Thirsty Thursdays: Bourbon and Thyme Peach Smash

Bourbon and Thyme Peach Smash

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this perfect late summer sipper!

Soft and Chewy Chocolate Chip Cookies

What do you do when you like thick, crunchy, crumbly cookies but someone you care about likes soft, thin, chewy ones?  Well, OK, I guess you could make both.  But I think this time we'll just make him what he wants.  Of course, that's not necessarily easy since what he wants is basically a homemade Entenmann's chocolate chip cookie.

Goat Cheese Mousse with Blueberry Compote

Name a cheese and I'm likely to tell you that it's one of my favorites.  In fact, except for a couple of the extra stinky ones, I've rarely met a cheese I didn't love.  Nevertheless, there are a few that make more frequent appearances around here than others and goat cheese is definitely one.  I love the slight tang it has and it's such a great addition to the many salads I make.

Thirsty Thursdays: Blueberry Lemon Drop

For the last few years, late August has meant vacation heaven on the coast of Maine.  We know where to stay, where to eat and definitely where to drink.  There are always at least a few meals at One Dock and we can't wait to see what specialty cocktail they've added to their menu.

Last year their new blueberry cocktail immediately caught our eye and captured our taste buds.  Leaving Maine is always so sad but we take the cocktail inspirations with us.  Only they know their exact recipe but I think this comes pretty close.  Definitely close enough to inspire beautiful memories and plans to return.  Cheers!

Per Serving:1 1/2 oz. Vodka1 oz. Blueberry sauce (recipe follows)1/2 oz. Triple sec1/2 oz. Elderflower liqueur1/2 oz. Lemon juice1 Teaspoon simple syrup (optional)

Blueberry Sauce:1 Pint blueberries1/2 Cup water

To make the sauce, add the blueberries and water to a pot and cook on medium heat for about five minutes.  Stir often and crush the blueberries with the back of your spoon.  Pass through a fine mesh strainer and keep in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to two weeks.

To make the drink, add all the ingredients to a cocktail shaker and fill with ice.  Shake well and pour into a chilled cocktail glass.  Garnish with a slice of lemon and blueberries, if desired.

Portable Cherry Crumb Pie Jars

Today you can read my article on Hoosier Homemade where I discuss the very serious problem of crumb theft.  Yes, the rampant crime spree that occurs in my kitchen whenever I've baked a crumb topped dessert has left me desperate to find a solution.  And since it does seem to be all about the filling and the crumb topping, I've solved the problem by eliminating the pie crust altogether and just handing everybody their own personal crumb filled dessert jars.

Head on over to Hoosier Homemade to see the recipe!

Chicken Milanese Topped with Crunchy Salad

When I have a great meal in a restaurant, I usually try to recreate it at home.  I don't usually wait four years to share it with you, though.  Then again, we waited practically a lifetime in between visits to this amazing place so I'll have to chalk both things up to 'life got in the way' and not try too hard to figure it out.  The restaurant in question was the Union Square Cafe, practically a New York institution and a temple to farmer's market freshness.  The vibe is casual, though expensive, and the food is fresh, simple and perfect.  Exactly like this dish.

Thirsty Thursdays: Peach Cobbler Cocktail

Peach Cobbler Cocktail

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this dessert in a glass!

Chicken Meatballs in Creamy Tarragon Sauce

What's for dinner?  You know that dreaded question, right?  Day after day after day.  So I'm here today with another option.  I can whip up a batch of meatballs very quickly so it's a frequent go-to meal whenever I have any ground meat.  But that just means it can get a little boring.  A fun sauce, though, makes all the difference.

Savory Tomato Cobbler with Gorgonzola Biscuits

We've been going a little tomato crazy around here this summer.  I realize that sounds normal to most of you but...um...I used to hate tomatoes.  Yes.  Hate.  And I know you're thinking that I probably still ate things like ketchup and tomato pasta sauce but you'd be wrong.  Hate is hate.  Happily, tastes can change.

Thirsty Thursdays: Icy Cold Blood Orange Cosmo

Icy Cold Blood Orange Cosmo

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this sweet and tangy summer sipper!

The Month in Review - July 2014

I hope you all have been enjoying summer because I certainly have.  It's been a remarkably mild July by New York standards with very few days over 90 degrees.  Typically, July is the hotter and stickier of the summer months so we seem to have gotten through it with very little reason to complain.  August is when the city really slows down, temperatures are lovely and people schedule vacations and beach time.  I'm planning to savor every moment of it.  Speaking of savoring, July was a delicious month in the Hungry Couple household with several ridiculously good new recipes.  So, before we get back to the business of delighting in the weather, let's take a look back at the good eats and drinks of July.  Enjoy!

Salted Caramel Peanut Pie

Happy Grab Some Nuts Day!  No, I'm no kidding and I'm not nuts.  Well...um...not completely.  Anyway, yes this is an actual holiday, people.  Nuts are good and healthy and delicious and we're celebrating them.  By now you should know that my fellow food bloggers and I can't resist these wacky holidays and had to come up with nutty recipes to honor the occasion.