T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – What A View!

There are so many amazing things about Walt Disney World – The Parks The Rides, The Food…..etc…that it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the experience of it all!

Sometimes it’s worthwhile just to step back and take a look at your surroundings – you’ll find there’s really a LOT to see:

 

If you choose to stay at WDW’s Animal Kingdom Lodge -this could be the view off your balcony of the savannah, where you can watch the animal roam about (yep, those are giraffes out there!)

The Tree Of Life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom is really something – its amazing to gaze at, but I also suggest that you get up close and personal with it and check out all the amazing animal engravings and designs – it’s a real work of art

The view from the balcony at California Grill at the top of the Contemporary Resort – you can really see it all, and it’s quite the spot for firework viewing too!

And my all time personal favorite view – standing at the base of Main Street, where you can get a great view of Cinderella’s Castle. Standing here makes me feel like I have come home

Talk about some great views!

TGIF!

In The Kitchen – Recreating The Butterfinger Cupcake

I am a HUGE baking fan – I love it so much that I even have a blog dedicated to my baking adventures. I am also a huge fan of Food Network, Top Chef, and basically anything food related – and I know there are a lot of foodies out there like me who love recreating dishes from their favorite resturants at home.

And since Disney has some of the best food in the world, it’s only natural that there are people out there trying to recreate those amazing tastes at home!

One of my personal faves? The Butterfinger Cupcake at Starring Roles Cafe in Disney’s Hollywood Studios – this thing is EPIC – a moist chocolate cake with a gooey fudge center, vanilla frosting, a chocolate shell, and butterfinger pieces – who wouldn’t to make these at home?

You want some of that goodness? Here’s the recipe, give it a try!

 

Starring Rolls Butterfinger Cupcakes
(Recipe courtesy of Plain Chicken)

Ingredients

1 box Devil’s Food Cake mix, plus ingredients to make cake
1 can fudge frosting

4 cups chocolate chips
6 Tbsp canola oil

3 (3.7 oz) King Size Butterfingers

Quick Buttercream Frosting
18 Tbsp butter, softened
6 Tbsp milk
1 Tbsp vanilla
6 3/4 cups powdered sugar

Directions

Prepare cupcakes according to directions on cake mix package. Let cupcakes cool completely.

Using a sharp knife, cut a circle out on top of the cupcake. Make your cut go about halfway into the cupcake. Remove the cake chunk and fill the hole will fudge frosting (I used two spoons to scoop the frosting into the hole). Invert the cupcake chunk on top of the fudge frosting – you want the extra cake to be sticking up.

Prepare the buttercream frosting. Mix together all the ingredients and beat on medium for 3 minutes, until fluffy. Transfer frosting into a piping bag and pipe frosting on top of the cupcakes, covering the cake chunk. Let the frosting set up for 30 minutes.

While the frosting is setting up, crush the Butterfingers in the food processor until completely pulverized. **I froze the Butterfingers and crushed them frozen.**

Combine chocolate chips and oil in a medium microwave-safe bowl. Heat on HIGH for 1 minute. Stir and continue to heat at 30 second intervals until completely melted. Allow to cool for 5-10 minutes before using. (You might want to do this in two batches so the chocolate doesn’t harden while you dip the cupcakes) Dip the frosted cupcakes into the chocolate – I used a spoon to hold the frosting into place to make sure it didn’t fall off the cupcake. Immediately coat the cupcake with the pulverized Butterfingers – just smash it all over the chocolate. Repeat until all cupcakes are dipped and covered. Refrigerate approximately 1 hour to allow the chocolate to set up.

 

There are plenty of Disney recipes out there, available online or in Disney cookbooks, so check some out and recreate that “Disney Magic” at your dinner table tonight!

T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – Staying Warm In Style – WDW Style!

You never know quite what to expect when it comes to Florida weather – it could rain, pour, hail, be sunny, hot, cool – it’s ever changing to say the least!

One thing that people usually assume is that it will be warm while they are on vacation at Walt Disney World – which is probably true some of the time, but it tends to get cooler at night, and the mornings can be chilly too. I recommend you bring along a hoodie, but if you forget yours, you can always check out some of these great hoodies available at the Parks:

From a classic logo sweatshirt

To a preppy-cute cardigan

Or this foodie favorite

And my personal fave – this bright retro-inspired style

 

You can shop online for great Disney outerwear too – Check out all the options for women and men

TGIF!

10 Not To Miss Disney Foods

I talk a lot about the food at Walt Disney World, and that’s because there is a LOT to say about it! It’s one of the things I look forward to most about WDW – planning my meals, making my ADR’s, and reading the Disney Food Blog to learn all about the new snacks they will have in store for me when I go!

Everyone has their personal favorite Disney food items, and I have compiled a list of ones that I think everyone should try:

1. Butterfinger Cupcake – Moist chocolate cake with a fudge center, piled high with fluffy vanilla frosting, and a chocolate and butterfinger shell – these things are massive, and delicious too – they are available at Starring Roles Cafe over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios

 2. Prime Rib at Cinderella’s Royal Table – My husband says this is the best prime rib he has ever had – perfectly cooked and seasoned, and not to mention huge! I will take his word for it, and I also suggest you check out CRT, located in the Castle at the Magic Kingdom – you get to dine with the Princesses and enjoy some royally amazing food. They serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner, and this place will definitely bring out your inner prince/princess!

3. Chicken Tenders – Ok, I know what you are thinking, really, chicken nuggets on a top 10 list? Well, call me crazy but i just love the nuggets they serve at various counter service locations around WDW – they are always moist on the inside, crispy and hot on the outside, and there is that little spice of black pepper in the breading that gives it just a bit of a kick. Grab some honey mustard and dip away – you won’t regret it, trust me

4. Mickey Ice Cream Bar – It doesn’t get much more classic than this – creamy vanilla ice cream covered in a layer of chocolate, shaped like a famous Mouse? Count me in – but you better be quick about it, or that Florida sun will melt Mickey all over your hand! Not that eating it fast is an issue – it’s so yummy it will disappear before your very eyes!

5. Zebra Domes – A creamy “adults only” dessert that consists of a kahlua mousse with a hint of chocolate…these are so good! They are only available at the Animal Kingdom Lodge, and can be enjoyed at Boma or at AKL’s counter service restaurant, the Mara

6. Bobotie – It’s an authentic African dish made of spiced ground meat, baked with an egg topping. Think quiche, but more savory and flavorful, with hints of exotic spice and an almost cornbread like topping – you can score some of this winner at AKL’s Boma buffet

7. Pooh’s Breakfast Lasagna  – Head over to the Crystal Palace for a delicious buffet breakfast with Pooh and Friends, and sample this amazing concontion, comprised of pound cake, waffles, pancakes, pastry cream, custard, berries, and bananas. It reminds me of a berry bread pudding, and is amazing. If you’re adventurous, you can attempt this at home – personally, I will wait for Pooh to make it for me

8. Mickey Waffles – A staple of any WDW breakfast, these crispy on the outside soft and hot on the inside gems come in small and large sizes, and can be found all around the World. They have the perfect ratio of crunch to soft, and the best thing about them? They are shaped like a smiling Mickey, and are pretty much the cutest things ever. I like to start with the ears, personally

9. Salted Caramels – I am pretty much obsessed with salted caramels, and am happy to see that Disney has a few ways to feed my obsession – one place caramel lovers need to check out is Karamel Kuche over in the Germany area of Epcot’s World Showcase. They specialize in all things gooey and caramel-y, from fresh caramel corn to caramel drizzled cookies – to my beloved salted caramels, covered in either milk or dark chocolate. I also spotted some bagged Goofy’s Candy Company Salted Caramels at many spots around the World, and picked up some of these to enjoy at home – the caramel was nice and soft and a perfect amount of salt was on each one…needless to say, they didn’t make it all the way home

10. Bread and Butter Pudding at Raglan Road – Raglan Road (LINK) is an amazing place to eat (and drink!) in true Irish fashion. Their Bangers and Mash and Fish and Chips are delightful, and if you have any room after dinner, I suggest you try the Bread and Butter pudding – a bread pudding studded with golden raisins and served hot with vanilla and rum sauces on the side – its huge, and tastes like home – comfort food at it’s finest

Insider Tip: If you’re looking to mix it up, I suggest you attempt the 100 Disney Foods To Try Challenge, it is a great way to expand your dining horizons!

Ok, now I am starving…good thing it’s lunch time!

“Cruise” Away To Your Own Private Island With Disney

Two weeks from today, my husband and I head off on a much needed vacation. Where are we headed? The answer may surprise you, because it’s not Disney – we are actually headed on a Royal Caribbean Cruise that will take us to Key West, FL and Cozumel Mexico while we enjoy the sun, tall fruity drinks, snorkeling, delicious cuisine, and much more! We are VERY excited about this trip, and have been looking forward to it for quite some time now!

Cruises are a great way to get away and see some new places and experience new things, and one of the best things about them is that they are usually pretty reasonably priced – so it really makes for a perfect vacation!

Now I know I have mentioned the Disney Cruise Line before, and there are plenty of reasons why you could choose to set sail with Disney, and one of the best ones in my personal opinion is Disney’s Castaway Cay – Disney’s privately owned island getaway in the Bahamas. Guests embarking on Disney’s Bahamas and Caribbean bound cruise ships will get a chance to spend a day here – among the clear water, white sand, and palm trees

 

You can snorkel, swim, sunbathe, enjoy an “adults only” beach, get a massage, shop for souvenirs, and enjoy some delicious BBQ food while spending the day on Castaway Cay

This private island is just one of the perks of taking a cruise with Disney – Click Here to check out the Disney Cruise Line and to see if it’s right for you!

T.G.I.F. Pic Of The Week – Bringing Home The Magic

One of my favorite parts about a Walt Disney World vacation? The SOUVENIRS!!!! There are tons of great ones to pick from at the Parks, and here are some of my personal favorites:

 

Shot Glasses – they have all kinds – I love these adorable Christmas ones!

Playing Cards

These small magnetic picture frames are perfect for your office or the fridge

Disney Pins (Click Here for more info on how to get started with pin trading/collecting)

 

Souvenirs to skip – wine glasses, large stuffed animals, kitchen/bakeware – mostly we try to avoid anything large or breakable as a rule of thumb

Many items can be purchased online if you forget to pick them up while at the Parks

All this stuff is great, but my personal favorite souvenir would have to be the pictures we take while on vacation – they are always fun to look at and make prints of for framing or albums, and its’a great reminder of just how fun Walt Disney World is!

TGIF!