Homemade Cinnamon Rolls By Graysen

Who doesn't love sweet yummy cinnamon rolls? Homemade ones are as good, if not better than the packaged ones.This cinnamon rolls recipe is easy, fun and low-fat. Check it out...

Dough
4 cups self-rising flour
1 cup low fat or fat free yogurt
2 tablespoons granulated sugar

Cinnamon Sugar mixture
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350. To make dough, mix all 3 ingredients together. Kead 5 or 6 times until dough sticks together (and add more yogurt if dough is not sticking). Roll out on floured surface. To make cinnamon sugar mixture, melt the butter. Spread butter, sprinkle brown sugar, and sprinkle cinnamon on top of rolled out dough. Roll the dough into a cylinder, with cinnamon side in. Slice 1" sections from the cylinder and bake for 10-15 minutes in oven. When ready, add icing on baked warm roll for pure delight!

Easy Biscuits

A couple of weeks ago I was reading the insert in the Saturday Star-Telegram called Relish. It's a Parade Magazine type section with recipes and food info. On the first page was a recipe for Whipping Cream Biscuits. It had two ingredients! I couldn't believe it. This morning, Graysen and I made them, and they are probably the best biscuits I've ever eaten. Here's the recipe.

2 cups self-rising flour
1 cup whipping cream

Heat oven to 450 degrees. Mix ingredients in large bowl. Knead dough 10 times on a floured surface. Roll out and cut into 12 biscuits. Bake for 10 minutes.

Benito's Review by Shanna

Every time my husband, Chris, says, "Do you want to go to Benito's tonight?" I say, "Yes!" We love Benito's. It seems like a lot of our favorite places are on Magnolia. It's located just a few blocks east of 8th Avenue.

As you enter the restaurant, you will be overwhelmed by the Little Shop of Horrors-esque plant area. Ask for a booth, as the colorful, ladder back chairs are not that comfortable. The margaritas are great, but they also have fish bowl size schooners of beer as well.

My favorite appetizer is the Ceviche Tostada. If you've never had ceviche, it's fish cooked in lime juice with tomatoes, onions, and jalapeno peppers. All of this is served on a corn tostada.

For the main course, I would order the Enchiladas Suizas. You'll get two (or three) chicken enchiladas smothered in sour cream with a side of rice and beans. If you order an entree, you will get a bowl of tortilla soup. Chips and salsa are not standard here. The waitress always brings a bowl of pico de gallo which goes well with the soup and entree. Make sure you try the corn tortillas. They are perfect for getting the sour cream sauce that lingers on your plate.

For dessert, I would recommend the flan. This is a sinful custard like dessert. You will love this casual, local restaurant the next time you are craving Mexican food.

King Tut's Restaurant Review By Graysen Cisneros

If you enjoy trying authentic foods, you should try the unique, foreign Mediterranean food featured at King Tut's Egyptian Restaurant, located in Fort Worth, Texas on "restaurant hoppin" Magnolia Street. Many great restaurants can be found on Magnolia Street but King Tut's is probably one of the best!

What's so special about Mediterranean food?, you may ask. Well, what makes this food different is it's ingredients and outstanding flavor. For example, Lamb is an uncommon meat amongst the common chicken/beef/pork meats found on the typical American menu. Their lamb is the same brown color of beef, slightly darker, and has the consistency of steak. The difference between their lamb and American beef is so slight, it's hard to notice. The toughness of their lamb is exceptional after the flavor is tasted. It explodes in your mouth with different spices. The best thing about the meat is that it's not very greasy.

Another rarity to find is their eggplant dip which is thick and tasty. It is full of spices. The hummus, made of mashed chickpeas, is similar but, blander. Both dips are appetizers that are perfect for dipping their warm, soft, doughy pita bread in that is complimentary with the meal.

Of course, any Mediterranean restaurant has to have the signature Greek dolma. The dolma is a ball of cooked rice and ground lamb wrapped in grapeleaves accompanied with fresh squeezed lemon juice on top. Unfortunatley, King Tut's dolmas are not the homemade kind. The ingredients in them differ from real, plump, authentic dolmas only the Greeks can create. Although they are not the very best kind of dolmas,  plop one in your mouth and you'll love how the tangyness from the acidic lemon mixes well with the sharp lamb meat flavor. Mmmh!

One of the best dishes there is the warm, thick, broth based Freekah Soup. It is truly one-of-a-kind with bits of grain and a yummy spice called harissa in it.

The only American associated dish that is kid friendly, served at King Tut's is the spicy pizza with onions and ample garlic that contributes to the taste.

There are many good vegitarian options here but you can't beat a meat-free patty, fried and breaded, called Falafel which includes smashed chickpeas and spiced feild beans served with a yogurt sauce. It's a great vegitarian choice. It's a popular middle eastern meal, well known in Egypt.

Last but not least, the Cous Cous is a rare find in Texas. It's good but not the tastiest item on the menu at this particular restaurant. It is bland with no prominent flavor compared to the other spice-filled, seasoned foods on the menu. However, it's a fun dish to try if it's new to you. It's one of the most healthy middle eastern dishes.

The brightly lit restaurant has different sized cafe-type tables to sit at. The walls are painted with Egyptian murals, half covered and cracked. There is an Egyptian statue in one room. The theme glows throughout the restaurant.

While paying for your meal, it is easy to get side-tracked by the different foreign foods packaged by the check-out counter. Next to the cash register, they also have a case full of Baklava and Fingers: two flaky, sweet desserts that have honey as a key ingredient in them.

Trust me, the place is a treat for yourself and your friends to eat out at with so many spectacular, unusual dishes. You'll be interested and want to try more!

Lentil Soup

The first time I ever had lentil soup was at my mother-in-law's house. She always had something cooking when we visited and made sure we were well fed. It was delicious. On NPR the other day, a healthy cooking program was talking about the wonderful qualities of lentils. They mentioned that it is full of protein and fiber. On a recent Snow Day, I made a pot of lentil soup. It was a perfect lunch for a cold day inside. For a tasty, healthy, and economical meal, try lentil soup.

2 cups washed and rinsed lentils
6-8 cups water
1 chicken bouillon cube
1/2 cup chopped ham
Kosher salt
pepper

Put all ingredients in large stew pot. Cook on medium heat for about 20 minutes.

The Kimbell Review by Shanna

The best kept secret in Fort Worth is The Kimbell's lunch buffet. Not only do you get to enjoy excellent food, but you are surrounded by art from around the world. Sundays are the busiest days, especially right around 12:00 p.m.

The buffet always has two soups to choose from as well as salads, quiches, and sandwiches. Rolls and butter are available along with a decadent dessert. Coffee, tea, lemonade and water are self-serve and unlimited. They also sell a Kimbell Cookbook in the gift shop that is full of recipes that are easy to make at home. After lunch, you'll have to browse through the permanent exhibit or catch a traveling exhibit. The gift shop is a fun place to find artsy gifts.

This is absolutely one of our favorite lunch spots.

George's Greek Specialty Foods Review by Shanna

If you love Greek food, you will definitely want to make a trip over to George's Greek Specialty Foods. It is located on the corner of White Settlement Road and Isbell. Not sure how to get there? As you pass Greenwood Cemetery going west, stay on White Settlement Road until you cross over the bridge near the Trinity River. It will be on the right after the bridge.

First, you will see a beautiful mural painted on the front of the store by a local artist, Darla Lyon. As you enter, the blue and white tile floor will transport you back to Greece. You will be greeted with a friendly smile by Nick Phiripes, the owner, or his son Theo. Nick's dad, George, is the founder. You will find an assortment of Greek items to purchase and take home and/or stay and have a bite to eat. I would recommend the Greek Salad or the Turkey Sandwich served in a pita pocket.The salad is a perfect blend of lettuce, feta, olive oil, tomatoes, olives, and Greek spices. The sandwich is turkey plus the aforementioned salad.  For a vegetarian, you might try the Spanikopita. This is a combination of flaky phyllo with seasoned spinach.  The Dolmas are handmade as is everything on the menu. The grape leaves are stuffed with lamb and rice and are perfect with just a dash of fresh squeezed lemon on top.  For dessert, try the Baklava. This dessert is full of pecans and sweetness. There is an assortment of drinks that are self-serve. I like the pomegranate juice. On a warm day, the patio is open.

So stop by and say hello to Nick and have a wonderful Greek meal.