nFocus Sugar Rush Event in Charlotte, NC

 On March 7th, NFocus Magazine held the 2013 Sugar Rush (as they put it "a candy-coated competition that pits local confectioners, creameries, cake cuppers and other curers of cravings against one another for the title of Queen City Sweetheart!") benefiting the North Carolina Dance Theater. Tickets were 25.00 and included an open bar, coffee and all the  dessert samples your heart desired from 14+ area bakeries and cafe/restaurants. I have included a few pictures of my favs. In the picture above we got to try Sweet Lorraine's Bakery's "Sweet Lorraine". A delish bite size brownie and chocolate chip cookie cake!

 The famous Banana Pudding from Savor Cafe is in the picture above. I had heard from many people how fabulous this dessert was and had yet to try it so was excited they were part of the show. I must admit, not sure I have had better! It was so DEEEE-LISSSH!!! I am looking forward to checking out their lunch and dinner menu as well.

Last but not least, I have saved what I thought was the best (in my opinion that is). Above is Dottie's Cupcakery. Now the picture may not do it justice, but the Key Lime Cake Pops were out of this world! There were two young ladies standing behind the table that were very sweet and come to find out one of them was the actual owner. Now if you have read my blog before, you know I love the local places around town, especially if it has to do with desserts. They are located in Waxhaw, NC. It is just the owner and a few others if I am not mistaken that help her out. She uses her Grandma's recipes and I have to admit, I just loved her story! I love to hear success stories and her story to me was definitely a success! I am looking forward to checking out the shop sometime soon and so should you! Check out their facebook page for more details!

Overall this event was awesome. I absolutely loved the desserts and boy did I get my fair share! They don't call it the Sugar Rush for nothing!!! I am already looking forward to next year's event!!

Reid's Fine Foods- Special Occasion Cooking Class for Two Review!

So a while back, February 9th to be exact;) my friend Kristen and I had signed up to take a cooking class at Reid's Fine Foods. We had come across a deal to take a cooking class about 6 months prior and finally got around to signing up for a class. Reid's holds cooking classes about once a month ranging from cooking for two to making cookies, seafood dishes and holiday themes. Needless to say, we were really looking forward to the class and did not have much insight into how they were held and what we would truly being doing. The new Reid's (newer location) is super nice, it has an amazing wine selection and tons of yummy prepared foods. When we arrived there were place settings all around the wine bar area. If I am not mistaken I would say there were about 20 or so people who were in the class. Once everyone arrived, the chef came out along with her assistant. She went into a little bit of her background which was pretty interesting to say the least, so we were really looking forward to the class. There were wine and water glasses in front of each person and who does not love a little wine tasting while trying new dishes! Now one thing I will say is that they do not post the menus of the class online beforehand. It was not a big deal to me as I eat just about anything, but my friend does not eat meat. Honestly though, it did not affect us having a great time, just more of a heads up to call if you have allergies/food limitations as I think they will accommodate. Also, this is not a hands on cooking class, the chef prepares each course for you.
The chef went through each of the items listed in the picture (menu/recipe handout) above, gave us tips and tricks and the recipes. Once each course was prepped and ready they brought out a generous tasting for all of us and then came the wine connoisseur! She was awesome, very knowledgeable of the wines and paired them well with each course! I unfortunately did not write down the wines, they were listed though in the recipe hand out we were given. (which I now can't find) but I am sure if I went in and said I was in that class they would know. The sparkling red wine served with the dessert was DELISH!!! Great price and super tasty. I left with the last bottle they had that day and I have to say almost everyone walked out with at least one or two bottles that had been served during the class.
Below are the first two courses that were served! I have to say the salad was bursting with flavor!

The Pork was just as delish, I loved the fig and cherry stuffing. Unfortunately, I ate the chocolate dessert before I could take a picture;)

So overall it was a great cooking class experience. The chef was awesome, the food tasty and the wine divine! I would totally recommend checking out the classes and just checking out Reid's in general if you have not stopped in. You will not be disappointed that is for sure!!

Reid's Fine Foods
Selwyn Corners
2823 Selwyn Avenue
Charlotte, NC 28209

Phone:704-377-1312 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 704-377-1312 end_of_the_skype_highlighting
Fax: 704-332-0460

Hours of Operation:
Monday-Tuesday 9am-8pm
Wednesday 9am-9pm
Thursday-Saturday 9am-10pm
Sunday 11am-7pm

Peanut butter chocolate chip banana bars!

Ok, so it has been a super long time, like months AGAIN since I have blogged. I have to say the holiday's were crazy and there was so much stuff I wanted to blog about, but just never did. Oops. To be honest, I was not even planning to blog this recipe as it was something I just kind of thought could be a good idea and if you can believe it, there was a recipe out on the web just for what I was interested in making....Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bars! Once I made them, there was no way I could not share the recipe. As usual I was just looking around the kitchen in the mood to bake and my boyfriend had a few super ripe banana's and I had recently made cookies over there, so I still had a good selection of baking ingredients. I was going to make banana brownies, but we ended up eating one of the bananas earlier that day, so I needed to think of something else that I could use only two with, and I was in the mood for chocolate and everyone knows chocolate and peanut butter are a great combo...so off to the Internet I went in search of something I could make with what I had at his house. I was not really in the mood for a cookie if you can believe that! So I thought why not a bar! Now I will say this, the blog I found this on had a picture that made these look more like a cookie bar consistency if that makes sense, a little heavier looking. And I was fine with that, but mine did not come out like that, they are more of a bread consistency. So really, you could eat these anytime of day!
I found the recipe here: http://thekimenator.tumblr.com/post/1168951618/banana-peanut-butter-chocolate-chip-cookie-bars I am not sure if she just made this recipe up or what as it did not say where it came from. Also, she said she had them in the oven about 45 mins or so she thought. I put them in to start for 30 mins and they were done. So I guess maybe start at 30 mins and keep checking on them - depends on your oven I would assume. I baked these in a gas oven that gets super hot.
Below is the actual recipe. I pretty much followed it step by step other than taking them out at 30 mins. Oh and I only used two bananas!!

• 3 mashed ripe bananas
• 1 stick of softened butter
• 1/2 cup of peanut butter
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup of granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup of brown sugar
• 1 1/2 cups of all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon of baking soda
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1/2 teaspoon of vanilla extract
• 1 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips

preheat oven to 350 degrees
mix dry ingredients
cream bananas, butter, peanut butter, sugar, brown sugar, vanilla together. add in egg
gradually add in dry ingredients
stir in chocolate chips
bake in preheated oven for ~45 minutes

Ta daaa! Hot out of the oven and DELISH!!! The combo of peanut butter, banana and chocolate was great! Enjoy with a nice cold glass of milk!