Thursday, May 9, 2013

Where Have I Been

Alright, this is just wrong!  I have lived here most of my life and I just found the International Bakery!  It is in a part of town called Little Mexico but the drive is well worth experiencing this little gem of a place! I was so excited when I found it, I neglected to take pictures.  So I found some online (photo credits are below the pictures).
Photo by Captain Napkin
How did this little excursion start?  Well have you seen the I-Hop commercial for the Brioche French Toast?  Well I have, which lead me to have lunch there with my oldest daughter one day and I tried the Banana Foster French Toast... YUMMY. Which got me to thinking, you know I really enjoy Brioche bread.  I've never seen any at my local grocery store but there has to be a bakery that sells the bread.  So I Googled... which lead me to this little bakery.  The only thing I could really find was a simple Facebook page and some reader comments on Yelp so I decided to go in search of this bakery - Plus I remembered a good friend of mine talking about this place one night after volleyball, (Yes this the way my mind works)! Now first off I didn't find a whole loaf of Brioche bread but what I did find was absolutely incredible.

If you are like me I get a little nervous about going to places I have never been before and even a little more nervous when it is in an area that I don't frequent.  I am a creature of habit, and I find comfort in my habits.  Now normally in this situation I would bring someone along with me but the husband was at work, as well as my sister and most of my friends.  So if I wanted to explore this place today I had to go alone, so I did and I was fine!  As I opened my car door I immediately could smell the aroma of the bakery, cinnamon, recently baked cake, frosting... mmmmm. 

From reading the reviews on Yelp I knew that I would need to grab a tray and some tongs and walk around selecting goodies!  I never expected what I found behind that door!
Photo by Captain Napkin
One very long row of pastry cabinets!  Every cabinet had a different kind of pastry and I was seriously trying hard to contain my excitement.  Then I saw the prices and I couldn't believe it, ALMOST everything was $0.50 and a few $1.00 items! Some were even 3 for $1.00.  Honestly, trying hard to contain myself at this point!


Photo by Captain Napkin
 Racks upon racks of fresh baked doughnuts, bread and bakery cases full of yummy goodness.  Oh and a little cafĂ© too! Just amazing!

Photo by Captain Napkin
I had to show to the photo above because while I didn't get a whole loaf of Brioche Bread... yeah I know you see it.  See the long piece of bread that looks like it is pound cake on the left?  Well it isn't pound cake it is a thick slice of brioche bread with butter and sprinkled with very fine sugar.  NO it didn't make it home, it didn't even make it to 42nd and Q!

Photo by ME!
This is what actually made it home along with two croissants and a small loaf of bread!  I spent a total of $9.00!  I can't wait until dessert time this evening! 

Wednesday, May 1, 2013

Chili & Cornbread Waffles

YES! Cornbread Waffles!  I love Chili and Cornbread, who doesn't?  During the colder months we have it at least once a week for dinner.  The kids and husband get a little tired of the same old Chili and Cornbread routine.  So I was looking for a way to make it just a little bit more fun for them.  I had read somewhere that you could use chocolate cake mix and make chocolate waffles so I figured why not give it a try.  I just mixed up the cornbread mix like normal and poured it on the waffle iron!  PERFECT!

 
It was such a big hit my kids had three helpings!