Healthy chicken curry, anyone?

     I haven't made anything in the slow cooker lately because it has been occupied with caramel.  Lots and lots of caramel.  For those who attended my parent's anniversary celebration you probably know why.  This is because I stupidly filled my slow cooker full of caramel candies in order to make caramel apples at the event.  When the power went out at the event, the caramel hardened in my slow cooker.  It was a long process getting it all out, and I do not suggest making caramel in your good slow cooker. Ever.
     With my slow cooker finally cleaned out, I decided to try some more recipes this week.  On tonight's menu...Chicken Curry.  It sounded much better than our regular tacos or spaghetti.  And, it seemed very simple.  Tonight we were pleased that Marilyn (my Mother-in-law) joined us for dinner.  I am not sure who was happier that she could come... her, or Maya?  Haha.     


Slow Cooker Curry Chicken

• 6 boneless skinless chicken breasts
• 2 onions, chopped
• 2 cloves of garlic, minced
• 9 oz jar mango chutney
• 2/3 cup water
• 2 tbsp cornstarch
• 1 tbsp curry powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp white pepper
• 1 red bell pepper chopped
• 1 green pepper chopped
• 1 cup frozen baby peas

Combine chicken, onion and garlic in the slow cooker.  In a medium bowl combine chutney, water, cornstarch, curry powder, salt, and pepper.  Remove large pieces of chutney, chop and put back in.  Cook low for 6-8 hours.  Turn onto high and add bell peppers and peas.  Cook additional 20-30 minutes on high.

     Dinner turned out good!  It was a nice change.  If you are concerned about this being spicy... I did not think that it was spicy at all.  In fact, if you prefer spicy I would suggest adding a little more curry powder.  The chicken fell apart at the touch of a fork, and had a great flavor.  I served it on top of some brown rice. Kenny enjoyed it, and so did Marilyn.  Definitely one to put in my rotation!  Enjoy!

A Huge Inspiration: J.R. Martinez

We make a choice each day whether or not we are going to be positive.  J.R. Martinez shares his amazing story.  It is a great one to share with others.  This is so inspiring to me.  And it makes me even more thankful for our troops.  Wow!  

Why do we always stay at a Disney resort?

     Kenny and I stay at a Disney resort each time we go to Walt Disney World.  I do not think we would stay any where else unless it was free.  There are just too many benefits.  If you have been and stayed in a resort then you should understand why.  For those who choose not to for whatever reason, I will outline our reasons why.

1. Disney's Magical Express: how about FREE transportation from the airport to your resort?  And not just free, it is on a comfortable bus with televisions.  AND you do not have to worry about getting your luggage.  You get off of the plane, and go straight down stairs to Disney's desk.  You get on your comfy bus and go straight to your resort.  Then, you can go hang out at the parks for the rest of the day and your luggage will be waiting for you in your room when you return.  When it is time to go home, they drag your luggage to the bus and  they take you back to the airport.  So simple, so convenient, and so genius on Disney's part.  

Our bus waiting for us at the Orlando airport

2. The Disney "Touch": have you ever stayed at a resort that leaves special touches in your room for you? We have returned to towels folded into a Mickey shape, chocolate covered strawberries, champagne, balloons, cards from our favorite character and much more.  If anyone knows how to do it, it is Disney.  I do not care how old you are, when you get a special signed card from Ariel (my favorite Princess) that says, "Happy Birthday, Amanda!"... you cannot help but smile ear-to-ear.  Oh, and I cannot forget those adorable little Mickey Mouse soaps you receive in your shower!

3. The Refillable Resort Mug: the price of drinks can add up quick at Disney...but not when you have your refillable resort mug when staying at a Disney resort.  

4. Worry-Free Transportation: to and from each park, Water Parks and Downtown Disney.  Not having to worry about renting a car, or paying for parking is AWESOME!  This includes buses, trains, monorails, boats, ferrys and more.  So nice!

5. The Disney Dining Plan: in the beginning, we did not get the Disney Dining Plan.  It was not because we did not want it, we did not realize the value.  For people that love good food as much as we do it is such a great deal.  Looking back, we wasted so much money by not getting the dining plan.  If nothing else, it is so nice not to worry about what you are ordering because you know it is already taken care of.  You basically pre-pay for your meals, and get an amazing deal.  SO much food! Watch for my post coming up about this plan.

Concierge floor at The Grand Floridian

6. Key to the World Card:  when you stay at a Disney resort, you can use your room key as if it is a credit card.  We don't always use this, but if you don't want to carry all of your cards and cash around it it is a nice convenience.  

7. Location: who wants to have to drive for 30 minutes each time that you go to a park?  Not me!  When you stay at a Disney resort you right by everything.  

8. Extra Magic Hours: this is one of the best reasons to stay at a Disney resort.  Before the parks open, or after the parks close...resort guests get to enjoy the parks without the extra crowds.  Often times you can walk right onto your favorite rides.  LOVE EMH!

9. Themed Resorts: We take "days off" from the parks just to enjoy our resort.  They each have a fun theme, and there is so much to see.  

10. More Convenience: Aside from the transportation, there are other convenient benefits for staying at a Disney resort.  One includes a fun wake up call from Mickey himself.  Sleep in all you want, but if you want to get up for early EMHs or breakfast reservations get a wake up call from Mickey.  Also, if y you want to buy an item while you are at the park gift shops they will deliver the package to your room.   

I hope this helps when you are planning your next trip!  PS...the Value Resorts as not much more than the others, is any more at all.  Look for my post coming soon including our reviews of resorts that we have stayed in thus far.  

We WILL Surprise Our Kids Like This One Day...

    I absolutely LOVE this video.  We WILL, for sure, no doubt in my mind surprise our kids like this one day.  And, I cannot wait! Kenny and I have already gone back and forth regarding what age is best to take kids for the first time.  I think that we will be lucky if we wait until they are 3.  Who cares if they don't remember EVERY detail... they will go again, and again.  Or, we can do as Kenny suggested and send them off to Grandma and Grandpa's for the week since Disney is "only for adults". Haha!

Our Favorite Disney Restaurants

    As promised, I will share our favorite restaurants to visit during our Disney vacation.  As many times as I have visited in my life, there are still some that I have not tried.  First, I will list our absolute favorite that cannot be passed up.  Then, I will list our favorites at each park.

At Chef Mickey's in 2009

Our Overall Top Picks

1. Le Cellier Steakhouse Via Napoli
2. 50's Primetime Cafe
3. Ohana

*If money is not a concern, go to Le Cellier.  But, because it is now considered a Signature restaurant and takes 2 Table Service credits each it falls off of our overall Top Picks list.  Via Napoli has great food, great value and great atmosphere.

Magic Kingdom

1. Tony's Town Square Restaurant
2. Liberty Tree Tavern
3. Cinderella's Royal Table
4. The Crystal Palace
5. Cosmic Ray's Starlight Cafe
6. Main Street Bakery

     We visit Tony's Town Square and Cosmic Ray's EVERY time we go!  Tony's has great italian food, and it is adorable because it is themed after Lady and the Tramp.  Cosmic's not only offers great food, with 3 bays to choose from; but it is very special to me because it is where I worked during the Disney College Program.  If you go on the Dining Plan (we suggest this), Main Street Bakery is great because many of their breakfast items are considered "snacks".  Don't waste your snacks on drinks and popcorn.  Get a meal out of it!

Chicken Parmigiana from Tony's Town Square 2012

Half Chicken from Cosmic Ray's 2012

The Crystal Palace 2010

Epcot

1. Via Napoli
2. Le Cellier Steakhouse
3. The Garden Grill
4. Coral Reef Restaurant
5. Sommerfest
6. Tangierine Cafe (Via Napoli pushed this off of the list)

       Epcot is my FAVORITE park when it comes to food.  I could eat there for lunch and dinner each day of our trip, and still have restaurants to try.  Le Cellier is the perfect place if you want a delicious steak, and it is awesome for celebrating a special occasion or for date night.  Via Napoli stole the #1 spot during our 2012 trip because it features the most amazing wood fire pizzas.  Disney actually flies in the flour, tomatoes and water to make the pizza so authentic! You really cannot go wrong eating anywhere at Epcot, but these are our top picks!

Beer and Wine from Germany 2008

Via Napoli 2012

The Garden Grill 2008

Hollywood Studios

1. 50's Primetime Cafe
2. SciFi Dinner Theater
3. Pizza Planet

    Hollywood Studios does not have a lot of restaurants, but the ones above are good.  We visit 50's and Pizza Planet during EACH trip.  50's is kind of like Cracker Barrel food, but wayyyy better and the atmosphere is much more fun. Honestly, there isn't anything super special about Pizza Planet...but it has such a fun theme (Toy Story)! 

50's Primetime Cafe 2008

Animal Kingdom

1. Yak and Yeti Restaurant
2. Flame Tree BBQ

      Animal Kingdom has the least amount of restaurant options.  Yak and Yeti is very good, and it is owned by the same people that own Rainforest Cafe.  This is why we usually only spend half a day at AK.

The Disney touch (always tell them about special occasions)

Resort Restaurants

1. Ohana 
2. California Grill
3. Chef Mickey's
4. Grand Floridian Cafe 

    All 4 of these restaurants are awesome.  For our "day off" from the parks we usually choose one of these options.  Or, we go to a park that closes earlier such as AK or Hollywood Studios and visit one of these in the evening.  At California Grill, make sure you go around the time of Wishes fireworks show and request a table by the window.  If you go to Ohana, go for dinner and head outside to the resort beach afterwards to view Wishes.   Beautiful!

Ohana 2009

California Grill

    I hope you enjoyed our list!  I am aware that we left off many restaurants, but these are the best in our eyes.  During this next trip we are trying a few that we have not before such as Via Napoli (new), Boma and Teppan Edo.  I will definitely share about our experiences there after we return in January.  We cannot wait!

Our List of Disney Must See/Do Attractions

Kenny and I are down to double digits in our countdown. In 99 days we will be traveling back to Disney World to celebrate my 25th birthday. People often ask me for a list of my favorite restaurants and attractions (since I worked there), so I figured I would break it down for everyone on here so you can reference it as you plan your future trips. Now, I am sure that once we have children of our own this list will change a bit. This is OUR list of favorites...but many others would agree as well. In this post, I will outline my favorite attractions from each park. In others posts I will also outline our favorite restaurants, resorts and also provide you some tips for making the most of a Disney vacation.

My Mickey Mouse ears in 2008

Our Top 10 Must See/Do List

1. Expedition Everest
2. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
3. Soarin'
4. Splash Mountain
5. Kilimanjaro Safari
6. Dinosaur
7. Pirates of the Caribbean
8. Mickey's PhilharMagic
9. Space Mountain
10. Test Track
11. Wishes (fireworks)

I know I said 10, but I could not leave off Wishes! While working at Disney...part of my job as a location trainer was to give new employees a tour of Tomorrowland at Magic Kindom. The tour included making sure that they have seen the firework show Wishes. I watched Wishes what felt like hundreds of times, and I still got the chills each time. Also, many people pass up Mickey's PhilharMagic, but it is great because it takes you back to some of the classic Disney movies and makes you smile.

Magic Kingdom

1. Splash Mountain
2. Wishes (fireworks)
3. Space Mountain
4. Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
5. Pirates of the Caribbean
6. Mickey's PhilharMagic
7. The Haunted Mansion
8. Carousel of Progress
9. Jungle Cruise
10. Peter Pan's Flight
11. The Hall of Presidents
12. Disney's Electrical Parade

Oh, Magic Kingdom. My personal favorite of the 4 parks. Some adults think of it as their least favorite, but I think of it is the most magical. MK (cast member slang) is always the first park that Kenny and I visit, and the last park as well. I smile ear-to-ear when I walk out onto Main Street, and I have to take at least 5 pictures of Cinderella's Castle as if I am seeing it for the first time. Then, when it is time to go I always stop and pause to look at Cinderella's Castle one last time, admittedly with a tear in my eye knowing that the magic for that trip has come to an end.

In front of Cinderella's Castle during my 21st birthday trip 2008

Epcot

1. Soarin'
2. Test Track
3. Ellen's Energy Adventure
4. The Seas with Nemo and Friends
5. Living with the Land
6. Spaceship Earth
7. Maelstrom
8. Illuminations (fireworks spectacular)

Epcot is wonderful. It is a great combination of awesome food, an expansive amount of culture and great attractions. It is a lot of fun to walk around the countries (if you are there without children, try getting a drink from each country). This tends to be the favored park for most adults, and it is Kenny's personal favorite. We usually spend 2 days at this park as well, but depending on the time of year you go you could definitely get by with 1 day (we often do our favorites twice).

In front of Epcot's "big golf ball" in 2010

Hollywood Studios

1. The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror
2. Rock 'n' Rollercoaster
3. The Great Movie Ride
4. Fantasmic (show)
5. Muppet Vision 3D
6. Voyage of the Little Mermaid
7. Lights, Motors, Action Extreme Stunt Show
8. Beauty and the Beast - Live on Stage

Hollywood Studios is a park that during the slow season you could visit for half a day. There is more to do than what is on this list, but often times we only do what is on this list. When you go, plan on riding the Tower of Terror and Rock 'n' Rollercoaster twice. Then go ride Tower of Terror again, it is so fun. Fantasmic is great, but it is even better when you have seating. Check into getting dining reservations that gets you priority seating for the Fantasmic Show.

My Disney roommate and I reunite in June 2009

Animal Kingdom

1. Expedition Everest
2. Kilimanjaro Safari
3. Dinosaur
4. It's Tough to be a Bug
5. Kali River Rapids
6. Festival of the Lion King
7. Finding Nemo - The Musical

Animal Kingdom is the most commonly skipped park, because people assume it is a "big zoo with a couple of rides". We completely disagree. For one, it features our FAVORITE ride, Expedition Everest. We also LOVE Kilimanjaro Safari and Dinosaur. This is another park that you could get away with in a half day if the parks are slower, but don't skip it entirely!

Kenny and I with his favorite character in 2010

Fun story... I SURPRISED Kenny with a trip to Disney for his 25th birthday. He had no clue that we were going. I saved money and planned for months. Then, I got into contact with his boss to request the days off for him. At the time, we were going to Buffalo Wild Wings every Thursday night with friends. I special ordered a quarter-sheet cake from Walmart, and had them decorate it with Disney characters. After eating all of our wings the waitress asked if we would like dessert. I said, "You have to get dessert, to celebrate your birthday!" She brought out the cake, featuring Mickey and the gang and it said, "Pack your bags!" He did not believe it!

Please feel free to comment with your favorite attractions! Have a magical day! :-)