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Lager + Gruyère Cheese Dip
Who is ready to get their cheese on? This girl, for sure. At any given moment, we have a metric ton of cheese in the fridge. Not to brag, but we do have a covetable stash at our fingertips. Suffice it to say, WE.LOVE.CHEESE. When I open the refrigerator door, this is what I see (in no particular order): a chub of goat cheese; two blocks of feta; 3 bags of various shredded cheeses (for emergency use); a sizable hunk of Gruyere; an aged Parm with the most beautiful crystals in it; Cotswold; Brie; fresh mozzarella; smoky gouda; and a half-eaten block of creamy Cambozola (someone has been nibbling).…
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Sticky Sweet + Spicy Asian (v) Meatballs
I am a cheater. There. I said it. I’m not gonna lie—I don’t really feel too bad about it. In fact, I think you’ll want to be a cheater, too. Here’s how it happened. We found out last minute that another couple was coming to our Super Bowl Puppy Bowl Party, and I wanted to make ABSOLUTELY sure I had enough food for everyone. One of my big hang-ups is running out of food. We are a very food-oriented family, so I have nightmares about such things. I made an impromptu decision to throw some things together, and am actually proud of how good of a cheater I am! By…
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Soft Boiled Eggs with Caviar
Breakfast in bed? Yes, please. ‘Tis the stuff dreams are made of. Who hasn’t had a fantasy about that? So simple, yet so elegant. What a statement this presentation makes! It whispers you are worth every minute of my time and every ounce of my soul. Okay, maybe that’s a bit much. But still. Look at this loveliness! Gently boil the egg and then sabotage it to expose the runny yolk. Embellish it with a dollop of crème fraîche, caviar, and a snip of chives. Then dip your toast soldiers into that golden goodness and, well, what you do with the rest of your day is up to you. About…
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Oysters with Pink Peppercorn Mignonette
Oysters intrigue me on so many levels: from their vital role in the ocean ecosystem to the anticipation of cracking open the bivalve to find the treasure inside. Oysters are often associated with special occasions. Valentine’s Day is no exception. And to adhere to the red and pink motif of the holiday, I chose to make this mignonette with pink peppercorns. This is by far the best recipe for Pink Peppercorn Mignonette you will ever eat! No, that’s a lie. It’s not true at all. Why? Because those bold, beautiful berries you are buying in the store are not really pink peppercorns. Peppercorns come from Piper nigrum, and they are…
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Easy Pots de Crème au Chocolat
Looking to get lucky on Valentine’s Day? Welp, you sexy beast, you’ve come to the right place. You are about to make an absolutely voluptuous dessert that will make your taste buds do acrobatics. Share it with someone–or not. No judgment here. But the bottom line is you NEED this dessert in your life. This recipe for pots de crème is simple yet elegant. There are many recipes on the interwebs that are more difficult and maybe even a little more delectable, but here’s the bottom line: who wants to spend the night before Valentine’s Day in the kitchen? Not this girl. I have other things on my mind. Pot…
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Ultimate Spicy Vegan Slow-Cooker Chili
This vegan chili is so kick-ass it could convert carnivores to a plant-based diet. No joke. I’ve seen it with my own eyes. It is so healthy + hearty they won’t miss the meat! This upcoming weekend hosts a clash of colossal titans, and you need a game plan. Here’s how it is going down: You’re going to make this delicios vegan chili for weekend dinner. Then you’ll pour some of it over chips to make these Ultimate Fully Loaded nachos for The Big Game. Next you’re going to slather the chili on baked potatoes for Monday’s family friendly meal. Put the rest in the freezer for dinner on the…
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Ultimate Fully Loaded Vegan Nachos
What is game day without nachos? I mean, have you ever been to a sports bar that did not have nachos of some fashion on the menu? Am I right? Nachos are the classic quintessential crowd pleaser, but this time there is a healthy twist: these are vegan! Vegan nachos? Not very Y-chromosome, my burly friends say. But curiously enough the nachos somehow disappear. Hmmm. It’s the Mystery of the Disappearing Nachos. Just because they are vegan does not mean they are not drool-worthy! Yep. These spicy vegetable-laden chili slathered chips have converted even the most stalwart of carnivores. This is your opportunity to be creative, to think outside the…
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Velvety Roasted Red Pepper & Garlic Soup
Soup’s on! You know why? 1. The weather is crisp, 2. I found beautiful red peppers on sale and went crazy, and 3. January is National Soup Month! This velvety rich soup is one you will want to cozy up to during these winter months. It is vibrant + piquant + creamy. That combination = DELICIOUS! Roasting the peppers intensifies their flavor and adds a welcomed touch of smoke. Slip them into the oven for a couple of minutes, wait for their skins to blister, then sweat them and peel. So simple yet yields impressive results. Red bell peppers headline this recipe because of the unique sweetness they develop as…
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Chocolate Eclair Trifle
Decadent. That’s what The Man calls this recipe. I call it Chocolate Eclair Trifle. But unlike the French eclair made from a creme-filled choux pastry, this recipe swaps out some other ingredients in a combination of layers that will knock your socks off. I like using a trifle dish to display the dessert’s glorious layers. After all, seeing layer upon layer of goodness is some of the allure. The final layer is carte blanche. For this year’s holiday party I mounded on pomegranate arils because they are so damn pretty! Sometimes I throw on some sliced strawberries or toasted nuts (most any nut will work) or some chocolate curls…
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Three-Cheese Brussels Sprouts & Balsamic Red Onion Pizza
Brussels sprouts pizza with balsamic caramelized onions and three cheeses, baked to crispy perfection? Are you kidding me? Your mouth will.not.believe. you are feeding it something so outstanding! The Man absolutely loves pizza. He could eat it every damn day. Me? I like to think of it as a palette upon which an artist can dabble, drizzle, sprinkle, and layer whatever she desires in order to complete her canvas. Yeah, I know that sounds like a bunch of poetic bollocks. Sorry (not sorry). This pizza is layer upon layer of deliciousness: balsamic caramelized onions, shredded mozzarella, Brussels, and grated Parmesan. Then a layer of feta and a sprinkle of red pepper…
eat. drink. bemerry. repeat.
