grilled mac & cheese sandwiches

You...yeah you! Yes you! When you go to a restaurant do you have a compulsion to ask for the kid's menu even though you're kind of old and have no kids? Are you ashamed that you linger when the hostess asks you if you'll need any kids menus? Can you make a sandwich? If you answered yes to these three questions then venture no further. You can make this sandwich right now in the comfort of your own home without the glaring eyes of the world staring down on you. How do I know? I mean you can probably make this right now. Most people can. All you need is bread, cheese...what do you mean you don't have cheese. Everyone has cheese. I have at least five types of cheese in my fridge right now. What do you mean I'm crazy. You're the crazy one. Now you messed me up. I had a point. You get the point right? This sandwich is so easy to make that anyone, even you...yes you, can make it right now. Forget it about. I said FORGET ABOUT! You know what, you've just embarrassed me, yourself, and your family. What've you got to say for yourself...yes you! Who else would I be talking to? What did you say? WHERE CAN YOU BUY CHEESE?!?! (if you're confused keep reading)

This was a conversation I had with my neighbor's dog a couple mornings ago (see paragraph before). In all seriousness, this sandwich is probably the best sandwich you'll ever try in your entire life. It's impossible not to think of the good ol' days when you're sinking into crispy buttery bread through soft creamy mac & cheese and gooey cheddar. Classic mash-up comfort food at its finest. The best part is, it takes less than 20 minutes to make which means these are the perfect party favors...or midnight snack, depending on the type of person you are.

coming soon - grilled mac & cheese sandwich

C'mon. C'MON!!! I doubt you can fathom the awesomeness of just looking at a picture of this! It is not even close to how good you're picturing it in your head. The recipe is coming out in a bit!!! (mind you I'm sorry if i don't get the post out for awhile, i have a lot of summer homework. please check back often though.)

mango blueberry sherbert

People all over the world - except Australians and their backwards idiosyncrasies - are on the brink of summer; however they're ill prepared and I'm here to help. My suggestion? Go to Costco, buy a 24 family pack of sunblock, grab 6 industrial sized towels, and some summer fruits - provided that you left Costco otherwise you're gonna have to buy a lot of fruits (which is probably a problem only particular to the first world). After you finally leave Sampleworld with all of your beach day things run home and make this sherbert! It's so good, and surprisingly easy. 

When I was making this recipe I overestimated the capacity of my ice cream maker and when I measured the first batch I realized only an eighth of the mixture could fit in at one time. I practically have a toy ice cream maker. I concluded that the only sane thing to do was to make the sherbert by hand. So, every 30 minutes I took the sherberts out of the freezer and stirred them. That's probably why the blueberry one turned out kind of icy. Nevertheless I loved it even more because I literally made it myself. So the moral of the story is don't get your cooking equipment from Dave & Busters. 

coming soon - mango blueberry sherbert

If you didn't know, sherbert is a sorbet with cream. I make mine with plump fresh blueberries, tropical mango, and creamy coconut milk. Must I say more except coming soon.

virgin mango bellinis + basil

For the entire week I have procrastinated writing this post because I wondered whether it was really necessary to write down a recipe that has only 3 ingredients, and even less steps (and I was being lazy). Making these bellinis was so easy that I'm pondering whether I should change this blog to an only bellinis blog. I mean, the alliteration is right there. 

Truthfully, if there weren't any laws mandating that children under 21 can't drink, these bellinis would be totally non-virgin. But, laws and regulations and stuff. What can you do.

coming soon - virgin mango bellinis + basil

Not all of us have the opportunity to go the racetrack and sip bellinis while we cheer on tiny men slapping horses, but that doesn't mean we can't drink like them. Oh and this recipe only has two ingredients and takes less than 1 minute to prepare. Coming soon. 

maple-roasted nectarine pancakes

The photography in this post is going to be a bit erratic because 1) I shot it at different times of the day, 2) I'm not very good at photography, and 3) I'm kind of an idiot. As the days pass I'm slowly but surely degrading into a mushy pile of peanut butter and pancakes. 

But enough about me, let's turn our focus to the important matter, the thing which is captured within the execrable photography - the humble pancake stack. It all started with a question. A question of whether it was possible to incorporate maple syrup, a topping that dowses and sogs pancake stacks all across America, within the batter itself. Finally the answer would come to me a whole 2 hours later - simply substitute sugar with maple syrup. Any simpleton could have come up with that. That's why I had to push the envelope; cue the maple-roasted nectarines.

coming soon - maple roasted nectarine pancakes

It sounds exotic. It sounds complicated. It's totally easy. The recipe is coming soon. 

momma's day // 30 min brie + chive puddle scones

I'm not a person of hyperbole, usually, but THIS RECIPE IS POSSIBLY THE BEST THING I'VE MADE IN THE PAST TWO YEARS!!! Salty, creamy, fluffy, cheesy, buttery, herbaceous, when executed correctly (which doesn't take much effort or know-how) these scones could seriously be a game changer in the world of patisserie. Usually, bakers, to preserve that traditional flaky texture of the scone, will use a hard sharp cheese like cheddar or gruyere. I wanted to see how I could incorporate a softer, silkier, more luxurious texture to this already luxuriously buttery and creamy pastry. And thus, the unofficial birth of the cheese puddle scone, pockets of liquid gold oozing from seams of pillowy flaky pastry. 

Cooking out of my small home in San Diego, I sometimes wonder whether the rest of the world gets to enjoy the deliciousness that just a few sprinkles of flour and cheese can procure. It's partially the reason why I like writing this blog because I feel like this type of mouthgasmic amazeballness just needs to be shared. If you're looking for a cheap, easy gift for your special momma this Mother's Day look no further...actually look further...down this recipe...okay just keep reading. 

coming soon - 30 min brie + chive puddle scones

Cheese scones are one and a million in the food community. I've seen many people use hard cheeses like asiago or gruyere to keep that iconic crumbly scone texture. But, I suggest to you, what if we turned the tables. What if we used soft cheeses. Ladies and gentlemen, the resulting miracle, the unofficial birth of the cheese puddle scone. Melty pockets of cheesy gold surrounded by light and creamy pastry. Coming soon!!

scrambled eggs and tomato | a childhood favorite

Those of you who have scoured cookbooks and websites in search of a quick and easy recipe for the weekdays and nights, exposing yourself to computer viruses whilst scraping the dark underbelly of the internet, scour no more. Often times the best things in life are the simplest, case and point, the humble scrambled eggs and tomato. After reading the comments you guys left me on my social media (links in the sidebar), I learned that many of you also grew up eating this dish. Some of you suggested adding onions while others emphatically yelled "witchcraft" from their rooftops. While suggestions are encouraged they aren't necessary because today we're sticking with the crowd-pleaser. Passed on to my momma from her dad and generations before him, this dish needs no accoutrements or augmentations. Remember, the simplest things are often the best. 

While I'll admit it was difficult to shoot this dish because of it's somewhat brain-like features, the poorly taken photography in no way degrades the deliciousness of the recipe. Because this is so easy to make and can be achieved with only basic refrigerator staples, this is a dish you can prepare whenever you want in whatever mental state you're in. On a completely unrelated note, this is the perfect hangover food. I know this not by experience so one need not call the Center for Underaged Drinking. My point is nostalgia can be had by you whenever you'd like in less than five minutes. Cheers!

coming soon - scrambled eggs and tomato

My mom makes these eggs for us whenever she's too tired to make an elaborate dish. We don't really complain because it's our favorite dish! This is so easy and great for any and every meal of the day. Stay tuned!

crunchy chocolate peanut butter chip cookies

In retrospect, I should have patented chocolate and peanut butter when I discovered it in '08. Now look how its blown up. I don't know if you've heard about it but now there's this little company called Reese's that makes chocolate and peanut butter candies. Actually Reese's and I go a long ways back. He and I used to be roommates until he stole my recipe and wouldn't give me credit. I had to kick him out of the dorm. Well actually I left. Technically he kicked me out for what he dubs "inappropriate" and "salacious" behavior. Whatever that means right. I actually know what it means. His lawyer made me look up "salacious" in the dictionary when I was taken to court. It means vulgar or explicit. What was I talking about...oh yeah chocolate and peanut butter. One of the best combinations in the world. 

Similar in texture and appearance to your traditional peanut butter cookie, this upgraded crunchy chocolate peanut butter chip cookie has crunchy salty pretzels and creamy peanut butter morsels laced throughout. The bitter notes from the cocoa and the salty sweet combination from the pretzels and the peanut butter make this the perfect cookie flavor. I guarantee this is way better than the boring peanut butter cookies you've had in the past. Not to mention, these are super easy to make and you can make a lot of them for parties and potlucks. I'd like to see Reese get a hold of this one. What type of peanut butter morsels am I using? Reese's...damn you Reese and your delicious confectionary products. 

coming soon - crunchy chocolate peanut butter chip cookies

Your classic peanut butter cookie, but with a hint of chocolate, crunchy pretzels, and many creamy peanut butter chips laced throughout, stay tuned for the recipe!