Who doesn’t love hibachi? I know I do, especially the fried rice. I’ve been cooking fried rice since I was 10 years old. It was my “specialty.” No idea how it came to be or why I was so obsessed with it. Hibachi-style fried rice is a lot simpler than you may think. A very wise…
Recipes
Old Fashioned Cocktail Recipe How to make the classic old fashioned cocktail the right way. Bourbon, bitters, simple syrup (sugar cube), and an orange peel.
The Old Fashioned cocktail reminds me of a slightly sweeter twist on the Manhattan. Probably the two manliest staples of all time on par with splitting wood or axe throwing (which I’ve done both). The Old Fashioned is probably my second favorite whiskey cocktail and number two go-to drink. The old fashioned is a classic cocktail typically made…
Grilled Pesto Shrimp Skewers Recipe Easy and delicious grilled pesto shrimp skewers loaded with pesto sauce, garlic, and fresh lemon juice.
I am obsessed with pesto. Now that I’ve gotten that off of my chest, grilled pesto shrimp is a real crowd pleaser. Great as an easy app for a large crowd or quick dinner. I tend to simplify a lot of my recipes—you could make your own pesto from scratch, but for this, I usually buy a jar…
Baked Salmon with Cilantro and Lime in Foil Recipe Baked salmon with cilantro and lime is a tangy Mexican inspired salmon entrée that is perfect for summer and easy to clean up.
This may be the easiest seafood dinner you have ever cooked, from prep to cleanup. Baked Salmon with cilantro and lime is a “Mexican” inspired seafood FIESTA. I was inspired by a recipe I came across that used lime and jalapeños on salmon (which I still need to try by the way). This gave me the idea to try lime and…
Pan-Seared Scallops with Lemon Butter Recipe Scallops seared in a cast iron skillet with a lemon and herb butter sauce.
Pan-seared scallops with lemon butter is my favorite way to eat scallops. Cooked in a cast iron skillet right on the grill or stovetop. If you don’t have a cast iron skillet I highly recommend you pick one up. Cast iron is inexpensive and it can be used on the grill, stove, or in the oven….
Healthier Frozen Mudslide Recipe A healthier frozen mudslide made without ice cream. All you need is vodka, coffee liquor, Irish cream and ice.
This is a Sandals St. Lucia inspired frozen mudslide recipe made without ice cream. Patty and I went to Saint Lucia for our honeymoon and easily had two mudslides a day. They were so refreshing, really simple, and tasted like they were made with ice cream. The best part is they aren’t half as bad for you as…
Grilled Flatbread Pesto Margherita Pizza Recipe Easy grilled flatbread pesto margherita pizza recipe ideal for a hot summer night.
We have covered pizza here a couple of times but that usually involves heating the oven up to 500 degrees for about an hour before cooking. On a hot summer’s night, that is just too hot for the kitchen. So why not grill a pizza?! After a long week, a quick but good pizza is…
Tomatillo Verde Sauce & Cheese Dip Recipe Tomatillo verde sauce & cheese dip is the perfect Cinco de Mayo party recipe.
My wife worked at a local Mexican restaurant while she was in college and we recently had an appetizer there that was cheesy and delicious. It also had this spicy tomatillo sauce along the sides that another restaurant called salsa verde. Tomatillo verde sauce & cheese dip uses that spiciness of the tomatillo sauce and the…
Original Margarita Recipe Stop using margarita mix. A classic and "real" original margarita recipe made with silver tequila, fresh lime juice, triple sec, and simple syrup.
Out of margarita mix? Not to worry because this recipe is a REAL margarita made from scratch. Now before you freak out and click away. I will tell you that the classic margarita recipe is just as easy to make as a regular margarita using sour mix or margarita mix—and it’s even better. The original or classic…
Cucumber Infused Blueberry Martini Recipe The cucumber infused blueberry martini is a combination of a cosmopolitan and antioxidant martini, infused with fresh cucumber.
The cucumber infused blueberry martini was originally inspired by a drink Patty ordered from a steakhouse in Manchester called the Hanover Street Chophouse. It basically tasted like a cosmopolitan and antioxidant martini combined, but infused with fresh cucumber. The drink was good, but in my eyes a true blueberry martini shouldn’t have cranberry juice. I think the blueberry…
Ultimate Guacamole Recipe Authentic guacamole with a subtle spicy kick and a profound lime twist.
Patty and I are obsessed with the Guacamole at a Mexican restaurant in Boston called Papagayo. Yes, it’s “wicked good.” We analyze it every time we go to try to come up with something that tastes just as fresh and authentic. The waiters make it table side at lightning speed, so we have picked up…
Baked Sweet Potato Fries Recipe Who said healthier came at the cost of flavor? Simple, hand cut baked sweet potato fries seasoned with garlic powder, paprika, salt and pepper.
Everyone loves sweet potato fries, that goes without saying—but obviously they are bad for you…which also goes without saying. Instead, I make a simple and healthier alternative. I bake all my fries with a little olive oil and plenty of seasoning. Garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper for the win. Sweet potato fries are all the rage…
Chocolate Espresso Martini Recipe The ultimate dessert cocktail inspired by Boston's Top of the Hub. Made with vanilla vodka, coffee liquor, instant espresso, and Godiva liquor.
Patty is obsessed with chocolate espresso martinis. OBSESSED. So you bet I have made these a lot. I tried several different recipes and variations for months and was never quite satisfied with the results. In my mind, the biggest hoop to jump through was the actual espresso, and I wasn’t about to purchase an espresso…
Perfect Manhattan Cocktail Recipe A perfect Manhattan cocktail made with rye whiskey, both sweet and dry vermouth, bitters, and a cherry.
The perfect Manhattan cocktail, possibly my favorite cocktail and the greatest concoction of all time. There are few different stories behind how the Manhattan first originated, but I think it’s safe to say it is one of the five borough cocktails that came out of New York in the mid 1800’s. I’ve tried some…
Blackened Fish Tacos Recipe Easy blackened fish tacos made with fresh cilantro, purple cabbage, tomato, lime juice, avocado, and chipotle mayonnaise.
We eat blackened fish tacos at least once a month. They never get old. I like them better than traditional beef or chicken tacos at this point. I hate to brag about my own recipes (obviously I’m biased), but I think this may be my favorite recipe on this blog. Fish tacos are AWESOME. In my…
Pan-Seared Filet Mignon with Garlic & Herb Butter Recipe Never grill steak again. The fail-proof method to cooking the perfect filet mignon.
Pan sear filet mignon in a cast iron skillet once and you will NEVER grill it again, I promise. I wish I discovered this method a lot sooner, it’s simple enough and locks in all of the favors. There are plenty of ways to cook filet mignon but this is by far my favorite. If you go…
Sundried Tomato Fettuccine with Vodka and Scallops Recipe Delicious sundried tomato and spinach fettuccine recipe in a vodka sauce served with lightly seared scallops.
My sister came over for dinner last week after a long day at work. We both work as nurses on the same floor and after a 12 hour shift, I knew she would want something hearty and healthy – not always the easiest combination! Searching for a healthier pasta plate, I came across this lightened up…
Cosmopolitan Cocktail Recipe A traditional cosmopolitan recipe with vodka, lime juice, triple sec, and cranberry juice.
I wouldn’t call myself a cosmopolitan drinker by any stretch of the imagination, but every home bartender must have this important and classic staple in their repertoire. This recipe, which consists of vodka, triple sec, lime juice, and cranberry juice is tried and true and guaranteed to not disappoint your cosmo drinker.
