Christmas Lobsters!

"The only kind of seafood I trust is the fish stick, a totally featureless fish that doesn't have eyeballs or fins."
- Dave Barry

So, I'm going to kick this off with a confession: I have never cooked a lobster. I've eaten lobster, I've watched lobster be grilled, boiled, steamed, and whatever else. I've eaten it in sushi, in lobster rolls, and as tails and claws. But I've never cooked it myself. I understand the various ways to cook one, but when it comes down to the honest truth, I have never cooked one. Until now? Read on, for a new experience I had while I was home for the holidays.

Roasted Fall Mix

"For me, it's the unexpected and surprising combinations of produce that are the most exciting and lure me into the kitchen for a little bit of experimenting. Apples and sweet potatoes together? Who knew? Carrots with grapes? Okay. I may not be Julia Child, but I can do pretty well with a simple recipe and a lot of enthusiasm."

- Marlo Thomas

A few weeks back, I posted a recipe for one of the best pork chop recipes that gets considerable rotation in my kitchen. These killer pork chops match so well with this side. Though I almost called this "fall roasted vegetables", or something like it, it occurred me that some sanctimonious denizen of the internet would alert me to the fact that the apple is, in fact, not a vegetable. Though I may win no awards for intelligence, I do know that the apple is a fruit. Thus, "Roasted Fall Mix".

Next Up: Roasted Fall Mix

It goes well with pork chops, it goes well by itself, and it goes well with anything. It's sweet, savory, and easy to cook. And if you cook it half as well as I do, it won't look like crap, either.

Happy Thanksgiving, Everyone!

Happy Thanksgiving, everyone! Hope you all had a great holiday, and did a great job with their birds! We'll be back next week!

Cheers!

-AC

Cranberry Applesauce

"Well, Art is Art, isn't it? Still, on the other hand, water is water. And east is east and west is west and if you take cranberries and stew them like applesauce they taste much more like prunes than rhubarb does. Now you tell me what you know."

-Groucho Marx

In my march towards the end of Fall (you know, Post-summer), there are a few recipes that I have to make every single year. This is one of them. I like applesauce, but you can make that any time! Cranberries are a little harder to find during the rest of the year, so this is a great seasonal twist on an easy recipe. If you're looking for something a little different for your Thanksgiving table, it isn't too late to concoct this beautifully-colored side dish.

Next Up: Cranberry Applesauce

Tired of red jelly from a can? Up your Thanksgiving meal game with this super easy cranberry-themed side dish.

Dijon Cider Pork Chops

"I learned long ago, never to wrestle with a pig. You get dirty, and besides, the pig likes it."

-George Bernard Shaw

I love you, pigs. I also love freshly-pressed apple cider, sharp bite from dijon mustard, and tasty recipes. Luckily, this one hits all those points wonderfully. And for those who are going to ask, that roasted fall mix is next. Heyo!

Next Up: Dijon Cider Pork Chops

Saucy pork chops that are just sweet enough, and just savory enough to be one of your favorite fall recipes.

Citrus-Glazed Salmon

"It's okay to eat fish because they don't have any feelings." 

-Kurt Cobain

Everybody likes a quick meal. Often I find myself wanting to cook something delicious and fresh, but do not want to spend all the time cooking, cleaning, acting like I know what I'm doing, entertaining myself while I wait for something to sautee -- you get the drift. Here's a quick and easy salmon recipe that I love.

Next Up: Citrus-Glazed Salmon

5 minutes of prep, 15 minutes of resting, then 8 minutes under a broiler? You could have dinner in less than a half hour!

Seasonal Cocktail: Harvest Punch

"Delicious autumn! My very soul is wedded to it, and if I were a bird I would fly about the earth seeking the successive autumns."

-George Eliot

Though I live in California, I would argue that there are four distinct seasons. They are (in order),

• Pre-summer
• Summer
• Post-Summer
• Cold Summer

Though this state is still dry enough that the trees bribe the dogs, and it's hotter than the average surface temperature of the sun, we're still a solid month and a half into Post-Summer. In any other state, Post-Summer (have you figured it out yet? It's Fall. Or Autumn. I don't know what's the better, more accurate answer) is full of colored leaves, cooler temperatures, foggy mornings, cozy drinks, and comfort foods.

In California, it's five degrees cooler than summer, and I still walk around in shorts, sandals, with a beer in hand and stand at a grill. Good times.

But in honor of what this season is supposed to be around the country, I present to you a tasty Autumnal cocktail I've been making lately. I give you, the Harvest Punch.

Glorp.

You guys sorta hate this, too, right? Not just me? Good. Because I have always thought this was gross, but still oddly satisfying. I think it's the god-awful noise that gets me.

Watch a fantastic glorp... IN GLORIOUS 1080p!

(Curried) Chicken Tremendous Rice

"Is this chicken, what I have, or is this Fish? I know it's tuna, but it says 'Chicken of the Sea'." 

-Jessica Simpson

My mom has a repertoire with some fantastic recipes. There are a ton of them that I remember vividly for a multitude of reasons, whether they were amazing (this one), or ones that I didn't care for (I'm looking at you, weird sauerkraut pork chop thing). From time to time, I'm going to be sharing some recipes from my family's vault, and I figured it'd be a great way to start with one that I made some interesting changes to.

Next Up: (Curried) Chicken Tremendous Rice

An easy meal assembled in two containers or less? Yes, please.

Before we begin....

 To get this party started, let's start with "An Invocation for Beginnings". Before I start any project, this is the one video I watch as encouragement. Join me, won't you?