Mexican Ceviche

Ceviche is a fresh and bright dish where fish is “cooked” by marinating it in lime juice. If you haven’t heard of ceviche before, “cooking” without cooking does sound very strange but it works! (read this for more info). There are lots of types of ceviche out there, the kind I make most closely resembles the Mexican style. This is a great fresh appetizer to bring to a party. Equally as good enjoyed at home as a light meal or side dish.

Michelada Pop

One of the most memorable red beers I ever had was sitting on a rock in my bathing suit, next to a lake in the afternoon. Pouring V8 into a bottle of Labatt Blue. Even the inevitable overflow of beer and tomato juice couldn’t ruin in. Every beer and tomato juice cocktail since reminds me of that sunny afternoon. All the more reason to drink them on a snowy day and think of summer.

Tomato Parmesan Soup

I have made this Tomato Parmesan soup more than any other soup in my repertoire. I’m sure you have noticed I am a soup person by now. I can’t wait for the first cold day in fall to make it, and I don’t get tired of it all winter. There are so many choices and soup is really easy to make. Easy to invent!

Brunch at Home | Roasted Breakfast Salad

I couldn’t fit all the delicious things in this salad in the title. Roasted fennel bulb, seared tomatoes, crispy prosciutto, baguette croutons and fresh arugula. Oh and poached eggs! Hungry yet? Though you are roasting and searing a few things for this salad, it actually comes together fairly quickly once you get going.

Preparing Fresh Tomatoes for Cooking

As you may have gathered from my “scratchiest-scratch” tag, I like digging into a food project. Can I make ____? Can I make it from the most basic pieces? Not everyone has the time or desire to do that, hey- I don’t ALWAYS do that. This post might not appeal to anyone, but just in case there is someone else out there with a slowpoke garden.

Homemade Ketchup: Study #2

Take 2! I made ketchup a while ago, and it was just awful. It tasted like it would go better on a cake than a french fry. I didn't feel inclined to try again until I saw this Whiskey BBQ Ketchup on the Minimalist Baker while I was looking for a baked french fries recipe (the fry recipe is killer too). It didn't have cinnamon or what I associate as bakery spices, and the idea of a smoky whiskey ketchup was super intriguing. Oh man this stuff is good! Yay! I'm forever indebted to them for posting this recipe.

Homemade Ketchup: Study #1

It's pretty easy to make ketchup, mix tomato paste and a variety of spices. I have found it a little harder to find a mix of spices that I like. I made this version, from Simply Scratch. I'm sorry to say that Nate and I found it far too dessert-like. All we could taste was cinnamon. I'll be trying a more savory looking recipe next time I think, or cutting way back on the cinnamon. I really like the texture of this homemade ketchup a lot more than pre-made bottled though!

Saturday Bloody Mary

This recipe is best the next day so whip it up Saturday if you want it for brunch on Sunday!