One of the things I love about Cuban cooking is that it is so relaxed. They tend to cook based on feel and taste with little concern for timing and measurements. We could all take a lesson from that approach to food. Continue reading
Perfect Mai Tai – Friday’s 5 o’clock Wet Your Whistle Call!
Pitcher-perfect cocktails make for a very happy, Happy Hour! What a great way to relax and enjoy when the cocktails just keep flowing. Memorial Day weekend parties and BBQ’s are the perfect venue for a pitcher of your favorite cocktail.
Most cocktails can be adapted to a pitcher but ones without sodas tend to work best. One of our favorites is a Mai Tai because it reminds us of warm Hawaiian breezes caressing our bodies while lying on the beach, being served our cocktail beneath the shade of a palapa. Can you hear the waves lapping and the Hawaiian music yet? Continue reading
Party Like There’s No Tamale!
But thank goodness you can make tamales and have fun doing it. The process of making tamales can be a party on its own called a Tamalada. These perfect little packages are all wrapped up like gifts to present to your friends. They can be filled with savory ingredients or enjoyed without filling for their natural sweet corn flavor.
I consider food a gift from one person’s heart to another person’s stomach. That is love! So gather your friends and have a tamale making party and share your creations together over a tasty margarita!
Yellow Bird Cocktail – Friday’s 5 o’clock Wet Your Whistle Call!
“Yellow Bird, up high in banana tree. Yellow Bird, you sit all alone like me”, or so the song goes. You won’t be alone for long when you serve up this cheerful cocktail!
Similar to a Screwdriver, the Yellow Bird replaces the vodka with two types of rum. As an extra treat, there is a little Galliano for extra flavor.
Put a Little Devil in Your Easter Eggs!
National Egg Salad Week April 9-15
National Egg Salad Week is the full week right after Easter. Can you guess why…… could it be all the leftover Easter eggs just staring at you from the refrigerator? Transform them into something special this week and let the celebration continue! Continue reading
Irish Coffee – Friday’s 5 o’clock Wet Your Whistle Call!
The birthplace of Irish Coffee was in Foynes, Ireland at the Shannon House Hotel. Chef Jim Sheridan brewed up strong coffee, broke out the whiskey and added a generous dollop of fresh cream. Some say the Irish legend was born by accident when an astonished passenger asked, “Is this Irish coffee?“
King Cake Cupcakes
King Cake is traditional for Mardi Gras with its cinnamon roll like quality but you can achieve the same festive results faster with cupcakes! The vibrant colors of Mardi Gras are beautiful on their own but when you add them to a cupcake with cinnamon frosting, you have a party going on for sure!
Valentine’s Day at Eagles Nest Winery
We’re off for another wonderful day with our friends at Eagles Nest Winery in Ramona to celebrate Valentine’s Day. Leave it to Julie to think of a fun twist for our wine tasting pleasure.
She has combined wine tasting with the sharing of appetizers and desserts in their newly re-decorated tasting room. Each taster is invited to bring their favorite recipe for a dessert or appetizer to share with everyone. There will even be prizes of their Viognier Port given for the top 3 in each category. Wonder who will tempt us most? Continue reading
French Connection Friday’s 5 o’clock Wet Your Whistle Call!
The French Connection is a classic cocktail that can be served 3 ways. The warm, nutty flavors are delicious any way you choose to drink them. Whether you serve it on the rocks, neat in a snifter or in a mug of hot coffee topped with whipped cream, you will feel the warmth penetrate your body and take the chill right off. The French Connection is a relatively simple drink but don’t let that fool you into thinking that you are about to have an ordinary experience.
Small Bites of Happiness
“Moderation, small helpings, sample a little bit of everything. These are the secrets of happiness and good health.” ~ Julia Child
I couldn’t agree with her more. I love little bites of food and dessert because of the variety of flavors you can savor and not feel like you have eaten a mountain of food. I came across a great site for just this kind of food simply called Finger Food Recipes. A couple yummy ones I can hardly wait to try are waiting right here just for you!
