March 25-March 31, 2022

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

 Cocktail Hour Buzz 

sundowner snacks, drinks, chat, and . . .

whenever I can, related resources & goodies on Amazon

whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

{any links under these items take you right to Amazon unless otherwise indicated – and then only ones with the lock icon}

♦♦♦  I’m guessing many of us have made roll-up appetizers. Crescent rolls, wonton wrappers, and puff pastry are all good for this purpose. But Molly Yeh has a different take, a welcome technique that takes care of all the filling at once, and apportions it equally. Yes! While the spinach and feta rugelach she’s making here looks darn good, our own creative variations are just waiting to check in. A demo reveals all.  🍕🍕 = clue  Food Network

Molly Yeh’s “Girl Meets Farm” show on Food Network

And here’s a rockin’ rollup with cheddar & bacon from Jeff Mauro, The Kitchen, FN

Found this on Amazon . . .

Rolled, Wrapped & Stuffed. Great Appetizers from Around the World

♦♦♦   Five main claims to fame define this new line of mixers – clean ingredients only, lowered calories, light and refreshing taste, crafted in the USA. And the 5th biggie? These Betty Buzz mixers are the creation of actress Blake Lively, and come to us as tonic water, sparkling lemon lime, Meyer lemon club soda, sparkling grapefruit, and ginger beer. Lively, as a non-drinker herself, made sure they are also delicious on their own. Even so the site is quite generous with recipes for spirited libations.  Shown is the Strawberry Ginger Limelight.  bettybuzz.com

The Betty Buzz “Drink Inspirations” page

Blake Lively bio on imdb

♦♦♦   So, in a previous Salon we talked about making grilled cheese variations and cutting them party-size for the snack table. Here’s one we all may not have thought about. It’s Ree Drummond’s French Onion Grilled Cheese. Yowsie is this a stack-up of goodness, with onions x 3, cheese x 2, butter x 2, a blast of Dijon plus a touch of thyme. And since I didn’t have the fried onions, I substituted diced and crisped leftover onion rings. Yum.

Btw, instead of scattering the cheese shreds on the sandwich, I melted them right into the cooked onions and then formed it all into two bread shapes.

Grilled Cheese for Happy Hour in our 01.28.22 Salon

♦♦♦  So, what about snacks when cocktail hour is at 35,000 feet ? Of course you can just pair your beverage with a Lilliputian bag of peanuts. Or you can bring along a taste of home . . . literally . . . twice. With these 17 Best Travel Snacks – packaged treats mostly but as well cheese and even a frozen item – that it says here are TSA-approved. And they likely are since the general rule for both checked and carry on bags is – solid food yes, liquids and gels no.  🥨  Taste of Home

TSA page regarding food

Google page for other airplane snack ideas

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Amazon

Click link above for Amazon homepage, Below for Echo Show, Echo Dots, Echo Studio, Especially for Kids – 

Browse Amazon Echo styles right here – all a foodster’s dream resource 

Zazzle

Click link above for Zazzle homepage, Below for CS-Designed, Zazzle-Crafted Items {direct Zazzle links on these pages}

Food Lovers T-Shirts page here on CS    Food Lover Mug page here on CS

ETC

Want to be among the first to know about new Salons?

Easy! Just put “Preview List”  in the Subject line, and email me at the link shown above for comments & questions

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New “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” CooksSalon, Feb 18-Feb 24, 2022

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

 Cocktail Hour Buzz

sundowner snacks, drinks, chat, and . . .

whenever I can, related resources & goodies on Amazon

whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

♦♦♦  Does it make you kind of want to head for the kitchen just hearing about a recipe for Pizza Tots??? This one starts with 3 1/2 cups hash browns, seasoned, and eggy-ed up to create a moldable consistency. Small handfuls are then shaped around mozzarella and pepperoni, briefly frozen, then fried and served with marinara of your choice. Yum. Demo too.  Tasty

I found online that 3 1/2 c = 1 lb hash browns, but all the packages I saw were larger than that. No worries about leftover taters though . . .

Recipes using hash browns as an ingredient on AllRecipes

♦♦♦  Here’s another dessert bar that’s sturdy enough to be cut to candy-size, especially if right out of the fridge. These Apple & Brown Butter Blondies can add a nice, sweet touch to the Happy Hour table. The mixer does most of the work, with the apple cutting being the only part that needs a bit of time – may experiment next time with apple pie filling or something else I found called fried apples. Meanwhile, may I add, these are really good.  AllRecipes

So, the recipe I used was is the AR magazine, but the link shown on their page {and now above} went to a slightly different title, and slightly different prep, with the most notable changes being the handling of the butter & the number of apples. I’ve posted the mag version on our Recipe Page.

CS Recipe Page

♦♦♦  The good news – cocktail kits abound. The bad news – cocktail kits abound. There are soooooo many of them available, but good news checks in again because you can filter the results by price, rating, discounts and more. Btw, the link above takes you to just the 4-star and up selections. Meanwhile, the kits variously include prep items, glasses, recipe books, mixes, plus some designed for drinks on the go, and two things new to me, whiskey stones and smoking tools.  Amazon

See all the their cocktail kits

♦♦♦  Lots of folks want their bourbon straight, some possibly inviting in a few ice cubes. But it can also be neat {sorry} to mix that spirit into tasty cocktails. Let’s not though take seriously “26 Bourbon Cocktails to Make Tonight” starting instead perhaps with one or two. Maybe the Maple bourbon smash, Banana Rum Old Fashioned {interloper!}, or the fun-named one with ginger oil & baking spices, Hello Friday.  Food & Wine

What a co-ink-a-dink, one of those bourbon cocktails is the Bizzy Izzy {new to me}

. . . and the current issue of Food Network Magazine features it too with this recipe

More on this next week, interesting stuff

The 9 Best Bourbons to Start Your Collection, also from F&W

♦♦♦   What a nice surprise this would be at Happy Hour for folks that need to avoid gluten. Not just snacks they can have, but ones that sound every bit as tasty as their gluten-y cousins. Among the recipes in this listing of Gluten Free Snacks – Caramel & carrot snack cake, Spicy cheese crackers, No-bake honey peanut butter bars, Blooming onion with bacon chipotle dip {shown}, Cinnamon twists with vanilla glaze, and Italian Chex mix, and in fact a number of them offer the flavorful head start of g/f Chex Mix. Even, btw, stuff for puppyBetty Crocker

{Pic from Betty Crocker site}

Rather buy them? – Check out these tasty g/f treats on Amazon

Are you a doggie mom or dad? – might like to see our special tees & mugs

Want to join the Buzz? Enter “Buzz” in the Subject line – sign whatever way you want to be identified

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STUFF FOR COOKS

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Appreciate anytime you can visit affiliate partners, linked below or in features above

Amazon

Click link above for Amazon homepage, Below for Echo Show, Echo Dots, Echo Studio, Especially for Kids – 

Browse Amazon Echo styles right here – all a foodster’s dream resource 

Zazzle

Click link above for Zazzle homepage, Below for CS-Designed, Zazzle-Crafted Items {direct Zazzle links on these pages}

Food Lovers T-Shirts page here on CS    Food Lover Mug page here on CS

ETC

Want to be among the first to know about new Salons?

Easy! Just put “Preview List”  in the Subject line, and email me at the link shown above for comments & questions

Looking for something in CS?

Use Search, Archives, Categories OR email me at the same link above with “CooksSalon” in the Subject line

Note

All transactions are solely between the buyer and linked supplier

Cook with passion and a party spirit, whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

All pages ©2022 CooksSalon.com

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C’mon in to our Alexa Room, Dec 3-Dec 9, 2021

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

Happiest Holidays! From Thanksgiving Eve to New Year’s Day

Next week – Kitchen Talk, Shopping Finds, Featured Recipes & Cocktail Hour Buzz

Let’s wine & dine with Alexa   

Tap into some of this culinary bounty that is an everyday part of Amazon Echo’s offerings – always CS-style recipes, sometimes tips and tidbits too

     Love a big breakfast? Hate big preps when your eyelids are still at half mast? Solved! And in a mighty tasty way. These Reheat-able Breakfast Calzones are hearty too, plump with chorizo, potatoes, onions, peppers & seasonings. The prep list may look scary long, but it’s basically cook the chorizo, then the veggies, stir in seasonings. Roll out store bought dough {or make from recipe provided}, fill and freeze. They reheat right from the freezer. Thinking, to make it even more of an eye opener, swap out the bells for jalapenos or habaneros.  From Food Network

    Have you heard of Banoffee Pie? It’s sort of like banana cream gone wild. In the original English version there’s usually a biscuit base, but this prep calls for a graham cracker crust. Then it goes all caramel-y with a layer of dulce de leche that you make from sweetened condensed milk {or, guess you could just buy a comparable amount of dulce de leche}. Along with some cooling steps, then bananas, whipped cream and chocolate shavings. Btw, here’s another place where you would thank an offset spatula {mine from Amazon}.  From Tasty

     Move over potatoes, there’s a new chick in town. More specifically, Hasselback Chicken. The classic technique delivers a mouthful of flavor, as the slots are filled with spinach & ricotta, topped with cheddar and paprika. One thing, you may want to add the cheese later in the process. A tip I learned for anything hasselback is to lay wooden spoons or chopsticks on each side to insure you don’t cut all the way through.  From Tasty

     Promise you won’t run when I mention . . . Chocolate Salami. This confection by Giada is a clever sendup on the deli fave, with buttery chocolate supplying the background and then nuts and crushed biscotti playing the “fat” roles. As a final touch, the whole shebang is rolled in powdered sugar. Yet one more dessert that also serves as a conversation piece.  From Food Network Kitchen

    When Ixipixie, who posted this prep, calls it Hot Corn, you can believe that’s just what it is. And well beyond the warmth of being baked golden in the oven. That other kind of heat is contributed by a full 12 oz jar of jalapenos. Coming to the rescue, somewhat at least, is a lot of cream cheese and cheddar. The descrip says for this family it’s become “a must have for all holidays and special occasions.”  From AllRecipes

Would you like your own Echo Show?

Boundless finds –  music, movies, tv shows, videos, health tips & news, entertainment news, national news, local news, sports news & recaps, jokes, weather, time, timer, alarm, reminders, shopping lists, Amazon delivery notifications, alerts, security camera connection, Skills . . .  and food, food, food, including step by step demos for most recipes, all on an interactive screen. Some connect to Amazon Prime.

Find the Show or other Echo style that’s just right for you on the Amazon pages below

Some are sweet & simple OR others have voice control, 3D audio, BlueTooth, HiFi speakers, Color bulbs, Smart home hub, alarms, clocks, also separate smart clocks & accessories too

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Or browse all the fun Echo styles right here

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CS-Designed, Zazzle-Crafted Items

Food Lovers T-Shirts page here on CS    Food Lovers Mug page here on CS

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And for your consideration

No Kid Hungry – discover, donate    K9s For Warriors – discover, donate

Looking for something in CS?

Use Search, Archives, Categories OR contact me at bjnosek@gmail.com, subject line -> CooksSalon

Note

All transactions are solely between the buyer and linked supplier

Cook with passion and a party spirit, whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

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Nov 19-Nov 25, 2021

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

Next week – Kitchen Talk, Shopping Finds, Featured Recipes & Cocktail Hour Buzz

Let’s wine & dine with Alexa   

Tap into some of this culinary bounty that is an everyday part of Amazon Echo’s offerings – always CS-style recipes, sometimes tips and tidbits too

    Here’s a sweet and festive way to start the day. Strawberry Banana Pancake Skewers. Colorful too, as the golden pancakes, bright strawberries and banana slices alternate from end to end. Do we even need to mention the possible shortcut – store  – bought mini pancakes.  From Tasty

    The Kitchen’s Katie Lee’s love affair with veggies translates into some mighty fine dishes. Her Melting Potatoes, a case in point. The sear-then-roast process turns out bronzed beauties ready to pizzazz up any plate. They cook in a seasoned buttery sauce that is then poured over them for the perfect finishing touch.  From Food Network

    Note right upfront that this recipe for Chicken Tinga with Bacony Black Beans does need your email. Could be worth it because this is one great collection of ingredients. Or . . . you could use my shortcut – start with slightly crisped corn tortillas, top with a can of black beans mixed with 3 slices ccooked crumbled bacon and 1 t ea onion powder and cumin. Next add about 1 cup cooked shredded chicken into a can of rotel mixed with 2 T chili powder, 1 t onion powder, 1/2 t garlic powder and enough V-8 to create a nice texture. Top the hot mixtures with chopped onion, cilantro, and crumbled queso.  From Bon Appetit

    What we have here is a dyi version of a well known candy bar. Called Chocolate Coconut Bars, they are quite easy to make and taste fabulous. Btw if the measures show in metric, note you can click a button to convert.  I don’t think I’ve seen this site before, but with recipes like this, including other dyi’s, it certainly is worth checking out.  From Kitchen Stories

    Let us be perfectly clear. There is nothing wrong with jarred apple sauce. And yet there is something so comforting about a homemade version, likely helped along by the wonderful aroma. Now what if it were fast and easy too? With Alton Brown’s 10-Minute Apple Sauce – it is! Truth be told there is a little bit going on before and after the 10, but all in all still a pretty zippy technique.  From Food Network

Joke from Alexa – what’s black and white and red all over. A pilgrim covered in cranberry sauce. {hey don’t blame the messenger}

Would you like your own Echo Show?

Boundless finds –  music, movies, tv shows, videos, health tips & news, entertainment news, national news, local news, sports news & recaps, jokes, weather, time, timer, alarm, reminders, shopping lists, Amazon delivery notifications, alerts, security camera connection, Skills . . .  and food, food, food, including step by step demos for most recipes, all on an interactive screen. Some connect to Amazon Prime.

Find the Show or other Echo style that’s just right for you on the Amazon pages below

Some are sweet & simple OR others have voice control, 3D audio, BlueTooth, HiFi speakers, Color bulbs, Smart home hub, alarms, clocks, also separate smart clocks & accessories too

Echo Show styles      Echo Dots      Echo Studio      Especially for Kids

Or browse all the fun Echo styles right here

Be the first to know about new SalonsEmail here with “Invite Me” in the Subject line

Find t-shirts, mugs, dvds, gift collections, plus top chef items including cookbooks

CS Marketplace Directory

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Appreciate anytime you can visit affiliate partners, either below or in features above

          Click    for Amazon home page          

CS-Designed, Zazzle-Crafted Items

Food Lovers T-Shirts page here on CS    Food Lovers Mug page here on CS

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And for your consideration

No Kid Hungry – discover, donate    K9s For Warriors – discover, donate

Looking for something in CS?

Use Search, Archives, Categories OR contact me at bjnosek@gmail.com, subject line -> CooksSalon

Note

All transactions are solely between the buyer and linked supplier

Cook with passion and a party spirit, whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

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Recipes Galore & More, Nov 12-Nov 18, 2021

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

Next week – use our links as we Wine & Dine with Alexa

      Let’s Chat    

Kitchen Talk –  It’s four steps, 10 minutes, and the crowd goes wild. 1} Whisk two 8-oz cartons whipped cream cheese, 1/4 c powdered sugar, 1 t vanilla, and pour into a store-bought graham cracker crust. 2} Carefully spread up to two 12 oz cans {depending on pan depth} apricot filling. 3} Top with Cool Whip. 4} Refrigerate for a couple of hours. And Voila! Apricot Cream Pie from CS.      Found a recipe for tahini-smothered charred cabbage. The topping was actually a sauce that also stirred in honey, lemon and seasonings. Pretty good but I think it would be awesome with just tahini. A surprise was how good the cabbage was with the caramelization brought on by the charring. You can see that original recipe here, from Bon Appetit.      I made the actor’s Mexican chocolate cookies featured in our 10.01.21 Salon and they are really good. I did half with the pepitas and half without, and actually liked the latter better. Second, I also added a bit of cinnamon, a la Mexican hot chocolate. And the last thing, you could leave out all the Mexi flavors and this would still be an excellent chocolate cookie.

♦  ♦  ♦

Shopping FindsOK, how cool is this for your holiday get-togethers??? Food scented candles! Vanilla you might expect. But how about salted caramel, warm buttered bread, lemon pound cake, blueberry muffins, pecan Belgium waffles, fresh strawberries, chocolate {shown}, marshmallow & more. All right here on Amazon     So, I finally bought the trending Gochujang. Interesting. Sugar sweet, red pepper spicy, mustard tangy, vinegar puckery, all wrapped up with onion and garlic. Think I like it, tasted but yet to use it. Bottle says wings, bbq sauce, dips & marinades. Likely at your supermarket, and of course on Amazon.

This week’s featured item – Fabulous videos galore! Watch then in action – your fave chefs & food shows, movies too. You can also sort by best sellers and best rated. All right here in CS on our Chef, Food, Cooking DVDs page.

  Featured Recipes 

Sweet & Sticky Caramel Hazelnut Rolls

Oh my, are those just all the right words or what. From Giada, the prep toasts the hazelnuts, ups the caramel ante with agave, and zings up the whole thing with cinnamon and nutmeg. And nice, it all starts with store-bought crescent rolls. From Food Network

Sheet Pan Caprese Chicken

All the usual tasty suspects from the classic salad cozy up to chicken for an easy cheesy dinner. Pan juices and reduced balsamic top it to perfection. From Food Network

Baked Denver Omelet

Here’s another perfect way to start the day. And if you look at the comments below the linked recipe, you’ll see it’s eminently tweakable. Some added cooked potato, others mushrooms. Some made smaller versions. Some added more cheese on top. I added more cheese in the mix and used poblano instead of bell pepper. The prep even tweaked itself, calling for a baking dish in the directions, a cast iron skillet in the demo. From AllRecipes

Mexican Meatloaf Muffins

What a fab idea. South of the border flavors meet a classic family dish in your muffin tin. Topped with a distant and savory cousin of ketchup. Easy too! Thinking this is one of those preps that can come to the table any time of day or night. From Tasty

Their Best Loved Soup & Stew Recipes

This icon of home and hearth has assembled an awesome roster of what most folks might consider the dual epitome of comfort foods. The soups and stews here come to the bowl as classic preps, ethnic specialties, and veggie transformations. Just some: baked potato soup, vegetarian gumbo, fast pho, sausage & white bean stew, green chile pork stew, seafood stew. From Better Homes & Gardens

   Cocktail Hour Buzz   

Sundowner snacks, drinks, talk – whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

  Lunchbox Snacks Kids Will Love  So why is this in CHB? Well, looking at the stuff here, thinking we big kids should get in on the fun too. Some that seem an especially good fit for the snack table – Apple chips with honey-yogurt mint dip, Homemade cheddar cheese snack crackers, Cheesy pita chips, Crispy parm chickpeas, Smoked paprika popcorn, Pimento cheese puffs, Miniature corn muffins, Peanut butter and jelly cookie bars. From MyRecipes

  Books on wine pairing certainly have their place in our culinary realm, giving us solid guidelines for choosing a sip compatible with our menu. But, what I especially like about this one is the page after page of ready-made duos, with the bonus that’s it’s from a familiar name. It’s all in the title, “Food & Wine’s Guide to Perfect Pairings: 150+ Delicious Recipes Matched with the World’s Most Popular Wines.” Kindle & hardcover, Prime eligible, 4 1/2 stars on Amazon.

♦  Food & Wine again talks food {sort of} and beverage here, but overall it  could not be more 180 from the item above. Say someone at your Thanksgiving gathering shuns alcohol, but you would like to offer something in the holiday spirit as you all enjoy pre-dinner drinks. Jones Brand sodas, famous for their wacko flavors, has you covered – with their Turkey & Gravy Soda. Yes, you read that right. And wait till you see some of their other “you put what in that bottle???” creations.

Want to join the Buzz? Enter CooksSalon in the subject line – sign the way you want to be identified

Click here to email your comments, questions, links to fave recipes, or?

Be the first to know about new SalonsEmail here with “Invite Me” in the Subject line

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CS Marketplace Directory

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Appreciate anytime you can visit affiliate partners, either below or in features above

      

Click above for Amazon home page, below for Amazon Echo {Alexa}

Echo Show styles      Echo Dots      Echo Studio      Especially for Kids

Or browse all the fun Echo styles right here

CS-Designed, Zazzle-Crafted Items

Food Lovers T-Shirts page here on CS    Food Lover Mug page here on CS

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And for your consideration

No Kid Hungry – discover, donate    K9s For Warriors – discover, donate

Looking for something in CS?

Use Search, Archives, Categories OR contact me at bjnosek@gmail.com, subject line -> CooksSalon

Note

All transactions are solely between the buyer and linked supplier

Cook with passion and a party spirit, whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

All pages ©2021 CooksSalon.com

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C’mon in to our Alexa Room, Oct 22-Oct 28, 2021

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

Next week – Kitchen Talk, Shopping Finds, Featured Recipes & Cocktail Hour Buzz

Let’s wine & dine with Alexa   

Tap into some of this culinary bounty that is an everyday part of Amazon Echo’s offerings – always CS-style recipes, sometimes tips and tidbits too

  Two-Ingredient Chocolate Souffle  Chocolate hazelnut spread and eggs. That’s it. Whisk, whisk, whip, bake, done. I don’t know how long this has been around but I found dark chocolate hazelnut spread and plan to us that here, because this is definitely going on the to-make list.  From Tasty

  Bacon Cheddar Deviled Eggs  Truth be told I’m pretty much a purist when it comes to deviled eggs, but these gussied up ones look good and would make a nice addition to the snack table. The ingredients are right there in the title, joined by the usual suspects. In the demo, I wonder if the trouble with peeling might be because they weren’t immediate covered with cold water to stop the cooking.  From AllRecipes    

  French Onion Frittata  This is soup for breakfast in the best possible way. The star of the show for sure is the golden panful of slowly caramelized onions. The bread here is not the soaky slice as in soup but rather buttery croutons that go right into the mix. Gruyere too and a good hit of Dijon.  From thekitchn

♦  Beef Braciole I’ve been wanting to try this dish for quite a while, and it took just at glance at this particular recipe to say, it’s time. The glorious mix of flavors in the filling is all wrapped up in thin slices of beef that simmer to fall-apart tenderness.  From Tastemade

Notes: All puree worked just fine. Though they aren’t shown as “divided,” be aware that the parsley is used 3 places, the garlic, raisins and pine nuts 2 places. I put about 3/4 of the cheese inside the rolls. Really like the sauce.

  Garlic-Herb Roasted Potatoes  The title actually starts out with “Easily the best . . .” and they may be right. What’s interesting is that the fresh herbs & garlic are cooked into the oil and then strained out, so when the taters emerge from the 450 oven {crispy, thank you} they aren’t dotted with burnt bits. As a bonus you get to release some aggressions in the process.  From Tasty

Recently, in reference to wine pairing, Alexa mentioned “bridge foods” and cited as examples butter, cream, toasted nuts, mushrooms, tarragon, bacon and corn specifically for chardonnay – turns out it means adding something to your dish that will make it more compatible with the flavor notes of the wine you’re serving – interesting, especially since it means in this case the wine is influencing food decisions rather than vice versa

Would you like your own Echo Show?

Boundless finds –  music, movies, tv shows, videos, health tips & news, entertainment news, national news, local news, sports news & recaps, jokes, weather, time, timer, alarm, reminders, shopping lists, Amazon delivery notifications, alerts, security camera connection, Skills . . .  and food, food, food, including step by step demos for most recipes, all on an interactive screen. Some connect to Amazon Prime.

Find the Show or other Echo style that’s just right for you on the Amazon pages below

Some are sweet & simple OR others have voice control, 3D audio, BlueTooth, HiFi speakers, Color bulbs, Smart home hub, alarms, clocks, also separate smart clocks & accessories too

Echo Show styles      Echo Dots      Echo Studio      Especially for Kids

Or browse all the fun Echo styles right here

Be the first to know about new SalonsEmail here with “Invite Me” in the Subject line

Find t-shirts, mugs, dvds, gift collections, plus top chef items including cookbooks

CS Marketplace Directory

♦  ♦  ♦

Appreciate anytime you can visit affiliate partners, either below or in features above

          Click    for Amazon home page          

CS-Designed, Zazzle-Crafted Items

Food Lovers T-Shirts page here on CS    Food Lovers Mug page here on CS

♦  ♦  ♦

And for your consideration

No Kid Hungry – discover, donate    K9s For Warriors – discover, donate

Looking for something in CS?

Use Search, Archives, Categories OR contact me at bjnosek@gmail.com, subject line -> CooksSalon

Note

All transactions are solely between the buyer and linked supplier

Cook with passion and a party spirit, whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

All pages ©2021 CooksSalon.com

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C’mon in to our Alexa Room, Oct 8-14, 2021

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

Next week – Kitchen Talk, Shopping Finds, Featured Recipes & Cocktail Hour Buzz

Let’s wine & dine with Alexa   

Tap into some of this culinary bounty that is an everyday part of Amazon Echo’s offerings – always CS-style recipes, sometimes tips and tidbits too

♦  Easy General Tso’s Chicken  Well the ingredient list is a bit long {that can be a good thing when it’s good stuff}, but it’s just 5 steps and a projected prep time of 22 min. Some of the reviewers disputed that time but in total gave this dish 4 stars {4 1/2 on the Alexa page}. Many noted better than take-out and it may well be the charred green beans that can take a bow for that.  From Epicurious

    Easy Apple Fritter Rings  Somebody else is tempting us with that adjective. This time it’s for a nice side dish or snack, which lives up to “easy” with a batter of just ginger ale & flour. There’s no amount given for the flour but this somewhat similar recipe for shrimp & fish, which also looks darn good from Rosemarie’s Kitchen, might suggest about a cup for the apple prep. Good starting point, anyway, and according to one of the comments you want a thin batter. From Tasty

Alexa tip – apples will keep at room temp for a short time, but for longer storage place in a perforated plastic bag, sprinkle with water and then into the coldest area of the fridge

♦  Bistro-Style Short Ribs  Just the briefest glance at what goes into the braising liquid will tell you everything you need to know about how deeply flavored those ribs are going to be. If you don’t have either of the two suggested appliances for browning the meat, I’m thinking you could use the same Dutch Oven they will eventually cook in. This recipe is credited to Tyler Florence, whom I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and can verify he is every bit as personable and charming as he seems.  From Food Network

♦  Carrot Cake Oatmeal  In our 08.06.21 Salon we mentioned German chocolate cake flavors to spruce up oatmeal. Now Alexa has popped up this cakey idea too. And yep, all that confection’s signature stuff is in there. Btw, if you google this recipe you’ll see not only some variations, but as well a do-si-do, which is to say carrot cake made with oatmeal. I’m going to stay with this recipe though because it just looks so good.  From Tasty

  Chocolate Semifreddo  As the name telegraphs and CS-ers probably know, a semifreddo is “half frozen,” and emerges from the freezer somewhat soft. This one is helped along that path by a warm chocolate glaze. It’s quite the festive dessert.  From Tastemade

Would you like your own Echo Show?

Boundless finds –  music, movies, tv shows, videos, health tips & news, entertainment news, national news, local news, sports news & recaps, jokes, weather, time, timer, alarm, reminders, shopping lists, Amazon delivery notifications, alerts, security camera connection, Skills . . .  and food, food, food, including step by step demos for most recipes, all on an interactive screen. Some connect to Amazon Prime.

Find the Show or other Echo style that’s just right for you on the Amazon pages below

Some are sweet & simple OR others have voice control, 3D audio, BlueTooth, HiFi speakers, Color bulbs, Smart home hub, alarms, clocks, also separate smart clocks & accessories too

Echo Show styles      Echo Dots      Echo Studio      Especially for Kids

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          Click    for Amazon home page          

CS-Designed, Zazzle-Crafted Items

Food Lovers T-Shirts page here on CS    Food Lovers Mug page here on CS

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And for your consideration

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Recipes Galore & More, Oct 1-Oct 7, 2021

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

Next week – use our links as we Wine & Dine with Alexa

      Let’s Chat   

Kitchen Talk –   Now that we’re back in baking season, thought this could be of interest. A tip I found in the hinter regions of my files – to make soft cookies from any cake mix, add 2 eggs and a stick of melted {said margarine} butter to the dry mix, drop by teaspoonfuls on an ungreased baking sheet, then 350 for 12-15 min.      Made ’em! I used Pillsbury’s 15.25 Funfetti cake mix. Batter is kind of dense so I shaped and slightly flattened them with the scoop spatula on parchment lined cookie sheets. Since I plopped on probably more like 1/4 cup, it yielded 15 of the velvety cookies. Good!       Two recent add-ons I tried, cumin on nachos {future: always}, and dill pickles slices on BLTs {future: sometimes, when I’m craving a bit of zing}.

♦  ♦  ♦

Shopping Finds – Food & Wine recently released their list of best bread cookbooks. The one I use most often isn’t among them but I love it still, and that’s the New York Times Bread & Soup Cookbook. Dates back to 1972, but still available on Amazon including newer editions. Overall, though, do have to say my very fave bread recipe is my gram’s and to this day convinced her secret was beating the daylights out of the dough, still showing it who was boss well into her 90s.      No matter how much you might like Tahini, if you don’t use it up in a timely manner it can get a little concrete-y. But this one that I now buy is likely to stay cooperative to the bottom of the bottle as long as you give it an enthusiastic shake before each use. Should be able to find it at your regular market.

This week’s featured CS-designed, Zazzle-crafted item – Hope you might have as much fun wearing or sipping from one of these as we did designing them. We now have 12 of the o’clocks, including this one for pizza lovers.  Yay! It’s Pizza O’Clock. Clicking the images will take you to their Zazzle pages. Or see them all on the CS t-shirt pageCS foodie mug page.

 Featured Recipes

Ham & Brie Pull Apart Sandwiches

These sammies are always such fun. Butter and Dijon join the title stars in the slots cut into a crusty baguette, which is all then baked to melty goodness and topped with chives and sliced cornichons. Thinking if you drizzled on some warm bechamel it would create a bit of a Croque Monsieur vibe. From Food Network Kitchen

Slow Cooker Monkey Bread

This sweetside pull-apart would make a fabulous way to start the day. After minimum prep, you can relax while the slow cooker does its magic, transforming refrigerated biscuits, butter, sugar x 2 and cinnamon into what the maker calls  decadent and “oooey, gooey and sticky-sweet all over.” From McCormick

Or maybe chicken? It’s parm!

Oh yeah, a chicken parm pull-apart with all the good stuff you’d expect, and want. Olive oil, lots of garlic, top tomatoes, oregano, two kinds of cheese all tucked into well buttered spaces in the baguette. From Food Network

Or beef? French Onion!

This pull-apart starts  with a multi, multi, flavored dressing that waits in the fridge until the loaf is ready to emerge hot and melty from the oven. Onions that have been caramelized in butter, broth and more team up with deli roast beef and swiss cheese to tuck into rye bread, with butter checking in along the way. Bake, dress, enjoy. From Food Network Kitchen

Mexican Chocolate Cookies

While this prep is on the Food Network site, credit goes to a professional chef who’s maybe even better known as an actor. It’s thanks to his former role that we have this interesting sweet with a kick. And what makes it Mexican? Ancho chile powder, pepitas, and extra chocolate. This one’s going on the to-make list. It’s from his cookbook, “Life is a Party.” From David Burtka.

Bobby Flay’s Shrimp & Grits

Buttery, cheesy grits partnered with shrimp showcase the chef’s instincts for adding just the right stuff, here including scallions, garlic and bacon. What I especially like about Flay’s prep is that unlike most s&g dishes where the shrimp are parked atop the grits, the direction here is to mix them together, causing a magical interplay of flavors {see note}.  From Food Network

Most shrimp & grits dishes are served with the shrimp atop the grits. I’ve always liked to blend them so the grits benefit from whatever flavorings are on the shrimp. The photo and demo on the FN site show them layered, but as noted Flay’s actual recipe calls for mixing them. My dish for the photo here matches the recipe’s visuals, but when the camera went off I was with Flay, ready, set, mix!

   Cocktail Hour Buzz   

Sundowner snacks, drinks, talk – whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

   Food chat at Happy Hour, and a zippy tip it is. “Was so happy to see the creamy cucumber salad recipe {07.23.21}, and immediately printed it out. Reminds me so much of the one my mom made with sour cream when I was young, and in fact sour cream was a staple in our house growing up. Love it on Mexican food, our Lithuanian potato and dumpling dishes, potato pancakes, even salads. Soothes strong flavors and ‘riches up’ bland ones!!” – Norene

  In the Football, Friends and Comfort Food episode on her “Trisha’s Southern Kitchen” show on Food Network, Yearwood made a melty cheese medley that made you want to run to the screen with a chip or cracker. Called Charleston Cheese Dip, it’s perfect for the snack table, or just keep it for yourself. Her suggested dippers are corn chips, crackers, or bagel chips, but for sure veggies, sliced deli sausage and crusty bread cubes would also be great. The only change I made was using the green onions as a topper after the dip was baked, rather than mixing them in, though you could certainly do both.

   How about some SakTails {pronounced Sok-Tails – like, with Sake}. There really are adult beverages made with that good stuff. A site that shows secure, liquor.com, offers up these “3 Delicious Sake Cocktails You Ought to be Drinking.” The first one starts with Thai basil infused sake, adding in lime juice, yuzu bitters and a bit of coconut milk, in total providing enough cover to call it “Thai Me Up Thai Me Down.”

Want to join the Buzz? Enter CooksSalon in the subject line – sign the way you want to be identified

Click here to email your comments, questions, links to fave recipes, or?

Be the first to know about new SalonsEmail here with “Invite Me” in the Subject line

Find t-shirts, mugs, dvds, gift collections, plus top chef items including cookbooks

CS Marketplace Directory

♦  ♦  ♦

Appreciate anytime you can visit affiliate partners, either below or in features above

      

Click above for Amazon home page, below for Amazon Echo {Alexa}

Echo Show styles      Echo Dots      Echo Studio      Especially for Kids

Or browse all the fun Echo styles right here

CS-Designed, Zazzle-Crafted Items

Food Lovers T-Shirts page here on CS  ♦  Food Lover Mug page here on CS

♦  ♦  ♦

And for your consideration

No Kid Hungry – discover, donate    K9s For Warriors – discover, donate 

Looking for something in CS?

Use Search, Archives, Categories OR contact me at bjnosek@gmail.com, subject line -> CooksSalon

Note

All transactions are solely between the buyer and linked supplier

Cook with passion and a party spirit, whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

All pages ©2021 CooksSalon.com

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Malted Brownies with Malt Frosting, April 30-May 6, 2021

New Salon every Friday – c’mon in

CS friends, and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

  Let’s chat   

Kitchen Talk – For those who saw the creamy-topped caramelized pineapple recipe in our 04.16.21 Salon, you know that the cottage cheese was blended smooth for the topping. What to do with the leftovers. Well, whisked them into eggs, scrambled, cooked – enjoyed! Fluffy and juicy.      Ree Drummond just gave me a way to like meatloaf {don’t particularly care for meatballs either}. Instead of a loaf she spread the mixture in a rather thin layer on a sheet pan. As I result I could make a bunch of square hamburgers, which I love {go figure}.      Food & Wine offers up the “7 Best Sandwiches to Take on a Spring Picnic,” which they say will go the distance. Why for a picnic? Maybe because they’re all served cold, no cooking or reheating required. The Spring is a lot more evident – lots of fresh veggies, fresh herbs, and herby spreads.

♦  ♦  ♦

Shopping Finds – If you’ve seen the kids’ baking competitions you know these munchkins turn out some pretty awesome confections. Is there a budding baker in your world? Then you might like to know about The Big Fun Kids Baking Cookbook from Food Network. You’ll also see more such books on the Amazon page.      As you know from my partnerships listed below I have no connection to Hamilton Beach, but just wanted to share how much I just love my HB single cup coffeemaker. Still have my Keurig that does full pots and K-cups, but this is just so handy for any time a cuppa is just what the doctor ordered. And what’s important to a couple of my friends and maybe yours too, comes out HOT HOT.

This week’s featured CS-designed, Zazzle-crafted item – Need a break from cooking? A night out? If the only thing holding you back is worrying about the effect on your diet plans of a meal prepared by someone else, get your hat. Go out and enjoy yourself, because you can do just that with the help of this derivative book from our Dieter’s Survival Guide – The Dining Out Chapters, covering fine dining, fast food and buffets, just 99 cents on Kindle.

   On the Table  

Feature – Malt on Malt Brownies, like the soda fountain merged with the oven

Wonder if the producer of this prep thought that the tasty powder, doubled down, isn’t already contributing enough richness to the confection. Because chocolate, cocoa, vanilla, marshmallow and lots of butter also join the party.

Not complaining! Because the fact is, though almost a sweetness overload, this is a keeper.

We already know about the candy-like flavors going in. But the brownies also have an incredibly dense, chewy texture.

The marshmallow creme in the frosting? A big luxurious finish.

The prep calls for a chopped malt ball topping, which I’m sure would be fine and a good match for the brownie flavors. But I opted instead for walnuts here, coconut there, chopped chocolate elsewhere.

This recipe comes to us from a trusted source that’s long been a friend of all of us. How long? Better Homes & Gardens has been by the sides of cooks everywhere since 1922.

Recipe Notes – From what I could tell from an online search, brownies with this kind of texture, usually the result of extra eggs, should be refrigerated. But note that you really, really, then want to set them out for a while before you plan to have them. One other thing – a glass of milk is pretty much a must.

Next week – Delectable encore, Beef a la Mode

Recipe    Malt powder recipes on google    Milkshake prep books

♦  ♦  ♦

Have a cuppa in Alexa’s room – recipes & more

You don’t have to have an Amazon Echo Show to tap into the particular tidbits we’ve linked below, drawn from its vast culinary bounty.

Just pour a cup and let’s talk food with Alexa. We also show the actual requests for those who are Echo owners, who should also note that in many cases she guides you step by step through the recipes.

Alexa says request: How do I make bacon wrapped potato bouquets ? So, how cool is it when a high flavor dish is so cute it qualifies as a conversation piece??? Sweet and white potato slices becomes rosettes and by threesies go into bacon lined muffin cups, topped with cheddar, and baked. After slight cooling, a drizzle of hollandaise, and a sprinkling of chives, they’re ready for their closeup. Tap here to see recipe and demo from Tastemade.

Alexa says request: How do I make a lasagna cake? Even if you think you wouldn’t want to make this, please take a peek a the recipe to see what a great looking dish it is. The demo makes it look pretty easy. Included in the layering is meat sauce and basil pesto, and that’s exactly how it’s listed in the ingredients which is to say we’re free to make out own or let the store provide it. Also from Tastemade.

My request: Is there a recipe for a Mother’s Day Cake? With this special day just around the corner, thought I would see if she might have such a confection. And, yep. And a real charmer. Mothers Day Bonnet Cake from Sandra Lee on Food Network. The demo shows you how, and includes a couple of good tips about frosting. One thing, instead of ribbon and silk flowers {which she used in demo though recipe says fresh}, why not some of the beautiful edible decorations you can find in the baking aisle at the grocery store, the Wilton section at the craft store, or on Amazon.

Would you like your own Echo Show?

Boundless information, music, movies, tv shows, videos, health tips & news, entertainment news, national news, local news, sports news & recaps, weather, timer, alarm, reminders, shopping lists, Amazon delivery notifications, alerts, security camera connection . . .  and food, food, food, all on an interactive screen. Some connect to Amazon Prime.

You can browse all the Echo styles here on this Amazon page

   Cocktail Hour Buzz   

Sundowner snacks, drinks, talk – whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

   Cheese and the snack table just seem to go together in perfect harmony. And the former checks in big time in this Grilled Cheese Pizza. Three kinds in generous amounts top store-bought dough along with some savory sauces, all transforming into tasty triangle bites. From Tastemade.

  Want to add a touch of class to your cocktail scene. How about a wine decanter??? Amazon has lots of the traditional squat-bottomed ones, but also some interesting different forms, most quite reasonable including this very pretty “Dublin” design.

   Here’s another example of a tasty dish, this one for the snack table, that also serves as a conversation piece. Square deviled eggs. Click here to see how to do it and how they look {it’s easier than you might think}. From Food Network Kitchen.

Want to join the Buzz? Enter CooksSalon in the subject line – sign the way you want to be identified

Click here to email your comments, questions, links to fave recipes, or?

Find t-shirts, mugs, dvds, gift collections, plus top chef items including cookbooks

CS Marketplace Directory

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CooksSalon is free to everybody – appreciate anytime you click through to these affiliate partners

Zazzle food-themed items             Ninja Grill on Amazon             Amazon Echo Show

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And for your consideration

No Kid Hungry – discover, donate    K9s For Warriors – discover, donate

Looking for something in CS?

Use Search OR contact me at bjnosek@gmail.com, subject line -> CooksSalon

Note

All transactions are solely between the buyer and linked supplier

Cook with passion and a party spirit, whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

All pages ©2021 CooksSalon.com

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Creamy-Topped Caramelized Pineapple, April 16-April 22, 2021

New Salon every Friday – c’mon in

CS friends, and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

 Let’s chat   

Kitchen Talk – So, in a recent rerun of The Kitchen on Food Network, Katie Lee went full-on Thanksgiving with a Fall Meatloaf that mashed up ground turkey, stuffing mix, celery, onion, and a cranberry mix that goes both into and atop the loaf. Hmmm, I wondered, how might a version of this work for turkeyburgers. Answer: pretty good, if a wee crumbly, at least as I made it – 1 lb gr turkey, 1 c stuffing mix, 1 egg, s&p – but really good!      One of our favorite words at CS joins with the season in 36 Comforting Spring Casseroles, from Southern Living   She says she’s been sautéing mushrooms wrong her whole life. You too? Me too? Anyway, the fix actually turns out to be as simple as can be. Here’s the mushroom solution from the Takeout site.

♦  ♦  ♦

Shopping Finds – Have you tried this? Petit Pot dark chocolate French pudding. They may call it pudding but it’s more like dense mousse meets the candy called French cremes. Their site shows we can also be tempted by vanilla bean, salted caramel, CA lemon, and rice pudding, and helpfully offers suggested pairings for each. There’s also a store locator on the page.      You know what I think adds to the charm of this tasty confection – the adorable little 3″ jars. And guess what. You can find your very own to cradle any of your own desserts. Btw if you scroll down on the Amazon page you will see other sizes, shapes and quantities.

This week’s featured CS-written, Amazon-produced Kindle – Dieting? Think you have to give up snacking? Nope. Find all kinds of waistline-friendly goodies. And as well ways to replace “fat trap” ingredients with skinnier ones. All right here for just 99 cents, Big Snacks & Subs Lists.

   On the Table 

Feature – Caramelized Pineapple Slices, with 3 ways to do the creamy topping

How much good stuff applies here, let us count the ways. Five ingredients. Prep time 15 minutes. To table 25 minutes. Toasted coconut. Creamy. Caramelized. Pineapple. CS shortcuts & tips.

Pineapple topped with cottage cheese, or vice versa, is a diner staple. The simple act of caramelizing the pineapple slices and then topping the whole affair with golden coconut elevates it to company-worthy status.

Now I can almost hear some noses wrinkling at the mention of cottage cheese, and the fact is while I enjoy the taste I don’t consider the texture a bff. So I did just what I’ve done before – blend till it’s nice and smooth. Now you could substitute sour cream, but that little bit of cheese saltiness kicks up the other flavors.

The prep comes from Daisy and no, no affiliation with them, but I do like their sour cream, and for this dish did indeed use their cottage cheese. Their site features a number of fine recipes using the two products.

Recipe Notes – I used store-bought pineapple slices, not only for the convenience but as well because I prefer fresh pineapple in its pure state. I do wonder if store-bought caramel topping could work, especially the tub kind which is a little sturdier than the jarred ones. Here though I really liked the brown sugar component and actually made extra. I would not skip toasting the coconut, really adds a nice texture and takes only a few minutes {with careful watching though}.

Next week – This shrimp cocktail won’t know what hit it, but tropical flavors help cushion the blow

Recipe  ♦  Daisy recipe page

♦  ♦  ♦

Have a cuppa in Alexa’s room – recipes & more

You don’t have to have an Amazon Echo Show to tap into the particular tidbits we’ve linked below, drawn from its vast culinary bounty.

Just pour a cup and let’s talk food with Alexa. We also show the actual requests for those who are Echo owners, who should also note that in many cases she guides you step by step through the recipes.

Alexa says request: How do I make Philly Cheesesteak Pull-Apart Bread? May I suggest that you use this link on Food Network to just look at this ever so appealing dish for breakfast, brunch, lunch or even snack table. All the right ingredients are right in there but in a whole new fun way. From Trisha Yearwood who we’ve seen is just the best at playing with food.

Alexa says request: How do I make coconut shrimp? The thing about any prep from Serious Eats is that you can be sure it’s been well researched to deliver the best possible version. And sure enough their recipe rated a solid five stars. While the shrimp part is nice enough, quite simple, I’m thinking maybe a contributor to those kudos was the sweet and sour and spicy and salty chili sauce accompaniment.

My request: Do you have a recipe for chicken curry served over French fries? Truth be told, I did not expect to find anything, even with Alexa’s vast resources. The request stemmed from a long ago but fondly recalled dinner at a British pub here in town that offered their chicken curry on rice or fries. Whaaaat? Ordered the fries of course and it was a revelation for the palate. Whatever brought it back to mind, wondered if this was an aberration or a real thing. Ha! The latter! See it here. Thank you Alexa.

Would you like your own Echo Show?

Boundless information, music, movies, tv shows, videos, health tips & news, entertainment news, national news, local news, sports news & recaps, weather, timer, alarm, reminders, shopping lists, Amazon delivery notifications, alerts, security camera connection . . .  and food, food, food, all on an interactive screen. Some connect to Amazon Prime.

You can browse all the Echo styles here on this Amazon page

   Cocktail Hour Buzz  

Sundowner snacks, drinks, talkwhether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

  CS Tasting Panel member Layne Whiteman adds a savory dimension to cocktail hour phone or video chat visits. Snacks! So both people, or however many folks are on the call, each then have a nibble of choice along with the beverage of choice. Makes it even more like an in-person Happy Hour. Btw, if you’re now having more actual visits, this is still a great way to party on with out-of-town family and friends.  Love it, Layne!

  I like to do a kind of snack storm. Shake up all kinds of goodies in my snack jar, always a little different with each handful and each refill. This particular one merges Chex Buffalo Ranch Mix, already a medley, plus Caesar flavor pea snacks, Cheez-it Double Cheese Snap’d, dilled almonds, Butter Toffee Coconut Peanuts, and for a touch of sweetness, Hazelnut Cocoa Pillows cereal. This a great way to use up partial bags, though of course you can also start with all fresh stuff . . . or, mix it up.

  Food & Wine brings us news from Haus, a company they report in 2019 started producing wine-based aperitifs. In the story they go on to talk about how these drinks have become popular among those who like low-alcohol cocktails. The news? The newest flavor – grapefruit jalapeno which sounds like a really nice spring sip.

Want to join the Buzz? Enter CooksSalon in the subject line – sign the way you want to be identified

Click here to email your comments, questions, links to fave recipes, or?

Find t-shirts, mugs, dvds, gift collections, plus top chef items including cookbooks

CS Marketplace Directory

♦  ♦  ♦

CooksSalon is free to everybody – appreciate anytime you click through to these affiliate partners

Zazzle food-themed items             Ninja Grill on Amazon             Amazon Echo Show

      ♦  ♦  ♦

And for your consideration

No Kid Hungry – discover, donate    K9s For Warriors – discover, donate

 

Looking for something in CS?

Use Search OR contact me at bjnosek@gmail.com, subject line -> CooksSalon

Note

All transactions are solely between the buyer and linked supplier

Cook with passion and a party spirit, whether for a crew, or for two, or just for you

All pages ©2021 CooksSalon.com

eb4823     c74abc 

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