Need cookie recipes?

The Food Network kick’s off their annual 12 Days of Cookies today… sending out an email with a new cookie recipe and video every day. Today’s recipe is for Almond Lace Cookies (Florentines). To sign up for the 12 Days of Cookies, click here.

Need cookie recipes?

The Food Network kick’s off their annual 12 Days of Cookies today… sending out an email with a new cookie recipe and video every day. Today’s recipe is for Almond Lace Cookies (Florentines). To sign up for the 12 Days of Cookies, click here.

YouTube, FoodTube!

No really, check out the latest YouTube spin-off at http://www.foodtube.net/

What is it you ask? A search engine for video recipes!

Here… learn how to build a gingerbread house or make some latkes just in time for the holiday season.

If those don’t float your boat, how about a little egg nog or some peppermint bark?

Planning a trip to Orlando?

My in-laws live just outside of Orlando, so we head down to Florida several times a year for some family time. We generally stay with them… except at Thanksgiving. Every year for Thanksgiving we stay at the Hyatt Grand Cyprus, right outside Disney. If you are planning a trip to Disney or the Orlando area, I cannot say enough nice things about this place.

They are on the pricier side for Disney-area hotels ($249/night during peak season); however, if you have children and appreciate superb customer service, it’s well worth the higher cost.

The hotel is beautiful with a lush, atrium entrance. There are 3 resident tropical birds that live in the atrium, a running stream, many peices of Asian art and plenty of seating to enjoy the surroundings. The atrium lobby also contains a full-service bar (both alcohol and cappuchino), a sushi bar and access to four of the hotel’s restaurants (there are at total of five).

The pool area offers both standard and a heated fresh water pools. There are caves to swim though, water slides, jacuzzis and a rope bridge reminiscent of a pirate gang plank. There is also a sandy beach alongside the hotel pond (no swimming due to the risk of alligators), with sale boats, kayaks, water trikes and several other fun toys. A Golf course, tennis courts, a full service gym, spa services and horseback riding are just a few of the other fun adult perks.

There are several entertainment options for both children and adults and there is also a daycare center and evening babysitters available.

The restaurants are all pretty good as well. La Coquina Chef’s Table (which we haven’t tried yet), looks very cool. It’s a traditional chef’s table tasting menu, where you actually dine in the kitchen and interact with the chef. I saw a sample menu and it looked delicious and pretty affordable (compared to Boston tasting menu prices). La Coquina also offers a big Sunday brunch.

We’ve eaten at Hemingway’s, a seafood restaurant with focus on Key West dining, several times and have always had a very good meal. We ate here this past visit and they were very accomodating to our 3 year old as well.

Cascade is only open for breakfast and lunch, with both an ala carte menu and a buffet-style breakfast. The buffet is great at $19.99 (and free for kids 3 and under). We generally do their big Thanksgiving Buffet Dinner as well, but ate at the in-laws this year. Their T-day buffet is ridiculously huge and offers everything under the sun, including a full entree for each diner and complimentary champagne. If you can make it down over Thanksgiving break, this is a must try!

Lastly, White Horse Bar & Grille — the resident sports bar and my least favorite eatery, offers a limited afternoon appetizer menu and a typical “pub grub” dinner menu, with lots of big screen TV’s and a decent beer and wine menu.

The hotel also offers 24-hour in-room dining and many more ammentities than I am listing here. Check out their website for a full list of all features, special rates and property photos.

Wham! Bam! Thank you Man!

Okay, so I am a little behind the times on this (20 hours to be exact). According to the Associated Press, the Food Network is finally cancelling the Emeril Live show. Am I the only one that has always hated this guy? He is annoying, his food is ladened in fat and he uses the same set of spices over and over again. Good riddance. Now we just need to get rid of The Essence of Emeril, which is still being produced by the network.

It took me 10 years…

But I finally found another local Boston radio station that I actually enjoy, so I thought I would share the wealth.

I have always been a die-hard WFNX 101.7 fan and listen to WBOS 92.9 during FNX commercials. The other day I stumbled upon WERS 88.9, the Emerson College station. I didn’t know what it was at the time, but I liked it… and then this morning I heard their call letters and looked them up online.

This is a cool little alternative station! I definitely recommend checking them out.

Into the holiday season? I’m assuming everyone already knows this… but just in case… Oldies 103.3 starts playing holiday music on VETERAN’S DAY (yes, you heard me right) and continues non-stop until Christmas day.

Any other hidden gems in Boston radio? If so… let me know!

YouTube, FoodTube!

No really, check out the latest YouTube spin-off at http://www.foodtube.net/

What is it you ask? A search engine for video recipes!

Here… learn how to build a gingerbread house or make some latkes just in time for the holiday season.

If those don’t float your boat, how about a little egg nog or some peppermint bark?

Planning a trip to Orlando?

My in-laws live just outside of Orlando, so we head down to Florida several times a year for some family time. We generally stay with them… except at Thanksgiving. Every year for Thanksgiving we stay at the Hyatt Grand Cyprus, right outside Disney. If you are planning a trip to Disney or the Orlando area, I cannot say enough nice things about this place.

They are on the pricier side for Disney-area hotels ($249/night during peak season); however, if you have children and appreciate superb customer service, it’s well worth the higher cost.

The hotel is beautiful with a lush, atrium entrance. There are 3 resident tropical birds that live in the atrium, a running stream, many peices of Asian art and plenty of seating to enjoy the surroundings. The atrium lobby also contains a full-service bar (both alcohol and cappuchino), a sushi bar and access to four of the hotel’s restaurants (there are at total of five).

The pool area offers both standard and a heated fresh water pools. There are caves to swim though, water slides, jacuzzis and a rope bridge reminiscent of a pirate gang plank. There is also a sandy beach alongside the hotel pond (no swimming due to the risk of alligators), with sale boats, kayaks, water trikes and several other fun toys. A Golf course, tennis courts, a full service gym, spa services and horseback riding are just a few of the other fun adult perks.

There are several entertainment options for both children and adults and there is also a daycare center and evening babysitters available.

The restaurants are all pretty good as well. La Coquina Chef’s Table (which we haven’t tried yet), looks very cool. It’s a traditional chef’s table tasting menu, where you actually dine in the kitchen and interact with the chef. I saw a sample menu and it looked delicious and pretty affordable (compared to Boston tasting menu prices). La Coquina also offers a big Sunday brunch.

We’ve eaten at Hemingway’s, a seafood restaurant with focus on Key West dining, several times and have always had a very good meal. We ate here this past visit and they were very accomodating to our 3 year old as well.

Cascade is only open for breakfast and lunch, with both an ala carte menu and a buffet-style breakfast. The buffet is great at $19.99 (and free for kids 3 and under). We generally do their big Thanksgiving Buffet Dinner as well, but ate at the in-laws this year. Their T-day buffet is ridiculously huge and offers everything under the sun, including a full entree for each diner and complimentary champagne. If you can make it down over Thanksgiving break, this is a must try!

Lastly, White Horse Bar & Grille — the resident sports bar and my least favorite eatery, offers a limited afternoon appetizer menu and a typical “pub grub” dinner menu, with lots of big screen TV’s and a decent beer and wine menu.

The hotel also offers 24-hour in-room dining and many more ammentities than I am listing here. Check out their website for a full list of all features, special rates and property photos.

Wham! Bam! Thank you Man!

Okay, so I am a little behind the times on this (20 hours to be exact). According to the Associated Press, the Food Network is finally cancelling the Emeril Live show. Am I the only one that has always hated this guy? He is annoying, his food is ladened in fat and he uses the same set of spices over and over again. Good riddance. Now we just need to get rid of The Essence of Emeril, which is still being produced by the network.

It took me 10 years…

But I finally found another local Boston radio station that I actually enjoy, so I thought I would share the wealth.

I have always been a die-hard WFNX 101.7 fan and listen to WBOS 92.9 during FNX commercials. The other day I stumbled upon WERS 88.9, the Emerson College station. I didn’t know what it was at the time, but I liked it… and then this morning I heard their call letters and looked them up online.

This is a cool little alternative station! I definitely recommend checking them out.

Into the holiday season? I’m assuming everyone already knows this… but just in case… Oldies 103.3 starts playing holiday music on VETERAN’S DAY (yes, you heard me right) and continues non-stop until Christmas day.

Any other hidden gems in Boston radio? If so… let me know!