A healthy-ish Italian feast

baked chicken parmesan with melted mozzarella 

served beside whole wheat pasta & tomato basil sauce

and rosemary & olive oil bread

Ono!

i love this picture because oftentimes the hard work

of prepping goes unnoticed

sous chef dicing prep skills:

 orange peppers

pineapple

yellow peppers

jalapeno & white onion

button mushrooms

sweet onion

all that dicing turned into this:

pan seared fijian ono 

topped with a mango jalapeno & white onion salsa 

over a bed of california brown rice

alongside a goat cheese, orange & yellow pepper, sweet onion & tomato

stuffed portabella mushroom

drizzled with a balsamic vinegar reduction

Chargertinis: cocktails for Chargers football

lemondrop martinis

 blue curacao martinis

Halloween Dinner: Pulled-pork sandwiches

slow-cooked (crock pot) pork shoulder

homemade barbeque sauce (see ingredients below)

chopped romaine

smoked gouda

sesame seed buns

corn on the cobb

criss-cut fries

Curtis's Homemade BBQ sauce:

4 cups ketchup

1 cup water

1 cup apple cider vinegar

1 cup brown sugar

6 garlic cloves (minced)

6 Tbsp. olive oil

to taste:

parprika

cayenne pepper

chili powder

hot sauce (louisiana style)

salt

pepper

sautee garlic in olive oil on medium until brown (1-2 minutes)

reduce to low

add all other ingredients and simmer for 1 hour

stir occasionally

refrigerate in pot until cool

transfer to container and refrigerate until use

Espresso-infused vodka

Ever have plans to go out but can't seem to get motivated?

Here's your answer!!!

1 cup whole coffee beans (espresso roast for a sweeter flavor)

the remaining bottle space (this is a 750mL bottle) of vodka

i used grey goose, but any mid-grade to premium vodka will do

take 2 shots about 5 minutes apart and you're ready to go!!

recipe ideas if you're averse to shots:

**white russian**

prepare a rocks glass with ice (preferably small cubes)

pour over

2 parts espresso-infused vodka

1 part kahlua

float of half & half or cream

stir gently

**espresso martini** (picture to follow)

2 parts espresso-infused vodka

1 part kahlua

1 part bailey's irish cream

pour all ingredients in shaker with ice

shake vigorously

strain into chilled martini glass

garnish with whole coffee beans or shaved chocolate if you're feeling frisky