Tag: blog

The Ultimate Sunday Funday

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Talk about a FUNDAY!  I catered an event for a regular customer and it was truly something special.  It started out as an “end of the summer pool party”, however, at the time we planned this, we had a hurricane co20190929_105057-01-01ming our way.  So we postponed, but now there was no special occasion.  It just became a Sunday football party!!  What was so fun about this party, was how they designed their home to host- the outdoors and indoors became one space and it was awesome!  There were TVs all over the house with different games on so all fans can watch their teams.  There was even a large TV over their Wolf grill and the host made sure I was able to watch my game as I cook!  Because the party was outside and inside, some of their guests even arrived in their yachts!  Never saw that before! LOL  But how fun!  They had a DJ, 2 bartenders, a poker dealer, and me, the chef!  Yes, this really happened!  It was sooo fun!

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The menu:

*Crudite platter with hummus, tzatziki, veggies, pita

*Arugula salad with lemon vinaigrette

*Antipasto pasta salad

*Vegetable paninis with pesto

*Grilled chicken

*Grilled corn

*Sliders with all sorts of toppings

*Coleslaw with champagne vinaigrette

*BBQ popcorn

*Sweet and savory Chex party mixes

*Peach cobbler

*Strawberry shortcake

It was a lot of food for 45 people and EVERYONE loved it!  3 of the guests even told me that my peach cobbler was 10x better than what they had in Georgia!  I mean, what a compliment!  I knew it was good, because I made 3 large bakers of it and it was gone so fast!  Every time I loaded up the slider station with burgers, they were gone before I knew it.  I came up with the menu when the host mentioned how they wanted pool party food.  What was really great, is there were no dietary restrictions!  Though, I wanted to keep it kid friendly and definitely something that adults would want to eat.  It was the perfect blend of both.

I literally cannot wait to cater another event for them!

 

Be on the lookout for the next post!  It’s going to be all about Thanksgiving!  Yes, it’s next month and I’m really looking forward to it!  And be sure to follow on instagram!  I love a good food picture and I’m going to be posting videos soon!  EEEK!  But I’m excited to take it to the next level!  Have a great weekend! xoxo

Happy Waffle Day!

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Ever had chicken and waffles before?  The first time I heard of chicken and waffles, I thought, “Nope!  I would never try it!”  But when I did try it, my life changed!!  I’m not much of a breakfast person, but this meal is perfect for brunch time.  I’ve ordered chicken and waffles EVERY time I go out for brunch and it doesn’t disappoint.  The combination of beautiful, golden waffles topped with crispy, tender chicken, and sweet maple syrup, is … HEAVENLY!  And with my new Breville waffle maker, I can make these at home whenever I want!  This recipe is so delicious and easy, you will never have to buy waffle mix again!

Buttermilk Waffles

  • Servings: 6 large waffles
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The only waffle recipe you will ever need!

Ingredients

-2 1/2 cups All purpose flour

-1/4 cup granulated sugar

-2 tsp baking powder

-1/2 tsp baking soda

-1 tsp salt

-2 eggs, beaten

-1 1/2 cups buttermilk

-1/4 cup melted butter

-1 tsp vanilla bean paste

-berries, chocolate chips, nuts, are optional

Directions

  1.  Preheat your waffle maker.
  2. In a large bowl, whisk together all of the dry ingredients.  This ensures that they are evenly distributed.
  3. Whisk in remaining ingredients.  If the batter is too thick, add more buttermilk.
  4. If you are not using a nonstick waffle maker, brush the plates with melted butter and pour about 1/3 cup of batter in the center.
  5. Close and cook until your desired doneness.

Be sure to follow me on Instagram!  xoxo

 

Meal Planning and Back to School

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Hi everyone!  Summer is coming to an end and we’ve eaten a lot of great food.  Meal planning going strong!!  I’m very grateful that I have new clients and I am helping families.  I love that they are referring me to their friends and family!  It’s very fulfilling to provide fully cooked meals for families who don’t have the time to cook.  I get the opportunity to help them eat healthy food while they take care of everything else.  What would you like to see on the meal plan rotation? 20190812_161015-01

On the menu for one family:

*Lemon and Parmesan Salmon with Heirloom Tomato, Corn, and Avocado Salad

*Korean Grilled Steak with Sesame Chimichurri and Asian Chopped Salad

*Greek Chicken bowls with Lemon Orzo and Tzatziki

*Roasted Lamb Chops with Mashed Potatoes and Honey Glazed Carrots

*Double Chocolate Brownies

For another family:

*Gnocchi Bolognese with Caesar Salad

*Sweet Thai Basil Chicken with Jasmine Rice

*Lemon Roasted Salmon with Roasted Potatoes and Asparagus

*Sheet Pan Steak Fajitas with Cilantro Lime Rice

*Chocolate Chip Cookies

 

Let’s plan your weekly meals!  Be sure to follow me on Instagram!  xoxo

Strawberry Shortcake

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One of my favorite summer desserts–Strawberry Shortcake.  Since last year, I’ve been making my shortcakes with cornmeal and I haven’t turned back.  It is insanely delicious!!

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Normally, when I make strawberry shortcakes, I usually just macerate my strawberries.  What does that mean??  That means tossing your fruit with a little bit of sugar and allowing the fruit to sit for at least 20 minutes.  This allows the fruit to release it’s natural juices and creates a bit of a sauce, which is perfect for topping yogurt or ice cream.  But today!  Today, I’ve decided to roast the strawberries instead.  I know, it sounds weird, but it’s UH-MAZING!!  This dessert dates back to the 1500’s and nowadays is know as National Strawberry Shortcake Day.

It’s perfect for those wonderful summer days and it’s easy to travel with.  So you can enjoy it at the beach or on a picnic!  (Yes, I am that person that will bring strawberry shortcakes to the beach.)  Serve it with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.  (The secret to my whipped cream, which everyone goes bananas over, is Nielsen Massey Vanilla Bean Paste.)  It makes such a difference in your desserts!!  I mean, a HUGE difference.  I use it in all recipes where I need to add vanilla.  I even added a touch in my strawberries before I roasted them.   Maybe you will make this for Father’s Day?  Don’t forget to subscribe!  New recipes plus cooking class schedules will be posted!!

Strawberry Shortcakes

  • Servings: 4-6
  • Difficulty: easy
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Tender, soft shortcakes layered with sweet, roasted strawberries and topped with light vanilla whipped cream

Ingredients

-3 tbsp brown sugar

-1 1/4 cup AP flour

-1/4 cup very fine cornmeal

-1 1/2 tsp baking powder

-1/2 tsp salt

-1/4 tsp baking soda

-6 tbsp unsalted butter, very cold, cubed

-6-8 tbsp heavy cream, very cold, plus extra for brushing

-sparkling sugar, for topping shortcakes

-1 lb strawberries, hulled, quartered

-1 tbsp granulated sugar

-1/2 tsp vanilla bean paste

-1 lemon, zested

-2 cups heavy cream, very cold

-granulated sugar to taste

-vanilla bean paste, to taste

Directions

  1. For shortcakes:  Preheat oven to 400 F.  In a food processor, add the brown sugar, flour, cornmeal, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.  Place the lid on and pulse a few times, just to evenly distribute the ingredients.  Remove the lid and add one tablespoon of very cold butter.  Replace the lid and pulse the butter in the food processor 5 times.  Repeat until all of the butter has been used.  The flour should resemble wet sand.
  2. While pulsing, slowly add the cold heavy cream in a very slow stream.  Add enough heavy cream until a dough has formed into a ball.  (You may not use all 8 tbsp of heavy cream.)
  3. Turn dough onto a floured surface.  Roll dough until 1/2 inch thick.  Cut out shortcakes, using a cookie cutter and place onto Silpat or nonstick sheet tray.  Once all cut shortcakes are placed on sheet tray, brush with heavy cream and generously sprinkle with sparkling sugar.
  4. Place sheet tray in the refrigerator for 15 minutes so the dough chills.  *Very important step.  The dough must be very cold before going into the oven.
  5. Bake in oven for 15-18 minutes or until a cake tester comes out cleaned.  Allow to cool completely before assembling shortcakes.
  6. For strawberries:  In a medium bowl, toss strawberries with sugar and vanilla.  Place in a baking dish and roast in oven at 400 F for 12-15 minutes, until softened.  After roasting, remove from oven and cool.  Zest 1 lemon on top of strawberries and toss so evenly distributed.
  7. For whipped cream:  In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whip attachment, add heavy cream and mix on medium speed.  Add sugar and vanilla, to taste, once you have soft peaks.  Increase the speed and whip until medium peaks.  Taste and adjust the sugar and vanilla.  If you are happy with both, increase the speed and whip until you have stiff peaks.  Careful not to over whip!  Put in a pastry bag and refrigerate until ready to assemble shortcakes.
  8. To assemble shortcakes:  Take cooled shortcake and slice in half with serrated knife.  Spoon roasted strawberries with juices on the bottom half of the shortcake.  Place the top half on top of strawberries and pipe or spoon a generous amount of whipped cream on top.  You can spoon another generous amount of strawberries on top of the whipped cream, if you’d like.
  9. Enjoy!

 

Memorial Day Weekend meal planning

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Hi there!  I hope everyone is having a fun filled and safe holiday!

Every week, I’m incorporating more and more kid friendly options for busy families.  For one family this week, I prepared:

*Ginger soy glazed salmon with sauteed bok choy

*Herb roasted chicken and potatoes

*Lasagna with Caesar salad

*Mac and cheese and roasted broccoli

 

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I’m also planning a birthday party for a new family this weekend and the menu we came up is going to be fantastic:

*Peach, honey, and goat cheese crostini

*Bruschetta with and seasoned ricotta and roasted tomatoes

*Grilled Caesar Salad with homemade croutons

*Marinated veggie paninis with sun dried tomato pesto

*Grilled steak with chimichurri

*Potato salad with herb dressing

*Vanilla panna cotta with balsamic roasted peaches

This new family is a referral customer and for that, she (and the customer who referred her) are getting a special gift!  I’m so happy that she and her family are giving me the opportunity to take the stress off their shoulders and cater their special occasion for them.  All they need to do, is have fun with their guests!

The month is almost over and so is the discount off your first service!  Let’s plan your special occasion and create an amazing menu!

Lemon Thyme Shortbread

This post is pretty exciting for me because this is the first post where I post a recipe!  Though this site is meant to promote my services as a private chef, I would love to share some recipes with you every once in a while.  This weather has my herbs growing so beautifully and so I have been wanting to make these cookies all week!  They are so easy to make and they are bursting with Spring flavor!  For those busy families, you can make a large batch of dough, wrap in parchment paper in the shape of a log, and freeze until ready to bake.  They will make great slice and bake shortbread cookies!

By the way, be sure to follow me on Instagram!

Lemon Thyme Shortbread Cookies

  • Difficulty: easy
  • Print

Ingredients

-1/2 cup butter, room temperature

-1/2 cup granulated sugar

-Zest of 1 large lemon

-Juice of half lemon

-1 1/4 cup All purpose flour

-1 1/2 tbsp Thyme, finely chopped

-1/4 tsp salt

Directions

  1.  Preheat oven to 350.
  2. In the bowl of a stand mixer, cream the butter and sugar together for 2-3 minutes until light and fluffy.
  3. Add the lemon zest and juice and mix to combine, about 10 seconds.
  4. Add 1/2 cup of flour and mix on low speed.  Add the remaining flour, the chopped thyme, and the salt and mix until just combined, careful not to overmix.  The dough should be cleaning off the sides of the bowl.
  5. On a lightly floured surface, turn the dough and shape into a ball.  Roll out dough until about 1/4 inch thick.  Cut out cookies and place on a sheet tray.
  6. Place in freezer for about 5 minutes (this prevents the dough from spreading as it bakes).  Place sheet tray in preheated oven and bake 12-15 minutes.
  7. Allow cookies to cool before enjoying!

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Easter

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Hey everyone!  Another busy week and I finally have a moment to sit and reflect.  Last week, I was reminded that there are going to be obstacles when you least expect it and I become stronger and stronger every time.  I have an amazing tribe and with them, I can do it!  This is a new week and it started on a great note!  Still hype over Game of Thrones!  Is it just me, or did that hour seem to just fly by?!  I feel like I blinked and it was over!  This weekend, we will be ready with an EPIC dinner because it’s not only Game of Thrones, but it is also Easter Sunday!

This week, I’ll be focused on helping new customers with their meal preferences and lift the burden of having to cook dinner for their families and for themselves.

For one family:

*Shrimp scampi with roasted broccoli and a grilled Caesar salad  *Perfectly seared scallops with mashed potatoes  *Four cheese lasagna with Zucchini noodles  *Whole roasted chicken with roasted potatoes and honey maple glazed carrots

For another family:

*Roasted cauliflower with turkey sausage and yogurt  *Chinese chicken and broccoli with white rice  *Mongolian beef  *Vegetable fried rice *Gluten free brownies

Another family will have:

*Creamy Tuscan Chicken with broccoli rabe  *Pan seared salmon with white wine pan sauce  *Pinenut couscous with apricots  *Seafood Paella with roasted garlic aioli  *Olive oil polenta cake with honey whipped cream

For Easter dinner:

*Spring Pea salad with asparagus, watermelon radish, and champagne vinaigrette  *Mezze Platter with homemade hummus, marinate olives and artichokes, and pita  *Lamb chops with mint salsa verde  *Roasted Brussels sprouts with smoked brown sugar  *Orange ricotta cake with honey whipped cream

Next week, I have my first customer where I will planning some breakfasts for while they are in town.  These cinnamon rolls are definitely going to be a part of it.  There is just something so comforting about cinnamon rolls.  And they don’t get better than homemade.  These make the perfect addition to any Easter brunch spread.

 

20190417_124649-01.jpegMore on the breakfast meal plans next week.

Easy comfort food

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Hey guys! This week has been so busy and it’s not going to stop. (And I’m so excited that things are going strong!)

New families and private dinners planned throughout the month!

This week’s meal plans include the following:

1. *Pan seared salmon with mango salsa *Scallops with swiss chard and cauliflower puree *Grilled steak with mashed potatoes and roasted asparagus *Caesar salad *Garden salad

2. *Cast iron steak and potatoes *Indian butter chicken with basmati rice *Shrimp fettuccine alfredo *Potato salad with scallion vinaigrette *Chicken Shwarma salad with tahini

3. *Mojo chicken with cilantro rice *Black bean and corn salsa *Shrimp ceviche with tostones *Roast pork shoulder *Coconut lime Popsicles

All delicious and solidifying some vegan menus this week! Coming up, I am going to post some class menus. It’s a great idea to host for birthdays or anniversary parties!