Spotted Dick w/ Boozy Custard Sauce inspired by Logan | #XMenu

*light spoilers*

This film takes place in 2029, and we see that Logan is deteriorating, both inside and out, and is pretty dependent on alcohol. He and Caliban are taking care of Dr. Xavier in a deserted building in Texas, while Logan saves money to buy a Sunseeker, so that they can sail away from everything.

Homemade Peppermint Mini Marshmallows | Krampus #FoodnFlix

It's December, and that means it's time for a Christmas edition of Food 'n Flix, where, along with a talented group of bloggers, I create a recipe inspired by a chosen film. Since I'm hosting this month, I created the challenge, asking everybody to create a recipe inspired by the 2015 horror-comedy, Krampus!

While the original legend is definitely pee-your-pants scary, I didn't personally think this PG-13 movie was scary at all. A bit dark and creepy in parts, but not scary. I actually own a copy and have seen it several times, the most recent time my 12 and 14 year olds watched it with me. While I did see my youngest jump once, they both agreed that while they'd never want to be face to face with the Krampus of lore, the movie  itself was just creepy. But hey, my kids grew up with Orcs and Dementors, so...

Creamed Pearl Onions w/ Bacon & Brandy | The Witches of Eastwick #FoodnFlix

We are heading back to the 80's and into the kitchen with The Witches of Eastwick for this month's edition of Food 'n Flix! Based on the John Updike novel of the same name (which I have not read), the movie is about three friends living in the town of Eastwick, Rhode Island who are dissatisfied with the state of their lives.

Alex (Cher) is a widowed artist and mother of one (at least I think she had 1 child). Sukie (Michelle Pfeiffer) is a divorced mother of 6 little girls who works as a reporter for the local newspaper and still manages to garden. Jane (Susan Sarandon) is a recently divorced cellist and music teacher who is unable to have children. They get together on Thursday nights to drink martinis and discuss life.

Apricot Riesling Mustard

I have a wee addiction to condiments. My collection of homemade, gifted, and storebought jars and bottles always get to a point where they've taken over both the pantry and refrigerator shelves. I know something's got to give when I can't find a space to put any actual food (aka, food that isn't a condiment), yet there doesn't seem to be anything to eat beyond a mustard and jam sandwich. But it would be a sensational Spicy Mango Mustard and Vanilla Moscato Peach Jam sandwich!

Now is one of those times. This amazing batch of homemade mustard was the tipping point—the absolute last jar I could squeeze into the fridge. But it was worth it. Yellow mustard seeds plump overnight in a sweet Riesling wine before they get a blitz in the food processor. The crazy heat of the mustard is mellowed by the addition of some good apricot jam.

Champagne Jelly inspired by Failure to Launch | #FoodnFlix

Kit: Hey...Paula...good news. It's Champagne Thursday.

Paula: It's Friday.

Kit: Uh, yeah. Thursday came twice this week.

So I'm totally giving my inspiration away early this month...but really that's only part of it (the main part, but still). If you're familiar with Champagne Thursday, that means you're familiar with Failure to Launch, our Food 'n Flix pick to kick of 2016. I couldn't think of a better way to kick off a new year since Champagne (or a least sparkling wine) and new year's celebrations go hand in hand.

I'd seen Failure to Launch a few times already, once when it first came out on dvd and again in bits and parts when it's been on tv. But I don't remember ever noticing just how much food is actually in this flick, starting with the opening sequence when our lead male Tripp (Matthew McConaughey) staggers out of bed and onto the Santitas Tortilla Chip bag on his bedroom floor. But I'm getting ahead of myself.

In case you haven't actually seen this one, in a nutshell, it is a rom-com about 30-something Tripp who still lives at home with his parents, who, in a push to regain a little "them" time again, hire Paula (Sarah Jessica Parker), who makes a living of covertly enticing grown men to move out of their parents homes, to help them.

(Almost) Nigella's Mini Cranberry Mince Pies | #FridayPieDay

We're having pie for Christmas—it's #FridayPieDay! Can I tell you something? I've never tried a traditional mincemeat pie. I don't know why. It wasn't something I grew up on, and apparently it's just another thing I've been "saving for later" for the twenty-plus years since I started making my own pie. I figured since it's a very traditional Christmas offering (um, in the UK), now would be the perfect time to give it a go.

Although I admit that I didn't go very traditional. I didn't use the really old-school variety that actually contained lamb or beef and I didn't make the traditional dark, currant-filled mince, either. Instead, I tried Nigella's cranberry mince—because cranberries!

But first, a little glimpse into the history of mincemeat. I mentioned that it was originally made with meat, but according to Why Christmas? it was also oval-shaped to represent the manger that Jesus slept in, the top crust representing his swaddling clothes.

Cranberry Port Ring (Jellied Cranberry Sauce)

I've mentioned my fear of the jiggly cylinder that had a prime spot on the Thanksgiving tables of my youth before, but recently I decided to look at it in a new light. I know some pretty diehard fans of jellied cranberry sauce. Like my grandma, they have special serving dishes made specifically to fit that "can" shape when laid down on its side. They slice it ever just so, stacking a disk or two lovingly on their plate.

I decided that it was time to reevaluate my position on the stuff. After all, I didn't think that I liked cranberries at all as a kid unless they were in the form of juice or chewy dried bits, but it turns out that I actually can't get enough of them. For the past 20 years, that bowl of glistening ruby goodness that is whole-berry cranberry sauce is one of my favorite things on the table. And yet, I've seen the faces on some of my older family members when they realize that, once again, there is no can-shaped sauce to be found.

Fresh Peach and Whiskey Ice Cream

I've got a double-whammy to share with you today—Eat a Peach Day and this month's round of she made, ella hace with my friend Leslie from La Cocina de Leslie! Two reasons for one delicious post. Well, I guess it's actually two since both Leslie and I are sharing a recipe. Hmmm, so maybe it's a triple-whammy. Or would that make it a quadruple-whammy? I'll let you ponder that (or not) while I turn my attention to PEACHES!

My kids went back to school this past week, but we still have another month of summer to go—that means tons of fresh produce is still rolling in. My kitchen looks a little ridiculous right now. My counters and table are overrun by tomatoes, chiles, zucchini and yellow squash, corn on the cob, and green beans. I'm not even the one with a garden, my neighbors are. Not that I'm complaining (much), but I find myself without any space in my teeny-tiny kitchen to prepare or put it all up!

So what do I do? Hit up the market and roadside stands for deep ruby plums and fuzzy peaches. You know, so I can fill in the tiny gaps and form teetering pyramids. The fruit disappears in a flash, though, so I had to snag a couple of those peaches to make this ice cream. Yeah, I'm still in full-on ice cream mode, too.

Whiskey Caramel Apple Pie inspired by August: Osage County | #FoodnFlix

"My last refuge, my books: simple pleasures, like finding wild onions by the side of the road, or requited love."

August: Osage County is one of those movies I only really wanted to watch once in my life, but wound up watching twice. I saw it when it was first released on DVD. A tragic and heart-wrenching story with moments of humor that soon turned to disgust. The one character that I would have liked to see more of was the one that departed the screen early. I did think that the whole cast was pretty amazing and they played their parts to a T.

In simplest terms, August: Osage County is a drama that hints at dark comedy that is based on a Pulitzer Prize-winning play of the same name. The story takes place in Oklahoma and centers around the Weston family—the main characters being:

• Violet - mother, wife, pill addict with cancer who runs over with piss, vinegar, and a venomous tongue
• Barbara, Karen, and Ivy - the adult daughters, each with their own distinct personalities, paths, and problems
• Beverly - father, husband, poet, and alcoholic whose death brings them all back together

Pimm's Cup Ice Pops

Summer is the perfect time to enjoy icy cold cocktails. From frosty blended drinks, to tall sweaty glasses filled with ice cubes that clink and slosh every time you lift them, there's just something about raising a toast under the hot sun. Of course, sitting alone under a shade tree isn't so bad, either.

As much as I enjoy sipping, it's no secret that I enjoy turning my cocktails into boozesicles even more. There were these Tequila Sunrise Ice Pops, and these Cherry Mojito Ice Pops, not to mention these Lemon Lime Margarita Creamsicles—and that's just to name a few. Sure, it's convenient to have a portable frozen cocktail, but it's the whimsy and nostalgia that get me every time.

Boozy Raspberry Marshmallows (Chambord Marshmallows)

If you look very closely, you'll see a faint, dusty rose tinge to these marshmallows. That, my friends, is the boozy portion of this homemade marshmallows recipe. I've been meaning to try my hand at boozy marshmallows for a while now. I was aiming for a somewhat delicate flavor; maybe something a bit floral or perhaps fruity.  After a quick liquor cabinet inventory, Chambord was the winner.

Chambord is a beautiful reddish-purple raspberry liqueur, so at the thought of using it, visions of deep pink marshmallows danced in my head. Imagine my surprise when the color was beaten into submission. I watched as the whisk gradually worked in the molten sugar and erased all but a faint trace of color I'd imagined.

Lemon-Lime Margarita Creamsicles

This one's for all the adults out there, doing their best to survive the hot summer sun. Whether you're having a cook-out, relaxing by the pool, or doing some sweaty yard work, you deserve a little frozen glory on a stick that's made just for you.

In case you're wondering what "frozen glory on a stick" is, well...it's an icy cold popsicle that is sweet and creamy and tangy and boozy ALL AT THE SAME TIME! Kids shouldn't be the only ones running around with sticky chins, hands, arms and permagrins without a care in the world. You know, for at least a solid five minutes...because that's about how long it takes before those cares come rushing back full-force. It's a magnificent five minutes, though.

These boozy pops feature the new Sandra Lee Cocktail Time™ Margaritas. What are these margaritas I speak of? Well, after doing her research (aka testing all of the pre-made and ready-to-serve margaritas and cocktails on the market) and finding it hard to name one that consistently tasted great, Sandra Lee decided to develop her own line. Available in key lime and strawberry flavors, they are infused with real fruit, pure cane sugar, premium blue agave silver tequila, triple sec liqueur, and other natural flavors.

Beer Braised Pork Carnitas | #BeerMonth

I'm usually pretty traditional in my cooking of carnitas (or literally, "little meat")—pork, salt, and a little bit of water is really all it takes to make the best carnitas you'll ever eat in your life. Be it the traditional stove-top method of combining water and pork lard and simmering chunks of pork in it until the water evaporates and leaves the now-tender meat to crisp up in the lard, or my preferred oven-roasted method that uses the fat rendered from the pork bits themselves to baste and crisp them up. Either way, tender meat enclosed in salty crisp and sticky bits are little morsels of heaven on earth.

But today, in honor of beer month, I decided to step out of my puritanical-carnitas box and do the braising of the pork in a good, amber lager. I also added some spice beyond salt. It's gettin' crazy up in here. Crazy delicious.

Simple, rustic food is what I tend to gravitate towards, and this version of carnitas really fits the bill. A stove top braise in a fragrant beer bath and about 90 minutes is all it takes to achieve a plate piled high with tender pork. Once it is tender, you remove the lid and let the liquid evaporate and concentrate, inviting the whole garlic cloves and strips of lime zest to melt into it.

Irish Porter Cake inspired by The Quiet Man | #FoodnFlix

This month's Food 'n Flix pick is an oldie, originally released back in 1952, starring John Wayne and Maureen O'Hara—The Quiet Man. This flick is set in the fictional town of Innisfree, Ireland...not to be confused with the isle of Innisfree, an actual place made famous in a poem by William Butler Yates, located on Ireland's western coast.

Our main character, Sean Thornton, is an Irishman by decent, although he grew up in Pittsburgh. Looking to start over (I won't tell you why—I'll let you watch the movie to find out), he leaves the states and moves to this Irish town that he's known only through his mother's stories.

Though not particularly a foodie movie, there is plenty of inspiration to be had. First of all, it's March—and the movie is set in Ireland (exactly why I'm sharing this post on St. Paddy's Day). But even if it wasn't the month where everybody taps into their inner Irish, I would have went the same route. I can't think of Ireland without fond memories...from divided plots of land in all shades of green with sheep roaming freely to the whiskey distilleries and many glasses of beer to the breathtaking cliffs of the Giant's Causeway to the brown bread—Ireland will forever be a part of me.

Anise-scented Ice Cream w/ Candied Fennel Seeds

What’s Galentine’s Day? Oh, it’s only the best day of the year. Every February 13th, Leslie Knope and her lady friends leave their husbands and their boyfriends at home and just kick it breakfast style. Ladies celebrating ladies. It’s like Lilith Fair, minus the angst. Plus, frittatas!

Today, some of my food blogging lady friends and I have done just that. We've left our husbands and boyfriends at home, and we're kickin' it around the table, sharing stories of other awesome ladies who have inspired or influenced us in some way over the years. I don't think any of us will go as far as Leslie's 5000 word essay today, but...

Today, I'm remembering my grandma (my dad's mom). I never got the chance to know her as an adult, since she passed away when I was a freshman in high school. Fortunately, I have lots of good memories of her through the years. Red-headed, fiesty (that combination of Irish and Native American blood running through her veins made sure that was a trait), independent, and opinionated as all get out.

Whiskey Raspberry Glazed Duck Breasts

Silly me, I got married on Valentine's Day, therefore condemning myself to a lifetime of anniversaries with over-booked, over-crowded restaurant dinners. Fortunately, the husband and I are resourceful. Instead of fighting those dinner crowds, we opt instead for eating out for lunch; {knock on wood} we've never once had to brave a crowded restaurant.

It was late morning when we said our vows, and afterwards, all the friends and family who were there (which were not many) headed over to a local Mexican restaurant for a celebratory lunch. It's sort of become a tradition for us to eat at that same restaurant for lunch every year on our anniversary. It's unspoken, but that's where we always end up.

Bloody Mary Chicken Wings

When January rolls around, so many people are focused on finding recipes to back up their resolutions; this usually means lighter fare. Words like healthy, skinny, and lightened-up take over the search bar. I totally get that. The holidays kick my butt, too. For me though, January triggers something entirely different—a craving for chicken wings!

I think wings are a natural accompaniment to January. Or maybe I should say they're a natural accompaniment to football and the art of gathering around the television eating things with your fingers. Now, I realize that this is actually the tail end of the season, but for one reason or another, it's bowl games and play-offs that trigger my desire for wings.

I'm pretty sure I look like a madwoman, preparing for the chicken apocalypse, as I stack every last package of chicken wings and chicken drumettes from the cooler into my shopping cart. Should I even mention what happens once I get all that chicken home? Let's just say that if a fridge was a pair of jeans, I'd need a pair of pliers to zip them up.

Crockpot Black Bean Soup

I'm still hunkered down over here in Frozenville. Stock pots, Dutch ovens, and slow cookers crowd my counters and stove top. Containers of soup disappear from the shelves of my fridge almost as soon as they get there. There's no mistaking the fact that it's mid-January in Northwestern Indiana.

I love coming home after a day out and about to the welcoming smells a slow cooker conjures up. Who doesn't. But tell me, do you ever let your slow cooker work its magic while you're nestled snugly in your warm bed? It's a whole 'nother level of happiness. The scent sort of envelopes the quiet house in a comforting blanket, and invokes good dreams.

What's that you say? You don't feel like waking up to a hearty bowl of stew? That's okay, cool it down and refrigerate it for later. Everybody knows soup only gets better with time. Or better yet, ladle some into thermoses to warm your loved ones back up during lunch at work or school.

Golden Raisins in Chardonnay Syrup over Baked Brie

I'm that girl at the party hanging out by the cheese tray...

And today I'm holding fort over at Food Fanatic with a wheel of melty Brie that's topped with tipsy golden raisins in a luxurious Chardonnay syrup that is flecked with vanilla beans, aka Baked Brie with Chardonnay Raisins.

Visit me there to read more about my love of cheese and grab the Baked Brie with Chardonnay Raisins recipe!

Vassilopitta (New Year Wish Cake)

I love hearing people's new year traditions. Whether a tradition between a small family unit, or something native to a region or country, it's so fascinating to get that glimpse into what makes people tick. Growing up, we didn't really have many traditions revolving around welcoming a new year. Unless you count watching Dick Clark, counting down with the ball, and yelling "Happy New Year" as the hour changed, hugs and kisses all around. Okay, I guess that is a tradition in itself. But I'm thinking something beyond that.

A few years ago, I started with the twelve grapes at the twelve strokes of midnight thing. I always prepare five cups of twelve grapes and we try to gobble quickly as the year changes. It's a pretty fun tradition, but I don't like that it takes away from the kissing and hugging. I mean, giggles and gagging are always a good time, but I miss kisses and hugs with loved ones on the hour.

One tradition that I started myself when the kids were young is drinking mimosas all day on New Year's day. I used to pop the cork at midnight—and then I had kids. I just couldn't keep my eyes open long enough to enjoy a whole bottle of champagne before passing out (from exhaustion). So, I'd wait and the hubs and I would pop the cork as soon as we woke up...full bottles of orange juice (and maybe some other fun juices and additions) ready in the fridge. Don't worry (I know you were), I buy sparkling juices for the kids.