I’m obsessed with tequila. I’m always looking for uncommon ways to incorporate it into different types of cocktails besides your typical margarita. Tequila cocktails, anyone? What about a tequila twist on the classic Old Fashioned cocktail? Yes, I’ve tried them all, and let me tell you, this could be a new Swagger trend. I don’t really know how…
Recipes
Sweet and Spicy Chicken and Broccoli Bowl Recipe Sweet, tangy, and spicy chicken served over jasmine rice with roasted coconut broccoli.
Patty and I have been into a lot of ‘bowl’ type dinners lately. Usually a mix of chicken or beef with veggies, fresh herbs, and something citrusy over rice or quinoa. It’s a complete meal with lots of fresh flavors—and seems to be a trendy entree these days. Sure, you could eat a plate of…
Creamy Pasta Shells with Sausage Recipe Simple cream-based pasta sauce prepared with sweet and spicy Italian sausage and shells.
We are currently going through a mini ‘cold front’ here in New England. A few days of bone-chilling single digit weather. I guess that’s the price I’m more than willing to pay for heading to the Super Bowl 3 straight years in a row. On cold winter nights like this, what’s better than a creamy…
Hemingway Daiquiri Recipe Ernest Hemingway's favorite cocktail—a slight variation on the classic daiquiri.
When most people think of the daiquiri, they think of a rum soaked frozen poolside concoction, sometimes made with strawberries. While they aren’t entirely wrong, the traditional daiquiri is actually a classic cocktail served straight up like a martini. A cocktail that dates back to Cuba over 100 years ago (I wasn’t there but that’s…
Sirloin Steak with Chimichurri Sauce Recipe Steaks topped with chimichurri—an herb-based sauce made with fresh parsley, cilantro, garlic, olive oil, and spices
I’ve come full circle on my cast iron steak searing journey. This was my first time actually cooking a sirloin or a New York strip steak using the pan searing and oven finish method, or the “swagger” method if you’ve been following along. In that past I’ve just thrown them on the grill (we don’t…
Improved Whiskey Cocktail Recipe If you’re a fan of the Sazerac and the Old Fashioned, this just may be your new favorite cocktail.
If you’re a fan of the Sazerac and the Old Fashioned, this just may be your new favorite cocktail. The Improved Whiskey Cocktail is one of my favorite classics. It combines a lot of my favorite elements from two very important classic cocktails, the Old Fashioned and the Sazerac. Usually a hodge-podge of two cocktails…
Mashed Red Potatoes with Cream Cheese and Rosemary My favorite loaded mashed potatoes. Smashed red potatoes with cream cheese, butter, garlic, and fresh rosemary.
Happy New Year! I’d like to kick off 2019 with the most random recipe possible. Mashed potatoes. Well…I guess they’re not entirely random. Mashed potatoes are the ultimate celebration side. Perfect for holidays, dinner parties, or any fancy weeknight dinner. Red potatoes with cream cheese have long been a family tradition. My mom always made these…
Sesame Ginger Glazed Salmon in Foil Recipe Baked salmon topped with a sweet ginger glaze made with fresh ginger, honey, lime juice, and a pinch of sriracha.
Sesame ginger glazed salmon is a huge win for Asian inspired salmon. We eat salmon at least once a week. It’s our favorite fish because it’s versatile, flavorful, and good for you. We have a few simple go-to recipes, however recently I’ve been experimenting with more diverse ingredients. This recipe is a spin-off of my…
Pesto Gnocchi with Shrimp Recipe A simple weeknight recipe using premade gnocchi and homemade pesto.
Pesto gnocchi with shrimp (pronounced nyawk-kee — I always want to say it phonetically), was of course inspired by Italy. Duh, you’re probably thinking, however the first time I experienced gnocchi and pesto together was IN Italy. Sure I’ve had pesto 1,000 times…and who doesn’t love a hearty dish of gnocchi? Such a simple dish, but so…
The Improved Classic Gin Martini Recipe The classic gin martini made with orange bitters and lemon peel twist. Sorry no olives here.
Back to the Prohibition Era cocktails. I just can’t get enough of them. This cocktail is a little different however, because it’s a specific variation of a classic that no one ever talks about. As a disclaimer…I’m not your typical gin martini guy. I love gin, but the idea of a dirty gin martini with…
Chicken Parmesan Calzone Recipe My take on a classic chicken parmesan calzone filled with crispy chicken, parmesan, and mozzarella cheeses
The chicken parmesan calzone made its mark on my life in college. I went to Saint Anselm College in Manchester, NH. Probably unbeknownst to anyone reading this outside of New England. That aside, any student or alumni will be able to speak of their legendary calzones. I’m not sure I can articulate what makes them…
Oven Roasted Bacon and Parmesan Brussel Sprouts Recipe Delicious and easy bacon brussel sprouts sautéed with garlic, olive oil, salt, pepper, and grated parmesan cheese.
Bacon brussel sprouts—yeah I love ’em. Let’s be real, vegetables don’t always have to be the worst thing on your plate. If you or someone you love suffers from an irrational fear of vegetables, then there may be help. Do you often ask yourself, “what is this green stuff?” or “why are these on my plate?” I’ll admit…
Baked Chicken Chimichangas Recipe My absolute favorite easy weeknight Tex Mex inspired dinner.
Baked chicken chimichangas have long been my go-to weeknight Tex Mex entree. Honestly, I can’t say I’ve ever actually made it on the weekend. No idea why, it’s too good to resist. I’ve been making this recipe for a good six years and I can’t tell you why I haven’t shared it sooner. Traditionally, chimichangas…
Lemon Butter Scallops Over Parmesan Risotto Recipe Simple lemon butter scallops served over delicious Parmesan risotto.
Seared scallops over risotto has become one of our new favorite fancy weeknight meals. It’s a tad more involved than your typical 20 minute dinner because the risotto requires a little extra attention, however you should NOT be intimidated. It’s simple to make, you just have to pay attention to what you’re doing. No leaving…
Creamy No-Churn Cinnamon Ice Cream Recipe Super creamy, egg-free cinnamon ice cream that comes together in 15 minutes.
Cinnamon ice cream is the perfect ice cream for the fall—especially if you add it to warm apple or pumpkin pie. And let’s be honest we all need a break from pumpkin. My favorite part is just how easy homemade ice cream is to make. No expensive equipment, no cooking eggs, no frills. Cinnamon gelato…
How to Make Limoncello The perfect limoncello recipe from Positano, Italy.
Limoncello is my absolute favorite after dinner drink. It’s strong, sweet, and very lemony. Like a boozy, refreshing dessert liqueur. It could be an acquired taste for many, but for me it was love at first sip. I was even more pumped to find out just how easy it is to make your own limoncello at…
Last Word Cocktail Recipe One of my favorite classic cocktails consisting of gin, green chartreuse, and maraschino liqueur.
The last word cocktail is one of my favorite Prohibition-era cocktails. End of discussion 😉 A simple drink consisting of equal parts gin, green chartreuse (not to be confused with yellow chartreuse), maraschino liqueur, and fresh lime juice. It’s hard to describe because it’s a spirit forward cocktail, yet very mild and refreshing. It’s citrusy…
Rigatoni with Heirloom Tomatoes, Breadcrumbs and Parmesan Cheese Recipe A simple pasta dish made with tomatoes, bread crumbs, and a healthy dose of Parmesan cheese.
Rigatoni with heirloom tomatoes, breadcrumbs and Parmesan cheese is exactly what it sounds like. A simple, pasta-focused dish that comes together by digging deep into your refrigerator in hopes you can somehow pull a miracle dinner together when you don’t want to go to the grocery story on Sunday night. Your wife is pregnant, hungry…
Beer Battered Fish Recipe (Cod or Haddock) Simple and delicious beer battered cod or haddock made with a juicy, New England Style IPA.
Growing up in New England, fried fish has always been an absolute staple. Being such a short drive from Maine, Coastal New Hampshire, and Boston has spoiled me. I have fond childhood memories of grabbing lunch at some of the most unassuming beach restaurants in Rye, NH, with some of the freshest fried fish platters I’ve…
Sweet and Spicy Korean Chicken Thighs Recipe Sweet and spicy Korean-inspired chicken thighs made with Sriracha, honey, fresh lime juice, and spices.
It’s a beautiful rainy day here on day 2 of our beach vacation in Avon, North Carolina. The forecast is looking a little shaky for the rest of the week, but hopefully some nice weather pass through. Things don’t always go as expected, but you have to make the most of it. I’m currently stuck…
Pan-Seared Filet Mignon with Red Wine and Balsamic Sauce Filet mignon covered with a thick red wine and balsamic sauce, inspired by Acqua Al 2 in Florence, Italy.
Hard to believe it’s been one year since our two week vacation across Italy. It was an out of this world experience full of some of the most amazing cuisine and culture I’ll probably ever experience. One of our favorite and most unique dinners was at this restaurant called Acqua Al 2, in Florence. The restaurant…
Truffle Ketchup: Truffle Oil & Ketchup One of my favorite kitchen hacks for truffle flavored fries, inspired by Portland’s Duckfat restaurant.
Homemade truffle ketchup—a novel yet simple idea, and possibly one of the most useful and delicious kitchen hacks I’ve ever come across. One of Portland, Maine’s most raved about spots is this tiny bustling lunch restaurant called Duckfat. If you guessed they cook everything with duck fat then you’ve guessed right. Patty and I have…
Spicy Shrimp Tacos with Creamy Lime Sauce A simple shrimp taco served in corn tortillas with shredded cabbage, avocado, cilantro, and creamy lime sauce.
I went to San Diego and came back with fish taco fever. Seriously. Aside from the perfect climate and beautiful ocean views, San Diego also has an awesome food and cocktail scene. Patty and I went on a family trip to visit her sister and on the last night, I only wanted fish tacos. We…
How to Grill The Best Pizza You’ve Ever Had Perfect, crispy grilled pizza that will rival anything you've ever had at your favorite pizza spot.
It’s a hot summer evening and let’s face it, no one feels like cooking indoors. In fact, it’s sacrilegious to not spend as much time outside as possible. Grilling pizza is probably not something people even consider, however it’s been a staple in our family for years! And I guarantee it will be some of…
