Kitchy Cooking

It's National Wine Day today, and I don't know about you but I could really use a glass. While a is great, a is even better! Plus, since it's wine and not hard it's low ABV! This classic Kitty Highball fits the bill, is absolutely and so easy to make! Cheers!
---------
Kitty Highball

3 oz. red wine
5 - 6 oz. gingerale

Fill a highball glass with ice. Add the wine and top with gingerale. Garnish with a twist of lemon and serve.

It's season! I love those little red . They're delicious on their own, but they also make great . Pastries like these Orange Strawberry Muffins which are up .

Are you an Easter or Easter person? If you prefer brunch, I've got the perfect for you. This Toad in a Hole has everything; part , part sausage, it's 100% delicious and the perfect main course for a big .

Last week I made a Toronto . This week's King Cole Cocktail is almost identical except for the . It's another great sipper that bridges that chilly time between winter and spring.

If you love , these Red Wine Lamb Chops with Dried Fruit are for you! Nestled between dried cherries and apricots and swimming in a rich, , these are perfect for a chilly winter night. They're up .

Tomorrow is National Strawberry Day, so how about a to celebrate? This Strawberry Season is chock full of from the homemade strawberry infused vodka to the fresh muddled strawberries.

Looking for simple you can get on the table in about 30 minutes? This Baked Polenta with Sausage is it! The secret? A tube of pre-made polenta that you can pick up at any grocery store. The is up .

's Day is Monday, and while I'm all for enjoying a or two, you don't need to get liquored up to enjoy the day. Believe it or not there are plenty of times I don't want an alcoholic . Sometimes I just want something fun and bubbly.

Well, turns out there are plenty of alternatives for that. Alternatives like .

Optimist is a non alcoholic spirit that comes in 3 flavors and is a great option when you want to enjoy a without any aftereffects. A drink like this sweet, bubbly Be True.
-----------
Be True

2 oz. Optimist Bright
1 oz. Hibiscus syrup
Citrus tonic

Place Optimist and syrup in a shaker. Add ice and shake until chilled.
Strain into a highball glass filled with ice. Top with citrus tonic (I used ) and enjoy!

Do you like one pot ? I love them because it makes cleanup so dang easy!

This Roasted Salmon and Orzo is just such a dish. Everything is made in 1 skillet and the end result is a delicious healthy that's perfect any night of the week.

We made it! 15 in 15 days! We're ending with a real sparkler and the perfect way to start a brand new year.

are a great option for a new year's , but why not take them to another level with these Shimmering Ciders. They're delicious and full of flavor thanks to the spiced .

Happy New Year everyone! Here's to an amazing 2022.
----------
Shimmering Cider
1/4 tsp. edible gold glitter
4 oz. spiced cider (I use )
3 oz.

Mix all ingredients together in a champagne flute and serve.
#2022

I love when it's cold and rainy, and nothing is more comforting that a rich, cheesy .

This Cheesy Baby Dutch Yellow Potato Casserole from is a great side to have in your pocket going into these chilly months. And the fact that you don't even have to peel the , makes it an easy choice when you're looking for something warm and creamy to serve with your favorite or .

The full can be found here: https://www.melissas.com/blogs/side-dish/cheesy-potato-casserole

Who out there loves and together? I do! This time of year I just can't get enough of that combo! Give me all the peppermint mochas, chocolate mint brownies or and I'll be very happy.

That's why I whipped up this Chocolate Peppermint Cookie Pie. While it only serves about 10 - 12 people, it looks great on a table. It's up just in time for all those parties and swaps you have lined up.

It's National Repeal Day today! So, why not shake up this Chicago Fizz in honor of the day Prohibition ended. It's also the perfect color for this season thanks to the once of . The is up .

We're right in the middle of ! Have you had your fill of sufganyot, kugel and latkes? Of course not! There are still 4 nights left and plenty of time to make all the delicious food.

But if you've already made the classic latkes, why not change it up with this version? They're just as good, a little lighter and full of green goodness! The is up .

Looking for the perfect for the in your life? I just post my gift guide which includes cook and as well as some delicious and options.

Thanksgiving may be over, but now there's , and New Year's to think about. With all those , you're going to need a , savory to munch on (and help soak up all those cocktails). This Garlic Shallot Focaccia should do the trick.

While I always serve it alongside a hearty pasta dish, you could easily snack on it with just a glass of wine as well.

Garlic Shallot Focaccia

1-1/3 cup warm water
2 teaspoons sugar
1 (.25 ounce) packet active dry yeast
3 cups flour
1/4 cup Garlic
1/4 cup shallots, chopped
2 teaspoons Arctic Thyme salt
1 teaspoon fresh thyme chopped

Add water and sugar to a large bowl, and stir until sugar is dissolved. Stir in yeast, then let sit for 5 - 10 minutes until yeast is foamy.

Mix in flour, oil and salt and knead for about 5 minutes until smooth. Form into a round ball.

Transfer dough to an oiled bowl. Cover with a damp cloth, set in a warm place and let dough rise for about an hour, or until it's doubled in size.

Turn dough out onto a floured surface and roll out into a rectangle until it's about a 1/2-inch thick. Transfer to an oiled 1/2 sheet pan, cover with cloth and let rise for another 20-30 minutes.

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Poke holes all over the dough with your fingers. Drizzle more garlic olive oil all over the dough. Sprinkle with shallots, thyme and more salt.

Bake for 20 - 25 minutes, or until bread is golden and cooked through. Slice and serve with your favorite wine.

Looking for an easy that will serve several so you can focus on the ? This Fall Sangria will do the trick, and you probably already have everything you need in your fridge and pantry so you won't have to make another trip to the store. (Hubs has already been once today. 🤦‍♀️)

Fall Sangria
1 apple, cored and sliced
1 pear, sliced
1 orange, sliced
1 bottle of red wine (I used a red blend)
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup
1/2 cup cinnamon syrup
2 (12 oz.) cans ginger ale

To make cinnamon syrup: mix 1/2 cup sugar with 1 cup water over low flame. Stir until sugar dissolves. Remove from heat. Add 4-5 cinnamon sticks and let steep for at least 20 minutes. Strain. Syrup will keep in fridge for at least a week.

To make Sangria: Mix all ingredients except the ginger ale in a tall pitcher. Refrigerate for at least 2 hours.
Just before serving add the ginger ale. Pour into rocks glasses filled with ice and enjoy!

Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Looking for an easy to serve at ? The Stone Fence is literally in a glass. Made with your choice of , or , and , it's a delicious that will absolutely carry you all the way through the .

The and behind the are up .

Are you a fan of advent calendars? We get them every year. And these days there are so many options, whatever you're into, whatever your price point, I promise there's a calendar for you.

Today I posted some of my favorite and options. Hit the link in the profile to check them out and place your orders to get them by December 1st.

Wanna turn that boring weeknight into something really special? Add a couple spoonfuls of puree to some grits.

This warm & cozy Cinnamon Chicken with Pumpkin Sage Grits is a delicious dinner option any night of the week. It's up .

It's now easier to send Kitchy Cooking a message.

It's going to be a since is Sunday. So, if you're still looking for the perfect , look no further than this Bloody Mule.

Made with ginger from , cinnamon and cranberry juice, this is a red with some serious bite. The is up .

Had a phenomenal time at the new in Redondo Beach. If you're looking for a steak in the South Bay, this is the place. But the meat isn't the only reason to venture south.

The from bar manager Rafael Ramirez are top notch. Hubs and I enjoyed 4 over the course of the night. They were all outstanding, but the definitely captured our hearts.

Chin Music - , Cynar, fresh ginger and cucumber

Coquito - A creamy, homemade tipple that's dessert in a glass. (It's not on the menu, so be sure to ask for it.)

Coffee & Ci******es - , aquavit, , orgeat and "a spritz of peaty ". My favorite of the night hands down!

Steak Tartare for the appetizer and a delicious slice of German Chocolate Cake for dessert.

The cool winds have started to blow which means it's time to pull out the !

This rich Short Rib & Carrot Ragu is easy to throw together and will have your house smelling like an Italian bistro. Serve it with pappardelle and some crusty bread and you have a hearty that will take you all the way through fall.

Everything may be and right now, but there's another fall fruit out there who deserves just as much love: the .

While great for appetizers and desserts, figs also make wonderful . And since they're in season until November, there's still time shake up the Gettin' Figgy With It.

It's National Coffee Day! But who says you have to your ? Why couldn't you it? Well, now you can with these decadent Coffee Chocolate Chip Cookies. They're so rich and so gooey and so full of delicious coffee flavor thanks to , you won't need a cup to get you through the rest of the day. Just one of these will do the trick.

Want one? The is up and there's still 13 hours to whip up a batch before National Coffee Day ends. 😉

Peaches and blueberries are one of my favorite fruit combinations. And since they're both around for a few more weeks, there's still time to make this delicious Peach Blueberry Buckle that's up .

There's a lot going on this week. First it's , so you'll be seeing and riffs on negronis all over IG. Then today is both Yom Kippur and Mexican Independence Day.

So, in honor of all that, I created the Brand New Day, a riff with .
-------------
Brand New Day

1.5 oz. Gran Centenario Reposado
1 oz. Aperol75 oz. sweet vermouth

Pour all ingredients into a mixing glass. Add ice and stir until chilled.
Strain into a rocks glass filled with ice. Garnish with a twist of orange and enjoy!
---------

If you want to mix up this , Gran Centenario is offering a deal through 9/19 where if you order one of their or buy a bottle of their delectable , they'll reimburse you up to $6. Just upload your receipt to grancentenario.com/celebrateonus.

A cool salad is a great summer staple for or . But add some with a little seaweed salt and now you have a showstopper! I love this for a picnic in the park or an outdoor concert. It's up .