little gordo creemee stand

I’m an avid soft serve and fro-yo lover, so I always jump at the chance to try tasty local spots when I’m traveling. On a recent work trip to Burlington, Vermont, I got the opportunity to try a local delicacy known as a creemee, and was not disappointed in the least! Creemees are a super popular treat in Vermont, I learned, and they’re basically soft serve ice cream, but with perhaps a higher butterfat content, making them super creamy and delish. Yes please! Maple creemees in particular are very common here, since high quality maple syrup is so plentiful in the region. Little Gordo Creemee Stand is a cute little spot in Burlington that I came across on Instagram, and decided I had to try it out! It was a wet, chilly, snowy day, but that didn’t stop my mom & I from making the trek over. After some deliberation, I went with a chocolate creemee topped with plenty of sweet & salty peanut brittle. So delish! I’m all about a mix-in or topping with my soft serve, and I loved the crunchy texture that the brittle added. My mom is more of a purist- she went for a straight up banana creemee, and was super pleased as well! I can say for certain I’m now a creemee fan, and hope to be able to enjoy more of them soon!

cali cream ice cream

My family loves a good ice cream spot. Even better when there’s endless flavors with seasonal and dairy-free options as well! We got the chance to visit Cali Cream Ice Cream when we were visiting Encinitas recently, and it did not disappoint. They churn out all homemade flavors made in small batches at this location as well as in San Diego. Although I do get slightly overwhelmed when there’s so many choices (57?!), but the employees were awesome and let us try several flavors to help make our decisions. I ended up with a cup of Graham Central (graham cracker-flavored ice cream with graham ripple and chocolate covered honeycomb crunch) and Coffee (dairy-free, but still super creamy and delish)! My husband went for a couple super chocolatey options as per usual- Oreo Dough, a chocolate chip cookie dough ice cream with large chunks of Oreo cookies was a huge hit. My son Dylan even got a free kiddie cone for his birthday! Yum! I definitely need to go back ASAP for the S’mores, Praline Pecan, Almond Joy, Coconut Cream Pie, Gooey Fudge Brownie…. You get the idea, let’s just say there’s a lot of flavors on my list to try. And now there’s likely seasonal holiday options as well? Yes please!

grain-free pecan pie bars

I can’t believe the holiday season is soon upon us. This year has really flown by! One of the first things that comes to mind when I think holidays is holiday baking! From festive pies at Thanksgiving to cookie exchanges at Christmas, I’m truly here for it all! Pecan pie is a southern fave for good reason- that gooey caramelized filling, with candied pecans, and a buttery shortbread crust is hard to beat. But to be honest, many pecan pies can be sickeningly sweet, and I’m not a huge fan of the corn syrup filling that is traditionally used. I also understand pies can be a bit of an overwhelming undertaking, and so I love the approach of somewhat more casual pecan pie bars! These in particular are made with a coconut milk and date filling, along with a butter and almond flour based crust. Plus lots of gooey pecans!

These are equally as delicious as their pie-counterpart, but can be eaten with your hands! Served in a bowl topped with a big scoop of ice cream ain’t bad either, just sayin’. My bestie Rachel Mcconn at Rachel Mcconn Wellness (who I’ve baked with before & also loves a good sweet treat) developed this grain, gluten, and refined sugar- free pecan pie bar recipe, and asked me to test out the recipe for her. Okay, fine, twist my arm ;) These turned out super tasty- not to mention made the house smell absolutely fantastic- and I think they’d make a perfect addition to any holiday table. She has offered to share the recipe with my readers- so head on over to her site for the recipe! As always with RMW recipes, these are free of all gluten, grains, and refined sugars, so those with any allergies or restrictions can still indulge freely as well. Hope you enjoy, and happy holidays!

qué padre

Mexican food is a fan favorite in our house. While there is some debate as to what style or rendition is best- my husband is from New Mexico, I’m from Texas, and we live in California- we can definitely appreciate a good taco, margarita and some chips & guacamole! From super casual to fine dining, you can really get good Mexican food across the board these days, and I was pumped to try a new spot in our area called Qué Padre. Specializing in street-style tacos, this coastal cantina packs its menu with the freshest of flavors from all over Mexico. There’s a bit of Cali influence thanks to the locally-sourced ingredients, and I have to say I really enjoyed this modern take on all your Mexican favorites. Located in Palisades Village, the atmosphere at Qué Padre is totally chill and laid back, allowing you to sip on some tasty tequilas while dining out in the sun. Totally up my alley! Not to mention it’s adjacent to the grassy, park area so kiddies can play as well.

My boys and I got to enjoy a delicious taco feast soon after the grand opening, and we all left completely satisfied- and perhaps a bit too full! If you like a fun beverage, I definitely recommend browsing the cocktail & drinks menu. So many unique offerings (whether you’re in the mood for an alcoholic beverage or not)- from horchata (spiked or kid-friendly) to aguas frescas to an extensive tequila list to refreshing cocktails and more! I can’t resist a negroni, so tried their tequila version, which was super smooth and totally hit the spot. My hubby went the more traditional route, and was also quite pleased with his spicy margarita. Now, on to the food! Do yourself a favor and order the scallop ceviche, plus the lobster en nogada, camarón, and carnitas tacos. The little details (think mexican coke-braised pork, charred pineapple, jalapeño ash, poached lobster tail, morita black bean purée…) really allow the quality and flavors to shine through. So delish! You can totally taste the difference in the house-made corn tortillas too. And of course, since no meal of mine is complete without dessert, we had to indulge in the Mexican chocolate churros and the tres leches flan. My son & I couldn’t get enough of the chocolate dipping sauce. Heaven! Feel free to click through the photos for more details on each dish, and next time you’re in the Palisades, be sure to swing by Qué Padre for a taco.

tropical juice

For a refreshing juice or smoothie on the east side, definitely stop by Tropical Juice in Highland Park. This no-frills shop whips up everything from green juices to ice cream milkshakes to seasonal fruit bowls to Mexican style desserts out of its beautiful and brightly colored stand on Figueroa. The fruit cocktail- a bowl of diced cantaloupe, watermelon, mango, cucumber, pineapple, and coconut topped off with lemon, salt and chile- is especially refreshing on a hot summer day. I’m also a fan of the jugo verde- made of parsley, celery, cucumber, kale, pineapple and spinach- so healthy! Everything is super affordable as well, so feel free to add it to your daily routine ;) Can’t wait to stop by again next time I’m back in my old stomping grounds.

brown butter peanut butter pretzel rice krispie treats

brown butter peanut butter pretzel rice krispie treats

I love a sweet and salty treat- it’s such an addicting and comforting combo for me. I can’t help but reach for more! Add in a delicious, childhood goodie like rice krispie treats, and you’ve got yourself quite the tasty (yet easy!) dessert! I’d been craving rice krispie treats lately, and while there’s nothing wrong with the tried and true classic, I wanted to shake things up a bit. Since I love adding mix-ins to my baked goods, I figured I’d toss in some creamy peanut butter and crunchy pretzels to take these to the next level. Plus, I browned my butter before adding the marshmallows to the pot, which really kicks things up a notch. That nutty, caramel flavor from the brown butter is just oh so good in these rice krispie treats. Feel free to swap out a different nut butter if you’re not into peanuts, or use gluten free pretzels if you need. I kept things classic in this case, and I must say- they’re super delish! The peanut butter glaze is just a lil extra somethin’ somethin’ on top. Totally not necessary, but a welcome addition for sure :) A few lil tips and tricks to pass along to make these extra tasty: 1) Instead of melting all the marshmallows into the browned butter, save 1-2 cups to mix in at the end with the cereal. This ensures you get ooey gooey pockets of marshmallow goodness in your finished product! 2) Use your empty butter wrapers or a greased spatula when spreading the treats into the pan, to prevent them sticking to everything! 3) Be careful not to pack down the rice krispie treats too hard in the pan! Just a gentle press, otherwise you’ll end up with thin, hard treats, and no one wants that! I hope you enjoy :)

Brown Butter Peanut Butter Pretzel Rice Krispie Treats:

Peanut Butter Glaze:

Line a 9×13 inch baking pan with parchment paper & grease with butter or cooking spray. Melt the butter over medium heat in a very large pot. Once melted, continue cooking for a few more minutes, constantly stirring. Mixture will bubble and foam, and you’ll know it’s browned when it’s a golden color and smells nutty. Careful not to burn it! Add all but 1 cup of marshmallows, and stir until completely melted.

Remove from heat, then immediately stir in the peanut butter, vanilla extract and salt. Lastly, fold in the Rice Krispies cereal, crushed pretzels, and remaining marshmallows. Make sure everything is evenly coated in the peanut butter marshmallow mixture. 

Transfer mixture to prepared pan. Using a rubber spatula (or the butter wrappers), gently spread mixture to fit the pan, careful not pack it down too hard. Allow treats to set for at least 1 hour at room temperature before slicing. Make the glaze in the meantime, if using. Whisk all ingredients together until smooth. You may warm the peanut butter first if need be to get it to a runnier consistency. Lift the rice krispie treats out of the pan using the parchment paper, drizzle the glaze on top, and cut into squares. Enjoy! These are best the day they’re made, but will stay fresh in an airtight container at room temperature for a few days. 

brown butter peanut butter pretzel rice krispie treats