Chorizo Egg Rolls with Spicy Queso Dipping Sauce are the one snack you’ve been craving, even if you didn’t know it until now. Spicy, crispy, and dunked in endless amounts of cheeeeese.
So I am just coming out of a comatose stage of recovering from an amazing weekend. Two of my best friends got married and it was just as magical as I hoped it would be. Somewhere in all the chaos, overwhelming emotion, and pure joy I managed to log a measly 8 hours of sleep over 48hrs…
Oops.
[Read more…]Crispy Crab Cakes with Avocado Grapefruit Salsa make a wonderful summertime appetizer or even light lunch. The simple crab cake is a light accompaniment for the rich and bright avocado grapefruit salsa. You’ll really wow whomever you serve this to!
I’ve always wished I could have spent more time on the East Coast growing up… I remember going out to Cape Cod and Florida throughout my younger years to visit grandparents and my vast extended family. I would spend hours each day playing on the beach and in the ocean, returning with sandy feet to a big family dinner every night.
[Read more…]Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp Tacos take typical shrimp tacos to the next level with savory bacon and bold Badia seasoning. Pair it with the crisp Santa Rita Sauvignon Blanc and you’re in summertime heaven.
Disclosure: This post was sponsored by Badia and Santa Rita. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own.
Who can resist bacon-wrapped shrimp?
The answer is NO ONE.
Anytime I see bacon-wrapped shrimp on a menu or at a party, it’s the first thing I head for. My friend who I just visited in Charleston can attest to this… I literally dragged her to a restaurant I heard about on a carriage tour of downtown Charleston that serves up crab-stuffed bacon-wrapped shrimp. The moment we got out of the carriage I was like, “we’re going, RIGHT NOW.”
[Read more…]Pineapple Jalapeno Smash is a sweet and spicy cocktail that’s guaranteed to cool you off this summer. Pair it with your heavy grilled meats for a refreshing twist on your next backyard BBQ!
I’m back to a “normal” routine again after my trip to Charleston last week. Of course, there’s no way in hell I was going to get there without a cocktail or two (you do know me, don’t you?).
Getting back into the swing of things after a vacation is probably my least favorite feeling in the world.
Usually I build in an extra day of vacay after I get home to compensate for all the unpacking, laundry, time change, etc.
Alas, the woes of a self-employed gal kick in and I did not have the luxury to spend a day in bed sleeping and continuing my marathon of Supernatural (Sam and Dean though… I just can’t). [Read more…]
Grilled Honey Sriracha Wings are those sticky sweet and spicy that you crave, grilled over charcoals to give you an extra depth of flavor. Fair warning: you’ll be licking your fingers and fighting over the last piece!
Sun’s out, grill’s out! The one thing I love about summertime is all the grilling. Not even necessarily me firing up my own grill. I love finishing up a long day’s work, retiring to the back patio (retiring… yikes that makes me sound old, doesn’t it?) with a glass of whatever I whip up for cocktail hour, watching my pup go nuts chasing bees and smelling charcoals burning somewhere in the distance.
The smell of charcoals or a good fire just makes me sink into that summer lazy feeling with all my might. [Read more…]
Boozy Chocolate-Covered Raspberry Smoothies are the one cocktail that’ll satisfy your indulgent side without ruining all the work you’ve put into that summer bod. No one will even realize these smoothie cocktails are so healthy!
I just made you a healthy way to do cocktail hour (which means it’s ok to hit you with two cocktails this week, right?). Yep, I committed to making a healthy cocktail, or as my bestie Susannah lovingly calls it, “an oxymoron smoothie.”
You all KNOW me. I get on the healthy train as much as I can, but when it comes to my cocktails… Heaven help me, I can’t give them up. My affinity for cocktail hour at the end of the day is just too strong and I refuse to give it up. I also refuse to give up patio day drinking when the weather gets nice. [Read more…]
The Rocket Sandwich is a riff on a sandwich I fell in love with when I lived in Rome. It’s been upgraded with the much-needed addition of avocado and a peppery lemon spread that you’ll want to use on everything.
When I lived in Rome, after the first couple of days being there on my own, I realized just how expensive living on my own in a foreign country was. It took my roommates and I a couple days, a couple nice meals out and the exchange rate to smack us into reality pretty quick.
As soon as we realized how much we had to stretch our dollars, we went on the hunt for cheap eats around our apartment. There was this one sandwich shop with 3-euro sandwiches that actually tasted more delicious than all the pasta we’d been inhaling. [Read more…]
The Siesta Cocktail is a delightful combination of tequila, Campari and grapefruit juice. This drink isn’t too strong and gives you an extra boost of acidity and freshness with every sip.
Normally I am not a tequila girl. Save for the margaritas I love to down on Taco Tuesday, or anytime I dare to venture to The Rio in downtown Denver, I usually stay away from tequila.
I mostly attribute this to a particular friend who encouraged one too many tequila shots into my system throughout college and well into my mid-twenties. Tequila was 100% her go-to libation of choice, and it got me into trouble every single time. [Read more…]
Breakfast Taquitos are a spicy flavorful breakfast that will wake you right up in the morning. They can be devoured the morning of, or you can even make them ahead and freeze them for the rest of the week.
I’m sure I’ve mentioned it before, but I’m not generally a big breakfast person. I reserve breakfasts for special weekend celebrations, brunches and the occasional nursing of a hangover. That is, except for taquitos.
Taquitos have been a weakness ever since college when I used to run over to the 7-11 to stuff my face with a couple before class each morning. Cereal in the food hall didn’t always cut it, you know? [Read more…]
Sparkling Grapefruit Old Fashioned is a summery update on the classic cocktail with just the right splash of bubbles and citrus. I swap out traditional rye whiskey for bourbon because of bourbon’s slightly sweeter notes, ideal for this lighter take.
I’m struggling a bit this week, I’m going to be real honest. I had an awesome Monday – I busted out recipes left and right, I met surprise deadlines and I felt so accomplished. Oh and did I mention that was all on about 5 hours of sleep?
Then I shattered an entire bottle of beer on Tuesday (epic explosion, it was all over the walls and down the stairs to the basement) and I dropped my camera battery on my toe yesterday, so my feet are now covered in cuts and bruises…
It’s like Monday was this shining, gloriously productive today and the rest of the week is seriously falling short. Self-inflicted injuries aside, I’m moving slowly through my work and I’m not getting nearly enough done before the long weekend (crossing my fingers I can still take a solid 2 or 3 days off at this point). [Read more…]
Mixed Berry Vanilla Bean Cake is how I show my patriotic spirit – in dessert form! The red, white and blue cake starts with a flavorful vanilla bean cake and light-as-air lemon mint whipped cream frosting, topped off with all the fresh berries your heart desires.
Memorial Day is this weekend. Anyone else wondering where the hell the year went, or am I the only one?
Ok so yes, I might be silently freaking out about inching closer to my birthday, but I can take solace in the fact that it’s FINALLY looking like summer. I smell charcoal grills going every night in my backyard and I can already hear the reservoir calling my name for boat days…
[Read more…]
Kimchi Fried Rice, or as Koreatown: A Cookbook calls it “Our Mildly Insane Kimchi Bokkeumbap” is quite possibly my favorite weeknight meal of the entire YEAR. It’s ridiculously flavorful, super simple and quick to make, and adding an egg on top basically makes it heavenly.
In an effort to get myself more acquainted with cuisines that are outside my comfort zone, I went directly for Koreatown for my next cookbook review. I’m not sure if it’s because of my previous obsession with PSY, my affinity for soju, or my overall lack of experimentation with kimchi and gochujang that hooked me into this cookbook, but after the introduction, I was in deep.
Watermelon Sparkler is a simple, refreshing cocktail that is ideal for any gathering, from BBQs to wedding receptions. It’s ridiculously easy to make and pairs with anything you can think of!
Ok you guys. I need a cocktail.
I realize I am saying this very early in the morning, but I’ve kind of had a crappy past 24 hours. Yesterday was one of the biggest epic fail cooking days I’ve had in a lonnnnggggg time. When the first little thing went wrong, I remember saying to myself, “ok that’s your one, Meg. It’s all uphill from here.”
If only I knew… [Read more…]
Grilled Lemon Kale Ricotta Flatbread is the perfect grilled appetizer for your summer BBQ parties. It’s full of fresh, bold flavors and just a touch of Nielsen-Massey Vanilla’s Lemon Extract that brightens up the whole dish!
Disclosure: I received free product from Nielsen-Massy Vanillas and was compensated for my time as part of this post. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Cake ‘n Knife!
Summer is here and that means one thing in my mind – it’s time to bust out the charcoal and start grilling all the things.
The typical staples are always in rotation on my grill – steaks, chicken, shrimp, vegetables, etc. Lately though, I’ve been all about the grilled pizzas and flatbreads. As much as I wish my oven and pizza stone would produce that crispy crust I love, it never works like the simple charcoal grill in my backyard does.
Greek Stuffed Roasted Sweet Peppers are one of the easiest appetizers I’ve ever made, but that doesn’t mean it’s light on flavor! The Sabra olive tapenade hummus paired with the sweet and savory roasted peppers is a delicious way to start a meal, or satisfy a random afternoon craving.
You guys, today is kind of a big deal.
Why is it a big deal, you ask? Is it because it’s Friday the 13th? Is it because I can’t wait to start the weekend? Nope, it’s because today is National Hummus Day! Bet you didn’t know that, did you?
If you did know, you just earned uber brownie points in my world. [Read more…]
Blueberry Cheesecake Ice Cream is creamy, rich and studded with fresh blueberries and graham crackers. You won’t be able to stop at just one cone to cool off with this summer!
Disclosure: This post is sponsored by the Cuisinart. As always, all opinions are my own!
I’m back to making ice cream again…
You know what that means – Meghan is trying to relieve stress! Making ice cream is just a soothing process for me, especially when it doesn’t actually involve too much cooking like this recipe right here.
Loaded Nachos are the burn-your-face-off snack you crave when you are in the mood for something spicy. With all your favorite toppings, these nachos are a fun addition to any party or to liven up a plain ol’ Saturday afternoon.
You know when you just want to burn your mouth off, in the best way possible? I get these cravings for spicy food sometimes that just take over everything and I end up putting hot sauce on everything because I can’t find the right recipe to satisfy the craving. [Read more…]
Bacon, Roasted Broccolini & Gruyere Quiche is packed to the brim with rich savory bacon, perfectly roasted broccoli and gooey gruyere cheese. This particular recipe is in honor of my mom and her love for quiche, but it makes a great brunch recipe anytime this spring and summer!
I’m officially back from Vegas and oh my gosh that was one of the best trips I’ve been on in a long time. I will say, five days in Vegas is a wee bit longer than I can typically handle but it was totally worth the slight queasiness and exhaustion I brought back with me to Denver. [Read more…]
Bacon Parmesan Quick Bread is a super fast bread recipe that comes together in 30 minutes! No waiting for dough to rise and it goes great with anything you’re having for dinner.
The bread is BACK, you guys. It was only a matter of time before I baked up a fresh loaf to share with you. The only problem with baking up a quick bread like this? It’s gone that very same day. Even if it is just me, myself and I (well and Kya, you know, to clean up the crumbs).
This bacon parmesan quick bread is one of those recipes I’ve had in my back pocket for years whenever I either forgot to get bread for a dinner I was hosting or just desperately need bread in my life. Generally I’m too lazy to leave the house when I have a serious craving, and this recipe gets me happy in record time. [Read more…]
Blackberry Sage Gin Smash with Candied Sage Leaves is a deliciously fresh cocktail that really brings out the floral notes in the gin. If you are a gin girl (or boy!) like me, you can’t skip this one.
This drink has officially edged out my classic gin & tonic fix as my all-time favorite gin drink, and that’s saying something.
The past few weeks have been a bit tough, I’m not going to lie. I have been feeling this restlessness, probably brought on my too much work and too many online dating fails. I literally had one guy call me “Aphrodite, my love goddess” in an opening message the other day. Seriously, dude? I mean, I’m flattered in a way but that can’t possibly be how you really talk. If it is… Just. No. [Read more…]
Perfect Garlic Agave Pizza Crust is the only pizza crust recipe you’ll ever need. It’s sweet, savory and just a touch spicy, then it’s slathered down with a sweet and spicy honey butter that will have you obsessed after the first bite.
Anyone who knows BeauJo’s knows the beauty of dipping your crust in honey and enjoying the sweet and savory deliciousness that swiftly follows. For those of you who have not been exposed to this, get your butt to Idaho Springs, CO and experience it NOW.
I’ll wait. [Read more…]
Sake Sangria is bold and fruity with just the right touch of sweetness to go along with your next backyard BBQ. It comes together in minutes so you can make it the night before or 5 minutes before the party. No waiting required!
So there’s this sushi place in downtown Denver that has this sake sangria that I’m basically obsessed with. It’s this fruity, boozy drink that goes down super smooth and then hits your with a pleasant buzz a few minutes after you polish off that first glass.
Honestly, I am now a bigger fan of sake sangria than sake or sake cocktails…. Combined. Don’t judge. [Read more…]
South of the Border Hummus is a super simple way to mix things up using Sabra hummus and your favorite fresh ingredients. Grazing before dinner just got much more interesting. Welcome to the Unofficial Meal!
Is anyone out there a crazy grazer like I am? Half the time I’m eating it’s never an actual meal. It’s me pulling out a little bit of this, a little bit of that, tasting as I cook along the way, or just catching up with friends and family as I eat and eat and eat.
There’s a long-standing tradition in my family of congregating in the kitchen before any meal and that always leads to grazing. Whether it’s my uncle trying to sneak a bite of bacon before brunch or my cousins sneaking oyster crackers before the big Christmas Eve dinner, we’re always getting our grub on before meals.
[Read more…]Mini Nutella Cinnamon Rolls are warm, gooey and packed with chocolate hazelnut flavor. You can’t go wrong with a few of these and a cup of coffee in the morning!
So what do you do when the weather is supposed to be crap all weekend and you might get snowed in?
You bake. Not just any baking though, you bake with Nutella and cinnamon. Then your home turns into a chocolate hazelnut cinnamon filled explosion that you can revel in while you pretend that you don’t have to shovel anytime soon.
