Johnny Rockets at Bally's in Atlantic City, NJ

Johnny Rockets at Bally's in Atlantic City, NJ


Johnny Rockets at Bally's in Atlantic City

When we visit Atlantic City, NJ we try to go to Johnny Rockets at Bally's as often as possible. This was my graduation weekend celebration and we hit up Atlantic City for a few days (June 4-6, 2011) for some fun, sun and great food. Recently, I won a free shake from Johnny Rockets Facebook page and I was looking forward to having lunch there on this trip.

Johnny Rockets employees doing their thing!

We always sit at the counter so we can watch the employees make their burgers, fries, and shakes and do their thing in a very busy but upbeat atmosphere. A number of employees danced to the Bee Gees song, "Staying Alive" so that was fun to watch. The atmosphere was very lively with the great tunes from the jukebox and it was packed with people of all ages. I like taking pictures in here every time we come and adore the cute jukebox and 50s retro diner decor.

Jukebox at the counter in front of me.

We went to Johhny Rockets for lunch Sunday, June 5, 2011. I ordered the Rocket Double Burger and American Fries. My burger was huge and divine! The fries were so yummy too... For my free shake, I ordered the recommended shake by our wonderful server the Orange Dreamsicle and it was a dream. Yum!


My Orange Dreamsicle Shake!

My Rocket Double and American Fries. Ketchup anyone?

Allen ordered a BBQ Chicken Patty Melt with bacon and American Fries. For his drink, he chose a Root Beer Float. I forgot to taste it but he assured me everything he ordered was sublime.

Allen's Root Beer Float

Allen's BBQ Chicken Patty Melt and American Fries

It's so fun coming to Johnny Rockets. They serve delicious burgers and have many options including soy, turkey, and veggie burgers for those wanting healthier choices. Johnny Rockets also offer wheat buns and salads too in case you want to skip the beef burgers, fries or onion rings.


Allen holding up the menu



Me

-Sophia/Two Frys

Phillips Clambake Party at Caesars, Atlantic City

Phillips Clambake Party - Saturday, June 4, 2011 - Caesars Palladium Ballroom


Phillips Seafood Clambake Party

We arrived to Atlantic City Saturday, June 4, 2011 looking forward to the Phillips Clambake Party at Caesars Palladium Ballroom. The event was lots of fun, with a delicious traditional Maryland Clambake, and featured a live band performing hits from Lady Gaga, Black Eyed Peas and usual oldies party favorites.


Phillips Executive Chef Paul Drew adding beer

Phillips Seafood Executive Chef Paul Drew did a live cooking demonstration for making a Clambake. Chef Drew was charismatic and it was interesting to watch him prepare the Clambake.
 

Phillips Executive Chef Paul Drew

Each table had either a large plastic lobster or crab with a pretty flower vase arrangement. The servers wore Hawaiian t-shirts and the décor followed a beach-like party theme.  

Decor at each table

The first course served was crab fritters with delicious Jersey tomatoes and crab vegetable soup. The soup was amazing and the broth had a great taste. Allen pointed out that even though the crab fritters were fried they were not greasy and complimented the tomatoes and soup. Agreed.


Crab fritters, Jersey tomatoes, crab vegetable soup

For the main course, three clambakes arrived to our table of six. It was such an enormous amount of food and plenty was sadly leftover. The men at the table ate as much of it as they could. The contents of the Clambake featured lobster, shrimp, crab legs, mussels, clams, corn on the cob, and potatoes. It was delicious. I forgot to photograph it but you can see exactly what was served on Chef Drew’s demonstration table. I am not a lobster fan but Allen had it and loved the Phillips Seafood Seasoning used. I take his word for it since he has tried other boil spices he did not like. The Phillips Seafood Seasoning was on all the seafood and veggies, and the corn on the cob never tasted better. Allen felt the clams were some of the best he has ever had. The mussels and crab legs were great as well.


Allen's plate

For dessert, we had a berry-licious treat with white chocolate, vanilla ice cream, caramel and fresh berries. 

Berry dessert with caramel, white chocolate, vanilla ice cream

We stayed at the Clambake party for over 2 ½ hours and it was winding down by then. It was a very entertaining evening featuring Phillips seafood at its best. The music kept everything lively, people hit the dance floor, and we really enjoyed ourselves. The two other couples we shared our table with were really nice and fun to be with as well. Some lucky individuals won gift certificates and other prizes but not us. We did not care. We were there for the Clambake and it was worth the trip.

Me with Allen/Two Fry's

 -Sophia and Allen/Two Frys

Festive Summer Pasta Salad©

Festive Summer Pasta Salad©

In the sweltering heat of summer, eating light is the way to go. This Festive Summer Pasta Salad© is so easy to put together and you can use your favorite veggies. Here is my recipe. The beautiful colors of the veggies and the tri-color rotini makes it look festive hence the name, and is the perfect summer salad to enjoy at your next BBQ or party. I hope you try it. It is really delicious and good for you too...

Festive Summer Pasta Salad©

In a large pot boil water, add coarse salt and Tri-Color Rotini Pasta (I use Barilla).

Cook until 1 minute shy of al dente (check your package for cooking time directions).

Drain and put aside to cool or soak in an ice water bath to stop the cooking process.

Cooked Tri-Color Rotini

Rinse veggies in cold water and dry with a paper towel.

Thinly slice 1/2 red onion if it's a huge one or 1 medium size.

Thinly slice 1 yellow pepper.

Thinly slice 1 orange pepper.

Take 1 bunch of broccoli florets and slice each in half.

Stir the veggies together and season them with coarse salt and 1 tablespoon of Italian seasoning.

In a large pan, add 2 tablespoons of olive oil and when it is hot add the veggies and sauté for 2-3 minutes.

Put aside until they cool.

Sautéed Veggies

Take 1 large tomato and chop it in chunks.

Take a large bowl and toss the sautéed veggies with the tri-color pasta.

Add the tomato chunks and stir again.

Measure 1/2 cup of Light Italian Dressing and add to veggies and pasta.

Stir until combined.

You can add a little more dressing if needed. Start with this amount and taste it first. This was the perfect amount for me.

Remember adding too much dressing will overpower and make the pasta salad a soggy mess.

Chill for 2-3 hours, serve and enjoy!

-Sophia/Two Frys

Devil's Food Cake

Devil's Food Cake

I was trying to find out the origin for the name of this cake and learned Devil's Food Cake is a name bestowed in the United States early on in the 20th century. I always prefer to bake my cakes from scratch since for me it is a lot of fun and a relaxing hobby. However, today is a rainy day here in NYC, and I had a box mix in my pantry and thought what a perfect dessert to compliment this dreary weather.

The Pillsbury Moist Supreme Devil's Food mix works beautifully. The mix has already done all the hard work for you, saves time on dishes, and the cake is super moist and chocolatey rich. It also stores well in your refrigerator for about 3-4 days so you can enjoy this sinfully rich cake for days.

I added 2 tablespoons of Pure Vanilla Extract for a more intense depth of flavor, and instead of adding 1 1/4 cups of water I used whole milk for a richer, denser cake consistency. Make sure to cool cakes completely before frosting them. If you don't, the frosting will not set correctly. The frosting I used is Pillsbury Creamy Supreme Milk Chocolate. Just let the frosting set at room temperature for about an hour or two before serving.

Enjoy!

-Sophia/Two Frys

Grilled Potatoes -N- Baked Chicken Legs

Grilled Potatoes -N- Baked Chicken Legs

Last night, I was inspired to cook this yummy comfort food dinner Grilled Potatoes -N- Baked Chicken Legs after watching Paula Deen on the Food Network make this on her indoor grill. I used my own seasoning ingredients. Recipes follow.


Grilled Potatoes

Grilled Potatoes Recipe:
Rinse potatoes in cold water

Cut potatoes in about 1 inch slices

Place sliced potatoes in a large pot of cold water

Add 2 tablespoons of coarse salt to the pot

Once the water boils, continue to cook for about 6 minutes

The potatoes will not be cooked entirely

Melt 1 stick of salted butter in a small pan

Drain the potatoes and lay them out on your cutting board

Preheat your grill

Season potatoes with coarse salt and cracked black pepper, and with a brush slather on the melted butter

Place seasoned/buttered potatoes on the grill for 3-4 minutes to finish cooking them and to get grill marks

Before you turn over the potatoes season them

Flip the potatoes over and grill for 3-4 minutes

Sprinkle some greens like basil over them if you want when you serve

Baked Chicken Legs

Baked Chicken Legs Recipe:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees

Rinse chicken legs in cold water and pat dry with paper towels

Take a Pyrex glass dish or whatever baking dish you have and place chicken legs in the dish

Take 1 tablespoon of good olive oil and pour into dish, and with a brush gently coat the chicken legs

Season with coarse salt (kosher salt)

Season generously with Poultry Seasoning (I use Badia)

Cook for about 1 hour turning chicken legs after a half hour

Sprinkle some basil on them and serve

-Sophia/Two Frys

Dominican Cake for Mom on Mother's Day

Dominican Cake for Mom on Mother's Day

Dominican Cake I made for my Mom for Mother's Day

Yesterday, I baked a Dominican Cake for my Mom for Mother's Day. My Mom turns 81 next month and she has a sweet tooth too. She taught me how to make this cake in February (see link to recipe below) and I thought it would be nice if I baked one for her. The only thing I added to the cake batter was 1 teaspoon of lemon zest and added that in with the vanilla extract and salt. I used yellow dye for the frosting for a change up. This cake has a rich texture and it is so delicious.

Mom was happy I made her a cake and she helped herself to two servings. I frosted the cake on the base of my cake caddy for convenience and it is more stable that way since I had to transport it to her place. Last time I baked a cake for my family (Easter), I placed the cake on a serving platter and then in the cake caddy and it was moving around a little though nothing happened thankfully.

You can get the Dominican Cake recipe here:
http://twofrys.blogspot.com/2011/02/dominican-cake.html.

Enjoy!

-Sophia/Two Frys

Chocolate Mousse Cake

Chocolate Mousse Cake

Chocolate Mousse Cake

This weekend, hubby and I went to Caesars Atlantic City for the weekend to relax and celebrate the completion and submission of my Master's thesis and upcoming graduation. Yay, I did it! This chocolate mousse cake represents all that is divine and celebratory. Well, at least to me it does and that is all that matters. I had this beautiful and delicious piece of chocolate mousse cake after my yummy dinner at Caesars in La Piazza. It was the best chocolate cake I ever had. It was so moist, creamy, and rich. I thank whoever baked and decorated it. Truly sublime. It was a perfect end to my getaway.

-Sophia/Two Frys

Coconut Cake

Coconut Cake

Coconut Cake with French Vanilla Frosting

For Easter, I made Ina Garten's Coconut Cake from her cookbook Barefoot Contessa At Home but instead of using Cream Cheese Frosting, I used French Vanilla Frosting because my nephew wanted that frosting. Either frosting works beautifully, but I prefer French Vanilla. For the filling, I used 1-12 ounce jar of Pineapple Preserves. My family said the cake was so delicious so you should try this cake if you are a coconut fan. Thank you Ina Garten for this incredible recipe.

Coconut Cake just frosted pictured with Ina Garten's recipe

The recipe for the frosting is as follows:
Step One
1 cup Milk
3 tablespoons Flour

In a nonstick pan, make a white sauce of these two ingredients. It will be very thick. Stir regularly to dissolve the flour to prevent lumps and boil for 1 - few minutes. Turn off heat and put aside. Cool completely before incorporating into next step. It will have a paste-like consistency.

My piece of Coconut Cake

Step Two
2 sticks of Unsalted Butter
1 cup of Granulated Sugar
2 1/2 tablespoons of Pure Vanilla Extract

Cream the butter in mixer and then add sugar and vanilla extract, and continue to mix until the ingredients are blended well. Add the cooled white sauce from step one, and beat at high speed for about 5-8 minutes until it is creamy and fluffy. This frosting is enough for a two layer 9-inch cake.

I adapted this French Vanilla Frosting from http://www.cooks.com/rec/view/0,1918,153191-241196,00.html but added more vanilla and had to mix for three more minutes than stated in the recipe. Also, the recipe called for butter which I presumed meant salted butter, but I prefer unsalted butter so I used this (as listed here).

You can get the recipe for Ina Garten's Coconut Cake from a previous blog entry http://twofrys.blogspot.com/2010/09/two-amazing-cakes-that-always-please.html

-Sophia/Two Frys

Al's Mummy Dogs©

Al's Mummy Dogs©


Al's Mummy Dogs©

Last night, Allen wanted to bake the Pillsbury Flaky Butter Crescent Rolls we had in our fridge but we weren't sure with what. We had Angus Beef Hot Dogs so that was our choice for dinner. So quick, easy, and fun. I called them Al's Mummy Dogs© because they look like mummies. Just wrap the dogs up with the crescents rolls and follow baking temperature and time. To have with our meal, the hubster mixed 2 tablespoons of Spicy Mustard with 1 tablespoon of Real Horse Radish so if spicy is your thing, this is a great combination. The crescent rolls were slightly sweet and complimented the bold taste of the angus beef dogs.

-Allen and Sophia/Two Frys

Foodie Events in May: Vegas Uncork'd by Bon Appétit and Cooking For Solutions at Monterey Bay Aquarium

There are two fantastic foodie events happening in May, Vegas Uncork'd by Bon Appétit and Cooking For Solutions at Monterey Bay Aquarium. If you are in Las Vegas or in Monterey, CA during these dates be sure to check out these events. Unfortunately, I cannot be there but here is some information if you are interested in attending.

This year Vegas Uncork'd by Bon Appétit will be held from May 5 - 8, 2011. The lineup features world renown chefs like Bradley Owen, Guy Savoy, Francois Payard, Tom Colicchio, Scott Conant, Tal Ronnen, Julian Serrano, Michael Mina, and Mary Sue Milliken, and more. The five partner resorts participating include Bellagio, Caesars Palace, MGM Grand, Mandalay Bay and Wynn Encore.

For event schedule and further information, go to:
http://www.vegasuncorked.com/

Cooking For Solutions at Monterey Bay Aquarium May 20 - 22, 2011 will feature more than 70 chefs and 60 wineries to celebrate sustainable cuisine.

Some of the featured chefs are Alton Brown, Robert Irvine, Nathan Lyon, Rick Moonen, Cindy Pawlcyn, Sam Choy, Mark Dommen, and Brandon Hill.

For event schedule and further information, go to:
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/vi/vi_events/cooking/default.aspx

-Sophia/Two Frys