Out With the Girls (Abuelo's Mexican Resturant Review)

Yes, I know I have been M.I.A. this past month but now I'm back.  Maybe.  I've been feeling pretty down in the dumps lately and just haven't been in the mood to bake or take photos.  I'm still in the process of trying to find a house too and that has not been an easy or stress free adventure. 

While my Mother-in-law was in town she wanted to go check out houses and see where we might want to end of living.  We were supposed to look at a few properties but those plans fell through so we just drove around which was surprisingly helpful.

Before we set off on our journey I met up with mom-in-law,my sis-in-law and her daughter for lunch at Abuelo's Mexican Resturant at the Loop in Kissimmee.  I've passed by it many times but since my hubby isn't a fan of Mexican food that doesn't come from Taco Bell, never had the opportunity to try it out.

The first thing I loved about this restaurant was the decor.  I really hate going out to eat and then wishing I had brought a flashlight to read the menu.  This place is so bright and airy and doesn't feel crowded.  Of course we went for lunch but I have a feeling that at the height of dinner rush hour I would still feel comfortable and uncrowded.  It really feels like your seated outside on the patio without having to worry about the heat and bugs.

There is so much to look at while you wait for your food.  I don't know what this statue is all about but its gorgeous.  The murals on the wall are pretty awesome too.

Our server brought us free chips and a trio of salsas to dip them in.  The chips were nice and warm but could have used a touch of salt.  We ate two baskets full!  I didn't much care for the salsa but I don't care for salsa in general.

Here is my niece Claudia helping us polish off the chips.  I love getting to hang out with my husband's family.  Abuelo's seems pretty kid friendly.  They gave out color crayons and a kid's menu coloring page and serve the kid drinks in a plastic cup with a tight fitting lid.

I picked my entree from the lunch menu.  Everything is pretty affordable.  I really had a hard time picking out what I wanted to eat because it all sounded so good!

It looks like my Mom-in-law chose the chicken fajitas.  For some reason I thought the little pepper was the cutest thing I had ever seen.  I took so many pictures of it.  I'm completely ridiculous sometimes! 

Lil' Claudia chose the cheese quesadilla with rice and beans.  Looks pretty tasty to me. Anything covered in cheese usually is, right?  She couldn't finish all her food so momma had to get a to go box.  No skimpy servings here!

My meal consisted of pork soft tacos (Carnita Tacos), mashed potatoes, re-fried beans and some sort of onion cilantro topping.  I'm so glad they served the onions on the side.  I hate cilantro with a passion (and so does my husband!).  It tastes like soap, ick!

My favorite part of the whole meal were these potatoes (Papas con Chile).  I love potatoes anyways but these were taken to a whole other level.  They are combined with 4 cheeses, peppers, sour cream, garlic and jalapeno.  I was afraid that they would be uber spicy but they were perfectly seasoned and not spicy at all.  Just down right delicious.  I'd go back just for the potatoes!

Overall our experience at Abuelo's tells me that I will be returning even if I have to drag my husband into the lobby kicking and screaming. (J/K he isn't THAT picky).  Our waitress was friendly, the atmosphere wonderful and the food excellent.  It doesn't get batter than that.

Abuelo's Mexican Resturant

2431 West Osceola Pkwy.
Kissimmee, FL 34741
407.870.0901

Influenster: Sugar & Spice Vox Box

*I was not financially compensated for this post. I received a sample for review purposes. The opinions are completely my own based on my experience. All products were received free of charge from influentser and this post includes links to the webpages of products reviewed*

The beginning of this month was good one for me when I came home from work and saw this big orange box sitting in my mailbox.  I was so excited to be selected to receive a Sugar'n Spice Voxbox from Influenster.  I wonder what could be inside?

Wow!  That's a lot of goodies for me to try out. 

In this box I received a box Splenda nectresse packets, Dickenson's Witch Hazel oil controlling towelettes (and coupons to share!), Vaseline Spray and Go Moisturizer, a Colgate Optic White toothbrush, Colgate Optic White mouthwash, Colgate Optic White toothpaste and a sample of Belvita Breakfast Biscuits.

The first thing I tried were these belVita breakfast biscuits, which to be honest, I've eaten before.  There nothing special and I would suggest pairing them with something more nutritious to make it a meal.  I ate mine for breakfast with a boiled egg and piece of fruit.  They are very cookie like but not too sweet.  No sustained energy achieved for me but possibly healthier than eating a pop-tart at least.

So, Vaseline Spray and Go moisturizer? At first I was like way cool!  But then, I thought about it and realized that I have never not had enough time to apply lotion or issues waiting for it to dry before putting on clothes.  Maybe because I don't slop that stuff on like a maniac?  This product is utterly ridiculous but fun to use...if you like getting lotion all over your floor and slipping on it later.  I suggest spraying it on in the shower after you shut off the water and drying off.  Contain that spray!  This product does smell good and does a decent job moisturizing.  If your really lazy then this lotion is for you. 

Ever tried any of the Colgate Optic White products? I've been using the Optic White toothpaste with the Optic White toothbrush everyday since receiving them and I can't believe how white my teeth are!  I wish I had taken a picture of my teeth before and after. Unfortunately, the Optic White mouthwash tastes very strongly of peroxide but I really do like the whitening results I get from using all 3 products so I just don't use the mouthwash very often!

These witch hazel towelettes by Dickinson's had to grow on me.  The first time I used it I was turned off by the smell.  My face smelled like a piece of wicker furniture!  The smell did wear off quickly and the product did an excellent job cleaning my face and didn't leave it all dried out like using toner would have. I really like these and will be buying them in the future.  I like keeping a couple in my gym bag for a quick face refresher after my workout.

I really love Splenda and was excited to give this a try. I thought it was just okay but it had a bit of an after taste that I never notice when I use Splenda. My husband loved this product and consumed the rest of the packets in his daily cup of hot tea. I just could not get over the mild aftertaste and could taste it even when mixed into my chocolate hot cereal. I will buy this for my husband so he can continue to use in his tea but I'm going to stick with my big yellow bag of Splenda!

So that's that on my first VoxBox.  I had a lot of fun trying out these products and will buying a few of them in the future: the Colgate Optic White toothpaste and the Dickinson's towelettes for sure and the nectresse because my husband wants some more and since I like him, I guess I'll buy him some more;)

Pulled Pork Pies

Yesterday was a crazy day.  My husband and I have decided to try and buy a house because we're tired of our rent in our rinky dink apartment going up every year.  So yesterday, right after work, we went to check out a prospective house.  We really wanted it to be the 'one' due to the fact that it's on a street called Heatherstone.  My name is Heather and Peter's name means rock so what a coincidence!

Unfortunately, it just isn't meant to be so I bought these flowers instead.  I was a bit bummed out and they cheered me up immensely.  They don't have frames glued to walls, water damage and locks in odd places.  The house had potential but I don't have the time of money to make it happen.  I'm hoping another home will come up for sale in the same neighborhood.  The one we we're really interested in on the same street had a ginormous lien on it.  Good luck selling that one is all I have got say about that!

We'll that's what I have been up to lately.  I never imagined that buying a home could be so time consuming.  Thank goodness I have Peter, his parents and mine to pick for advice!  It's definitely not like cooking and baking which come naturally to me.

I had to come up with this recipe because I made too much pulled pork.  My husband assured me that their could never be too much meat, especially pulled pork and assured me that it would get eaten.  Thank goodness I doubted him and cut that flippin' roast in half or we'd still be eating it!

Part of me wanted to make the pie crust from scratch but since most of me is lazy I nixed that idea.  Besides, crescent roll doll is infinitely more superior (unless it involves strawberries and rhubarb).

The only sad thing about this recipe is that I am now out of pulled pork and will have to wait until I make too much again to eat these.  Sadness. Good thing there is another pork roast in the freezer.  Yay!

Pulled Pork Pies
by Heather Hutchinson @ Dietetic Sinners

For Pulled Pork:
1 lb pork roast
1 can rootbeer
1 12 oz bottle of BBQ sauce ( I prefer Sweet Baby Ray's but you could even make your own)
1 sweet onion, sliced

Combine all ingredients in your slow cooker.  Cook on high 3-4 hours or low 5-6 hours or until pork is tender and shreds easily.

For Pies:
2 cups pulled pork from above recipe
2 cooked & diced Yukon Gold potatoes (pierce with fork all over and then microwave 4-5minutes or until slightly soft)
1/4 cup diced sweet onion
1 clove garlic, smashed and finely chopped
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
1 can Pillsbury Crescent Roll dough
1 tbs butter, melted
1tsp SazónGoya Con Azafran seasoning

Saute pulled pork, potatoes, onion, and garlic in medium non stick pan.  Cook until onion is tender and the pork and potatoes have browned.

Assemble pies by first unwrapping crescent rolls.  Do not separate into triangles but into squares by pressing dotted lines together.  You should now have 4 crescent squares.  Assemble squares unto sheet pan spared with cooking spray.

Place 1/3 to 3/4 cup pork mixture onto one side of each square.  Top pork with a couple tablespoons of the shredded cheese.  Fold dough over pork mixture and use a fork to press/crimp edges together.  Using a small paring knife to cut holes to vent.

Melt butter in small bowl and stirin Sazón seasoning.  Brush mixture onto pies.

Bake pies in preheated 350°F degree oven for 12-15 minutes.