Cake Balls
Cake balls are the latest trend in fancy baked goods. Cupcakes are so 2011. I made this video over the holidays, but you could definitely still use the recipe for Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, A Rainy Wednesday, etc. Just change the flavor or decorations to suit your needs!
Haiku Frozen Yogurt
Located at 4644 Wilkens Avenue in the same shopping center as Giant, Haiku Frozen Yogurt opened its doors for business last June. Guests can create their own treat, starting with a yogurt flavor and adding in fresh toppings. They weigh your cup when you are finished concocting, and charge based on the weight. Here is what two UMBC students had to say about their experience:
Evan Ponter: How did you hear about Haiku?
DC: The first time I heard about Haiku was through some paper advertising their employees were doing on campus. At first I wasn’t particularly drawn in, since I had other places I already went to for fro yo, but hearing good things about it from friends eventually made me try it out for myself.
JP: I saw their advertising while I was at Giant purchasing groceries (being that I am in college, this must have meant I had just gotten paid). They had a lot of flags and advertising all around the shopping center. At first I didn’t know what it was but then they put up the sign that said “frozen yogurt” and I got really really excited.
EP: Was it the first time u had fro yo?
DC: It wasn’t the first time that I had fro yo, but i would say that having it there was definitely the first time I had some that tasted like actual yogurt – not as filled with sugar to hide the taste as other places like to do.
JP: This was not even close to the first time. The way that my roommates and I bond is over frozen yogurt from Tutti Fruti (manly, not so much, but at least it is healthier than beer….or is it?) That restaurant is a staple food for many UMBC students as it was the closest fro-yo joint in the area before Haiku was opened. Even though it is like a 20 minute drive to get there it is so worth it because of their cleanliness, selection of yogurts, and plethora of toppings. Haiku has a lot to stand up to and I think they are realizing that. Since opening they have added some new toppings and yogurt flavors to meet customer demand.
EP: What do you usually get?
DC: What I usually get typically involves some combination of vanilla and chocolate flavors, and it always has strawberries on top
JP: I am a sweet kind of guy (yes, I mean personality AND yogurt flavor). I normally go toward the vanilla and chocolate flavors that are sweetened and stay away from the tart or original yogurt. Although I do have many friends that are very into that flavor, I just like the sweetness If I am getting a dessert. I also enjoy loading lots of fruit (and some chocolate….lots of chocolate) on top of my frozen treat. If I am feeling wild I might even throw on some Captain Crunch (yes they have that as a topping. I dreamt of this back in third grade!) or some Oreos. The options of topping go from what you would expect at an ice cream place like chocolate syrup and cherries, to extremely out there like Frutti Pebbles cereal and Pop-Tarts. I think these options, and the fact that you serve yourself, are what set it apart from any other ice cream restaurant.
EP: What do you try to avoid? What haven’t you tried yet that you might be willing to try?
DC: I’m typically down to try just about any flavor, so long as it isn’t supposed to be fruity in the way that it tastes. I prefer to get those flavors by adding actual fruit on top, if possible.
JP: I have yet to try any fruity flavor, like mango or mixed berry for example, and I think that this would be something that I like. I am a HUGE fan of mango sorbet so I should probably take the chance to try the frozen yogurt version as soon as I can. (and yes, I know what you were asking yourself, I WOULD put captain crunch on top!)
Pan Cooked Quesadillas
One of my favorite quickie lunches is homemade Quesadillas.
They are also a really great way to use up some leftovers, I had some chicken from the night before so I broke it up in to little pieces.
behold my leftovers!
I threw on some cheese, onions and tomatos!
And I lightly pan fried it. OOPS. I need to pay more attention!
Serve with some hot sauce and some sour cream! Enjoy!
YUM! Sushi and Korean
After a long and hard work out, all one wants is some delicious and healthy food. With this thought in mind, I headed to the H-Mart on Rolling Road and Rt. 40 to satisfy this taste. When trying international food, I make it a rule to try the food with someone who is accustomed to the cuisine for at least the first outing. After that, I would call myself a connoisseur (not really, sarcasm), and order like a pro right?!
In high school, my Korean friend’s mom would always make me delicious Korean BBQ and other delicious cuisine, so I have grown to love Korean food. Even the dreaded Kimchi was one of my favorite side dishes when I first tried Korean food. From bulgogi, Korean BBQ, galbidolsot, jjajangmyun and jigae, I LOVE KOREAN FOOD.
I had decided to go to Hanoori Town, next to H-Mart, but somehow I ended up in H-Mart at their little Korean restaurant in the corner.
I decided to order some galbidolsot and my friend, Patrice, ordered a variety of Sushi. I am not a big fan of sushi, but I had to try it. The food was, as always, very delicious. The steak was marinated to perfection and everything tasted amazing; just like what April’s ahma (mother in Korean) used to make.
The prices of the sushi and the Korean food are very reasonable. They give you so much food that you can split it into 3 servings. The sushi was also a very good deal. Patrice got 30 rolls for under $25. The sushi was also very good, which was a surprise to me. I normally don’t like anything that smells like seafood, which sushi does exactly, but I really liked it.
This is the menu for the restaurant. They do not deliver but they do take orders over the phone and have a sitting area to eat in. Even though it seems weird to sit in a grocery store, just eating food, it doesn’t feel awkward and you may forget that you are in a grocery store once you are delving into your bowls of deliciousness.
A Top 10 Grilled Cheese Sandwich
Grilled Cheese and Co was recently named on the Top 10 Best Grilled Cheese in the U.S. list on Delish.com, overcoming competitors from New York, Boston, Chicago, Washington state, and a plethora of California based restaurants. Located right here in Catonsville, the choices range from crab infused, Maryland-style delights to hand-crafted NASCAR favorites. Kenny Wallace designed his own entree with provolone cheese, turkey breast, pickles, and honey-mustard sauce.
Isabelle Garcia, a graduating senior at UMBC, has this to say about her experiences at Grilled Cheese and Co:
“When I first went inside the restaurant, I was impressed by the creativity in the menu. Before I got inside, I only expected a couple of variations of simple ham and cheese sort of sandwiches, but Grilled Cheese had everything from the Crabby Melt (my personal favorite) to the Veggie Delight Sandwich.
I got the crabby melt and it was heavenly – it was messy (I had to eat it with a fork and knife) but it was so good that I had to embrace the messiness. They definitely don’t skimp on the crabby filling (hence the messiness) and they make it fresh, right in front of you. When you get your sandwich, it’s wrapped in white paper, but it’s so fresh that you can see the steam fogging up the paper a bit. When you take a bite out of the sandwich, you’ll burn your mouth, just a little, but it’s not so hot that you can’t taste the soft, creamy combination of crab and cheese with the crispy, buttery toast.
You also have the option of grabbing a cup of fries with it. Some people like their fries really thick; others like them thin. If you belong to the latter, then you’ll hit a jackpot with these fries. They’re very long and thin, crispy fries – almost like a hybrid between a potato chip and a fry. Since they’re so thin, they’re also really light…but don’t worry because Grilled Cheese and Company gives you a lot of them. The only downside to these fries? They’re pretty addictive.
Really, there’s nothing bad to say of this place. It’s clean. The service is good and they make the sandwiches pretty fast. The sandwiches are also a pretty good size, so you definitely get your money’s worth. And if you’re worried about the cost – don’t be. It’s not exactly the dollar store of sandwiches, but the food is pretty affordable for what you get.”
Head over to 500 Edmondson Avenue in Catonsville to try your own grilled cheese sandwich!
Fancy Dinner
This year was definitely a treat for my holiday party. My association bought the staff, the small bunch that we are, lunch/dinner at McCormick & Schmick’s Seafood. I was very hesitant because I am not a big fan of seafood. Other than salmon, shrimp, tilapia, and blue fish, I am not one to dabble in the proteins of the sea.
First when we walked in, we were greeted by some of the nicest staff I have ever encountered. They all went out their way to make us feel welcome. The decor in the restaurant is not too upscale that it comes off stuffy and pretentious, but it wasn’t a Red Lobster either. One can tell that real detail was put into designing and creating a warm environment. The view of the harbor and surrounding areas was very appealing as well. Nestled near little Italy and PowerPlant and gazing over the Inner Harbor, there are so many gorgeous views surrounding you while you eat.
For our appetizer, we ordered the Calamari Frito Misto and the Crab, Shrimp, and Artichoke dip with Pita Chips. The Calamari…I gave it a chance but its consistency reminded me of scallops and I despise scallops. They were lightly battered and fried and came with a homemade ketchup. The pita chip dish was amazing. Everything from the chips to the dip was exciting.
For drinks I ordered a German Riesling, that was said to be sweet. I didn’t think it was that sweet though but it was a good wine, just not for me. My next drink with dinner was a delicious Basil and Cranberry Margherita. It had tequila, triple sec, basil and fresh cranberries. A very exciting and holiday themed drink.
For lunch, though it was closer to 4:30, I had the Spicy Shrimp Linguini. I loved that dish so much. It was the perfect blend of spice and full-bodied flavor I want from my foods. Everyone seemed to love their plates and it brought a smile to everyone’s faces as we terrorized our plates. From the crab cakes, salmon, burgers and shrimp, we all could do nothing but rave about our dishes.
Then it was dessert time! We ordered an apple pie a la mode, an oreo cookie dessert, a creme brûlée, and a triple berry cheesecake and shared around the table. The best one on the table was….drum roll please…the apple pie a la mode. That pie is probably the best pie I have ever had in my life. The vanilla ice cream created to accompany it was soo good I am convinced that the cow is in the back somewhere just providing the milk to churn into ice cream.
All in all, I would highly recommend this restaurant for all you lovers and friends out there. Even for a family dinner, this would be a great place to have a meal with the parental units. The downside: unless you are really, really wanting to foot the bill, I would advise you to take the parental units or a money machine because this restaurant is a bit over the college budget. The drinks were at least $10 each and meals range from $12-$27. Unfortunately, I couldn’t take any pictures to share with you all. That is all the more reason to go and see the place for yourselves 
Pretzel Sticks!
Yummy holiday gifts you can make in your dorm!
Meet My Dates: Stuffed Dates
First, I removed the icky pit
Next I gathered, up my stuffing ingredients. Powdered sugar and cream cheese!
And some orange peels!
And they were good to go after a whirl in the food processor! I am pretty sure I washed the orange before a peeled it…..
I just added 2 table spoons of cream cheese with one table spoon of powdered sugar and orange peels!
Tada! How do you like my festive dates?
Finger-licking Deliciousness!!
Have you just wanted some good ‘ole BBQ without having to do all the work?! Well here is the place for you!
Shane’s Rib Shack in Laurel is some of the best BBQ Food I have ever tasted. Everything is slapped, slopped, and soaked in delicious marinades and sauces that will make you just fall out out of your seat. The staff is friendly and the food is amazing!
I went there one night after a long day of driving to Virginia and back to Baltimore with no food to eat. I wanted something that I could just sink my teeth into, get my clothes dirty, and lick my fingers. Yes, it was one of those days! My friend suggested to me that we go to Laurel and try Shane’s Rib Shack. Now my first question was, “Who is Shane?” After a lot of laughter, she told me that it was a restaurant that had amazing wings and to die for ribs. That was all the information I needed, and we headed out.
Once I entered the Shack (it wasn’t really a shack), I was surprised how nice the place was. It wasn’t a fru fru fancy restaurant, but the décor was very fitting for the place. It had memorabilia on the walls, nice booth seating, and tvs to watch the games. When it was time to order, the staff was extremelly patient with me, even when I was so indecisive.
I decided to order the Shack Sampler, you know, just so I could try all the best stuff. My friend ordered a tray of wings and some sweet potato fries. I thought it would take a while to get my food, but the food was ready and delivered to our table in under 20 minutes.
Boy o boy, was that food delicious! Nothing bad could be said about that food. In the same regard, you can’t know how good it is until you taste it. I strongly recommend Shane’s Rib Shack to anyone looking for a casual and different place to eat BBQ. They have two locations: Laurel and Alexandria. I have posted the menu which has the addresses for both locations. If you get the chance to go, send me an email and tell me about your experience at the Shack!
Free Food Events!
It’s just after Halloween and after all that candy you just want to start eating healthy, right? Well, only if the price is right. And when the price is free, maybe diet isn’t so important! Check out these events where you don’t have to pay a dime to enjoy a meal, or maybe just a sweet snack.
How to Decorate a Cake - TODAY at 7pm in the Student Org Space. Come learn how to frost a cake, then enjoy the fruits of your labor as you learn how to eat a cake! No experience is necessary. Bring your sweet tooth!
Football and Wings- Ravens vs Steelers - Sunday, November 6th at 8:30pm in the Sports Zone. This is one of the biggest games of the season for the Ravens! And with their win in week 1, they will need all the support they can get to beat the Steelers again! Enjoy free chicken wings as you watch this Sunday Night Prime Time game.
Shriver Center Lunch & Learn Series - Monday, November 7th at 12pm in the Commons 331. Grab some free lunch and chat with panelists Martin Ford, Rhonda Ray, April Matthews, and Joyce L. Wright. More information can be found on the myUMBC event page.
Good Morning Commuters Breakfast – Tuesday, November 8th at 8:30am in the Commons. Not everything can be free. Use your Gold card to get breakfast all semester for just $5! Or you can pay $2 to enjoy this one alone. These breakfasts are served every Tuesday morning.
Wake Up and Smell the Coffee – Wednesday, November 9th at 8am in the Commons. Stop by for some free coffee anytime between 8 and 10am. Additional breakfast treats will be available! Skip the line at Starbucks or Au Bon Pain and get your cup of Joe for free.
Disney Breakfast and Bingo - Wednesday, November 9th at 8pm in the Gameroom. You read that right, it’s 8 o’clock in the evening. If you missed out on the last two breakfast opportunities, or you just don’t get up that early, then check out this event to score some free breakfast at an hour you can handle!
Be sure to follow the UMBCEats Twitter to get live updates on where free or cheap food is available on campus!
