Spicy

A Hot Cocktail!

A few weeks ago I was on the East coast with my daughter, Zoe, visiting some of the colleges she is considering for next year.  One night, we stayed with our good friends, Leslie and Mark in Hartford, Connecticut.  Leslie is a wonderful chef and has written three cookbooks – Simply Shrimp, Salmon, and (Fish) Steaks, Simply […]

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  April 27, 2012   2 comments

Crawfish (or Shrimp) Etoufée

ay-TOO-fay! Étouffée or etouffee (pronounced: ay-TOO-fay) is a dish found in both Cajun and Creole cuisine typically served with shellfish over rice. It is most popular in New Orleans and in the bayou country of the southernmost half of Louisiana. In French, the word “étouffée” (borrowed into English as “stuffed” or “stifled”) means, literally, “smothered” […]

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  February 21, 2012   No comments

Harissa Marinated Top Sirloin Tips

The Ketchup of North Africa My friend, Jessica, found this recipe on Epicurious. It got 24 rave reviews and 100% of the reviewers would make this recipe again!  I, of course, had to give it a go. Harissa is a Tunisian hot chili sauce commonly eaten in North Africa whose main ingredients are piri piri […]

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  November 30, 2011   No comments

Taco Soup

Ranch Style Beans with Jalapenos! I found this Taco Soup recipe using my all time favorite canned beans – Ranch Style Beans with Jalapenos. I love eating these beans with hot dogs or BBQ pulled pork sandwiches. They have just the right amount of heat. Also included in the recipe below is a recipe for […]

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  November 2, 2011   No comments

Buffalo Shrimp

Hey, all you Couch Potatoes, get up and make this! Here is a guilt-free recipe to eat while you park yourself on your sofa to watch some idiotic game….. This is from I Can’t Believe It’s Not Fattening: Over 150 Ridiculously Easy Recipes for the Super Busy, by Devin Alexander, who wrote The Biggest Loser Cookbooks. Buffalo Shrimp […]

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  October 12, 2011   No comments

Hot Cheese Mushroom & Chorizo Dip

Zap it! Here’s a hot cheesy dip for your favorite game.  It’s a snap to make in microwave (or should I call it a zap?). Hot Cheese Mushroom & Chorizo Dip Makes about 3 cups 12 oz Mexican asadero or Monterey Jack cheese, cut into chunks 6 oz mushrooms, thinly sliced 1 cup Mexican-style chorizo, […]

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  September 16, 2011   1 comment

Woolworth’s Frito Pie

A Cult Classic I was watching The Best Thing I Ever Ate on the Food Network last night with my daughter, Zoe. One of the chef’s favorite things is Frito Pie. She was very intrigued. I remember eating it as a child. One of the best ways to eat it, however, is to pour the chili right into a […]

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  August 24, 2011   1 comment

Spicy Hoisin & Sesame Glazed Corn

A Versatile Sauce This sauce/glaze is very versatile and can be basted on corn, eggplant, bok choy, chicken, buffalo wings, ribs, meatballs, hot dogs, pork, salmon, etc. Spicy Hoisin & Sesame Glazed Corn Serves 8 ¼ cup hoisin sauce ¼ cup honey 2 Tbs reduced-sodium soy sauce 2 Tbs lime juice 8 ears corn, husked […]

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  July 5, 2011   No comments

Pulled Pork Nachos

Gus’s BBQ  Last night, we went to Gus’s BBQ in South Pasadena, CA for dinner.  Gus’s has been around since 1946, though it’s been sold and re-done in the past few years.  For some reason, I ordered the pulled pork nachos.  My expectations were low.  Boy, was I wrong!  Everything about this messed up pile of meal […]

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  June 24, 2011   No comments

Artichoke, Jalapeño & Parmesan Dip

A Spicy Dip Anything with artichokes in it is a good thing, as far as I am concerned.  This dip recipe is a real crowd-pleaser. You can adjust the “heat” of the dip to your personal preference by the amount of jalapeño peppers used, just remember that no two batches of pickled peppers share the […]

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  June 23, 2011   No comments