Carrots … Let Me Count The Ways Three Carrot Recipes for Spring:  Mary’s Roasted Carrots with Thyme and Brown Sugar; Roasted Carrots and Oranges with Cumin and Toasted Walnuts; and The Barefoot Contessa’s Orange-Braised Carrots and Parsnips Side Here are three recipes for your spring table (or any time!). One […]

Going Green … Beans Green Beans Three Ways: Green Bean Bundles with Bacon & Brown Sugar; Green Beans with Pancetta, Shallots & Pecans; and Green Beans with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette & Parmesan Panko Crumbs Side I love green beans!  They always make an appearance at our house, especially for Thanksgiving […]

Taking Cornbread To The Next Level Skillet Hatch Chile Cornbread with Hatch Chile Honey Butter Side Just in time for Hatch Chile Season! From MaiTai Tracy’s Kitchen archives…. Here is an oldie but goodie, really goodie, updated recipe for skillet cornbread adapted from the delicious and decadent Iron-Skillet cornbread they […]

Shed No Tears With These Onions Jamie Purviance’s Red Wine Cipollini Onions Side Tom was fortunate to attend an event at Melissa’s Produce featuring grilling expert Jamie Purviance, author of WEBER’S ULTIMATE GRILLING: A Step-by-Step Guide to Barbecue Genius!  Tom is the grill master in our family, so I have […]

Just Like Mom Used To Make! Make Ahead: Tom’s Mom’s Sour Cream and Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes Side Here at the Casa de Mai Tai Tom & Tracy, there is only one mashed potato recipe that we serve at every Thanksgiving meal, Tom’s Mom’s Make Ahead Mashed Potatoes.  I love […]

It’s All Gravy From Here! Caramelized Onion & Cognac Gravy Side The first time Tom and I made a turkey we were horrified when we pulled that package of parts out of the turkey. My Nana said to use them to make gravy, but we tossed them as soon as […]

A Side Dish That Fits The Mold Cranberry Pineapple Jell-O Mousse Side Here is an easy make-ahead recipe for your Thanksgiving menu.  This dessert was shared with me by our friend, Helen, who brought it to Thanksgiving dinner a few years ago, and we now always request she make it.  […]

Pineapple Paradise  Ghost Pepper Salsa & Caramelized Pineapple  Side With the last remaining Ghost Pepper from my friend Joseph’s garden, I made a variation of the Caramelized Pineapple Habanero Salsa found in the Best of Ball Home Canning & Preserving book. If you didn’t read my prior post about the […]

Hot Damn Jam! Ghost Pepper Strawberry Jam Dessert For my birthday this year, I asked Tom to get me a galvanized steel watering trough … you know, the kind horses and cows drink out of.  Yes, you read that correctly.  I have coveted one for years.  It took 17 bags […]