Tag Archives: food blogger

What’s Good in AZ: Frosted Frenzy Cupcakes

I remember when I first tried Frosted Frenzy Cupcakes: It was last August, and our foodie networking group got the chance to try their cupcakes. We took home six cupcakes to sample and post our reviews and pictures on our Instagram accounts. I was instantly impressed by how delicious their cupcakes were, and became such a big fan of theirs. So much so, that I have driven to several events in the Mesa area, just to ensure that I grab at least four to six cupcakes!

*The first six cupcakes that introduced me to the wonderful world of Frosted Frenzy!*

Frosted Frenzy cupcakes have been voted the “Best Cupcake” in The Valley by Phoenix Magazine in 2019 and 2020, and are on the list again for 2021! The reason I personally love them so much is the subtle yet dynamic flavors that they create. The texture is even and consistent in every cupcake, and although the flavors are not overpowering, they are rich and so delicious. Their buttercream frosting is so smooth and light, and they are beautifully decorated. It’s not difficult to get a great picture of these gourmet masterpieces! I love their cupcakes so much, that my husband made a special order for my birthday this past weekend! I want to thank Tami and Brian for always being so sweet and kind when I see them, and for letting me try “The King” cupcake, which is a banana cupcake, topped with peanut butter cream cheese frosting. Both my husband and I absolutely loved that cupcake, and we kind of tore into it before I could get a picture! But I did take a pictures of the rest of my birthday cupcakes, which are pictured below.

I wholeheartedly agree with Phoenix Magazine’s readers, that Frosted Frenzy has the best cupcakes in The Valley! If you want to find out where they are headed next, make sure to follow them on Instagram, and be sure to order ahead on their website. I should know, I went to an event a few weeks ago to visit their truck, and buy a few cupcakes onsite. As I approached the front of the line, Tami informed me that they are just about sold out and only had three cupcakes left, so I bought them all! Duly noted that I will always order ahead!

Thanks again Tami and Brian for my special birthday cupcakes, because these are not only my favorites, but my husband’s and son’s as well!

*SALTED CARAMEL – brown sugar caramel cupcake filled with handmade caramel and topped with vanilla buttercream, caramel drizzle and salted caramel crisp pearls*

*LEMON BLOSSOM – lemon-infused cupcake topped with lemon buttercream and crystal sugar*

*ORANGE BLOSSOM – orange-infused cupcake topped with an orange-infused buttercream and crystal sugar*

*STRAWBERRY LEMONADE – lemon-infused cupcake topped with strawberry buttercream and crystal sugar*

*My son’s favorite: LEMON BERRY – lemon-infused cupcake filled with handmade raspberry filling and topped with lemon buttercream and crystal sugar*

*My husband’s favorite: CLASSIC CHOCOLATE – valrhona chocolate cupcake topped with chocolate buttercream and chocolate sprinkles*

Creating a Low Sodium Recipe with Spud Buds Potatoes!

My husband has been getting really creative with eating healthier, without sacrificing the types of food we can have or flavor. He found a great recipe book called 500 Low Sodium Recipes: Lose the Salt, Not the Flavor, In Meals the Whole Family Will Love and found one called “Sautéed Garlic Potatoes” that would be perfect for the Idaho Golden Potatoes I received from Spud Buds!

We had our sautéed potatoes with grilled marinated pork chops, and I’ve included the recipe below. If you try it, let me know in the comments, cheers!

*Close up of the finished product, so delicious!*

FTC Disclosure: I received produce for free, but not exclusively for a review. Although I did receive produce, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Supporting Local & Regional Farms: Blue Sky Organic Farms & Spud Buds

Last month, a few influencers traveled to Litchfield, Arizona to support a beautiful local farm called Blue Sky Organic Farms. Leased farmland is quickly being sold for housing and retail development, so farms like Blue Sky Organic Farms needs support through their CSA (Community Supported Agriculture subscription) or through their amazing Farm Store.

The Farms Store sells lots of fantastic local and regional brands. I purchased a bag of Noble Bread and garlic seasoning by Molly’s Mills, along with a Blue Sky Organic Farms hemp tote and coffee mug. After seeing the goodies I brought home, my husband wants to return to purchase some other produce and spices!

To further support local farmland, we were treated to a bag of Spud Buds potatoes. Spud Buds is a three-generation family potato farm from Idaho, and they deliver to Maricopa and Pinal counties, right here in Arizona! I will cover a few recipes we made with Spud Buds golden potatoes in a future post, and they were absolutely delicious!

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Spud Buds created Spud Funds to assist organizations with reaching their fund raising goals by having access to restaurant quality potatoes. Check out their site for more information on how you can help!

Thank you to Swell Video for bringing together a few influencers to raise awareness in helping to support local & regional farms!

What’s Good In AZ: Toduken BBQ

As a part of my blog renaissance, I’ve decided to do a series called “What’s Good In AZ”, to showcase my favorite places in my new home state. And what better way to kick it off than with a place that I visit pretty regularly at least once a month: Toduken BBQ!

*My first time trying the OG Baboy skewer and Ube Mochi. Many thanks to Winchell (@winchsight) for holding my tray that night!*

I first met met John Cornelio briefly when I went to the Asian District Night Market last year (pre-pandemic). He had a set up there as a vendor, and I had his OG Baboy (skewer) with a square of Ube Mochi for the first time (pictured above), and I swear I became hooked! I heard he had a booth at Uptown Market in Phoenix, and had planned to make it out there for more freshly grilled BBQ dishes, when the pandemic really started to get hold. John then moved his menu to a pre-order only set up, which meant he had to take orders that would need to be prepared ahead of time, so that they could be heated at home. I made the trip to Phoenix from Mesa twice a month, trying anything and everything he had to offer. Pictured here in this blog post are a few of my favorites!

Now, John is able to actually grill, and the dishes he makes just get better and better! Not only are his dishes delicious and creative, but I can taste our Filipino roots in every bite. If you like what you see here, follow him on Instagram (@toduken_bbq) to see what he’s got cooking and to pre-order, because he usually sells out quickly! Cheers to John and his family for some of the best Filipino inspired goodness in Arizona! If you want to get to know John and Toduken better, check out this article in the Phoenix New Times!

*Ube Mochi by Rina. If and when it’s available at Toduken, it’s worth every bite!*

*Bao Bun Kit, which is an amazing take on siopao!*

*My new favorite: The Choriburger, which is made with ground longganisa*

*With John & Anthony at Uptown Market back in May 2020. Anthony is a fellow influencer, check him out on Instagram @az_cookiemonster*

Je t’aime Macarons!

Can you believe I made these? I don’t know exactly when I fell in love with macarons, but it has been quite the love affair, and I finally decided that it’s time to make them at home! I’ve been baking some tasty treats lately, but I’m particularly proud of these macarons, especially considering these were my first ever attempt!

I looked at many recipes to find one that would be the simplest, but I quickly found that making macarons would not be an easy endeavor. I finally found this recipe from Tasty: How To Make Macarons, because it not only included the written recipe, but a step-by-step video along with tips to ensure you make the best possible ones. And although I followed the recipe exactly as written, I discovered a few things about the process that I will be sure to improve:

Follow the directions in the recipe absolutely to the letter. Do not skip any steps, including tapping the cookie sheet to release the air bubbles and allowing the cookies to rest prior to baking. I let the macarons sit for only 30 minutes after piping them and tapping them. In the future, I will let them sit for an hour before baking them.
Make all the macarons all at once. I made them in two separate sessions, which allowed the batter to sit for more than 30 minutes for the second batch. I will purchase an additional cookie sheet so that I can pipe them all at once, bake and cool them at the same time. I think this will allow them to rise better to create better “feet”. My second batch was not as well risen as the first batch.
Decrease the sugar in the buttercream filling. I followed the recipe and used 3 cups of sugar. I will confess that I ran out of powdered sugar, and only used 2 cups, but then I added another cup of granulated sugar to make up for it. I think I will only use 2 cups as the filling was too sweet.
Really let the macarons “bloom” for 24 hours…seriously! I had eaten a macaron not long after assembling them and it had a chewiness to it that I know is not a part of the macaron experience. I then tried the ones that I kept in an airtight container the following day, and they were absolutely amazing!

All in all, it was an amazing experience, and after I make one more basic batch following this Tasty recipe, I will get more creative and make more flavor combinations! If anyone tries this recipe, let me know. Happy baking, cheers!

Be a Foodie & Fashionista with Food 4 Shirts!

I am a self-proclaimed foodie and fashionista, so how perfect for me is this sweatshirt from Food 4 Shirts? It’s their “Gnocchi Crew” from their “Main Course” collection. It’s so soft and comfy, and I love the homage to Gucci!

Mia, the creator and founder of Food 4 Shirts, started her business in Denver, Colorado as a homage to her passion for food, having worked in the food industry. In addition to creating fantastically adorable sustainable shirts & sweatshirts, Mia also gives back: so far in 2021, they have donated about 5,000 meals to not-for-profit organizations!

If you like this sweatshirt or anything on the Food 4 Shirts website, use code “any2ndnow” at check out for an additional 30% off!

(If you’re wondering what I’m eating, I actually made gnocchi the night before I took this picture, and I’m having it during my lunch break in our beautiful backyard. I’ll be sure put up the super easy recipe on a different post.)

FTC Disclosure: I received a discount on this product as a courtesy, but not as compensation for this post. Although I did receive a discount, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Plant Milk Goodness with Hope & Sesame

During the pandemic, I can safely say I’ve been trying out new and wonderful recipes, which I will share more of in the blog posts to come. I recently had the pleasure of trying out something new for me: a couple of cartons from Hope & Sesame, a protein rich Plant Milk made from sesame.

Of the five flavors, I got the chance to try Chocolate and Original. I tried the Original flavor one morning and I was surprised as how great it tasted with my favorite cereal! But what I loved even more was making my version of their “Mocha Truffle Latte”!

I love espresso, especially with just stevia as I love to savor the bold and strong flavor of the coffee. So rather than two packets of instant coffee, I made two shots of my favorite espresso and warmed eight ounces of the Chocolate SesameMilk and added a packet of stevia rather than sugar. The result was so rich and flavorful, great for mornings before work, and even better on cold nights with a warm blanket!

Thank you again Hope & Sesame for sending me your delicious SesameMilk, cheers!

Some great information from Hope & Sesame:
All our products are gluten-free, lactose-free and completely vegan, made with zero animal byproducts.
Hope & Sesame is free of the top 8 most-common allergens (milk, eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, fish, shellfish, soy and wheat).
Each 8-ounce serving of Hope & Sesame sesamemilk contains:
All 9 essential amino acids
8g of complete plant-based protein (you’d have to drink 8 glasses of almond milk to get that much protein)
Twice the Vitamin D of dairy milk
30% less sugar than chocolate dairy milk

FTC Disclosure: I received the product for free, but not exclusively for a product review. Although I did receive product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Arizona Food & Beverage Employee Relief Fund

As an influencer, I have been so lucky to have met and interacted with amazing local brands and businesses, both in San Diego and now that we live in Arizona. In addition to fashion, I’ve become a part of an incredible network of foodies who care about patronizing and promoting local eateries.

I posted this on my Instagram today, because there are those who are unable to have the regular income that some of us are able to have during this uncertain time. Many are in the food & beverage industry, so a group of foodie friends and I are banding together to help raise funds to provide to some of our favorite eateries in The Valley area of Arizona.

Please see the information below, which includes a link to a site where you can donate, which is powered by Avontage.

Local Phoenix influencers are uniting to make a difference!

Due to the current financial climate of the world and the impact that the COVID-19 quarantine has had on small businesses and their staff. We are rallying our resources to support these workers struggling to provide for their families.

We would love your support as well!

Whether a:

⁃ donation through the @avontage link (see below); or
⁃ support of your resources; or
⁃ a share of our efforts;

We ask that you join us in easing this financial strain for thousands of Arizonans out of work. We have chosen 35 local small businesses to support!

Join us in our mission to support the Phoenix food & beverage industry in these uncertain times!

Thank you for supporting this local mission,

#FoodiesFUNDINGphx & Avontage

Donate now: https://www.avontage.com/blog/campaigns/foodiesfundingphx/

**These are the places we will be supporting in this campaign!**
I’ve personally had the pleasure of eating at:
Hot Bamboo
Tempura Takeover
Toduken BBQ
Chimney Cakes
Flippin’ Rice

Hot Cacao!

I’m all about having a great cuppa, but a cup of chocolate tea? I recently had the pleasure of trying this flavorful tea from the Cacao Tea Co and not only does it have an amazing chocolate taste, but it’s rich in antioxidants and flavonoids. This tea is 100% organic, as well as gluten-free, caffeine-free and sugar free!

The delicious chocolate taste is so robust because this tea is actually made from cacao husks, so it’s not infused. I added a bit of stevia to mine and I swear, it tastes just like hot coco!

If you would like a bag, they can be purchased directly from the Cacao Tea Co website for $17.50, and they ship worldwide! If you live in the US, they can ship your tea with in one business day!

Check out my slow pour video below, and let me know in the comments if you love it as much as I do!

FTC Disclosure: I received the product in exchange for a product review. Although I did receive product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Eyes of Ginger, Tears of Lime: Mixing it up With Moscow Muled

Living in Arizona means living through some interesting weather. I was so used to moderately hot summers and mildly cold winters in San Diego, my wardrobe never truly changed much, let alone how I kept myself cool or warm.

That all has changed now that I’m in Arizona. The winds were pretty biting in my neck of the woods (or desert) during the fall and winter, and now we’re already experiencing very warm weather, and it’s only spring. Just this week in Chandler, temperatures have reached up to at least 82 degrees!

With hot weather on the way, I’ve been thinking about ways to keep cool. We hydrate all the time with water, but sometimes my palate needs something a bit different. Being that I’ve gotten creative with meals lately, it would be logical to follow that I should get creative with drink recipes as well!

I received these beautiful mugs recently from Moscow Muled, a company who specializes in making 100% copper mugs, which are plated with nickel on the interior, for the perfect Moscow Mule. Additionally, Moscow Muled donates 15% of their profits to several non-profit organizations that work to stop impaired driving.

The folks at Moscow Muled have a recipe for the Ultimate Moscow Mule, which I decided to make sans alcohol. Although I enjoy the occasional libation, it’s not something I would drink on a regular basis. I love how refreshing a Moscow Mule tastes, so this mocktail version will give me all the taste I want, without the dizzying effects after!

I found this great recipe on Like Mother, Like Daughter (below) which is nearly the same as the Ultimate Moscow Mule recipe, but replaces the premium vodka with club soda and simple syrup. The result: an incredibly refreshing Moscow Mule mocktail alternative! Moscow Muled has some other great drink recipes to try, such as The Kumbucha Mule, the Mexican Mule and the White Russian Mule, all which can be found on their blog here.

My best friend is in town this week, so maybe we’ll try a few of these recipes, which I can serve perfectly in my new Moscow Muled copper mugs!

NON ALCOHOLIC MOSCOW MULE

Ingredients:

1 lime (1-2 tablespoons juice, fresh is best)
1 TBS simple syrup
1/4 cup club soda
3-4 mint leaves (torn, optional)
3/4 cup Ginger Beer
crushed ice

Instructions:

In the bottom of cup, pour juice from lime, simple syrup and club soda.
Add mint leaves if desired.
Fill the cup about half way with ice.
The pour about 3/4 a cup of ginger beer over the ice.
Garnish with mint leaves and a lime wedge if desired, and serve.

FTC Disclosure: I received the product in exchange for a product review. Although I did receive product, the opinions in this post are strictly my own.

Post title is from a song called “Claymation” by Sister Suvi