Cheesy Bacon Cowboy Burger and our Trip to Sedona, AZ
30Minutes
,
Bacon
,
Burgers
,
Grill
,
Sedona
,
Sponsored
,
Travel
,
TSRISummer
No comments
Our trip to Sedona was fantabulous. Such a great way to step back and appreciate what's important. Aside from the red rocks, the energy, the vortex's and small town feel (even with 4 million visitors a year).... Sedona makes me think of burgers. Funny, isn't it! I imagine it is that restaurant that we love The Cowboy Club. Sadly we missed it this stop, but I assure you its on the top of our list for August.
Click here for Recipe»
Amaretto Summer Citrus Berry Splash Cocktail
Nothing says summer quite like fresh strawberries! We can't get enough of them and it is only May. Chad has been working on some summer cocktails for our upcoming get-togethers this season. Light and fresh cocktails are always a hit. An adult beverage with just a touch of spirits is perfect for a family barbecue.
Click here for Recipe»
Orange Amaretto Citrus Bars - Ready in Just 35 Minutes!
Bars-Brownies
,
Desserts
,
Fruit
,
Oranges
,
PARADE
,
SimpleDesserts
,
TSRISummer
No comments
Finger foods, especially bars and brownies, are always the most popular dessert at get-togethers. So lately every time there is a potluck I am whipping up a batch of another bar or brownie (or even an individual trifle). I can't seem to get citrus off the brain. So, for the last pot luck I pulled together these fabulous Orange Amaretto Citrus Bars that are in the oven in just 10 minutes!
Click here for Recipe»
Corn Flake Crusted French Toast and The Sedona Rouge
It has been such a crazy few months around here. Working from home together with a 3 year old is better some days than others. It's really easy to stay in work mode all the time. So, Chad and I decided a little family vacay was in order. Sedona is the perfect location for a family get away, a chance for us to step away from the everyday and appreciate the things that are important. No schedules, just family fun in the most beautiful place I have ever been. Peace, serenity and energy make for a fabulous destination.
Click here for Recipe»
Family Matters
I generally like my double entendres to be a little more lighthearted, but such is not the case. This is just a quick note to let you know that I'll need to take a break from the blog this week to attend to some pressing family matters. I will be back before you know it, and I want to wish all of you a happy and thoughtful Memorial Day.
Vanilla Bean Whipped Honey Butter
I have had pancakes, bread and butter on my mind for weeks. Since we enjoyed our brunch pancake bar I can't stop thinking about flavor combinations.
Click here for Recipe»
Curly “Q” Sausage – Get It Twisted
Oh, it worked. It worked real good. By the way, I was going to provide a link to the aforementioned video, but Blake ended the demo by putting ketchup on his hot dog, so forget it. Okay, fine, since I did steal his technique, here you go.
And if you're skeptical about how well barbecue sauce goes with Italian sausage, take it from someone who ate one; it’s a match made in backyard barbecue heaven. I’d like to wish all you a safe and very festive Memorial Day weekend, and I hope you “spring” these curly “Q” sausages on your guests. Enjoy!
Raspberry Orange Creamsicle Cocktail
Do you remember those orange creamsicles? Yeah the push pop ones. When I was a kid I loved those (probably would still love them) and they were a fun summer treat. In honor of summer, Chad created a Raspberry Orange Creamsicle Cocktail that tastes exactly like an orange creamsicle with a grown up twist.
Click here for Recipe»
Top 10 Gourmet Burgers for Your Summer Barbecue
The end of May truly signifies the beginning of grilling season. It's summer time and that means its time to take the cover off of that barbecue grill and fire it up! In honor of grilling season we have put together our top 10 all time favorite gourmet burgers to kick you summer barbecue off!
Click here for Recipe»
Pan-Roasted Marble Potatoes – A Short Post About Little Potatoes from a Small Town
Anyway, I’m back at my mom’s for a few weeks to help her out after some shoulder surgery, and despite a very late, turbulent, and sleepless flight, I had just enough energy left to post this marble potatoes video.
Ingredients:
4 stripes bacon, sliced
1 pound marble potatoes
salt and pepper to taste
2 tsp chopped rosemary
Strawberry Pretzel Sandbar Summertime Dessert Cups Ready in 20 Minutes
Desserts
,
Family-Toddlers
,
Fruit
,
PARADE
,
SimpleDesserts
,
Strawberries
,
TSRISummer
No comments
Summer is finally here! We are so excited to be enjoying time together and having some fun in the sun together. We have been vacation planning and party planning and have come up with some super fun and delicious treats.
Click here for Recipe»
Smoked Turkey & Spring Pea Fettuccine – A Pasta From My Salad Days
You may have heard me mention Ryan’s Café in the past, especially if you’ve tried our famous chicken Marsala, and it was at this same restaurant where I learned what I still consider one of the best pasta recipes ever.
As I mention in the video, the original was done with smoked chicken, but for whatever reason smoked turkey is much easier to find at the market. I blame the sandwich industry, but no worries, as the turkey is just as good. There’s just something very special about the way the creamy, slightly sweet, aromatic sauce pairs with the smoky meat. Which reminds me, this is also wonderful with leftover ham.
Regarding what many would consider the dangerously large quantities of cream, I’d like to take a moment to do some math. The recipe makes four appetizer size portions. There’s about 1 3/4 cups of cream used, which is roughly 350 calories worth of butter-fatty goodness per serving. To put that into perspective, those two small ladles of dressing you used during your last trip to the salad bar had about the same amount. So, long story short, relax.
Anyway, now that I’ve armed you with a comeback for when your (probably too thin) friend questions your copious cream usage, I hope you give this very simple, but extraordinarily delicious pasta recipe a try. Enjoy!
Ingredients for 4 small or 2 large portions:
8 oz dry fettuccine noodles, boiled in salted water
For the sauce:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp minced shallot
1 3/4 cup heavy cream (about 34-36% fat)
6 oz smoked turkey, sliced
1/2 cup green peas, frozen or fresh shelled
2 tbsp minced fresh tarragon leaves
salt, pepper, cayenne to taste
1 tsp lemon zest
Homemade Creamy Lemon Syrup
Fruit
,
Lemon
,
Syrups
No comments
How many times must I profess my love for lemon? Oh, okay. You got it already. In case there is any doubt, check out my selection of lemon dishes here on our website or our Lemon Love Pinterest board with over 800 pins.
When I was planning for the Ladies Brunch that we hosted a few weeks back as soon as a pancake bar came to mind I was thinking about creating a lemon syrup. Something bright and refreshing that would be perfect on pancakes, cakes, desserts and of course (my criteria) scrumptious on a spoon. Well, this perfect Homemade Creamy Lemon Syrup is all that and more.
Click here for Recipe»
Memorial Day, Already?
I can't believe it's almost Memorial Day weekend! Seems like just yesterday I was watching people shoveling snow and scraping ice. Of course, I live in California, and that was on the Weather Channel, but still, seems like yesterday. I blame my beloved Golden State Warriors for making the playoffs, and throwing off my seasonal clock.Anyway, the upcoming long weekend is considered the official start of cookout season, and to celebrate I thought I'd repost this collection of grill-friendly recipes. By the way, in addition to looking and tasting great on their own, these dishes all have a proven track record of pairing well with cold beer. Enjoy!!
Baked Goat Cheese “Caprese” – Hot and Not
They’re almost always your standard, conventionally produced, picked green and left to redden (not ripen) in the case, tomatoes. They’re mealy, flavorless, and completely undeserving of being paired with ingredients as perfect as mozzarella and basil.
By the way, as long as you are using high quality, oven safe ramekins, you can also do these on the backyard grill. Place a piece of foil on the grates, set down your ramekins, close the cover, and cook until the juices are bubbling, and the cheese is heated through.
I hope you give this delicious, and so not disappointing “Caprese” a try soon. Enjoy!
Ingredients for 4 portions:
8 oz log fresh goat cheese, cut into 4 equal pieces
2 tbsp olive oil
2 tbsp basil chiffonade
16 cherry tomatoes, halved
freshly ground black pepper and cayenne, to taste
Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken with Marinade
Chicken
,
Grill
,
Mexican
,
Tequila
,
TSRISummer
No comments
I am so happy that it is grilling season again. I am giddy over this Grilled Tequila Lime Chicken recipe! I know I could grill all year long living in Arizona, but there is just something about spring and summer that makes grilling that much more fun. I'm in a boozy kinda grilling groove.
Click here for Recipe»
Barbecue Shrimp – So Good, and So Not Barbecued
There are countless ways to make this dish, almost all containing copious amounts of butter, along with garlic, black pepper, and Worcestershire sauce. This is not something you’d serve to your friend with the bland palate. By the way, can’t believe you’re still friends with that bland palate dude.
Anyway, feel free to adjust and adapt to your heart’s content. My version is fairly light, which is kind of funny to say, since I call for half a stick of butter, but I’ve seen versions that were basically deep-fried in the stuff. So, you know, compared to that, this is like spa food.
As far as seasoning goes, be careful with the salt. The Worcestershire is pretty salty, so you may not want to add it all to the shrimp stock like I did. I used about 3 generous tablespoons, since I like mine pretty salty, but it’s probably safer to just add 1 or 2 tablespoons, and then taste/adjust later on.
Other than that, and finding some colossal shrimp (the bigger the better), this recipe is a breeze. It may not have anything to do with barbecue, but like its namesake, it’s incredibly delicious and another great culinary gift from the south. I hope you try some soon. Enjoy!
Ingredients for 4 servings:
1 1/2 to 2 pounds colossal shrimp
1 1/2 tbsp vegetable oil
1 tablespoon freshly ground black pepper, or to taste
1/4 tsp smoked paprika
1/8 tsp cayenne pepper
1/8 tsp Old Bay seasoning, optional
4 tbsp cold butter, cut in cubes
6 cloves garlic, minced
1 tbsp minced fresh rosemary
1 1/2 cups shrimp stock (using reserved shells, sauteed in 1 tsp butter, and simmered with 2 cups stock or water for 20-30 min)
juice of 1 lemon
hot sauce to taste
juice of 1 lemon
hot sauce to taste
2-3 tbsp Worcestershire sauce, or to taste
Pretzel Rolls, Pretzel Buns and a Trip to Sedona
We are so excited to be heading to Sedona this month. It is certainly the most beautiful place I have ever been. Last year we spent a few days with my parents in Sedona. Some of the best memories of my life were made on that trip.
Click here for Recipe»
Happy Mother’s Day!
I want to wish all the moms out there a very happy Mother’s Day! I’m blessed to have two great moms in my life, my mother Pauline, and my mother-in-law Peggy. Both continue to be my biggest fans and supporters, and as I’ve said before, this blog wouldn’t exist without them.To honor them, and everyone else out there who nurture and take care of others, I give you this inspired performance by future rock star, Teal Greene. While I chose this because of Teal’s heartfelt lyrics, I have to admit his wardrobe choices of baggy, long underwear, sunglasses, and San Francisco Giant’s cap sealed the deal. Enjoy!
Chilled Sugar Snap Pea Soup – Ain't Nuthin' But a "P" Thang, Baby!
Traditionally (from what I hear), chilled pea soups are made with English peas, but thanks to the very user-friendly sugar snap, not only is there no shelling involved here, but I think they impart an even sweeter flavor. Speaking of sweet flavor, you’re going to want to contrast that by garnishing with some sour cream or crème fraiche. If you can’t get or have that, then use a few drops of lemon juice or rice vinegar to balance the flavors.
As far as the mint goes though, I’d make every effort to obtain some, as I can’t imagine another herb pairing as well. Lastly, the Snoop Dogg reference in the title foreshadows a Snoop Dogg reference made during the garnishing portion of the video. For more information, ask your kids. I hope you give this lovely, spring soup a try soon. Enjoy!
As far as the mint goes though, I’d make every effort to obtain some, as I can’t imagine another herb pairing as well. Lastly, the Snoop Dogg reference in the title foreshadows a Snoop Dogg reference made during the garnishing portion of the video. For more information, ask your kids. I hope you give this lovely, spring soup a try soon. Enjoy!
Ingredients for about 6 cups of soup:
1 tbsp olive oil
1 cup sliced leeks
4 cups chicken broth
salt, pepper, and cayenne to taste
1 pound sugar snap peas
2 mint leaves
3 Ingredient Homemade Strawberry Syrup
Fruit
,
Homemade
,
Strawberries
,
Syrups
,
TSRISummer
No comments
At our brunch a few weeks ago my 3 year old went crazy over this strawberry syrup. We made her a stack of strawberry shortcake pancakes with this scrumptious syrup drizzled over. It was so good the family called for an encore, resulting in an awesome pancake Sunday the next day.
Click here for Recipe»
Smirnoff Sorbet Light Spring Cocktails
I am still giddy over our Smirnoff Spring Brunch with the new line of Sorbet Light flavors that we sampled. I am so excited to be sharing the cocktail recipes that we made and served. The Light Pomegranate Berry Punch was my favorite, but I tell you the Light Tropical Martini and the Light Lemon Pomegranate Punch are definitely top contenders. I recommend sampling all three and making you own decision.
Click here for Recipe»
You Can Count on Monte Cristo Benedict for Mother’s Day Brunch
Long story short, I decided to simply make an open-faced version of the famous stuffed sandwich, and top it with poached eggs, and hopefully a new American brunch classic was born. Of course, I'll let you decide, but there was nothing I didn’t love about this plate of food. Okay, the salad was kind of phoned in, but the rest was awesome.
I’ve also re-posted a poached eggs demo below, since poaching your eggs ahead of time is the only way to go, especially if you have a larger group. By the way, you can hold the Monte Cristo bases in a warm oven while you pull the rest of the meal together. I hope you give this new Benedict a try soon. Enjoy!
Ingredients for 4 portions:
For the batter:
2 large eggs
1/4 cup cream
1 tbsp sugar
pinch of salt
pinch of cayenne
pinch of cayenne
1/4 tsp cinnamon
1/8 tsp allspice
4 thick slices of French bread
1 tbsp butter
1 tbsp butter
8 slices ham
4 slices cheddar cheese
4 slices havarti cheese
chive to garnish
How to Poach Eggs
How to Poach Eggs
View the complete Poached Eggs recipe
View the complete Monte Cristo Benedict recipe
Pineapple Chicken Skillet with Broccoli in just 30 Minutes
30Minutes
,
Asian
,
Broccoli
,
Chicken
,
PARADE
,
Skillets
,
Vegetables
No comments
This skillet is so insanely good we can't stop eating it. I have made 4 recipes already. So, tonight I was talking to my Mom while I was preparing it and she asked me how I come up with all these recipes.
Click here for Recipe»
25 Minute Lazy Day Blue Ribbon Brownies
Some days I am just plain lazy in the kitchen. One bowl, one pan, and 5 minutes to get it in the oven is about all I have. In comes the Lazy Day Brownie. Perfectly chocolaty and it comes together in 5 minutes.
Click here for Recipe»
Lemon Bars for a Lasting Mother’s Day Impression
Candy
,
Cookies
,
Dessert
,
Pie
No comments
Preparing brunch can be tricky anytime, let alone under mom’s watchful (aka “extremely concerned”) eyes. Can someone please get her a mimosa and walk her into the garden?
So, even if a few poached eggs break, or the toast gets a little too golden-black, no worries! If you finish the meal with these gorgeous, and absolutely impossible to mess-up lemon bars, she'll be as proud as she will be impressed. Our moms may have taught us the importance of a good first impression, but its America’s restaurateurs who discovered the importance of a delicious last impression. There's nothing like a well made pastry to make one forgive a tough steak.
Basically, if you can move your arm in a circle, and effectively set a timer (there’s one on your phone), your lemon bars should look just as good as these (maybe better – see meringue note below). Anyway, whether you’re going to make these for Mother’s Day or not, I hope you give them a try soon. Enjoy!
Ingredients for 16 Small Lemon Bars:
For the shortbread crust:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup room temp unsalted butter (1 stick)
1/4 cup powdered sugar
1/4 tsp vanilla
1/4 tsp salt
Bake crust at 350 degrees F. for 22 minutes
For the lemon layer:
2 large whole eggs
1 large egg yolk
1 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup fresh lemon juice
1 tbsp grated lemon peel
Bake at 350 degrees F. for 25 minutes
Garnish with powdered sugar; or top with *meringue (the extra egg white whipped with 1 tablespoon of sugar) and brown with torch.
*My Meringue
If you decide to turn these into lemon meringue bars, do yourself a favor and actually measure the sugar. I couldn’t be bothered to check a recipe, so I only tossed in a teaspoon of sugar, and it should be closer to a tablespoon. The technique is the same; beat the extra white to the ribbon stage (where drips of white stay on the surface for a few seconds), and then add the sugar and continue whipping until you have nice, glossy peaks. My “by eye” batch worked fine, but it was a little too dry, and not quite sticky enough. Be advised.
View the complete recipe
Strawberry Shortcake Tiramisu
Strawberry Shortcake Tiramisu is the ultimate birthday dessert! Every holiday I am delivering outstanding treats. Last year on my father-in-law ("Pop Pop")'s birthday, I delivered a flop dessert. Have you ever tried to deliver a cream pie across town when it's 100 degrees out? Let's just say it was a humbling moment when he opened the door to a dripping cream topping. All I could do was bust out laughing.
Click here for Recipe»
Those Other Tortillas
I know we've done flour tortillas on the blog, but I've not yet attempted the far more intimidating corn version. Why do they scare me so? I'm not sure, but it's a real problem. Anyway, one of these days I'll muster up the courage to give it a go, but in the meantime, here's a demo from my buddies at Allrecipes.com showing the basic method. Can it really be this easy? Enjoy!
The Best Ever Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes
Is there a more perfect breakfast on Sunday than pancakes? They are my all time favorite breakfast. I know it isn't surprising. I am a cake gal and having to choose... of course my favorite would be a cake. So which pancake is my favorite? My best ever fluffy buttermilk pancakes.
Click here for Recipe»
Shrimp & Jalapeno Nachos for Cinco de Mayo or Cinco de Anytime
The earliest versions were made by simply broiling a single layer of cheese-topped chips, which were then garnished with jalapeno peppers – simple and elegant, with every chip genetically identical to the next. Over time we’ve added hundreds of toppings, as well as replaced the broiled (real) cheese with something that you can also use to grease an axel.
Don’t get me wrong, I enjoy the aforementioned version just as much as the next guy wearing pajama jeans, but once in a while it’s good to revisit a simpler time in American snacking. If you’re planning to party, I wish you a fun and safe Cinco de Mayo, and hope you give these very tasty chips a try. Enjoy!
Ingredients for 4 Portions:
1 pound peeled and deveined shrimp (I used 50-60 per pounds size, which are ideal for this)
1 tbsp vegetable or olive oil
pinch of cayenne
1/4 tsp ground chipotle pepper
salt and pepper to taste
50-60 large tortilla chips, or as needed
2 jalapeno peppers, sliced very thin
2 jalapeno peppers, sliced very thin
about 3 1/2 cups of shredded Monterey Jack or cheddar cheese
avocado creama (1 avocado, 1 cup sour cream, and juice of 1 lemon or 2 limes; liquefied in a blender)
Light Pomegranate Raspberry Punch and a Spring Brunch with Smirnoff Sorbet Light
Cocktails
,
Parties
,
Smirnoff
,
Sponsored
,
TSRISummer
,
Vodka
No comments
I am completely and totally in my element when I am party planning. Birthdays, anniversaries, reunions, you name it…. I love planning it! Needless to say, we are thrilled to have partnered with Smirnoff to bring you this Spring Ladies Brunch. PARTY!
Click here for Recipe»
Cheesy Italian Bread Sticks in Just 30 Minutes
So, how do you make bread sticks that go from prep to plate in just 30 minutes? Check out our new article on Parade Magazine.
Click here for Recipe»
Subscribe to:
Comments
(
Atom
)
No comments :
Post a Comment