{The Garage: Restaurant Review}

Food and Drink / Me / Restaurant Reviews

The Garage

We’ve got this great bar/restaurant called the Garage, here in Salt Lake City.  I drive by the Garage almost every day, but I had never been in to eat, drink and be merry, until recently.  A few weeks ago, I met some of my best friends from Zumba, for brunch at the Garage.

We met around 11:00 am on a cool, but sunny Sunday.  We were seated close to the wood burning stove, which was nice.  One of the things the Garage is known for, is their great patio, which you would never think, due to the location of the Garage.  Next to an oil refinery, in a busy industrial area!  It was a little too early, windy, and cool for us to sit on the patio, but  next time for sure!  The inside of the Garage is great, exactly what you would expect a local bar would be!  Especially one that is a favorite of Harley riders out for a weekend ride!

I chose the Veggie Omelet, which comes with Country Potatoes.  Just after we arrived the bar got very crowded!  I’m not sure if the bar was short-staffed, or if it’s not usually that busy, but the poor waitress was crazy busy.  Our food was a little slow getting out, but we didn’t mind.  We could tell she was doing her best.  My Veggie Omelet was really good!  Tons of veggies, great portion size, and it was served hot!  I loved it!  Several of the other girls ordered the Garage Benedict and the Huevos Rancheros, which both looked fabulous!  And the portions were ginormous!  No complaints from any of us!

I can’t wait to go back for Taco Tuesday, to hear live music on the patio on a Saturday night, or brunch on a Sunday morning again!

Garage Review

Ali

{Basted Holiday Turkey Recipe with doTERRA Essential Oils}

Cooking / Food and Drink / Holidays / Learn About Benefits of Using DoTERRA Essential Oils / Recipes

It’s turkey time! This Thanksgiving, give your family and friends a turkey they will love and remember. Stuffed and basted with fresh herbs and essential oils, this turkey will not only be extremely flavorful and aromatic, but will also be the highlight of your Thanksgiving feast.

WARNING: You will most likely be asked to provide this turkey for all future Thanksgiving dinners after you serve this star. Serve at your own risk.

Ingredients:
1 (13-pound) turkey
1 onion, peeled and quartered

Divide These Ingredients in Half:
2 sprigs rosemary
2 drops dōTERRA rosemary essential oil
3 sprigs fresh thyme
1 drop dōTERRA thyme essential oil
2 cloves garlic, slivered

Cider Baste:
1/4 cup apple cider concentrate
2 drops dōTERRA wild orange essential oil
1 drop dōTERRA lemon essential oil
2 tsp. olive oil
1 toothpick dōTERRA thyme essential oil
1/4 tsp. salt
Freshly ground black pepper

Directions: 
Remove giblets from turkey. Place turkey on a rack and stuff with the onion and half of the rosemary, thyme, and garlic mixture. Loosen the skin from the turkey breast and place the remaining half of the mixture under the skin.

To prepare the baste, stir together the cider concentrate, wild orange essential oil, lemon essential oil, olive oil, thyme, salt, and pepper.

Roast the turkey in a preheated 325-degree oven, basting every 30 minutes with the cider baste until an internal temperature reaches at least 165 degrees in the innermost part of the thigh, the wing, and the thickest part of the breast. (Some diners may want the turkey cooked to a higher temperature.) Carve and enjoy!


This recipe courtesy of www.doterrablog.com

Question for you:

Have you ever used Essential Oils to cook with?  If so, please comment and let me know how!  I would love to hear from you!

Ali

{New from doTERRA ~ TerraGreens}

Food and Drink / Health & Fitness / Learn About Benefits of Using DoTERRA Essential Oils / Recipes

New from doTERRA

One of the new products released by doTERRA last month at convention, is their new TerraGreens Supplement Mix.  We’ve been using it at our house and love how easy it is to make healthy smoothies in the morning before work!  The taste is great!

PRIMARY BENEFITS

• Provides the body with essential nutrients
• Supports immune health
• Supports digestive health
• Supports weight management
• All natural ingredients
• GMO and gluten free
• Vegan-friendly

DIRECTIONS FOR USE
Add one scoop of TerraGreens with 8 oz. of water or your favorite beverage and drink immediately.

Ali

{Pallet}

Food and Drink / Restaurant Reviews

pallet

You guys!  Have you been to Pallet in Salt Lake City yet?  Soooo good!  I’ve heard loads of great things about this place, but haven’t had the opportunity to get there until a few nights ago!

We had reservations for 6:00, and arrived a bit early.  Spent a few minutes at the bar learning about all the unique cocktails that Pallet is famous for!  Yum!

Loved the décor and the really cozy feel of the restaurant!  Our party of 5 was seated in a corner table with benches and pillows.  Really nice!

We started our night with their famous cocktails.  I had the Garden Smash which definitely had a good kick to it with the jalapeno!!  The Farmers Market Sour was really good as well!

We started our meal with an order of Truffle Fries (delicious) as well as a few orders of the Pork Belly!  Both were great and did not disappoint!

I chose the NY Steak for dinner with exceeded my expectations.  Whenever I order my steak “Medium”, I always get it back closer to “Rare”.  At Pallet, it was cooked perfectly!  The cipollini onions and broccolini were very tasty, but next to the steak, I loved the Baked Mac & Cheese!  Such a great comfort dish!

We were too full from dinner to order dessert, so we skipped that.  Bummer!

I can’t wait to get back to Pallet and try more of the entrees!  Soooo delish!

Pallet2

Have you eaten at Pallet before?  If so, I’d love to hear your experience!  Any other restaurants you LOVE and that you’d like to tell me about?

 

PALLET

237 South 400 West

Salt Lake City, UT

http://eatpallet.com

Ali

{OnGuard Pumpkin Smoothie Recipe}

Food and Drink / Health & Fitness / Learn About Benefits of Using DoTERRA Essential Oils / Recipes

OnGuard Pumpkin Smoothie

from the doTERRA blog (www.doterrablog.com)

Just in time for the cooler fall weather, I’ve got a great pumpkin flavored recipe for you!  Not only is this smoothie healthy for you and your family, it will also help boost your immune system which we all need this time of year!

pumpkin

Ingredients:

1 cup almond milk (or milk of choice)
1/2 cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup vanilla yogurt
2 frozen bananas
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon pumpkin pie seasoning
2-3 drops On Guard Protective Blend
1 cup ice

Directions:

Combine all ingredients into blender and blend until smooth.

Note: For a garnish, add some whipped cream and pumpkin pie seasoning.

Makes 4 servings.

I hope you enjoy it!

Have a great day!

Ali

{Backyard Bash! How to Host a Stress-Free Summer Party!}

Food and Drink / Learn About Benefits of Using DoTERRA Essential Oils

Summertime is the perfect time for entertaining!  

And who doesn’t like a BBQ/Party in the backyard, on the deck or on the patio!  

Here are some great tips for stress-free entertainging.  

Enjoy!

PICK A DATE
Choose a time and a day that will be convenient for most people. Don’t forget to check the weather.

KEEP IT SIMPLE
It is easy to get overwhelmed when planning an event. Try not to over-complicate things. Simple doesn’t have to mean boring.

DETERMINE A BUDGET
Decide how much you are willing to spend and stick to it. Plan your menu, decorations, and entertainment around the set budget.

INVITE PEOPLE
Facebook Event is the cheapest and one of the easiest ways to spread the word to your friends and family about the upcoming event. In just a matter of clicks, you can send a detailed invite and find out who will be able to make it. You can always go with traditional hard copy invites; although it may be more costly.

PLAN THE MENU
When it comes to planning a menu for a summer party the options are limitless. you can have everything from a BBQ, to just casual finger foods, fresh fruits, salads, appetizers, and refreshing drinks. You can even invite your guests to bring their favorite summer food item to share with others.

ORGANIZE A SHOPPING LIST
Once you figure out your budget, menus, and the theme, make a categorized list of the items and ingredients that you will need to purchase at the store. Try to buy every-thing you need a day or two in advance.

INVOLVE OTHERS
Ask a couple of friends for help to avoid work overload and potential stress. Give each person a responsibility.  For example, one person can help with invitations whereas another can be in charge of the decorations.

CHECK YOUR SUPPLY
Create a check list of all the items that you will need in accordance to the number of guests. Make sure there is enough food, chairs, tables, napkins, cups, and other necessary items.

CREATE THE SPACE
Set specific areas for food and drink tables.  If children will be attending, plan on having a safe spot for them to run around and play.

BREAK THE ICE
Add a casual group activity or start an engaging conversation to get your guests interacting with each other while maintaining a comfortable and inviting atmosphere.

Fresh Caprese Salad
Submitted by Adrienne Snyder, NC 
Makes approximately 2 servings – 

 

INGREDIENTS:
• ½ cup cherry tomato halves
• ¼ cup mozzarella cheese ball halves
• 2–3 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1–2 drop Basil essential oil
• Mini wooden skewers*
• Fresh basil leaves for garnish

DIRECTIONS:
1.  Place tomatoes and cheese in bowl.
2. Top with olive oil and balsamic vinegar.
3. Add Basil essential oil; stir and eat.
*  Need a quick and easy appetizer?

Thread tomatoes and cheese onto mini wooden skewersand drizzle with balsamic vinegar and olive oil mixture.

Wild Tropical Smoothie
Submitted by  Vanessa Zamorano, CA – 

INGREDIENTS:

• 5 drops Wild Orange essential oil
• 1 cup frozen strawberries
• 1 cup frozen mango
• 1 ½ cup pineapple juice

DIRECTIONS:
Mix in a blender; pour and enjoy!

Lemon and Orange Granitas


INGREDIENTS:
•   6 large lemons or 4 medium oranges
• Sugar/honey to taste
• 4 cups water
• 2–4 drops Lemon or Wild Orange essential oil

DIRECTIONS:
1.   Clean and wash fruit. Cut off the top quarter and slice a thin bevel off the bottom of the fruit, so they stand up straight.
2.  Using a grapefruit knife, carefully remove and save the flesh and juice; be careful not to cut through  the bottom. Stand the rinds on a plate or cookie sheet and freeze until solid.
3.  Combine scooped out flesh and juice with essential oil in a food processor or blender; pulse until mostly pureed then press mixture through a fine-mesh strainer.
4.  Stir in water; add sugar or honey one tablespoon at a time to taste. Pour mixture into large roasting pan or baking dish, large enough that the liquid isn’t more than one-inch deep.
5.  Freeze for 1–3 hours. Remove mixture from freezer every hour and scrape with two forks to break up ice.
6.  When the granita is frozen, rake until glittery. Scoop into frozen lemon or orange shells and serve.

If you would like more information on any of the essential oils used in the recipes above, please send me an email at:  ali.moll@hotmail.com

Follow my FACEBOOK PAGE for more essential oil tips and information.

Happy Entertaining!

Ali

{Favorite Pizza on the Grill}

Cooking / Food and Drink / Recipes

 
Pizza
Well, hello there!  It's been a while since I posted last.  Life got busy, and I was also under the weather a few days, which is never fun!  But, I'm feeling better now and I have so much I want to post about.  There just never seems to be enough hours in the day 🙂

Today, I want to tell you about what has become our new favorite summer meal!  I originally posted about the Best Pizza Evah! last year HERE.  We normally just use our oven and a pizza stone to cook the pizza, but earlier this summer I was craving homemade pizza and didn't want to heat the house up, by turning on the oven (we have had a HOT HOT HOT summer here). Soooo, I thought it might be fun to try cooking the pizza on the grill, and I was right!  It was fun and super yummy!

 

PicMonkey Collage

1.  Gather all of your ingredients.  We LOVE tomatoes, fresh  mozarella cheese and red onions on our pizza along with pesto (the pizza dough I used was Trader Joe's Garlic and Herb dough).

2.  We recently found Grandma Sandinos Vegetarian Garlic Sauce at our local farmer's market and fell in love with it!  And Trader Joe's Pesto is always a good choice!

3.  Roll or shape your dough to the desired shape and brush one side with olive oil (I used the Vegetarian Garlic Sauce).

4.  Place the dough, olive oil side down on a MED/HIGH grill.  Now brush the top side with olive oil.

5.  It should only take a few minutes to get some nice grill marks on the dough.  Go ahead and flip the dough over (be careful, it's HOT)!

6.  Now you are ready to spread on Pesto, or whatever sauce you like on your pizza. 

7.  Add the rest of your ingredients and close the lid on the grill, to allow the pizza toppings to melt.

8.  Take a quick peek and  admire all the melty goodness!  *NOTE: if the bottom of your pizza is cooking quicker than the cheese is melting, you can slid a pizza stone or baking sheet under the dough.  We've had to do this a few times.

9.  ENJOY your pizza!  Soooo quick and easy!  And sooo GOOD!  We love to eat this out on the patio with a cold beer or glass of wine!

What is your favorite type of pizza?

Have you ever tried to make pizza on the gill? 

I'd love to hear from you!  And be sure to share the recipe!

Have a great Thursday! 

Ali

{Detour Protein Bars}

Food and Drink / Health & Fitness / Products

Hey all!  Happy Tuesday! 

A few weeks ago, Detour Protein Bars sent me some of their new Lower Sugar Neopolitan Protein Bars to try out.  I am super picky about the protein bars that I eat, I like them to have great flavor (not too bland and blah), but not too many calories and sugar either.  These really fit the bill!

Detour3
Detour2

 This yummy bar is made with a rich milk chocolate layer sandwiched between creamy vanilla and sweet strawberry nougat. The 40 gram size has 15 grams of high quality whey protein, 170 calories and just three grams of sugar. AND they are delicious!  Love them!

Here is the nutritional information on the bars:

Nutrition Info

And a little information about Detour:

About Detour
Detour Collage

The bar was really filling, and the perfect snack after a workout, or in the afternoon at work to get me through the rest of the day!  I love that I don't have to worry about eating something so full of sugar, that I will get a sugar high, and then crash a short while later!  

I was given a box of Detour’s lower sugar protein bars free of charge but the thoughts and opinions are all my own.

Have you ever tried Detour Protein Bars?  

If so, have you tried their new Lower Sugar Protein Bars?  I'd love to hear what you think!

Have a great day!

Ali

{A Weekend Away}

Family / Food and Drink / Health & Fitness / Me / Travel / Utah / Vacation & Travel

Hello Friends!  I can't believe we have already finished our second week of July!  The summer is flying by and I can't seem to catch up!!  I hope you had a FABULOUS Fourth of July holiday last week!

I had plans to get several items checked off my 2013 Summer Bucket List over the holiday weekend, and manged to get them done! One of the items on my bucket list was to plan a weekend away.  With the 4th falling on a Thursday this year, I thought it would be the perfect opportunity to take a long weekend and get away! 

I had such a fabulous time at The Canyons in May when I was there for the Blend Retreat, that I decided to book a room for the weekend in Park City.  I found a great rate on a room at the Sundial Lodge, and it was beautiful!  Our room was on the top floor and had french doors that opened out on to a nice balacony with a gorgeous view of the whole resort:

Resort View
Gorgeous, right?

After checking in to the lodge, we hit up the mini golf course right at the base of the mountain with Madison and George.

 Mini Golf

It was a lot of FUN, but HOT! HOT! HOT!

The next morning Carl and I were up for a nice hike!  We hit up the Ambush Trail and had a great time!  It was so pretty and the hike was a mixture of full sun and shade, so it wasn't too hot. We did have to share the trail with mountain bikers, which was a bit sketchy at tiimes, but all good!

Ambush Trail

Discover New Hikes:  CHECK!

After relaxing in the room for a bit and a quick shower, it was time to head to the dog park!  My Mom and Brother Kevin brought up our dog Chloe, and my other Brother's dog Cooper for a visit.  They are dog sitting, and since it has been so HOT in the valley, we thought the dogs might like to enjoy the cooler temps in the canyons.  They had a great time!  Playing in the water, chasing tennis balls, other dogs, and each other!

Dogs
Aren't they cuties?  Despite the huge size difference, these two are the best of friends :)  We all shared a pizza from Drafts on the lawn later that night, and just enjoyed the scenery and company. 

The next morning I was ready to check off another item from the 2013 Summer Bucket List!  Rent Bikes!

We went on a 14 mile bike ride, which included a ride in to downtown Park City, a pit stop at Starbucks (duh!) and ride back over toward the dog park.  There are so many great paved biked trails all around Park City.  I could have biked all day, if my legs hadn't been screaming at me.  Oh and my neck…which took a little bit of jarring, despite being on paved trails. We had such a great time that Carl and I are looking in to purchasing bikes sometime soon!  So much fun!

Starbucks Bikes

Bike Ride

Rent Bikes: CHECK!

The morning had beed really overcast, which was nice since it was still hot.  It was perfect weather to ride bikes, but not so great to sit by the pool! GRRRRR.  We ate lunch in our room, thanks to stopping for some groceries (Trader Joe's) on the way up the canyon.  We grabbed lots of healthy snacks and some salads, so we woulndn't have to pay an arm and a leg for lunches.  It was nice to know we had some healthy choices right at our finger tips!  Love when rooms have mini-kitchens!  The clouds cleared and we were able to spend a few relaxing hours at the pool.  Yea!

But soon enough the clouds rolled in again.  Carl enjoyed a book on the balcony, while I watched the storm move in:
Carl reading

Thunderstorms

Pretty soon it was a down pour!  I loved keeping the doors open to listen to the rain and thunder!  Summer thunderstorms are one of my favorites!

Dinner that night was at Lorenzo's in Park City.  The food was okay, but the homemade tortilla chips were FABULOUS!  I mean super FABULOUS!  It was like they were twice fried or something?!?!?!  And the salsa bar was great too.  I could have dined on chips and salsa alone, and been a happy girl!

We went back to the lodge for movies and more rain, thunder and lightening! 

View

I was so sad to see our trip come to and end the next morning.  We had such a great time at The Canyons!  I can't wait to do it again!  Next time I hope to be able to do the Zip Line Course and Mountain Bike on actual dirt trails!  My neck just isn't healed enough yet to try them this time!

Before heading down the canyon to grab our puppy Chloe, we stopped in for breakfast at Good Times Bistro.  I LOVE eating outside during the summer!  Even if it is on our own patio in the backyard!  So any chance I get to eat outside, I take it!

Carl chose the Belgium Waffle, and I had the Egg Scramble with onion, mushroom and avocado!  It was sooo good! 

Breakfast

Dine Al Fresco:  CHECK!

All in all, it was a FABULOUS holiday weekend, and I can't to do it again!

Weekend Away:  CHECK!

How was your holiday and weekend?  What did you do?  Do you have anything planned this weekend?  I'd love to hear about it! 

TGIF!

Ali

{Granary Row}

Food and Drink / Utah

Hey Friends! 

I have a new place to tell you about!  Especially those of you in Utah!  But, first of all….have you entered to win a Rug from Rugs Direct yet?  If not…..go HERE to enter!  Who doesn't need a new rug?  For free?

I know, right!

Anyway, Utah is getting hip!  With the opening of Granary Row , it seems that we might be getting bit cooler here in Salt Lake City.  It is a very unique place!  From the website:

"Granary Row is a pop-up market and festival space. It's a community space, as well as a breeding ground for local businesses.

Granary Row is the very sort of "big idea" that it hopes to foster — a bold urban venture aimed at inspiring and fostering the entrepreneurial ambitions of Salt Lake City's creative class. At its core, it's an experiment in ware-steading the Granary with microventures that will make the District their home — in turn sustaining the neighborhood as a place where makers live, work, and play!"    

Carl and I decided to check it out a few weekends ago.  It just happened to be the weekend of the Salt Lake Art's Festival, so the crowd was a bit sparse, which they expected.  Not a huge crowd, but I can see it really catching on this summer!  The whole place is set around those huge shipping containers:

Grannary2 
Grannary1 
Grannary3

There are retail vendors housed in many of the containers, which is pretty cool!  There is also a variety of food trucks each night, and a beer garden (earth, wind and beer) hosted by Uinta Brewing, which is awesome!  Granary Row is located on 700 South and 300 West.  Right in the middle of the street, and adjacent to Kilby Court. There is also entertainment each night on the main stage. For dinner, Carl and I decided on Blue Pablano and it did not disappoint!

 
Blue Pablano 

I chose veggie & steak tacos (with beans and rice) and Carl chose the special of the night (which I can't remember the name of).  Both of our choices were delish! We were able to take our dinner in to the beer garden to dine al fresco and order a beer, which was nice. 

Food2

Food1

We really had a great time! It was nice to just relax, eat some good food, listen to music and just enjoy a nice summer night. I'm excited to see Granary Row grow and succeed!

If you live in Utah, have you check it out yet?  If you don't live in Utah, do you have any spots like this?

Have a great day!

Ali