real recipes. made up people, places, and things
When crafting a thanksgiving dessert menu I had two goals, use as few dishes as possible and make just enough to share or have leftovers for the next day but not all the days until spoilage. Bonus points for an easily freezable dessert and double bonus points for cheesecake. I made my own graham crackers […]
The history of the Margarita is muddled (something with such straight forward ingredients is bound to have been made in more than one place by more than one clever mixologist) so why not muddle your ingredients too?! Just remember that just like the classic daiquiri this is less sweet than something made with a mix.
no flour no eggs no problem as long as you have ground flax on hand sometimes a small batch of comfort is in order. For this, I am here for you. Ten little cookies- enough for a day so there can be new cookies tomorrow . this recipe is based on this one from king […]
I made these sticky tart little jewels without a clear purpose other than a citrus glow for a grey day. As I experiment I will share possibilities include cake toppings, cookie topping, fancy sticky cocktail garnish (no teeny tiny clothespins though please!) . You can use grapefruit, oranges, regular lemons, or limes. I like the […]
Do you muddle? Not the muddle through that is my day to day but the drink variety- the pressing of fruit, vegetable, or herb to release its essence. If you want a mocktail that is more than just a non-alcoholic drink the best way is to use classic cocktail techniques. Club soda with lime is […]
I thought about making this more complicated. Individual dishes instead of one cast iron pan- going to the store to buy crumbly mexican cheese or avocado. But then I remembered that my favorite things are straight up and easy and made with what I have on hand while still in my pjs. Breakfast should be […]
Perhaps you’re over pie (how can that be? every day should be pie day!) and onto Christmas Cookies and perhaps I should have gotten this recipe to you in October but I was working on getting it just right. This is just right. An apple pie that is both deceptively simple and complex- bright with […]
It’s cherry season. Okay so it’s not actually cherry season but it is Manhattan drinking season and so I’m finally diving into the cherries I made when it was actually cherry season and yum! And in a Brandy Manhattan they are so good and you can use frozen which will be better that the day […]
Imperial Hard Cider topped with an easy homemade honey hot buttered rum batter will keep you toasty from top to toes! This is a delicious low alcohol winter warmer that adapts effortlessly to being just a bit more boozy (try it with bourbon!) The minute I tasted the 2Towns’ The Bad Apple knew we were […]
a lightly sweetened spicy cast iron “cake’’ that you can make as fancy or as straight forward as you want- if you have a mandolin to slice the apples a decorative pattern makes for a stunning presentation but equally tasty and almost as pretty is the apples cut into bite sized pieces. more things apple […]
Pasta and mushroom cream sauce – though technically without cream, a white sauce made umami delicious with a healthy portion of fresh chanterelles and just a hint of salty parmesan. This comes together in less than a half hour and served with a simple salad (think butter lettuce and oil and vinegar) makes one wonderful […]
Combining fresh ripe pears and blueberries in a lightly spiced clafoutis batter this dessert, or breakfast, or even breakfast for dessert has all of the best things from summer and fall. This classic French dish is easily modified to suit your whims and likes- brighten it with lemon, make it gluten free, make it with […]
The paloma- a classic mexican cocktail with grapefruit, lime, tequila and a salt rim gets a refreshing update with SeekOut cucumber+juniper hard seltzer. Trust me on this one, it’s really good- the play between citrus, tequila, and the earthy sweet notes of the cucumber and juniper make this my go to hard seltzer cocktail. Originally […]
There is something satisfying in the slight imperfections of homemade hot dog buns. Just as soft and fluffy as any bland conveyor belt bun but with flavor and character. This is a bun I want to invite to my dinner party. You can make these hot dog buns the day of or start the dough […]
inspired by Mexican street corn but definitely not the traditional dish this quick corn recipe takes advantage of the season’s sweet fresh corn. If your grilling have this on the cob or if it’s raining or buggy or you don’t like your corn on the cob try it in a pan- either way this sort […]
Simple and quick gluten free quinoa cakes are topped with fresh tomato, feta cheese, and a crispy egg to make a complete meal on a plate. The combination of creamy and crispy, bright fresh vegetables, and tangy feta cheese make these protein packed quinoa cakes a summer go to when I am not turning on […]
this riff on cream scones is the perfect base for all your summer berries- try these graham cracker biscuits with a scoop of raspberry sorbet and whipped cream
Three ingredients- one amazing sorbet. The perfect summer weekend treat to beat the heat that’s not too sweet. So get up on your feet and raise a spoon to two thorns raspberry rose hard cider raspberry sorbet. This sorbet, packed as it is with fresh raspberry flavor, is excellent on its own or try it […]
A negroni without the negroni- instead of campari sub the refreshing slightly tart goodness of Seekout’s raspberry+meyer lemon hard seltzer and you have a brighter bubbly bigger version of the classic cocktail. I love campari- if you want a campari drink without the gin and sweet vermouth this slushie is A+ looking for some other […]
A Mediterranean Mexican mash up, soft tacos made with homemade flour tortillas and stuffed with tiny flavor bomb meatballs, cucumber, yogurt sauce, and pickled veggies. a note on the flour tortillas I used my bacon fat flour tortilla recipe except this time I used butter and warm milk instead of bacon fat and only divided […]
A bracingly refreshing coconut rum cocktail with a ginger bite and a pineapple finish. Just a little but sweet and just right boozy, loaded with fresh ginger, lulled with coconut rum, lightened and brightened with fresh lime. We have a bottle of coconut rum in our bar of unknown origin and age. A remnant of […]
Honey gone to seed, honey got hot. A flavor explosion of moroccan spices, seeds, and honey to add to top your briouats (that’s a phyllo triangle filled with cheese or meat or…) but is also an unexpected twist on honey topped soft cheeses. Add this to the list of condiments to have on hand. Yes, […]
A labneh take on the classic Moroccan appetizer Briouats bil Jben this savory appetizer topped with just a drizzle of sweet honey (spiced or not) is easier to make than it looks. Briouats: Filo triangles stuffed with labneh to make the spiced honey feel you need a step by step guide on folding filo triangles […]
Get your Brit on while drinking local with this flavorful take on a PImm’s Cup. I’ve never been to a polo match and my extravagant hat collection isn’t what it used to be but I can get behind this British summer tradition. Light, refreshing, and complex- a Pimm’s Cup made with SeekOut’s key lime+mint hard […]
Side dishes are my secret weapon. Pickled things, biscuity bites, sauces, and now- butter. Like this versatile and flavorful butter compound loaded with fresh basil and garlic. Radishes! ways to use the basil butter Use this basil butter as a spread for sandwiches, like the cucumber sandwich pictured below or schmear it on spring radishes […]
Crispy corn chips. Quick and easy ground turkey green chile chili. Cheese! and any and all the toppings. Bar food/fair food/walking tacos made to sit down and eat: this green chile frito pie is a mashup of so many of my favorite things and as a bonus I suspect it’s actually kinda healthy. Let’s get […]
We’ve got a long weekend ahead of us, the beginning of a long hot summer. What better way to get it started and keep it going than this light and refreshing and just barely boozy take on a piña colada made with SeekOut Real Hard Seltzer’s Pineapple+Passionfruit and coconut water.
If you don’t like your rhubarb adulterated by other fruit this is the dessert for you. A tart tangy rhubarb filling still hot from the oven topped with a dead simple and marvelously crispy buttery crumble topping. Add a dollop of whipped cream or vanilla ice cream and the trifecta is complete. want a little […]
Fresh Asparagus and chives together with Swiss Cheese in a brightly flavorful turmeric paprika all butter crust.
On its own, or served with the protein of your choice- grilled chicken? teriyaki beef or salmon? This amazingly easy and oh so tasty rice and asparagus made with hard ginger cider is the perfect spring gap meal for when you just aren’t sure what the weather will bring. So bring on the asparagus! Cider […]
Tiny tart flecks of garden fresh rhubarb macerated overnight and baked into easy food processor cream scones baked to golden brown and topped with a quick pink grapefruit glaze. What to do when the rhubarb arrives? Just a few short weeks ago I actually purchased Rhubarb at the farmers’ market and the rhubarb gods said […]
Ginger Cider Slushie? Mango Float? Rum Smoothie? What do you call a cocktail that is a mashup of so many favorite things? If I’m honest this was originally going to be a float but that Ginja Ninja cider was calling me and I just couldn’t wait for the mango to be fully iced. I’m going […]
This Easy Asparagus Flatbread, baked in a cast iron pan, is so simple and to the point delicious I hesitate to even call it a recipe. Cut it into tiny squares and serve this flatbread as an appetizer or do like I did and add an egg for an easy and complete meal. I used […]
Somewhere between a Kulebyaka and a midwestern meat pie (which I honestly didn’t know was a thing until the internet told me so, if you’re familiar please share!) this savory meat pie made with ground beef and an enriched dough is comfort food for a crowd (or for two) easily sharable and even when your […]
An enriched dough great on its own or as a base for treats both savory and sweet One dough to rule them all. A little bit challah, a little bit brioche. Milk bread that doesn’t have to be loaf shaped, nobody puts this dough in the corner or a loaf pan (unless you want to). […]
