to me right now.  I think I might have to experiment with this feature in the future. Creative Choice Porscha!