So Sorry About the Absence and a Few Things You May Not Know About Me!!!

Hi there!

I'm so sorry for the ridiculously long absence!  It's been a long, terribly rough...well...year!  Since I last posted, I have had 3 surgeries, my husband has had 2, his grandmother was in the hospital and then a Senior Rehab facility almost all summer, I changed jobs (and getting ready to change again) and unfortunately our daughter has seen all of this, out TV blew up, laptop went down and so on and so on...

Let's just say 2013 cannot get here fast enough!  But it hasn't been all bad, I have met some amazing new friends, almost all Disney buddies!  They have been a huge light on a dark year for me, and for that, I thank them and love them bunches!!!  You know who you are!

As I was reading the old posts I did, I realized I never really introduced myself.  So here are the first 10 things you may not know about me, in no particular order...

1.  I am from St. Louis.  Born and bred.  Lived here my whole life.  So when we move to Florida, it will be a HUGE change for me.  But I can't wait!  Bring it on! 

2.  I met my husband while working at Wal-Mart, he almost ran over me with a forklift!  We have now been happily married for over 11 years...12 in May!  He is the most wonderful man!!!  I'm truly blessed when it comes to my husband. 

3.  I'm a major Coke addict!  Coca-Cola that is!  It's one thing I have to have everyday.  Even if it's just one can.  It's really the only thing that I'm addicted to (unless you count Pinterest!).  But I don't smoke, drink alcohol, do drugs or gamble, so I think in that respect, I'm doing pretty good.  I really do need to stop drinking soda, but I don't know if I will ever be able to give that up.

4.  I am majorly computer stupid!  I'm lucky I have gotten as far as I have on the blog.  That's why backgrounds and pictures haven't been added.  I don't know how to do it!  If you have any suggestions, I'm all ears!!!

5.  I'm a neat freak.  My house may not always be "spotless" but I'm most happy when it is.

6.  I love to help organizations like animals shelters, the USO/Wounded Warriors, small local businesses (not a big fan of chains, much rather help the little guy) and the environment (BIG recyclers in my house!)

7.  My style is all over the place.  I love modern things, but also vintage.  French things as well as Disney.  My current home is like that.  I have a French cafe kitchen, Disney living room, a hallway full of our daughters artwork, framed photographs and scrapboxes from our travels done in a way to look like a modern art gallery, our daughters bedroom is puppies and princesses, hall bathroom is Mickey Mouse, office is Disney, our bedroom is romantic vintage cottage and our Master bath is shabby chic.  See what I mean, it's all over the place.  But it works!  I get lots of compliments on our house!  I love to decorate, it's one of my things!

8.  I love to watch movies.  We have tons of them.  I gave up on counting them, because we are always adding more.  Love romantic comedies, Disney (duh!) and Hallmark movies (cheesy, I know, but I love 'em...always a happy ending).  Not a big fan of horror films.  We love to go out, but our favorite thing is staying home with a big bowl of popcorn and a Coke and watching movies! 

9.  I hate to shop.  Especially for clothes, it's the most depressing thing for me.  The only places I like to shop at are antique malls, thrift stores, Anthropologie and of course, the Disney Store, I go there whenever I need a "fix."

10.  I love to travel.  I love Europe!  Disney World (another Duh)!  Big time!!  But I'm also perfectly happy with going on little local day trips.  We love to go on "retro" trips like to old-fashioned soda fountains, ice cream parlours, candy shoppes and to drive-in movies.


Well...there is the first ten things you may not have known about me.  More coming soon.  Have a magical day!


  

Rice Cream from the Norway Pavilion at EPCOT

Hi everybody!!  Anyone that knows me knows that EPCOT if by far my favorite place on the planet!!  Exploring all of the countries at the World Showcase and exploring the technology of the future in Furture World brings me to a state of pure nirvana.  And one of the very best parts of the exploration is trying all of the truly amazing food that EPCOT has to offer.  I love making all kinds of foods from there at home so it can always me back to my most cherished memories with my family (yes, my husband and daughter are as Disney-crazy as I am, but more on that later.)  Now, it's time for one of our favorite treats from one of our favorite pavilions...Rice Cream from Norway!  This is crazy good and almost too easy to make to believe :)

Norway Pavilion's Rice Cream with Strawberry Sauce

1/2 cups water

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 cup short-grain rice (I use Arborio, it works the best and I believe it is what they use at Epcot)

2 cups milk

1 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup sugar

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3/4 teaspoon cardamon (this is not in the original recipe, but I saw on Unwrapped that this is their "secret ingredient," so I add some, this is a good amount and it does make a difference if it's not added)

1 cup strawberry preserves (I prefer Bonne Maman, I think it has the best flavor; it's a little bit more expensive than the average, but totally worth it!)

1/2 cup water

1 teaspoon freshly squeezed lemon juice

In a 3- or 4-quart saucepan, bring 1 1/2 cups of water to a boil with the salt.  Add the rice, reduce the heat to medium-low, and cook the rice for 15 minutes or until all of the water has been absorbed.

Add the milk and simmer for 20 minutes or until all the milk has been absorbed.

 Transfer the mixture to a bowl and let cool to room temperature. 

Meanwhile in a blender, combine the strawberry preserves, 1/2 cup water and lemon juice and blend until smooth. (This is where I added some chopped fresh strawberries.)

In a bowl, whip the cream with the sugar, vanilla and cardamon. 

With a rubber spatula, fold the whipped cream into the rice.

To Serve:

Transfer the rice pudding to a large bowl or to individual serving bowls and drizzle with strawberry sauce.

 This is how we served it at our recent Disney Brunch before going to see Brave.  (More on that soon.)  I used an ice cream scoop to put it into the bowl.  That way everyone could just grab a scoop and top it with the sauce from the buffet.

Recipe used is from D23's twenty-three magazine (Winter 2011)

Review...

This recipe did need a bit of tweaking, not nothing major.  As I said before, a had to add some cardamon, since it wasn't in this recipe.  I really does make a big difference.  It gives it a certain "something."

When making the whipped cream, use a hand or stand mixer, save yourself from getting a pain in the wrist or arm!

The strawberry sauce gets the biggest change, I use way less water to thin the preserves, it doesn't take much, plus if you add the whole 1/2 cup, it tastes to watered down, in my opinion.  Also, just mix it up in a small bowl with a whisk.  Save yourself from having to clean that blender, it's not nescessary.  I also normally add about 1 cup or so of chopped fresh strawberries.  They're not in the recipe, but they're in the sauce at the park as well as in the photos in the magazine.

One last thing, when cooling the rice mixture to room temperature, I speed up the process by putting it in a 9 x 13-inch pan.  It cools way faster than in a bowl. 

Where to find it in the park:  Akershus Royal Banquet Hall as part of the family-style dessert trio or as a snack at Kringla Bakeri og Cafe. 

But when you're craving it home, like we do quite frequently in our house, just whip up a quick batch.  This one is pretty much right on from the real thing in parks.  Enjoy!!! 

See ya real soon...
Laura

Welcome! One and All...

Hi everybody!  My new blog is currently under construction and will be up and running very soon.  This blog will be my personal diary, of sorts, of my trials and triumphs of trying to cook my way to Disney World.  It has been my long-time dream of being a Pastry Chef at the Happiest Place on Earth!!  I will be trying out lots of recipes from WDW, reviewing them and reporting progress on working my way to the Sunshine State!  I would love it if you would join me on my adventure to make my dream come true!!

See ya real soon...
Laura