Dole Whip Recipe

I feel like this post has been a long time coming!  There are so many Dole Whip recipes on the web, and this might not be the first that I try because, like this recipe, they are all so easy.  However, this is where I found the one that I used this time!

The Dole Whip is a Disney staple!  It's basically a cult following, with t-shirts and twitter accounts dedicated to this sweet and refreshing delight!

Of course, that means that if you're anything like me, you're going to crave this delicious (and vegan!) dessert at home!  If so, here's a recipe to try it!

To make one Dole Whip, you will need:

• 1 1/2 cup frozen pineapple (it won't fit exactly in the cup, but that's accounted for)
• 1/8 cup almond milk (or, really, any milk)
• A splash of honey OR 1/4 cup whipped topping (Cool Whip)

You will also need a really high powered blender, or a food processor.  I originally tried to use a Magic Bullet and that did not pulverize the pineapple as necessary, so I pulled out the food processor and, though it took a while to blend it all smooth, it worked beautifully.

All you need to do is put the ingredients in the food processor or blend and blend until smooth.  I put about 1/4-1/2 tsp. of honey in for a little extra sweetness, but you could put more or less based on your taste preference.  Also, if they pineapple isn't blending well, you can add 1 tbsp at a time extra almond milk.

At the end, you will have a soft-serve texture!

Edit: I made the Dole Whip again 3 days later (it was delicious and I am obsessed) but tried it with Cool Whip instead of honey.  IT WAS MAGICAL.  I highly recommend this version, as it did taste more like the Disney version to me.

I put the pineapple mixture in a piping bag with a star tip to squeeze it into my bowl to make it look more fun and fancy, but it will taste just as delicious just scooped into a bowl!

It was SO GOOD.  I reached the end of the bowl before I realized it.

Next time, I might add a little cool whip, since it doesn't have dairy, but you could easily add just a little bit of whip cream as well to make it a little more creamy.

You could also add some coconut rum or spiced rum over the top like they did at the Flower and Garden Festival this year and are beginning to do in Animal Kingdom!

I plan on doing so for my roommates once I go back to college in a month :)

Still it hits that craving for many people's favorite dish at Disney World!

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Olaf's Carrot Cupcake

If you remember from the Princess Red Velvet Cupcakes, I used to be quite the cupcake baker.  And when I saw the Olaf carrot cake cupcake being featured at Disney, I knew it was something I was going to have to try my hand at.

The version I'm trying to replicate is from the 24 Hour Rock Your Disney Side event earlier this year (2014) and since then they've updated to a version with a piece of white chocolate for Olaf's head.  If you want to get fancy with the chocolate, you can always try that instead!



For 28 Carrot Cake Cupcakes, you will need:

• 2 1/3 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspon salt
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 1 cup butter, softened
• 1 1/4 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups pureed carrots (about 4 medium carrots)
• 2/3 cup milk

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees.  Begin by mixing the dry ingredients, flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon, together in a small bowl and setting aside.  Next, cream together the sugar and butter, adding the eggs one at a time, followed by the vanilla.  Before combining the wet and dry ingredients, puree the carrots until smooth.  I recommend adding the milk in order to smooth out the puree.  Alternate adding the dry ingredients and carrot puree into the wet ingredients, mixing between each addition.

Fill the cupcake liners 1/2 to 2/3 of the way full and bake for approximately 16-20 minutes.

For the cream cheese frosting and face designs, you will need:

• 1 package (8 oz) cream cheese (softened)
• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter (softened)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 4-6 cups powdered sugar
• 2-4 teaspoons milk
• Dark food dye
• Carrots
• Chocolate bar

To begin, cream together the cream cheese and butter until the two are completely mixed.  Add the vanilla and mix.  Add the powdered sugar one cup at a time until the desired consistency is reached.  If you add too much powdered sugar, add milk to thin the frosting out a bit, one teaspoon at a time.  I think that the Olaf structure of the icing would be easiest to attain with a stiffer icing, however mine was not and I thought it looked okay, so it's up to you!

Yum!

Allow the cupcakes to cool.  Get the largest round piping tip you have (or cut the corner out of a plastic bag) and create 3 tiers using the cream cheese icing.  Set some aside and color it with black or other dark colored food dye.  Use a very thin piping tip, or a toothpick (that's what I did) to draw on Olaf's mouth, eyes, and eyebrows.

Cut carrots into small points to use as Olaf's nose.  If you want, you could also use an orange taffy or fondant and design the nose using that.  Carefully cut shaving off of the chocolate bar to use for the hairs on his head.  Assemble the face of your Olaf and you're done!

So will you try to make the Olaf cupcake yourself?  Let me know in the comments how it turned out!

Quick Service Picks at Animal Kingdom

There are only a handful of quick service restaurants (Disney's version of "fast food") in Animal Kingdom, but what they lack in number they make up for in theming!  During lunch especially, these restaurants can get really busy, and when hunger strikes it can be hard to choose exactly where you want to eat.  Having some knowledge about these quick service restaurants before going to the park can help you pick the best quick service place for you to eat!

However, even if you don't pre-plan where to go, you can't go wrong with Disney food!




Planner vs. Impulsive
Though the planner and the impulsive individual might be happy with any choice, it's nice to have a clue what might be best suited for you before going to the parks, especially with only 5 quick service venues to choose from!

Planner

• Location: Discovery Island
• Menu: Lunch/Dinner
• Why: Quick service or not, Flame Tree Barbecue is some of the most delicious food at Disney. It's well suited for the planner due to the often long lines extending before and after lunch and dinner.



My pulled pork and baked beans!

• The variety of sauces makes every option delicious (I loved the pulled pork), and I've heard that the onion rings are great.
• The decor here is wonderful and colorful.  Sit underneath the pavilion by the water for some great views of the tree of life.
• There is plenty of wildlife just walking around.  Be sure not to feed them, but enjoy their presence!  They are pretty entertaining. 

Fiance with our duck friend

Impulsive: ...Pack a lunch?

The reason I suggest packing a lunch is simply because of the lack of options in Animal Kingdom.  This park is huge...it could fit Epcot, Magic Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios inside it.  For the impulsive, when hunger strikes, you might not be near a desirable quick service option.  Your best bet might be to pack your food.  Alternatively, none of the options there are bad options!

Saver vs. Spender

Whether you have a seemingly endless budget, or are pinching the pennies as much as possible, there is a quick service stop in Animal Kingdom that's just right for you!

Saver

• Location: Dinoland, U.S.A.
• Menu: Lunch/Dinner
• Why: This quick service stop has good food a reasonable prices.  However, the best reason to come here is the backstory!  (Read about it here, and be sure to get a seat in the old Airstream trailer attached to the building.)

Spender

• Location: Asia
• Menu: Lunch/Dinner
• Why: This restaurant has both a table service and quick service area, making it some of the most expensive quick service food, but also some of the best.  The seating for the quick service diners is all outside, and though this is a bit inconvenient during the rain, it makes for some beautiful views any other time.

Romantic vs. Impulsive

Even quick service stops can embody the feel of the Walt Disney World visit you want to have! 

Romantic

• Location: Africa
• Menu: Breakfast, Lunch/Dinner
• Why: Though there are limited food choices here, the view in the seating area here is gorgeous!  It's secluded from the park, and not extremely well know, so it's a great place to get away from the crowds and spend some time with the one you love!

Fun

• Location: Discovery Island
• Menu: Breakfast, Lunch/Dinner
• Why: Though the food here is standard park fare, and is limited in choices much past the pizza, the restaurant has colorful and fun decorations that make it a great stop for those who want something familiar and be able to quickly move on to the next stop in Animal Kingdom!

There aren't many choices here (which will likely change as Animal Kingdom expands to include Avatarland), there is something there for...well...mostly everyone!  Where will you pick to eat?  What is your favorite spot?  Let me know in the comments!

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