These are actually the perfect appetizer. I had forgotten about them for years and then I was scrambling for the perfect appetizer for a party and remembered I used to make these all the time. Like ALL THE TIME. The first time I made them for a group people - twenty years ago - everyone was RAVING about them. And that was one of the critical moments in my life when I realized food was my special skill.

These are not hard. My go-to ingredients are tomato paste + tapenade. It’s salty, mostly premade, simple, and kind of tastes like pizza. But I also use pesto when that’s what I have. I have tried fresh vegetables - spinach, tomato, even fresh basil leaves and that doesn’t work. It’s too liquid-y and it makes the pastry all weird. You’re always welcome to try it, but I tried it for you.

Flaky Tapenade Bites

makes 2 dozen

1 package puff pastry

OPTION A

1/2 cup tomato paste

1/2 cup tapanade

OPTION B

1 cup tapenade

1/2 cup parmesan cheese, grated

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Unroll the puff pastry sheet onto a floured cutting board and roll out slightly until you can’t see the lines anymore.

STEP 2

Use half of the ingredients on each roll. Spread it out evenly over the sheet. Roll up the pastry and slice into 1/2 inch pieces.

STEP 3

Pop each slice on a lined baking sheet. Bake 20 minutes until puffed and crispy. Remove from the baking sheet and cool on a cooling rack.

Serve warm or room temperature.

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Americano Cocktail

Delightfully simple and totally refreshing. Simple enough to make a batch of them, and a perfect compliment with the flaky tapenade bites!

These are a clasic cookie that I have been making for years. I do think my recipe is the best one out there and all the rest are close, but not quite right. These are soft, cakey, and filled with raisins. I used to make these for my grandpa all the time - these were his favorite cookies.

To me, these taste like fall. It’s probably because they’re filled with flavors of fall like cinnamon and clove. Or it could be because I usually make these for a Husky tailgate at least once a year. OR it’s because they feel super back-to-school-y with the oatmeal. Anyway, I cannot recommend them enough this time of year!

Oatmeal Raisin Cookies

makes about 30 cookies

1 cup butter at room temperature

1/2 cup sugar

1 1/2 cups brown sugar

2 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 1/2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground cloves

1 1/2 cups old fashioned oats

1 1/2 cups quick cook oats

1 cup raisins

STEP 1

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Cream botter, sugar, and brown sugar together until light and fluffy. The color of the mixture should be a few shades lighter than when it started. Combine the eggs and vanilla until completely incorporated.

STEP 2

In a seperate bowl, combine flour, baking powder, and spices. With the mixture running, add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture. Mix until thoroughly combined.

STEP 3

Add oatmeal and raisins and mix until just incorporated.

STEP 4

Scoop cookie dough onto a cookie sheet and bake 10-12 minutes until lightly brown. Let cool on the baking sheet 5-10 minutes before transfering to a cooling rack.

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Just when you think a perfect Bloody Mary doesn’t exist - I figured it out. I actually think it’s harder to make a bad Bloody Mary instead of a good one, but once I undertook making my own Bloody Mary mix - I think I cracked into the best Bloody Mary ever.

The history of the Bloody Mary is really kind of hilarious. There are a million stories. The most likely originates at Harry’s Bar in Paris where a bartender named Fernand Petiot conceived of the cocktail and named it for the ruthless rule of Queen Mary I of England in the mid 1550’s. The tomato juice represents the blood shed, the vodka and spices mimic the brutal means the queen used. He devised it as a breakfast cocktail - but it was simple back then, just tomato juice and vodka with a dash of Worcestershire.

The funniest story of it’s origin is that Hemingway was in Harry’s Bar just before he got married. Hemingway ordered a drink mixed with juice so no one would smell the vodka on his breath - so tomato juice was added. While he was drinking, he was muttering “Bloody Mary,” the name of the girlfriend he was giving up in favor of marriage. Hilarious. For loads of reasons but the number one being, would Hemingway really give up a girl because of marriage?

See what you think about my best Bloody Mary and tell me if you think it’s named for a cruel queen or a future potential mistress.

The Best Bloody Mary

makes 4 drinks

2 1/2 tablespoons worchestershire

juice of 1/2 a lime

1 tablespoon olive brine

1 teaspoon crushed celery seed

1 teaspoon horseradish

16 ounces tomato juice

10 dashes tabasco (more or less to taste)

8 ounces vodka

olives, celery, pickled beans, cucumber, lime wedges, bacon, pickled onions, and anything else you love!

STEP 1

In a pitcher, mix together Worcestershire sauce, lime juice, olive brine, celery seed, and horseradish. Pour in tomato juice and stir to combine. Add tabasco to taste.

STEP 2

Fill four highball glasses with ice. Split the vodka amongst the glasses (2 ounces) and top with tomato mixture (4 ounces). Garnish to your hearts content! Add more tabasco or lime wedges as needed.

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