Olive Crostini with Fresh Mozzarella
I recently had these Olive Crostini with Fresh Mozzarella at a friend’s little birthday gathering and they were so yummy that I could not stop popping them in my mouth! I was not the only one indulging in these yummy little bites either. They were the hit of the party! Actually everything they served was delicious, but these were my favorite. And so simple and easy to make. First, slice up some Baguette and drizzle with good quality extra virgin olive oil. Toast until lightly browned. Spread each of the toasted breads with Olive tapenade and then top with a slice of fresh mozzarella. Place the Crostini bake in the…
Derby Day: Spicy Shrimp and Andouille Sausage
Derby Day: Spicy Shrimp and Andouille Sausage for the win! Serve up this simple and flavorful dish at your upcoming derby party or any day for that matter. Yum! Well, now that it’s almost May, I think that spring has finally arrived! What a crazy year of weather! I’m sooooooo looking forward to a nice long stretch of sunnier and warmer days. Looking ahead at the calendar, I noticed that May 5th is not only Cinco De Mayo but also Derby Day. I thought it would be fun to throw some Derby Day recipes into the mix. Will you be watching the races? Having a Derby party? What type of southern delights…
Corn Chowder with Crispy Bacon and Scallions
Follow my blog with Bloglovin Mmmmmm….. Corn Chowder! With this crazy spring weather we are having, a nice warm bowl of soup just hits the spot. Oh how I long for summer and warmer, sunny days. Who else is ready for sunshine, flip flops, road trips, cool salads and cool drinks? Well, since the east coast is getting pounded with snow and the west has chilling rain I opted for this yummy Corn Chowder instead of a cool refreshing salad…… for now. First I diced up about 5 strips of bacon and cook until nice and crisp. Remove bacon and drain on paper towels. Then I sauteed onions, celery and…
Chicken Shawarma Tacos with Cucumber and Heirloom Tomato Pico De Gallo
The Great Spice Experiment: Lately, I’ve been into experimenting with spices that I don’t use on a regular basis. I’m trying to get out of my “Parsley, Sage, Rosemary and Thyme” rut. Did you sing that as you read it? Any Simon and Garfunkel fans in the house? Anyway, Back to to the spice experiment. The other day, I came across some yummy marinated chicken shawarma in the fresh meats section at Trader Joe’s. This inspired me to create my own recipe for this flavorful dish. I didn’t have all of the spices that I needed on hand, and realized it would be quite an investment to buy a jar…
Roasted Cauliflower Tabbouleh
I just love Mediterranean flavors. Lemons, olives, tomatoes, etc… Everything is so fresh and bright tasting. Tabbouleh, a bulghur wheat and parsley salad, is no exception. It is loaded with fresh vegetables and then tossed with a bright lemony vinaigrette. Traditionally served alongside bowls of hummus, baba ghanoush, fresh baked pita bread, falafel and yogurt sauce (similar to greek tzatziki sauce) as the start of the meal. Instead of using bulghur, I decided to make this fresh lemony salad with roasted cauliflower. Oh my goodness, it turned out so yummy! Serve this fresh yummy salad with grilled or roasted meats, fish or seafood or with your favorite vegetarian dish. The…
Lemon Love: Meyer Lemon/Garlic Infused Olive Oil and Gremolata
Infused oils are such a simple and easy way to add flavor to your favorite dish. During one of my many trips to Trader Joe’s, I came across a bag of beautiful Meyer Lemons. Without a plan for using them, I tossed a bag into my basket. I just love anything lemon flavored, so I knew that I would have fun experimenting with these golden beauties. That evening, as I was scrolling through one of my social media sites, a delicious looking recipe popped up on my news feed. One Skillet Lemon Butter Chicken and Orzo I made my own crockpot version using much of the same ingredients. The flavors…
Spicy Minced Chicken and Water Chestnut Lettuce Wraps
Happy Chinese New Year! Looking for something yummy and healthy to celebrate? Instead of going out for Chinese or ordering take-out, make these simple and tasty Spicy Minced Chicken and Water Chestnut Lettuce Wraps. I found this recipe in The Oregonian Cookbook. One of the many cookbooks that I have found while out “treasure hunting” at Estate Sales. And what a treasure it is! This book is chock -full of so many delicious recipes. If you have never been “treasure hunting”, I highly recommend it. I think that I payed a total of $3.00 for three cookbooks. Score! This recipe is so simple and easy. And you can make the…
Happy Birthday Oregon!
 Today is Oregon’s 159th Birthday! If you have never been to Oregon, it is a must see. There are so many things to do and see. The scenery here is absolutely beautiful!  Portland is Oregon’s largest city and is listed in the top 10 of foodie cities in the US. And I have to agree. The food here is amazing! So is the Wine and Beer. Most of the restaurants in Portland have a farm to table mentality, using mostly local and seasonal ingredients. There are many beautiful things to see within the city. Check out Pittock Mansion and it’s amazing view of the downtown area. Or the Rose…
Crab Salad In Pita Pockets
Fresh ginger and jalapeno pepper compliment succulent crabmeat in this light and refreshing crab salad in pita pockets
Spicy Roasted Green Chili Salsa
Wow, can you believe that it’s already February 1st?! The big game is only 3 days away. What will you be serving or bringing to your Super Bowl party? Wings? Chili? No party is complete without the chips and salsa, right? I made this yummy Spicy Roasted Green Chili Salsa by roasting up some jalapeno peppers, fresh garlic and onions. Then added a small can of roasted green chili’s, fresh lime juice, cilantro and a bit of salt. It came out so yummy! But warning, it does have a kick to it! If you don’t care for the heat then just remove the seeds and pith from the jalapenos…
Rosemary Asiago Two Bite Biscuits
I made these little Rosemary Asiago Two Bite Biscuits a couple of days ago while working on ideas for Super Bowl/Mardi Gras/Valentines Day posts. These were adapted from a yummy looking buttermilk biscuit recipe that I stumbled upon during a google search. What did we do before google, anyway? Here is the original recipe that I found on a site called Cooking Maniac: Grandma’s Flaky Buttermilk Biscuits I added a cup of very finely grated Rosemary Asiago Cheese to mine (my favorite “go to” cheese at the moment) and a bit of granulated garlic. I also cut the biscuits out with a small round cookie cutter. They turned out quite cute…
Crostini with Bruleed Pears, Brie, Toasted Pecans and Balsamic Syrup
Have you ever seen the movie, Mermaids? It was a movie from the early 90’s, starring Cher. She plays an unconventional single mom (Mrs. Flax) who moves to a small town with her two daughters (Wynonna Ryder and Christina Ricci). She has some serious commitment issues not just with men but also everything else in her life, including cooking meals. Charlotte Flax: Mrs. Flax only served hors d’ oeuvres for meals. She said that anything else was too much of a commitment.  From the movie: Mermaids I completely relate. I could live on hors d’ oeuvres or charcuterie for dinner. Throw in a glass of wine and you’ve got a meal! Don’t get…
