Spork and Skewer

This one goes out to my peep Rachel. Rachel is the salsa queen. When Miles and I took a trip to Mexico with Rachel and her husband, Eddy, I don't think Rachel ate anything besides chips and salsa throughout the whole week. This isn't because Rachel doesn't care for other types of Mexican food. No, it's because she just loves fresh salsa that much. Tomato salsa is delicious, but in the winter, it's tough to get a good tomato. Mango salsa is the answer. So, if you're like Rachel, whip up a batch, or five, and mosh on this sweet and spicy treat all week long.

Printable Recipe

Isn't it infinitely more pleasant to wake-up when you naturally wake-up (which for me, is NOT 5:15)? Wouldn't you rather sit at the table at breakfast time, and not at a steering wheel? For these reasons, and many more, I live for the weekends. 

My weekday fare, a travel mug of coffee and two bland pieces of toast, served in the car, just doesn't cut it on Saturday morning. I need something that is both interesting and hardy. I guarantee that this egg sammie is everything you need to get you out of bed (when you're ready) and keep you going through all your weekend adventures.

My only remaining question...Is it Saturday yet?

French onion soup is one of Miles and my favorite treats. When onions are caramelized, all their pungency melts away, and they become sweet and delicious. The method used here is very similar to starting a French onion soup, but this time, we use that flavor to create a sweet and savory jam that is both versatile and delectable. With a little bit of time, but very little fuss, this condiment will take your dinner from ho-hum, to holy cow.  We often serve our onion jam with lamb, pork, chicken, or even as a topping for crusty bread, as we did here. I hope you enjoy this treat as much as we do.

Printable Recipe 

Party food is tricky, especially when you're expecting a crowd. We try to opt for something informal, inexpensive, and tasty. That can be a tough bill to fill. Pulled pork sandwiches are a great answer. This fare is close to my heart because my in-laws hosted the grooms dinner for our wedding with a pig roast. The fun, casual vibe was perfect for our friends and family to socialize and celebrate the eve of our wedding. These sandwiches are reminiscent of that day. The root-beer pork is my method (tender, tangy, and crock pot friendly), and the smoked shoulder is my husband's version (we're talkin' low and slow). Try one; try them both. Which will you prefer?

At our house, we look forward to Friday nights. As often as we can, we like to fix a nice meal, something that is a little bit fancy, but still simple, open a bottle of wine, and cook together. This usually means I clean-up as Miles cooks, but when salmon is on the menu, that's okay with me. This is based on a recipe from the Bon Appetit Cookbook, and it is definitely in our Friday night repertoire. We've made salmon many different ways, and most have been good, but this is a simple method that always turns out great. This preparation would be simple to change around to fit your personal taste, or fit whatever happens to be in the fridge. I hope this turns into your go-to salmon dinner.