San Francisco, Monterey, and Napa Valley

We can all agree that there is nothing better, when it comes to food, than a home-made traditional recipe. I recently had the pleasure of joining my good friends in a wonderful Mexican tradition of making tamales. It is definitely not for the faint of heart as it is an all day endeavor, but the bonding that comes with it is worth every second. Not to mention the tamales are pure perfection!

When I arrived at my friend’s house, I was instantly hit with the amazing aromas of shredded beef and chicken simmering in the crock pots. The meat was prepared the night before to save time which was a huge benefit as the tamale process takes several hours.

Thankfully, there were many hands on deck at the party, nearly ten ladies in total (and a couple of wonderful husbands to assist). While one table prepped the corn husks with masa, the other table of ladies stuffed the corn husks with shredded pork, shredded chicken, cheese, jalapeños, roasted poblanos, and a veggie salsa.

With my mojito in hand, I instantly jumped into all of the action. Once the corn husks and masa were ready, we spread the masa onto the bottom portion of the corn husk. The masa has to be the right consistency in order to spread evenly. It is a tedious process, but once you get the hang of it you are golden. Mojitos really do help during this process!

Once the tamales are filled, it is time to steam them. This is such a fun experience to witness! There were several children at the tamale party, but they were off playing while the adults worked in the kitchen. As soon as the heavenly aromas of steamed tamales began to fill the house, everyone raced into the kitchen to line up for their share.

Our friends had quite the spread! We could choose from all sorts of toppings – guacamole, salsas, pico de gallo… We were also served a super delicious mango and jicama gazpacho that was utterly delicious!

Making tamales is an experience you will never forget! I have only done it a couple of times in my life, however it is a tradition that I hold dear to my heart. I’m so thankful to my friends who included my family in this amazing experience! We definitely look forward to next year’s Tamale Party! Hasta la proxima vez!

I always love a great pasta dish and this one combines some of my favorite ingredients! You’ll get about 6 servings from this recipe and if you’re lucky you’ll have leftovers!

Recipe:

• 2 tablespoons of olive oil
• 3 sweet onions , large, sliced
• 1 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
• 1 lb of chicken cut into strips
• 10 oz mushrooms , sliced (I used button mushrooms)
• 6 oz of cooked spinach
• 1 cup half-and-half
• 1 cup Parmesan cheese , shredded
• 3/4 cup Whipped Cream Cheese and Chives
• salt and pepper to taste
• 1 box of cooked farfalle pasta

Instructions:

Heat 1 tablespoon olive oil on medium-high heat in a large skillet or Dutch oven. Add sliced onions and cook on high heat for about 10 minutes, constantly stirring with the spatula.

The onions should start to brown.

Reduce heat to medium and continue cooking onions for 10 more minutes, continuing to stir. At this point add a pinch of salt.

Continue cooking for 10 more minutes on medium or low heat, stirring occasionally to make sure onions don’t stick to the bottom of the pan or burn. In total, you should have cooked onions for 30 minutes.

Add balsamic vinegar and stir to coat the onions.

Add the mushrooms and cook until soft. Add the cooked spinach and mix.

Add half-and-half to the onion mixture and bring to a quick boil. Immediately reduce to a simmer.

Add shredded Parmesan cheese and chive cream cheese. Keep stirring while the sauce simmers and until the cheese melts.

In another skillet heat 1 tbsp of olive oil and cook chicken with a pinch of pepper and salt. Pour the cream sauce over your chicken once it is cooked through. Let the mixture sit on low for about 10 minutes, stirring occasionally.

If the sauce is too thick, add a small amount of half-and-half to thin it out. If it is too thin, add a small amount of shredded Parmesan cheese, and stir it in, while the sauce simmers. Use salt and pepper to taste.

This recipe was a huge hit last night! In fact, Dave ate so much that he was super uncomfortable! I definitely take that as a compliment! 😁

What’s better on a chilly night than a homemade chili? White Chicken Chili!

The recipe I’m sharing here is a combination of many that I have tried over the years. I have to keep in mind that our household tastes range from no spice to love of spice. This recipe lands somewhere in the middle and our son just has a glass of milk nearby to cut the spice. 😁

I’ve learned that things need to be done fast during the busy week, so I just grab a rotisserie chicken for this easy recipe. Feel free to sauté your own chicken, if you prefer.

Once you’ve gathered all of your ingredients, drain and rinse the cans of white northern beans. Set one can aside. In a medium mixing bowl, mash the other can of beans and set aside.

In a large Dutch oven or deep pot, add the olive oil and heat it on medium heat. Add the onion, peppers, and garlic. Sauté until soft, approximately 5 minutes. Season with salt and pepper to taste.

Once the vegetables have cooked, stir in the spices and cook for a minute. The aroma will be amazing!

Stir in the chicken broth and lime juice. Bring to a simmer. Add the beans and continue to simmer for 20 minutes.

Once the beans have cooked, shred the rotisserie chicken and add to the pot. Stir in cilantro. Simmer for 5 more minutes.

Add the heavy whipping cream and cream cheese (this is optional).

Once the chili is blended, serve with Colby jack cheese, a dollop of sour cream, and Fritos.

Ingredients

2 (14.5-ounce) cans white northern beans

I small can of sweet corn

1 tablespoon cooking olive oil

1 medium jalapeno pepper, minced

2 medium poblano peppers, chopped

1 large onion, chopped

4 garlic cloves, minced

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper

1 tablespoon ground cumin

1 1/2 teaspoons ground coriander

1 teaspoon ancho chili powder

4 cups low-sodium chicken broth

2 limes, juiced

1 rotisserie chicken, skin removed and meat shredded

1/4 cup chopped cilantro leaves

4 oz cream cheese

1/4 cup of heavy whipping cream

Colby Jack, for topping

Sour cream, for topping

Fritos, for topping

1. Drain and rinse the canned white beans. In a medium bowl, mash half of the beans with a potato masher until chunky. Reserve the beans until needed.
2. Add the olive oil to a large Dutch oven and heat it over medium-high heat. Add the peppers, onions, and garlic and saute until soft and fragrant, about 5 minutes. Season the vegetables with salt, and pepper, to taste. Add the cumin, coriander, and chili powder and continue to saute for 1 more minute to toast the spices. Stir in the chicken stock and lime juice, bring to a simmer. Add the beans and continue to simmer for 20 more minutes.
3. After 20 minutes of simmering, taste for seasoning, and adjust if necessary. Stir in the shredded rotisserie chicken and cilantro and simmer until heated through, about 5 more minutes.
4. Stir in cream cheese and heavy whipping cream. This will cool the chili a bit so be sure to simmer for another 10 minutes prior to serving.
5. Serve the chili in individual bowls. Layer cheese, chili, and top with a dollop of sour cream, Fritos, and pinch of cheese. Enjoy!

Mookies Easy Eatz this is for you per our chat the other day! 😁

What’s better than celebrating a huge birthday at your favorite restaurant? NOTHING! 😁

My sister turned 18 recently, so after spending the day at the beach we took her out to our favorite restaurant in the Melbourne, Florida area – Cuizine! We stumbled upon this gem last year and we have been obsessed ever since!

I always say that every great restaurant should hit all of your five senses. Cuizine takes this to a whole new level! You have a classy looking interior mixed with worldly aromas wafting from the kitchen, live music, decadent flavors, and finger licking goodness. What more could you want in an evening?

Once you’ve been seated, you must commence your meal with one of the highlighted martinis. The Huckleberry Martini is to die for! Be careful, though, because it sneaks up on you. The taste is so delicious that you will be double fisting in no time. And I’ve found there’s a special serum in the martini that makes you really funny! 😂

For starters, I highly suggest ordering the Hudson Valley A+ Foie Gras and Escargot a la Bourguignonne. We devoured them within seconds of the plates hitting the table. Yes we were starving, but they were also just that heavenly!

The AMAZING Crab Chowder has become one of our musts, even if we have to split it. It has wonderful chunks of crab in a perfectly creamy chowder. And you cannot go wrong with their Classic Caesar Salad which would highly satisfy any native Italian. Yes, it is made with anchovies!

Now if you don’t listen to me on any of the above items, I beg of you to please trust me when I say that the Parmesan Crusted Veal Chop is the way to go! The meat is so savory that you will moan with every bite! Just don’t be too loud because you might get some weird looks.

Be sure to check out the live music on the weekends. We were fortunate to have a saxophone player this evening, however in the evenings past we enjoyed the piano player. You can request songs too!

Whether you are enjoying a drink at the bar or dining at a private table, you will be sure to love everything that Cuizine has to offer. All of your senses will be singing with joy!

The best part of being American is that we are the melting pot of the world! Despite our many differences, we come together as a country and celebrate one of the most beautiful traditions in November – Thanksgiving!

If you haven’t experienced this wonderful American tradition, it is truly something you will never forget. Families and friends travel from near and far to cook all day and feast in the afternoon around a beautifully decorated table. In our house, we go around the table and take turns telling each other what we are grateful for.

All of us have developed our favorites recipes over the years. One recipe that we dearly treasure is my Nonna’s Italian Stuffing. She is from Naples, Italy and came to America when she was a young lady. It is quite a remarkable story! You see, she was actually in the convent to become a Catholic nun, but her family arranged for her to be married to an Italian American who lived in Wisconsin.

Life in America was extremely different than her beloved Naples. Nonna was a fish out of water, but she made do. When it came to the American holidays she was to be sure to throw in an Italian twist. While other American families were feasting on traditional stuffing with their turkey, Nonna concocted a recipe of her own. Thus we have Nonna’s Italian Stuffing!

Ingredients:

2 pounds ground sirloin

2 pounds course ground pork

All of the internal organs from the turkey and the neck (optional)

1 pound of grated Romano

2 pounds of whole milk mozzarella, cubed in half inch cubes.

Eight hard-boiled eggs

Four uncooked eggs, mixed

One sleeve of unsalted saltine crackers

2 cups chopped parsley

Brown the ground sirloin, drain and set aside. Brown the coarse ground pork, drain and set aside.

Boil all of the turkey innards in a small pan filled with water (about 2 cups). Now this part is optional – when it’s done, take the innards out and chop finely and mix with the meats. I prefer to skip putting the chopped innards into the turkey, because it grosses me out! You just need the boiled water for the recipe.

Add the parsley.

Crush the crackers. I find it works best between a wax paper with a rolling bottle. Add crushed crackers to the to the meats.

Break the cooked eggs up and mix them in.

Add chunks of mozzarella and Romano cheeses.

Add the four uncooked eggs.

Mix well.

Stuff the turkey. Or you can put your mixture into a large pan like we did and cook at 350 degrees for an hour.

You will love this recipe!!! Everyone who has it throws out their old recipe and replaces it with this one for their holiday meals!!!

Growing up in South Florida, I was exposed to many different cultures and cuisines. My friends’ families hailed from Jamaica, Peru, Haiti, Cuba… Since neither of my parents was a good cook, I always begged them to let me go to my friends’ houses for dinner. I found out at a young age that I had a taste for spicy, aromatic cuisine. My favorite of all was going to my friend Marsha’s house and devouring her mom’s Jamaican curry chicken while listening to reggae. It was the BEST thing in the world!

Since then, I have been on a quest to find that awesome flavor. I have tried curry from all kinds of countries – China, India, Thailand, Vietnam, West Indies… The closest I found was at Phan Garden (Vietnamese) in Milwaukee, WI. Even the Jamaican restaurants around don’t come close to the curry I had as a child.

Thanks to Pinterest and by combining recipes, I have finally found the taste I’ve been after! The recipe is long, but it is well worth the effort!

Ingredients:

The chicken needs to marinate overnight. Serves 8

Green Seasoning (marinade):

1 whole bunch of fresh cilantro

1/2 bunch of fresh parsley

2 cups of fresh sweet basil

3 tablespoons of fresh rosemary

4 sticks of fresh scallions, chopped

1 head of garlic

1 bunch of fresh thyme (8 sprigs)

1 stalk of celery

2-3 habaneros or scotch bonnets

3 pimento peppers – red peppers

Pinch of Himalayan Salt

1 small onion, chopped

1 teaspoon of grated fresh ginger

Olive Oil for blending

Using a blender or a food processor, blend all Green Seasoning ingredients until smooth. This recipe makes approximately 1 quart. You can store it in a Ball jar if you are using it throughout the week or freeze into ice cubes to be thawed when you want to use it. You can store leftovers in the refrigerator for up to 2 days or freeze for up to 2 months.

Curry Chicken:

2 lbs of chicken, cut into strips

6 tablespoons of Jamaican curry

A few sprigs of Thyme

2-3 tablespoons of Green Seasoning

3 tablespoons of olive oil

1 onion, chopped

2 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 lb of potatoes, peeled and cut into bite sizes

3 cups of water

Salt to taste

Combine chicken, 2-3 tablespoons of Green Seasoning, a few sprigs of thyme, 4 tablespoons of curry. Refrigerate overnight in a Ziploc bag, making sure to seal the bag well and shake the mixture so that it coats the chicken well.

In a deep frying pan, heat the oil and place chicken mixture into it. Cook the chicken for 3-5 minutes, until lightly browned.

Remove the chicken from pot and place to the side.

Add onion, garlic and remaining curry. Fry for 1-2 minutes, until the onion is softened.

Add water and salt, then add the chicken back into the pan. Bring to a boil. Reduce to a simmer and cook for 20 minutes. Add potatoes and cook for another 10-15, until the potatoes are cook through.

You can serve with rice if you’d like.

This was a hit tonight! My son is one of the pickiest eaters and he had 2 helpings! Everyone asked for it to be a weekly meal!

You can also substitute the 3 cups of water with 1 cup of Chicken Broth and 2 cups of coconut milk. I will try that next week and report back.

Ingredients:

1 Rotisserie chicken, cooled and shredded

2 celery ribs, thinly chopped

1/4 of a large sweet onion, thinly chopped

3 thin chives, finely chopped

1 cup of walnuts, chopped

1 cup of grapes, seedless

1 tbsp of parsley, fresh

1 tsp of garlic powder

1 cup of mayonnaise

1 tbsp of Dijon mustard

Salt and pepper to taste

Mix all ingredients in a large bowl. I like my chicken salad on the creamier side, however feel feel to scale back or add more mayonnaise to your liking. I suggest chilling it for an hour in the refrigerator before serving on your favorite bun.

Bon Appetit!

Located along prestigious Lake Drive and overlooking Lake Michigan, sits a beautiful white pavilion which houses the infamous Bartolotta’s Lake Park Bistro. It has been a staple in the Milwaukee area since 1995 and is one of my family’s favorite restaurants. We always receive a wonderful meal and impeccable service.

If you follow my blog, I’m sure you’re noticing that we have a thing for the Bartolotta restaurants. I can assure you, it’s for good reason too!

We typically dine at Lake Park Bistro during lunch or dinner (reservations are recommended), however today we treated my aunt who is in from Florida to a lovely brunch.

We started our meal off with savory cups of soup. Ronan and Dave ordered the insanely fantastic Soup Du Jour which was a perfect blend of creamed cauliflower and apple purée. Let me tell you, it was the best thing I’ve had in a loooong time! We all agreed it was something we could eat on a daily basis for sure.

My aunt and I ordered the always delicious Soupe A L’Oignon which is their signature baked French onion soup topped with importered Gruyere cheese. I love that Executive Chef Adam Siegel and his team marries traditional and modern French cuisine because when at a French restaurant I have to start the meal with a tasty onion soup. I feel it just sets the tone.

Now, if you love a great French Fry you must order the Pommes Frites with Aioli. Ronan ordered the the Pommes Frites with the Croque Monsieur which is a classic Parisian sandwich with Berkshire ham and Gruyere cheese. It is oozing with flavor and along with a scrumptious soup, it is the perfect thing to eat on a cold day!

Although it was well afternoon, Dave and I decided on breakfast items. Dave ordered the scrumptious Oeufs Poches “Benedict” which is a traditional eggs Benedict with poached eggs and Berkshire ham on a toasted English muffin, perfectly coated with the right amount of Hollandaise sauce. I can’t forget to mention the super tasty Dauphinoise potatoes! So good and I wish Dave was sitting next to me so I could scarf all of them down without him noticing!

I, on the other hand, ordered the beautiful Quiche Lorraine which is an exquisitely baked egg tart with bacon, spinach, and Gruyere cheese. It is served with roasted potatoes which are perfectly crunchy on the outside, yet soft in the middle. Just how I love them!

My aunt wasn’t all that hungry so she ordered a small side salad as her main course. She was not disappointed when she saw the beautiful leafy greens, garnished with a boiled egg and large slice of Roquefort blue cheese. The Roquefort is simply creamy goodness!

We had a wonderful time catching up with my aunt who we only get to see a few times per year! The Lake Park Bistro is a gem of a restaurant and gives you ample space to leisurely walk off the fullness afterwards! It is set in a beautiful park with stunning views of the lakefront. You must check out the grand staircase in the back that leads down towards the lake. It is the perfect place for family pictures!

I love this Irish Blessing! I remember seeing this beautiful blessing throughout my grandparent’s house. It seemed to be on everything – plates, doilies, mugs, Belleek China… My grandparents were very proud of our Irish Catholic heritage even though their families lived through very tough times in Northern Ireland and migrated to the US in the 1800’s and early 1900’s. I’m so grateful that they passed their love of Irish traditions down to each of us so that we can share with our own children.

It was a dream of mine to go to Ireland with my family one day. Sadly, my grandparents passed away before we had a chance to do so. However, I was able to go to Ireland with my husband and son. We had the most amazing time and took advantage of every waking hour!

May the Wind Be Always At Your Back

Earlier in our marriage, Dave and I enjoyed an awesome trip to Ireland where we started off in Dublin and traveled the East Coast down to Waterford, to Cork, and finally topping the trip off at a romantic stay at Adare Manor near Limerick (I highly recommend a stay here). It was wonderful!

Since we had already seen the Eastern and Southern coasts, we wanted to bring our son, Ronan, to the West of Ireland where Irish traditions hold strong. We flew into Shannon Airport and headed north to County Galway for the first half of our trip. Our first priority was to get settled into our hotel after the trip across the pond. Upon arriving through the gates of the Glenlo Abbey Hotel and Estate, we were blown away by the breathtaking expanse of the 138 acre estate at the edge of Lough Corrib.

The hotel accommodations were gorgeous and everything was straight up 5-star from the large well appointed rooms, to the hospitality, to the restaurants, to the grounds. We started each morning off in the stunning gallery with a fabulous breakfast of eggs benedict, ham, omelets… I have to mention the butter too, because nothing is better than Irish butter! I’m telling you, I could live off of the butter alone!

Every meal at the hotel was highly memorable! Since we stayed for several days we were able to dine at both the Oak Cellar Bar and the Pullman Restaurant as well. The Oak Cellar Bar was a great choice for a drink and an amazing lunch. I highly recommend the Risotto which is perfectly made with truffle “Parmes-Aran”. Ronan who is a connoisseur of burgers recommends the Andarl Farm Beef Burger which oozes with Cooleeney “Beer Washed” Cheddar. And, Dave… Well, I’m not sure Dave was even on Earth with us during this meal as he was over the moon ecstatic with his choice of the Skeaghanore Confit Duck Leg.

For a unique fine dining experience, you definitely have to check out the prestigious Pullman Restaurant which is located beside the hotel in a restored historic Pullman train. Our meal was divine! You have to order the succulent Castlemine Lamb! I wish I would have ordered 2 because Ronan claimed he wasn’t hungry and then devoured the majority of my meal. What moms have to suffer through!

May The Sun Shine Warm Upon Your Face

Our main goal on this trip was to show Ronan as much of the Irish countryside as we could. His heart was set on seeing castles because we just don’t get that state side. One castle that we loved was Dunguaire Castle. It was a bit rainy, so it was a perfect day to tour inside this picturesque place. The views went on for days!

From there we headed along to The Cliffs of Moher and The Burren. Despite the intermittent rain, there were many tourists at the cliffs, so we traveled a bit south along the coast to find stops of our own. What we found was simply majestic! The off-the-beaten-path is way more fun than the tourist traps!

After a day of hiking and travel, we were excited for dinner at O’Grady’s on the Pier Seafood Restaurant in Barna. The concierge at Glenlo Abbey recommended it and we soon realized why. This is a must stop if you are in the area! The Clew Bay Oysters are to die for – super fresh and taste like the sea. We also feasted on the Oven Roasted Rack of Lamb, which I highly recommend as well. The entrees come with Irish buttered potatoes that melt in your mouth.

The Rains Fall Soft Upon Your Fields

The next day we headed out to Kylemore Abbey by way of the Connemara National Park. Talk about beauty! The weather wasn’t all that great and the rains fell hard, but that didn’t stop us from enjoying the sites. Dave found an awesome lunch spot in Letterfrack called Veldon’s Seafarer where we stopped for a pint of Guinness, Clew Bay Oysters, and the most delicious Traditional Irish Lamb Stew which was topped with creamy mashed potatoes. Life doesn’t get better than a perfect Irish Lamb Stew – just saying!

Another adventure awaited us the following day in Spidall where we happened upon an adorable shopping village along the Galway Bay. I found beautiful stained glass gifts all handmade by local artisans. Each adorable cottage has resident artisans who craft and sell their art at incredible prices. I’m talking woodwork, glass, jewelry… This is a must stop! The guys weren’t having any part of the shopping, so they busied themselves along the rocks since it was low tide.

Always up for an adventure, we took a gorgeous road trip to Clifden Castle. Dave found a recommendation on Trip Advisor for this off-the-beaten-path local favorite. It is well worth the rather long hike to see the gorgeous views! I suggest bringing a picnic if you have time! This was one of our most favorite destinations of the whole trip!

And Until We Meet Again

The last part of the trip was touring the coastline of County Clare and a lovely stay at the Bunratty Castle Hotel. The hotel is right across the street from Bunratty Castle where we dined Medieval style. The entertainment was AMAZING and so was the gluttonous amounts of food! I highly recommend you do this as you’re family will talk about it for years to come!

Next on our list was to hit Kilkee for a dip in the pollack holes. Ok, so to be clear Ronan and I dipped our feet in. Dave, on the other hand, took it upon himself to jump feet first into the freezing cold water. In his shorts, no less! AND without a towel! Thankfully, the Irish are a nice bunch and one family offered him their towel!

At low tide, you can climb all over the rocks and caves – for free. We had a blast, although I was fearful of a rogue wave washing us away. You only live once though! Right?

After the pollack holes and quick warm up in the little cafe that’s adjacent, we headed south along the Wild Atlantic Way once again. We stopped off at many beautiful areas and one of our favorites were the Kilkee Cliffs! I can’t believe people get to live in such beauty!

May God Hold You In The Palm of His Hand

Sadly, our amazing trip had to come to an end! While we were at the Kilkee Cliffs we made sure to turn our backs to the water and throw a penny into the sea (an old Italian tradition so that we will one day be able to return). The west of Ireland is truly the most magical place on Earth – sorry Disney!