Weekly Favorites 12/16/18 to 12/22/18

I took the holiday weekend off from the blog and spent some much needed time with the family. I'm

back and ready to go with a new batch of weekly favorites!


This pasta seems so fresh and light, it's hard not to stop and drool over the picture! I love a good heavy pasta dish much as anyone, but sometimes a light pasta with spring and summer flavors is just what I need!

Parsley Pesto Spaghetti with Asparagus and Caramelized Spring Onions.... #foodblogger #eat https://t.co/GykgmgbUQa pic.twitter.com/AHNqjZiai4

— Rose Toa (@ross_toa) December 21, 2018

I love to see what people are doing with their menus, and sometimes they can make a great read, to see how the menu comes together and how everything plays off of each other. It may be worth a trip to Brooklyn, just to get that seared duck with cherry glaze!

Our menu for December 31st #Brooklyn #christmas #docwinebar #foodblogger #FoodFantasy #foodie #NYCChristmas #nycfood pic.twitter.com/iNfjWaLNmi

— DOC Winebar Ristorante (@WinebarDoc) December 23, 2018

I have a great stuffed bell peppers recipe  using beef and rice. I like at what other people are doing with their recipes and see how they differ from mine. I see some tomatoes in these that would be amazing!

Stuffed Bell Peppers. #foodblogger #vegetables https://t.co/8Q1qXi5a5N pic.twitter.com/rysiIN6BBi

— Natalie Lorrant (@NatalieLorrant) December 19, 2018

I need to use more fresh fruit when I cook. I eat plenty of apples and bananas, but I need to diversify. Figs aren't typically on my radar, but this just might be enough to get me to change my mind!

Blackberries & figs #salad. #snacks #foodblogger https://t.co/nif7lrPgr3 pic.twitter.com/DafZnQIVSF

— Nadia Melford (@NadiaMelford) December 22, 2018

Lately, we've been making more curry dishes than we typically do. It has renewed my curiosity about the different styles of curry around the world. It seems that each culture has it's own take on it and it's own variety of spices and vegetables that get blended in.

An undertaking, but well worth the effort. How to make Sri Lankan black pork curry #foodblogger https://t.co/Y5zHYUJI45 pic.twitter.com/Sw8XS1r23V

— tootingmama (@tootingmama) December 21, 2018

It's funny, this recipe is geared towards getting kids to embrace fish. I don't think we're there yet with our kids. My wife and I make fish on occasion, but not as often as we used to. These Asian flavors may be just enough to change that though!

Honey-Hoisin Salmon. When in doubt about how to get kids to embrace fish, head over to the Asian part of your pantry. https://t.co/kig9ulUH5M#recipe #foodblogger pic.twitter.com/aCI7o5c4i1

— Katie Workman | The Mom 100 (@katieworkman100) December 21, 2018

Weekly Favorites 05/13/18 through 05/19/18

Time for another weekly batch of favorite food and restaurant articles. This week, I'm mixing it up with some of my fellow bloggers, as well as some larger publications!


Grilled Chili Honey Lime Chicken and Sweet Potatoes with Avocado Salsa - via Half Baked Harvest

Grilled Chili Honey Lime Chicken and Sweet
Potatoes with Avocado Salsa
Photo Credit Half Baked Harvest

Right off the bat, this recipe struck me as something that would be perfect to make as spring continues to give way to summer. These flavors are perfect when you're trying to cool off on a hot summer evening.

Spring Cheese Board
Photo Credit Damn Delicious

Spring Cheese Board - via Damn Delicious

Damn Delicious is rapidly becoming one of my favorite blogs. I've never seen anything over there that didn't grab my attention. Here, she covers pairing fruits and veggies and crackers to make the perfect cheese board!


10 Best New Backpacking Meals - Via Outside Magazine

10 Best Backpacking Meals
Photo Credit Outside Magazine

I used to do my fair share of backpacking and hiking. Getting a good meal out on the trail can get a little squirrelly. I wish this list had been around back then. Maybe this is the motivation I need to get back out on the trail!


5 Southern Cooking Myths Debunked - via Garden & Gun 

Five Southern Cooking Myths Debunked
Photo Credit Garden & Gun

There are lots of cooking myths out there, some even less true than others. Here five of the more common
Southern cooking myths are debunked.

Homemade Barbecue Sauce

Spring is around the corner and Summer will follow soon after. That means that barbecues and pool days are on the way! The best thing to add to those barbecues and cookouts is the perfect homemade barbecue sauce.


The Recipe:

Homemade Barbecue Sauce

• 3 Cups Tomato Puree
• 2/3 Cups Apple Cider Vinegar
• 2/3 Cup Packed Brown Sugar
• 1/4 Cup Molasses
• 2 Tablespoons Onion Powder
• 2 Tablespoons Garlic Powder
• 2 Tablespoons Pepper
• 2 Teaspoons Celery Salt
• 1 Teaspoon Cayenne (optional)
• 2 Teaspoons Worcestershire Sauce

Combine all ingredients in a sauce pot and bring almost to a boil. Reduce heat let simmer for 1 hour, stirring occasionally. 

After 1 hour, bring out the blender. This will help remove any clumps that have formed and bring all of the flavors together. If you have an immersion blender (if you don't have one, I highly recommend you get one), you can blend it up directly in the pot and save a dish.

Let it simmer for another 30 minutes.

If you are looking for a spicy barbecue sauce, add the cayenne pepper.

Most good barbecue sauce recipes out there have some beer in the base. A good bock or dark lager works well. Add about a 1/2 Cup to bring out some more flavor in your sauce.