Cooking Single in the City

So nearly three weeks later I am finally posting the pix-n-a video from the night my nephew, Micah, and I baked sugar cookies. I cannot tell you how many times I hear single friends of mine complaining about how they can't (or don't) get to do fun things with little ones since they're not yet parents. What do I say to that? That I'm sure there are plenty of little ones in or around your life some way or another to shoot that theory right out of the water! Now granted I do tend to lean on the complaining side of not being married for laborings sake, but even that has it's place. Now I realize that some may not be as blessed as I have to a handful of nieces and a nephew to enjoy such things with, but if you have no friends in your life with kids, feel free go out of your way to spend time with those who may need you in their lives. There are tons of programs through communities, local churches and various organizations (Big Brother, etc.) where you can invest into a...

Tonight's post is short and sweet...kinda like the Brie-Dip I concocted at Brynn's late last night. As you know, Trader Joe's is where I shop for groceries. Sometimes I like to visit merely to walk down the aisle, checking out sauces, syrups, jellies and other spreads. What I came across last week was Mango Chutney. Now I know I like the stuff because I've had it on a dish at a restaurant, but prior to eating there, I hadn't even heard of it (I was still in my early twenties at the time), and since then I've only eaten it one other time. That being said, while I was contemplating on which pesto sauce I should get, and thinking if I really needed another strawberry jam, I "stumbled" on the Chutney, remebering I had seen some on previous visits. Now I couldn't honestly tell you what it consists of, but by the end of the evening, I will know what it is exactly and how to make it. This time, I happened to buy it, along with some Brie and peppered-Poppy...

Being that it was Halloween, all of my married friends (and I do mean ALL) had "trick-or-treat" plans with their families, my Halloween dinner plans were to dine solo. Realizing I had began the defrosting process of my Mahi Mahi from yesterday, I decided to head to Maxine's to cook up dindin . With my dog already at her house, I brought the goods to cook and eat before heading off to Brynn's for a chill night of movies with the singles. I think tonight was one of the first night's in a very long time I wish I had my immediate family--immediate being my hubby, my kids and me. Oh well...so here's the treat that took me to yummy-land for about 15 minutes of the evening. I was by myself, filming it myself, while cooking for myself--yes, I was bored. Excuse the poor filming and the mess...my girl had no napkins, no paper towels, no handles on her cookware...and to top it off, I couldn't find a flippin ' potholder! Never-the-less, her cozy place and my M...

In an attempt for this Blaxican to recover from last night's babysitting events, I woke up groggy, tight-gutted (from the Tums I took in the middle of the night), with burning eyeballs and in need of something to fix me...QUICKLY! For me that could only mean one thing--I needed to make some breakfast. Though I like to tease the Bates about being their lil ' ones nanny (which is SOOO not the case as really Missy and T-Rex are with the kids 24/7), I was left behind as the family of five left for the boys' soccer games. They hadn't even been gone for five minutes when my ingredients were out on the counter and ret -to-go. Maxine called me asking me if I wanted to meet up for some " brekkie " (as Jorg used to call it)...I still say that every now and then...it was cute and kinda stuck with me. Anyhoo ...about my morning plans, I was still "contessa-ing" barefoot and in my p.j.'s, crooning to the sounds of Billie, Dinah, Edie and old Blue-Eyes-- ye...

Never with a dull moment in her home, Maxine couldn't even wait to get me into her home before serving a plate of hot egg rolls...not from the Panda Express, but fresh off her stove! I can tell you that although I wasn't exactly craving egg rolls before arriving at her home, I was more than overjoyed right to the last gulp. Maxine, like any other mom, is a single girl's dream on an afternoon where one's meal hadn't completely been thought out. Now what I'm not saying is to go knocking on the door of a friend who, like you, might be single-- especially not if they, who like my Maxine, happen to be a single mom. On the other hand if you're lucky, then you, like me, will enjoy the benefits of having a dear friend like Max. Since she said they're a " sinch " (or is it "cinch"?), she wanted to donate her quick 20 - 25 minute recipe to our blog so others, like me, could enjoy this simple and fast recipe...enjoy! Ingredients: 1 dozen egg ...

Ever wonder how some guys just seem to get it all right? They're sweet, they've got the looks, charm AND they can cook, to-boot? There was a time I thought that one out of four was good enough, but seems like nowadays there ain't no point in settlin ! If the mug's good to go, then make sure the eateries and everything else follow suit--that was one thing our ex-bachelor, Luis, made sure of! Making sure he had the dress for success in the kitchen, he called upon our friend, wife and mother of three (with another on the way), Missy Bates of Orange County to help. Using Trader Joe's as her store of choice, her on-camera ease is one sure to help any single with an evening of hosting-at-hand...take notes by clicking on the arrow below! As the oven is warming up for the toasting of the baguette, don't forget to chill a well-paired bottle of Pinot Grigio , as well. You can pick up a pretty inexpensive bottle at Trader Joe's! For the non-Trader Joe's cities, vi...