Pesto Sauce
When I’m looking for something different than tomato sauce for pasta, I really like the rich, fresh flavor of pesto sauce. The freshness comes from basil leaves, and the richness comes from grated parmesan cheese and toasted nuts…..and it’s so simple to make. Traditional pesto comes from the Liguria region of Italy and consists of…
Migrant Restaurant
The Migrant Restaurant in the Wailea Marriott Resort on the Island of Maui was a true surprise. After trying many restaurants on a recent trip to Maui and feeling underwhelmed, we stumbled on to this amazing restaurant on our way to the airport for our flight home. We had discovered they have a happy hour…
Tequila Lime Grilled Shrimp
This recipe did not start out to be used as a marinade for shrimp, it was actually created to be a chicken wing sauce. A couple of years ago, my nephew Tommy, who was cooking at my brother’s sports bar, asked me to come up with a wing sauce recipe that would be appropriate for…
Pico De Gallo
This Pico de Gallo recipe is one of my all time favorite fresh salsas. It is the same one we used to serve in the restaurant my brother and I owned together back in Wisconsin. I wish I could take credit for it, but one of our cooks created it. We loved it so much we…
Roasted Tomato Salsa
Roasted tomato salsa can’t be beat for flavor and freshness. I love this salsa so much, I actually think it’s addictive. I make this recipe with my favorite chile pepper: dried red chipotles. Yes, I am oven roasting dried chile peppers. Most, if not all recipes I have looked at, call for fresh chile peppers…
Pickled Red Onions
Pickled red onions with habanero chile peppers sounds like it could be very hot. At least, that is what I used to think. I recall coming upon them at a salsa bar in a Mexican restaurant and how surprised I was that they didn’t have that much heat at all. You could actually taste each…
33rd Street Bistro
33rd Street Bistro is a great local neighborhood bar and restaurant in Sacramento. There is one thing they serve that I just can’t get enough of. It’s their Oregon Blue Salad that’s been on their menu a long time, maybe since they opened in 1995. This salad consists of boneless skin on chicken thighs that…
Tzatziki Sauce
Tzatziki sauce with pita bread or pita chips is great as an appetizer or, as I remember it, a perfect sauce for gyros. I can remember going to the Greek Fest at the Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church in Milwaukee and eating their delicious gyro sandwiches. The shaved roasted lamb & beef wrapped in pita bread with…
Irish Coffee
When I think of an Irish cocktail, the first one that comes to my mind is an Irish Coffee. Usually I am thinking about Irish Coffee around St. Patrick’s Day, but they’re great anytime during the year to warm you up. The keys to a good Irish Coffee are the quality of Irish whiskey (such…
Guinness Corned Beef
Corned beef braised in Guinness beer, brown sugar and sauerkraut….what could be wrong with that combination? I think absolutely nothing at all! Several years ago I was looking for a recipe for corned beef and came across one online that braised the brisket in Guinness beer, brown sugar and fresh cabbage. I liked the idea of…
