This is the dinner that you, my friends, chose as my Spring Dinner from Great Dinners from Life by Eleanor Graves***. (1969). The globe artichoke is surely the engineering marvel of the vegetable world. It is so formidably constructed that one wonders what inquisitive Italian first though that the bud of the thistle plant wouldContinue reading Great Dinners from Life: Shrimp-Stuffed Artichoke (1969)
Yes, I am well aware that I just posted the Easter Brunch. This, however, is a different kind of brunch. A brunch for two. A private brunch. A bedroom brunch. I was inspired to bust out this brunch because of the inclusion of the Bloody Bullshot–a variation of the questionable beef-based libation called the Bullshot,Continue reading The Smirnoff Bedroom Brunch (1971)
My sole new year resolution this year was to post once a week–but I’ve failed. I missed a week in February and this is the first post of April. I am so disappointed in me. But, oh well. I’m gonna try to get back on the wagon. FUN FACT! According to the Smirnoff advertising folk,Continue reading Smirnoff Year of the Brunch: Easter Brunch (1969)
Happy National Whiskey Day! To celebrate I brought out my trusty 2-in-1 International Recipe Card Collection for Mixed Drinks and Hors D’oeuvre and found the Perfect Manhattan on card 65 from the Blends & Rye section. Mr. Sauce, Esq. is a fan of a Manhattan–it his most requested cocktail when he comes home from a longContinue reading 2-in-1 International Recipe Card Collection: Perfect Manhattan (1977)
Happy First Day of Spring! To celebrate the season, I’m opening Great Dinners from Life (1969) and turning to the chapter on Spring. In my copy of Great Dinners, there are six menus that the previous owner bookmarked and definitely prepared–the pages are dirty! Artichokes Stuffed with Shrimp Chicken in a Pot with Vegetables CoqContinue reading HAPPY SPRING!
HOW EASY WAS IT? I will get to that eventually, but do you want to know what is NOT easy? Sleep. Ah, elusive sleep. Every night is a grab bag of GERD, insomnia, sleep sweats, racing thoughts, and existential dread. There is a meme that says something akin to “if you need three or moreContinue reading 120. Easy Baked Stew
I marinated the steak over night, but when it was time to cook dinner, I failed to read the entire recipe card (which is apparently a problem of mine as of late. Much like Alexia on the Real Housewives of Miami when she kept insisting that Adriana’s boyfriend is married because she didn’t scroll downContinue reading 131. Zippy Sirloin Strips
Happy Super Bowl weekend! Let’s kick it off with some Smirnoff! It’s a sure bet you and your friends will be watching the game this weekend. Why don’t you all get together for a spirited Smirnoff warm-up before the game? Team up delicious food, good friends, and great Smirnoff drinks with the best seats inContinue reading The Smirnoff Football Brunch & Bloody Mary (1970)
Now, if you you’re thinking–hey now, didn’t you already make the Greek Lamb Stew card? Well I did. But that was card 156. This is card 166. Greek Lamb Stew NOT in Eggplant Boats. Missing eggplant boats aside, the difference between the two seems to be black olives vs. okra/green beans and elbow macaroni. So,Continue reading 166. Greek Lamb Stew
I was an odd child–for many reasons–but one particular reason is that, as a wee one, I devoured any and all shellfish and mollusks. I loved raw oysters and clams. I ate my first whole lobster at the age of 5, much to the disappointment of my parents, who bought two for a celebratory dinnerContinue reading 170. Tuna Patties
I do not like rum, so I wasn’t dying to celebrate National Hot Buttered Rum Day, but I knew that I had a couple of recipes for this cocktail and the weather was just cool enough for a hot drink to be appropriate. So I picked up some little bottles and I made two versions.Continue reading National Hot Buttered Rum Day
My love of the Bisquick Impossible Pie has been documented on this here blog. And the BLT is in my top 5 sandwiches, so I was thrilled to come across this ad: What a genius idea to combine the two! Damn thing got rather browned since I used a toaster oven (I refuse toContinue reading Bacon Lettuce & Tomato Impossible Pie (1984)
Welcome to 2023! I am sure that I’ll still be writing 2022 well into February. I had a lovely holiday break and I hope that you had some time off, too. As one typically does, I made a new year’s resolution. Mine is to post once a week on the blog. It may be theContinue reading 157. Turkey Chops
Earlier this month I hosted my annual Christmas party, The Holly Ball (a.k.a the Ball Party). At the Holly Ball, all the food is ball-shaped. This was the 4th Holly Ball*** (5th if you count the inaugural party, A Very Manny Christmas–a celebration for my friend Manny’s 50th birthday). Speaking of Manny, I am usingContinue reading Holly Ball 2022
The Peppermint Martini (an interim idea). Somebody once said, “if the perfect martini is ever created, it won’t be a martini.” Until now, two things stood between the martini and perfection: Gin and Vermouth. Substitute Smirnoff for gin and you’re halfway home. But what can you substitute for vermouth? We haven’t found it yet, butContinue reading Smirnoff Peppermint Martini (1972)
To close out National Cookbook Month, I present to you Robert Carrier’s Menu Planner. I know very little about Robert Carrier. Although he is American born and raised he found fame in Europe. I had never heard of him growing up. This cookbook is rather fun. It’s huge. (it weighs nearly 5 pounds) contains 300Continue reading Robert Carrier’s Menu Planner: Iced Tomato Vodka, Steak au Poivre & Blueberry and Caramel Cream (1984)
Today is National Pumpkin Day and October is National Pumpkin Month! Here’s something pumpkin-related. A friend of ours recently found himself with some unexpected guests, a bottle of Smirnoff, and a supply of root beer. Neither he nor anyone present had mixed Smirnoff and root beer before. But the occasion called for a drink, theContinue reading Smirnoff Charlie Burch (1975)
Hello and welcome to Blends Bash 2022, hosted by the lovely folks at The Book Club Cook Book. Every year they send out some of their delicious spice blends to bloggers like myself who experiment and then share the results with you! This year I was assigned 3 different spice blends to play with. ThisContinue reading BLENDS BASH 2022: Shrimp with Red New Orleans Sauce (1960)
