Aug 5-Aug 11, 2022, New in “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” CooksSalon

New Salon every Friday – and you’re invited

C’mon in and help yourself to tasty resources

Hosted by Barbara J Nosek

Summer Break! See you right back here Sept 9  Happy Labor Day!

 Cocktail Hour Buzz 

🎈🎈  Brunch Edition  🎉 🎉

When Happy Hour goes early with snacks, drinks and chat

and maybe related resources & goodies on Amazon

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

{links within my items go to the sources shown in red – any links underneath items take you to Amazon unless otherwise indicated, and then only ones with the lock icon}

♦♦♦  What is it about bacon? For many of us, the idea of it, the appearance of it, the aroma of it, just makes everything seem better. And now we can go into happiness overload with these 33 Bacon Recipes for BLTs, Burgers and Beyond. The “Beyond” gives us other sandwiches, pasta and other entrees, salads and other side dishes, tarts, the great sounding beer bread with brown ale, cheddar and bacon, and within the mix snacks and preps that can become snacks. Including these great tasting beans that we chose, with the maple bacon all but stealing the show.  Food & Wine

Serve the beans in small hot cups {be sure package specifies for hot foods & beverages} for snack time, and a little cheese on top can’t hurt

Recipe for Baked Beans with Maple-Glazed Bacon

While the original recipe would deliver the fullest flavor, shortcut possibilities all but leap off the page

Bean cookbooks, including one with recipes that all start with canned beans

♦♦♦   To give credit where credit is due, the idea for this this fun s’mores-y treat for the sweet side of the Happy Hour table comes from a flyer in Sprouts Famers Market. Campfire Cones! No ice cream, instead filling coconut cones with chocolate, marshmallow, other stuff like coconut if you want, wrapping in foil and grilling.

We took off on this two different ways, in both cases using cup style cones and going a bit more S’mores-y with the addition of graham cracker crumbs . For our baby cone {see pic} we stayed ice-cream-free, layering hot fudge, marshmallow creme, fudge, creme, fudge, crumbs. For the larger one that does use ice cream along with the marshmallow and fudge, you’d probably want to set up a fun diy S’mores buffet.  CS

For the hot fudge the thicker ones work better like Hershey’s or Mrs. Richardson’s, either one OK right from the fridge. You don’t however want to refrigerate any filled cones as they will go soggy.

S’mores buffet set-ups on Google  ♦  S’Mores maker on Amazon

Did you know? – Sprouts has pages & pages of great looking recipes on it site

♦♦♦  In these lazy, hazy – OK, and HOT – days of summer, icy is nicy. Cooling off in the tastiest way is as close as these 12 Frozen Cocktails to sip into as long as the season lingers on. With one more colorful than the next and flavors galore there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Two I found particularly intriguing were the Miami Vice which uses frozen fruit instead of ice, and the Frozen Salted Espresso Martinis with all the interest right there in the title. Cheers!  Food & Wine

And keep those Happy Hour beverages icy with these freezable glasses

♦♦♦  Perfect summer fun. Any prep that starts with watermelon sure inspires further reading. And this one, Watermelon Dessert Pizza, whimsically has a thick slice of the melon taking on the role of “crust.” It then further rewards us with an innovative creamy layer topped off with some if the star’s cousins. And so, so easy. Btw, I took a clue from the comment section and mixed the coconut cream with cream cheese for a sturdier texture.  Tasty

Another tip in the comments suggests patting the watermelon dry so the cream doesn’t slide off

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July 29-Aug 4, 2022, New In “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” CooksSalon

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

{links within my items go to the sources shown in red – any links underneath items take you to Amazon unless otherwise indicated, and then only ones with the lock icon}

♦♦♦  Oh how welcome are these No-Cook Dip Recipes, so perfect for cooled-off evenings on the porch or patio or, OK, tucked deep inside the a/c. And it looks like many of the ingredients just may already be resident in your pantry or fridge. Here’s the one I chose – and while I generally like avocados pretty much pure, this fabulous creamy avocado dip is velvety, flavorful and a ready companion for so many other goodies. The prep suggests tortilla or pita chips and crudities, but also calls it into service as a topping for tacos, burgers, and sandwiches. Or, hmmmm, how yum as one of the tiers in 7-layer dip?  Southern Living

For the avocado dip, may want to start with a bit less salt.

Creamy Avocado Dip    7-Layer Dip recipes on google

No-Cook Sauces, Dressings, Dips & Spreads recipe book {vegan}

♦♦♦  Missed it again! {and for the Get Smart fans, “by that much”}. No matter, we can opt to make any day we want our own Tequila Day {the national one was July 22}. And the really good news is a whole bunch of Tequila Cocktails for you to consider, each as summery as can be, hitting that refreshment vibe with strawberries, citrus, coconut, cucumber, pineapple, soda, tonic, or sparkling mineral water, and more.  Patron

Tequila-loving snacks on google

♦♦♦  This recipe, first featured in our 04.27.18 Salon, seemed like a perfect follow-up to last week’s No-bake desserts item. Even with just two words, the title may evoke a whaaaaaaat? Yep, it’s Miso Fudge, and it defies all expectations.

In a word, it’s good. In more words, it’s chocolately, creamy, soft, and indulgent. Gluten free too. And you don’t have to stop there.

This recipe is actually for Miso Fudge Brownies, where the fudge is spread atop the baked brownies along with candied miso almonds. If you want to make just the fudge, as I did, you only need to do step 10, and then let it chill out in the fridge.  Tasting Table

Other miso recipes on google

♦♦♦  Cocktail chat. Do your own sips or the drinks you serve perhaps have a star pedigree? Could that wine or spirit have a connection to, say, George Clooney, Bryan Cranston, Kate Hudson, Sammy Hagar, Blake Shelton? The story “24 Alcohol Brands You Didn’t Realize Were Owned by CelebritieS” tells all. And nice, flavor profiles accompany each and every one.  insider.com

And TheRecipe unveils 20 celeb-owned food brands

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New in “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” July 1-July 7, 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 

🎈🎈  Brunch Edition  🎉 🎉

When Happy Hour goes early with snacks, drinks and chat

and maybe related resources & goodies on Amazon

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

{links within my items go to the sources shown in red – any links underneath items take you to Amazon unless otherwise indicated, and then only ones with the lock icon}

♦♦♦  What a tasty, colorful, and refreshing brunch dish. Dining room or patio. Thanks go to Sunny Anderson for this pineapple dish – where the pineapple is the dish – filled to the brim with seasoned rice mixed with the reserved fruit, and then bbq-d shrimp. You want to go deep when hollowing out because this is quite the good load. Sunny says these Shrimp and Rice Pineapple Boats are easy and, yes they are. Thinking some crusty bread and some crisp green raw veggies would be great plate mates.  Food Network

Sunny’s show on Food Network

5 Ways to Tell if a Pineapple is Ripe, from AllRecipes

Other Pineapple Boat recipes on Google

♦♦♦  Make it easy, take it easy. As sundown arrives, the coffeemaker can take a break and make counter space for the Bartesian. The what? Well that becomes clearer when we look at its full name, the Bartesian Premium Cocktail and Margarita Machine for the Home Bar. Just insert, select, press and voila, here comes a “craft cocktail.” If you add a carousel you can store the cocktail pods much like Keurig. You’ll see other versions too on the same page.  Amazon

Bartesian capsules & carousels

♦♦♦  Wait! Before you dispense that Bartesian-made cocktail, how about gussying up the glass. And for some new ways to do exactly that look no further than Ritzy Rims, all about salty preps that are spicy, flavorful and some, ummm, pretty unusual. You can perhaps emulate the mixes but for the full experience, probably want to go with the real things from your market or or links in the story or from Amazon {or similar}.

As a heads up, chapulÍn is grasshopper powder, Red Clay is a brand not an ingredient, for black lime see youtube video, and the Hatch one interestingly uses unrefined salt. As a bonus, the article notes, these salts can also snuggy up to roasted vegetables, fish and salads {and I’d think probably etc}.  Food & Wine

Chapulin salt with chili    Red Clay Spicy Margarita Salt    Burlap & Barrel Black Lime

Desert Provisions Hatch Green Chili Salt   Youtube, how black lime is made

♦♦♦   Make it easy, take it easy, again. Serving up such tasty/fun/elegant dishes as Bacon-Green Chile Dutch Baby, Mixed Vegetable Shakshuka, Spinach Goat Cheese Quiche, Baked Eggs in Bread Bowls, Salsa Roasted Potatoes, doesn’t have to take a toll on party day. Nope. They join others in these crowd-feeding “21 Sheet Pan Brunch Dishes.” You’ll also find preps for pancakes, pizza, filled biscuits, and other goodies.  MyRecipes

Sheet pan cookbooks, 4 stars and up

How to clean a sheet pan

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Zazzle

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

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New in “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” June17-June 23, 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

{links within my items go to the sources shown in red – any links underneath items take you to Amazon unless otherwise indicated, and then only ones with the lock icon}

♦♦♦  Well who wouldn’t be giving this a woohoo upon finding it on the snack table. Crispy Twisty Bacon. Sunny Anderson made this tempter on a recent episode of The Kitchen, seasoning the tight spirals with brown sugar, thyme, and spices. All you creative CS-ers will likely come up with your own variations. When I saw this I immediately thought of it as perfect for one of our special brunch editions. But then Katie Lee noted it would be great for cocktail hour. Yes!  Food Network

The episode is called, The Kitchen’s Take on Trends

FN page for that episode

Youtube demo with a flip tip    Youtube demo for air fryer

Other Twisted Bacon recipes on google

 

♦♦♦  We just never know. Valerie Bertinelli, who seemingly just has it all, in fact has dealt with personal struggles pretty much all her life. In her memoir, “Enough Already,” she takes us along on her journey of two progressions. First from Hollywood star to Food Network star. Second, her determined steps toward finally declaring that title.

In her own words, “As I have redefined my relationship with food over the past decade – first with my trip to Italy, then by writing a cookbook, and then with the tv series – I have redefined my life and reconnected with values I consider important.” Btw, recipes too, and we’ll be making her famous chocolate cake when baking season returns.  Amazon

Valerie’s cookbooks

Valerie’s DVDs – fitness, movies, tv

Valerie’s show page on Food Network

♦♦♦   In our 05.27.22 Salon we featured Ocean Spray’s crab, cranberry and cream cheese appetizers, served in mini phyllo shells. Those snacks use such bitsy amounts of ingredients that I had leftover shells, cream cheese, and cranberry too, and decided to put them to use in an easy and pretty dessert plate. For some I beat cranberry and cream cheese till smooth, topped with reserved cranberry. For others I beat the cream cheese with a little juice from mandarin oranges, finished with halves of the mandarins. One important thing to note is that for cream fillings, or similar, you really want to do this as close to service as possible, as the shells can eventually go soft.  CS

Athens, who makes the shells I use has literally a whole book of recipes on their site

Easy, Entertaining Recipes

♦♦♦  Ever have an upside down martini {spilled ones don’t count}? The Who and the What came out in a chat with Bobby Flay on CNN in advance of the network’s special on Julia Child. He was recalling having lunch with Ms Child when she ordered that libation 🍸 and he learned it’s an inversion of the classic ingredients, meaning reversing the measures for gin and vermouth. Now I could be wrong but I’m pretty sure while the next question was being asked he said almost under his breath, 4 or 5 of them. Cheers Julia, hope you’re enjoying a heavenly golden fountain of endless upside down tinis.  Julia Child

It looks like you can watch a rerun of the documentary here

Julia Child books

Bobby Flay’s page on Food Network

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Zazzle

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

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New in “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” CooksSalon, May 6-May 12, 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

{links within my items go to the sources shown in red – any links underneath items take you to Amazon unless otherwise indicated, and then only ones with the lock icon}

♦♦♦  In last week’s Salon we talked about the McCarthy salad, found in actress Sharon Gless’ memoir and named after her famous granddaddy –  and promised a follow-up tale about his wife’s foray into the culinary world. Marguerite Gilbert McCarthy would not give Neil the requested divorce, but he left her anyway. Did she sit home weeping and wailing? Nope. Moved herself to Hillsboro NH, and turned her attention to writing cookbooks, and one {Gless didn’t say which} became a national best seller. Of the three, two are are still available and the third says limited availability.  Amazon

A note about the 1-star rating for the “Queen” one – turns out it’s based on the seller not the book, and it’s not even totally clear if the person actually bought the book. But I couldn’t see what the commenter was talking about and, further, I looked up the seller and found a 93% approval rating.

“The Cook Is in the Parlor”

“The Queen Is in the Kitchen”

“Aunt Ella’s Cook Book” {this is the limited one}

“Apparently There Were Complaints” by Sharon Gless

♦♦♦  Well here’s an interesting promise. “36 Snacks That Taste Better Homemade.” Most seem to fit a busy lifestyle too. Here are just some that beg to be on the to-make list: Birthday Cake Puppy Chow, Double Chocolate Cereal Treats, 2-ingredient {plus choice of garnishes} Pimento Cheese Crackers, Brown Sugar Spiced Nut Mix, we could go on.  MyRecipes

36 Snacks That Taste Better Homemade | MyRecipes

♦♦♦  Pizza and calzones are pretty much always welcome additions to the Happy Hour table. In fact set out some variations {make, buy, order}and nothing else is needed, unless you’d maybe like to set out say some dishes of olives, pepperoncini, pepper flakes, e.g. But now for the wine-loving group, what to serve alongside? Look who’s got that covered.  Food & Wine

The Perfect Wine and Pizza/Calzone Pairings

Homemade pizza on AllRecipes  ♦  Homemade calzones on AllRecipes

Pizza cookbooks, 4 star & up

♦♦♦   Turns out tequila and spring make a pretty good match, especially with refreshing add-ins and generous ice. The link opens on a page with Añejo and soda and some helpful tips plus a tequila-y version of a Moscow Mule. But now don’t miss this – the dots at the bottom take you to even more pages of recipes, one more appealing than the next.  Patron

Tequila Cocktails for Spring

From our 04.22.22 Salon   Good Housekeeping’s easy “25 Appetizers for Cinco de Mayo {and beyond}”

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Zazzle

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

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

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

Note

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

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April 22-April 28, 2022, “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” CooksSalon

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

{links within my items go to the sources shown in red – any links underneath items take you to Amazon unless otherwise indicated, and then only ones with the lock icon}

♦♦♦  So, here we have a creative cook’s shortcut turning into a crowd favorite. Instead of individual poppers, all the goodies join forces in “Ryan’s Reverse Popper Dip.” Wowsie, this is good. And I personally applaud a prep that calls for even more garlic than onion. The recipe did not mention a tomato garnish, but since the pic seems to show that I added it too.  AllRecipes

Want to make actual poppers instead? Google has you covered

♦♦♦   With Cinco de Mayo in sight, what a great time to look into some tasty ways to serve up the day’s classic libation. I’m especially intrigued by the spicy black grape, the grilled citrus, and foam-topped salt air versions in the iconic mag’s offering of their “Best Margarita Recipes.” And we agree that it’s a “perfect drink to make at home.”  Food & Wine

Good Housekeeping’s easy “25 Appetizers for Cinco de Mayo”

Rather play with tequila’s cousin? – see right below

♦♦♦  Mai Tai to Tia Mia,  Wicked Games of pear & pineapple, Smoky Fig Sour, gingery Ginger’s Lost Island, Cucumber, Salt & Smoke. What do they have in common? All are part of “12 Mezcal Cocktails for Warm Weather Inspiration.” What else these drinks have in common, according to the story, is their talent to “bring out the best made with the smoky, agave-based spirit.”  Food & Wine

One per drink? What a taste test that would be . . .

The 12 Best Mezcals to drink in 2022 – from Liquor.com

Want to dress the part? Amazon has the answer . . .

Mezcal themed t-shirts

♦♦♦  And for a sweet finale, how about some pretty Strawberry Mousse Bars? A graham cracker crust hosts a rich strawberry and cream cheese layer, topped off with even more fresh strawberries. Yum.  FoodTalkDaily

And maybe a dessert wine to keep it company?

TasteAtlas says these are the 10 most popular ones in the world

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

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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

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April 15-April 21, 2022, “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” CooksSalon

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

{links within my items go to the sources shown in red – any links underneath items take you to Amazon unless otherwise indicated, and then only ones with the lock icon}

♦♦♦  Just seeing the words, “bacon wrapped,” snags attention pretty fast for many of us. And what’s behind the wrap here is also quite enticing. We’re talking about Bacon Wrapped Chicken Taquitos. Yum. Some ranch dressing mix and sour cream also get in on the act. Mixing in some shredded cheddar too helps tighten up the filling and as a bonus adds even more good flavor.  Tasty via Alexa

Proceed at your own risk, and the book is Prime eligible too

“Bacon Wrapped Recipes”

You can browse the Amazon Echo {Alexa} styles right here – a foodster’s dream resource

♦♦♦  Well here’s a fun way to gin up the party vibe. In place of, or in addition to, the straight versions of the spirit, how about some of the flavorful cousins found in these “16 Unusual Gins to Upgrade Your Home Bar”? Extra botanicals, fruits, spices, and more all variously make their tasty contributions.  Food & Wine

Liquor.com calls these the “16 Best Gins to Drink in 2022”

♦♦♦  OK, back to bacon. This though is an encore with an enhancement. In our 03.18.22 Salon we featured cheesy bacon bread pudding. Very good as is, but since traditional sweet bread pudding is usually served with a sauce, why not a saucy companion for this savory one. I kept it pretty simple – mayo, enhanced with a touch of ranch dressing, lemon juice and dried parsley.  CS

Other savory bread puddings on Google

♦♦♦  I feel like I’m being haunted by volcanos. In last week’s Salon, we featured our discoveries of volcano-shaped dishes for virtually every food group, plus wines from grapes grown on volcano slopes. Now a recent episode of “Bar Rescue” had a mixologist rimming a cocktail glass with volcanic salt. On Google it’s also called lava salt or black lava salt. Then searched using it for cocktails and found it’s mainly for rimming {but see below}. And among those finds was a pretty Strawberry Thyme Margarita from Food 52

Not in your store? Amazon has it here

Cocktails on Google with black lava salt rims

Liquor.com tells us about using a saline solution right in the drink. Can you imagine if you used black salt. Can you say Halloween? Here’s the full scoop . . .

How and Why to Use Salt in Your Cocktails

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April 1-April 7, 2022, Cocktail Hour Buzz,” CooksSalon

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   

🎈🎈  Brunch Edition  🎉 🎉

When Happy Hour goes early with snacks, drinks and chat

and maybe related resources & goodies on Amazon

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

{links within my items go to the sources shown in red – any links underneath items take you to Amazon unless otherwise indicated, and then only ones with the lock icon}

♦♦♦  In a recent episode of The Kitchen, Broadway actor Daniel Breaker prepared a Baked Egg Bar. What an easy way to make multiple servings that are also fun and colorful. On the show, and in the linked recipe, delectable toppings are added to eggs and cream in ramekins before the whole panful is baked. The recipe notes that you can also have guests add their own to the unbaked dishes. Just thinking, what if you added, say, just some colorful chives and cheddar before baking, and then after baking have the guests top off as they wish from a “bar.” Whichever way, just a great idea.  Food Network

So many great looking ramekins on Amazon

♦♦♦  Wow, was I happy to find this recipe for Baked Pancake with Pancake Mix. I used to buy the store brand that had a good version on the box, but that is no longer available. Even better, this prep shows a preference for the brand sitting right on my pantry shelf. So much good going on here. First, and as usual foremost, the taste is phenomenal, and would be even without the chocolate chips I added. Now just look at the photo and you can see how tender this is, the way it curves onto its platemate. And because it bakes in a 9×13, you can feed a lot or freeze a lot.  The Seasoned Mom

Also to note in the photo – the top of the pancake {left} does not brown in the oven. but the bottom does. So just flip over and you’ll be serving the golden one on the right.

For another oven-to table brunch dish, go back right here to our March 18, 2022, Salon for Cheesy Bacon Bread Pudding

♦♦♦  One of the great things about brunch is the option to set out little bites of good stuff, often with a breakfast vibe. Sort of like an early cocktail hour. And wowsie does this dish fit the bill. Mini Cinnamon Roll Bites. Easy! Starts with a refrigerated pie crust. Butter it up, sprinkle with sugar and cinnamon, roll it up and bake. A simple glaze prep in also included, which is presented as a dip but seems it could also be a drizzle. Demo too. Add a cup of coffee and it’s the perfect brunch finale.  Tasty

I haven’t made this yet, but would be inclined to use the whole crust, even if a few of the rolls ended up less than uniform. My mom used to create a few of these from the dough scraps whenever she made a pie. Just one of the ways she was my role model in finding ways to not waste food.

♦♦♦   What can make a classic brunch beverage take on such additional traits as fun, festive, tasty, colorful, clever. Answer – the easy technique for making these Rainbow Mimosas. What’s so appealing about these glassfuls is their multiple flavors since they’re created mostly with natural juices – cranberry, carrot, mango, matcha lemonade, blue curacao, butterfly pea flower tea – topped off with Prosecco or Champagne. Wondering if  blueberry juice instead of curacao and grape juice instead of pea flower could work. There’s always of course food coloring, and as well you certainly don’t have to make all 6 colors.  Food Network

Other mimosa recipes on Google

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Amazon

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

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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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“Cocktail Hour Buzz,” Feb 25-March 3, 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}

♦♦♦   So, last week {02.18.22 Salon, recipe included} we referred to a cocktail called Izzy Bizzy that was featured in both Food & Wine and Food Network Magazine , and both gave a nod to its creator Tom Bullock, active in the “spirits” world in the early 1900s. As bartender at the St. Louis Country Club, a fave of local notables, he created other drinks as well, eventually gathered into the 1917 book, “The Ideal Bartender,” available in reprint in hardcover, paperback and Kindle, 4+ stars, Prime eligible.  Amazon

Other books of vintage cocktails on Amazon

♦♦♦  How cool is this. Wine  classes you can attend from the comfort of home. You’ll even find some that  guide you through a virtual tasting party. Some are free, some have a fee, some require memberships, and you’ll find choices for different aspects of this juicy subject. Online wine classes. Google

Or go directly to . . .

Top Ten Free Online Wine Classes

♦♦♦  When brunch is on the agenda, cocktail hour moves up the clock. The food offerings span the gap between the traditional first and and second meals of the day, and also likely evolve into something a little hardier. Just imagine how a nice icy glass of Champagne would pair with this sweet treat with a breakfast-y vibe. Nutella®-Filled Donut Muffins! Donut texture, baked in a muffin tin, with a nutty surprise inside.  AllRecipes

So, quite sure I’ll make these sometime, but meanwhile I had a package of jumbo biscuits loitering in the fridge and used these to make a version of those ^. Baked according to directions, sliced off most of the top, cut out the center of the top as you see here. Then sliced off most of the bottom of the removed piece, leaving just a thin piece of the golden top. Placed the ring back on the bottom, filled the center with Nutella, and then replaced the cap. You could also just leave the caps off and use them separately as mini biscuits. Really good lightly warmed.

Also, I used chocolate Nutella®, in your market, or here on Amazon, singles & packs

♦♦♦  Everybody party! Sure you can offer your non-drinking friends water, soda, iced tea, etc etc etc. But why not let them also enjoy the flavors and aromas and nuances of vino with 2022’s “10 Best Non-Alcoholic Wines.” You’ll find in this list all the usual suspects, Rose, Cabarnet, Chardonnay and more. Cheers!  Liquor.com

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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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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

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

STUFF FOR COOKS

Find t-shirts, mugs, dvds, gift collections, plus top chef items, cookbooks    CS Marketplace Directory

♦  ♦  ♦

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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