Spicy Shrimp Sushi Stacks

The Eagles are going to the Super Bowl!!  That was a fantastic game!  There were so many moments last night, where my husband and I would look at each other in disbelief of what we were witnessing.   

What made the game even sweeter were these sushi stacks!  Don't let the picture fool you; these babies are a lot bigger than your average piece of sushi.  The ingredients are layered in a 1 cup measuring cup.  Perfectly seasoned sushi rice is topped with a cool, creamy, crunchy, avocado and cucumber layer, and then it's topped off with delectable, spicy, creamy, shrimp.  Delicious!  They are also very versatile.  You can swap out the shrimp with raw salmon, tuna, or cooked chicken.  My gears were turning as I was making these, and I've decided to make a buffalo chicken version for the Super Bowl, replacing the avocado mixture with a blue cheese and celery mixture and replacing the spicy shrimp with buffalo chicken!  

Note:  For an extra kick of heat, up the Sriracha to 1 tbsp.  

Harvest Salsa

Well, we're heading into our third week of homeschooling already!  I love spending the extra time with my little sous chef and also the freedom that we have in our schedule.  Fall is my favorite season for so many reasons, but I have a feeling that homeschooling is going to top my list this year!  Speaking of fall, it's not quite here yet, but it sure has felt like it for some time now.  This has got to be the mildest (and wettest) summer that I can remember!  I've only had to water my garden three or four times this year because of how much rain we've had!  Not that I'm complaining.  My garden is bursting at the seams, and I've been trying my best to not waste anything and use the things that I have in excess in creative ways.  Last week, I made some Cinnamon White Chocolate and Zucchini Cookies, and they were ahhhmazing!  Unfortunately, they didn't last long enough for me to blog about them.

This week, I found myself with a lot of extra corn and tomatoes, so I decided to make a salsa to go along with blackened chicken and rice for dinner.  This salsa is bright, refreshing, and uses ingredients straight from the garden.  While the avocado is optional, it really adds a lovely creamy contrast to the crunchy texture of the salsa.  Serve it with tortilla chips, chicken, beef, or seafood!

Buffalo Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Hands down, my favorite part about the super bowl is the naughty food.  Well, unless the Eagles are playing - then it's a whole other story!  Last year, my little sous chef discovered the puppy bowl, which was thee perfect distraction for her while we were watching the big game.  This year, it's the kitten bowl that she's amped up about.  I have to admit - my inner creepy cat lady will claw its way out, and I know I'll be sneaking away to watch it with her quite frequently.  The kittens are seriously adorable.  And the names that they come up with are so cute.  Richard Purrman anyone?  Hilarious!  Okay.  Enough about cats.  You have to try this easy appetizer.  It's so delicious and perfect for your Super Bowl festivities. 

Lobster & Corn Salad Lettuce Wraps with Tarragon Mayonnaise

Exactly one week ago, on August 6th, I celebrated my 33rd fifth 29th birthday.  My husband and I called off work, and he had the entire day planned out, babysitting and all.  How exciting!  We started the day off at the Parc Bistro for brunch, where I enjoyed some amazing bouillabaisse, and he had the bourbon shrimp BLT.  Look at the evidence below - I'm turning my husband into a food blogger!  We then went for a couple's massage, had an appointment for a new tennis racquet fitting for me, had my favorite fish tacos for dinner, and played tennis with my new racquet.  Start to finish, it was a pretty amazing day!    

Well, that was last Wednesday.  Since it's still technically my birthday week (haha!), I thought I'd treat myself to a little lobster.  Okay, that was a pretty weak transition from my birthday to the recipe, but it's the best I could do!  We typically only indulge in lobster two-to-three times a year, usually when live lobster goes on sale for $6.99/lb.  I combined the steamed lobster with freshly picked corn and tomatoes from the garden along with a yummy tarragon mayonnaise.  After chilling it, I served it over romaine lettuce to make a lettuce wrap.  It's light, simple and delicious, and the tarragon mayonnaise doesn't overpower the beautiful flavor of the lobster.  

Strawberry & Peach Salsa

This summery fruit salsa makes for an attractive and delicious garnish to grilled chicken, pork, and fish.  It's also good as a dip for tortilla chips.  Light, fresh, healthy, and easy to throw together - perfect for your summer festivities!  

Our Favorite Guacamole

The first time I introduced my husband to guacamole, he was not a fan of it.  At.  All.  I, on the other hand, am a self-proclaimed guacamoholic.  It's very healthy, but I try hard not to overindulge because of the high calorie count.  A few years back, we fell in love with these beautiful salads at a local Mexican restaurant that included a little side of guacamole.  I don't know if it was because they used less lime than we were used to, but my husband was hooked... and so was my little sous chef!  This recipe is my copycat version, and it's pretty darn close.  It's delicious, creamy, and very easy to make.  We like our guacamole smooth and creamy with a few chunks here and there, but if you prefer it chunky, just mash less.  

Vegetarian Mexican-Style Stuffed Mini Peppers

Give your taste buds a fun ride with these vegetarian stuffed mini sweet peppers!  They are given a Mexican spin using cilantro, lime, black beans, rice, corn, tomatoes, onions, and even a little splash of tequila.  The sweetness of the peppers are beautifully balanced by the spice from the jalapeno, cayenne, and crushed red pepper flakes.  Happy Cinco de Mayo!

Roasted Broccoli & Rosemary Tart with Smoked Gouda

Well, we've made it through the first full week of March without any snow.  Hallelujah!  With Spring being less than 2 weeks away, Daylight Savings being this weekend (don't forget!), and today being Friday, I'm feeling very positive.  I can't wait to see fresh, green grass in my yard, as opposed to the feet of ice that's currently smothering it.  Come on, Spring!  

For lunch today, I made this tasty tart.  Fresh rosemary, smoked Gouda, and roasted broccoli on buttery, flaky puff pastry - that makes for a fan-flipping-tastic Friday!  It's seriously delicious and also perfect for those observing lent.  Happy Friday!

Tequila Nachos Supreme with Ground Beef

Whether it's for a large party or a fun family night in, these nachos are easy to make and will be a hit!  Crispy nachos covered in seasoned ground beef are topped in a delicious tomato and bean mixture that is soaked in tequila.  

Buffalo Chicken Dippin' Balls with Spicy Cheddar Sauce

Super Bowl Sunday is quickly approaching!  While I am a die-hard Eagles fan, I do happen to have a soft spot for Peyton Manning.  Who do you think will win?

My little 9-year-old sous chef told me that she is really excited to watch the Super Bowl with us.  Her reasoning?  "We get to eat really good food ...in the living room while we watch TV!"  If you happen to be one of those people who are just as excited about the food as the game, I'll be sharing some of my favorite super bowl eats with you in a couple of days.  In the meantime, I wanted to highlight these delectable treats that we'll be indulging in for the big game.  These buffalo chicken dippin' balls are delightfully crispy on the outside and deliciously buffalo-y (that's a word, right?) on the inside.  The easy homemade spicy cheddar cheese sauce just puts them over the top.  I could seriously dip anything into the sauce and be in heaven!  

Go Broncos! 

Baked Crab Rangoon Dip & Homemade Wonton Chips

Last night was a big night for us.  Eagles versus Cowboys for a chance to go to the playoffs.  I was cautiously optimistic, but if history is a good predictor of the future, at the very least, I was going to have something good to snack on!  I had made our favorite crab cakes for dinner and found myself with some leftover crab.  After some thought, I decided to turn one of my favorite appetizers into a dip.  This crab rangoon dip doesn't disappoint!  It's creamy, delicious and tastes just like my favorite Chinese takeout's crab rangoons.  The homemade wontons are airy, crisp and super easy to make.

As for the game, it was a nail biter as usual, but it tuned out to be a thing of beauty!  I'm already thinking about what to make for the playoff game against the Saints!

Easy Beer-Basted Baby Back Ribs

Happy Friday!  Any football fans out there?  How about that Peyton Manning last night?!  I had him starting in my fantasy football team and I am loving life today!  

To kick off football season, I wanted to share some pretty delicious dude food.  Juicy, tender baby back ribs are so easy to make, all you need is a little bit of time!  Throw them in the oven in the morning and they'll be ready by kickoff.  The ribs are slowly cooked in the oven, basted in beer, and slathered in your favorite barbecue sauce.  I like to throw them on the grill at the very end to give a nice caramelized crust but that is totally optional.  

Deep Fried Green Pepper Rings

Move over, onions... bell peppers are taking over!  These fried pepper rings are so easy to make and they can be done in under 15 minutes.  Try them - you won't be disappointed!  Bet you can't just eat one!  Of course, you can use any color bell pepper you prefer.

Bacon-Wrapped Strawberries

You know how you cover your face with both hands while anticipating a scary part of a movie but leave just enough room for one eye to peek through your fingers?  That's totally me right now.  I cringe to think about the first reaction one might experience in response to a recipe like this... and I get it.  Reactions will vary but most likely will range from "disgusting!" to "interesting!" to "are you kidding me?!"; either way, these bacon-wrapped strawberries are definitely something that you should try.  Imagine salty, crispy bacon paired with a sweet, delicate strawberry.  Hard to imagine?  That's the response I got from a few people upon description.  I don't blame you if you don't try it; however, I would challenge you to open your mind and give your taste buds a little ride with this unconventional approach to strawberries.  I dare you.  You might be pleasantly surprised - just as I was.  

Note:  Hulling the strawberries is optional.  I like to keep the leaves intact just for aesthetic purposes.  If you choose not to hull them, the leaves will become crisp and brittle, so you may have a few pieces that crumble off when you pick them up to take a bite.  While strawberry leaves are edible, the texture is probably something you wouldn't enjoy, so use your own discretion.

Jenkins Family Italian Stromboli

My very first experience making stromboli was at one of my very first jobs as a teenager, which was in the kitchen of a pizza joint.  The Italian stromboli was made with shredded steak, ham, pepperoni, onion, green pepper, mozzarella and tomato sauce.  After I was married, my husband explained the Jenkins way of making Italian stromboli, which included variations of ham, salami, provolone and some veggies.  It was different than what I was used to but it quickly grew on me and became my favorite way to eat it.  

For Father's Day, I gave my husband the choice of any dinner in the world and he asked for this stromboli - it is definitely a top-ten favorite in my family!  

Quick & Easy Queso

We love our queso!  This recipe may not be "authentic" but it's quick, easy and oh, so tasty!

Baked Cheddar, Parmesan & Sage Crackers

Move over, Cheez-Its!  You won't believe how easy it is to make your own delicious crackers at home.  Most store-bought crackers contain artificial flavors, preservatives, etc., so it's nice to know what is actually in your crackers when you're eating them.  You won't be disappointed with these tasty treats! 

While my recipe calls for the dough to be rolled out to 1/16 inch thickness, my family prefers them a little thicker (about 1/4 inch thickness) because they become, as my husband puts it, "delicious mini biscuits with a crispy outside".

Quinoa Cakes with Artichoke, Spinach & Caramelized Onion

My current food craving is quinoa.  I needed to find a way to use up some baby spinach and artichoke and I came up with these tasty little cakes this afternoon on my lunch break.  They are more than just delicious - they are highly nutritious and only 100 calories per cake!

Buffalo Deviled Eggs

Did you know that it's currently National Egg Salad week?  Take a guess why... all of those leftover hard-boiled eggs from Easter.  I wanted to try something new and came up with these yummy Buffalo Deviled Eggs.  They are so good and can easily be adjusted to suit your spice level.  The recipe as written yields a mild spice level. 

Baked Buffalo Broccoli Bites

Opt for a healthier choice for your Super Bowl festivities this year without sacrificing flavor!  I came up with these buffalo broccoli bites after feeling guilty about my lack of healthy snacks.  These bites are breaded in Panko crumbs, baked in the oven and then drizzled with a delicious, spicy buffalo sauce.  Yum!