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

 


February 6, 2021

Old-Fashioned Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies

Just Like Mom Used To Make Old-Fashioned Chunky Peanut Butter Cookies Dessert This recipe for peanut butter cookies is from my mom’s very first cookbook, Miss B’s First Cookbook, which she received in 1950.  My mom would have been eight at that time, so I suspect the crayon markings all […]
January 16, 2021

Mushroom Leek Gruyère Soup with Puff Pastry Top

Chase The Winter Chill Away Soup Mushroom Leek Gruyère Soup with Puff Pastry Top Soup and Salad As soon as the calendar said it was winter, Tom started begging me to make soup. Mushroom Leek Gruyère Soup is a recipe I haven’t made in some time, but it is a […]
December 30, 2020

Emeril’s Hot Jalapeño Crab Dip

Creole Crab Emeril’s Hot Jalapeño Crab Dip Starter Just in time for your New Year’s Eve soirée! This elegant, creamy hot crab dip from Emeril is just what you need to nibble with champagne. Tom’s nephew brought this dip to Thanksgiving many, many years ago. It was so AMAZING, and […]
December 19, 2020

Chicken with Morels

Elegant Dinner Party Dish Chicken with Morels Main Courtesy of The Barefoot Contessa’s Barefoot in Paris cookbook (with a few variations), here is an elegant, delectable chicken dish for any celebration. For those of you have not experienced Morels, they are earthy and meaty, but unfortunately, they are more expensive […]
December 12, 2020

Cajun Bread Pudding with Jack Daniels Sauce

The Proof is in The (Bread) Pudding Cajun Bread Pudding with Jack Daniels Sauce Dessert This Cajun Bread Pudding is one of the most requested desserts at our holiday parties. It is tied for popularity with Tom’s Famous Black Russian Cake, both of which are easy to make and guaranteed […]
December 5, 2020

Barefoot Contessa’s Crispy English Potatoes with Pancetta

Perfect Potatoes! Barefoot Contessa’s Crispy English Potatoes with Pancetta Side From Ina Garten’s FOOLPROOF, here is our absolute FAVORITE potato recipe! My notes in the cookbook say, “Holy Moly, these are perfect!”  They are so easy to make that I serve them year-round. Golden, crispy, crunchy oven-roasted baby potatoes with […]
November 20, 2020

Roasted Butternut Squash Bisque with Star Anise

“Deliciously Decadent” Soup Roasted Butternut Squash Bisque with Star Anise Soup In Tom’s prior life (the one where he earned money … I miss those days), he wrote for a number of magazines. Every January, one of the associations he worked with held what could only be called an extravaganza. […]
October 27, 2020

The Bomber’s Best Ever Oatmeal Spice Cookies

Chewy and Crunchy! The Bomber’s Best Ever Oatmeal Spice Cookies Dessert On a recent visit to our friends Kim and Mary, the aroma of something delicious just out of the oven drew us to the kitchen. I could detect hints of cinnamon and cloves and thought it might be a […]
October 8, 2020

Corn and Clam Chowder

Yell A Little Loudah For My New Favorite Chowdah! Corn and Clam Chowder Soup As the long hot summer faded away to autumn, I was looking around for inspiration when I came across this chowder recipe from Boston chef Matthew Jennings. Once I read it included bacon, corn, and jalapeño, […]
September 22, 2020

Spanish-Style Shrimp

Spanish Style Shrimp … The Flay Way Spanish-Style Shrimp Main I finally broke down and purchased Bobby Flay’s most recent cookbook, Bobby at Home: Fearless Flavors From My Kitchen.  Although we watch him all the time on Food Network, this is the first cookbook of his I have tried. I’ve […]
September 3, 2020

Roasted Yellow Pepper and Feta Dip

Taking A Dip Roasted Yellow Pepper and Feta Dip Starter Before I met Tom, I had a roommate who didn’t particularly like to cook. It was great because she did want to do the dishes, which worked out perfectly! The one thing Colleen did make was an excellent roasted yellow […]
August 7, 2020

Crème Fraîche Scrambled Eggs à la Bobby Flay

Creamy & Delicious Scrambled Eggs à la Bobby Flay Crème Fraîche Scrambled Eggs à la Bobby Flay Breakfast I don’t know about you, but I am tired of cooking. Tired of thinking of things to cook. Just tired of this whole thing. In an effort to find inspiration, we have […]
July 10, 2020

Marinated Grilled Swordfish with Blistered Tomatoes and Capers

It’s All In The Tomato Topping Marinated Grilled Swordfish with Blistered Tomatoes and Capers Main If you made my late stepfather Mr. C’s Creamy Coleslaw (and hopefully liked it!), then you have a big bottle of Bernstein’s Italian Dressing and Marinade left over. If you were Mr. C, you would […]
July 1, 2020

Ania’s Polish Potato Salad

Polish Potato Salad Perfection Ania’s Polish Potato Salad Side  Our recipe is courtesy of a former co-worker, Ania, who brought this to a potluck 25 years ago.  It was one of the best potato salads I had ever tasted, but it was different from most potato salads I grew up […]
June 26, 2020

Mr. C’s Creamy Coleslaw

It’s All In The Dressing Mr. C’s Creamy Coleslaw Side Here is another fabulous recipe from my late stepfather Mr. C. This dish pairs perfectly with his Grilled Flank Steak with Chile, Cinnamon, and Cumin Marinade. I wish I had more of his recipes, but this is the last one […]
June 17, 2020

Peanut Butter & Pumpkin Dog Biscuits

Frankie & Remi Turn 12 Peanut Butter & Pumpkin Dog Biscuit Treats Dog Treats Frankie and Remi turn 12 on June 18. While we usually have a dog party with friends Kona and Kaleia, this year we stayed home so they could practice social distancing.     Actually, I hate […]