Today's recipe is one of my favorite ways to prepare sweet potatoes as a side dish. Earlier this week, I shared my favorite sweet potato snack, so I figured I would round out the week with another sweet potato show-stopper. I am telling you, the smoked gouda gives this dish such depth and flavor, no one will believe you made this in under 30 minutes. I know many of you are already thinking about your Thanksgiving dinner...oh wait, is that just me? This is a great . . .
Butternut Squash Cassoulet
A rich, slow-cooked casserole originating in the south of France, cassoulets are a dish beloved by generations of French cooks. These rustic and flavorful dishes usually contain white beans and an assortment of meats. Depending on the cook, you may find any variation of lamb, pork, or chicken in a cassoulet. With fall weather FINALLY making an appearance, I crave fulfilling warm dishes for dinner. A cassoulet definitely fits that bill, and this one is extra . . .
Velvet Chicken Stir Fry with Warm Ginger Vinaigrette
Our household loves a good stir fry, but like most home chefs, I do get in a rut. I went perusing through my cookbooks, Pinterest, and my favorite recipe blogs, and I found a wonderful recipe for a smooth, velvety chicken...perfect for a stir fry. I also wanted a lighter stir fry sauce, so I went with a warm vinaigrette instead of the typical rich stir fry sauce we are accustomed to. There are two "ways" to create velvety chicken. One way, is stir frying involving . . .
Chorizo and Egg Scramble with Homemade Ancho Chili Sauce
Super long name for super long flavor! Here in Texas, we love our chilis...even for breakfast. This scramble is a keeper. It is perfect for a late Saturday morning breakfast with the family in your pjs or when company comes to town. It is packed with flavor, and it will definitely keep you full until lunch time. One of the best parts of this recipe is the sauce. You can store it for a week in the fridge and use it on chicken, beef, or pork for a quick weeknight . . .
Chicken Enchiladas Suizas
One of my all-time favorite restaurants in Austin is Fonda San Miguel. The classic Mexican food and cocktails paired with an unbeatable atmosphere makes for a spectacular dining experience. Luckily, in 2005, the iconic restaurant produced a cookbook that is so gorgeous, it could easily be your typical coffee table book. One of my favorite enchilada dishes in the Fonda San Miguel cookbook is the Enchiladas Suizas, which are chicken or cheese enchiladas with a rich sour cream sauce. . . .
Recipe: NOLA-style Barbecued Shrimp with Cheese Grits
I truly enjoy getting my hands on a new cookbook; however, I have purchased my fair share of ones that didn't necessarily deliver. I am a hard sell. I love nothing more than pouring over a well-written (and photographed!) cook book - cover to cover along side a great bottle of vino. A good cook book (and I am not talking about the classics that are must-reads without any fluff) needs 3 out of the 4 following ingredients: (1) well-organized, (2) contain two types of recipes: . . .
Recipe: Beef Stew
The last few cold weather months have put me in a soup frenzy. Last weekend, the foggy, rainy Saturday created the perfect backdrop for today's recipe, a classic beef stew. For our pre-St. Patty's day get together on Saturday (more on that here), I made individual pots of beef stew for each guest in my new World Market handled crocks. For even more fun, I topped each with buttery puff pastry which created mini pot pies on each plate. I love Cook's Illustrated magazine, and . . .
Recipe: Stacked Enchiladas
Whew. I have been away for a whole week! Don't worry, I wasn't doing anything exciting...everyday life got in the way of F + C. But, I am back! This recipe is seriously delicious. I modified this recipe from Perry's Plate, and it was a huge hit. You could do this one with or without meat; chicken, beef, or even shrimp would be amazing. I actually used the leftover beef from this post from earlier in the month, and it was super. It does take a bit . . .
Beef Street Tacos
Living in Austin, I have eaten my fair share of tacos. Not only are they insanely popular right now, street-style tacos are completely versatile. From al pastor to grilled chicken to shredded beef, the variations and ingredients are endless. I decided to try my hand at making some at home. I perused my favorite blogs and websites looking for some tips from other home cooks, and I found this great beef recipe from Perry's Plate. I decided to use it as a base and go from . . .