OLD FASHIONED BUTTERMILK PANCAKES

Some of you have asked for my pancake recipe... here it is!

This is a great recipe that I found in an old recipe book I picked up at an estate sale. Judging from the weathered look of the recipe card, this was a family favorite. At any given time, I add blueberries, bananas, apples mixed with cinnamon, or chocolate chips to this pancake batter, blueberry being my favorite.

HANDCRAFTED MACARON RECIPE

When I think of macarons, I think Ladurée. The French luxury bakery best-known for baking and selling the double-decker macaron, fifteen thousand of which are sold every day! However, the Macaron cookie was born in Italy. It was first introduced by the chef of Catherine de Medicis in 1533 at the time of her marriage to the Duc d'Orleans who became king of France in 1547. The term "macaron" has the same origin as that the word "macaroni" -- both mean "fine dough".

Last Minute Party Preparations

I always joke that the better the party I throw, the worse I look when my guests show up. I’ve gotten better at getting ready way in advance so I don’t look like a madwoman. However, I do have a little routine I go through before the party starts. Even though I make sure the house is clean the day before, right before the guests begin showing up, I will do a quick “walk through.” Basically, I pretend I am a guest in my own home. I try to think about what would make people more comfortable and then go around sprucing things up.

Plan a Large Outdoor Cookout with FIX

The good people at FIX.com contacted me about their new party planning illustrations. Grilling expert and founder of Grilling 24X7, John Thomas, breaks down how to host a successful cookout for a crowd! I thought with Labor Day upon us, I'd play along and share their very informative illustrations and post. John makes planning and throwing an outdoor BBQ simple and fun. So call your friends and family, turn on your grills and get to grilling people -- and enjoy your Labor Day weekend!

How To Throw A Sunny Summer Picnic

Grab your family and friends and head to the backyard for a summer picnic! Picnics are the personification of summer fun with delicious food, refreshing drinks, and laid-back, warm sunshine. Turn it into a party with a few decor touches and picnic baskets for everyone! Below are my top tips for throwing a backyard summer picnic.

How To Eat Like A Local While Traveling

After weeks of eyeing airfares and saving up, you finally took the plunge and booked a trip abroad. Congratulations! Now, the fun begins. You’ll start mapping out where to stay, what to see, how to commute, and most importantly, WHERE TO EAT. Food, cooking, and dining rituals play a central role in every culture, and they are not to be missed. By eating locally you are able to dive into traditions that have been around for hundreds of years.

Tailgating — It's A Lifestyle!

If you've ever attended a tailgating party—especially in the South—then you know that it is not just any old function. Right? It's an institution my friends! And sadly if you've never hung out in the parking lot, in the shade of your favorite stadium, next to a grill, with your closest friends—well then, you are really missing out on something pretty special. It's not about a fired up grill and a cooler full of beer or coke, it's a lifestyle! 

Chicken Piccata with Artichoke Hearts, Tomatoes & Capers in A Lemon-Garlic-Butter Sauce

This is going to be short and sweet. I came across this recipe for Chicken Picatta the other day. Decided to try it out tonight on Mr.P —he is a lover of capers and artichokes. Even though the sauce is butter based it turned out surprisingly light. The lemon juice gave it a fresh taste and I can never add enough garlic and tomatoes to anything. So grab your skillet and give it a whirl, it's yummy! Enjoy!

Weekly Reflections — August 23, 2014

It's been a few weeks since I shared what's been going on in the Porter household. I have been crazy busy getting child number two back to college. Now that the dust has settled, Mr.P and I are back to our regular schedule. So for a quick update, here we go.

Three Cheese Pasta Bake

Is there anything better than homemade macaroni and cheese? It has to be the ultimate cold weather, go-to comfort food. It provides us with a sense of nostalgia and self-satisfaction. Comfort food is not designed to be especially healthy or politically correct, if a food CAN be politically correct, but it supplies us with a welcomed vacation from the stresses of the outside world. A mental vacation that takes us to a place where we can remember our love of food and growing up.  Comfort foods are essential for anyone wanting a "little taste of home". This delicious mac-n-cheese dish is my version of the traditional tried and true recipe. It is easy to prepare and perfect for a weeknight family dinner.

THREE CHEESE PASTA BAKE

This is NOT yo mama's macaroni and cheese!

SERVES 8 - 10 as a side

INGREDIENTS

• 1 (16-ounce) package ziti or rigatoni
• 2 (10-ounce) containers refrigerated Alfredo sauce, I use Buitoni* 
• 1 (8-ounce) container sour cream 
• 1 (15-ounce) container ricotta cheese
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten 
• 1/4 cup grated Parmesan cheese 
• 1/4 cup chopped fresh parsley
• 1 1/2 cups mozzarella cheese

     WHAT TO DO

• Prepare ziti according to package directions; drain and return to pot.
• Stir together Alfredo sauce and sour cream; toss with ziti until evenly coated. Spoon half of mixture into a lightly greased 13- x 9-inch baking dish.
• Stir together ricotta cheese and next 3 ingredients; spread evenly over pasta mixture in baking dish. Spoon remaining pasta mixture evenly over ricotta cheese layer; sprinkle evenly with mozzarella cheese.
• Bake at 350° for 30 minutes or until bubbly.

Wonderful paired with grilled chicken and a green salad! ENJOY!!
*I used Buitoni alfredo sauce.