Palace Court Buffet

Palace Court Buffet
Caesars,  Atlantic City

Allen with his crab legs

Crab Legs

Crab Legs, Shrimp Seafood Station

Mussels and Clams Seafood Station

When we stay at Bally's or Caesars, we always dine at the Palace Court Buffet. The food is great and there are so many different kinds of food and desserts to choose from. The diversity makes it a great experience. We also know a lot of the hosts, servers and chefs since we have been eating here for over 15 years. It is always nice to feel at home when you are dining and we get that here. We were went for dinner on Sunday, March 5 and Monday, March 6. On weekends they serve crab legs and prime rib so Allen was happy about that and it is always something to look forward to when we visit. 

 Sophia's plate on Sunday, March 5: Dumplings, Salad, Fried Rice, Spring Roll, Meatball, and Pasta

Allen's plate on Sunday, March 5: Mashed Potatoes and Gravy, Brisket, and Honey Ham

Sophia's dessert on Sunday, March 5: Chocolate Cupcake with Blue Buttercream Frosting

Allen's Desserts on Sunday, March 5: Smore's Bar, Apple Pie, and more...

Sophia's Desserts on Monday, March 6: Lemon Meringue Tart, and Pina Colada Mousse

Allen's Desserts on Monday March 6: Pina Colada Mousse, Bars and Brownies

Palace Court Buffet also offer a nice wine selection, which is a great compliment to dinner if you so desire. Ultimately, you need to choose what you will eat from the large selection of the food and desserts. We love the food diversity in types of cuisine, the quality and great taste. I recommend the Palace Court Buffet next time you visit Bally's or Caesars in Atlantic City. The choices are endless. The food is great and plentiful. The photos below are representative of some of the food and dessert offerings.

Comfort Food faves like macaroni and cheese, mashed potatoes, etc., and Meat Carving Station

Sushi Chef and Chef executing pasta dishes made to order

Sushi Station and made to order Pasta Station

The corn bread (below) is really yummy. There are so many different foods to choose from.

Corn Bread, Biscuits, Pulled Pork Sliders, Sausages and more.

Fried Chicken, Buffalo Wings, Pasta and more...

Pizza station

You can really make yourself some nice salads and there are many choices of topping to select from.

Salad, Toppings, Dressings on the right

More salad foods 

More yummy looking food

The Asian section is also great. My favorite is the Chicken and Mushroom Steamed Dumplings.

Asian Cuisine section

Asian Cuisine section

Asian Cuisine section

The dessert choices are really diverse and plentiful. I loved everything I had both evenings and Allen did too.

Chocolate Cupcakes with Buttercream Frosting

Coconut Macaroons and Lemon Meringue Tarts

Desserts

Desserts

Ice Cream, Yogurt, and Milkshake Station

For further information about Palace Court Buffet, visit:
https://www.caesars.com/caesars-ac/restaurants/palace-court-buffet

-Sophia and Allen/Two Frys

Streuselkuchen: Crumb Cake

Streuselkuchen: Crumb Cake

Streuselkuchen: Crumb Cake

Streuselkuchen: Crumb Cake

If you love crumb cake you really need to try this recipe from Cooking Classy (link below). Crumb cake in German is called Streuselkuchen, and the crumb is the star of the cake. The cake itself is dense but moist with a lovely hint of vanilla and has a tinge of a tangy bite from the sour cream. The ingredients come together perfectly. I recommend you make the crumb topping first so it sets while you make the cake batter. It is important to let the melted butter cool completely before adding it to the rest of the crumb ingredients.

We enjoyed this Streuselkuchen with coffee at work yesterday and everyone loved it. This recipe is a keeper and it is easy to put together, so whenever you are in the mood for crumb cake go for it. See recipe below.

Streuselkuchen: Crumb Cake

Ingredients:
Cake:
1 cup King Arthur All-Purpose Flour

1/2 cup Granulated Sugar

3/4 teaspoon Baking Powder

 1/8 teaspoon Baking Soda

1/4 teaspoon Coarse Salt

5 tablespoons Unsalted Butter, softened

1 Large Egg

1/4 cup Milk

1/4 cup Sour Cream

1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract

Streuselkuchen: Crumb Cake

Crumb Topping:
1 cup + 2 tablespoons King Arthur All Purpose Flour

1/3 cup Light Brown Sugar, packed

1/3 cup Granulated Sugar

1 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon Coarse Salt

1/2 cup, 1 stick Unsalted Butter, melted

Directions:
Grease and Flour an 8-inch square pan. I use Wilton Bake Easy Non-Stick Spray. Line pan with a piece of parchment that overhangs (doing this will make the cake easy to lift out of the pan), and then grease and flour over the top.

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Topping Directions:
Melt butter in microwave for about 30 seconds to 1 minute or more depending on wattage. Do in 15 seconds increments until melted. Let cool completely.

In a large bowl, whisk together brown sugar, granulated sugar, cinnamon, and salt.

Add cooled melted butter and combine.

Slowly add flour and mix together with spatula until fully incorporated.

Use a fork to fluff up the mixture until crumbs form; set aside.

Streuselkuchen: Crumb Cake

Cake Directions
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

Whisk together in a small bowl milk and sour cream; set aside.

In the bowl of a mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on medium-high speed, beat the butter and sugar together until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.

Scrape the bowl and mix for 5-10 seconds more.

Add egg and vanilla extract and mix until incorporated.

Turn mixer to low speed, add 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix until incorporated.

Add 1/2 of the milk mixture and mix until incorporated.

Add another 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix together.

Scrape down sides of the bowl as needed with a spatula.

Add the remaining milk mixture and mix until incorporated.

Add the last 1/3 of the flour mixture and mix together.

Streuselkuchen: Crumb Cake

Pour batter in prepared pan and spread into an even layer.

Spread the crumb mixture all over the top covering the cake batter completely.

Bake for 32-35 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

My cake was done in 33 minutes.

Oven temperatures vary so start checking the cake at the 30 minute mark and adjust extra time accordingly.

Let cake cool in pan for about 10 minutes and then lift using the parchment paper overhang onto a wire rack to finish cooling.

Cut into squares and serve on cake plate with coffee or tea. Yum!

If you have leftover (I didn't), store in an airtight container. 

For the Crumb Cake recipe, visit Cooking Classy:
https://www.cookingclassy.com/crumb-cake/

Enjoy!

-Sophia/Two Frys

Stir Fry with Pepper Palace Hawaiian Luau Sauce

Stir Fry with Pepper Palace Hawaiian Luau Sauce

Stir Fry with Pepper Palace Hawaiian Luau Sauce

While we were on vacation in San Francisco, CA we went to the Pepper Palace and Allen tried various samples from mild to extremely hot and bought some hot sauces. We spent a good amount of time in the Pepper Palace and Allen spoke to the manager about various sauces and ingredients. This hearty and very flavorful beef and pepper stir fry meal is easy to make and tastes amazing. We used one of the sauces Allen bought at the Pepper Palace for this dish, Hawaiian Luau Sauce. If desired, you can replace the beef for chicken, shrimp or mushrooms.

Stir Fry with Pepper Palace Hawaiian Luau Sauce

Pepper Palace Hawaiian Luau Sauce is one of the tastiest sauces we have tried. Hawaiian Luau Sauce is a pineapple based sauce with a mild heat level. It has a sweet-tangy taste from the pineapple, mango, honey, and vinegar and is perfect for stir fry. This sauce is versatile and great for chicken, seafood, and your favorite vegetable dishes. The sauce ingredients are: pineapple juice, vinegar, honey, mango, tomato paste, soy sauce, black pepper, salt, ginger, red and green bell pepper, garlic, onion, red pepper, and xanthan gum. The taste is bold and the ingredients are packed into each bite of this sauce. Stir fry recipe below.

Jasmine Rice with Parsley

Ingredients
1 to 2 cups Jasmine Rice (depending on how much rice you want)

Beef Round Steak (or any cut you prefer), thinly sliced

1 Red Bell Pepper, sliced

1 Green Bell Pepper, sliced

1 Yellow Bell Pepper, sliced

Stir fry getting sauced up

Peppers and Onions cooked

1/2 of a medium sized Yellow Onion, sliced

1/2 cup Pepper Palace Hawaiian Luau Sauce

1 teaspoon Sushi Chef Sesame Oil

Beef seasoned

Peppers and onions seasoned

1 tablespoon Kikkoman Less-Sodium Soy Sauce

1 tablespoon Lightly Dried Parsley

Kosher Salt to taste

Cracked Pepper to taste

2 tablespoons, California Olive Ranch Extra Virgin Olive Oil

Here's some Hawaiian Luau Sauce on Allen's Fried Rice from a takeout dinner recently

Directions
Wash, dry, slice peppers and onion, and toss into a bowl. Season with salt and pepper to taste; set aside.

Set up your rice cooker and make jasmine rice.

Slice beef and season both sides with salt and pepper.

Allen in the Pepper Palace, San Francisco, CA

Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to large skillet on medium heat and when hot, add pepper strips and sliced onions.

Cook for about 5-7 minutes stirring frequently. When done turn off heat, set aside.

Pepper Palace, San Francisco, CA

Add 1 tablespoon of olive oil to large skillet on medium heat and when hot, add beef.

Cook for about 4-5 minutes stirring frequently, add onion/pepper strips and stir together.

The End Hot Sauce, Pepper Palace, San Francisco, CA

Add Pepper Palace Hawaiian Luau Sauce, sesame oil, and soy sauce, and stir together. Simmer for about 5 minutes.

Add parsley to cooked rice and stir together.

Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, CA

The Two Frys: Sophia and Allen, Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, CA

Serve beef stir fry over jasmine rice.

For further information about Pepper Palace Hawaiian Luau Sauce and their other products, visit:
https://www.pepperpalace.com/

Enjoy!

-Sophia and Allen/Two Frys

Strawberry Cake

Strawberry Cake

Strawberry Cake

Strawberry Cake

Strawberry Cake

Happy Valentine's Day! I baked this yummy strawberry cake last night for the love of my life, Allen. Today is also our Engagement Anniversary so this cake has a special meaning for us both. I planned ahead with the ingredients since it took me awhile to find freeze-dried strawberries in my area. I am a big fan of the blog, Sally's Baking Addiction and used her recipe for homemade strawberry cake (link below) and it was outstanding in every way. The strawberry taste comes through with every bite. The cake is moist, has a great texture and ever-present strawberry flavor. The strawberry frosting is tangy from the cream cheese with a balanced sweetness from the freeze-dried strawberries. If you love strawberries trust me, you need to bake this cake. It takes a few more steps than a standard layer cake, but the extra effort is well worth it. I bought the sprinkles from Fancy Sprinkles and the Sugar Roses are Wilton. See recipe below.

Strawberry Cake side view

Lots of pretty sprinkles all around the bottom

Ingredients
2 1/2 cups Cake Flour, sifted

2 teaspoons Baking Powder

1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda

1 teaspoon Coarse Salt

3/4 cup, 1 1/2 sticks Unsalted Butter, softened

1 3/4 cups Granulated Sugar

5 large Egg Whites, room temperature

2 teaspoons Pure Vanilla Extract

1/2 cup Milk, room temperature

1/3 cup Sour Cream, room temperature

1 pound Fresh Strawberries reduced to 1/2 cup Strawberry Puree

Strawberry Cake and 1 slice for us each

Such a lovely and yummy cake!

Directions
Cut off tops of strawberries and puree in processor or blender.

On low heat add strawberry puree to sauce pan and reduce for 20-30 minutes. Save 1/2 cup for cake and set aside the rest for a smoothie. Let cool completely. I placed in the fridge for 2-3 hours.

If you have more time leave in fridge overnight.

Strawberry Cake slice

Strawberry Cake, another slice

Heat oven to 350°F.

Grease and lightly flour two 9-inch heart shape, round or square cake pans. I use Wilton Bake Easy Spray.

In a large bowl whisk together the cake flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt together, set aside.

Pretty sprinkles

Cake is frosted and ready for decorations

Using a handheld or stand mixer fitted with a whisk attachment on medium-high speed, beat the butter and sugar together until smooth and creamy, about 2 minutes.

Scrape the bowl and mix for 5-10 seconds more.

Turn mixer to high speed, and egg whites and beat until incorporated, about 2 minutes.

Turn mixer to medium speed, and add sour cream and vanilla extract.

Scrape bowl with spatula and mix for 5-10 seconds more.

Frosting is complete

Just filled center

Turn mixer to low speed, add flour mixture and mix until incorporated.

Add milk and mix just until incorporated.

Turn mixer off and whisk in 1/2 cup of reduced strawberry puree.

Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake for around 22-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Place cakes on wire racks and after 10 minutes run spatula or knife around the edges.

Wait another 15 minutes and invert onto wire racks lined with parchment or wax paper and cool cakes completely, about 1 hour before frosting.

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting

Freeze-Dried Strawberries now a powder thanks to my Ninja

Strawberry Cream Cheese Frosting
1 cup Freeze-Dried Strawberries (when pulsed to powder you need 1/2 cup for the frosting)

1 8 oz. Cream Cheese, softened

1/2 cup, 1 stick Unsalted Butter, softened

3 cups Powdered/Confectioners Sugar

2 tablespoons Milk

1 teaspoon Pure Vanilla Extract

1/2 teaspoon Coarse Salt

My heart shaped pans and the Freeze-Dried Strawberries I bought

Frosting Directions
In a blender or processor (I use my Ninja) pulse the Freeze-Dried Strawberries into a powder. You will end up with 1/2 cup; set aside.

In a large bowl using a hand-held or stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment on high speed, beat the cream cheese for 1 minute until creamy.

Beat in the butter and mix until incorporated.

Strawberry cake batter

Turn mixer to low speed and add the sugar, strawberry powder, 1 tablespoon milk, and vanilla extract and beat until incorporated.

Add the last tablespoon of milk and mix for 20-25 seconds.

Add salt and mix for 5-10 seconds more.

Place first cake layer with top down on cake turntable, stand or plate, and cover with frosting.

Strawberry Puree reducing down

Made Strawberry Puree in my Ninja

Add second cake layer with top side down over the first layer, and frost top and then sides of cake.

Place sugar roses over the top of the cake and sprinkles on the bottom of the cake covering all sides if desired.

Place in cake safe and put in fridge to set.

Cover and keep in fridge covered for 5-7 days.

For the Homemade Strawberry Cake recipe, visit Sally's Baking Addiction:
https://sallysbakingaddiction.com/2018/01/05/strawberry-cake/

Enjoy!

-Sophia/Two Frys