Brown Stew Fish

During a three hour layover at Norman Manley International Airport in Kingston, Ja., we decided to abandon the airport boredom and search for a local favorite everyone suggested.  Gloria's more than lived up tp our expectations, leaving us painfully overfed.  I don't even know what we were thinking ordering a whole fish each... 

This brown stew fish is making my mouth water right now, it was so good, and we were being so greedy that we ordered extra festival and then struggled to finish it all.  I'm sure the server was judging us wondering how we could eat all that food, but who cares, we tipped her with a bottle of Cockspur Rum we smuggled from Cropover! Ha!!

Sooo, not quite Gloria's quality, but I love anything Brown Stewed LOL, especially Brown Stew Shrimp from Footprints...
And for my first time trying festival it was actually good, next time less salt, more sugar.  And I left the ketchup out of the stew, some Jamaicans make it that way, I'm not a fan.

My Weekend in Food!! Part III, I ate a lot this weekend

Instead of the usual Sunday Dinner delight I opted for a Tapas menu to keep the folks on their toes.  Sissy requested a variation of her favorite foods and this is what I came up with:

I fashioned this Antipasto platter based on one we sampled at
Amada restaurant at Revel Resort.
Spanish Chorizo
Aged Manchego
Granny Smith Apple Slices and
Truffled Honey
The Manchego, Honey and Apples are so good together, its my new favorite snack :)

Mini Chicken Empanadas

Dough was kinda salty, and not enough filling, but with a creamy dip of sour cream and salsa they were good.
You live and you learn!

White Peach Sangria

Pinot Grigio
Brandy
Peach Nectar and a lot of fruit (which Granny and I fought over)

Gorgonzola and Glazed Pecans and Raspberry Vinaigrette make this salad a usual craving of mine.

Sunny Anderson's Zesty Chicken Meatballs with Basil Marinara

These made me wish I made pasta, not really an appetizer meatball

Dip Assortment

Homemade Salsa
Spinach & Artichoke Dip
Buffalo Chicken Dip

Fresh Berries with Almond Cream and Balsamic Drizzle

I tried a simpler version of this recipe years ago when I still lived with my parents, it was strawberries sauteed in balsamic vinegar and then served over vanilla ice cream, and I've been meaning to try something similar for a while.  It was a HIT!!

HEY!!  Who ate all the Chocolate Raviolis? GGGGGGGRRRRR

Peaches & Cream?

Nooo...Peaches & Rum! Yum!!

Does this count as part of my daily fruit intake? lol

My Weekend in Food! Part II

I tried a new spot in North Miami this weekend, MOCA. It's a restaurant/ lounge atmosphere. Very sexy, and the food was creative.

Sampler Plate, Courtesy for the General Manager, Thanks!

Grilled Conch (bottom left)
Grilled Goat (bottom right)
Fried Coco (top) its a root veggie, i'm not really familiar

Sorry for the blurry pic, but the Shrimp Creole here is not to be missed, the sauce is deep in spice and hard to describe!
I ate mine too fast (shocking), had to snag a pic of a neighbor's LOL

Fabulous Cake for a Fabulous Birthday Girl!!
Chocolate Almond Marble  cake  wtih  Chocolate Amaretto  Truffles Courtesy of Susie's Scrumptious Sweets

My Weekend In Food!! Part I

To treat the best sister ever I decided to venture beyond our usual favorites and indulge at The Capital Grille.   Even with a reservation we still waited almost forty minutes for a table, then a while to get our food.  Parmesan Truffle Fries never made it onto the camera HA!

Sweet Surprise for Sissy at the Table!!

Best Pan-fried Calamari Ever!!  ...If you can stomach the peppers

Cedar Planked Salmon with Tomato Fennel Relish, definitely worth the wait

Sliced Filet Mignon with Cipollini Onions and Wild Mushrooms, Medium and perfect

This classic never gets old to me : )

The birthday girl with her Flourless Chocolate Espresso Cake, very rich but she was pleased

Ricotta Orange Pound Cake

Thanks to a certain someone taunting me via text with pictures of cake, I got a serious craving for homemade cake.  Thankfully I had some ricotta cheese leftover from Ravioli day HA! With the help of Giada, and 30 minutes in the oven... YUM!


Cravings are Dangerous!

Dangerous enough to turn this...

...Into THIS!!

Blue & Cheddar Cheese Macaroni

You need this in your life!

Dexter's No-Bake Pie

Crust: Ground Almonds

Filling: Bananas, Sunflower Seeds, Cinnamon, Cloves

Chocolate Wontons

Not what I expected! Gotta try these again with hotter oil, they got a little too crispy and the chocolate didn't melt enough, but I still ate them ALL!!

Dexter's Lunch

Can u guess all the ingredients?

Blue Cheese Ravioli

During a visit to Maryland, the Kendall crew introduced me to Blue Cheese omelets paired with grilled steak, so I was trying to come up with something comparable to do with Blue Cheese.

The recipe I found came with an onion sauce recipe, sweeter than I wanted, but with the Blue Cheese its YUM!  Glad I have some leftovers!

Tilapia with Strawberry Thyme Sauce

Buffalo Chicken Meatballs

So… I had some ground chicken left over and decided to try one of Rachel Ray's recipes. It was so quick and easy and ground chicken is way more moist than turkey. Definitely making these again.

I mixed sour cream and blue cheese for dipping. Voila

Strawberry Thyme

I really wish u could smell this thyme...

And taste this drink!

• 2 Strawberries, one muddled, one sliced
• 1 thyme leaf chopped
• lime juice
• sugar
• Watermelon Vodka

Shake & Enjoy!!

Cornbread Baked over Chicken Chili

As yummy as it is messy.

Spicy Chicken Chili with sweet Cornbread baked right on top!!

Strawberry Shortcake

So yummy last night I ate it twice Ha!

What you'll need:

• flour, sugar, baking powder, milk, eggs, butter for shortcakes
• strawberries, triple sec, sugar
• berries, and rum for sauce

Last Night's Dessert

This morning's breakfast (skipped the morning workout to have this, not proud)

Prosciutto & Fig Brushetta

I found some fig spread at the grocery so I decided to pair it with prosciutto and try something. It works, but I have a ton of fig spread left. Any suggestions?

Mediterranean Bruschetta

Not a big tomato fan but with I can appreciate bruschetta if it's mixed with other flavors I like (cucumbers and feta). Anything Greek is ok by me.  Meme, this is  good alternative to the baked potato HA!!

Light healthier snack

Best Burger Ever!!

So good I forgot to take a picture first.

Homemade Brioche is the key!!

Smoked Turkey Florentine

Inspired by Kike's creation I set out for a warm, crispy, buttery turkey sandwich.  

Craving Satisfied!!

Amaretto Walnut Brownies

I was skimming through an old Southern Living cookbook and found this recipe, and I had almost all the ingredients, which I'm not proud of. #foodhoarder :(

You'll need: 

1 Cup chopped walnuts (soaked in liquer 4 hours)

1/2 Cup almond liquer

1 Cup butter

8 Ounces unsweetened chocolate

5 large eggs

3 1/3 Cups sugar

1/4 Cup Swiss mocha instant coffee mix

1 Tablespoon vanilla

1 2/3 Cups flour

1/8 Teaspoon salt

Melt Butter and Chocolate over low heat...

until smooth and creamy

Beat Eggs, Sugar, and Swiss mocha mix with an electric mixer on medium speed for 8 minutes, then gradually mix chocolate mixture into sugar and eggs

gradually add Flour, Vanilla, and Salt

Stir in walnuts, without the liquer

Spread into a foil lined 13x9 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes

Too hot to eat? Not for me!!

WINNING

French Fry Trial#1

 My cousin Kida sent me on a mission to find the best french fry recipe, so here goes the first pick:

Quick and Easy, Dangerous for a potato lover.
me & potatoes, its deep and its real!!

Start with 1 Baking Potato

Slice Potato into even strips, if you have a mandoline, even better, and quicker!!

Soak potatoes in warm sugar water for 15 minutes (1/3 cup sugar to 1 cup water)

Drain potatoes of any excess water for safety

Fry on medium for five minutes to cook the insides, i did small batches since i used a smaller pot

let the oil drain on a paper bag if you have one (i didn't)

Back in the oil for a second fry on mediu high, just 1 minute for  the crispy outsides

drain oil again...

...and YUM!!