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Fresh Strawberry Pie

The perfect kickoff to summer is this amazingly delicious fresh strawberry pie! This no bake dessert comes together in under 15 minutes and is such a crowd pleaser.

The prettiest summer dessert

Ingredients:

Graham Cracker crust:

6 whole Graham crackers, crushed

1/3 Cup coconut oil

Cream Filling:

1 pkg cream cheese

1/2 Cup heavy whipping cream

1 Cup powdered sugar

Strawberry Glaze:

1 Cup fresh strawberries, mashed

2 Tablespoons corn starch

1/3 Cup white sugar

Fresh strawberries:

3 Cups sliced strawberries

Preparation: Make Graham cracker crust and set aside. Whip together cream filling and place on top of Graham cracker crust. Mix together ingredients for strawberry glaze in a pan. Cook on stovetop until barely boiling. Set aside and let cool. Chop up fresh strawberries, and place them on top of cream filling. Pour strawberry glaze over the top. Refrigerate for at least two hours, I like to freeze mine for the last 30 minutes.

Enjoy!

June 10, 2024

Easy and Adorable: Red, White, and Blue Muddy Buddy Recipe for Patriotic Fun!

Uplevel your dessert game with muddy buddy’s ice cream! I made homemade vanilla and mixed in the red, white, and blue muddy buddies when the ice cream was done churning. So refreshing and fun!

The easiest treat for the 4th of July

The 4th of July might just be my favorite holiday of the year. There are the family traditions that I love like the hometown parade, brunch, swimming, and fireworks. I never want to spend the day in the kitchen but I always think it is nice to show up with a fun snack for swimming or fireworks. This muddy buddy recipe does the trick!

Add ice cream to make it extra special and fun

When I was testing out this recipe I made some vanilla homemade ice cream to go with it. Not to toot my own horn, but holy cow it was delicious! If you have never made homemade ice cream, start with our simple recipe here and leave out the chocolate syrup. Do not add the muddy buddies to the ice cream until it is done churning. We lay out all of our beginner ice cream tips in this blog post if you are just getting into it. Buying this ice cream maker is your first step!

The ingredients I use

Peanut butter can be a hot topic but here we go. I do not use my Trader Joe’s natural version for this, I opt for Natural Jif or Skippy to make the muddy buddies extra creamy and rich. Then I opt for semi-sweet chocolate chips (milk chocolate is a little too sweet for me in this recipe) and rice Chex. To add the festive fun I opted for red, white, and blue M&M’s and mini marshmallows. I found the patriotic M&M’s at Target if you want to save yourself some time and just head there. To avoid a gigantic mess (and still let your kids help you in the kitchen) I recommend mixing everything together in a giant Ziploc bag.

The best way to enjoy muddy buddies is…

To eat them after they have been refrigerated! Or better yet, if you are in a hurry, throw them in the freezer. The Ziploc bag method makes it really easy to throw them in the fridge or freezer. It gets really hot around here in July so to have the best experience eating them I know they need to be cold.

Ingredient List

  • Jif Natural Peanut Butter
  • Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips (Trader Joe’s or Guittard are my favorite)
  • Rice Chex
  • Butter
  • Vanilla
  • M&M’s
  • Mini marshmallows

June 26, 2023 Leave a Comment

3 Ingredient Brownies

Ok these 3 ingredient brownies are a lifesaver! Have you ever been in this situation? You’re invited to a party and offer to bring dessert when all of the sudden you realize you have two hours until the party and no time to bake something from scratch? These brownies fool everyone into thinking you took much longer on them than you actually did.

All you need are three ingredients: Ghiradelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix, cream cheese frosting, and peppermint chocolate bark. I will swear by the Ghiradelli Triple Chocolate Brownies until the day I die. They are hands down the best box mix brownie out there.

First up, mix up the brownie batter and try to resist eating it all. It’s just as good as the baked brownies in my opinion. I like to buy the bulk pack of multiple mixes they sell at Costco. That way, I always have my favorite brownie mix on hand when the occasion arises that I need to whip up a quick dessert.

Next up, while the brownies are baking, mix up the simplest cream cheese frosting recipe:

1/2 block cream cheese

2 Cups powdered sugar

tray of chocolate brownies with cream cheese frosting

2-4 Tablespoons of heavy whipping cream

I let this whip together for a few minutes until it’s creamy and light and fluffy. Feel free to add more or less heavy whipping cream depending on the consistency you would like. I like mine pretty stiff and thick so it holds its shape on the brownies.

Then, grab a block of peppermint bark and cut it up into very small pieces with a sharp knife. This was much easier than I anticipated because peppermint bark is really crumbly once you dig into it. I used the Trader Joes Peppermint Bark for this recipe. I used less than one square, so it stretches far.

close up of easy holiday brownies

I wait until the brownies are completely cooled and then slice them up and plate them individually before frosting. I find that the frosting looks best this way.

My best frosting tip: if you don’t have piping bags handy, simply put your frosting in a ziploc bag and snip off one corner. Easiest switch ever and works almost exactly the same in my opinion.

I think the combo of peppermint bark on top of the frosting really ups the look of this simple dessert. Another cute and festive idea would be crushed peppermints or candy canes.

Yield: 24 brownies

3 Ingredient Brownies

3 Ingredient Brownies

The easiest last-minute dessert you will ever make! It involves three ingredients and is so simple to put together.

Prep Time 20 minutes
Cook Time 50 minutes
Additional Time 10 minutes
Total Time 1 hour 20 minutes

Ingredients

  • 1 box of Ghiradelli Triple Chocolate Brownie Mix
  • Cream Cheese Frosting
  • 1/2 block cream cheese
  • 2 Cups powdered sugar
  • 2-4 Tablespoons heavy whipping cream
  • 1 large chunk of peppermint bark, chopped fine

Instructions

  1. Mix up the Ghiradelli Triple Chocolate Brownie mix and put in a 9x13 pan to bake at 350 for 50 minutes.
  2. While the brownies are baking, mix together the frosting ingredients: cream cheese, powdered sugar and heavy whipping cream.
  3. Chop up a block of peppermint bark finely.
  4. Wait until the brownies are completely cooled and decorate with cream cheese frosting.
  5. Sprinkle crushed peppermint bark on top of the frosting.
  6. Enjoy!

Notes

If you have another boxed brownie mix on hand, feel free to use it or you can always make homemade brownies.

© admin
Cuisine: dessert / Category: Food

December 21, 2020 Leave a Comment

No-Bake Peach Pie

Peach season is the best season! So, what makes it even better is putting all of those juicy peaches into a no-bake peach pie. We took a very unofficial family poll yesterday and all of us decided that there is truly no better fruit than a perfectly ripe, juicy peach at the end of summer! Nothing else compares.

What about peach cobbler

We’ve been searching high and low for a no-bake peach pie. Why cook a perfectly fresh and juicy peach? I would much rather eat them raw and prefer the flavor that way. Well, turns out everyone on the internet really just wants peach cobbler. Don’t get me wrong – I think I’ve already made peach cobbler three times this year, but I wanted something a little different.

fresh no-bake peach pie

We made our own peach pie recipe

So, we created our own recipe for no-bake peach pie! Are we professional chefs? Heavens no, but this one is so easy it literally all just came together perfectly. We decided to pull from our most popular recipe on the blog, Copycat Magnolia Bakery Banana Pudding.

The banana pudding recipe is so simple, but it is definitely a crowd favorite and had a couple elements we thought would pair well with fresh peaches. We knew the fresh flavors would make the peach pop.

We used the same base – vanilla pudding and heavy whipping cream. It is so creamy and delicious we knew it would make excellent pie filling.

graham cracker crust

Peach pie crust

One of the wonderful parts of the banana pudding recipe is Nilla wafers. I thought it would be fun to try to make the pie crust with Nilla wafers, but Brooke wanted to try it with graham crackers – so we tried both and guess what? Both are amazing!

In this recipe, we are going to suggest graham crackers, but if you have Nilla wafers, or just love them, feel free to use them. They add the perfect amount of crunchy texture.

As for what to mix in to make the crust, we also tried both coconut oil and butter. It is totally a preference type of thing because they both did a great job getting the blended up graham cracker pieces to come together nicely. So again, if you prefer butter, use it. If you love coconut oil, it works just as well.

Honestly, this crust is so easy (and no bake) there is no need to even think of buying pre-made from the store. Just don’t do it. It won’t have the same yummy consistency as the ground up graham crackers and you will be missing out.

vanilla pudding layer of fresh peach pie

How to get started

First up in this recipe, you are going to make the pudding filling. This part is so simple because you will use instant pudding. The catch here is that you mix in both ice cold water and sweetened condensed milk. I like to make sure my water is truly ice cold by putting crushed ice in the bottom of the measuring cup and then filling with water and letting it barely melt before mixing it in.

You will mix the ice water with the sweetened condensed milk first. This is key to getting a nice pudding consistency. After mixing for about two minutes, add the vanilla instant pudding mix.

I know there are purists out there who will turn their nose up at a pudding mix. I used to be the same! I’ve tried this recipe making a homemade pudding vs. instant and I like the taste of the instant better. Not sure what that says about me, but it’s one of the things that makes this recipe so simple and easy.

You will want to chill the pudding in the mixture for about an hour – it won’t hurt if you want to keep it in there longer, I just usually want to make it quickly.

whipping cream layer of fresh peach pie

Let’s add some whipped cream

Next up, you are going to whip up heavy whipping cream. We have tried lots and lots of brands and our two favorites are the kind you can get at Costco and the Trader Joe’s heavy whipping cream. Both taste denser and creamier than other brands.

After you’ve picked out your heavy whipping cream, pop your metal mixing bowl in the freezer for 5-10 minutes. This will make your cream whip up even faster. It’s a fun trick.

When whipping the cream, we like to wait until it starts to thicken up, then add a bit of powdered sugar and vanilla. Then you can just sit down and eat the entire bowl. Haha oh just me? Ok never mind.

close up of fresh peach pie

Time for peaches

The peaches are the star of the show in this dessert. Make sure you buy the good ones! If you are local to Utah, peach season hits its peak in August and September. We also have an area called Brigham City that is known for growing the most delicious peaches. It’s about an hour drive from Salt Lake and completely worth it during peach season.

We like to wait until they are tender to the touch for this recipe. They need to be more sweet than tart to be at perfect peak peachiness.

How many peaches do you need for this recipe? It completely depends on the size, but I would say add more than you think you need.

finished peach pie with cinnamon sprinkled on top

My rookie mistake

In making this pie for the first time, I decided to try and be artsy and placed sliced peaches in a beautiful design on top of the cream filling and it looked gorgeous. But as I was eating it, I immediately knew the problem – not enough peaches!

You want an almost even ratio of peaches to cream filling in this dessert. That means when it comes to the peaches, pile them as high as you can!

We also tried variations with other fruit mixed in with peaches, like strawberries, blueberries, blackberries, and raspberries. They were all very good and totally work if you run out of peaches.

When are peaches ripe?

We usually just go by touch when feeling peaches for ripeness. If they are somewhat tender when you squeeze, they should be ripe. We also love this guide from Parlee Farms on when you can tell if your peaches are ripe. Did you know if they have a slight yellow color they are ripe and if there is any green on the peach, they need to stay on the tree a bit longer?

Lesson learned

My lesson learned with this no-bake peach pie recipe is that beauty does not matter! It’s what is on the inside that counts. So pour on the peaches and pile them high, then sprinkle with a tiny bit of cinnamon and voila – you will have a new end of summer recipe tradition.

We hope you enjoy it! Let us know if you try it and what you think.

No-Bake Peach Pie

No-Bake Peach Pie

This easy and delicious pie is the perfect way to celebrate peach season! Who doesn't love a delicious pie they don't even have to turn the oven on to make?

Prep Time 1 hour
Total Time 1 hour

Ingredients

  • 1 small pkg vanilla instant pudding
  • 2 C ice cold water
  • 1 can sweetened condensed milk
  • 1 1/2 C heavy whipping cream
  • 1/2 C powdered sugar
  • 1 tsp vanilla
  • 1 pkg graham crackers, blended or crushed finely
  • 4 T butter melted
  • 6 large peaches
  • 1/8 tsp cinnamon

Instructions

  1. Mix the can of sweetened condensed milk with 2 cups of ice water. Blend for two minutes.
  2. Add the instant pudding mix and blend for another minute or until dissolved, I like to use a whisk.
  3. Put the mixture in the fridge for at least 1 hour.
  4. Whip the heavy cream
  5. Before it completely stiffens, add powdered sugar and vanilla.
  6. Whip until stiff peaks
  7. Blend 1 pkg of graham crackers in your blender, food processor, or by hand.
  8. Add melted butter to the graham cracker mixture
  9. Press into pie dish
  10. Peel and slice peaches
  11. Add pudding mixture to pie dish
  12. Add whipped cream to pie dish
  13. Pour sliced peaches on top.
  14. Sprinkle lightly with cinnamon
  15. Enjoy!
© admin
Cuisine: dessert / Category: Food

September 15, 2020 Leave a Comment

Raspberry Oreo Ice Cream

Raspberry Ice Cream

This is the ice cream recipe you have been waiting for! I did not know I could make ice cream this good at home. This recipe is so simple and easy to put together and everyone will love it! I have always loved raspberry ice cream, but I knew to really take this to the next level, it needed to be Raspberry Oreo Ice Cream! The raspberry flavor, along with the Oreo mix in is so delicious.

My Favorite Ice Cream Maker

I’ve tried several different kinds of ice cream makers and they all yield very different results. I had a cheaper, smaller ice cream maker and I’m going to tell you the truth – the results were disappointing. It never quite froze all the way and you could make only a small amount at a time. Luckily, I have found the greatest ice cream maker ever!

It’s the Cuisinart Frozen Yogurt-Sorbet & Ice Cream Maker. It costs $75 on Amazon and has been the greatest purchase of my year! Not only is it extremely easy to use and clean, but it makes ice cream in 25 minutes. Like perfect, thick, creamy consistency in less than a half-hour. It’s amazing. You can use my affiliate link to purchase here. It’s the #1 Bestseller in Ice Cream makers on Amazon because it truly is the best.

Keys to Ice Cream Success

A couple of notes on how to successfully make this ice cream recipe:

  • It’s all about the ingredients – make sure you buy the highest quality available.
  • Make sure you put your freezer bowl for your ice cream maker in your freezer for AT LEAST 24 hours before making ice cream. This is the only part of the recipe that requires any planning!
  • You can switch up the mix-ins with the raspberry flavor – or simply leave it plain raspberry. Some other favorites include brownie bites and crushed graham crackers.
  • This ice cream can stay in the freezer for a few days! Just put it in an airtight container in the freezer. I really like THESE containers, also from Amazon, for ice cream.

Are You New to Making Ice Cream?

If you’ve never attempted homemade ice cream, it really is easier than you think it will be! We have made this homemade Chocolate Marshmallow recipe for decades in our family if you’re in the mood for something chocolatey.

The fun thing about making homemade ice cream is you can switch up the flavors depending on the season or your mood. This raspberry oreo ice cream recipe is perfect to make in the summertime because you will get the freshest raspberries. I can’t wait to make it in a few more months when we have fresh raspberries in our backyard!

This raspberry oreo ice cream recipe is very adaptable. Let’s say you prefer strawberries to raspberries, feel free to add them instead! Just make sure you also mash them and make them the same smooth consistency so that they will mix in well and not end up frozen solid.

Yield: 2 quarts

Raspberry Oreo Ice Cream

Raspberry Oreo Ice Cream

This recipe lets the flavor of fresh raspberries shine while adding a fun touch with the oreo mix in.

Prep Time 40 minutes
Total Time 40 minutes

Ingredients

  • 2 eggs
  • 1 C white sugar
  • 4 teaspoons vanilla
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 2 C heavy cream
  • 1 C 1% milk
  • 1 C raspberries, mashed
  • 1 row of Oreo cookies, smashed

Instructions

  1. Add sugar to beaten eggs and whip until stiff peaks. This takes 5-10 minutes.
  2. Add the remaining ingredients, excluding Oreos.
  3. Remove from mixer and pour into ice cream maker.
  4. Turn on and mix until it starts to thicken (mine takes 20-25 minutes)
  5. When the ice cream has started to thicken, add the crushed Oreos.
  6. Let all flavors combine for a minute or two.
  7. Serve immediately.

Notes

Make sure you put your ice cream freezer bowl in the freezer for a full 24 hours before making this recipe. It makes a huge difference in getting the right consistency.

© admin
Cuisine: dessert / Category: Food

May 12, 2020 Leave a Comment

The Best FRESH FRUIT TART Recipe

The art of the fruit tart. 

My mother-in-law introduced me to the beautiful and delicious world of fruit tarts. My family growing up loved everything chocolate,  so we never really had them. I think they are so beautiful, it really is an art to create them. 

There are a few things that a great fruit tart must have: 

  • Flaky, delicious crust
  • A frosting that is not overly sweet, but also has great flavor
  • Seasonal fruit of all colors that is doused in just enough lemon juice to make it a tiny bit tart

Well, her recipe has it all!

I loved it so much and asked her to share. 

Her recipe is adapted from Paula Deen’s recipe, but it is definitely much lighter than that version. 

I hope you love it!

The Best Fruit Tart Recipe

Ingredients: 

Crust: 

  • 1/2 cup powdered sugar
  • 1 1/2 cup gluten-free flour blend
  • 3/4 stick of unsalted butter, softened and sliced

Filling: 

  • 1 pkg 1/3 fat cream cheese
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla

Topping: 

  • Fresh strawberries, kiwi slices, blueberries, raspberries
  • coat in lemon juice 
  • garnish with mint leaves

Instructions:

  1. For the crust: In a food processor, combine the confectioners’ sugar, flour, and butter, and process until the mixture forms a ball. With your fingers, press the dough into a 12-inch tart pan with a removable bottom, taking care to push the crust into the indentations in the sides. Pat until the crust is even. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes, until very lightly browned. Set aside to cool.
  2. For the filling, blend all ingredients together and top crust after it has cooled. 
  3. Mix all ingredients and then use your wildest imagination to arrange them beautifully on top.
  4. Refrigerate for at least one hour before serving. 

It is honestly the absolute perfect dessert for summer when there is so much fresh produce and fruit readily available. I think a definite add is fresh peaches or nectarines when they are in season because they add an unmistakable summer flavor. 

I hope you enjoyed the recipe and I would love to hear your favorite summer treats!

July 30, 2019 Leave a Comment

Our favorite SUMMER treat

We had a barbeque with some friends last week and everyone was so excited when we pulled out Creamies for dessert.

Childhood Memories

I don’t know about you, but they immediately take me back to my childhood. I remember celebrating so many fun family milestones and parties with Creamies. I recently found out it’s a local Utah company, which makes me love them even more! You know I love supporting local businesses. 

I also didn’t know they had been around for more than 60 years!

Here’s how things got started: 

In the late 1950s, an ice cream company was asked by a Cache Valley, Utah grade school principal to make a nutritional frozen treat with milk instead of sugar water. The principal wanted a treat that would be healthy for the students and would be enjoyed by the whole family.

He went to work and soon developed a delicious ice cream bar made with real fruit and other natural flavorings. Thus, the originals were born–chocolate, orange, and banana. That original Creamie is still made today in Cache, Valley, Utah. The Creamie is a rich, smooth, healthy, and refreshing treat that is enjoyed by all.

picture of a strawberry creamie

Since the 3 original flavors were introduced, other flavors have been developed and added: Strawberry, Cookies and Creamies, Root Beer Float, Mint Chocolate Dipped, Cherry Chocolate Dipped, and Vanilla Chocolate Dipped. In addition, three probiotic yogurt Creamies were created: Peach, Chocolate and Raspberry. 

So, if you want a guilt-free frozen treat this summer, reach for a Creamie! 

Where can you buy them? 

You can find the store nearest you here. 

May 21, 2019 Leave a Comment

Our favorite dinner restaurants in Salt Lake City

We’ve been asked several times to create this post and are finally getting around to it! Sharing our favorite restaurants to eat in Salt Lake City, no matter your price range.

Cheap Eats $5-$12

Chunga’s Mexican Food: They make the best burrito in Utah, make sure you order the al pastor. They make it daily and usually sell out.

Costa Vida: It just always sounds good! A Utah classic, we actually like different things here. Brooke usually goes for the sweet pork burrito, while I love the chicken salad. 

Median Price $12-25

Citris Grill: Yummy and local. We went here a lot growing up and have always loved it. They have something for everyone and it’s a laid-back environment if you want to take the whole family.

Ruth’s Diner: Our pick for patio dining in the summer. You can’t beat the atmosphere and the food is great too! We have fond memories of running up and down Emigration Canyon on Saturday mornings in high school all because we would promise ourselves a mile high biscuit if we did it. It was worth it every time (and that’s saying a lot!) Love this place for breakfast, lunch or dinner.  

The Dodo: A classic! We order the off the menu “Dirtybird Salad” every time we go. It has the most delicious lemony dressing and is topped with piles of turkey and yummy toppings. You also cannot leave the place without ordering a slice of pie, our favorite is the Tollhouse.

Expensive $30-$75

Franck’s: tiny gem of a restaurant next to Tuscany. Perfect quiet restaurant to celebrate an anniversary or special occasion. We’ve never tried anything there we didn’t like. 

Sicilia Mia: We recommend you order the Carbonara or any of the house-made pastas. We put it on the expensive list because we think it’s a place you should take advantage of their amazing appetizers and sides. Some of the best Italian food in Utah!

 

April 11, 2019 Leave a Comment

Travel Guide for Oceanside, California

IMG_3239 We were lucky enough to be able to travel to Oceanside, California for a work trip. We decided to make it a real party and bring our babies, our mom and Brooke’s mother-in-law, Linda. The grandmas were angels and watched the babies while we shot segments all day. We’ve traveled to Oceanside before, and it’s always been a family favorite beach spot. It was extra fun to introduce our babies to such a beautiful place! If you’re not familiar with Oceanside, it is the quaint beach town situated between Los Angeles and San Diego. The great thing about Oceanside is that it has such a laid-back, local and beachy vibe. We loved our time there and plan to go back soon!

What to Do:

  • Helicopter Tour: by far the most amazing thing we did! It was so neat to see the California coast from the sky at sunset. I felt like Brooke and I were on a Bachelor group date with our photographer and pilot haha. It was magical. You can get more information about Waverider Helicopter Tours here. 
  • Dolphin & Whale Watching Boat Tour: it’s so nice to get out on the water. This is perfect for any age. We saw sweeping coastal views and beautiful water on our tour, but the definite highlight was the gorgeous dolphins that played right next to our boat. It was also neat to get a little information about the sights and animals we were seeing from the Captain of the boat. You can get more information on Oceanside Whale Watching Tours here.
  • SURFING Lessons: Ahhhh! I was terrified. Brooke spent a summer living in Hawaii in college, where she took many surfing lessons and learned to really like it. I have only had one previous lesson from my brother and his friend a few years back. It didn’t end well – as in I mooned my brother’s friend while trying to stand up on the surfboard!! I know. Sad. We got a surf lesson from the Hemsworth’s American brother. He was the greatest. He pushed us on our boards and helped us both get up multiple times on the surfboards. The cold California water scared me, but wearing a wetsuit I honestly didn’t even notice it. I definitely want to try it again. We went with Whitlock Surf Experience and they were amazing. Not only do they teach lessons, they also have a surf factory and print shop. You can find out more here.

What to Eat

  • Local Tap House & Kitchen:  my favorite meal of the trip. Fresh and delicious. My hosts in Oceanside convinced me to try the quinoa burger and it was delicious. Everything we tried was good and the chef is constantly changing the menu. If you’re looking for a late night snack, you can stop by for a gourmet hot dog.
  • Oceanside Sunset Market: the town hosts this awesome street fair every Thursday night. They close down several streets to host food vendors, crafters, local artisans and musicians. We ate some of the best food of the trip here. Food vendors are put through a very strict vetting process before they are allowed to sell there. They must produce high-quality food that you can’t find anywhere else. This creates the most unique, fun atmosphere with some absolutely incredible chefs. If you go, make sure to try the salmon, authentic Belgian frites and homemade carmels. We ended our night with a horse-drawn carriage ride around town for wait for it… $5!
  • The Flying Pig: locally owned and operated farm to table restaurant. The owner coined the name flip flop fine dining. That’s exactly what it is. Great food with a casual vibe. Another huge bonus – it’s family friendly! The homemade pasta is to die for.

Where to Stay:

  • We stayed at the Marriott Springhill Suites. It sits right on the beach in the middle of everything so you can walk most places, plus has a great free breakfast every morning.
  • Our friends at Visit Oceanside set up our trip itinerary and it was perfect. If you need any help planning your trip or finding discount tickets, go here. 

IMG_3235 (the prettiest harbor! Lots of fun to kayak/paddle board on the calm water here) IMG_3255 (the prettest whiteside dolphins. they were huge!) IMG_3184 IMG_3180 IMG_3189 IMG_3226 IMG_3167 (lots of pretty palms in Oceanside) IMG_3166 (Joanna Gaines would love Apotheque – the cutest shop/spa in a historic building) Screen Shot 2018-03-03 at 1.55.49 PM Screen Shot 2018-03-03 at 1.56.43 PM Screen Shot 2018-03-03 at 1.57.27 PM

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March 4, 2018 2 Comments

Fun Food at Disney’s Aulani Resort & Spa in Hawaii


 

hawaii food pic 4

We had such a blast “working” in Hawaii! We spent four days at the Disney Aulani Resort & Spa on the island of Oahu. It exceeded all of my expectations. Brooke told me it would be amazing, and it really was! One of the highlights was the food. It was different from what you can find at the Disney parks, but also had a fun Disney touch. Here are a few of our favorites:

hawaii food 1 graphic

This photo is from our “fun food” segment during the shoot. I was forced to try each item and they were all delicious! From left to right:

Spam Musubi: this is a hawaiian delicacy. All of the locals we talked to loved this and regularly ate it. I had never tried spam, and thought this particular dish tasted sort of like sausage, in a good way.

Kalua Pork Bratwurst dog: this was Brooke’s fave. She loves kalua pork and they put it in quite a few of their dishes at Aulani. A much more fun take on the regular old hot dog.

Malasadas: donuts without holes. These are little balls of heaven. I could have eaten all of them. They taste like a glazed donut covered in sugar.

Fried squid: I loved the saltiness of crunchiness of this one. Paired with one of the three dipping sauces, you can’t go wrong.

Sweet Maui Onion rings: I’m not an onion rings lover, but these taste very different from the ones I’m used to. They have thick slices of sweet Maui onions with a thin breaded and fried shell. I’m not sure what they put in the dipping sauce for these, but it is what makes the whole thing work.

Tropical juice in a pineapple: just as good as it sounds! It just tastes like Hawaii and you can’t go wrong drinking out of a pineapple when you’re on the island.

hawaii food pic 2
hawaii food pic 3

This is not your average snow cone. They fill the bottom with your favorite flavor of ice cream, then add the flavored ice — I got lychee flavor and it reminded me of a sour starburst, then they top it with sweetened condensed milk!

IMG_6728 This is the Crunch Berry Crusted French Toast from Ama Ama — to die for! It has so many unexpected textures and flavors, I loved it.

IMG_6731 Don’t worry, we found the cookies! They had these delicious cookies waiting for us when we arrived, do they know cookies are the way to our hearts, or what? They were extra chocolatey, thick and chewy. We ate at least one a day, don’t worry! DSC_0359

Things to Know about Food at Aulani

– There’s Dole Whip! It’s only available in one spot in the pool area, but you fill up the cup yourself, which was SO dangerous for me trying to pile it four feet high!

– Ama Ama is one of the fancier restaurants and it is delicious. You can tell everything is made fresh, it is my first choice of place to order fish at Aulani. I ordered the catch of the day (and took a dark flash photo that is too ugly to show you) and was really impressed by the quality.

– Minnie Mouse rice krispy treats: Brooke survived on them last time she was at Aulani and they are SO good! Available in some of their quick restaurants.

– They have mugs available to buy for $18 or $19 where you can fill them up an unlimited amount of times during your stay. If you’re into soda or lemonade, this is a great option because there are filling stations all over the resort.

– Their restaurants have live music in the evenings, so even when you are done eating, you have great entertainment.

If you ever get the chance to go to Aulani, GO! It is a total dream!



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Hi! We are identical twins, Brooke & Brittany. We test the latest trends in fashion, beauty, travel and fitness so that you don't have to.

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