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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Amazon

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Zazzle

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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?

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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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New in “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” July 22-July 28, 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}

♦♦♦  Don’t be frightened when I suggest as a great party dish . . . sushi. First, as you can see, no wrapping and rolling here. Second, while the prep does call for raw fish, pretty sure the sushi police won’t be showing up if you use only cooked. Like I did – and no knocks on my door! We’ll call it sushi-esque. The style of this particular prep is called Chirashi Sushi, with all the pretty goodies served on a bed of sushi rice.

Also in the good column, this one comes from legendary chef, Jacques Pepin, who I recently saw prepare the dish on his “Heart & Soul” show on PBS/Create. Finding a direct source for the recipe proved elusive, but you can access it on the Pinterest page linked above, and then once there clicking on the recipe name. Meanwhile you’ll find other possibilities just below.  PBS member tv station KQED

Jacques Pepin’s “Heart & Soul” show on PBS/Create

Jacques Pepin’s cookbooks    Jacques Pepin’s DVDs

Youtube video of Jacques Pepin making Chirashi Sushi from PBS/KLRN

Chirashi sushi recipes on Google

21 Recipes for sushi without raw fish on Spoon University

Hmmm, can order online? Not sure how that works but here it is . . .

Chirashi sushi on Amazon

♦♦♦  Wine in the glass . . . and on the plate? Well, not all by itself but rather as a flavor-enhancer in these 17 Simply Delicious Red Wine Recipes. Watch it go to work as a marinade for short ribs, poaching liquid for eggs, cooking liquid for pasta, sauce for veal chops, glaze for lamb chops, secret ingredient for chocolate snack cake, and on and on. As a bonus, many of the recipe pages have links to even more goodies.  Food & Wine

♦♦♦  So, in conjunction with an item on the our 06.10.22 Salon on the beer cocktail Shandy, we included a bonus link for Beer & Food Matching. Now we’ve taken a closer look at this chart and it is quite interesting. The left hand column lists the major types of beers and then the next three columns gives the ideal kinds of companion foods in the categories of savories, cheese, and dessert.  Rounding out the helpful information, recommended glassware and serving temp.

As just one example, Imperial Stout 1} Easily overpowers most main dishes, but stands up to foie gras, smoked goose, 2} Long-aged cheese: Gouda, Parmesan or cheddar, 3} Dark chocolate truffles, chocolate raspberry mousse cake. Then an image of a goblet style glass, and 10–13 °C/50–55 °F.  Brewers Association

BrewersAssociation.org

Some classy, some fun, one even beer-can-shaped, assortments too . . .

Beer glassware, 4 stars and up

♦♦♦  However much we may like to bake, in summer not so much. Which makes all the more welcome these 35 No-Bake Desserts. Citrus, seasonal fruit, ice cream, chocolate, caramel, nuts, even no-bake cheesecake all come to the party. One has a touch of spirits, and some are quite portable, including the Mamie Eisenhower fudge, peach buttermilk popsicles and triple chocolate milkshake.  Southern Living

No-bake cookbooks {including some for kids}

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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

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 in “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” July 15-July 21, 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}

♦♦♦  This is like nachos and poutine meet up and party on a sheet pan. The basis is Disco Fries which first emerged along with the dance craze, reportedly in NJ as a fortifying dish that became popular in late night diners serving folks who got up and boogied into the wee hours. This version starts with the classic trio of fries, cheese and gravy but then adds toppings. It’s called Breakfast Disco Fries because those toppings are bacon and fried eggs. Mine shown here has a somewhat simpler gravy, but still bacony and creamy and yum. For this prep, a shoo-in for our end of the year fave list, and 20 others, thanks to . . .  MyRecipes

I usually use a lot more gravy but wanted you to be able to see all the ingredients. Btw, I love poutine, making my version with tots or fries or diced baked potatoes, sharp cheddar, and beef gravy. And leftovers are almost always joined by fried or poached eggs. 

21 Sheet Pan Brunch Dishes

Other Disco Fries recipes on Google    Sheet pans in many styles

♦♦♦  Chilled wine + hot day + patio = warm wine. Noooooo. Here’s a  clever fix, though in some households it may elicit a chuckle and, Can’t work for us. The Secret to Chilling Wine Fast on Hot Days, According to a Winery Chef.   Food and Wine

♦♦♦  What I really like about these Best Easy Chicken Croquettes is that the celery, onion, and poultry seasoning give the patties a flavorful stuffing vibe that’s a natural with the chicken. Part of the “easy” is that instead of having to cook up a roux as a thickener, you simply use some cream of chicken soup. Even better the rest of it forms the basis for the sauce. All very tasty. I made them them smaller than the prep specified so they would be a good fit for the snack table.  AllRecipes

Chicken appetizer cookbooks, 4 stars & up

♦♦♦   Well how fun is this, a conversation piece taking up residence right in your cocktail. Round ice cubes! How do they do it??? Well, one way is this clever machine that pops out two large “cubes” {speaking categorically} that the maker says “keep drinks colder, longer, and with less dilution.” As a bonus it also makes air bubbles disappear like magic to create crystal clear spheres. There are other choices too, going roundy by different means, but will just note that the featured one is Amazon’s Choice.  Amazon

All round ice cube options

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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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July 8-July 14, 2022, New in “Cocktail Hour Buzz”

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}

♦♦♦  Look what just three ingredients can do. Unrolled and slightly flattened crescent roll dough is cut into squares, 3-Ingredient Bacon-Guacamole Crescent Cups lightly pressed into muffin cups, baked until golden. The remaining two ingredients in this prep add up to the title, Bacon and Guacamole Crescent Cups, and to a most tasty result.

In this case it’s store-bought guac but no one’s going to complain if you go past three and make your own. And of course all you creative CS-ers will find so many tasty and colorful ways to fill up those adorable cups.  Pillsbury

Photo from Pillsbury site

Other crescent rolls recipes from Pillsbury

Pillsbury cookbooks

♦♦♦  It looks like the new kid in town these days is Kava. A cup of Kava tea. Or a can of Kava drink. Or an alcohol-free Kava cocktail. The root-based beverage, a long-time favorite in the Pacific Islands, is trending here and especially among the younger set but its reputation as a stress reliever, muscle relaxant and sleep aid may hold appeal for all ages. Further evidence of the Kava wave is the emergence now of bars based solely on this specialty beverage. Despite its growing popularity, checking with your doc first is strongly recommended, especially if taking any Rx. Thanks to CS-er BLV for sending the link.  New York Post

And this story in Rolling Stone    Kava alcohol-free cocktail recipes on google

What google has found about about the safety of Kava    Kava products on Amazon

♦♦♦  One of our best ever recipes was featured last year, reprised here not only because it’s such a crowd pleaser but also as a no-bake prep it’s perfect as a summer indulgence. It was actually Alexa that brought to our attention this No-Bake Chocolate Peanut Butter Cheesecake. Vying for the richness trophy, the melted chocolate chip layer vs the peanut butter/confectioners sugar tier.

Would certainly be good as is. But just to gussy it up a bit, melted another 1/4 cup of chips to drizzle overall.

Btw, I cut this recipe in half and made it in a deep dish pie plate. Used semisweet chips but think bittersweet could work well too. Also, ran both layers through the food processor so they would turn out silky smooth. Note that it needs fridge time in the process and afterward.

And now I’m wondering, hmmm, how would this be made into bite size treats in a mini muffin pan (???)  Tasty

Now for those who prefer their choc/pb treats instead showing up on the doorstep . . .

Chocolate peanut butter goodies on Amazon

♦♦♦  Are you burgundy-curious? We came upon a magnum of information on this wine that The Wine Society describes in such terms as “Intensely fragrant . . . medium-bodied . . . elegant palate redolent of cherries.” In “Everything You Need to Know About Burgundy,” you’ll get all smart about identity, origins, taste, pairing, top selections, collectability, and even why you should drink it.  Food & Wine

The Wine Society

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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

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

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New in “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” June 24-June 30, 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}

♦♦♦  I was recently reminded of a childhood favorite and though I may not have thought of it in years, in the Southern states it’s been a staple for what is apparently forever. And while my experience came out of a jar, that would be a NO if you want to truly as they say, “Put some south in your mouth.” Talking here about pimento cheese, and having now made Kardea Brown’s prep, let me say Wowsie. Thick and rich, it works in so many tasty ways – a great spread  for Happy Hour, but it can also go all melty for an omelet or open quesadilla, also cut-able to snack size – or as she used it, to stuff big burgers on the grill {recipe at link above}. Thanks Kardea!  Food Network

Note – if you’re not planning to use the cheese as burger stuffing, you can skip step 2 under Method. Also, while it doesn’t show in the recipe, I’m pretty sure she said if she weren’t stuffing burgers with the mix, she would also have added some of the pimento juice, which I did.

Kardea’s “Delicious Miss Brown” show

Kardea’s “The Way Home: A Celebration of Sea Island Food and Family with over 100 Recipes”

♦♦♦  Another round of popsicles for everyone! How appealing is this? Combines a tasty dessert and an after dinner drink in one juicy bite. Icy-perfect for summer. Flavors galore. Talking Boozy Popsicles. Some examples – cucumber lime with gin, mojito watermelon, strawberries and cream with Grand Marnier, and a couple more. The rest are non-alcoholic, but nothing wrong with improvising.  Food & Wine

Popsicle molds

♦♦♦  What a fun way to add a touch of whimsey, a touch of class, or both, to the table. Napkin designs! On plates or not. Some stand up, some lie down, some make pockets for flatware, some hold place cards – one actually looks like an envelope. And some look like something else entirely – fans, flowers, containers, a tie, tree, heart, placemat, centerpiece. All 27 become easy peasy with this demo, with mine here taking about a minute.  5-Minute Crafts

Their napkin folding video on youtube

Martha Stewart has her own ways with this fabric-y origami. I made this fan design from her Thanksgiving turkey napkin fold, securing the top with a yellow paper clip, the bottom with a key chain, and pulled the bottom folds back a bit to stabilize the fan {guessing Martha didn’t need these props but just in case like me, you do . . .}

Stewart’s “How to Fold a Napkin in 10 Beautiful Ways”

Napkin folding design books, 4 stars & up    Napkin rings, 4 stars & up {some awesome designs}

♦♦♦  Cocktail chat. “I hope this is to your liking,” the chef said as he set the dishes on the floor. Floor? Well that is a distinct possibility, though maybe they have their own little dining table and chairs. “They” would be Queen Elizabeth’s dogs, Corgis and others, who -yes!- have their own chef. Heard on ABC during the Queen’s Platinum Jubilee.

The rest of the story – This U.S. Sun article further reveals not just a chef, but a team of chefs, and not just any chefs but Michelin chefs

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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

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 in “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” May 27-June 2, 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, this is certainly an easy snack, just four ingredients plus pre-baked shells. And the way I made it, even easier than the recipe since I did not cook it. But, ummmm, it’s about that quartet in the filling . . . they sing sort of funny. I did find it interesting, and loved the jeweled top created by the bit of cranberry. You just might want to taste-test a couple of these Cranberry, Crab Meat and Cream Cheese Appetizers before serving to others.  Ocean Spray

The prep did inspire some possible variations . . .

  • shredded chicken or turkey in place of crabmeat
  • cocktail sauce instead of cranberry
  • a smooth blend of cream cheese and cranberry, maybe a touch of orange juice

Ocean Spray recipe pages

♦♦♦   Pinot fan? This cred-laden mag identifies “16 Great Oregon Pinots for Springtime Pouring.” They provide full descriptions for these Willamette Valley reds. And one after the other makes you want to run to your favorite store and take a glass with you.  Food & Wine

That same F&W posting also offers this . . .

“There’s Never Been a Better Time to Join a Wine Club”

♦♦♦  I just LOVE this new toy, even though not exactly using it for its intended purpose. But it sure does serve a purpose for cooks who are also readers, and also usually have a lot going on in the kitchen. So, in my case I like to take a break outside with a book or magazines, but want to be alerted when it’s time to, e.g. . .

 See if the Italian sausage for tomorrow’s pizza snacks is cool enough to go in the fridge

     Set out eggs for the chocolate fudge brownies I’ll be making later

     Come back in for a particular cooking show

Then, it’s the digital bookmark with a countdown feature to the rescue! Right there, peeking above the reading material. Also with a clock and a count-up feature.  Cool designs too, mine is the wolf and the 3-D makes it look like I could pet his nose.

Of course you can use it for a whole bunch of other circumstances, too. Or give one to a child for its intended purpose – tracking time for reading assignments.  Amazon

Make sure the one you select has all the features

Mark-My-Time Digital Bookmarks

The instructions are quite clear, except for covering reset – this Google video does

How to use the reset feature

♦♦♦  So, what does your basic award-winning, French-trained celebrity chef do in his spare time? One that in fact is already busy running multiple restaurants, authoring cookbooks and novels, hosting cooking shows first on PBS and then on Food Network. For David Ruggerio it was, ahhh . . . mob enforcer, credit card fraudster, kidnapping for fun and profit. The tale becomes a bit more familiar when you see what his real surname is. There’s enough cocktail chat in this Mob Chef interview to carry you through several get-togethers. It draws on a feature that first appeared in Vanity Fair.  New York Post

David Ruggerio’s books

Thanks to imdb, you can see clips of Ruggerio’s Food Network show here

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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 in “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” May 20-May 26, 2022

Continue reading »

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New in “Cocktail Hour Buzz,” May 13-May 20, 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}

♦♦♦  Today’s “catch” has a possibility for each week of the year. This story, Our Best Seafood Recipes {52 in all}, showcases treasures of the sea many of which are appetizer ready, including the one I couldn’t wait to make, the Carolina Seafood Stew, rich with shrimp, fish, aromatic veggies, bold seasonings and . . . okra. ‘Fessing up, in my prep shown here {in 9 oz hot/cold cups}, what might look like okra is actually sliced pickled jalapenos. Also have on my radar the whole fish drizzled with hot ginger-scallion oil which I’ve thoroughly enjoyed in Asian restaurants but have yet to make. Might be time.  Food & Wine

Carolina Seafood Stew recipe

Whole Fish Drizzled with Hot Ginger-Scallion Oil recipe

♦♦♦  So I saw in the grocery store Oreo popcorn. There’s a way to upgrade family movie night or a eveningside viewing party. But wait . . . could we make this ourselves? Turns out, yep! Alternatively, some preps that seem similar are called cookies & cream popcorn. It kind of all adds up to Oreo Popcorn, and your choice of ways to make it.  Google

Why stop there???

Flavored popcorn recipes on Google

Popcorn Recipe books, 4-star & up

Prefer the ready-made & delivered to your door?

♦♦♦  Nothing wrong with wine as its own pure self, but can also turn into fun in a glass when it’s transformed into fruity or fizzy or spicy cocktails. In this list of “Wine Cocktails for All Seasons,” I was drawn to the Classic Kir, a longtime personal favorite that may no longer be in the top 10, but its elegance keeps it in style for the long term. Their prep actually does deviate from the classic by serving over ice and in a different kind of glass. Another choice, the Chardonnay-based Sonoma, interestingly taps into something we mentioned in our 04.15.22 Salon, the how & why of using salt or salt water in cocktails, which is exactly what that drink does.  Food & Wine

Classic Kir drink recipe

Sonoma drink recipe

All of them – 20 Tasty Wine Cocktails

♦♦♦  As we all pretty much know, fabulous as French food can be it’s seldom heavy on spicing. Could this be the reason? “We want to have your mouth open to all the flavors” – Dominique, French chef, on Guy’s Grocery Games  Food Network

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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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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?

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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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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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