The summer of my freshman year, I remember making chicken stir-fry all the time. This was the summer I really started to get into cooking. It was also the summer I got into the habit of cooking dinner for my family, I loved it. It was always such a release of creative energy for me at the end of the day. Chicken stir-fry was one of the dinners I had the most fun experimenting with....
If I had to choose the recipe for you to all be making this week, tonight even, it would be these meatballs. And you know what’s funny? For someone who has really avoided making meatballs in the past, I sure have taken a liking to them this past year. So far I’ve shared butter chicken meatballs, coconut curry chicken meatballs, sticky sesame ginger meatballs, and now these coq au vin meatballs....
They’re simple, quick and delicious…okok and when served with things like pineapple and rice, which you guys know are two very important food groups around here…well, totally my kind of meal! Really, this is one of those recipe that’s everyone’s kind of meal. I mean, who could not love teriyaki chicken, you know? Even broccoli haters can easily pick around the green stuff, making it the perfect dinner for all....
And by rules, I really only mean one. And it’s not really a rule, just more of a principle I like to follow. Normally I am opposed to food coloring and peeps, but this cake. Well, this cake totally got the better of me and even though it’s not something I would make every day, it’s crazy fun (and oh my gosh, so good). Sometimes you just have to let your guard down a little, right?...
My favorite thing to do is create beautiful things. Ever since I was a kid I’ve loved creating, styling, and dressing things up to make them pretty. It’s always been my dream to have the prettiest Christmas table. But up until now, I’ve never been able to make that happen. Soo… For my centerpiece, I bought 3 bundles of eucalyptus greens for $5 each at the grocery store. I also picked up a bunch of pomegranates and simply arranged them around the edges of the greens....
Ingredients coarse sugar or brown sugar for the rim apple cider apple slices fresh lemon juice orange bitters bourbon ginger beer or ginger kombucha If there was ever a fall cocktail recipe to love, this apple butter old fashioned cocktail recipe has got to be it. It’s loaded with all things warm and cozy…hello to homemade apple butter, cider, lemon, orange bitters, bourbon, and ginger beer for topping. This has been my go-drink now for the past couple weeks....
They keep them warm in a hot dog rotisserie case all day, well actually 24/7. Call me crazy, but this sounds disgusting! Who knows what those things really have inside! My brothers however, have a very different opinion. So I, of course, had to come up with a better taquito than 7 Eleven. One that was healthy, but still crispy and full of flavor. These may not be fried or stuffed with mystery meat, but they sure are good!...
Lose the oil but keep all of the crunch with this unbelievably crispy chicken. This is one of my favorite baked chicken recipes along with baked Cajun chicken and baked chicken wings. As the weather starts to cool down, my cooking style tends to change. In the summer I’m all about grilling and salads full of seasonal produce. As we head into the fall and winter months it’s comfort food all the way....
During the warmer weather months, I’m always outside making grilled salmon, grilled vegetables and this flavorful and succulent barbecue chicken. My kids request this recipe all summer long! Add a side of dill potato salad for a fabulous meal. BBQ chicken is a summer staple for good reason – it’s a great way to feed a crowd, simple to make, and goes well with a variety of side dishes. I’ve also provided an option for baked BBQ chicken that’s great to make all year round....
You can never go wrong with a cheesy dip, I serve pizza dip, crab dip or this hearty beer cheese dip at all of my gatherings. All of your guests will be asking for the recipe! Looking for more game day ideas? Be sure to peruse my lists of 30 Game Day Recipes and 45 Super Bowl Appetizer Recipes! The holidays are over, but that doesn’t mean the food and fun has to end!...
Something about August and this time before “back to school” always leaves me inspired to create quick-cooking Asian inspired recipes. Growing up, my dad would often make us chicken stir fry on busy nights. Especially during the late August and early September days when school was starting back up. With six kids all in school, and a newborn baby, our house was beyond chaotic, so quick-cooking stir fry was a go-to for my dad....
When I’m looking for a simple salad to bring to a potluck or serve with dinner, I turn to salad recipes such as cucumber and tomato salad, caprese salad and this protein packed black bean salad. You can never go wrong with a hearty bean salad. They’re colorful, easy to make, and always a big hit. I like to pair this black bean salad with seared scallops, Spanish chicken or sirloin steak for a memorable dinner....
I mean, they have all the best spring game players, blueberries, Meyer lemons, and poppy seeds…AND they are best eaten for brunch, which I feel is totally a spring thing. Ok fine, brunch is an any time of the year thing, but I associate it most with spring thanks to Easter and Mother’s day. Anyway, these scones are the perfect spring treat, and yup, they’d obviously be great for summer too!...
Things like how incredibly happy and grateful I am that we switched the clocks forward Sunday. And like how much hair spray I sprayed in my hair to get some curls to last for all but an hour. And umm, hello these Blueberry Muffin Granola Greek Yogurt Breakfast Bowls!!! Let’s start with daylight savings time. Ahh!! I am SOO happy that I now have an added hour of sunlight. For me personally, this makes my work day so much easier....
Bombay Chutney is an instant and quick side dish that is quite popular across India. It is best served as a side dish with idli, dosa, poori or chapati. Made with Besan (Gram Flour/Senaga Pindi/Kadala Mavu) it is also called as Besan Chutney. This is an easy recipe that can be made in a jiffy with basic kitchen staples and it is absolutely bachelor-friendly. Bombay Chutney comes quite handy when there is no coconut or roasted peanuts at our place....
This bourbon cherry old-fashioned is like welcoming in your Saturday with a giant teddy bear style hug. Yes, I realize that sounds totally dorky, but it’s true. While this cocktail is extremely summery with its perfectly sweet summertime cherries, it also feels warm and cozy at the same time. Why? –> the bourbon. Bourbon just has the ability to warm you right up inside. Again, dorky, but true. All summer long I’ve been wanting to make us all a fun cocktail with cherries, but I just hadn’t gotten to it until now....
Bummer, right?!? The good news is… I have Mexican for you. Yes. Actually, my plan is Mexican all week. Ah huh, a whole week of Mexican food. From now until New Years. It is going to be just grand. I figured since my family does Mexican every New Year’s Eve I might as well do it up right this year. So we are going big time Mexican, and we are starting things off with breakfast Chimichangas....
Is there anything better than a delicious bowl of ravioli for dinner? And on the Monday following the long July 4th weekend? Probably not. This really is the dinner you need tonight. And the good news is that it’s easy enough to make any night of the week, even on a busy Monday. Plus, if you happen to have a summer garden growing, some corn in your fridge, and ravioli stashed in the freezer, you might even have all of the ingredients on hand....
If my family had a “house” salad, this would be it. It’s a dinner-style “house” salad, but one I could (and will) easily make on repeat. We love buffalo chicken. Many of you have already heard this story (sorry). Buffalo chicken really was one of the very first dinners I made for my family that they become obsessed with. So much so that in the early, early days, I would make it once or twice a week....
I just typed over four-hundred words only to completely delete them. Yup deleted. As in gone forever and never to be seen again. You’d be surprised how often that happens when I write my daily blog posts. Sometimes the words and stories just flow, and then other times it takes me a minute to really get into writing out a blog post. Today it’s taking me a little more time than usual....
