How to Grill Vegetables

Grilling vegetables is an easy way to cook them… yet many cooks are intimidated by them… even my Grill Master was wary…. he had a million excuses until we bought a grilling basket… then to get him to use skewers was another story… and so it goes. You should have seen the look on his face the other night when I asked him to just grill vegetables … no meat… sacrilege!

I decided to write

pork out

It's been a long time - do you ever have those moments in life where everything becomes chaotic all at once? I have been knee deep in chaos since mid-february and have been seriously neglecting you. I'm sorry. I promise my hardest not to do that to you again. 

You see, lots of things have been happening in my life. Matt and I bought a condo - yep, first time home buyers! My new kitchen is amazing and I can't wait to share it with you soon. That is, when i'm done digging my way out from all of the boxes. On top of all the moving/buying a condo chaos, work has been crazy busy AND I'm planning a wedding. Life is great. Life is amazing. But mostly, life is BUSY! 

Lets slow things down for a minute and talk about bacon. Specifically hot pepper + bacon vodka. Yep, that's a thing. It takes 1 - 2 weeks to make (the closer to the latter the better) but it's totally worth the wait. It's so easy to make and definitely makes brunch a lot more exciting.

hot pepper + bacon vodka

ingredients:

1 pint (375 ml) vodka 

6 strips of bacon (cooked & crispy)

1 jalapeno, cut in half length wise

1 serrano pepper, cut in half length wise

put ingredients into a mason jar or any sealable container and let sit for 2 weeks. if you're in a big rush, 5-7 days will work. the longer you let it sit, the stronger the flavors build. after 1 week, remove the peppers (unless you like it really hot). this way the hot pepper won't overpower the smokey bacon goodness.

now the little bit of work happens… totally worth it work. work that gets rewarded with bacon vodka in the end. strain your cloudy mixture through a fine mesh sieve and put it in a clean container and into the freezer. the freezer portion is key here. nobody likes greasy vodka, nobody. fat + drinks don't equal awesomeness. although it sounds like it could work, trust me, it doesn't. freeze your vodka for a minimum of 5 hours, 1 day is ideal. take a coffee filter or cheesecloth and place it into a fine mesh sieve on top of a medium sized bowl. pour your frozen vodka into the strainer and place in the refrigerator. after about 2 hours, the mixture should fully strain through, separating the fat from the liquor. 

bacon + hot pepper vodka is ready! store in the refrigerator or freezer. use to make the best bloody mary's or fancy, kicking cocktails. 

improv style:

you can leave out the hot peppers if you're not into spicy. if you're into heat but not HOT, use a milder pepper or peppercorns. candied bacon would be interesting… all types of bacon will affect the mixture - smokey bacon would be really great here but use what you can find! vodka is a neutral flavor but what about gin? bourbon... that could be REALLY interesting. 

Patriotic Desserts

Red white and Blue Desserts are a terrific way to tie in the Patriotic theme into your celebration....






Here are just a few simple dessert ideas ...



Very Berry Tart








Red White and Blue Amaretto Mascarpone Trifle









Patriotic Star Pound Cake Dessert









Easy Triple Berry Trifle










Red White and Blue Berry Fruit Salad

Important Food Safety Tips for Grilling

With the official start of this year's grilling season about to start ... I thought it would be a good opportunity to re-post some Food Safety Grilling Tips… these are courtesy of the Partnership for Food Safety Education.

A true "Grill Master" always knows to clean, separate, cook and chill to ensure a pleasant cookout for all.

Wash your hands with warm water and soap for at least 20 seconds

10 Tips for Grilling the Perfect Burger

However you like your burger... plain.... with cheese .. loaded with toppings... doesn't matter ... the most important part is making the burger... and grilling season is here... so here are some burger basics for grilling a perfect burger.

Warren is the Grill Master in our house…. when we first got together.. I was a gas grill kinda gal… and being a widow/single mom… I learned to make … what I

Beef Tostadas

Beef Tostadas...  they're
easy to make... delicious and always a favorite... and albeit messy... but
nonetheless fun to eat.

A crispy fried tortilla (corn or flour) topped with taco beef...
shredded lettuce, cheese, chopped green onion, salsa and sour cream or guacamole...
I told you... messy... but good.

TIPS

I seasoned the beef with my Taco Seasoning... a great
seasoning and also easy to

Mini Dutch Babies

 

These are a mini version of the Dutch Baby aka
pancakes.  They are sometimes called
German Pancakes, but they are not the German pancakes of my childhood. 

I first discovered this "German Pancake" on the
cover of one of those magazines you buy at the grocery store years ago.  I remember making the pancake and thinking..
this isn't a German pancake... certainly not what my Grandmothers

Dark Cherry Sauce

This slightly sweet Dark Cherry Sauce is very versatile...
perfect over ice cream, pound cake, pancakes and waffles... and much more... in
fact the inspiration for it was from my childhood...

My Grandmother would make a cherry sauce to be served with
chicken... loosely translated.. the dish was called soup, meat and sauce...
meaning.. she cooked the meat in the soup.. and then served the

Salads for Every Occasion

It's the season to make salads... for that Backyard BBQ, Family Reunion, Graduation Party, Showers... or maybe just a family get-together...

The wonderful thing about salads... they go with just about everything and they're well loved by all. From the classic potato and macaroni salads to the healthy fruit salads... and everything in between.. there is a salad for everyone for sure..

Try one.

Smokey Onion and Red Potato Frittata

 



 

This recipe for Smokey Onion
and Red Potato Frittata comes from my son, Erik... and it's just delicious!
 

He loves inventing recipes...  he is the best at using what's available in
the fridge and the market...  and some of
his inventions have some unusual ingredients... this was no exception...
 

The coffee ... while it may
seem odd... actually enhances the barbeque sauce... try it.

Sloppy Joe & Mac Skillet

Sloppy Joe and Mac Skillet is the perfect family meal..
great for weeknights... one skillet... done in under a half hour... so delicious
you can watch the family devour it...

TIPS

Use extremely lean ground beef and you won't have to drain
the meat.

The water may cook down faster than the macaroni cooks... depending
on how hard a simmer you have.. just add a bit more if it gets down too low

Honey Bun Cake

This delicious coffee cake will surely brighten your
morning.... a perfect companion to a great cup of coffee.  Honey Bun Cakes have been around forever..
and surprisingly.. the recipes are all almost identical.... this recipe is from
Betty Crocker's Soul Food Collection... and uses a shortcut by using boxed cake
mix.

I only changed a few of things...

TIPS

The original recipe called for 1

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding

Bananas Foster Bread Pudding.. is really quite easy to
make... perfect for a family dessert.. fancy enough for company.

What could be better than brown sugar, cinnamon, butter and
rum? ... love this sauce... absolutely love it! 
So I admit.. since Warren is absolutely crazy about bananas... bananas
over bananas.. okay.. okay.. it's early and I'm a little punchy.. forgive me that
little joke.

Happy Mother's Day!

Happy Mother's Day to all the Mothers out there... and to all celebrating how special their Mothers are!

I hope all of you have a wonderful and relaxing day!

Sausage Egg and Cheese Biscuit Casserole

This Sausage Egg and Cheese Biscuit Casserole is so easy to
put together... a perfect recipe for a Dad to make with the kids for Mother's
Day... hint hint.

Truly.. this is easy... and a very quick prep...

TIPS

You can use any breakfast sausage you like... bulk sausage
works the best.. but if you only have the sliced kind.. you can make it and
chop it.. it will work also.

You can lower

Cheese Stuffed Italian Meatballs

Italian Meatballs with a cheesy surprise in the center...
you can't get too much better than that!  
My Mother always made her meatballs with a cube of mozzarella cheese in
the center... as kids we loved it...

I honestly forgot all about it until the other day I was
making meatballs and reached for the block of mozzarella in the fridge... I had
to stop and laugh to myself... sometimes your

Pepperoni and Mozzarella Pizza Balls

These delicious Pizza Balls are addictive.... trust me... we
know... they were supposed to be a little nosh (like that word? ... from my New
York roots).. and they ended up the main event... not a bad thing for sure!

TIPS

You can make as few or as many as you like... so these are
great for parties or for watching the game... 
just adjust the baking dish to how ever many you are making...

Easy Peach Angel Food Cupcakes

This SKINNY recipe for Easy Peach Angel Food Cupcakes ...
yes... I did say skinny and cupcake in the same sentence... it was not a
typo.... so delicious and fat free!

A version of a Weight Watcher's recipe... it has THREE
ingredients... it's quick easy and GUILT-FREE!

TIPS

I used Del Monte no sugar added sliced peaches... I couldn't
find diced peaches.. so I just diced them myself.

This

Easy Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks

Easy Cheesy Garlic Breadsticks... a little experimentation
and some taste testing (of course) ... and this recipe was perfected... we just
could not get enough of these... they were delicious!

They were much like the ones that come from pizza take-out
places... but in our opinion... tastier and way cheaper...

TIPS

I used real butter... I know you usually see me use a
margarine substitute

Is a Tomato a Fruit or a Vegetable?

Is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable? Many people argue both sides of this. I have always been on the side that a tomato is a vegetable. In a recent post I discussed whether or not an olive is a fruit or a vegetable too. It can be such tricky area.

It gets all muddled because of how it is defined by cooks and scientists. So, is a tomato a fruit or a vegetable? Scientifically speaking, a tomato is a fruit. If you are like me, you find this hard to swallow since I have always considered fruits to be sweet. And I use tomatoes as I would vegetables because they are savory and not sweet.

Still, if you go to the grocery store you will still find that tomatoes are with the vegetable and are labeled as such. No wonder there is so much confusion. Legally, tomatoes are considered vegetables, that is why you find them listed as a vegetable, and with other vegetables. The Supreme Court ruled that since tomatoes are consumed in a manner like other vegetables it should be classified as a vegetable.

So, there you have it. Scientifically tomatoes are really fruits, but legally they are considered vegetables.

||Grilled Asparagus||

Is an Olive a Fruit or a Vegetable?

I always wondered for the longest time whether an olive was a fruit or a vegetable. It doesn't look like either one. When I think of fruits, I always think sweet, like a strawberry. And when I think about vegetables, an olive doesn't fit that picture either. Defining what makes something a fruit and what makes something a vegetable can be somewhat confusing. Just look at tomatoes. Some people say it is a fruit, but still others say it is a vegetable.

So, what is an olive, a fruit or a vegetable? The answer is olives are fruits. They are specifically the fruit of the olive tree. Olives by no means are your typical fruit. You can't just grab them off the tree and eat them like you could an apple. The olive would be pretty much inedible because it is really bitter before it is cured.

So, there you have it, olives are considered fruits.

||Grilling Vegetables||

Looking for Last Minute Recipes for Cinco de Mayo?

Looking for last minute recipes for Cinco de Mayo?.... well you've come to the right place!  Cooking Tip of the Day has a Mexican Collection.... lots of recipes for delicious Mexican foods.... all easy with step by step instructions... and tips to help make your meal a success!

Take a peek at the Cooking Tip of the Day Mexican Collection... all listed by category.... and photos to help you

Cinco de Mayo Party Snack Recipes

So you decided to have a last minute get-together with some friends... some beer... some Margaritas ... while chips and salsa are always good.... maybe you want just a bit more... nothing to break the bank or to spend hours in the kitchen...

Well.... I have the solution... I have some great recipes to choose from.... here are some suggestions... check out the Cooking Tip of  the Day Mexican

Great Recipes for a Cinco de Mayo Brunch

Looking for great recipes for a  Cinco de Mayo Brunch?  Whether it's a family breakfast... breakfast for two or a crowd...

Look no further... so many recipes to choose from.......... here are some truly delicious recipes that won't keep you slaving in the kitchen .... after all it's your brunch too!













Breakfast Burrito









Breakfast Quesadillas









Huevos Rancheros

Kentucky Derby Party Food Ideas

The Kentucy Derby is coming up this weekend... and what a perfect excuse to spend some time with friends and enjoy watching those magnificent horses in action...

Make it a Southern celebration with traditional Southern foods... brunch is always fun.. a great way to get the day started.. or maybe a late lunch... either way.. great food.. great friends.. great races... lots of fun for everyone

Crab Shepherd's Pie

An unconventional spin on a Shepherd's Pie... and a
delicious one at that!  Crab in a light
creamy sauce made of Swiss, Gruyere and Parmesan cheeses... a hint of white
wine... smoked bacon, mushrooms, carrots and peas .. pearl onions... topped
with mashed potatoes .. some snipped chives... have your interest yet?  I hope so..

TIPS

Real crab is best.. that sweet flavor can't be beat... but

Oven Roasted Potatoes Onions and Kielbasa

This quick and easy Kielbasa dinner is perfect for
weeknights... 5 minutes of prep and in the oven in goes.... a quick toss with a
brown sugar, vinegar and mustard mixture before going on the table... served
with a nice German beer... a truly great meal!

TIPS

You can use any brand Kielbasa you like... I use Hillshire
Farms Beef Kielbasa.

Any kind of potatoes will work... I use medium to