Curry Chicken Salad Sandwich

Chicken Curry Salad

I love curry.... and I love chicken salad. So I wanted to combine them. I looked around on the internet for a good recipe, but didn't find anything that was perfect. I did however find some great ideas. The recipe makes a huge portion, so it is great for parties or to make on Monday for lunches during the week. A great thing about chicken salad is that it can be COMPLETELY customizable. Want more grapes or no apple? How about celery and shredded carrots? Whatever you want in the salad can be added. Follow your buds! This is how I like my curry chicken salad... I think you will enjoy it just the same!

Spaghetti and Meatballs

A few years back I took a trip to Europe. I loved everywhere I went, but one thing that was absolutely AMAZING was the food in Italy. I mean.... what? My palate was on overload! I went to these itsy-bitsy cafe's where 80% of the restaurant was outside and eat some delicious food. The menu's weren't big and at most places you had a choice of red or white house wine. It was so simplistic... yet soooo good. I have always been a firm believer that you can learn a lot about a culture through their food. So what did I learn? Italians have an intimate relationship with food. It is not so much about who can make the biggest BADDEST dish or use the most fancy ingredients. All the restaurants are making the same food and using their family recipes. It's not so much about being a chef or owning a restaurant, but instead its about a family tradition. Bringing EVERYONE together...through food!

I thought I would take a bit from my trip and use it as inspiration for my next blog. Spaghetti and Meatballs! Who doesn't love it!? Time to dig in... :-)

Chicken Tikka Masala

Indian food. So many people have a fear of Indian food. What many of them don't realize is that a lot of Indian food uses ingredients that everyone has heard of before. I'm not saying that the stories we have all heard are false.... The food can be pungent and its spicy as hell, but if you ask me good food has its side effects. I have known that I wanted to make Indian food for a while, but I couldn't find the right thing. Finally I did. It was a few weeks ago that the Wubbster (my partner) and I decided to get some Indian food from Trader Joes and have a mini feast. Most of it was good, but the Chicken Tikka Masala was the best. Then when her and Marcoco (Marcus for those of you who know him) decided to go to a Bollywood flash mob (oh I am jealous! ) I knew that this was the week. So the adventure started. I must warn you now... The food is spicy and delicious! It is an ethnic rollercoaster that you want to ride again and again.

German Chocolate Cake

 

I was trying to think of what to make for my next blog post. I figured I would make a dessert since I have not blogged one yet. While discussing the multitude of options with my Wubby I learned that she HAS NEVER HAD GERMAN CHOCOLATE CAKE. Seriously? I don’t know how this happened. I don’t really know why it seemed so shocking to me. There are plenty of things that I have yet to try that many others already have. Maybe it’s just because I have had this cake on many occasions. I don’t know. The one thing that I am sure of is my mind was made up. I was making a German Chocolate Cake.

Why is it that German Chocolate cake is called such? While tasting my brilliant creation (I am VERY modest) we had this discussion. I never really thought about it, but Germany doesn’t have coconuts… at least that I know of. So I did some research. The cake is actually named after a Sam German. It was named after him in 1852. Why for him… I know that now too! He developed a dark, baking chocolate that was used in this cake. There you have it. The German Chocolate Cake is anything but German. Who knew.
Now onto the recipe…

Grilled Pizza

Grilled pizza is one of those things that you hear about, but have never tried. When you really think about it, making a pizza on the grill makes sense. It simulates a brick oven and let's face it...brick oven pizzas ROCK!! So a fast, super easy way to recreate a Brick oven pizza? Here it is. Say good-bye to take out and frozen pizza. This is how its done...

Blueberry Lemon Scones

Blueberry Lemon Scones

Scones... Yum!! There is nothing better than smelling something being freshly baked first thing in the morning. It was a couple of days ago that I woke up with an INTENSE craving for blueberry scones. I quickly scoured the internet and found the best recipe. It was only after buying all the ingredients that I realized... HOLY COW I have never made a scone before. Of course when I was young, I remember my mom making them (and I must add that they were delicious), but I had no clue where to start. So here started my adventure!!

Sgroppino

Sgroppino

Makes 1 Serving:

• 2/3 cups chilled Prosecco (or any other Italian sparkling white wine)
• 2 tablespoons chilled Grey Goose vodka (or vodka of your choice, Grey Goose just seems to keep the taste crisp)
• 1 tablespoon frozen lemon sorbet
• A pinch of chopped fresh mint leaves

First, pour the Prosecco into a champagne flute followed by the vodka. Scoop the tablespoon of lemon sorbet and drop into the flute. Chop fresh mint and sprinkle on top. Serve immediately.

*Although this cocktail seems light, it definitely packs a punch. Please drink responsibly.

Cran Champagne

Cran Champagne

 Makes 1 Serving:

• 2/3 cup Veuve Clicquot Champagne (or your choice of Champagne, preferably a Brut)
• 3 tablespoons Cranberry Juice
• 1 to 2 blackberries

Fill champagne flute with 2/3 cup champagne.  Next, slowly pour in cranberry juice and top it off with either 1 or 2 blackberries (based on your preference). Serve immediately.

*Please drink responsibly.