You Should Watch Alice in Paris

If you were to turn the movie Amelie into a travel show, you'd probably get something pretty close to Alice in Paris.

0

My New TV Reel

This reel of my TV work is SO overdue. I've been meaning to make a new one for about a year and a half, but kept putting it off...and off...and off. (I have many many friendly follow-up emails from my agent's assistant to prove it!)

Editing video is not my favorite thing (nor is it something I'm particularly good at), but hiring someone else to do it also stressed me out since I would still have to go through all my segments and pick out the clips I wanted, then pay someone to edit them together. I figured that once I'd gone through all the work of finding the right clips and song (basically 80% of the job), I might as well just keep going and finish the job myself.

So I did!

Anyway, here it is!



My hosting and lifestyle expert reel featuring some of my favorite clips for the dozens and dozens of TV segments and other on-camera things I've done over the past couple years. My ultimate goal is a paid TV gig as a co-host or contributor or some other kind of fabulous TV project where I get to do this sort of thing every day!

I love being on camera and sharing ideas and stories that both entertain and inspire. I love interacting with people, laughing, dancing, and riding with the unexpected waves of TV production (it's the mistakes and surprises that are always my favorite!) and look forward to the moment when I get to do it all the time.

Thanks so much for your support over the years. I had no idea when I hit publish on that first post all those years ago, that it would lead to me laughing it up on national TV with legends like Al Roker and Harry Connick Jr., but man oh man am I ever thankful that it has!

Can't wait to see what happens next.

xoxo

0

Tiramisu Cake and Peach Upside-Down Cake (TODAY Show)

I was super excited to participate in two cooking segments on my latest visit to the TODAY Show. We were talking about box mix hacks all day, starting with a box mix and turning it into total showstopper desserts like my Chocolate Tiramisu Cake (with rum and a homemade mascarpone frosting!) and an Upside-Down Cornbread Peach Cake.

I had so much fun with Al Roker and the whole team; this was probably my most favorite segment yet! Click below to watch the video!

0

Making Brookies! (TODAY Show)

I was back on the TODAY Show this week sharing a few box mix baking hacks--fun and easy ways to take a standard box mix from plain to fabulous. In my first segment, I showed Al Roker how to make "brookies" aka brownies with cookies baked on top.

Such a fun recipe that you can easily customize by adding espresso powder and using your favorite cookie dough. Click the video below to watch!

0

DIY Fall Decor Ideas (TODAY Show)

I had so much fun sharing these easy DIY Fall decor ideas on TODAY Show recently. Click above to watch the video and scroll down for links to the tutorials.

• DIY Sunflower Kissing Ball Tutorial

0

Feed Your Passion Episode 4: Vendy Plaza Food Market in Harlem

In this week's episode of Feed Your Passion, I brought Eugene along with me to explore Vendy Plaza in Harlem's La Marqueta.

Tucked under the Harlem train tracks, this cool food market features live music, wine, and some of the best food vendors from around the city. We tried everything from fresh fruit smoothies and toasted banana marshmallows to empanadas, samosas, and bbq pork.

Some seriously delicious eating, for sure!

Watch the short video below and don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss a single episode!

0

Feed Your Passion Episode 3: Gluten-Free Colombian Treats at Big Booty Bread Co.

Gluten-free baking might seem like a totally new thing, but many cultures have actually been making incredible gluten-free baked goods for thousands of years.

In this episode of my web series Feed Your Passion, I head to one of my FAVORITE bakeries in NYC-- Big Booty Bread Co. (yup...that's the name!) to learn all about chewy, cheesy, and ridiculously delicious Colombian breads like pan de bono, pan de queso, arepas, and more!

Watch the video here:

0

WATCH: Alejandra on The TODAY Show!

I had the most amazing time hosting a cooking segment on the TODAY Show this morning!

It was an absolute dream come true to cook live on the air on a show that I've watched since before I can even remember, and everyone from the brilliant food stylists and crew to the producers and anchors were all such genuinely awesome people.

The theme of my segment was restaurant re-do's, and I was there on behalf of Pinterest to share a recipe adapted from one of the most popular "copy-kat" style recipes trending on the site: The DIY Chick-Fil-A Chicken Sandwich by blogger Cincy Shopper.

I grew up eating these at the food court at our local mall, Paramus Park. I was chatting with Willie Geist just before the segment, and it turns out that he grew up just a couple towns away from me, and also spent his high school years eating at the exact same food court.

We were super excited to discover it, he actually mentioned it on air, but my ear piece popped out in the beginning of the segment, so I couldn't hear him or any of the other anchors downstairs. Whoops!

(Also, I'm not sure if he knows this, but I think that means we're basically best friends now.)

I shared a few fun secrets to recreating this recipe at home (two words for you guys: Pickle. Juice!), and the results are honestly pretty close!

Watch the video above, then hop over to the TODAY site for the full recipe, and let me know what you think!

I'm also taking over the TODAY Pinterest board today, so you should definitely follow along to see some of my other favorite recipes from my site and from other fabulous food bloggers.

[By the way, totally unrelated to chicken sandwiches, but you guys need to know that I got my hair and make-up done in the greenroom sitting next to the amazing Elie Kemper who is the sweetest coolest girl ever, and we were all talking about bears and hiking (so random).

And then Jesse Eisenberg and Kristen Stewart came in and got interviewed about 5 feet away from where I was cooking. Jesse Eisenberg is also kind of adorable and hilarious, and was amazed by how everything worked.

It was seriously the best day ever!]

Thank you all so much for reading, sharing, and watching! These amazing opportunities would never come my way if it wasn't for your incredible support and community, so please know that I am truly thankful.

I hope this inspires you to make something delicious tonight!

xoxo

Alejandra

0

Feed Your Passion Episode 2: Modern Mexican at Oxido NYC

In the second episode of my brand new food travel web series, Feed Your Passion with Alejandra Ramos, I take you to visit Oxido. A brand new fast casual Mexican restaurant in NYC.

We talk to Chef Jesse Perez who tells us how he first discovered his passion for the kitchen, and how he learned that staying true to his authentic Mexican roots was the surprising secret to creating a successful menu.

Watch the video below, and don't forget to subscribe so you don't miss any future episodes!

0

Feed Your Passion Episode 1: Chinese-Cuban Fusion at Calle Dao

In the first episode of my new show Feed Your Passion with Alejandra Ramos, we visit Calle Dao--a Cuban-Chinese restaurant in Manhattan that's putting a creative spin on this classic fusion cuisine.

Calle Dao is owned by Marco Britti an Italian-born musician who developed a passion for Latin food while traveling the world with acts like Jennifer Lopez and Marc Anthony (YES!).  While living in Havana for a year, he grew fascinated with the significant Chinese population in that city, and started researching the birth of Chino-Cubana cuisine, which for a time was popular in cities like New York and Miami.

At Calle Dao, he and Chef Humberto Guallpa, have created a menu that brings together some mainstays and flavors from both cultures, along with influences from other Latin and Asian countries. The result is a truly unique and inspiring menu that celebrates the fusion of global cultures in America.

Watch the video below (and don't forget to subscribe, comment, and hit the thumbs up if you like it!)

0

Watch: Introducing my new food webseries!

Earlier this summer, I teamed up with brand new website Vivala.com to produce and film a project that I am incredibly excited to finally share with you!

It's a brand new 12-episode food webseries called Feed Your Passion with Alejandra Ramos, where I'll take you along on a journey meeting inspiring men and women who have taken their love for food and turned it into an amazing passion-filled career.

I'll take you to some some cool bakeries, coffee shops, restaurants, markets, and more.

There will be lots of delicious things to eat and drink, cool tips and inspiration, but most importantly, I'm excited to share these unique stories that I hope will inspire you to make your own dreams (whatever they may be!) a reality.

We'll be releasing one episode every week, and I'd love to hear what you think of the show!

Check out the short trailer below to learn more about the show, subscribe on YouTube (and comment and like it if you love it!), and if you have any suggestions for future places I should visit or people I should interview in future episodes, definitely let me know!

Thank you so much for your support. I hope you love the show!

xoxo

Alejandra

0

WATCH: Alejandra on Good Morning America!

Photo credit: ABC/ Heidi Gutman

I started my New Year's Eve celebration REALLY early today, with a live New Year's Eve party food segment on Good Morning America. It was an absolutely amazing experience, and the most perfect way ever to close out what has already been a truly incredible year for me!

The theme was Pinterest Perfect Parties, and the producers asked me to share three New Year's party recipes inspired by some current hot Pinterest trends.

These included Mini Chorizo Puff Pastry Bites (made with my DIY Puff Pastry Shells tutorial), Dark Chocolate Pudding Shooters, and a really fun mocktail that we called Lemon Sparklers (based on my virgin French 75 recipe).

I've linked to all the recipes and tutorials mentioned in the segment below, so scroll down for those!

If you missed the segment, you can watch the video here:


And be sure to check out the GMA + Always Order Dessert Pinterest page for more great party recipes and ideas!

Thank you so much for watching, and for your incredible support and community throughout this year. I hope that you have a very happy New Year's Eve, and that all your dreams come true in the coming year.

xoxo

Alejandra

Good Morning America New Year's Eve Pinterest Party Segment Details

• Chorizo Puffed Pastry Appetizers
• DIY Puff Pastry Shells Tutorial
• Dark Chocolate Pudding Shooters
• Rock Candy Lemon Sparklers (AKA Virgin French 75 Mocktails)

0

Our Peanut Butter Cooking Show

One of my favorite projects of the past year has been the weekly YouTube cooking show I've been co-hosting for Peanut Butter & Co.

The show is called Taste Amazing, and on it, my lovely co-host, Caroline Wright, and I take turns every week teaching each other clever peanut butter recipes that we develop using one of the 10 amazing Peanut Butter & Co. flavors.

Caroline and I create all the recipes ourselves, and then (along with the amazing crew) shoot the videos in batches every few months.

And we don't just make desserts!

Since the show debuted in September, we've made everything from decadent Peanut Butter Chocolate Cake, PB Apple Tarte Tatin, and Peanut Butter Caramel Apples to really cool savory recipes like Spicy PB Chicken Mole and Thai Eggplant Curry.

We even made a Peanut Butter & Jelly Fruitcake!

With New Year's Even upon us, I played mixologist this week, and whipped up three fun Peanut Butter Cocktails to share with you.

Check out the videos for my Peanut Butter Martini, Spicy Peanut Butter Bloody Mary, and Peanut Butter Bourbon Hot Chocolate, below.

And don't forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel! A new video is released every week (usually on Tuesdays), so be sure to catch them all.

You can also follow us along on Twitter and Instagram with the hashtag #TasteAmazing--I always share behind-the-scenes pictures of our video shoots and recipe testing, plus we announce chances to win free jars of peanut butter and other fun swag!

1. Peanut Butter Martini 

Start off by learning how to make an easy Peanut Butter Simple Syrup, then learn how to shake it up into a sweet and decadent Peanut Butter Martini.

It's the perfect dessert cocktail!

2. Peanut Butter Bloody Mary

Just the thing for the morning after.

This bloody mary mix is made from scratch using The Heat is On peanut butter-a spicy, savory flavor that adds a ton of great heat.

Don't forget to add lots of fun garnishes!

3. Peanut Butter Bourbon Hot Chocolate

This boozy hot chocolate is made in a pot with fresh whole milk, dark chocolate chips, Dark Chocolate Dreams peanut butter, and a generous slosh of boubon.

Perfect for those cold winter nights.

Thanks so much for watching!


xoxo

Alejandra

0

CBS Live From The Couch: Packing the Perfect Picnic Basket

I was over at CBS/WLNY studios this morning filming a really fun segment on the NYC morning show Live From The Couch, which airs on WLNY 55. The segment was all about how to pack the perfect picnic basket, and I shared some of my best picnic food tips, as well as some very cool new products.

This was my first time doing a segment at The Couch, and they were all so great to work with. The hosts, Carolina and Lisa, and crew were all really lovely and helpful. That isn't always the case with all the TV shows, so it's always really amazing when you get to do a segment with such a cool group of genuinely nice people. I look forward to working with them again!

This was also the first segment that my new intern, Ariana, got to join in on, and it was amazing having her to help me prepare and set up. I'm usually flying solo on these segments, and having someone to help makes all the difference in the world (plus it means I have pictures to share with you!).

I also have to give a HUGE thanks to the folks at Fresh Direct, who provided all the delicious and beautiful food for the segment. The crew pretty much devoured all of it the second we were off the air.

Click the video below to watch the segment & then scroll down to check out more details on the tips and products I mentioned on air.

Watch the Video:

My 5 Favorite Picks for Packing the Perfect Picnic Basket

1. Wicker Picnic Basket Set ($128), C. Wonder

C. Wonder is one of my favorite stores in the city right (as evidenced by my closet and credit card statements), and this picnic basket is everything that I love about them--it's stylish and really elegant, but also super playful (tiny baby cheeseboard!). It comes with a service for four, napkins, removable insultated mini cooler, and even a waterproof picnic blanket!

2. Tommy Bahama iPod Stereo Cooler ($98), Tommy Bahama

I am in LOVE with this cooler. It comes with a little slot in the front were you can slip in your iPod or smartphone and connect it to the built-in speakers on either side so you can play music at the beach or in the park. The inside is also a super roomy insulated cooler that will hold all your food and beverages. It's pretty much the best thing ever!

3. Sur La Table Red & White Gingham Tablecloth ($50), Sur La Table

I usually find that most blankets that are sold as actual "picnic blankets" are WAY too small. They're barely big enough for one adult to stretch out on, let alone a few. So I like to use extra large tablecloths, like this really pretty classic red gingham style from Sur La Table, instead. Plenty of room for everyone to spread out and relax while enjoying the food and sun.


4. Pier 1 Trellis Pattern Melamine Plates ($7 each), Pier 1

Melamine plates are definitely the way to go in the summer. They're lightweight, come in really gorgeous colors and patterns, and can be used again and again so you can reduce waste. (They're also dishwasher safe!)

5. Madria Sangria ($6)

My new favorite for summer parties! This lovely red wine is infused with natural citrus flavors, so all you have to do to make the perfect pitcher of sangria is chill and add fruit! As I mentioned in my last sangria recipe post,  I'm not a fan of super sweet sangria, which is why I love this--it's perfectly balanced and not at all sickly sweet. Add it to a pitcher with a few handfuls of frozen or fresh fruit and you're good to go!

****
Love Always Order Dessert? Let's connect! Follow me on Twitter or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates. And if you ever need any entertaining or cooking advice, please don't hesitate to e-mail me. Thanks for reading!   

0

My Appearance on Dr. Oz (Beet, Blueberry & Blood Orange Juice Popsicles)

Last week, I was called in for a taping of The Dr. Oz show where I was asked to share a unique beet recipe. As you might know, I love cooking with beets in somewhat unusual ways--featuring them in beet chocolate cake, beet and goat cheese gnocchi, and even beet chocolate chip ice cream!

The episode, which aired yesterday (and will re-air next Tuesday!) was about how a recent study discovered that drinking beet juice on a daily basis can help lower blood pressure by up to 10 points.

The only problem? Plain beet juice--for the most part--tastes like sugary dirt, so it's unlikely that many folks will want to make a habit of it.

To fix this problem, two other beet-loving women and I, were challenged by the Dr. Oz show producers to come up with recipes that help make the juice a bit more palatable...and possibly even delicious!

One of the women shared her beet and pineapple juice recipe, another made a beet smoothie, and I taught Dr. Oz how to make delicious beet, blueberry, and blood orange juice popsicles.

I demonstrated how to make the popsicles in a quick 1 minute segment on camera, and then Dr. Oz called an audience member up to taste and deliver a verdict. It was a hit!

Dr. Oz actually loved my recipe so much that after we broke for commercial, he continued to eat the entire thing (so much so that make-up had to come and clean him up since he stained his mouth and lips red!).

The popsicle recipe is super easy, and the tartness of the blood orange juice, blueberries and fresh lemon help cut the earthiness of the beet, while also packing in lots more antioxidants.

It's a great healthy recipe for summer, and perfect for kids!

Click here to view my Dr. Oz appearance (I come in at around the 2:51 mark, in case you want to fast-forward.)

And below is the recipe so you can recreate these pops yourself!

****
Love Always Order Dessert? Let's connect! Follow me on Twitter or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates. And if you ever need any entertaining or cooking advice, please don't hesitate to e-mail me. Thanks for reading!  

Beet, Blueberry & Blood Orange Juice Popsicle Recipe (from my Dr. Oz Show appearance)
Yield depends on the size of your pop mold--multiply the recipe for more popsicles!

Ingredients
1 medium beet about the size of a small apple, peeled & juiced (or you can use bottled beet juice)
1 cup fresh blueberries
1 cup fresh blood orange juice (you can also substitute regular fresh orange juice)
1 lemon, juiced

Special equipment: popsicle molds

Directions
Combine the beet juice, blueberries, blood orange juice, and lemon juice in a blender and puree until smooth. Pour into popsicle molds and freeze at least 4 hours or until set. Unmold and enjoy within 3 days.

Note: If you prefer, you can also juice the blueberries so you don't have the little bits of skin, although I like the texture they add!

0

Better TV: 5 Money-Saving Ways to Reduce Food Waste

Want to know something a little bit scary? In the US, an average family of 4 wastes about 20 pounds of food a month or about $2300 a year.

That's like every family throwing out 80 hamburgers or 2 DOZEN boxes of cereal a month.

So crazy, right?!

I was on The Better Show this week sharing some of my favorite tips to help reduce food waste AND save a lot of money in the process.

Check out some of my favorite tips from the show below! (And click here to watch the full clip once you're done reading!)

1. Redecorate the Pantry

Head to the Container Store or Bed Bath & Beyond and get yourself a set of stackable bpa-free plastic containers or glass jars (these are my favorite!). By transferring all your dry goods--cereals, grains, flours, crackers--from flimsy boxes and bags to durable containers, you'll help them last weeks and even months longer!

2. Become a Grocery Day Prep Cook

Restaurant chefs all have someone to prep their ingredients so that all they have to do is cook. We may not have that luxury, but it really only takes about 20-30 extra minutes on grocery day to prep ALL your ingredients for the week, making it easier to get dinner on the table and to keep from wasting all those expensive veggies and meats.

Here's how it works:
As soon as you get home from the store, take a few minutes to chop up those onions, peppers, and veggies. Wash and dry salad greens. And divide chicken breasts into baggies with marinade. Once the week begins, all you'll have to do is toss a few things in a pan and dinner will be ready in minutes with NO extra mess.

Easy, right?

Try it just once and I promise you'll be AMAZED by how much easier life gets, and how much healthier you'll be eating. No more wasted food and veggies!

3. Create a Reverse Grocery List

This is the tip we didn't get to on the show, but it's one of my favorites!

Help keep track of what's in your fridge by posting a list of everything that's inside right on the fridge door. Whenever you use something, cross it off. This way, you'll easily see what you have left and what needs to be used up.

No more forgotten packages of chicken breasts lost in the back of the fridge!

4. Make DIY Grab & Go Snacks

All those individual plastic yogurt containers and small bags of chips may be convenient, but they create a TON of waste.

Buy bulk containers of yogurt, apple sauce and other favorite snacks, and portion them into small reusable containers for healthy grab-and-go snacks without the waste.

Not only is it better for the environment, you'll also be saving money since bulk is always cheaper!

Click here for my favorite DIY yogurt cup recipe.

5. Store Herbs & Asparagus Like Cut Flowers

Here's an easy and fun trick to help your herbs and veggies like asparagus last up to 10 DAYS longer.

Take them out of the plastic bags and store them upright in small containers filled with water--just like a bouquet of flowers! Keep these in the fridge and take them out to use as you need them. The water keeps the herbs and veggies fresh and bright green. No more gross wilted herbs!

Click here for more easy tips to reduce food waste!

****
Love Always Order Dessert? Let's connect! Follow me on Twitter or Pinterest, become a fan on Facebook, or sign up to receive my once-a-week e-mail updates. And if you ever need any entertaining or cooking advice, please don't hesitate to e-mail me. Thanks for reading!   

0