tipsyculinaryqueen

Tuna Asparagus Panini With Viognier Tarragon Sauce

Oh these photos were making me want another one of these today for lunch :)

 

 

The instigator for this fancy sandwich? Landana Asparagus Gouda from my favorite cheese shop, Murray's at Kroger. Fresh, green, spring flavor with that characteristic creamy texture but a bit saltier than some Goudas. Unfortunately, it is a seasonal cheese. So why am I posting this in fall? Because tuna and asparagus can be found all year long and this panini is too delicious to put off until next spring. There are so many wonderful melting Gouda cheeses, you could try a different one each month til spring arrives again :)

 

 

Much like a dressing makes the salad, a sauce makes the sandwich. Tarter with a couple of twists.

Chocolate Bananas Foster French Toast With Banana Bread Beer Syrup

In the beer world there are the bold IPA lovers, the mellow cidar sippers, adventurous consumers of unique craft flavors, and the traditionalists of the tried and true trio, Bud, Coors, and Miller.

 

Then there are chefs like me that look at Banana Bread Beer and have naughty visions of French toast dancing in my head :)

 

 

Admit it, if you're reading this food blog you're guilty of those fantasies too...custardy bread topped with bananas, dripping in sticky brown sugar and rich butter. Oh and what would a dream like this be without a little chocolate spread across each soft slice...Okay, snap out of it so I can tell you where the beer comes in!

 

Blackberry Moonshine Jam Molasses Thumbprint Cookies

I realized these were wine inspired cookies when I was using the same delicious words to describe them that I use to illustrate my favorite wines.

Bold dark fruit. Smoky flavors layered with spice. Deep richness that lingers on the palate. Natural sweetness in the 'fresh from the farm' berries. Rustic mouth feel with the seeds giving the jam a lot of chew. All nestled into the well of a soft cookie!

And how fun they were to share at wine tastings

 

They even traveled to Cullipher's Farm, the wonderful people that grew and harvested these amazing blackberries!

Butterbean Hummus And Cherry Bruschetta

 

One mason jar of 100 proof cherry moonshine, gorgeous sweet cherries, and these tender little summer butter beans inspired this cheesy crunchy amazing 2 bite appetizer!

 

 

Only recently did I jump on the hummus train, as I wasn't a bean fan until the last few years. Now, I enjoy chickpeas roasted for a snack in salads, soups, and of course, hummus smeared on Stacy's pita chips.

 

 

For my first homemade hummus I wanted to create something original, especially since it was going to hold beautiful moonshine spiked Bing cherries in place on my new bruschetta recipe. The potent juice from one of my liqueur tastings is a tart and sweet accompaniment to the fresh fruit!

 

 

I started with fresh summer butterbeans, not canned or frozen. I cooked them in chicken stock with onions and fresh herbs, so right from the beginning this dip is packed with flavor.

 

White Russian Chocolate French Toast Topped With Expresso Cream And Kahlua

 

French toast is a decadent experience that deserves time to savor.

 

 

A memorable moment where you sigh between each succulent bite, swallow the guilt, and resolve to eat lettuce and water the rest of the day. Especially when it comes to a sinfully chocolate, Kahlua and vodka spiked, expresso cream topped encounter like this!

 

 

Vodka left from a liqueur tasting led me to blend some Kahlua. My homemade Kahlua led me to make a White Russian. That succulent, creamy cocktail edged me into the temptation of dreaming up other ways to enjoy the same tantalizing combination of flavors, beyond the glass. A perfectly natural progression.

 

 

Having taken recipes in the other direction like Strawberry Shortcake to Strawberry Cocktail and Chocolate Mint Pound Cake to Chocolate Mint cocktail. Each soothing sip generated a sweet, tantalizing idea I was excited to try.