#SCBDRecipe: Ring in #MDW2013 with the #BigDeal Martini

Posted on May 24, 2013 by smallchickbigdeals

Who else is thankful its Friday and of course, Memorial Day Weekend (aka MDW)?! If you are as excited as I am, you’ll want to kick off your MDW festivities with the #SCBD #BigDeal Martini which was served at the #SCBDLaunchParty! The cocktail was created by mixologist Theresa Fowler especially & exclusively for the site and had been in the works since last October. Since it was such a hit at the launch party, I figured it would be the perfect weekend to share the recipe with you all to enjoy at your party. I know I plan on making it this weekend!

The #SCBD #BigDeal Martini on the rocks YUM!

#SCBD #BigDeal Martini Recipe

Ingredients:

Coconut Rum
Orange-Infused Vodka
Blue Curacao
Coconut-Infused Vodka
Fresh Orange & Pineapple Juice (can use store-bought if unavailable)
Fresh Lemon

Instructions:

In a shaker add equal parts rum, both vodkas, and blue curacao followed by both juices and squeeze fresh lemon. *Note: You can substitute one of the infused vodkas with regular vodka if needed*
Shake and serve in an iced martini glass straight up or on the rocks in a pint glass.
Sip and enjoy!

Cheers to a great and memorable #MDW this year whatever you are doing! Planning on making the martini? Let me know what you think and leave a comment or tweet me @smchickbigdeals!

#SCBD Giveaway: The Guilt-Free Treat, Almondina

Posted on February 25, 2013 by smallchickbigdeals

If you are looking for a healthy treat, we’ve found it! It’s Almondina®– a gourmet cookie, health food and snack, all in one. These extraordinary gourmet treats are created from Yuval Zaliouk’s secret family recipe which has been passed down from generation to generation and was introduced to the market in 1989. It is wonderfully crunchy and does not have to be dipped. It is a delightful accompaniment for coffee, tea, soft cheeses and fine light wines.

Almondina® biscuits come in the following flavors:

Original - America’s all natural favorite with almonds and raisins
Chocolate Cherry – We combined the world’s finest dark chocolate, with plump cherries to produce an irresistible, decadent treat without guilt.
Choconut – Rich tasting crunchy chocolate, but low in calories
Cinnaroma® – The original biscuit for cinnamon lovers
Gingerspice – Trend setting, with chunks of Australian ginger
AlmonDuo® – Double-nut wonder with almonds and pistachios
AnniversaryT – Award winning delight with a touch of anise
BranTreats® – Made with oat bran and the finest cinnamon “Cookies For Breakfast”
Sesame – Irresistible, exotic, flavorful
Seasonal Pumpkin Spice – A seasonal attraction with a delightful touch of fall spices combined with the highest quality almonds and pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

Almondina® Biscuits are:

All Natural
Free of cholesterol, coloring and preservatives
Made with no added fat or salt
Low in calories – only 30 per slice
Kosher and Pareve (non dairy)
with tea or coffee
as a cracker with cream cheese, Brie or other soft French cheeses
with a glass of sherry
crumbled as an ice cream topping
served to youngsters with milk
as a delicious breakfast on the way to work
Crunchy, addictive, healthful

Note: This contest has ended.

Interested in trying it? Well it’s your lucky day, we will be giving ONE lucky winner a sample pack of Almondina®!

Here’s how to enter:

Like Small Chick Big Deals on Facebook
Like Almondina® on Facebook
Leave a comment with the flavor you want to try the most

Winner will be picked at random on Wednesday, March 6th!

Good luck!

#SCBDExclusive: Potbelly to Open in Paramus this Tuesday!

Posted on February 17, 2013 by smallchickbigdeals

If you’ve been an avid SCBD reader from the beginning you know one of my favorite places to grab lunch while I interned at The Rachael Ray Show was Potbelly Sandwich Shop. It was an easy walk from the former studio in Midtown East, affordable, and delicious and I’m not normally a big sandwich person. Check out my original post featuring Potbelly, here.

I loved eating Potbelly so much that I wanted them to open up in New Jersey. Now over a year later, they are opening their second New Jersey location (the first is in Jersey City) at Bergen Town Center in Paramus, NJ. The Potbelly official grand opening is this Tuesday, February 19th at 11am.

In honor of the opening they are having an Oven Warming Party (which I found out via Twitter) tomorrow from 11am-1:30pm. The first 260 people to sign up (admits you and one guest) can enjoy a Potbelly Originals sandwich, a bag of chips, and a fountain drink, all for a $5 cash donation per person that will be going to Family to Family to raise funds for their projects. Be sure to RSVP, here, tonight! I’m planning on attending, so maybe I’ll see you there?!

The Menu
Photo Credit: DNAinfo.com

If you can’t make it out tomorrow, make sure you stop by for their official grand opening Tuesday or anytime the rest of the week. I highly recommend the Roast Beef sandwich which is my personal favorite, I’ve even ordered it “Bigs” (30% more meat) because it’s that delicious!

Here’s to a successful grand opening and giving Potbelly a warm welcome to Bergen County!

Happy Eating!

#SCBD Quick & Easy Spinach & Rice Casserole Recipe

Posted on January 22, 2013 by smallchickbigdeals

This recipe has tons of memories for me, it brings me back about 15 years to be exact. I remember when I was roughly 8 years old and in the kitchen watching my mom cook dinner, we made this. It’s incredibly delicious, economically friendly, and really easy to make. It’s also perfect for these cold winter days not to mention you can eat it for breakfast, lunch, or even dinner!

Ingredients:

1 10 oz. box of chopped frozen spinach
2 cups of white rice
3 eggs
1 bag of shredded cheese (your choice, I used what was on hand)
Onion Powder
Garlic Powder
Salt
Pepper
Butter flavored spray

Instructions:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees and spray a pyrex or casserole pan with butter flavored spray and a light layer of shredded cheese on the bottom.
If you haven’t already cook the two cups of white rice. If you already have rice in your refrigerator you can use that and put it in a large mixing bowl.
In the meantime, heat up frozen spinach in the microwave for roughly ten minutes. Drain it so that there is no water in it and put that into a smaller mixing bowl. Add your eggs, garlic powder, onion powder, some shredded cheese, salt and pepper and whip it up in the bowl with the spinach.
Put the spinach and egg mix in the large mixing bowl with the rice. Feel free to add more garlic and onion powder, salt, & pepper, and more shredded cheese if you want for more flavor and binding.
Spread mix onto your pan or pyrex and smooth it out. Top with your cheese of choice so it covers the whole entire mix.
Put it in the oven for about a half hour and the top is brown.
Let cool for 2-3 minutes
Cut into pieces & enjoy!

This is such a great recipe and is super easy especially if you have cooked rice lying around. I’m thinking of even trying it with kale one day instead of spinach. If you make it let me know what you think!

Happy Eating!

#SCBD ‘Spiked’ Adult Chocolate Milk Recipe

Posted on January 21, 2013 by smallchickbigdeals

Ever have one of those days when you need a nightcap? Bailey’s Irish Cream has to be one of my favorite liquors, it’s flavorful, creamy and can be used in many cocktails & desserts. It can also be used in cocktails like spiked chocolate milk.

Here’s my recipe for simple yet delicious ‘spiked’ adult chocolate milk…

Ingredients:

1 cup of Milk of choice (you may need more or less depending on your glass size)
1 shot of Bailey’s Irish Cream
1 teaspoon of Hershey’s Chocolate Syrup

Instructions:

In a glass of your choice pour milk, shot of Bailey’s, & chocolate syrup.
If you have a stirrer, stir to your liking if not use a spoon and mix it together so it looks like chocolate milk. Feel free to use or more less chocolate syrup and Bailey’s depending on how strong & chocolate tasting you like it.
Once it’s the way you like it– sip & enjoy!

This recipe is so simple and delicious, perfect for dessert or a nightcap. Next time you think of buying a bottle of Adult Chocolate Milk, think again, the recipe is simple and only requires three ingredients!

Cheers!

‘Put Some South in Yo Mouth’ at the Brother Jimmy’s BBQ in New Jersey!

Posted on December 7, 2012 by smallchickbigdeals

Last Friday I had the opportunity to go dine at the Brother Jimmy’s BBQ that just opened by Rutgers University in New Brunswick, NJ. I’ve been past some of the Brother Jimmy’s BBQ in the city but had yet to go while I was there. I was staying by my boyfriend Jason last weekend and figured since he doesn’t live too far from New Brunswick it would be the perfect opportunity to enjoy a great, post-birthday week night of food & drinks with to kick off the weekend and Brother Jimmy’s did not disappoint!

To start, I got the signature Carolina Cooler and Jason got a beer. The Carolina Cooler was great because it’s a mix of Skyy vodka, fresh lemonade, blue curacao, and muddled lemons. It wasn’t too sweet or sour so I enjoyed it. We also ordered some spinach & artichoke dip to start. I really loved how that it was heavy on the spinach, the flavors were right on point.

After fully digesting the menu, our waitress came around and we had decided on what entrees we’d order, our spinach and artichoke dip was almost gone. I decided to get the half rack of Northern Style Ribs with collard greens and Jason got the BJ’s Signature BBQ Burger with all the fixin’s and fries. The ribs are smoked then grilled with Brother Jimmy’s Original BBQ Sauce. The BJ’s Signature BBQ burger wasn’t just any burger, they actually have their Pat LaFrieda custom blend, which is really tasty. The burger is basted with their Chipotle BBQ sauce and topped with cheddar cheese & onion straws.

BJ’s Northern Style Ribs

BJ’s Signature BBQ Burger

I loved the Northern Style ribs, the flavor was perfect and had a little kick and Jason savored and devoured his entire burger. In fact, there is a little kick to all of the food at Brother Jimmy’s but I enjoyed it and so did Jason.

The Charleston A.P

I loved my first cocktail so much that I figured I might as well try another signature so I went with The Charleston A.P– Brother Jimmy’s boozy take on the classic, Arnold Palmer made with South Carolina sweet tea infused vodka and lemonade. Our waitress and some of the staff recommended it. I also looked around and the cocktails were flowing, the restaurant was crowded. As always, I had some leftover ribs to take back to with me, which were just as delicious the following day. I actually couldn’t wait to eat my leftovers!

Cheers!
Sipping on my Charleston A.P!

Our trip to the new Brother Jimmy’s was definitely a success. It’s a great addition to the dining scene in New Brunswick and is a new Jersey foodie destination, especially to those who may get to NYC often. The food is top notch, staff is friendly and accommodating, and the drinks are creative and won’t break the bank! I’m definitely a fan of the Brother’s Jimmy’s BBQ now and plan on taking a trip back in New Brunswick or NYC soon!

Brother Jimmy’s BBQ

5 Easton Avenue

New Brunswick, NJ

Happy Eating!

Cheers to the weekend!

*Disclaimer: The PR team paid for my meal. I was not required to write about these experiences and my opinions are my own and unbiased.*

#SCBD Halloween Spooktails!

Posted on October 25, 2012 by smallchickbigdeals

Halloween would not be complete without a cocktail or two. Here are some delicious cocktails some of New Jersey & New York’s finest are offering during their Halloween parties this week and weekend:

Devils Tuxedo (Blue Moon Mexican Cafe)

2 oz Patron XO Cafe
1 oz Irish Whiskey

Devils Tuxedo!

Oktoberfest Milkshake (Big Daddy’s)

Vanilla Milkshake
Oktoberfest Beer
Whip cream
Caramel

Oktoberfest Shake

The Spooky Spicy Bloody Mary (Maxwell’s)

Stoli vodka
Maxwell’s house made old bay bloody mary mix

Shaken & served over ice!

Bloody Spooky Mary

Killer Transfusions (Maxwell’s)

Stoli Vodka
Ginger ale

Served over ice with a splash of grape juice!

Killer Transfusions

Blood Orange Margarita (Maxwell’s)

Tequila
Simple Syrup
Blood Orange Extract
Fresh Lime

Shake and serve in a martini glass!

Blood Orange Margarita

Cheers to a great Halloween!

#SCBD loves: Shake Shack (Madison Square Park)

Posted on October 23, 2012 by smallchickbigdeals

A few weeks ago, well before Wingfest to be precise. My roommate Leah & I took a trip over to the Madison Square Park location of Shake Shack since the event was in the area. It was actually my first time at Shake Shack, which was even more motivating for me to try it. I actually won a gift card for Shake Shack from Black Board Eats (New York). Black Board Eats is one of the top foodie deal sites I know, they give you 20-30% off some of Manhattan’s best restaurants weekly. So I highly recommend you sign up & check out their weekly deals.

Shake Shack, Madison Square Park

So with gift card in hand, it was time to order from Shake Shack. Mind you, the line was long but thats expected and totally worth it! We decided to get cheese fries to split and each got a Shack Burger with beers. Leah got the Oktoberfest special beer they had available and I got the Shackmeister beer. I had to try the classic beer they serve and judge it for myself. It was what I would like to call our pre-Wingfest ‘linner’ (meal between lunch & dinner but it’s not brunch!)

Our burgers, cheese fries, & beers from Shake Shack– delish!

So here’s what I thought:

My burger was delicious, great on flavor and size. I’m big on eating good portions and Shake Shack’s are perfect.
Cheese Fries are some of the best cheese fries I’ve had (now I want some!) It’s a delicious mix of their Shack cheddar & American cheese sauce, on top of their perfectly cooked fries.
I had low expectations for the beer, but Shackmeister beer was great. Not too heavy, just perfect. I wish I could’ve brought a case home with me! It was also a perfect compliment to my meal.
Oh yeah how can I forget, even though I had a gift card– the prices aren’t too bad & totally worth it. It’s a perfect deal because you can get a meal for two for no more than $30! I love it!

Yes, I’ll say it, I’m hooked and am now a loyal Shake Shack fan. Next time I go of course I also plan on trying a shake. I was really impressed with the burgers, beer, and fries– Shake Shack is worth the wait!

Danny Meyer is definitely doing something right with Shake Shack in the city, now can he bring it to Jersey?

I think I might just have to stop at Shake Shack when I’m in NYC this weekend!

Well I have tons more coming up for you all this week– stay tuned!

#SCBD Holiday Find: EE Cookies!

Posted on October 15, 2012 by smallchickbigdeals

About a week or so ago, I got one of the best things anyone who loves ~~food~~ dessert can possibly get. EE Cookies sent me a dozen of their unique cookies to try and they are right when they say these are not your ordinary cookies. So if you have a friend who is a cookie lover I highly recommend you get them a dozen cookies. They won’t be disappointed, all the cookies are jam-packed with chocolate chips, nuts, or fruit– how it should be! This pretty much says it all.

In my dozen, I received about four of each of these flavors:

Old Fashioned Chocolate Chip: delicious and jam-packed with chocolate chips

Dark Chocolate Chunk with Dried Cherries: I think the picture says it all, perfect for the dark chocolate lovers in your life.

Triple Chocolate Chip with Pecan: I’m currently munching on one of these and it is a great size, with great flavor!

Oatmeal with Dried Cranberries, Blueberries, & Walnuts: My favorite and currently my new favorite breakfast. I love how healthy it is since it has oatmeal in it and the dried fruit is top notch! It’s a perfect little bit in the morning!

I’m so happy I was able to try EE Cookies and will definitely consider them for holiday gifts! You can order your cookies online at their online shop, here. Plus, if you use the code HOLIDAY20 you can get 20% off your order at check out– can you say deal?! YES!

They also have a new home at 10 Waverly place inside “Brad’s” at NYU so you can stop by and grab some of our fresh, baked on site cookies, brownies and other delicious baked goods fresh in the case if you don’t want to order online.

I can see how they keep such a loyal fan base since they started in 2009! So if you have a few minutes, check out their site, order some cookies, and maybe even join the Cookie of the Month Club– you’ll be in for a delicious endeavor! They have tons of ordering options at the online store with plenty of creative deals for the cookie lover in your life!

Happy Eating– there is nothing wrong with having a sweet tooth especially with cookies this delicious!

The leaves are FALLing and the Drinks Are Flowing!

Posted on September 26, 2012 by smallchickbigdeals

Fall is here! Apple picking is in full spin and pumpkin picking has begun as October is quickly approaching. In honor of the new season, here are a few cocktail recipes to celebrate with:

PUMPKIN PATCH

Stone Rose Lounge, Lilium, Whiskey Blue, Whiskey Park, Living Room

Ingredients:

1 teaspoon light brown sugar

1 teaspoon honey

3 dashes of pumpkin spice seasoning

¾ ounces fresh lime juice

1 egg white of medium size egg

1 ¾ ounces 100% apple cider

1 ½ ounces Avion Silver Tequila

Instructions: In a shaker glass add light brown sugar, honey, pumpkin spice seasoning, fresh lime juice, and egg white. Shake vigorously until dissolved and add apple cider and Avion Silver Tequila; garnish with pumpkin spice seasoning.

CALABAZA-TINI

Havana Central

Ingredients:

1 ounce Bols pumpkin smash liqueur

½ ounce hazelnut liqueur

½ ounce high proof rum

½ ounce gold rum

2 ounces ice cream base

Pinch of cinnamon sugar

Instructions: Pour all ingredients into a shaker filled with ice. Shake well and strain into a chilled martini glass rimmed with cinnamon and sugar.

DISARONNO APPLE COBBLER

DISARONNO

Ingredients:

2 parts DISARONNO

1 part cranberry juice

1 part apple juice

¼ part fresh lemon juice

Instructions: In a rocks glass, mix ingredients over ice. Garnish with an apple slice.

HOLIDAY DELIGHT

DISARONNO

Ingredients:

1 ounce aged rum/ whiskey/ cognac

1 ounce DISARONNO

1 heaping bar spoon of pumpkin pie mix

½ ounce heavy cream

1 whole egg

Instructions: Place all ingredients into a mixing glass. Dry Shake (shake without ice so as to ‘whip’ the ingredients together). Then shake again with ice. Strain into a rocks glass without any ice. Top with freshly grated Cinnamon.
CINNAMON OLD FASHION

KOI Bryant Park

Ingredients:

½ ounce cinnamon simple syrup

1 dash bitters

2 ounces Overholt Rye Whiskey

Orange pieces

2 cherries

Instructions: Muddle orange pieces and cherries with cinnamon simple syrup. Add bitters, Overholt Rye Whiksey, and shake with ice. Strain over fresh ice; garnish with a cherry and cinnamon stick.

AUTUMN CRISP

KOI Bryant Park

Ingredients:

1 ounce lavender scented cucumber purée

1/2 ounce simple syrup

2 squeezed lemon segments

2 ½ oz bull dog gin

Instructions: Shaken and strained into a martini glass.

I don’t know about you but I love the Fall– here’s to a wonderful season! If you know of more Fall cocktails please comment below! I love trying new cocktail recipes! Who knows I may just post it on the Small Chick Big Deals Facebook page too!

Cheers!