Kitty Deschanel | Food, Wine, and Travel Adventures in an Airstream Basecamp

**2022 Repost - Serve these 5-star Thanksgiving recipes to a crowd this year!** Happy COVID-19 Thanksgiving! Like us, your holiday likely looks a bit different this year. I was initially disappointed that I wouldn't get to play hostess with the mostess to a large gathering of family, but that would be just like every other year. 2020 is special. When else will SN and I have the opportunity to have a romantic Thanksgiving meal, just the 2 of us? You know, other than that year we ditched everyone to take a cruise . That was a fun Thanksgiving too. 2020 Thanksgiving = no need to clean the house, no need to be limited to traditional foods, no need to travel, no need to make small talk with people you don't really like. (To any friends and family who are reading this, that last part was totally just a random example for my blog readers. I like you!) 2020 Thanksgiving = do whatever you want. Sleep in. Dress fancy or dress in your PJs. Invite the dogs to join you at the table. Watch ...

What kind of cheese is Old Amsterdam? Old Amsterdam is an aged Gouda cheese made of cow’s milk. Compared to a younger (not aged) Gouda, it has a harder texture, more deepened color, and an intense, buttery flavor with just a hint of sweetness. If you're a cheese simpleton like I used to be, you might see this post and wonder  What does Gouda taste like?  It has a strong, rich flavor. I think the best way to describe it is that Gouda tastes fancy. (Yes, fancy!)  Old Amsterdam Cheese FAQs, Recipes, & Wine Pairings - Gouda 101 for Cheese Simpletons Have you ever made a sandwich, only to have your slice of cheddar add pointless, wasted calories because you can't taste it among all the other ingredients? This isn't a problem with a bold slice of Old Amsterdam Gouda. It's a cheese with a strong flavor. Old Amsterdam Pairings Old Amsterdam cheese pairs well with simple ingredients, such as fruit, c...

Here's a Christmas update of my popular recipe for Cake Mix Chocolate Chip Cookies , along with a free download to include with your holiday cards. I don't know about you, but the only way I'm going to get cards in the mail in time is to get started now... for Christmas, 2023. (Click the Image to Enlarge) I love this recipe! The key to these yummy, soft sugar cookie bars is not to over mix the batter. I slice them up into 24 cookies straight out of the oven with a pizza cutter. They're always gone by the end of the day! Who am I kidding? SN and I have the entire pan polished off within 30 minutes. Well, at least they're only sugar cookies , you think? Not that many calories, surely. We love to mix in chocolate chips. I had the image above printed at CVS as 4x6 photos and included one with each Christmas card we sent.

Mojito Watermelon Fruit Salad Recipe This will be your new go-to dish for potlucks, parties, and holidays...and breakfast. Well, probably not right before heading to work. Oh, it's the most wonderful time of the year. Christmas already? Even better. We're celebrating  wine festival season! I've even brought you home a souvenir this time. Here in New Mexico, we're spoiled with stunning scenery and a unique culinary heritage, which result in some of the best wine festivals in the USA. There's something for everyone with the Wine & Wagyu Weekend in gorgeous Angel Fire, followed by the Taos Summer Wine Festival in the prestigious Taos Ski Valley. Calling all Instagrammers. These fields of flowers are just growing on the side of the road in Angel Fire, NM. They have the world's most beautiful wine festival setting without even trying. If I had to choose, I'd say Angel Fire is best if you're a cowboy at heart and Taos is best if you're mo...

I decided to try a chayote after seeing it on sale at my grocery store for only $0.50 each. I had no idea what to do with chayote (okay, I had no idea what a chayote even was!) and decided to cook it with another ingredient I never know what to do with, cauliflower. It turned out to be delicious! Recipe variation: For a more filling meal, toss the final product with buttered egg noodles. Kitchen Pig LOVES Sherry. He's a bit of a lush.   So healthy and pretty. Chayote with Cauliflower and Sherry Recipe Serves 3; Time to Make: 30 minutes This is such a yummy recipe. Don't omit the sherry - it's the best part! 1 chayote squash, cut into bite-size pieces, none more than 1/2 inch thick 1 cauliflower, cut into bite sized pieces 1 small onion, diced 2 tsp butter 2 tsp olive oil 1/4 C hot water 2 Tbsp italian seasoning Pinch of curry powder 1/8 C sherry Heat oil and butter in a large pan, preferably a wok with a lid Saute onion Add chayote a...

Hey there, fellow Trader Joe's fan! Did you know you can browse all of their products on their site and add the ones you want onto a shopping list? Yes, everyone knows that? Well I just figured it out today, so humor me. My site has been popular for Trader Joe's reviews, especially their  Masala Simmer Sauce  (spoiler alert - it's gross). Now I have a list of the tastiest, best value Trader Joe's items. You know I am a cheapskate appreciate the value of a dollar. I also hate to waste food. People totally donate their squishy, black bananas to me all the time. You know I've researched the heck out of this Trader Joe's list, ensuring only the items that are worth it made the cut. Trader Joe's has unique sauces and convenient veggies, making it easy to prepare restaurant-quality meals at home. I don't recommend buying every ingredient from them though. For example, their spatchcocked chicken is a whopping $5.99/lb. That's some expensive chicken! There a...