10 Season Anniversary

Hey all! We’re excited (as always) to open our doors and see friendly faces in our restaurant, be they familiar or new.  But we are even more excited than usual this year, because we will be celebrating our 10^th season in business! We will be celebrating all season long, so keep your eye on our blog or our twitter for information on special events and promotions!

We originally conceived Laura and Tony’s as a friendly place to get the freshest food at a good price, and we are proud to have stuck so closely to our original vision. Our food is always hand prepared and made with fresh ingredients, and we believe that commitment to quality has created food that stands out.

It’s been a dream come true feeding so many wonderful people at our own restaurant, and we know that our success is thanks to so many of you.  So please stop by when our doors open on May 11^th, and enjoy fresh food, friendly atmosphere… oh and did we mention $3 Bloody Mary’s and Mimosa’s?

Thanks to you all, we’ll see you soon!

Love Fresh Food? Try a Garden!

Food is always better when it’s made with fresh ingredients.  This is the idea behind every dish we prepare at Laura and Tony’s Kitchen, but it can apply to your kitchen at home as well.  Growing your own vegetables is a fantastic way to get the freshest ingredients, and it’s surprisingly easy.  Spring is fast approaching, and now is the perfect time to get planning! Without further ado, some tips for those who want to eat fresh.

Start small: If this is your first time growing your own food, don’t bite off more than you can chew!  A small plot of soil or indoor grower can still give excellent returns, and lets you try out your green thumb without risk. Herbs, tomatoes, and berries are all excellent choices for a first timer, and don’t require much space.

Plan ahead: Some quick research can show you the perfect timing, conditions, and care that different plants require. We suggest checking out this nifty guide on How Stuff Works.  Choose plants that fit your climate and your timeframe.  Some plants can be planted as early as February, so get looking now!

Make it easy: Growing your own vegetables should be fun, not a hassle.  Put your garden somewhere you can easily see and remember it, and work its care into your daily schedule.  A small time investment can grant incredible returns!

Enjoy your success: Keep track of what works and what doesn’t, and improve your garden every year!  Soon you’ll find the right plants for your climate and for the time you’re willing to commit. You’ll be saving money and eating fresh before you know it.

For just a few dollars and some time, you can be eating fresh food you grew yourself; and we guarantee that you will taste the difference.  After all, fresh food is always better!

Valentine's Day Treat!

Happy New Year everyone!

There are visible signs that the holidays are over; spent Christmas trees line the sidewalks, pointy hats and noisemakers are packed away, and stores have replaced their winter wonderlands with little pink hearts. That’s right; Valentine’s Day is just around the corner!

This change in scenery has made me think back on some of the recipes I’ve used in the past to celebrate this day of love, and how nice it would be to share them with our readers. One of my favorites that I’ll share with you today is my famous flour-less cake! Prepare this for your loved one, and we guarantee a happy Valentine’s Day.  Without further ado, here’s the recipe.

Flour-less Chocolate Cake             Bake 30-35 minutes  

Ingredients:

¾ lb plus 2 oz unsalted butter

15oz semi sweet chocolate chips

10 large eggs (separated)

1 ¼ c. unsweetened cocoa powder

21/4 c. sugar

½ tsp. salt

2 ½ Tbsp. Vanilla extract

Directions:

Preheat Oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Prepare a springform pan by brushing it with melted butter and lining the bottom with a circle of parchment paper.

Combine butter and chocolate in a large, heatproof (glass or stainless steel) bowl and then rest it over a pan with boiling water (double boiler) until melted – be careful not to burn it!

Sift the cocoa powder and sugar in a bowl, then set it aside.

Whip egg whites with salt until it forms soft peaks- be careful not to over whip.

Remove chocolate/butter mixture from double boiler and stir until smooth, and then add cocoa mixture, egg yolks, vanilla and ¼ of whipped egg whites. Stir until smooth.

Using a rubber spatula, fold in remaining whites until they are just blended. Do not over mix.

Put mixture in springform pan, then place it in a larger roasting pan and fill that halfway up with hot water.

Bake 30-35 minutes. A toothpick inserted into the cake should not be completely clean, and if you shake the pa, the cake should be jelly like in the center. Allow the cake to cool .

Serve cake with fresh whipped cream and raspberries to really fit the holiday!