Five Things
Today is day 42 of quarantine for me and the end of week six. The governor of Michigan is expected to extend the stay-at-home order until mid-May, but some stuff may open up May 1st. This week has been an absolute roller coaster for me. On Wednesday I lost my job and had to file for unemployment yesterday. This is the first time in my life that I have had to do that as well as the first time I have been released from a position. It\’s a hard time, but I am going forward with a positive attitude because I know I have skills and will get something when the time is right. Aside from the loss of my job, Jack and I have been getting out to do a little adventuring early in the morning before people are out, I made the DoubleTree Signature Cookies (they\’re amazing), finally made the no-knead bread that everyone else has been making and celebrated taco Tuesday with homemade fish tacos – that\’s right I actually cooked fish. If you\’re in need of a mask, and like me want something cute I highly recommend Zaley Designs. She also makes super cute dog collars and leashes! The masks are absolutely amazing, I could NOT blow out a candle while wearing it and wore it grocery shopping on Monday. I hope you\’re having an amazing week and enjoy your weekend! Follow along on Instagram to see what I am up to all weekend long.
DoubleTree Signature Cookies
You can freeze the unbaked cookies, and there’s no need to thaw. Preheat oven to 300°F and place frozen cookies on parchment paper-lined baking sheet about 2 inches apart. Bake until edges are golden brown and center is still soft.
These cookies are ONLY soft when they are warm. I have a friend who worked at The DoubleTree and she confirmed that the cookies are kept warm, and as soon as they are not warm they become hockey pucks. You can put a cookie in the microwave for 15 seconds to warm it up and make it soft again. I personally recommend freezing the dough into individual servings and cooking them as needed. Plus who wouldn’t want hot chocolate chip cookies each night?
Restaurant Review: Green Lantern Pizza
If you don’t already support local businesses there is no better time than now to do so. With dining in being out of the question right now, many places are offering carryout or curbside only, while some have had to close for the time being to save money. My aunt was recently talking about pizza, and I said “oh my gosh, that sounds so good right now,” and she ended up surprising me with her local favorite Green Lantern Pizza.
Green Lantern Pizza has been slinging delicious pies leaving their footprint on Michigan since 1955. Green Lantern Pizza was founded when Thomas and Irene Vettranio bought an old farmhouse with its green lantern. The green lantern was a holdover from a dark time – the Prohibition era. Legend says that a green lantern in front of an establishment meant that you were able to purchase alcohol there. Today, Green Lantern Pizza offers a casual and fun atmosphere, with its original restaurant being located in Madison Heights, Michigan.
Green Lantern Pizza offers a variety of specialty pizzas or you can build your own. You will also find sandwiches, submarines, salads and sides on the menu. My aunt ordered herself the Tommy’s Super Special which comes with cheese, pepperoni, ham, mushroom and green pepper on it. She got me a build your own with cheese, green pepper, mushroom and onions on it. This was my first Green Lantern Pizza experience and let me tell you, it was absolutely delicious. Green Lantern Pizza has quickly become a new favorite for me and I cannot wait to continue to support them. Next time I want to try the BLT Pizza which comes with cheese, bacon, crisp lettuce, fresh tomato, and mayonnaise on it.
What is your favorite local pizza joint?
Five Things
Yay for surviving week 5 in quarantine. Last week proved to be really hard for me, I even did online shopping for the first time – however, essentials were few and far in between. I ran out of toilet paper (worst nightmare ever) and had to ask my parents for a roll while I searched high and low for some. It seems as though everyone is still hoarding toilet paper and those of us who need it cannot actually get any.
Hawaiian Fried Rice
Confession, I have a serious thing for fried rice. Whenever I go to a Thai restaurant I order pineapple fried rice, at a hibachi restaurant I always ask for extra fried rice. I absolutely love the flavors. Currently, I am really missing pineapple fried rice and Hawaiian pizza. Since I had leftover Dearborn’s Famous Glazed Spiral Sliced Ham, from Easter I thought I would do a little experimenting in the kitchen, and that is how Hawaiian fried rice was born.
This Hawaiian fried rice recipe that I am sharing today has quickly become my new favorite. It features elements of traditional friend rice, but with a lot more flavor. This Hawaiian fried rice is filled with diced Dearborn Brand Dearborn\’s Famous Glazed Spiral Sliced Ham, green peppers, chive and of course pineapple. If I can give you one tip when it comes to making fried rice it is to make sure that the rice is cold, freshly cooked rice will just make this dish a complete mushy mess.
Hawaiian Fried Rice
Ingredients
1 boil-in-bag rice (I used brown rice), cooked and chilled
1/2 cup (or more) diced ham
1 teaspoon minced garlic
1 green onions or multiple pieces of chive
1/2 green pepper (or more) seeded and diced
1 large egg
1/4 cup pineapple tidbits
1 tablespoon vegetable oil
1 tablespoon soy sauce (or more depending on your likeness)
Directions
1. Heat half the vegetable oil over medium-high heat in a non-stick skillet.
2. Add the diced ham, green pepper and green onion (reserve some green onion for garnish).
3. Cook and stir for 6 minutes, or until ham is browned and the bell pepper is crisp-tender.
4. Stir in the garlic and cook another minute.
5. Pour the mixture into a bowl and set aside.
6. Heat the remaining vegetable oil in the same skillet until hot.
7. Add the cold rice.
8. Cook and stir the rice until it is thoroughly heated about 7 minutes. Be sure to break up the clumps.
9. Push the rice to one side of the skillet.
10. Crack the egg on the other side of the skillet.
11. Stir the egg until it becomes lightly scrambled.
12. Stir the egg mixture into the rice.
13. Add the ham mixture to the rice.
14. Add the pineapple.
15. Pour the soy sauce mixture into the rice and stir until combined and hot.
16. Serve and top with green onion.
Fashion meets Food 