When I have a Bloody Mary, I want it to look like a salad and taste like a steak. Steak and salad, you say? Why, yes. Yes I do. This trend of food in and on the Bloody Mary is not a bad idea! I’ve seen bacon fairly commonly used in the past few years,…
Category: Kitchen & Bar
My Grandma’s Yams: A Fat Tuesday Memory
Yams are a common addition to a holiday table. There are a TON of ways to prepare them… Perfectly toasted marshmallows on top, “candied” with brown sugar and butter, sweetened with maple syrup… But none are quite as good as the yams my grandma made. I didn’t have her recipe, but I had made them…
Autumn Inspired Roasted Butternut Squash
This Thanksgiving, impress your guests with this amazing roasted squash. My girlfriends were coming over and I decided to test the theory of this idea on them. I know I’m not the first person to stuff and roast a squash, but I had never seen a recipe with the combo of ingredients and flavors that…
Marshmallow Popcorn Balls
The first time I ever made popcorn balls was with my girlfriend Tennille. She lost a battle to breast cancer nearly two years ago. So, now every memory I have is priceless and re-living them is beautiful. Join me while I re-live this one 🙂 Tennille had kids long before me. Her children, Christopher and…
Pasta with Browned Butter and Mizithra Cheese
Pretty much anything with browned butter is alright by me, but if you up the ante with cheese, I’m your slave! The Old Spaghetti Factory makes a decent version of this dish, but trust me when I say that this recipe is better. It’s SO simple. I know I say it a lot but, you…
Crunchy Chewy Pretzel Treats
Everyone has had a rice crispy treat… Right? If not, maybe you should consider hooking yourself up STAT! Crispy, gooey, buttery, goodness is what is waiting for you! My girlfriend Wendy once said the silliest thing! And I quote “Marshmallows are a waste of calories. Like eating sugar air.” Clearly, she has not enjoyed the…
Mediterranean Pasta Bake
We are pasta eaters in our house. That fact is not amazing for my waistline but it does open an endless list of possibilities for recipes that range from extremely complicated to utterly simple. This casserole falls into the simple category. It can be made ahead and baked at the last minute as well! Perfect…
The Manhattan Modified
The Manhattan is a classic cocktail dating back to the late 1800s. It is said that the cocktail, originally made with rye whiskey, was served at a party by Jenny Churchill, Winston’s mama. The drink was wildly popular in the late 50s and is still served commonly today. Now, that is what I call staying…
Meringue Bones
These meringue bones (I said BONE huh huh huh) are sure to be the hit of the party! I love meringue. Soft and fluffy on a pie, light and crispy as a “cookie”, filled with goodness as a pavlova… whatever it’s form, I enjoy the stuff! While trying to come up with things to serve…
Salted Caramel Bacon Bars
Yes… It’s Fat Tuesday and what is more appropriate than salted caramel? I’ll tell you, it’s BACON! These decadent bars will knock the socks off of your guests and will be gone as soon as they hit the plate! The perfect combo of salty/sweet and crunchy/chewy! I cut them relatively small because they are so…
Albondigas
There is a Mexican restaurant in my hometown called La Palma. They are my favorite. When I was pregnant with my youngest son, I craved coveted, their Albondigas. My friend Manny is the son and will undoubtedly make a name for himself as a fancy lawyer or DA someday. In the mean time, he is studying…
Cranberry Bourbon Smash
So, while the rest of the country is celebrating the changing leaves and begining to layer their clothing and, dare I say, breaking out their damned sweaters (!!!), I’m over here trying to stay hydrated so I don’t die of fucking heat exhaustion! OK? Enough with the heat already! I know that LA isn’t known…
The Swearing Mom's Guide To Life 