Food Network Friday: Thanksgiving

Happy Friday!

Thanksgiving is in less than a week -- I am so excited! I love Thanksgiving because it basically kicks off the holiday season... and it brings together three of my favorite things: family, friends, and of course, food, haha! ;)

Speaking of food, let's talk about food -- Is your Thanksgiving menu ready?!

No? Then today's your lucky day because here are some yummy recipes from www.foodnetwork.com that are absolutely perfect for next week:

1. Triple Citrus Buttered Turkey

Total Time: 5 hours and 45 minutes

Level: Easy

Lemon, lime, and orange flavor this turkey for an unexpected fresh twist.

I know 5 hours and 45 minutes for one dish may seem like too much, but that is actually pretty quick for a turkey recipe. ;)

2. Classic Stuffing

Total Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes

Level: Intermediate

Sage and thyme, onions and celery, stale white bread: Don't expect fancy frills with this stuffing. It's your classic standby recipe, just like Mom used to make.

Thanksgiving, turkey, and stuffing = pretty much a package deal. ;)

3. Chive and Garlic Mashed Potatoes

Total Time: 50 minutes

Level: Easy

For a flavorful mashed potato twist, Tyler uses Yukon gold potatoes and mixes in garlic, thyme, and chives.

I don't think I know anyone who doesn't like mashed potatoes...

4. Best Ever Green Bean Casserole

Total Time: 1 hour and 10 minutes

Level: Easy

A classic made modern and fresh, Alton ditches the traditional cream of mushroom soup and canned green beans, instead using real mushrooms, half-and-half, and fresh green beans.

This looks and sounds delicious!

5. 50 Pie Recipes

Food Network Magazine riffed on four basic pie recipes -- pumpkin, apple, pecan, and chocolate -- to make 50 tasty variations.
Pick your favorites and bake a few for your Thanksgiving dessert buffet.

Dessert buffet? Sounds perfect to me! ;)

What are your plans for Thanksgiving?

Are you cooking? Which of these five recipes would you like to try the most?

I wish all of you a wonderful weekend!!! :D

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Food Network Friday: Labor Day

Yay for Friday!
 And yay for the long weekend!!!

Labor Day usually marks the unofficial end of summer, and because of that, I'm sure the air will be filled with the smell of delicious grilled everything, haha! ;)

My Mom asked me to make a menu for Labor Day, and this is what I came up with:

1. Tomato, Mozzarella, and Basil Salad

Total Time: 5 minutes

Level: Easy

Ina takes a classic salad and seasons it perfectly with good olive oil, salt, and pepper. 
For an eye-catching presentation, purchase tomatoes in yellow, orange, and green hues.

Such beautiful colors!!!

2. Pasta Caprese

Total Time: 45 minutes
Level: Easy

Campanelle pasta is mixed with heirloom tomatoes, basil, lemon juice, and zest... as well as fresh mozzarella cheese for a refreshing side, ideal for a picnic.

Chunks of mozzarella cheese = yum!

3. Grilled Pork Tenderloin With Corn On The Cob


Total Time: 1 hour
Level: Easy

Rub pork tenderloin with paprika, brown sugar, and other spices, then grill the meat to perfection before drizzling it with a brown sugar and ketchup sauce.

Ohmygosh, I want to eat this... RIGHT NOW! :)

4. Dijon Chicken Wings

Total Time: 1 hour
Level: Easy

Make a glaze of Dijon mustard, honey, mustard powder, and garlic to make deliciously sticky wings.

Would a picnic be complete without chicken wings? Nope! ;)

5. Sweet Minted Tea

Total Time: 1 hour
Level: Easy

Make a mint syrup for Sunny's sweet tea that is refreshing with any cookout menu.

Sweet tea is my drink of choice for the summer!

***from www.foodnetwork.com***

Do you guys have any plans for the long weekend?

Are you cooking? Which of these five recipes would you like to try the most?

I wish all of you a wonderful Labor Day weekend!!! :D

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P.S. I have two giveaways for you guys right now! Please do enter if you haven't already. :)
Mile End Bakery Giveaway: Win a dozen cookies of your choice! Open to U.S. residents only. Ends 9/12.

Spirit Ink Giveaway: Win a set of temporary tattoos! Open internationally. Ends 9/20.

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Food Network Friday: Memorial Day

Happy Friday!!!

It's been a long time since I last made a Food Network Friday post, and today is the perfect day for one because it's a long weekend! ;)

Memorial Day weekend usually equals picnics -- whether at the park or at the beach, it's important to have delicious food! Whenever I get invited to picnic potlucks, I always like to bring dessert... but for a change, I thought it would be nice to bring salad instead, right?!

I know, I know, I don't even eat salad, but these are salads that I will definitely eat, haha! ;)

1. American Macaroni Salad

Total Time: 30 minutes
Level: Easy

This classic pasta salad is perfect for a picnic.

2. Creamy Potato Salad


Total Time: 25 minutes
Level: Easy

Add some kick to this quick potato salad by stirring in some horseradish.

3. Potato, Tomato, Corn, and Basil Salad

Total Time: 35 minutes
Level: Easy

Summer salads don't have to come with a high price tag. 
Dave's delicious version uses seasonal ingredients that will save you money.

4. Avocado Salad

Total Time: 15 minutes
Level: Easy

Creamy avocado pairs beautifully with sweet mango and crunchy jicama.

5. Lady Marmalade Chicken Salad

Total Time: 40 minutes
Level: Easy

Aarti's take on chicken salad features a Greek yogurt dressing and extra crunch from roasted cashews.

***from www.foodnetwork.com***

Any plans for the long weekend?

Which of these five recipes would you like to try the most?

I wish all of you a wonderful Memorial Day weekend!!! :D

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Food Network Friday: St. Patrick's Day

Happy Friday! :)

St. Patrick's Day is a big celebration at my high school, and that is why it's always been something to look forward to for me. But because it's been three years since I graduated (Where did the time go???), I haven't had a proper St. Patty's Day celebration in years... soooo, we are making corned beef for dinner tomorrow!

Wouldn't it be fun to have your own little St. Patrick's Day celebration?!
Here are recipes from www.foodnetwork.com to help you get started:

1. Corned Beef and Cabbage


Total Time: 6 hours and 30 minutes
Level: Easy

Corned beef and cabbage is an American St. Patrick's Day favorite.

2. Irish Stew


Total Time: 3 hours
Level: Intermediate

This comforting stew features tender lamb, hearty carrots, and potatoes -- all topped off with herb butter.

3. Vegetable Shepherd's Pie


Total Time: 1 hour and 6 minutes
Level: Easy

Skip the meat and stuff your shepherd's pie with turnips, carrots, and celery instead.

4. Guinness Float


Total Time: 10 minutes
Level: Easy

Make Baileys Irish Cream and Irish whiskey ice cream to top off this Guinness Float.

5. Chocolate Stout Cupcakes


Total Time: 40 minutes
Level: Easy

The flavor of Guinness melds perfectly with chocolate to make rich, tender cupcakes. 
As an added presentation bonus, cream cheese frosting looks like Guinness' iconic foam.

Are you doing anything special to celebrate St. Patrick's Day tomorrow?
Which of these five recipes would you like to try the most?

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Open to U.S. residents only. Ends on April 11th.
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Food Network Friday: Super Bowl!

Happy Friday!!!

My brother and I are excited about this weekend for two different reasons: he's excited for the Giants vs. Patriots game and I'm excited for the food, haha!

If you want to have a mini-Super Bowl Sunday party, here are some yummy recipes courtesy of http://www.foodnetwork.com/:

Sunny's Caribbean Chicken Wings

Rachael's Chorizo and Shrimp Quesadillas with Smoky Guacamole



Tyler's Grilled Beef Satay



These three recipes are perfect for a Super Bowl party: they are delicious, easy to serve, and easy to eat. :)

And of course, a party isn't complete without scrumptious baked goodies:

Sarah's PB&J Chocolate Bars



Alton's Cocoa Brownies



Oh man, now I'm hungry, haha!

I can't wait 'til Sunday... I want those brownies right now. ;)

***images from http://www.foodnetwork.com/***

Are you hosting or attending a Super Bowl party? What's on the menu?
Any weekend plans?
:D
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Food Network Friday: Cocktails and Drinks

Happy Last Friday of 2011!!!

One of the big milestones for me this year was my 21st birthday -- most of my friends were/are really excited to turn 21 because they can finally drink (legally, that is, haha!). I, on the other hand, wasn't as excited about that aspect because I don't really like the taste of alcohol, haha. Is that weird?

But anyway, I still drank (okay, more like tasted) tequila at my sister's house, but I haven't had a proper cocktail!
What better reason to enjoy a nice cocktail than New Year's Eve, right?!

So I went to the ever-trusty www.foodnetwork.com to find some cocktail recipes we can all prepare and enjoy while ringing in the New Year:

1. Mexicocoa - 

Warm up with this festive hot chocolate spiked with tequila and a pinch of chili powder.

2. Citrus Temptation - 

Limoncello gives this vodka-based cocktail some Italian flair.

3. S'Mores Delight - 

Go decadent with this very grown-up take on the campfire classic.

4. Pointsettia Cocktail -

Emeril's drink, made with vodka, Champagne and cranberry juice, is dressed up with strips of orange zest.

5. Cider Punch - 

This punch is perfect for a crowd. It's infused with orange peels.

I also want to drink a strawberry margarita -- that is definitely on my list, it's one of the first things I'm gonna do this coming year, haha! ;)

Which of these cocktails would you like to try the most?
What is your favorite cocktail? Any recommendations for me?

Twitter? WhatMimiWrites :)

Food Network Friday: Christmas Menu

Happy Friday!

Christmas is next week, isn't it crazy?!

Now that we've talked about our own Christmas wishlists and our gift lists, I think it's time we talk about food.

Is your Christmas menu planned and ready?

I was browsing through www.foodnetwork.com because I wanted to find a dish or a dessert I can contribute to my family's Christmas meal. And of course, no surprise, I found a lot of recipes that are perfect for Christmas!
I thought it'd be nice to share some with you guys:

1. Paula Deen's Old-Fashioned Holiday Glazed Ham

Total Time: 2 hours

Level: Easy

Ham has always been a part of my family's Christmas tradition.

 My Dad is always the one who picks out our Christmas ham.

My favorite thing about ham is the glaze, of course.

And I love how there is always some ham left over -- perfect for delicious ham sandwiches!

2. Horseradish-Crusted Steak Roulade

Total Time: 1 hour and 50 minutes

Level: Easy

Steak is one of my absolute favorites in the world!

Whenever we eat out, my sisters and brother always order pasta or salmon or cheeseburger.

Me? I order steak. All.The.Time. ;P

This steak roulade looks delicious, and I love how the red bell peppers and the leeks give the steak a nice Christmas color!

3. Vegetable Tarte Tatin

Total Time: 1 hour and 50 minutes

Level: Intermediate

Isn't this side dish just beautiful?!
The colors are gorgeous and it looks like some sort of delicious Christmas decoration to me. ;)

4. Beet-Orange Salad

Total Time: Less than 10 minutes

Level: Easy

This is a no- brainer!
This is a refreshing take on a salad -- perfect as a first course.

5. Homemade Spaetzle

Total Time: 20 minutes

Level: Easy

This noodle dish looks yummy!
It's simple and very easy to make!

6. Shrimp Scampi

Total Time: 30 minutes

Level: Easy

I looove shrimp and it would be nice to have this on the side -- a perfect complement to our steak roulade.

7. Fruitcake Parfaits


Total Time: 1 hour and 20 minutes

Level: Easy

Nothing screams Christmas more than fruitcake.
I think this dessert will be a hit with everyone!

8. Chocolate-y Christmas Cafe au Lait

Total Time: 26 minutes

Level: Easy

It's always nice to have something warm to drink after opening gifts -- this cafe au lait is perfect!
Delicious and so Christmas-y!

The recipe calls for strong coffee, but if you just want plain old hot chocolate, I don't think there's any harm in omitting coffee when you make this drink. ;)

***images and recipes from www.foodnetwork.com***

What's on your Christmas menu?
Which of these eight recipes did you like the best?

I wish all of you a wonderful and happy weekend!

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To enter, please click here.

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Food Network Friday: Giada De Laurentiis

Happy Friday!

Actually, I should say Happy 11-11-11!!! :D

I haven't done a Food Network Friday post since the first one I made (haha!)... and since I am in the mood for some delicious Italian food, our Food Network chef for today is Giada De Laurentiis!

Giada is a chef, writer, television personality, and the host of the current Food Network program Giada at Home. She also appears regularly as a contributor and guest co-host on NBC's Today. De Laurentiis is the founder of the catering business GDL Foods.

Giada graduated from Marymount High School, got a degree from the University of California Los Angeles, and studied at Le Cordon Bleu Paris -- quite an education there!

In 2005, she published her first cookbook, Everyday Italian: 125 Simple and Delicious Recipes, which was followed by Giada's Family Dinners, released April 4, 2006; Everyday Pasta, released April 3, 2007; Giada's Kitchen: New Italian Favorites, released September 30, 2008; and Giada at Home: Family Recipes from Italy and California, released March 30, 2010.

She also has a range of products made only for Target. Her products consist of stainless steel pots and pans, a wide range of utensils and cooking tools and stainless steel counter-top appliances such as a Panini Press, Coffee Maker and Food Processor.

Giada is often called "a petite powerhouse".

She also recently made headlines when she catered an event at the Santa Barbara Polo and Racquet Club -- an event attended by the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge!

What was on the menu?

A "light and colorful" pea pesto crostini, featuring pureed peas on toast, topped with half a cherry tomato, California chopped salad with a mix of grilled lettuces, grilled corn, grilled shrimp, zucchini and crispy tortillas in a light lemon dressing, and Chicken Milanese, which features breaded chicken cutlets in a creamy tomato fennel sauce.

Yum!

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My sister has been a fan of Giada De Laurentiis ever since I can remember, and she would always try out her recipes. And man, they were good!

Here are three of Giada's recipes that my sister has made for us:

Salmon with Puff Pastry and Pesto

Total Time: 15 minutes

Level: Easy

Oh my gosh, this is just perfect!

Salmon paired with pesto and eaten with a puff pastry is just delicious!

Spaghetti with Arugula Pesto and Seared Jumbo Shrimp

Total Time: 25 minutes

Level: Easy

Jumbo shrimp? Sold!

Chocolate-Hazelnut Ravioli

Total Time: 30 minutes

Level: Intermediate

I don't think I have to explain how good these are! ;)

What do you think of these three recipes?

I wish all of you a wonderful weekend!!!

***images from Google, information from Wikipedia, and recipes and photos from www.foodnetwork.com***

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Food Network Friday: Bobby Flay

Happy Friday!

Last week, I was trying to think of new topics for future blog posts because I like to keep it fun and exciting over here at What Mimi Writes -- I think it's good to change things up a bit, and I really try to spread out my posts into many different topics (and I hope I'm succeeding at it!). :D

So, my sister suggested I pick one Food Network chef and pick a couple of his/her recipes to share with you guys. Brilliant, right? I love Food Network and I love food = perfect!

I decided to start with Bobby Flay because I mentioned in one of my recent posts that I would love to eat at Mesa Grill. ;)

Bobby Flay discovered his culinary identity at the age of 17, working as a cook at the famed theatre district haunt Joe Allen's. The job had been arranged by his father, who was a partner in the restaurant. After a short time, Joe Allen himself became so impressed by Bobby's talents that he paid the young cook's tuition to the French Culinary Institute.

He is the owner and executive chef of 12 restaurants: Mesa Grill in Las Vegas, New York City, and in the Bahamas (Atlantis Paradise Island, Nassau); Bar Americain in New York City and Uncasville, Connecticut; Bobby Flay Steak in Atlantic City, New Jersey; and Bobby's Burger Palace in Lake Grove, New York, Paramus, New Jersey, Eatontown, New Jersey, Uncasville, Connecticut, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Washington D.C.

Um, wow!

Have you eaten at any of Bobby Flay's restaurants?

To add to his impressive collection of restaurants, he has also starred in countless Food Network shows -- and not to mention, he is an Iron Chef on Iron Chef America!

He won almost all Iron Chef episodes I've seen with him as a competitor -- except for the one where he was paired with Giada de Laurentiis (against Mario Batali and Rachael Ray).

Okay, here are three recipes we can try this weekend:

Ginger-Soy-Lime Marinated Shrimp

Total Time: 35 minutes

Level: Easy

Grilled Chicken Paillard with Lemon and Black Pepper and Arugula-Tomato Salad

Total Time: 45 minutes

Level: Easy

Fried Chicken with Ancho Honey

Total Time: 5 hours 40 minutes

Level: Intermediate

***from www.foodnetwork.com***

Oh my gosh, how delicious does that fried chicken look -- especially with honey?!

I think the shrimp is perfect for an outdoor barbecue get-together.

We can easily whip up the grilled chicken paillard for lunch.

:D

What do you guys think?

I hope you all have a fantastic weekend!

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It is open internationally and it will end on the 25th of September.

Thanks to all who joined (and will join) and good luck!

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