Pumpkin Waffles

Fall is synonymous with pumpkin. Pumpkin spice lattes. Pumpkin pie. Pumpkin soup. Stuffed roasted pumpkin. Pumpkin is the quintessential fall gourd. So I need to apologize for not having made more dishes with pumpkin. Today let me try and make it up to you with this treat. This recipe creates beautifully browned, richly flavored, light and airy waffles to make your breakfast special. And I can’t think of a better way to begin a chilly late fall morning, can you? Save Print Pumpkin Waffles Prep time:  5 mins Cook time:  5 mins…

Dark and Stormy

Late November… and typically most nights are dark and stormy (especially last night!).  The weather last night inspired me to share this typical summer drink with you as the Friday cocktail recipe. Surprisingly, since it is chock full of warmth inducing ginger, it is a great late fall cocktail as well. So let it be blustery and wet outside, we’ll enjoy our dark and stormy in the comfort of our abode! Save Print Dark and Stormy Serves: 1   Ingredients 2 parts dark rum (I prefer Blackwell or Seale’s) juice from…

Arroz con Pollo

Here is another popular recipe at my place. Guests that enjoy this dish regularly ask for the recipe – so now I am sharing it with you! This recipe makes a healthy portion of arroz con pollo goodness, but don’t panic. It has plenty of vegetables to round out the dish nicely.  Like every arroz con pollo dish you have ever had in a restaurant, this one is simply my take on it and I believe it works well.  Give it a try and then you can let me know how it worked for…

Sous Vide Beef Pho Experiment

Today was a day for experimenting in the kitchen. I decided to make Pho from scratch using the sous vide cooking method. Sounds wild, huh? Well this experiment was fun, challenging, slightly anxiety inducing, and utterly delicious!  I won’t post the recipe yet as it needs a bit of refinement, but let’s just say I am already looking forward to my next sous vide pho effort.  Here are some photos to whet your appetite for that next effort too! Save…

Double Dipped French Toast

Breakfast… Breakfast on a weekend… Breakfast on Sunday morning during football season… Well, for me it has to be tasty and substantial… and a bit special. This French toast recipe meets all those requirements in my mind. And, it is easy to make. So let’s heat up the griddle and make our taste buds and belly happy! Save Print Double Dipped French Toast Prep time:  5 mins Cook time:  20 mins Total time:  25 mins Serves: 1   Ingredients 4 – 5 slices of French bread, approximately…

Cake for One

Tonight, I was thinking I would love to have a nice slice of spice cake for dessert. Trouble is… I did not have a spice cake. Or a spice cake mix. Or the gumption to make a spice cake from scratch for just one piece.  Then I remembered a recipe a dear friend gave me years ago – the 3-2-1 cake and I still had some 3-2-1 cake mix in my pantry! The key to a 3-2-1 cake is to combine 1 angel food cake mix with 1 standard…

Aperol Spritz

I bet everyone thought I forgot about the Friday cocktail post, right?  Well, I did not – I would never do that to you, would I? (wink wink)  Tonight, I am enjoying a light and bright Aperol Spritz. This cocktail is well suited to warm summer days as well as cool fall evenings. Aperol is a nearly century old Italian aperitivo liqueur based on an infusion of selected roots and herbs. The flavor is robust and unique – slightly sweet citrus with a minor bitter note. My take on this drink is easily prepared with readily…