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 […]

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 […]

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 […]

Easiest Cheesiest Potatoes! Tom’s Twice-Baked Potato Casserole Side (or for Tom … Main) We love potatoes at the Casa de Mai Tai. For Thanksgiving we always make Tom’s Mom’s Sour Cream and Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes and for the holidays we enjoy Crispy English Potatoes with Pancetta.       […]

Peachy Keen RisottoPeach and Pancetta Risotto Side or Main It was nearing the end of peach season in early September, and since I had two ripe peaches calling my name, I wanted a new way to utilize one of our favorite fruits for dinner. Tom and I were in the […]

Bountiful Beans Baked Beans with Chipotle and Bacon Side Years ago we tasted the best baked beans with friends Kevin and Melissa. Kevin’s grandma’s baked bean recipe, which is a spin on Carolina Barbecue Beans using three kinds of beans: baked beans in tomato sauce, red kidney beans and green […]

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 […]

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! Sour Cream and Cream Cheese Mashed Potatoes with Caramelized Onions and Cognac Gravy 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 Mashed Potatoes.  I love […]

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 […]