Summer Party Prep: Theme Menus

One of the easiest ways to make your summer parties memorable is to create a well thought out menu. After all, nothing makes party guests happier than a super spread. When choosing items to include on your party menu, consider how many guests you will be feeding. It’s much easier to cook up a slew of pizzas for a party of 20 than it is to make individual steaks. Budget is also a factor when throwing a backyard bash, so you might want to choose a party theme that is conducive to both your financial situation and your cooking skills. … Continue reading

Go Mexican for Cinco de Mayo

For those of you looking to party like it’s 1999 on May 5th, consider hosting a Cinco de Mayo fiesta. The fifth day of the fifth month marks the Mexican army’s victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862. In the United States, commemorations of the special occasion are typically marked with large parties that feature plenty of Mexican cuisine. If you can’t make it out to a local fiesta, then have one at home using these red-hot recipes: SPICY BEEF BURRITOS Ingredients: 1 1/4 pound ground beef 1 1/2 tablespoons chili powder 1/2 teaspoon ground cumin … Continue reading

Easy and Affordable Mexican Meals

When I think of easy and affordable meals, tacos immediately come to mind. Aside from crispy corn or soft flour tortillas, everything else needed to make the Mexican dish can be found around the house on a daily basis. Also helping to keep down the costs is the main ingredient. Ground beef or turkey and chicken are all relatively cheap meats. The only problem with tacos is that they can get boring if you serve them more than three or four times a month. That’s where the following dishes come in handy. The recipes for Taco Soup, Turkey Tacos and … Continue reading

Homemade Mexican Meal

Happy Cinco de Mayo! Whether you are celebrating the day with a fabulous fiesta or you’re honoring the Mexican culture with a simple family meal, be sure to include the following tasty recipes in your festivities: TOTALLY TASTY TACO DIP Ingredients: 1 1/2 pounds ground beef 1 package taco seasoning mix 2 (16 ounces) can refried beans 1/4 cup water 2 1/2 cups sour cream 4 cups shredded Iceberg lettuce 4 cups shredded Mexican blend cheese 1 (6 ounces) can sliced black olives 1 1/2 cups chopped tomatoes 1/2 cup chopped green onions 1/2 cup chopped jalapeno peppers Directions: In … Continue reading

Spring Break Menu—New Orleans

The Big Easy is a big draw for many spring breakers. Not only is it home to waterfront attractions and legendary landmarks, but it also boasts some of the most incredible cuisine in the country. If you can’t make it to New Orleans this spring, then consider cooking up some of the region’s most iconic dishes in your own kitchen. CLASSIC SHRIMP PO’ BOY Ingredients: 10-inch crusty French bread 10 lightly breaded, fried shrimp Cajun tartar sauce Marinated salad mix Cajun Tarter Sauce Ingredients: Mayonnaise Relish Cajun seasoning (available in your grocer’s spice aisle) Directions: Combine ingredients to taste. Marinated … Continue reading

Spring Break Menu—Aloha Hawaii

I’m continuing my Spring Break Menu theme today with selections from the string of pearls in the Pacific known as the Hawaiian Islands. Since I was born and raised in the Aloha State I toyed with the idea of sharing some of the authentic Hawaiian recipes I grew up eating, but then I realized how hard it was to get some of the local ingredients, so I opted to go with these quasi-Hawaiian recipes instead. These simple dishes still pack a Hawaiian punch (despite being generic in nature). In addition, they are wonderful party recipes, should you feel the desire … Continue reading

Spring Break Menu: Tropical Treats

Just because you can’t afford to jet off to the Caribbean this spring doesn’t mean you have to miss out on the ravishing regional cuisine. The following tropical treats can be made in your own kitchen for less than a quarter of what you would pay for a plane ticket to the island retreat. CARIBBEAN STEAK WITH COCONUT RICE Ingredients: 1 flank steak (about 1 1/2 pounds) 1 can (8 ounces) crushed pineapple Ingredients for Marinade: 1/4 cup fresh lime juice 2 tablespoons finely chopped fresh cilantro 1 tablespoon Caribbean jerk seasoning Ingredients for Coconut Rice: 2 cups water 1 … Continue reading

Spring Break Menu—-Mexican Fiesta

If you are currently digging out from the massive storm that is making the East Coast look like the inside of a snow globe, then spring may seem a long way off. It does for me. Temperatures where I live are brutally cold (think 20 BELOW zero). Given that Old Man Winter still has us firmly in his grips, I’ve decided to retaliate by dedicating a series of blogs to spring break. Each day I plan to choose a popular spring break destination and provide recipes that are unique to the region. Even if you can’t jet off to a … Continue reading

Mexican Menu

Unless you are eating off the value menu at Taco Bell (and sometimes even if you are) a run to the border can really add up, especially if you are trying to feed an entire family of hungry chalupa fans. The next time your clan gets a craving for Mexican food, consider saving some dough and making a spicy feast in your own kitchen. Here are some quick and easy recipes to get you started: SPICY TACO SOUP Ingredients: 2 pounds ground beef, browned and drained 28 ounce can diced tomatoes with juice 1 can pinto beans, drained 1 cup … Continue reading

Mexican Style Meatloaf Roll

When I mention meatloaf for dinner to my family, there is no excitement. I have always used the same old recipe: Hamburger, egg, onion, tomato juice, bread crumbs, salt and pepper… Meatloaf is a traditional main course that used to be part of a weekly menu. Some families even had certain days of the week to expect Meatloaf for dinner, like Meatloaf Tuesday. Someone once described Meatloaf ingredients as being left overs just mixed together. How ever you fix meatloaf, it seems to wear out its welcome quickly. So how do we change it? My family loves Mexican foods. So … Continue reading