Blog - Sweet Life

Turkey Tostadas

Turkey Tostadas Are we still enjoying leftovers? Two days in my house is the golden rule before I begin to tweak the menu. When it’s time to spruce up those leftovers I always go with an easy turkey tostada. Crispy baked tortillas slathered with refried beans and piled high with shredded turkey. A warm drizzle of cranberry sauce, a handful of pepitas for crunch and dinner is served. I always have a batch of refried beans stashed away in the freezer and my local grocery store helps out by selling pre baked tostada shells. I’m not a black Friday gal,… Read More

Pecan Pie Margarita

Pecan Pie Margarita I am up to my elbows in groceries, silverware and football decorations. With the excitement of our Houston Texans playing this year on Thanksgiving Day (super stoked) I almost forgot to feature an amazing celebratory margarita. I mean turkey, football and tequila on the same day it’s almost too much for this chica! Last year I featured Pumpkin and Cranberry and received rave reviews. Guess I’m not the only gal addicted to tequila. This year I had planned on combining pumpkin and cranberry, a sweet, savory margarita twist. But last week as I flipped through the latest… Read More

Countdown to Thanksgiving ~ My Favorite Recipes

Thanksgiving week is upon us! Are you ready? I am heading out today to pick up a few items and I am heading into the kitchen tonight to prep, chop, dice and clean. I find if I prep enough in advance I can actually relax that day and enjoy my family. I wanted to take this time to share a few of my favorite recipes. Guajillo Cranberry Sauce Apple Chorizo Cornbread Stuffing Rajas de Poblano Mashed Potatoes Fresh Corn Flan Pumpkin Pie Tamales Fresh Apple Cake Pecan Pie Pumpkin Margarita Cranberry Margarita Worried about having a Thanksgiving mishap? Fear not Chef Ingraham… Read More

Rajas de Poblano Mashed Potatoes

Rajas de Poblano Mashed Potatoes Chunky mashed potatoes flecked with rajas de poblano oh yeah that’s a Thanksgiving side dish I can wrap my lips around. I’m all about the sides and mashed potatoes play a major role in making this gal happy every Thanksgiving. Confession: Late night out, a few too many drinks and I always get lethal 2am craving for tacos de papa con rajas de poblano. As I stuffed my face the thought occurred to me this combination would be a great Thanksgiving side dish. Maybe it was the boozy effects of tequila or the intense craving… Read More

Apple Chorizo Cornbread Stuffing

Apple Chorizo Cornbread Stuffing I love Thanksgiving. Okay let me be honest I love Thanksgiving stuffing! And Thanksgiving mashed potatoes and Thanksgiving gravy…. I’m all about the side dishes. Chorizo, cumin and oregano give this stuffing a hearty bite, while the cilantro and apple add a sweet perk. Make your favorite cornbread recipe or feel free to use a quality cornbread from your local bakery. We are celebrating Thanksgiving with Food Network and some of my favorite food bloggers! Pull up a chair and check out the amazing feast!! follow along on twitter #PullUpAChair Cocktails, Appetizers, Salads… Read More

Saffron Rice with Golden Raisins and Pine Nuts

Saffron Rice and Golden Raisins and Pine Nuts Happy Friday!! I have a very special post for you today. My friend Faith Gorsky from An Edible Mosaic just had her first cookbook released: An Edible Mosaic: Middle Eastern Fare with Extraordinary Flair. I’m excited to be participating in her virtual book launch party and sharing a recipe from the book! The book has over 100 Middle Eastern recipes, with a focus mainly on dishes from the Levant, but also a few recipes from other areas of the Middle East. After getting married Faith spent six months living in the… Read More

Countdown to a Mishap-Free Thanksgiving with Chef Ingraham

The countdown has begun to Thanksgiving! I love Thanksgiving, comfort food, family and of course football, but this day can sometimes be overwhelming. Trust me I’ve been there. Thanksgiving mishaps haunt us all. No one wants to be the person who ruins the gravy or bakes the bird to a crisp. The first time I hosted Thanksgiving for my family the turkey was so dry no amount of gravy could save it, what a mess! But year after year I became more confident in the kitchen, picked up a few tricks along the way and relaxed. I focused on what… Read More

Mexican Cappuccino

Mexican Cappuccino Today is National Cappuccino Day! Hooray!! Made with espresso, hot milk and a thick cap of foam a Cappuccino is a treat any day of the week. Today we put a Mexican spin on our favorite morning treat with pinch of ground chile ancho, cinnamon and cocoa. Enjoy! Cappuccino was created in Italy in the 1600’s. It got its name from an Italian order of monks known as the Catholic Capuchins—a group of friars that wore dark brown hoods, similar to the color of the drink.