Monica’s World Famous Chicken Salad

May 27, 2012 by Monica in Bread, Chicken, Entertaining, Events, Salad, Sandwiches, Savory

This chicken salad has been in the making for quite a few years now. When I worked in downtown Miami, many years ago, our offices use to order most of our catering with Perricone’s Marketplace & Café.

And my favorite sandwich in the menu was their World famous Chicken Salad. Their version is prepared with golden raisins, roasted pine nuts, granny smith apples, basil, poached chicken breast and a touch of mayo.

When I moved away, I always missed the sandwich and so, there was nothing to do but try to duplicate it.

And as cooks we know that unless you know the actual recipe, duplications may work against you or for you.

In this case, Perricone’s recipe was a jumping point for my own world famous chicken salad.

Salmon and Asparagus party Sandwiches

May 19, 2012 by Monica in Bread, Entertaining, Events, Quick Meal, Sandwiches, Seafood

The last couple of weeks I have been dealing with some health issues and while everything turned out better than expected, there have been some adjustments, and cooking has been very low in the priority list.

That is why Sweetbites has been a bit “dark”, as they say in the theater.

Then I took a quick little weekend trip to NYC, to meet up with “my people” to do some major wedding planning.

Happy to say, that we accomplished tons in 4 days. Colors are down, flow of event, flowers, décor, wedding dress! Hair, makeup and all the stuff that you think do not take time, until you actually start to talk about it. We had a conversation about cake for hours. Especially when I announced that I did not want one.

I had a major revolt from everyone in the room. Which then erupted in cries that I was crazy and “how I could possibly NOT HAVE CAKE at the wedding”. My MOH even went has far as telling me that she would not attend unless I had cake.

I had no choice guys.

I gave in.

Chili-Grilled Eggplant and Sweet Roasted Pepper Tartlets in Poppy Seed Shells

July 22, 2010 by Monica in Appletizers & Snacks, Baking, Cookbooks, Entertaining, Savory, Tarts, Vegetable

Tom and I love to have dinner parties. Mainly because Tom knows that I like to cook up a storm and then sit back and accept all the praises that our guest will send my our way.

I’m crazy and he loves me – what can I say.

On the last dinner party, we had his best friend and his wife over. We had them numerous times before and they are the type of dinner guest that will pretty much eat anything we put in front of them.

I call it having an adventurous palate.

I love cooking for them.

And the best part? The best friend wife is a vegetarian who lately is venturing into the raw food movement. Which means that she forces me to be an adventurous cook - the best kind if you ask me.