Divine Desserts and Treats plus a little Charity Matters

 

So I was going to write a recipe for you today however, after a fun filled trip with my family this weekend  I have decided to share some of my fabulous dessert finds from this weekend. Some of them were gluten free. Which I talk about in a previous post about Disneyland having a lot of gluten free options.
　

 

The first Dessert is a standard Mickey Ice Cream Bar these are gluten Free and very yummy. However, you need to eat it quick before it Melts all over you.

 

The next Dessert was a surprise find at the Story Tellers Cafe at Disney’s California Grand Hotel. We had walked in after a long day in Disney's California Adventure park and wanted to have a sweet treat instead of dinner. Chris at the hostess desk and his Manager were so sweet and told us they just had a gluten free event earlier in the day and had 4 cupcakes left.

 

If we were interested, they could serve this with chocolate, vanilla or strawberry ice cream. As you can see Miss J ate all of the icing off first, Who wouldn't sure looked yummy.

 

The next Dessert was  a gluten free dessert it was a peach apple cobbler with a scoop of ice cream on top and some fabulous caramel sauce. I think I will have to try making this at home sounds amazing and with my gluten free topping it would be even better.

 

The last dessert was simply Devine! It was a Gluten Free Brownie that had been heated up with a cream anglais surrounding it and a Chocolate and Caramel Sauce with a scoop of ice cream. Oh My goodness it was one of the most decadent and fabulous desserts I have had.

 

Enjoy and Have a Happy Safe and productive week!

Shela Fretz

Watermelon Arugula salad Inspired by Contemporary Hotel's California Grill and Ina Gartnen

I was reading Twitter and Facebook this weekend and was dreaming of Florida. I love the white sand beaches, the theme parks and all of the fabulous restaurants in Florida.  I next had a flash back of a salad that I had at the Contemporary Resort restaurant called the California Grill  - this is a great restaurant to go to next time you are at Walt Disney World. The last time we were there I had a salad that was very similar to this one. So I thought I would share my version of these too salads.



Watermelon Arugula salad Inspired by Contemporary Hotel's California Grill  and Ina Gartnen Ingredients :
One square slice of Watermelon
1/4 cup Arugula for each portion
2 Tablespoons Balsamic Glaze dressing
1 Tablespoon Goat Cheese
　

Slice Watermelon cutting off rind leaving a square of Mellon like this.

Next take 1/4 cup of Arugula a 1 tablespoon of Balsamic Glaze dressing toss in bowl

Place tossed Arugula on Watermelon

Next Sprinkle with Goat Cheese

Last drizzle remaining dressing on Salad and serve.




Bon Appetit and Enjoy



Sheila Fretz

A # GlutenFree Breakfast at Disneyland but where?

Are you ever looking for a nice quiet place to have a fabulous breakfast while at the Disneyland Resorts? Well I have the perfect place just for you and it's one of my favorites. Most people think of this place as a great place to grab a Steak or nice dinner at Disneyland. However it's a breakfast place too. I love Steakhouse 55 because they cater to those with food allergies, not that any other restaurant at Disneyland resorts doesn't, the Steak house 55 it's the little touches that they do. Like the Chef coming out to meet you and discuss your allergies.

My daughter Miss J is allergic to wheat so we decided on  a hot chocolate to start and boy that was some hot chocolate.

Then for breakfast she had a scrambled eggs with some fresh fruit. However, she had a couple other Gluten Free options one being waffles and the other pancakes but she was in the egg mood.

They even had gluten free toast it was a sourdough potato bread I was so impressed.

My husband had this fabulous omelet

Then as we were about to finish we all received a bowl of fruit for desert not that we were not full enough.

Breakfast was fun and we had a nice time in the park afterward. See you next time  and enjoy your next breakfast at the Disneyland Resort.

Sheila Fretz-

Disneyland Poolside Lunch

So as you know I love to stay at the Disneyland hotel and recently I had the opportunity to stay at this fabulously redone resort. The best time to go to the pool is lunch time when all of the restaurants in the park are busy and full.  I go back to my room and put on my swim suit go for a quick splash in the pool then order lunch by the pool.

You can rent a poolside cabana like we did.  

Then look at the menu and order a nice fruity drink while perusing the menu. Did you know that there are many gluten free options available pool side at The Disneyland Hotel Pool. The pool is always a pleasant 80 degrees weather its summer, spring, winter or fall . Plus the food is delicious!!

I ordered the Asian chicken salad with diced chicken breast, cashews, and red and gold peppers tossed in sesame vinaigrette.

Miss J had the Grilled Salmon Kids meal which is one of there Gluten free kids meal options.

The next time you stay at Disneyland and have the urge to exit the crowds on a hot summer day. My suggestion is go to the pool and grab a bite!

Chicken Nachos + Mother's Day

Chicken Nacho's a creation by Miss J

So how was your Mothers Day? Mine was simply fabulous we went to Disneyland with Miss J and a couple of friends; and as always we had a fabulous time. 

We started off the morning with a brisk walk in Downtown Disney and to my pleasant surprise I saw this gorgeous new Lego Store all completed  after renovations.

 Next we went for a fabulous breakfast at La Brea Bakery Cafe.

We rode all  of our favorite rides including Star tours, Dumbo and Pirates of  the Caribbean .

Then after a long day in the Park, to top it all off,  we got home and I took a nap. When I a woke, I heard my Fabulous daughter Miss J in the kitchen, and she was making  me this great dinner. Chicken Nachos Oh My Goodness so yummy .  It was such a pleasant surprise and I'm going to share this quick and easy recipe with you that your 9 year old can make too.











Chicken Nachos Ingredients:
2 cups of Tortilla Chips
1/2 cup of shredded rotisarie chicken
1/2 cup shredded cheese
1/4 cup tomatillo salsa
1/4 cup chopped tomatoes
Sour cream optional

Take first 3 ingredients and layer then microwave of 45 seconds in microwave safe plate or bowl.

Next add last ingredients and serve immediately.

I hope your Mother's day was as fun as mine was. What did you do?

I would love to hear....

Mother's Day & Disneyland Park at Jolly Holiday Bakery

So what's your plan for Mother's day? You know it's this Sunday! My plan is to go to Disneyland with my friends and family. My Mom is no longer with us, so it's all about me on this special day. Hope fully we can eat at The Joly Holiday Bakery and have a couple gluten free sandwiches like these ones. I love this new restaurant on Main Street because its fun to sit and people watch here or just watch the parade go by in the afternoon. 

Plus for dessert we will have these fabulous gluten free cookies made by OMG....

Miss J will really love to watch the Parade with her Mom.

Plus we will be able to see all of the crazy and fun characters?

What will you do with your Mom on her special day?


Sheila-

Staying at the newly renovated Disneyland Hotel



This week I am going talk about being gluten free while staying at The Disneyland Resorts. Did you know that there are many different gluten free options at all of the Disneyland Resorts whether you are staying at Disney’s Paradise Pier, Disney’s California Grand or The Disneyland Resort;  where I recently stayed in the newly renovated Disneyland Hotel. As I let you know in my earlier post in March that I would be staying at the Disneyland Hotel and Resort.

The Disneyland Resort has many activities and when you check in to the resort make sure you ask for a calendar listing all of the fun activities scheduled. We quickly perused the calendar and noticed there was an Egg Hunt on Easter Sunday and knew that my daughter would love to participate so we signed up right as we checked in. We also went for our annual Easter Sunday breakfast at Steakhouse 55, we went to the Pool for an afternoon visit and while taking a break from the park had a late lunch, and of course went back to the park for the parade and dinner. Which I will talk about in a later post’s within the next 2 weeks.

After we checked in to the hotel we went up to our room in the Main tower and we were amazed how spacious and beautiful the rooms have been upgraded. We love staying at the Disneyland Hotel especially during the holidays because they make you feel as if you are part of the Disney family.  We were there 3 days and 2 nights and it was just simply fabulous. The rooms all have free Wi-fi, a refrigerator, a coffee pot and coffee cups, complimentary robes for use while at the resort, an in room safe. To top it all off the beds feel like you are sleeping on a cloud; they are that comfortable! All of the beds have down comforters and my daughter miss J had use to the sofa that turns into a bed at the flip of a switch. .

If you looked at how the room looked before to what they look like now, in addition to the upgraded amenities that The Disneyland Hotel has today you will be sure to want to stay at this fabulous resort.  The rooms are spacious and sleep 5 comfortably especially if you have 2 Queen Beds; in addition to they have the pull out couch.

The Queen beds have a duvet cover of 500 thread count in a damask finish and if you looked real close there were hidden Mickey’s on the duvet.  I love the new carpets they look like royal carpets that they have installed in the room so fabulous and upscale with the royal blue background and the gold hidden Mickey accents. It looks just magical. The room  is decorated with famous pictures of Walt Disney himself walking through the castle and on the other wall there was a great bunch of old historical photo’s of the way Fantasyland looked back in the day when the park was first built.  

I also noticed the attention to detail in the bathroom all of the handles on the fixtures were hidden Mickey’s

plus the shower tile if you looked real close there were hidden Mickey’s there too. 

Last but not least I loved the alcove next to the bathroom this mirror was a god sent to me and my family while my husband was in the shower we just simply closed the door and I was able to put on my face while my husband was in the shower.

You may also call room service and they too have many gluten free options at many of there restaurants on the property. We personally did not do this on this particular trip however we have done so in the past.  

All and all I would always recommend this resort to anyone who has gluten intolerance and or has food allergies. The Disneyland Hotel and Resorts go on beyond the call of duty and wants to make sure that your stay is the most magical stay and you build the most magical memories between you your family and friends.  The Disneyland Resort has recently been given the 5 diamond reward by AAA and is also given a 5 star resort status on numerous websites, and I too believe it is well worth the money to stay here. .

There are many restaurants at Downtown Disney that have Gluten Free options, however, one of my favorites is Tortilla Joes. This a great Mexican restaurant that you can meet friends at. Last year when D23 was going on I met a couple of twitter friends for dinner (Kristen and Aljon from Sorcerer Radio) even Natalie who also appears on Sorcerer Radio and  the Creator of The Disney Moms . We had a blast, all talking about our various Disney interest .

Tortilla Joes has a great menu tequila tasting , just look at all of these fabulous Teqillas they have in house.

They have a variety of Margarita’s and the Strawberry and Traditional are unbelievable.

There Salads rock

There tacos are great and if you too have food allergies they will have you make your own with all of these condiments.

There Tamales are really good too!

The enchiladas are great

 The next time you go to Downtown Disney at Disneyland be sure to stop in and say hi to Enrique he’s one of there Marvelous Managers and ask him to have his bartender make you the Strawberry Margarita . This is my Favorite Drink!