Mexican Birria

July 29, 2019April 17, 2021

My family goes nuts for this spicy stew. Originating from the Mexican state of Jalisco, it is traditionally made for special occasions like a quinceañera or wedding. I just like to make it whenever! I make mine with a trimmed beef brisket. It is tender & oh so satisfying! I’ve been making it since 1997, when I found the recipe in my Southern Living Annual Cookbook. My mom used to give me their annual cookbook, every Christmas – I still have all of them & use them often. I’m not giving them too much credit on this one though… They did not title it correctly, and I have made the recipe my own over these 20+ years. Enjoy!

Pistachio Milk

July 28, 2019July 28, 2019

I love pistachios! Made this nut milk the other day, and we really enjoyed it with our pancakes, waffles and oats. If I’m honest, I tried it on cereal and that’s a no! This is not a nut milk I recommend drinking straight. The color of this milk is lovely. Go ahead and try it!

Poteet Strawberry No Churn Ice Cream

July 21, 2019July 21, 2019

It’s National Ice Cream Month and this no churn ice cream is M O N E Y! I froze a batch of my Poteet Strawberries back in March, just to make this heavenly treat! Go ahead & drool. This sweet dessert is berrilicious!!

Homemade Pop Tarts w/Blueberry Filling & Galaxy Icing

July 19, 2019July 19, 2019

These homemade hand pies taste so good & just make you feel like you are wrapped in big hug. I decided to make these blueberry filled yummies to commemorate the first lunar landing. Tomorrow, July 20, 2019, is the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon mission. So what better to top them with than some galaxy icing. Enjoy, and look up in the sky tomorrow night and gaze in wonder!

Mediterranean Couscous Salad

July 18, 2019July 18, 2019

Want a cool & healthy summer side salad? Well, I’ve gotcha covered! This salad is easy to assemble and you likely have the ingredients in your fridge. Stay cool, my friends!

Purple Sweet Potato Hummus

July 16, 2019July 16, 2019

I found some purple sweet potatoes at the grocery store the other day & had a moment. The hummus ended up being more of a vivid pink, which I think is just gorgeous! It tasted even more G O R G E O U S! Topped it with olive oil, za’atar, sumac, tri-color peppercorns and thyme from my garden!

Lavender Lemon French Toast

July 14, 2019July 14, 2019

My son was home for the July 4th weekend, so I always make some special meals. I whipped up this awesome French toast infused with lavender and lemon flavoring. I found a wonderful lavender lemon simple syrup that was my inspiration. Cutting super fat pieces of bakery challah bread, doesn’t hurt either. My son loved it!

Firecracker Cake

July 2, 2019July 2, 2019

My granddaughter named this cake and she asks for it every July 4th. I originally found the recipe on Tasty, although they provide it more through instructions than a list of ingredients, and do not include a frosting recipe. I have included my favorite vanilla frosting in the attached recipe. Either way, we love it!

Here is the Tasty link with a great demo: https://www.google.com/amp/s/tasty.co/recipe/marbled-4th-of-july-box-cake

Patriotic Cherry Lemonade Cocktail

June 30, 2019June 30, 2019

Nothing says summer & July 4th more than a red, white and blue pop shaped like a rocket. I love GoodPop’s Red, White and Blue – their version is made from 100% fruit juice, and is Non-GMO and Gluten Free. The sweet cherry and lemonade flavor is perfect for this patriotic cocktail.

Mixed Berry Slab Pie

June 29, 2019June 29, 2019

When I think of July 4th celebrations and summer entertaining, berry pie always comes to mind. I decided to make this pie, when my granddaughter showed up with fresh picked blackberries. It’s super simple, especially if you use pre-made pie crust. I use the Dough Puck from Texas Pie Company, which is sold at my local grocer. Adding some fun stars makes it even more festive. What are you waiting for? Start that summer baking!