 Ava with her casserole Mmm Mmm Good! This is a dish that was originated from my cousin's girlfriend. She'd make her version at our family get-togethers and, once I tried it, it was hard to put my fork down! I tweaked it just a little to make it my own and it's just as good! For example, she uses Cream of Chicken while I use Cream of Mushroom. I also add macaroni for depth. If you're interested in making this for your friends or family, then read on! Prep Time: approximately 30-45 mins. |
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*I had to use the Macaroni in the KRAFT box because we didn't have any more.
PREP/COOK TIME
Macaroni
Add a couple pinches of salt to a pot of 6 cups of water. Bring water to a boil and cook macaroni 7-8 mins on medium-high heat, stirring periodically. When finished, pour macaroni into a strainer.
Add 4 tbs (half a stick of butter) to the macaroni and mix until fully melted. Make sure to place the strainer full of macaroni on top of a plate to catch any drippings. Transfer the macaroni mixture into a 13 x 9 baking pan. Rinse out the strainer (to later use for the broccoli).
Add 4 tbs (half a stick of butter) to the macaroni and mix until fully melted. Make sure to place the strainer full of macaroni on top of a plate to catch any drippings. Transfer the macaroni mixture into a 13 x 9 baking pan. Rinse out the strainer (to later use for the broccoli).
Chicken
While the macaroni is cooking, grab another pot and add a couple pinches of salt and 1.5 tbs olive oil to a pot of water - not too much but enough to cover the chicken (4 cups, maybe?). Unfortunately, I don't always measure my cooking as I mostly "eyeball" it.
Cook chicken in the salt water for about 10-15 mins or until done. DO NOT dump the water! Shred chicken into a separate bowl. As seen in my photo I have gloves on. Gloves are optional - I use them to prevent any food getting stuck under my nails. :-)
Cook chicken in the salt water for about 10-15 mins or until done. DO NOT dump the water! Shred chicken into a separate bowl. As seen in my photo I have gloves on. Gloves are optional - I use them to prevent any food getting stuck under my nails. :-)
Broccoli
Cut broccoli to desired size - both heads and stalks included. For the stalks, cut off the ends and slice off any bumps. Remove excess leaves from the stalks.
To cook the broccoli, use the same water used to cook chicken breasts. Cook on med-high heat for about 12-15 minutes. Pour the water and broccoli into the strainer used to hold the macaroni previously.
To cook the broccoli, use the same water used to cook chicken breasts. Cook on med-high heat for about 12-15 minutes. Pour the water and broccoli into the strainer used to hold the macaroni previously.
Preheat oven to 350 degrees
In the meantime, cut a lemon in half and squeeze on top of shredded chicken. Add 1 cup mayo then salt and pepper to taste. MIX.
Chicken mixture
Add the chicken mixture and broccoli into the baking pan full of the macaroni, then stir together.
Then pour cream of mushroom to cover. Add more salt and pepper, if preferred.
Then pour cream of mushroom to cover. Add more salt and pepper, if preferred.
Add a good layer of shredded cheese then sprinkle panko bread crumbs on top. I use panko crumbs because they offer a crispy texture. Regular bread crumbs are too soft.
Pop the baking pan into the oven for about 15 mins or until cheese is melted. The panko bread crumbs won't really turn color but will look crispier.
Take out of the oven, let cool for 5 mins, serve, and ENJOY!
Take out of the oven, let cool for 5 mins, serve, and ENJOY!
Broccoli-chicken casserole in its FINAL form!
FINAL VERDICT...
I placed about a cup's-worth of the casserole on a plate with a side of jasmine rice (rice, optional) and placed it in front of my toughest critic...
 Hoping it tastes good... |  She loves it! |
AAANNNND - it’s AVA-APPROVED!!!
Try out this recipe and let me know how you like it. Your kids, spouse, guests - whoever you're serving it to - will have a tasty dinner and the kids, especially, will get their veggies in. I promise your kids will love broccoli after tasting this delectable, easy dish that YOU prepared!
~ XOXO, Mari
Try out this recipe and let me know how you like it. Your kids, spouse, guests - whoever you're serving it to - will have a tasty dinner and the kids, especially, will get their veggies in. I promise your kids will love broccoli after tasting this delectable, easy dish that YOU prepared!
~ XOXO, Mari
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If you read about my trip to Las Vegas (las-vegas-january-2018.html), you read a bit about our experience at the Beatles' LOVE show. The show ended sometime around 9 p.m. and, naturally, we were hungry. We didn’t want to walk too far so we decided to find something within the casino (this show is located inside the MIRAGE). It was late and, again, it looked as though places were starting to close.
Then we stumbled upon Otoro. Honestly, it was the ceiling that was calling out to us. Plus, I had been craving sushi earlier in the day so this was perfect. My husband, Vuong, was down and he'll pretty much eat anything when he's hungry.
Then we stumbled upon Otoro. Honestly, it was the ceiling that was calling out to us. Plus, I had been craving sushi earlier in the day so this was perfect. My husband, Vuong, was down and he'll pretty much eat anything when he's hungry.
Entrance to Otoro, located inside MIRAGE Casino in Las Vegas
Appetizers
Mushroom Meatballs As we were perusing the appetizer section of the menu, I felt like getting some type of vegetable and we went ahead and ordered the mushroom meatballs.
I was expecting ground mushrooms balled up to simulate actual meatballs but once we took a bite, it definitely had meat in it (duh, I must've been too tired because I missed the "meat" part or meatballs). Anyway, it was really good and tasted like a lighter meatball, if that makes sense. Even though it was covered in sauce, it didn't have that heavily drenched taste you sometimes get. The dish came with vegetable tempura as well.
I'd say this was a light appetizer and enough to sustain you until the main course.
I was expecting ground mushrooms balled up to simulate actual meatballs but once we took a bite, it definitely had meat in it (duh, I must've been too tired because I missed the "meat" part or meatballs). Anyway, it was really good and tasted like a lighter meatball, if that makes sense. Even though it was covered in sauce, it didn't have that heavily drenched taste you sometimes get. The dish came with vegetable tempura as well.
I'd say this was a light appetizer and enough to sustain you until the main course.
Main
Saba Nigiri Anytime we eat at Japanese restaurants, we try to get out of our comfort zone and order something that we haven't tried before. If you've followed me or know me personally, you'd know by now I'm always down to try new food. Vuong, on the other hand, can be a bit cautious. I mean he started out with a very "vanilla" palate in the beginning of our relationship!
We ordered 2 pieces of the mackeral or saba nigiri (note: nigiri is with the rice pad underneath the raw fish, sashimi is the raw fish itself so make sure you know the difference when you order).
This particular fish has a very sea-like, fishy taste and did not win over Vuong at all. First thing he said after popping the whole thing in his mouth, "OH MAN!! That is different." And, yet, he swallowed (which, I'm a bit surprised by because he looked like he was going to choke). However, I like it because it reminds me of some of the fish I used to eat when I was a child. So, it almost tasted like home (as in when I'd visit the Philippines). LOL - not really a good description of my childhood but that's as close as I can get to describing what it tastes like for me. This fish will either be a hit or miss with people. Needless to say this was a miss for Vuong but I'm so happy he braved it. Must be true love. J/K ;P
We ordered 2 pieces of the mackeral or saba nigiri (note: nigiri is with the rice pad underneath the raw fish, sashimi is the raw fish itself so make sure you know the difference when you order).
This particular fish has a very sea-like, fishy taste and did not win over Vuong at all. First thing he said after popping the whole thing in his mouth, "OH MAN!! That is different." And, yet, he swallowed (which, I'm a bit surprised by because he looked like he was going to choke). However, I like it because it reminds me of some of the fish I used to eat when I was a child. So, it almost tasted like home (as in when I'd visit the Philippines). LOL - not really a good description of my childhood but that's as close as I can get to describing what it tastes like for me. This fish will either be a hit or miss with people. Needless to say this was a miss for Vuong but I'm so happy he braved it. Must be true love. J/K ;P
Purple Rain For these next two dishes, we ended up sharing. After Vuong's experience with the mackeral, he went back to ordering something he was familiar with...basically anything with tempura shrimp - definitely a safe option. So he ordered the Purple Rain, located in their Specialty Roll section. This is ones of their hand rolls consisting of shrimp tempura wrapped in rice and topped with spicy tuna (raw) and orange tobiko (fish eggs or flying fish roe, to be precise).
This comes with 8 rolls and is a bit on the filling side. You can find a version of this at any sushi restaurant and 8 rolls are typical.
We also ordered smaller hand rolls - the Philadelphia Roll (contains cream cheese, avocado, and raw Scottish salmon) and the Spicy Tuna Roll (contains cucumber and, well, raw tuna). When I mention "smaller," there are 6 rolls instead of 8 and they're generally smaller in size. These didn't taste too different from similar rolls we'd order at other restaurants but the fish seemed fresher.
Left: Spicy Tuna Roll; Right: Philadelphia Roll
Dessert
MOCHI in 3 assorted flavors Vuong's fave part of our evening - the dessert! For those of us that know him personally, we know all about his deep connection with anything sugary and sweet. Even I'd be jealous (or maybe threatened) if sugar was a person.
When looking at the dessert menu, we wanted something that we hadn't eaten in a while and that was MOCHI. It came with 3 assorted flavors: lychee, green tea, and raspberry. If you haven't had mochi, it's basically flat balls of ice cream inside a doughy sweet rice covering and dusted with a bit of powdered sugar. You can never go wrong with the mild taste of green tea. The other two were lightly sweet and very flavorful.
A definite win for the both of us!
When looking at the dessert menu, we wanted something that we hadn't eaten in a while and that was MOCHI. It came with 3 assorted flavors: lychee, green tea, and raspberry. If you haven't had mochi, it's basically flat balls of ice cream inside a doughy sweet rice covering and dusted with a bit of powdered sugar. You can never go wrong with the mild taste of green tea. The other two were lightly sweet and very flavorful.
A definite win for the both of us!
Interior
When I mentioned that the ceilings called out to us, just check out the photos I took of the interior below. The images depict exactly what I mean. Many times, ceilings are neglected in a design but there was no shortage of detail here! I loved how organic everything seemed...the flowing ceilings, the indoor tree, the natural stone look of the lights...it almost felt "cave-like."
BONUS
A photographer from Cashman Photography was going around the restaurant picking out people that might be interested in a photo op. We were one of the first couples she approached. Being in the middle of the restaurant, I had second thoughts. Surprisingly, Vuong said "OK." He is NEVER one to attract attention.
She was then telling us how to pose - some had my hand on his arm or he had his arm around me. The last photo, she had him give me a kiss on the cheek while I look at the camera. That one actually turned out to be his favorite.
Sure, people were looking at us but it was all positive vibes. No weird or rude looks coming our way (but, really, if you think about it, who really cares because we won't be seeing them again anyway). It was a fun night out - great show, feeling satiated (but tired) and we were ready to walk back to our suite!
She was then telling us how to pose - some had my hand on his arm or he had his arm around me. The last photo, she had him give me a kiss on the cheek while I look at the camera. That one actually turned out to be his favorite.
Sure, people were looking at us but it was all positive vibes. No weird or rude looks coming our way (but, really, if you think about it, who really cares because we won't be seeing them again anyway). It was a fun night out - great show, feeling satiated (but tired) and we were ready to walk back to our suite!
To check this place out, visit www.mirage.com/en/restaurants/otoro.html?icid=GMB_Restaurants_Otoro
~ XOXO, Mari
~ XOXO, Mari
After experiencing major turbulence on our flight from Seattle and about a half hour walking different towers and hallways trying to find our room, we were famished.
We wanted to eat somewhere close so we went downstairs to the casino area in search of a restaurant...any restaurant. After passing a few places that looked as though they were either closed (or on the verge of closing), we came across this cool little place called Sugarcane. This restaurant is located in the Venetian (as it transitions from Palazzo) in the Grand Canal shopping area.
We quickly checked the menu and came to find what looked like island-inspired or global fare. So, in we went and the hostess was able to seat us rather quickly.
We wanted to eat somewhere close so we went downstairs to the casino area in search of a restaurant...any restaurant. After passing a few places that looked as though they were either closed (or on the verge of closing), we came across this cool little place called Sugarcane. This restaurant is located in the Venetian (as it transitions from Palazzo) in the Grand Canal shopping area.
We quickly checked the menu and came to find what looked like island-inspired or global fare. So, in we went and the hostess was able to seat us rather quickly.
Cocktails
| While Vuong went safe and ordered a Stella, I decided to go for one of their signature drinks - the "Spice of Love." This consists of Grey Goose vodka, passion fruit puree, mango puree, and fresh jalapeno. A bit sweet and tart but with a little kick. It wasn't spicy in a bad way but I could definitely taste the jalapeno. The texture is a bit on the thicker side (hence the puree reference) so it made it all the more interesting. An unusual concoction, it certainly touched on several of my taste buds. But by all means, this wasn't horrible at all. This drink is best for those seeking unusual and contrasting flavors. This definitely is not my usual cocktail of choice but I'm glad I was able to give it a try. I'd order this again. |  Spice of Love |
From the Hot Kitchen and Open Fire Grill
Because it was so late (almost midnight and they close at 1 a.m.), we didn't want to order a lot of food. So we ordered shareable plates. Portions were small but decent and they were presented artfully on simple dishware.
 Beef Short Ribs, Korean-style | Dish #1: The Korean-style Beef Short Ribs Individual ribs were strategically stacked on top of one another. Sprinkled over them was a handful of sprouts and sliced red peppers. We don't have much Korean food so not really sure what made it "Korean." Although, any Korean dish we ate in the past had some type of spice to it so that could be why it's deemed "Korean-style." The ribs had a bit of a slightly spicy yet sweet glaze on them and the meat was tender enough that you didn't have to struggle getting it off the bone. The thing we appreciated about this dish is that, although these were ribs, they weren't messy to eat at all. |
| Dish #2: Crispy Smashed Potatoes Vuong and I can agree that the reference "crispy" is a little bit of an exaggeration. The potatoes aren't truly crispy but they did have a nice bit of crusting around the edges. These were seasoned nicely and sprinkled with what looked like fresh, parmesan cheese, and placed on top of salsa verde and romesco sauce. If you don't know what romesco is, it's a red bell pepper-based sauce. I had to look that up because I thought it was some type of tomato puree. This was probably Vuong's favorite dish out of the 3 we ordered. The seasoning and sauce is what made this dish, in my opinion. |  Crispy Smashed Potatoes |
 Pig Ear Phad Thai | Dish #3: Pig Ear Phad Thai I'm almost sure that some of you shunned away from the words "Pig Ear". This was my favorite dish of the 3. Vuong liked it as well and thought it wasn't bad. He ate quite a bit of it, actually! If you're feeling adventurous, definitely give this dish a shot. I didn't see much papaya as it was on the very bottom. Most of it was made up of the slightly crispy and sweet, sliced pig ears. Sprouts and carrots were sprinkled on top and helped to balance out its sweet flavor. This was an easy dish to eat and is definitely one to re-order when we're back in town! |
I didn't take many shots of the interior because, unfortunately, I was tired and hungry and really just wanted to eat. LOL! I can tell you that this restaurant is nicely decorated. The interior kind of reminds me of a Southern plantation with a tropical vibe. Dark beams, checkered flooring, and tropical ceiling fans dressed the space.
Overall, another great experience and this place is perfect for someone to dine solo even! The portions aren't huge (as most dishes we've found, so far, in Vegas restaurants) so one can easily drop in for a quick bite.
For more information on this place, visit sugarcanerawbargrill.com/lasvegas/
~ XOXO, Mari
Overall, another great experience and this place is perfect for someone to dine solo even! The portions aren't huge (as most dishes we've found, so far, in Vegas restaurants) so one can easily drop in for a quick bite.
For more information on this place, visit sugarcanerawbargrill.com/lasvegas/
~ XOXO, Mari
If you've read my entry on our trip to Vegas in the travel section of my blog (las-vegas-january-2018.html), our plan to eat brunch at the once famed breakfast spot, Serendipity, was a fail as they've been closed down for a while now. In its place is Gordon Ramsay's Hell's Kitchen but that wasn't going to do as it was a 2-hour wait. So, what to do?
We ended up busting out our phones to search for nearby places to eat Just across the way from Hell's Kitchen is Caesar's Palace Casino. My husband, Vuong, found Ramsay's Pub & Grill just inside and, to our luck, there was an available reservation on the Open Table app in 15 minutes!! SCORE. So, we walked to our destination as quickly as we could as we were getting hangrier by the second.
We ended up busting out our phones to search for nearby places to eat Just across the way from Hell's Kitchen is Caesar's Palace Casino. My husband, Vuong, found Ramsay's Pub & Grill just inside and, to our luck, there was an available reservation on the Open Table app in 15 minutes!! SCORE. So, we walked to our destination as quickly as we could as we were getting hangrier by the second.
Cocktails
 Hers: Goodbye Blue Sky | His: Danny Boy |  Blackberries on a stick |
Arriving on the dot, the hostess sat us at a small table against a dark wall. However, our waitress, Sara, must've noticed the look on Vuong's face so she told us she'd get us better seats and then sat us in a comfortable booth across the way.
Sara was awesome! Her outgoing demeanor immediately put us at ease and her recommendations on drinks and dishes throughout our meal was on point!
For drinks, Vuong wanted something on the stronger side and I wanted something refreshing with a hint of sweetness so she suggested the following:
Sara was awesome! Her outgoing demeanor immediately put us at ease and her recommendations on drinks and dishes throughout our meal was on point!
For drinks, Vuong wanted something on the stronger side and I wanted something refreshing with a hint of sweetness so she suggested the following:
- HIS: "Danny Boy" - Jameson Irish Whiskey, Orange & Lemon Zest, Simple Syrup, & Aromatic Bitters.
- HERS: "Goodbye Blue Sky" - Stoli Blueberi Vodka, Chambord Black Raspberry Liqueur, Fresh Lemon and Blackberries w/ sparkling wine
Entrees
Although Sara mentioned that their calamari appetizer was popular, we opted out of ordering appetizers to avoid being too full since we were anticipating huge portions.
Once our dishes made their way out to us, the portions weren't too bad at all. They weren't obnoxiously large and, again, just the right amount.
Once our dishes made their way out to us, the portions weren't too bad at all. They weren't obnoxiously large and, again, just the right amount.
HIS: Grilled Beef Burger
Sara recommended one of the signature burgers but Vuong wanted something classic - so he ordered a cheeseburger (sharp cheddar cheese) with everything on it and a side of fries. As soon as he took his first bite, he said he could taste the quality of every single ingredient in it. Unfortunately, I wasn't able to sample a taste but I could tell by the way he was eating that he was savoring every bite.
A downside is that he was a bit disappointed that the burger wasn't bigger but only because it was THAT GOOD.
A downside is that he was a bit disappointed that the burger wasn't bigger but only because it was THAT GOOD.
HERS: Beer Braised Short Rib
Looking through the menu, I saw the words "short rib" and had a sudden craving. This is a dish I normally wouldn't order but, again, I was in the mood to try something new. This dish included aged potato puree, shallots (?), small carrots, and short rib jus.
This dish was so good (Sara knew I'd love it) - I cleaned up my plate! It was salted to perfection and the meat was so tender that I didn't really need to use my knife. The shallots (or what it appeared to be) didn't have that sharp onion taste at all...I was even able to eat them whole. This dish was so palatable, I can still remember how it tastes.
This dish was so good (Sara knew I'd love it) - I cleaned up my plate! It was salted to perfection and the meat was so tender that I didn't really need to use my knife. The shallots (or what it appeared to be) didn't have that sharp onion taste at all...I was even able to eat them whole. This dish was so palatable, I can still remember how it tastes.
Dessert
Come dessert time, Vuong and I shared because we wanted to be as good as we could be (HA HA) - we first ordered the Potted Chocolate Trifle (a concoction of milk & dark chocolate pudding, almond crumble, chocolate cake & chantilly) but Sara said it was taking too long. Not sure what that meant but she suggested the Sticky Toffee Pudding. All her other suggestions were a hit so we said "Why not?!"
Out came the other dessert - a sweet cream ice cream & almond brittle sauce atop a mini chocolate cake. Needless to say, we gobbled this right up. It wasn't too sweet and the cake was solid yet moist. YUM. Such a great way to end our meal!
Out came the other dessert - a sweet cream ice cream & almond brittle sauce atop a mini chocolate cake. Needless to say, we gobbled this right up. It wasn't too sweet and the cake was solid yet moist. YUM. Such a great way to end our meal!
Sticky Toffee Pudding
Interior
OH. MY. GOSH. Now, I'm not always into REALLY manly interiors but this WORKS. The British-inspired decor paid homage to (I'm guessing) Mr. Ramsay's hometown. Beams, beer kegs, stylish wallpaper, industrial chandeliers were seen everywhere. Shades of terracotta, smokey grays, and neutral greens made for a great color combo. The masculinity and sex appeal it exuded was apparent in every corner of the restaurant. I could totally see this style in a well-designed man cave somewhere (feeling any home reno inspiration yet?)!
Gordon Ramsay - as ill-tempered as he is on TV - KNOWS what he's talking about when it comes to his culinary standards. His passion comes through the dishes as far as quality, taste, and presentation. So glad we got to visit and try this.
I'm sure we'll be back and we truly hope Sara - if she'll still be there - is our waitress again!
To check out Mr. Ramsay's Pub & Grill restaurant, click here: www.caesars.com/caesars-palace/restaurants/gordon-ramsay-pub-and-grill#.Wna9e6inE2w
~ XOXO, Mari
I'm sure we'll be back and we truly hope Sara - if she'll still be there - is our waitress again!
To check out Mr. Ramsay's Pub & Grill restaurant, click here: www.caesars.com/caesars-palace/restaurants/gordon-ramsay-pub-and-grill#.Wna9e6inE2w
~ XOXO, Mari
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