MaiTai Tracy’s Kitchen:  Our Favorite Recipes

 

 

 

From Our Kitchen To Yours

“A passion for food is a passion for life” – Old Italian saying

Welcome to MaiTai Tracy’s Kitchen!

Tom and I love to travel … and to eat!  When Tom started Travels With Mai Tai Tom, MaiTai Tracy’s Kitchen was added as a way to help Tom build content.  Somewhere along the way, I realized I enjoyed sharing recipes and really liked writing and taking pictures.  I started by posting some of our favorites recipes from our years of entertaining.  I have kept track of the menus for every single dinner and party we have had at our house since 1999.  We like to host, what can I say?

Our very first party in 1991 was a Blazing Saddles costume party where we served Yankee Bean Soup and Tuna Surprise (food from the movie – not to worry, those recipes are not here).  Our second effort was Thanksgiving, where the turkey erupted in flames.  Apparently, it was a very juicy turkey and the drippings spilled out and caught fire in the oven.  As I recall, everything turned out great despite our beagle snatching a loaf of cranberry bread from the table.

We are much improved since those two efforts.  The recipes I share with you are our favorites; ones that can’t go wrong and that we feel are worth the effort.  Our motto: “Good Food, Great Friends and Fun.” 

On the travel side of things, I am the “Scribe.”  I take copious notes that Tom magically transforms into his trip reports and posts.  These days I also take most of the photos on my iPhone.

I hope you enjoy these recipes as much as we like sharing them!

“People who love to eat are always the best people” – Julia Child

Tracy & Tom

Browse by Course

Breakfast 

Starter

Soup and Salad

Cocktail

Side

Main

Dessert

Dog Treats

 


August 28, 2025

Quick Pickled Red Onions In Lime Juice

Getting Pickled! Quick Pickled Red Onions In Lime Juice Side I love to have a jar of picked red onions on hand to add zing and color to tacos, tortas, scrambled eggs, sandwiches or just eating out of the jar. There are many, many recipes and methods for pickled onions […]
August 28, 2025

Mexican Street Corn Dip (Elote Appetizer)

Takin’ It To The Streets Mexican Street Corn Dip (Elote Appetizer) Starter A friend from Arizona made this delectable dip from the Elote Café in Sedona to bring to a party at our house, and we have been making it ever since. Elote is classic Mexican street food of grilled […]
August 7, 2025

Sweet Summer Corn Soup

Fresh Off The Cob Sweet Summer Corn Soup Soup & Salad Summer, despite being perfect for outdoor grilling and summer produce, is my least favorite time of the year as I despise the heat. I was grouchy and fresh out of ideas for dinner when Tom quipped, “Why don’t you […]
June 21, 2025

Chocolate Banana Bread Pudding … on the Grill!

Baking On The Grill Chocolate Banana Bread Pudding … on the Grill! Dessert I was in the middle of baking cookies when our fairly new range decided to call it a career. SIGH. While deciding on a replacement range, we turned to our dependable Weber gas grill and Weber’s Ultimate […]
May 3, 2025

Pavlova with Sweetened Whipped Cream and Berries

Sweet Dreams Are Made Of This Pavlova with Sweetened Whipped Cream and Berries Dessert Tom has had a long love affair with dessert but he is quite fickle about naming his favorite. However, every time our friend, Gema, makes pavlova for dessert, he swoons and turns to me and asks, […]
April 26, 2025

Wine Country Chicken, Grape & Cashew Sandwiches

Simply Delicious! Wine Country Chicken, Grape & Cashew Sandwiches Main This fast, simple delicious sandwich recipe is from my girlfriend, Gloria, whose sister served it at her winery which is why I dubbed it “Wine Country” sandwich (it was either that or Gloria’s Sister’s Amazing Chicken Sandwich). Here’s a photo […]
November 12, 2024

Grill Your Thanksgiving Turkey! Free Your Oven!

Let’s Talk Turkey (and Sides) Grill Your Thanksgiving Turkey! Free Your Oven! Main Tom and I have been hosting Thanksgiving dinner for more than three decades (as some of the photos in this post will attest)!  On our first Thanksgiving, Tracy set the turkey on fire (not on purpose) and […]
August 10, 2024

Summer Orzo Salad with Lemon & Champagne Vinegar Vinaigrette

Dressing For SuccessSummer Orzo Salad with Lemon & Champagne Vinegar Vinaigrette Salad Or, shall I call it a Flexible Summer Salad? The salad ingredients are only a suggestion as everything can be substituted with what you have on hand or like best. The only non-negotiable element as far as I […]
July 21, 2024

Fresh Fruit Oatmeal Bar Ice Cream Sandwiches

Raising The Bar Fresh Fruit Oatmeal Bar Ice Cream Sandwiches Dessert I scream, you scream we all scream for … ice cream sandwiches! After seeing a luscious photo of homemade ice cream sandwiches bursting with ice cream and summer fruit, I just had to make some. The flavor combinations are […]
June 1, 2024

Grand Marnier Grilled Chicken

A “Grand” Idea Grand Marnier Grilled Chicken Main Here in Southern California, we’ve had a late spring with plenty of April showers and May gray which has been good for my garden but not much else. Tom has been longing to fire up his new Weber grill, and when the […]
March 23, 2024

Pistachio Marshmallow Salad

Fluffy Delight Pistachio Marshmallow Salad Sweet Side or Dessert From my vintage recipe archives… here is a recipe from my Aunt Ann which I have not made in years and I don’t know why as I love this dish. Almost as much as her Banana and Grape Nuts Homemade Ice […]
March 15, 2024

Lemon Mashed Potatoes

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Potatoes Lemon Mashed Potatoes Side Lemon mashed potatoes where have you been all my life? Wow! We were blown away by the citrusy deliciousness of these mashed potatoes. They are next level and so simple and are, of course, from the Barefoot Contessa. I […]
December 13, 2023

Three Cheese Potatoes Au Gratin with Leeks, Fennel and Bacon

Oh, Oh, Oh, Au Gratin! Three Cheese Potatoes Au Gratin with Leeks, Fennel and Bacon Side This recipe is upscaled from an ad for Wolf Gourmet that I saw in Fine Cooking many years ago. The first time I made this it was good, but I thought it could be […]
November 3, 2023

Pumpkin Chicken Chili

Flavorful & Full of Fiber Chili Pumpkin Chicken Chili Main I like pumpkin but I am not one of those people who stands in line the first day Starbucks rolls out its Pumpkin Spice Latte (that would be my late sister-in-law). The Washington Post recently had a list of its […]