Whenever you roast chicken, beef or, to keep with the season, turkey, you probably notice the little brown flavor bits and lovely pan juices that accumulate in the bottom of the pan. It might seem a little crazy but did you know that some people actually throw this stuff away? Shocking, I know.  Perhaps they do not know that those little brown bits and lovely juices are the perfect base for some of the best gravy ever.  And it is actually a lot easier to make then some people think.

Hummus is another one of those dips that I just can’t get enough of. And much like my experience with french onion dip, my purchases of hummus have gotten a little out of control. So just as I created my own version of  Caramelized French Onion Dip, I decided to make my own hummus. Roasted garlic hummus to be exact.  Creamy, nutty and garlicky, just how I like it.

Chocolate and caramel is a winning combination under just about any circumstance. OK maybe not chocolate caramel hot dogs but it is good just about any other time. Take this dip for instance. Creamy caramels are melted with half and half, cinnamon and vanilla. Then melted dark chocolate is added to the mix and the whole dip is topped with chopped nuts.  Trust me when I say it will satisfy any sweet tooth craving.

One would think that after working 6 years in a seafood restaurant where they served all you can eat fish and chips on Wednesdays that I would want to stay as far away as possible from tartar sauce. But despite the fact that I ate and on a few occasions, wore, my fair share of this delicious seafood dip, I still believe that no fish stick dinner is complete without it. There is just something about the creamy tangy sauce that goes so nicely with fish.  Sure there are many varieties that you can buy in the condiment aisle but since I was already making my own fish sticks I figured why not go for the whole shabang and make my own tartar sauce as well. And now that my taste buds have been awakened by the homemade version, I don’t plan on buying any anytime soon.

The Fried Green Tomatoes and Buttermilk Fried Chicken that I have made recently would indicate that I am on a bit of a southern food kick.  Which is kind of funny because I am a born and bred west-coaster. However, that does not mean that I don’t appreciate good classic comfort food and that is exactly how I view many southern dishes. So I figured why not try to tackle another classic? So I present to you my version of  the classic New Orleans appetizer, Shrimp Remoulade.

Ryan and I do not eat a lot of big salads. Sure we eat salad as a starter but very rarely is that all we have for dinner. However, this week has been really busy both at work and at home so I was looking for some quick fix meals and this taco salad fit the bill. It is loaded with all of my favorite taco fixin’s like beans, tomatoes, cheese, tortilla strips and seasoned ground turkey. But the star of this salad is the spicy avocado dressing that it is tossed in.

I am not what you might call a “sandwich lover”. Sure I will eat and enjoy them from time to time, but unlike some of my friends who can eat turkey sandwiches almost every day, I need something more out of my sandwiches. Deli meat, Wonder bread, American cheese and mayo may have been OK when I was growing up, but I’m a big girl now.  Give me more. Take this sandwich for instance, it has perfectly seasoned chicken, vine ripened tomatoes, crisp lettuce and, my favorite part, a delicious yogurt-dill sauce. Now my dear friends that is a sandwich.

“I miss the smell of coffee, and bacon fryin’. Oh and what I wouldn’t give for a plate of fried green tomatoes like we used to have at the cafe.” OK so I have never had fried green tomatoes at a cafe, that line is actually from my absolute favorite movie of all time, Fried Green Tomatoes.  From the first time I saw it, I fell in the love with the story of Idgie and Ruth, their friendship and the little make-believe town of Whistle Stop, Alabama.  Naturally, I also happen to love the dish that is the story’s namesake so when my friend Champ offered to give me some green tomatoes I knew exactly what I was going to do with them. And it involved bacon ranch dip. Yes I said bacon ranch.