St Augustines

One of my favorite places to go for a nice cold beer is St Augustines on Commerical and Broadway. I love this place because for $7.50 you can get a paddle, and sample any 4 beers you want! Since the craft beer menu is so huge its almost impossible to pick one so the paddle is an excellent choice if you just can't make up your mind.

Today we got the nachos, and wow. You can't just order nachos anywhere because you can get seriously ripped off.  A lot of places will have a thin layer of cheese on the top and everything underneath is just dry nacho chips with nothing on them.

These nachos were something else. Drowning in cheese, tomato, GUACAMMOLE, and even black beans and corn. We couldn't not even finish them. I'm telling you i didn't see ONE nacho on that plate that wasn't covered in delicious toppings. Definitely would order this again.

I just got the house salad for my meal, pretty standard. And Darren ordered off the brunch menu, the breakfast burrito. I had a couple bites, and YUM..

Another item on the menu that I LOVE is the CHICKPEA FRIES with mustard dip. So yummy. Like fries but healthier? thicker and more flavorful and the mustard dip goes perfectly. NOMNOMNOM

NY times best chocolate chip cookie recipe

I had the day off today and it wasn't all that sunny.. what am I to do? Oh, I Know. Bake. ALana and I are on Pinterest trying to figure out what to make. Oreo stuffed brownies? Ferrero Rocher stuffed cupcakes? How about we try the New York TImes voted best chocolate chip cookie recipe.

Its been a while since i have had a real good chocolate chip cookie and I'm pretty sure this one was a winner.

One of the reasons it's so damn good? The dough to chocolate chip ratio is 50/50

Yes that is 2 lbs of Chocolate.

THe secret?
-- don't use pre made chocolate chips, buy the chocolate chunks and chop em up yourself!

Warning: this recipe makes a LOT. It couldn't all fit into my mixing bowl we had to separate the dough into two bowls and mix it all up that way. 

--don't use ALL PURPOSE FLOUR, use pastry flour and bread flour

--cool the dough for 24 hours until you actually bake. We took some of the dough and baked it and then took the rest and baked it the next day to see if this trick really does make a difference. Turns out, it does.... for a better texture and look I'd suggest waiting.

Here's the recipe;

Jacques Torres' Secret Chocolate Chip Cookie Recipe
Makes twenty-six 5-inch cookies or 8 1/2 dozen 1 1/4-inch cookies

Ingredients 
1 pound unsalted butter
1 3/4 cups granulated sugar
2 1/4 cups packed light-brown sugar
4 large eggs
3 cups plus 2 tablespoons pastry flour
3 cups bread flour
1 tablespoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
2 pounds bittersweet chocolate, coarsely chopped

Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or nonstick baking mats; set aside.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream together butter and sugars.

- Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
- Reduce speed to low and add both flours, baking powder, baking soda, vanilla, and chocolate; mix until well combined.
- Using a 4-ounce scoop for larger cookies or a 1-ounce scoop for smaller cookies, scoop cookie dough onto prepared baking sheets, about 2 inches apart.
- Bake until lightly browned, but still soft, about 20 minutes for larger cookies and about 15 minutes for smaller cookies.
- Cool slightly on baking sheets before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

Tomorrow Ill be baking the dough that set for 24 hours , check back tomorrow to see if it makes a difference :)

UPDATE: After cooling the dough for 24 hours the cookies actually have a better texture, a bit chewier. They also had a better look to them. More visually appealing. But that doesn't really matter to me :p

Bandidas Taqueria

Best Mexican food in Vancouver? Bandidas

I got the house Salad with Soy Beef, Tara got the breakfast wrap and Morgan got the Hick's Benny. All delicious. If your trying to be healthy, the House Salad with Tofu was awesomely yummy filling and healthy tasting. Out of the three I'd say the Hick's Benny takes the cake. If you love Guac and avocado as much as I do, order this, you won't regret.

Go try this place!!
http://bandidastaqueria.com/menu.htm