2 Soul Sister's Food Challange

2 Soul Sisters are introducing a Food Challenge.  Have you ever been walking through the grocery store and came across a food you had no idea how to cook, or what to make with it?   Send us the name of the food.   If it can only be purchased at a specialty grocery store please give us the name of the store.  We will get the food item and make a dish with how to instructions.  Go ahead...bring on the challenge!  Just type your food item below in the comments section.

Stuffed Shells and Home Made Garlic Bread Photo

Stuffed Shells

Home Made Garlic Bread

Stuffed Shells and Home Made Garlic Bread

We are back in the kitchen again.  This time we have created stuffed pasta shells. We cooked our pasta shells and stuffed them with the following: fresh spinach, turkey Italian sausage, mushrooms, cheese and fresh diced basil and oregano.  Once the shells were stuffed we cover them with our favorite tomato sauce and added more cheese.  We baked uncovered for 30-45 mins, until the cheese became golden brown. 

We also created home made garlic bread.  We sliced a loaf of Fresh Italian bread, then topped it with diced garlic a drizzle of olive oil,  a pinch of sea salt and a sprinkle of fresh cheese.  The bread was baked for 5 mins.  So Yummy!

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Bang Bang Mongolian Grill Photos

Dessert Toppings

Grill

More Dessert Toppings

Angela's Dinner

Melissa's Dinner

Veggie Bar

Meat Bar

Sauces

More Veggies

Spice Bar

Bang Bang Mongolian Grill Review

Overall Review

 

Bang Bang Mongolian Grill is a hidden gem in the heart of Canton, Maryland.  This small chain restaurant provides a cafeteria style menu, where you purchase your desired bowl size and then fill it to capacity with all kinds of yumminess.  Once you have selected your meats, veggies, sauces, spices and noodles or rice the chef dumps your meal along with that of 10 other people on a huge flat grill that is about 6 foot wide.  The meals are kept separate but they are all cooked in their little area.  For dessert, they have a wonderful fat free frozen yogurt bar with tons of delicious toppings.  This is a perfect spot for after church when you want to grab something quick, filling and fun; casual date night, hanging out with friends or a fun outing for you and your children. As a matter of fact, Angela commented at the time that this is a wonderful way to introduce children to cooking.  Parking is not a problem here as there is a free parking lot and free garage parking… finally parking NOT being a problem. This is also a good place to go in the summer, spring or fall months as it is located in a really nice shopping area across from the water.  We really enjoyed this restaurant and therefore give Bang Bang Mongolian Grill ♪♪♪ and a half note. 

Melissa's Review

Dining at Bang Bang Mongolian Grill requires that you have some cooking ability and an understanding of flavors.  The restaurant supplies a bowl, a hot grill, a chef and an endless list of meats, veggies, spices and sauces.  The rest is your responsibility.  No one can be blamed but you if your dinner is a hot mess!  However if it is delicious, viola…You are a genius!  Being a true foodie, this dining experience both excites and stimulates me.   Bang Bang is a culinary playground.  Here you can exercise and push the limits of your flavor profiles.  You can challenge yourself to see what amazing dish you can create.  It reminds me of the show “Chopped” on the food network.  Here is your basket, now create something amazing.   Needless to say I managed to create something divine.  (Yes... yes, I’m tooting my own horn.)  It was a delicious mix of seafood and veggies in a curry and garlic sauce.  If you do not like to cook or don’t know how to pair foods and mix flavors then you will truly struggle and may even burst into tears because you added way to much spice to your dish.  I enjoyed the clean, sleek set up of the restaurant.    I would describe it as cafeteria style with a flare.  The red walls and black accents add a bit of mystery to the place.  I recommend that you try Bang Bang if you are in the area.  This place is perfect if you are dieting because you can make your meal as healthy as you want.  Overall I give Bang Bang ♪♪♪.

Angela's Review

Now we don’t usually review chain restaurants, but there is an exciting venue, new to this area, with a different and heretofore unheard of concept, (at least by me), that we just had to try and review. It comes to us from its origins in Iowa (really, Iowa!?).  I really enjoyed eating here. I had great fun putting together my own meal (literally); choosing from a variety of raw meats and seafood, veggies, spices, and sauces, taken from an impressive selection, and piled high into one of two bowl sizes, to be put on the grill with a choice of White Jasmine Rice, Brown Jasmine Rice, Fried Rice, Pad Thai Noodles or Japanese Soba. The one challenge to reviewing a restaurant of this sort is that you can’t blame food whose flavor you are not happy with on anyone but yourself…Lol.  It really helps to be able to cook and thus know what spices and sauces complement one another and the choice of meat and or seafood and how much of said seasonings and sauces to use. That being said, you can also follow one of their many recipes listed, if you need some help. The impression eating here gives one, is that of a fast-food carry out joint merged with an upscale dining establishment, sort of like a Chipotle or Boston Market, only selling alcohol and having a kick butt yogurt bar to finish off an already really cool meal. I made my dish with beef, chicken, scallops and calamari; peas, bean sprouts, mushrooms, egg, curry powder, smoked paprika, garlic powder, garlic oil, black-bean garlic sauce and soy sauce, with Pad Thai Noodles. It actually turned out pretty well, but next time I think I will use more soy sauce. I did well enough that I believe I will go back J I give Bang-Bang Mongolian Grill ♪♪♪♪, if only for novelties sake.

Rasika Food Photos

Kadi Patte Ka Scallops

Black Cod

Spicy Reshmi Kebab

Palak Chaat

Apple Jallebi & Gulab Jamun & Carrot Halwa & Cardamom Ice Cream

Bhindi Amchoor (Okra)

Vegetable Nilgiri Korma

Khubani Ki Tikki

Tawa Baingan

Chicken Makhani

Rasika Review

Overall Review

 Rasika (Sanskrit for "Flavor") is a true fine dining experience.  It is definitely not your typical Indian restaurant.  In our opinion it is what every Indian restaurant should be but sadly is not.  Rasika is a great place to star gaze as it is a favorite of First Lady Michelle Obama.  Because there are so many delicious things on the menu, we just had to dine at the chef's mercy.  We decided to order the tasting menu.  It was supposed to be a 6 course dinner.  However, once the food started coming out it quickly morphed into 6 main dishes followed by 4 different mini desserts.  We ordered one veterinarian menu and one meat menu.  This chef has to be complimented for his genius when it comes to sauces.  Each dish that we tried was graced with the most magnificent sauces you have every tasted.  Our favorite dishes were the Palak Chaat (Crispy spinach with sweet yogurt and chutney), Chicken Makhani (served in the richest, most buttery sauce you ever had) and the Tawa Baingan (Eggplant and potato with a peanut sauce).  So let's dive into the dishes:

Palak Chaat:

Imagine baby spinach deep fried with a sweet fruity yogurt sauce.  It sounds crazy but it is light, crispy, airy and unbelievably savory.  You have to try it to understand.  

Chicken Makhani:

The sauce is what makes this dish.  Envision a rich, savory, tomato-based sauce with tons of browned butter and lots of Indian spices.   This dish is to die for or rather to live for.  Lol.

Tawa Baingan:

It was presented as a baby tower of pleasure.  There was a layer of spiced potatoes, topped with a layer of eggplant.  The peanut sauce and tamarind added the perfect amount of sweetness.  This a definite must try. 

The chef even managed to transform Okra into something that Angie could enjoy.  He shredded the okra and seasoned it with delicious and refreshing Indian spices. The dry mango powder was probably the thing that did it for Angie as it seemed to counter the usual slimy texture.

The dish that we liked the least was the Vegetable Nilgiri Korma.  Here the chef place mixed vegetables in a sour mint, cilantro coconut sauce.  Melissa does not like sour and this dish tasted like the veggies were soaked in lemons.  Not so yummy in her tummy.  While Angela did not have issues with the sour, her issues with the dish were that seasonal veggies should not be drowned in a soup and the taste was lack luster. Janet (the wonderful friend that 1st introduced me to Rasika) enjoyed the Nilgiri Korma. 

Overall the food was amazing.  We also loved the decor and the atmosphere.  Rasika is a very popular restaurant.  It can be very difficult to get a reservation there.  We had to book 2 months in advance and even then we could not get a prime dinner seating time.  We had to get there a bit early.  Rasika is a great spot for date night or for girls night out.  They do have valet parking which is great because there is little street parking available.  Overall we give Rasika ♪♪♪♪.  

633 D Street NW

Washington, DC 20004

202-637-1222

Melissa's Review

 

I have to admit that I have been to Rasika before.  I absolutely LOVE this restaurant.  The bold flavors, super rich sauces and exotic spices are unbelievably alluring.  As soon as you walk in, the smell of Indian cooking transports you.  Eating at Rasika is like being on an adventure in a distant land.  Each dish creates a landscape full of color, mystery and intrigue.  If you close your eyes while you take a bite, the food tells a deeply personal story that carries you away.  You can tell that the chef has put thought and passion into each dish.  Even the dishes that I did not like, I found myself having to respect.  It’s always nice to dine with friends who have differing taste palettes; they bring insight and cause you to look at dishes in new ways.  As for the atmosphere, Rasika’s décor is minimalist yet very elegant.  Warm reds and creams create a simple and inviting space.  The staff is extremely knowledgeable and helpful.  I cheerfully give Rasika ♪♪♪♪. 

Angela's Review

 

Ok, so Rasika was our kick-off 2SoulSisters in DC venture, and what a kickoff it was. I LOVED this place. From the décor to the service to the food…my goodness THE FOOD… this place was wonderful with very few missteps to mar the experience. The bar, to include tables and chairs low to the ground, for those who want to walk in and be seated in this little gem of a restaurant without a reservation, is situated against the wall that separates the bar from the dining room, above which dangle a red beaded curtain, is so eye catching and sexy. I have come to realize over my years eating out and my interactions with various bartenders, that most are fine, very few are terrible, and a select few are simply put, psychic. When you describe the wine you are looking for and they listen carefully and go off to bring you back EXACTLY what you asked for, I am impressed. The bartenders here have that ability. Now, while it may seem strange to mention the end of my meal at the beginning of my review, I must give an honorable mention to the coffee of which I partook. It was fascinating. Though this may sound like a turn-off, it actually wasn't, but here it is. The coffee had the taste of cigarettes. I cannot figure out how, as it was not burnt, but was actually fairly smooth and enjoyable. Cigarette flavored coffee. Definitely a new experience for me. As for the food, I believe that the best way to really get a feel for the food in a restaurant is to partake of the tasting menu, if there is one, and if there is, you can afford it. I believe this is especially true when you are eating food from a culture you are not 100% familiar with. This was the time to splurge and boy was I glad we did. Anyway, if you like Indian food or would like to give it a try, this would be a great spot to try and/or frequent. I give it ♪♪♪♪.