Disneyminded's Recipe of the Week

This week's feature: 

Guinness Stew
Rose & Crown - United Kingdom - EPCOT 

Recipe Repeated from AllEars.net                                               

 

Rose & Crown Pub - England Pavilion - EPCOT - Photo Source: www.cs.fredonia.edu

Ingredients:

2 pounds sirloin cubes
1 ounce olive oil
1 each dry bay leaf
8 ounces diced onions
4 ounces diced carrots
½ ounce chopped garlic
2 teaspoons fresh thyme
2 teaspoons fresh rosemary
¼ teaspoon red chili flakes
8 ounces Guinness stout
1 quart beef broth 

Method of Preparation: 
•  Sear sirloin cubes in a large stock pot in a small amount of olive  oil, add the bay leaf.
•  Once the meat has a good sear on it (browned), add the onions and carrots. Cook until the onions are translucent.
•  Add the garlic, thyme, rosemary, and chili flakes. Cook for one minute and add the Guinness.
•  Allow the Guinness to simmer for five minutes, then add the beef broth.
•  Simmer for 30 minutes. Liquid should reduce by at least 1/3.
•  Season with salt and pepper to your personal taste.
Cook's note: To thicken stew if wanted, make a slurry of 1 ounce cornstarch and 2 ounces water and add to stew while at a simmer.

Guinness Stew - Photo source: www.talkdisney.com

Colorful characters come to life: Art of Animation Resort

If you are a fan of Disney's animated movies then you will enjoy your stay at Art of Animation Resort. From the moment you pull up to the hotel you are welcomed by large, colorful images of your favorite characters like Ariel of The Little Mermaid, Nemo from Finding Nemo and Simba of The Lion King. The entire resort is bright and fun and engulfs you in the world of animation.

Checking in you'll be greeted by the many characters that make Disney number one in animated features. Rooms run as low as $105/night.

Wrapped around the walls of the lobby are some of Disney's most popular animated characters.

There are four different room areas centered around a particular film. They feature Finding Nemo, Cars, The Lion King and the Little Mermaid.

Hotel area featuring Finding Nemo near the pool.

What's the first thing any Disney vacationer wants to do after checking in? Hit the POOL!! You got it.  Art of Animation Resort has the largest pool on all of Disney World's Property. Get your suit on and hit the water with your favorite characters from Finding Nemo! There are 2 other pools on property - Cozy Cone Pool in the Cars area and Flippin Fins Pool in the Little Mermaid area.

The largest pool on Disney property!

Fountain area.

Large poolside sculpture of Crush!

As each hotel area features a theme and characters from the movies, we explored the Cars hotel area.

Fillmore

Tow Mater.

Mine, Mine...

If you're hungry after a nice swim you can head over to Landscape of Flavors which provides quick service meals and snacks featuring burgers, meatball subs, tandor oven-roasted meats and veggies, pastries and a variety of beverages.

Sit out by the pool and enjoy your lunch!

Or sit inside and enjoy a burger and fries.

We enjoyed the meatball sub with a Caesar Salad side. Yumm!!

If you're headed out to the parks or Downtown Disney you can catch a bus to anywhere on Disney property right up front too. They have a large bus facility to take you wherever your heart desires.

Disney's Art of Animation is colorful, comfortable and the perfect place for any Disney animation fan!

Disneyminded's Recipe of the Week

As some or most of you know I absolutely love everything Disney. The sites, the sounds, rides, resorts and of course the food. 

Each week we will be featuring one of our favorite Disney recipes for everyone to collect and enjoy! Share your creations to the Disneyminded Facebook www.Facebook.com/imdisneyminded page. We'd love to see how your recipe turns out!

Be sure to follow us on this blog to know when the next recipe is available. You won't want to miss them!

This is a childhood favorite!
This week's feature:
Tonga Toast
from the Kona Cafe at the Polynesian Resort 
Recipe repeated from All Ears.net

Photo source - DisneyFoodBlog.com

Ingredients: 
2 or 4 slices sourdough bread, cut 1 to 1 1/2 inches thick
1 banana
1/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 egg
1/4 cup milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla
oil or shortening
whipped butter and/or syrup

Method:
Cut a 1-inch pocket in one side of each bread slice. Cut banana in half crosswise, then split each piece lengthwise. Remove peel and stuff two pieces of fruit in each pocket of bread; set aside. Mix sugar and cinnamon; set aside. Mix together well the egg, milk and vanilla.

Heat about 4 inches of oil in a pan to 350º F. Dip stuffed bread into egg/milk mixture and let it soak a few seconds to let penetrate bread. Fry bread on both sides in hot oil until lightly browned, about 3 minutes. Drain on paper towels or wire rack. Sprinkle with cinnamon sugar and serve. 

Retro Bowl: Splitsville Luxury Lanes™

It's not your grandfather's bowling alley! From the moment you walk into Splitsville, located in Downtown Disney's West End, you might think it was, with the bright red, yellow and blue colors reminiscent of the 50's on the walls. The retro lockers at the entrance and the colorful bowling balls remind you of a time gone by. 

The sign outside beckons you back to give you that retro feeling.

This bowling pin sculpture hangs over the main entrance.

These colorful retro lockers greet you as you proceed to the counter to book your lanes.

But as soon as you look toward the lanes you realize that something is different here. Although Splitsville contains 30 lanes, you've never seen them like this before. They are nestled in the corners in two or three lane clusters and they are on two floors. What? Two floors! Lively music combined with good food, a couple of bars and you realize you're definitely ready to go bowl a strike!

There is a large and colorful selection of bowling balls to choose from.

Take the escalator up to the second floor and enjoy more bowling, food and fun.

The almost private lanes make you feel like you're in your own bowling alley just hanging out with friends.

The atmosphere is a cross between the Jetson's and a night club. Pool tables and large leather booths invite you to sit and eat and be entertained. The smell of the food definitely entices you to eat either at the lanes, at a family table or outside at a first floor outdoor bar area, complete with live music, or upstairs out on the balcony overlooking the West End activities. 

The outside bar area is perfect to get a snack and listen to music while sipping on your favorite beverage.

The balcony upstairs is a great way to gather and see what's going on at the West End from above.

The hustle and bustle from up above, out on the balcony.

Splitsville's menu offers everything from loaded fries as an appetizer, pizza, fish & chips, burgers & sandwiches to a Super Sundae and Kid's Meals. All dishes were developed by chef Tim Cushman and are tasty and cost in the $6 - $25 range. Don't forget the Sushi Bar located on the first floor!

These large comfy booths are located throughout the bowling alley perfect for enjoying your lunch or dinner.

The Turkey Club is an excellent choice from the many items on the menu.

Back to the bowling, if you want to bowl it'll cost you a little more than the alleys down the street. But this kind of bowling is meant for a group of people out on the town, a birthday celebration or families looking to enhance their vacations at Disney World.

Weekdays - Open to 4pm - $15
Evenings - 4pm to Close - $20
Saturdays & Sundays - $20.

You get time on the lanes depending on the amount of people in your group. 

1-3 - 1 Hour
4 - 1 Hour/15 mins.
5 - 1 Hour/30 mins.
6-8 - 1 Hour/45 mins.

Playing pool is also an option at Splitsville.

The gift shop at the entrance is a good place to find some great memorabilia, like T-shirts, bowling pin shaped water bottles, bowling shirts and more, to take home to remember your experience.

The bowling pin water bottles make a great gift!

One of the many t-shirts you can purchase in the gift shop.

If you're looking for a great night out locally it fits the bill! If you're on vacation and want to have some good family fun, it'll work for you too!

If you happen to be in the Downtown Disney area don't hesitate to stop in and check Splitsville out. Whether you're going to bowl, going to eat or just strolling through to see what it's all about, you're going to have a great time.

Now hit those lanes and get a strike!

Down by the River: Port Orleans Riverside

Nestled within the Walt Disney World Complex you can find a little bit of the bayou. New Orleans easy living is abound. Antebellum styled buildings mixed with a riverboat theme and beautiful waterways running through put you in a Louisiana frame of mind. Come along with us as we explore Port Orleans Riverside a little jewel among the trees.

You are greeted by friendly cast members who are eager to put you in that Louisiana frame of mind y'all!

The ornate registration lobby is bright and inviting and the staff ushers you in to take care of your every need.

Port Orleans Riverside is considered a moderate resort with rooms running from the $180's to $250's a night. The rooms are nestled back on the property along the Sassagoula River in grand tradition. 

Buildings with that Southern Louisiana flair invite you to your room to relax and enjoy your vacation.

This quaint bridge will take you from the main concourse to the pool and rooms.

The Riverside Mill Food Co. from across the river.

There are two restaurants at Riverside - Boatwright's Dining Hall and Riverside Mill Food Company. If you make reservations at Boatwright's you can expect scrumptious Louisiana fare like Jambalaya and Crawfish Etouffee. Of course you'll find steak and chicken but you won't to miss those Cajun tastes.

The Boatwright's wooden sculpture that hangs over the restaurant.

For a more moderate price you can enjoy Riverside Mill Food Company. This restaurant is food court style and caters to families who have plenty of hungry mouths to feed. Family style eating with a family style price. Average $14.99/per.  Look for a Bakery, Grill, Pizza, Pasta, Salads, a Carving Station and other Specialties.  Dine next to the water wheel which actually powers a working cotton press.

Family style seating.

The large water wheel which actually powers a cotton press.

There are two bars at Riverside if you prefer a beverage after a long day at the parks. Muddy Rivers is a poolside bar and River Roost is located just outside of the lobby.

Enjoy this tucked away bar and lounge area called River Roost. 

Muddy Rivers Pool Bar offers full bar fare.

There are 5 leisure pools at Riverside ranging from the largest central pool to quiet pools closer to your room.  Children can enjoy the pool with its wooden bridges and water slides and mom and dad can relax poolside with a beverage that includes a little umbrella and a fruit slice!

5 leisure pools dot the property of Port Orleans Riverside.

There is plenty of outdoor recreation to be had at Riverside. Since the resort is nestled along the Sassagoula River there are plenty of water activities. Everything from canoes, kayaks, paddle boats to pontoon and mini-powerboats.

The boat docks are where you can find the rentals of your choice from a bass boat excursion to the mini-powerboats. You can also catch a ride to Downtown Disney and the French Quarter from this dock.

Don't forget you can rent bikes and surrey bikes to ride along the beautiful riverside walks and trails.

Port Orleans Riverside is a relaxing getaway for a perfect family vacation. Take yourself away to the laid back Louisiana way of life. Fishing in the river, lounging in the pool, eating the fabulous New Orleans flavors and it's almost as if you can hear the horn of a riverboat off in the distance.