This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Whitney Farms. All opinions are 100% mine.

Well, perhaps garden isn’t quite the right word for it. I usually plant all of the herbs that we’ll use throughout the spring and summer months myself, but living in an apartment with no balcony is making that a bit of a challenge this year so, we’re starting slowly.

At the moment, our “garden” consists of one basil plant and one mint plant. They are both herbs we use a lot of, so it just made sense to start with these. Over … [visit site to read more]

What does the word empenada conjure in your mind when you first hear it?  Do you think of the savory meat and cheese-filled versions found all over the Western United States, or do you think of the sweet versions found in Latin America? Do you suddenly crave the Filipino version, stuffed with ground beef or pork and potatoes, or the Mexican version, filled with exotic fruits and sugars?

If you have never heard of an empanada I may have just swayed you toward the sweet version, though please be aware that I also love a good savory empanada as well.  There really isn’t a way to go wrong with what is basically a hand-carried pastry stuffed with whatever you have around your kitchen, and this recipe for little pillows of lusciousness is now one of my kids’ favorite desserts.

The topper?  they are dead-simple to make, can be adapted to your own tastes in seconds, and are perfect Holiday party fare.  Just lay them out and watch them disappear. And they will.  Quickly

Technically these bite-sized pastries are not empanadas, but empanaditas, or mini empanadas.  They are a perfect two-bite sized appetizer and something that I would be happy to serve any guest. (That is, if I can keep the kids from eating all of them first.)  They’re awesome. My greatest suggestion for this recipe is this:

Make a double batch.  Right now.

Try your own spin on these as well.  Let us know what fillings you used and how they turned out.  This is something we’re definitely going to be revisiting in the future.

… [visit site to read more]

This post brought to you by Chili’s Grill & Bar. All opinions are 100% mine.

Cinco de Mayo is right arougnd the corner. If you’re anything like me, you’re probably starting to crave a little Tex-mex and some good company. But where should you go?

You could always get a sitter and head out to a fancy restaurant for a night of white tablecloths, soft music and adult company, but then you’ve got to pay the sitter and have your phone on the whole time while you worry about the kids. It’s also not really in the spirit of the thing. Cinco de Mayo is a boisterous holiday, and most definitely a family affair.

Why … [visit site to read more]

I don’t often get worked up about chocolate desserts or snacks. Most of them simply aren’t intense enough for me. Others are too sweet. I’m not interested in watered-down sugary sweet chocolate or creamy milk-chocolate derivatives. If I’m going to eat chocolate, I want it to be assertive, aggressive and powerful.  That’s the kind of chocolate that gets a real chocolate lover excited.

These cookies excite the hell out of me. Oh yes. Yes they do.

If you’re a lover of chocolate on the dark side, the kind with more cacao than sugar, the kind with an ever so-subtle note of bitterness in the background, then I have here the cure for every other badly made cookie that’s ever been foisted on you. This is the recipe that can make the end of a bad day a good place to be. These are the cookies that can take you to a state of chocolate nirvana. These are the cookies that will change your life for the better.

Just look at these things!

There’s no wimpy chocolate flavor here. In fact, lovers of overly sweet chocolate desserts may just want to stop reading this and check out these Mocha Caramel Cappuccino Tartelettes instead. These are too much for you. Try at your own risk.

You’ve been warned.

For the real chocolate lovers out there, there is a note of caution also. These little morsels are nothing short of chocolate crack. The flavor is rich, deep and sultry. There are notes of bitterness mixed with hints of sweetness and just the faintest trace of vanilla to tease your palate. They pair equally well with a glass of milk or a cup of strong Turkish coffee or espresso. They’re sweet enough that my kids devoured them, but robust enough to please even the most jaded adult.

You’ll be tempted to eat them before they have been cooled and iced. Resist that urge! Without the frosting the cookie is simply not complete. In reality the epiphany here is in the marriage of the two different chocolates coming together as a whole. It’s the subtle balance and differences in flavor and texture that makes these cookies special.

If you really love chocolate, you’re going to adore them. I promise you that.

… [visit site to read more]

It happens to all of us. You look in the fridge and there sits quite a bit of leftover chicken.  It might have been rotisserie chicken bought for a quick meal after a long day, or the leftovers from a great Sunday dinner with family. Regardless of the initial origin, you have a pound or two of chicken that needs to find itself a home or go to waste.

We know that nobody want’s to think about wasting that chicken! Why not turn it into something spicy, succulent and divine instead with this simple little twist on a slider. You’ll be very glad you did.

Oh. make sure you’ve got plenty of napkins. These are messy! (Which, of course, makes them fabulous. Just sayin’)

In all honesty though, you don’t have to turn to leftovers if you don’t have any. Just cook up some chicken and then follow along as though it were leftover. The results will be the same, your family and your budget will thank you, too.  this recipe serves equally well for a Tuesday night dinner or as snacks on game day. It can be paired with whatever sides you please and fills all the needs of sandwich lovers everywhere.

While it might be tempting to add all kinds of colorful toppings, If you just must add something, I would limit it to something simple, like red onion (which we were out of), a few cilantro leaves or some very simple slaw. These tiny sandwiches are packed with flavor and  really don’t require anything to make them extraordinary. We hope your family enjoys them as much as ours did.

What’s your favorite recipe for leftover chicken? Is it a casserole, a sandwich, or just reheated with a side of mashed potatoes? We’d love to know, so feel free to leave a comment below.

… [visit site to read more]

This is a Sponsored post written by me on behalf of Avocados from Mexico. All opinions are 100% mine.

We love avocados. Really, we do. One of the things that we liked least about living in Alaska was that it was hard to find good avocados and, when we did, they were extremely expensive. Now that we’re back in TX, that isn’t an issue any more. Avocados are everywhere. And they’re cheap, which means we get to eat a lot more of them. they’re perfect for breakfast, lunch, dinner or just a great snack.

So when our friends at Avocados from Mexico asked me to share their Wake Up a Winner Sweepstakes with you, I was … [visit site to read more]

Are you looking for a way to take your taste buds on a trip to the Caribbean? If so, we’ve got the perfect dish for you. This curry is full of deep, rich flavors and complex notes that will make you think someone slaved for hours to get it just right. (You don’t have to tell anyone that it’s super-simple to make.)

This was an insane hit here at the cbsop kitchens. Even the resident teen and pre-teen asked for seconds, which is a shock in itself. It really is that good. If you have ever loved a curry, you absolutely must try this one, and soon.

Very soon

But this meal has a bit of a back story. You see, I hadn’t planned to make this at all. The original plan was to make up a batch of Cabrito Barbacoa (slow cooked spicy shredded goat), but half of the goat I’d purchased had gone bad. Despite the fact that I pride myself on being able to just get in there and wing it, I have to admit that after having already planned this meal out, I was at a bit of a loss.

I rushed to twitter and called out to Hank Shaw for some advice, and this is what we came up with. Yes, Hank is really that nice of a guy. And… Even if we don’t like to admit it, even the best of us seat of our pants cooks can benefit from the inspiration from others.

If you can’t find goat in your area, you can definitely substitute lamb, though goat has a much more intense flavor. Take a look around to see if there’s a specialty food market locally. Good choices would be a Hispanic or Caribbean food shop in your area, but other specialty shops might have goat as well. Give them a call and ask if they have goat. You’ll be glad you did!

… [visit site to read more]

I’m not entirely sure why I was thinking about the early days of my programming career, but I was. I remembered that all of us used to joke that geeks live on nothing more than Mountain Dew and Doritos. (Which was entirely untrue, there was also cold Chinese and stale coffee.) So of course I came to the conclusion that I needed to take Mountain Dew and Doritos and turn them into a cocktail.

Yes, I know that’s not normal.

Have you ever had an idea stick in your head that just would not let go of you until you did something with it? No matter how strange the concept is, it simply refuses to leave the corner of your mind. It just sits there, nagging, popping up to haunt you until you do something with it. Until you make it go away.

For me it happens far too often. It happened when I thought of making bacon straws after a conversation with Jaden Hair at a food conference. It happened when I got the idea that Frito pie and chili burgers should be put together. It happens all the time. Crazy little notions that I can’t walk away from until I try them.

Sometimes these ideas turn out well. Sometimes they fall flat. Either way, once the concept has been worked through, I can let it go. I’m free of that nagging little voice in the back of my head that keeps telling me that something has to be done. In this case, it turned out well.

While I can’t see this drink becoming the new trend, it is something that I would serve to a room full of my former cube-rat compatriots while watching a marathon of properly geeky movies. It’s smooth, crisp and believe it or not, the Doritos crumbs add an interesting bit of texture to the affair.

So to all of my fellow geeks, nerds and code wranglers, I lift my glass of Doritos and Mountain Dew. I hope Y’all have a great day.

What’s the strangest recipe idea you’ve ever come up with? Did it work out the way you expected it to, or did it fall flat? Take a moment to leave a comment and share your experience, we’d love to hear about it.

… [visit site to read more]

You can’t go wrong with deviled eggs. Generally, they’ll be the first thing at any gathering that are gone from the platter. People have an affinity for this dish. They are adored by Adults and children alike and, if your family is like most, you probably have a tried and true recipe for deviled eggs that’s been handed down for generations.

This is not that recipe.

Not that there is anything wrong with Gram’s deviled eggs. I would never say that they were anything less than stellar. I’m sure you would agree. It’s just that every once in a while, something different is in order. Something with a slightly more sophisticated flavor, a bit of playfulness and a touch of raw heat.

This is that recipe.

Honestly, this is little more than a gussied up version of the same deviled eggs my mother used to make. Deviled eggs are good in their simplest form, so there isn’t a lot of reason to go crazy or super-fancy. We just added a bit of this and omitted a bit of that to end up with something that is still recognizably a deviled egg, but different enough to make you look twice.

Here, take another look.

Pretty, aren’t they?

The end result is, I think, just a bit elegant. Slightly more upbeat than the standard deviled egg, but just as approachable. These little gems will be a hit with any salmon lover in your group and will definitely appeal to folks who enjoy a little heat.

Of course there’s still plenty of room for Gram’s world famous deviled eggs on the platter right next to them. There was nothing wrong with her recipe to start with. I’m sure that it will still be your family’s go-to recipe for decades to come.

But it’s nice to have choices, right?

Does your family have a generations old deviled egg recipe? Does it involve paprika or pickles? Does your family look forward to them all year long? Share your stories in the comments. We’d love to hear about it.

… [visit site to read more]

I remember the first time my wife introduced me to the venerable Frito Pie, a Texas football tradition. While the concept was a bit odd to my Californian sensibilities, it was immediately obvious that, while not even remotely healthy, the Frito pie was good. No. Scratch that. Frito Pie is awesome.

It’s every flavor that the kid in all of us craves in one place. Chili (canned, Wolf Brand recommended), chips and gooey yellow cheese. It’s messy, over the top and indulgent. It’s all the things that you know you probably shouldn’t, as a responsible member of adult society, be eating at the same time. In short, it’s the perfect thing to base a burger on.

That’s exactly what I did.

Ladies and gentle-foodies, we present to you the Frito Pie Burger. A 100% American dish featuring only the best in foods that you might or might not have thought of putting together on a plate, but will be ever-so-happy that you did.

At first glance this might appear to be nothing more than a gilded chili burger. That is not the case however. This dish is so much more than that. It’s warm summer nights and the smell of freshly mowed grass. Its the warm embrace of a loved one and the sound of cheering crowds. It’s comfort and love and smiles, all from deep in the heart of Texas to you, wherever you may be.

But enough of my ramblings, go make yourself one of these. While you’re at it, make a few for your friends and family. They’ll thank you for it, I promise you that.

… [visit site to read more]