FOOD + BEVERAGE, PRODUCTS, RECIPES, SHOP, SPONSORED

recipe | not your ordinary granola bar using non-dairy Häagen-Dazs frozen dessert

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 post is sponsored by Häagen-Dazs, a Nestlé brand

This post is dedicated to all the lactose-intolerant ice cream lovers out there!

I recently discovered that Häagen-Dazs has a variety of non-dairy frozen dessert flavors that aren’t just sorbets. One of my favorite non-dairy flavors is their Chocolate Salted Fudge Truffle. It has a little bit of saltiness and a whole lot of rich, chocolatey goodness.
I am going to use this flavor in my recipe to create a non-dairy frozen delicacy to enjoy after work, or even as a midday snack. These granola bars are perfect for these warm summer days. #TheresAnIceCreamForThat

 

use two pints of Häagen-Dazs Non-Dairy Chocolate Salted Fudge Truffle frozen desserts for this recipe

 

here are two ways to make these granola frozen dessert bars: one with coconut whipped cream layered on top & one without.

 

one option: put a dollop of coconut whipped cream & top with a fresh strawberry before serving

 

the other option:  freeze a layer of coconut whipped cream on top & then serve it with a fresh strawberry

serving: 9 bars

ingredients
crust
8 oz premium all-natural granola
6T coconut oil, melted
*if using unsweetened granola use honey to taste

filling
2 pints Häagen-Dazs Non-Dairy Chocolate Salted Fudge Truffle, softened

toppings
strawberrys
coconut whipped cream
– 1 can [13.6 oz] coconut cream, chilled overnight

materials
6” x 6” x 2” baking pan
stand mixer + bowl & whisk attachment, chilled

instructions
crust
1. Toss the granola in melted coconut oil until evenly coated.
2. Pour the granola into the pan that is lined with plastic wrap & press down firmly. Make sure the layer is ½” in thickness.
3. Refrigerate the crust for one hour to set.
4. Pour the softened Häagen-Dazs into the pan & freeze until hard.
5. While the frozen treat is being frozen, take out the chilled coconut milk & carefully scoop out the
hardened coconut cream from the can while leaving the liquid untouched.
6. Using a chilled bowl for the stand mixer, whip the coconut milk until stiff peaks form.
7. Take the frozen dessert out of the pan & spread the coconut whipped cream onto the frozen dessert & chill until set. Cut up into 2″x2″ squares.

**another option: cut the treat into 2″x2″ pieces & then place a dollop of coconut cream on each bar.
8. Top each granola frozen dessert bar with a strawberry; place back into the freezer until it is ready to be enjoyed!

 

Save $2 when you buy 3 or more
Häagen-Dazs items or other Nestlé ice cream
products @Safeway.
http://lynk.to/HEEJINLEE

 

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PRODUCTS, RECIPES, REVIEWS, SPONSORED

recipe | summer strawberry watermelon smoothie bowl that Outshines all others

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this post is sponsored by Outshine

When I think summertime, I think of watermelon and strawberry ice pops. Both sound so refreshing! Ice cream month just came to an end but you can still enjoy watermelon & strawberries all summer long with this quick & easy strawberry watermelon smoothie bowl recipe. This is a great way to keep cool while enjoying a healthy snack.

 

Outshine Strawberry Fruit Bars are made with real fruit.

 

Here are some of the toppings I will be adding to my smoothie bowl. I like berries & chia seeds so I will add them as my toppings.

 

I chilled some of the fruit toppings because I need this to be extra cold & refreshing on a hot summer day. I also added mint to add an extra bit of freshness.

 

I think using the watermelon as a bowl is a creative & fun way to present smoothie bowls for guests. And not to mention, it saves you from doing a dish or two. Enjoy this easy recipe on a hot summer day because #TheresAnIceCreamForThat!

 

serving: 2 bowls

ingredients

1 mini watermelon

2 Outshine Strawberry Fruit Bars

juice from 1/2 of a lime

garnish

watermelon balls

handful strawberries, whole or sliced

handful blueberries, whole or sliced

handful raspberries, whole or sliced

tablespoon chia seeds

sprig of mint

slices of lime

* drizzle of honey [optional] for added sweetness

*any toppings that you would like

materials

melon baller

blender

directions

1. Cut watermelon in half & scoop out the inside. Use the melon baller to scoop out round balls for some pieces and set those aside for garnish. Save the empty halves, for they will serve as bowls for your smoothie.

2. Freeze the watermelon scoops for one hour or until frozen.

3. Place the frozen cut-up watermelon pieces, lime juice, and Outshine Strawberry Fruit Bars into the blender & blend until it becomes thick & smooth in consistency.

3.  Put the contents into the hollowed-out watermelon halves.

4. Garnish with toppings of choice & enjoy!

 

Let me know what toppings you would add & how you liked my recipe!

*Outshine comes in a variety of flavors and right now you can stock up and save.

Save $2 when you buy 3 or more Outshine or other Nestlé ice cream products. Find the offer here:
http://lynk.to/HEEJINLEE

 

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BAY AREA EATS, FOOD + BEVERAGE, RESTAURANTS, SF EATS, TRAVEL

SF | where i like to eat in san francisco

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i get asked this quite often, so i’ve finally decided to put together a short list of places that i like to go to in the city. these are some places that i would take friends from out of town.

if you see it on my instagram more than once, you know that i really do like it!

bakeries

b. patisserie


they have THE BEST kouign amann. i prefer their original flavor but they also have seasonal flavors. their chocolate chip cookie is also quite good.

b.patisserie

2821 California St.
San Francisco, CA 94115

 

arsicault bakery


their almond croissant & ham & cheese croissant are a must. but i think everything there is pretty tasty.

arsicault bakery

397 Arguello Blvd.

San Francisco, CA 94118

 

golden gate bakery


i love their super eggy egg tarts with their flakiest crusts. you have to check if they are open because they always seem to be on vacation. sometimes this site is updated to show if they are open or not.

golden gate bakery

1029 Grant Ave.

San Francisco, CA 94133

*

noods

marufuku ramen


there is always an hour+ wait for this place because it is one of the better ramen spots in the city. i prefer the chicken paitan over the tonkotsu, but you should see for yourself!

marufuku ramen

1581 Webster St. Ste 235

San Francisco, CA 94115

 

quan ngon vietnamese noodle house


the star of the show is their chicken pho with the wide noodles. their chicken isn’t dry & their broth is very flavorful. sometimes the noodle to soup ratio is off, but if you like noodles, this shouldn’t be an issue.

quan ngon vietnamese noodle house

2511 Noriega St.

San Francisco, CA 94122

*

casual dining

swan oyster depot


cash only & i recommend going during off peak hours [around 3-4pm] during the weekday. their crab back, crab cocktail, & oysters are my go-tos.

swan oyster depot

1517 Polk St.

San Francisco, CA 94109

 

house of thai

the tom yum was flavorful and not too sweet. i also recommend getting everything spicy because they do not do things mildly !!!

 

house of thai

901 Larkin St.

San Francisco, CA 94109

*

tasting menus

avery

one of my favorite restaurants in SF. @chefrodneywages is very talented & i absolutely loved everything on the menu. my favorite dish is probably the hokkaido snow beef with bbq sauce.  & the caviar bumps are delicious & fun to do!

avery

1552 Fillmore St.

San Francisco, CA 94115

 

wako

my favorite sushi restaurant in SF. my favorite is their “uni taco” because their uni is sweet & the nori is extra crispy. i always get a few extra of those after the omakase is over.

wako

211 Clement St.

San Francisco, CA 94118

*

dessert

u :dessert story


not only are their desserts photogenic, but they are actually tasty! i recommend the pandan crêpe cake & the oolong cheese tea. their cheese foam is so creamy, just the way i like it.

u :dessert story

3489 16th St.

San Francisco, CA 94114

****

if you ever happen to try them, leave me a comment & let me know your thoughts! also, if you would like to see any other lists, please leave suggestions in a comment.

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FOOD + BEVERAGE, RECIPES

recipe | Maple Hill strawberry yogurt no-bake pie

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this post is sponsored by Maple Hill.

it’s national strawberry month! i know it’s almost the end of the month but it’s still not too late to celebrate.

i will be sharing a recipe for a no-bake strawberry yogurt pie using Maple Hill’s strawberry yogurt to end this month on a berry sweet note.

 

Maple Hill is 100% organic grass-fed dairy. the strawberry flavor is a part of their new blended yogurt series.

 

ingredients

crust:

5 oz graham crackers

6T melted butter

filling:

2  5.3oz Maple Hill strawberry yogurt

1  5.3oz Maple Hill plain yogurt [*optional or use strawberry yogurt]

1/2 cup heavy whipping cream

1 T gelatin

1/2 cup water

garnish:

fresh strawberries

materials

6″ spring form pan

food processor [optional]

directions:

crust:

using a food processor, process the graham cracker until they are fine, similar to the consistency of sand.

if a food processor is not available, filling a zip lock bag with graham crackers and pounding them would also work.

mix in the melted butter until the crumbs are evenly coated.

pour the graham crackers crumbs into the pan, and press down firmly. make sure the layer is 1/4″-1/2″ in thickness.

refrigerate crust while making the filling.

filling:

heat up the water and dissolve gelatin.

add the gelatin mixture into a bowl with the strawberry and vanilla yogurt. make sure the gelatin is completely mixed into the yogurt.

whip the whipping cream into stiff peaks.

fold in half of the whipped cream into the yogurt & pour into the pan.

refrigerate for 3 hours or until firm.

top with fresh strawberries and any leftover whipped cream & enjoy!

 

100% grass-fed dairy products have higher naturally occurring levels of beta
carotene, omega 3s and CLAs.

 

 

hope you enjoyed this simple no-bake recipe!

 

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BAY AREA EATS, FOOD + BEVERAGE, PRODUCTS, REVIEWS, SERVICES, SF EATS, SUBSCRIPTIONS, TRAVEL, VISIT SF

SF | Dinerlist app launch

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Compensation for this post was provided by Dinerlist. Opinions expressed here are my own.

dinerlist has just launched in the san francisco bay area. to celebrate, at the bottom of this post, there will be a link for a chance to win an iphone x!

it is an app that helps people find new restaurants, bars, and cafes in their immediate area without having to look through millions of photos and reviews; it also shows any deals/promos that the establishment might be having.

dinerlist might entice you to try that one restaurant you always pass by but never thought to go into. or  it may even get you to try a new menu item at a place you’ve already been to, which was the case for me.

i was looking through dinerlist and came across mr. t cafe. i go there occasionally to get their twister potato fries or egg puffs. i saw on dinerlist that they had a 10% off drinks promotion so i decided to go and try their drinks this time.

 

i thought, why not try their drinks at 10% off?

 

i got two drinks [instead of one] because one was 10% off. here shown are the milk tea with seas salt & strawberry milk tea.

download the app & try it for yourself and see what items you would try through their promotions.

itunes
google play

** when you download the app + link to facebook account, you will be entered to win an iphone x! **

a Rafflecopter giveaway

winner will be announced 1/15!

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SERVICES, SF EATS, SHOP, TRAVEL, VISIT SF

SF | museum of ice cream – san francisco edition

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this very instagrammable museum of ice cream is sold out.

 

it used to be a bank before it was converted into a very pink & colorful museum dedicated to all things ice cream. this door does not open.

 

during the month of October, salt & straw featured their sea salt caramel flavor with a magic coffee shell. i like their salted caramel flavor and the coffee shell added a little extra something to their regular flavor.

ice cream, DUH! here you will be able to sample a scoop of ice cream, mochi ice cream, cotton candy, unicorn milk soft serve & pop rocks.

i didn’t ride the unicorn like most people. but i did try unicorn milk!

it was quite creamy and not too sweet. it was the perfect bite. the pink is a white chocolate shell.

they have the famous sprinkle pool here but i only went in mid-calf deep with socks on. i just couldn’t get myself to dive in. but if you do, they have a station where you can “dry off” with an air dryer.

 

the swings are the last exhibit. there are three of them but i think i liked the whipped cream “exhibit” the best.

 

the museum of ice cream is a place where adults can be kids again!

***

museum of ice cream

1 Grant Ave

San Francisco, CA 94108

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BAY AREA EATS, RESTAURANTS, SF EATS, VISIT SF

Bay Area | McDonald’s Gilroy Garlic Fries Are Back!

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Yes, McDonald’s Gilroy Garlic Fries are back!

Disclosure: This is a sponsored post for McDonald’s. Although I have been compensated, all opinions remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company.

I LOVE  LOVE LOVE McDonald’s fries, so when they added garlic, olive oil, parmesan, and parsley to a classic, I was definitely lovin’ it!

I had tried these fries last year and am glad that they are back. But sadly, they are available for a limited time, only through summer.
Sorry SoCal readers, these are only available in the Bay Area! You must come visit a Bay Area McDonald’s to get a taste of these deliciously cheesy garlic fries.

These fries are made-to-order and they use Christopher Ranch garlic from Gilroy, CA, which everyone knows is the garlic capital of California!

how does it taste?
The garlic taste is not too strong but very apparent, perfect for garlic-lovers such as myself. I must say I am hooked! I hope that they can make this a regular addition to the McDonald’s menu in the future.

***

 

McDonald’s

441 Sutter St

San Francisco, CA 94108

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LA EATS, RESTAURANTS, TRAVEL, VISIT LA

LA | april mini travel diary

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creme

new[ish] soft serve similar to the one in Japan.

ritter’s steam kettle cooking

look for the renovated mcD’s. the chef of palace station’s oyster bar started his own restaurant.

there are multiple locations & i got a chance to preview the one in alhambra. i really enjoyed the chowder fries.

tea master la

went back to my favorite matcha soft serve place in little tokyo

somi somi

they have new flavors: ube & black sesame! sadly, they got rid of the banana & chocolate for now.

***

creme

3726 w 6th st
los angeles, ca 90020

 

ritter’s steam kettle cooking

1800 w valley blvd.

alhambra, ca 91803

tea master matcha cafe and green tea shop

450 e 2nd st.

los angeles, ca 90012

somi somi

620 s. manhattan pl. #208-A

los angeles, ca 90005

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HOTELS, RESTAURANTS, TRAVEL, VISIT NYC

NY | March Photo Diary

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went to NYC last weekend.

it was such a short trip but better than nothing i say!

we stayed @ the W in Midtown. booked it through booking.com

i found a great last minute deal [under $200/night].

 the decor is somewhat dated. and i could not find a usb plug anywhere. it can be quite noisy; you can hear the cars honking and new yorkers love to honk their horn all day!  but i think the noise in unavoidable in this busy city.

the staff is nice & accommodating.  for the price, i thought it was worth it. if you don’t mind a little noise then i think this is a good place to stay. the hotel is located close to the subway, so it is not hard to get around.

inside the lounge area of the w.

waiting for the metro

grand central terminal

fearless girl in front of the charging bull #wallstreet. i heard this installation is on display until april 2, but they are trying to make it a permanent statue.

photo diary isn’t complete without food photos, right?

here are a few highlights:

had sushi zo in NY.

it’s my favorite place in LA & so we had to try their NY location. overall it was a great meal but i was sad that they did not have the uni-ika spaghetti nor abalone. they now have an location in Bangkok as well. what about the bay area?!?!

black on black on black [black sesame on black chocolate cone + @oreo] #nyceats #softswerve #icecream #newyork #hjtravelgram

A post shared by Hee Jin L. [SF Bay • LA] (@hungryhungryheejin) on

it was too short of a trip. i must go back soon!

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BAY AREA EATS, RESTAURANTS, SF EATS, SHOP, VISIT SF

SF | China Live in Chinatown

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China Live is a new addition to Chinatown, where you can shop, eat, drink and explore Chinese culture & cuisine.

this is above the entrance that leads to the marketplace.

i got to attend the market restaurant media preview for China Live in Chinatown.

[thanks to tablehopper ‘s Marcia Gagliardi x @kavalanUSA x @anchorspirits x @chinaliveSF]

there are communal benches as well as tables. bar seating is also available. the tables and chairs were crafted in China from reclaimed Chinese Elm.

the ceiling has Chinese characters that represent the flavors of China.

these were some of the seasonal menu items that i had the pleasure of tasting.

shen jian bao, chrysanthemum ten ingredient salad, pressed five-spiced bean curd, winter turnip. the bean curd was probably my favorite from this group. the dish was well-seasoned and the green peppercorn flavor really came through.

the crust of the roast pork char siu baked bun added a nice sweet crunch to the soft baked bun.

one of my favorite dishes was the peking duck with kumquat glaze, in traditional sesame pockets. who doesn’t love the crispy, oily skin of a peking duck wrapped in a crispy sesame pocket? the sweetness from the kumquat glaze complemented the saltiness of the skin. the cucumber & green onions brought freshness to each bite.

we also had cocktails made with Kavalan, a Taiwanese Whisky brand.

this was the ‘laughing gas’: Viognier, fresh lime, pineapple, smoked honey & bitters.

and lastly, the dessert was mango shaved ice, similar to the Taiwanese shaved snow but with an added twist of sesame soft serve underneath the fluffy snow with yogurt-flavored popping boba.

currently, the market restaurant opens @ 5pm

***

China Live

644 Broadway

San Francisco, CA 94133

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