Herb Salad

Apr 20, 2020 · 6 Comments

A fresh herb salad is so easy to make and so delicious! Just adding a few simple herbs to a basic green salad really elevates the salad and adds so much flavor!

Platter filled with an herb salad and violet flowers.

You don't have to have a big yard to have an herb garden and you don't need a lot of herbs to make an herb salad!

I have a small herb garden - sage, rosemary, tarragon, parsley, basil, thyme and oregano. Every year I vow to be more diligent in using my herbs.

Now, that I've discovered how easy and delicious they are when added to a salad, I use them almost every day!

It's really easy to add them to a salad, but there are a few pointers and tips that I can share with you.

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Paloma Cocktail

Apr 16, 2020 · 7 Comments

The Paloma Cocktail is an easy and refreshing grapefruit tequila cocktail! Make it with fresh grapefruit juice or grapefruit soda, tequila and lime juice!

While reading about margaritas (yes, I spend my time reading about margaritas) I stumbled upon a Paloma Drink. It was similar to a margarita with tequila and lime juice, but instead of orange liqueur, it used grapefruit.

The first thing you notice when researching the Paloma is that there are two options. One is to use fresh grapefruit juice and club soda, the other is to use a grapefruit flavored soda, like Fresca or Jarritos.

While I had no doubt that the fresh grapefruit juice/club soda would be amazing, I was also intrigued by those bottles of Jarritos soda that I see in the International Aisle of the grocery store.

I also happened to have some Giffard Créme de Pamplemousse - a pink grapefruit liqueur that I bought because it sounded yummy and was a pretty pink color (yes I will buy a liqueur if it's a pretty pink color.) This is totally optional, so don't feel like you have to run out and buy some - though it is delicious!

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Asparagus Risotto

Apr 13, 2020 · 7 Comments

This asparagus risotto is an easy, savory and satisfying meatless main dish! The asparagus stays crisp tender and the rice becomes rich and creamy. A little lemon zest and parmesan cheese add to the wow factor in this recipe!

Skillet filled with a risotto with pieces of asparagus.

It's spring and that means it's asparagus season.

Yes, you can get asparagus year round (and I have been known to buy it out of season,) but when I can start getting local asparagus, it makes me very, very happy!

I love to use it in a quick pickled asparagus and it's great with this roasted cod recipe or even this crispy parmesan roasted asparagus. As I was looking through some of recipes trying to decide what to do with a lovely bunch of asparagus, I realized that I hadn't made an asparagus risotto.

Looking through some recipes for ideas, I saw that a lot of people pureed some of the asparagus, resulting in a risotto that was green. That wasn't really what I was looking for.

Then I found the idea of heating up the stock with the broken off ends of the asparagus! That was genius. It allows for more asparagus flavor, without making the whole risotto green!

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Old Pal Cocktail

Apr 9, 2020 · 5 Comments

This Old Pal Cocktail is a classic whiskey cocktail that you just have to try! With only three ingredients - rye whiskey, Campari and Vermouth it's as easy to make as it is to sip!

Once you get into making cocktails, you soon learn that most cocktails are a riff off of a few basic cocktail formulas.

Like this Old Pal Cocktail.

It's basically a Negroni made with rye whiskey instead of gin and dry vermouth instead of sweet. Or you could say it's Boulevardier made with rye whiskey instead of bourbon and dry vermouth instead of sweet.

It first showed up in print in 1922 in Harry McElhone's The ABC of Mixing Cocktails. The Negroni is first mentioned in 1919 and is said to have originated when Count Negroni ordered an Americano (sweet vermouth, Campari and club soda) with gin instead of the club soda.

Count Negroni sounds like my kind of count.

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Lemon Herb Vinegar

Apr 6, 2020 · 35 Comments

This lemon herb vinegar is so easy to make and adds so much flavor to everything! Perfect in homemade salad dressings, drizzle a little on grilled meats or fish, add it to a marinade or use it to deglaze a pan for lemony herby pan sauce!

You all know that I love infusing alcohol, but did you know that I also love infusing vinegars and oils?

I was so pleased with my lemon infused olive oil, that I decided to make a lemon herb vinegar!

Just look at the gorgeous color on this vinegar!! That comes straight from fresh lemons, no artificial colors here! This was so easy to make, time does most of the work, I plan on always having a bottle of this in the pantry.

Use it anywhere you would normally use vinegar - in homemade salad dressings, marinades, drizzle on grilled fish or meats, use it to deglaze a pan for a quick and lemony pan sauce!

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Boulevardier Cocktail

Apr 2, 2020 · 5 Comments

The Boulevardier is a delicious classic bourbon cocktail! With only three ingredients: bourbon, sweet vermouth and Campari, it's as easy to make as it is to drink!

When I was younger and would go to bars to go dancing, my drink of choice was a gin and tonic. It was light and refreshing, perfect for drinking when I would back to the bar to take a break from dancing.

Now, that I'm older and most of my sipping is done on back porches or sitting in my comfy chair watching the latest and greatest on Netflix, I find myself drawn to deeper, richer cocktails.

Cocktails that you sip and savor. My favorite is a Negroni. A Negroni is simply gin, sweet vermouth and Campari.

The Boulevardier recipe is a classic that first appeared in print in the 1920's. It is a riff on a Negroni with bourbon taking the place of the gin. It is so good. Rich and earthy.

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Salmon with Spicy Mango Salsa

Mar 29, 2020 · 16 Comments

This Salmon with Spicy Mango Salsa is so easy to make and so delicious! You can have perfectly seared salmon topped with a fruity and spicy mango salsa on the table in about 20 minutes! Serve it with rice or salad greens!

Whenever mangoes go on sale I buy as many as I can. They are the perfect fruit for using as a side dish - like this easy Minty Mango Salad.

But I also love them in a salsa. They immediately add a fruity, tropical vibe to whatever you pair with it.

A yummy mango salsa is so versatile, it can be used on a Mahi Mahi with Coconut Ginger Rice or even mixed with black beans for Shrimp Tacos.

Today, we are using it to top some perfectly seared salmon. An easy weeknight dinner, ready in about 20 minutes!

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Piña Colada Cocktail

Mar 26, 2020 · 7 Comments

If you're looking for a fruity, refreshing cocktail look no further than the classic Piña Colada! This recipe has the perfect blend of rum, pineapple and coconut milk, one sip and you are transported to a tropical island.

Raise your hand if every time you hear the words Piña Colada, you have to sing the Piña Colada Song.

Same here.

Or if you are more like me, you actually only know the first sentence of the song.

The other day, I realized it had been ages since I had this delicious rum cocktail, well since last summer, which definitely feels like ages. We had some coconut milk from another recipe and I had frozen pineapple, so we were good to go!

One sip and we vowed to always have the ingredients to make this any time we want. It's so good.

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Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Noodle Soup

Mar 23, 2020 · 29 Comments

Tired of the same old chicken noodle soup? Try this Slow Cooker Mexican Chicken Noodle Soup, a delicious take on a classic soup! Noodles cook in the pot too!

Slow Cooker and Crockpot Soups!

I don't know about you, but one of my favorite ways to use my slow cooker is for soups. There is something about coming home and having the house smell divine. Or even if you work from home like me, smelling it all day, just ups the anticipation.

Slow cooking all day allows all the flavors to meld together and provide the most amazing flavor!

I think you all agree because the most popular posts on blog are slow cooker posts, like this Slow Cooker Chicken Parmesan Soup.

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Mango Margarita

Mar 19, 2020 · 8 Comments

This Mango Margarita is so easy and delicious! You don't even need fresh mangoes, made with easy to find mango juice or nectar! Fruity and tangy, it's the perfect cocktail!

I have a confession to make. We have margaritas almost every Saturday evening.

Our routine is to watch a movie, and just for the record Netflix beats out all of our other cable channels combined, and sip a cocktail. That cocktail is usually a margarita.

There is something about that combination of tequila, lime juice, a little orange liqueur and salt that just keeps me coming back for more. I am definitely a salty snacker (you should see how salty I like my popcorn) so any salt rimmed cocktail automatically jumps to the top.

Last Saturday, while looking in the fridge, I noticed a bottle of mango nectar that I bought for a recipe and hadn't used yet. I thought it would be perfect in a fruity cocktail and it was. This was hardly any more work than a regular margarita and had a fun, fruity vibe and a gorgeous color!

Give this mango margarita a try (also called a Margarita de Mango) I think you'll love it!

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Greek Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta

Mar 17, 2020 · 25 Comments

This Baked Shrimp with Tomatoes and Feta is a classic Greek recipe that you need to be making now! Succulent shrimp, tangy feta cheese in a zesty tomato sauce. Serve over pasta, rice or polenta for a delicious easy weeknight dinner! Ready in under 30 minutes!

If you are looking for recipe that is fancy enough for company, but easy enough for a quick weeknight dinner, this easy shrimp recipe is it!

I've mentioned before that if I had to choose a favorite cuisine, I have several that vie for top position. Southeast Asian and Mediterranean are definitely tied at the top.

Mediterranean food covers so many regions, but Greek is the one that I turn to time and time again. The recipes I gravitate towards are simple, with real ingredients, like this classic shrimp with tomatoes and feta.

You make fresh tomato sauce, add the shrimp, top with yummy feta cheese and bake until the cheese melts. Easy peasy. We served it over Instant Pot Herbed Polenta, it would also be great with pasta or rice, or just some big chunks of bread to soak up all that sauce!

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How to Make a Rumtopf

Mar 12, 2020 · 10 Comments

Start a Rumtopf at the beginning of the produce season and by the time the holidays come around you have an amazing liqueur to sip and boozy fruit that you'll want to eat by the spoonful!

Have you ever heard of a rumtopf? If not, get ready to fall in love with this fun and easy liqueur infusion. If you have heard of it and you haven't made one yet, then read on to see how easy it is!

A rumtopf is a German recipe that is basically fruit preserved in rum. The idea is that by the time the holidays roll around you have the fruit infused rum and boozy fruit to enjoy or give as gifts.

I originally posted this recipe back in 2013. I showed you the first photo, which looked pretty similar to the one above.

The problem is I didn't come back and revisit the post and revisiting is what this liqueur is all about.

You see, you start at the beginning of the year, adding fruit (and sugar) as it's in season. You keep adding to it all season long and then by the end of the year, you'll have something amazing.

This time, I plan on doing it right. I will update this post when I add new fruit, so you can see the whole process from start to finish.

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Jalapeño Simple Syrup

Mar 9, 2020 · 14 Comments

Jalapeño Simple Syrup is the easy and delicious way to add a kick to your cocktails! Use it to make a jalapeño margarita or turn any cocktail into a spicy, fun cocktail!

The easiest way to up your cocktail game is with simple syrups! Almost every cocktail has some sort of sweetener in it, and most cases it is a simple syrup.

A simple syrup is simply equal parts water and sugar heated until the sugar dissolves. You can make a rich simple syrup by using twice as much sugar as water and you can even make a honey simple syrup.

The beauty of the simple syrup, besides how simple it is, is that it is so easy to add another ingredient to it and make a flavored simple syrup.

Herbs are a favorite addition - like this Thyme Simple Syrup and this Rosemary Simple syrup.

Today, I finally got around to making a jalapeño simple syrup and I am kicking myself for not making it sooner. Think of all the spicy cocktails we could have been drinking!

We made an amazing Jalapeño Margarita by simply subbing out our usual simple syrup for this spicy simple syrup and it was so good. I am definitely always going to have a bottle of this in the fridge!

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Coconut Cilantro Rice

Mar 8, 2020 · 8 Comments

This Coconut Cilantro Rice is ready in about 20 minutes and makes the most delicious side dish! This rice is full of flavor and the perfect accompaniment to almost any main dish!

It is our go to side dish and I'm sure it will become yours too!

Do you have a favorite cuisine?

It would be hard for me to choose one over the other. I love Greek - give me all the Kalamata olives please. I love Italian - I never say no to pasta.

But if I absolutely had to pick a favorite, it would be Southeast Asian. Southeast Asian cuisine covers a range of cuisines: Vietnam, Cambodia, Laos, Burma, Indonesia, the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia.

From those regions, my favorites are Vietnamese cuisine and Thai food! We eat a lot of it. So, I am always looking for side dishes to go with spicy, sticky main dishes.

I wanted something cool and a bit rich to go with my Thai Sticky Chicken, so I turned to my go to rice side dish.

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Easy Espresso Martini Recipe

Mar 5, 2020 · 10 Comments

With only 3 ingredients this Espresso Martini Recipe is so easy! I used a homemade coffee liqueur, but any coffee liqueur, like Kahlua will work. It is a coffee, cocktail and dessert all in one!

After dinner cocktails

I love eating out in fancy restaurants. One of my favorite parts is the after dinner coffee. I am also partial to after dinner drinks.

So, when I saw this Espresso Martini recipe from Sweet Paul, I knew that I would be making it soon.

Very soon. Like that same day soon! 3 ingredients are all that come between you and this amazingly easy 3 ingredient coffee martini.

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Strawberry Vinegar

Mar 4, 2020 · 6 Comments

Fruit vinegars like this Strawberry Vinegar are so easy to make and so useful to have in your pantry! Bring the delicious fruity strawberry flavor to your salad dressings, use it in a sauce, drizzle on fruits, meats or chicken. I even stir some in sparkling water for a fruity and tangy drink!

What to do with a bunch of strawberries?

Our local band was raising money by selling strawberries. Always willing to support the band, I bought a flat of them.

That's a lot of strawberries.

I made a few jars of Strawberry Freezer Jam and I started a Rumtopf (post will be updated soon!)

Froze some to use in smoothies and then made this gorgeous, fruity strawberry vinegar!

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Horse's Neck Cocktail

Mar 2, 2020 · 7 Comments

Another Kentucky Derby Day Cocktail or Mocktail, this Horse's Neck is one you definitely need to try! When made without alcohol, it's a Horse's Neck, but when you add bourbon (and you definitely want to add bourbon!) it's a Horse's Neck with a Kick!

It gets it's name from the long lemon twist that hangs over the edge of the glass, resembling a horse's neck.

This easy cocktail needs to be on everyone's must make list. So easy. So delicious and so refreshing!

I don't do many mocktails around here. And by not many, I mean none. This cocktail is one that actually started it's life as a mocktail, and can be served as one, or you can turn it into a delicious cocktail.

The Horse's Neck was actually one of the earliest non alcoholic drinks to appear in print, in 1895. It was ginger ale simply garnished with a long lemon peel.

By adding a couple of ounces of bourbon, you turn it into a Horse's Neck with Kick! We like ours with a kick, thank you very much!

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Lemon and Thyme Chickpea Salad

Mar 1, 2020 · 34 Comments

This Lemon and Thyme Chickpea Salad is tart and tangy and so easy to make! It's the perfect side dish, ready in about 5 minutes, but it gets even better after sitting awhile!

Easy Side Dish

If you are anything like me, you are always searching for an easy side dish. If I've put some time and effort into the main dish recipe, I want my side dish to be easy. Super easy.

I also tend to get in a side dish rut, potatoes are a go to, like these Skillet Fried Potatoes. Rice is also in regular rotation, the Instant Pot makes this Sesame Ginger Rice so easy.

But you can't live on potatoes alone, though goodness knows I could definitely try - so I started thinking about some other options.

It had to be easy, it had to be something that I could make from mostly pantry ingredients, and it had to be tasty.

This Lemon and Thyme Chickpea Salad checks off all the easy side dish boxes!

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Luxie Kitty at the Window

Feb 28, 2020 · 19 Comments

Did you miss us kitties? Luxie wants to know.

Yes, I haven't posted at kitty post in two weeks! I was trying to get over a cold and we did a quick visit to Atlanta to see my grand daughter.

Plus, I didn't have any new photos and I was underwhelmed by the ones that I have left in the to be edited folder in Lightroom.

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Kentucky Buck Cocktail

Feb 27, 2020 · 7 Comments

No need to wait for Derby Day for this delicious bourbon cocktail! The Kentucky Buck is a delightfully refreshing whiskey cocktail with a hint of fruit from the muddled strawberry! So easy to make so divine to sip!

Click here to pin this Kentucky Buck Cocktail now!

Buck cocktails

It's hard to believe, but there are whole "classes" of cocktails that I've never tried, like daisies and flips.

I would add "Bucks" to that list, but now I have been enlightened on the tasty cocktails!

A buck cocktail is that contains ginger ale or ginger beer, citrus and a base liquor. It may or may not have fruit or herbs muddled in it.

Hmmm... doesn't that sound like a Moscow Mule? Why, yes it does, a Moscow Mule is a Buck!

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15 Minute Honey Sriracha Salmon

Feb 24, 2020 · 16 Comments

Who wants sweet, spicy salmon in under 20 minutes? Everyone! This salmon is so easy, glazed with honey sriracha glaze and then broiled, it's one pan easy! Easiest salmon recipe ever and so tasty!

Click here to pin this Honey Sriracha Salmon!

The Best Sweet and Spicy Salmon Ever!

Have you noticed that I've been on a sweet and spicy quick lately? I first made Honey Sriracha Pork Chops and they were so amazing, I immediately started thinking of all the different ways I could use that tempting sauce.

Since we are huge fans of oven baked salmon and huge fans of very, very easy recipes, I knew I wanted to either bake the salmon or broil it.

With the sticky sweet glaze, broiling seemed like the best bet, and it was!

This was the easiest salmon recipe ever and loaded with intense and tasty flavor from the glaze. Did I mention that it's ready in about 15 minutes?

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Fruity Blackberry Bramble Cocktail

Feb 20, 2020 · 8 Comments

The Blackberry Bramble Cocktail is so fruity and delicious, it needs to be on your must make list! Gin, blackberry liqueur, lemon juice, simple syrup and blackberries! So refreshing and flavorful!

Click here to pin this Blackberry Bramble Cocktail to save it for later!

Bramble Cocktail

I had been wanting to make a Bramble Cocktail ever since I first heard of it. The Bramble was invented in the 1980's by Dick Bradsell at a London bar.

The only thing stopping me from making this cocktail was that I couldn't find Blackberry Liqueur - or Créme de Mure any where in Chattanooga. Then I made my own Homemade Blackberry Liqueur and now I can have this refreshing cocktail whenever I want it!

It was worth the wait, this cocktail was everything I hoped it would be. It's basically a gin sour with the addition of blackberry liqueur.

While I had the blackberries, I couldn't resist a Blackberry Mint Julep and a Blackberry Margarita!

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Sticky Thai Chicken

Feb 19, 2020 · 33 Comments

The easiest Thai Sticky Chicken ever! No need to marinate when your sauce has this much flavor! These juicy chicken thighs are cooked in one pan in about 45 minutes. Temptingly sweet and spicy and so delicious!

Sweet and Spicy Recipes

Lately I have been craving sweet and spicy recipes, like these Honey Sriracha Pork Chops that I made the other day and I just made a Honey Sriracha Salmon!

Something about that sweet, sticky and spicy combination is so addictive! I love it.

So, I'm back today with chicken. Not just any chicken, but sweet, spicy Thai chicken. All your favorite Thai flavors in an easy one pan chicken dinner!

You don't even have to marinate the chicken, with a sauce this flavorful you don't have to! I served it with Coconut Cilantro Rice though it would also be great with these Peanut Noodles.

Click here to pin this Sticky Thai Chicken now!

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Spicy Jalapeño Blackberry Margarita

Feb 17, 2020 · 6 Comments

You're going to love this spicy fruity margarita recipe! Spicy Jalapeño Blackberry Margaritas are so easy to make and so easy to drink! Blackberries, tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, simple syrup and a jalapeño pepper! Make a pitcher for your next party!

Blackberry Margarita Recipe

Blackberries were on sale, buy one get one free. So of course I bought four of them! Using a few in salads was a no brainer.

Using them in cocktails was also a no brainer. I tried them in Blackberry Mint Julep - oh my gosh, so good!

Then I tried a Blackberry Bramble Cocktail, that I had been wanting to try forever! I could never make it because I couldn't find blackberry liqueur in my town, but then I made my own Homemade Blackberry Liqueur and now I can have this refreshing cocktail any time I want!

The next night was Saturday and Saturday's are for margaritas (amiright?) Another great use for the blackberries, but I wanted to spice it up a bit. Kick it up a notch. Bam. Sorry channeling my inner Emeril.

Boom - Spicy Blackberry Margarita. Make this now. Really. Just do it.

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