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

 


May 15, 2020

Bacon Burgers with Pancetta and Balsamic Onion Jam

Bringing Home The Bacon … Burgers! Bacon Burgers with Pancetta and Balsamic Onion Jam Main WOW… what more can you say about this recipe we found in the Fine Cooking Grilling 2016 issue?  We think we make pretty, darn tasty burgers, but this recipe blew them all away and is […]
May 1, 2020

Strawberry Leche de Madre

Blended Brunch Delight Strawberry Leche de Madre Cocktail Cocktail The saga of the evolution of today’s refreshing brunch cocktail is somewhat muddled in time, but its path to me is thanks to a friend of my parents, a famed Hollywood and Las Vegas set designer, who also had a connection […]
April 17, 2020

Potato, Soy Chorizo and Veggie Hash with Eggs

Breakfast For Dinner  Potato, Soy Chorizo and Veggie Hash with Eggs Dinner  Breakfast, it’s what’s for dinner!  After a long day, there are times we just can’t figure out what we want for dinner. Truth be told, it happens to us a lot. It’s on those nights that we tend […]
April 5, 2020

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

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 […]
March 24, 2020

Tom’s Gruyère Mac and Cheese

Almost Like Being In Switzerland Tom’s Gruyère Mac and Cheese Main While visiting the Château de Gruyères in Switzerland in 2003, the skies opened with such a torrential downpour that we had to duck inside a nearby quaint restaurant for lunch. On the menu was an incredible Gruyère Macaroni and Cheese served […]
March 14, 2020

Irish Coffee

“Top o’ the Mornin’ to ya!” Irish Coffee Cocktail According to The Guardian, “The Irish Coffee is relatively unusual among cocktails in having a clear and undisputed provenance: it was created in the winter of 1943 by Joe Sheridan, chef at Foynes Port in Limerick, for cold, weary passengers from […]
February 28, 2020

Pork Burgers with Chorizo Seasonings with Radish & Jicama Slaw and Lime Vinaigrette

Burgerlicious! Pork Burgers with Chorizo Seasonings with Radish & Jicama Slaw and Lime Vinaigrette Main I saw a recipe for Pork Chorizo Burgers from Andrew Zimmern in People magazine and was instantly intrigued.  I am not a big fan of chorizo, as it is usually too greasy for me, but […]
February 8, 2020

Banana Cake with Maple Buttercream Frosting

Going Bananas! Banana Cake with Maple Buttercream Frosting Dessert On our recent vacation to Montreal and Quebec City, Canada, we tasted all things maple. Maple candy-coated soft serve ice cream cones. Profiteroles with maple syrup ice cream. Even the whisky has maple syrup in it.  Yum, yum … what?! Canadians […]
January 23, 2020

Black Beans & Rice with Chicken & Red Apple Salsa

Quick & Easy Dinner!  Black Beans & Rice with Chicken and Red Apple Salsa Main This recipe for Chicken, Black Beans and Rice with Red Apple Salsa is an oldie but goody at our home for a quick and easy dinner.  To speed things along, I use canned black beans […]
December 26, 2019

Barefoot Contessa’s Chocolate Orange Mousse

Don’t Eat The Entire Bowl! Barefoot Contessa’s Chocolate Orange Mousse Dessert We served French fare for Christmas Eve this year using several recipes from the Barefoot Contessa’s Barefoot in Paris cookbook.  As you can tell from the photo below, her Chocolate Orange Mousse is a recipe I make all the […]
December 9, 2019

Cream of Celery Root and Fennel Soup

Soup’s On! Cream of Celery Root and Fennel Soup Soup & Salad After a whirlwind 2019 trip to Montreal and Quebec City (Tom is finally back at the computer after knee replacement surgery and will resume the trip report this week), where a chilly autumn had arrived early (33°F in […]
November 22, 2019

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

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 […]
October 29, 2019

Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel Ragù

Remembering Bella Bologna Rigatoni with Sausage and Fennel Ragù Main Autumn, my favorite time of the year, my favorite time to travel, and perhaps my favorite time to eat pasta!  
 Benventuto Autunno! Last year, while traveling in Bologna, Italy (trip report here), we had the most delicious Pappardelle with […]
September 25, 2019

Pan Roasted Chicken with Pancetta, Mushroom & Leek Sauce on a Bed of Hash Browns

Comfort Food! Pan-Roasted Chicken with Pancetta, Mushroom & Leek Sauce on a Bed of Hash Browns Main Tom once again returned from an event at Melissa’s Produce with a treasure trove of goodies (he works for food).  Among them was a bag of Melissa’s Baby Dutch Yellow Potatoes, Cleaned and […]
September 13, 2019

Hatch Chile Carrot Cake with Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting and Hatch Chile Candied Walnuts

Carrot Top Hatch Chile Carrot Cake with Pineapple Cream Cheese Frosting and Hatch Chile Candied Walnuts Dessert September basically marks the end of Hatch chile season, and we picked up a bunch of Melissa’s Produce Extra Hot Hatch chiles.  Tom has been hankering for my carrot cake lately, so I […]
August 26, 2019

Carrot, Apple, and Peanut Butter Dog Treats

Corgi Delicious Apple, Carrot, and Peanut Butter Dog Treats Dog Treats As the dog days of summer turn toward autumn, Remi caught a few rays in the backyard while I baked them a belated birthday treat. (Ok, I confess, I had to use that intro so that I could use […]