I love Florida. I love the weather there. I love the shape of the state (it's a cool shape!) I love Disney World (been there 4 times, but for some Disney loyalists, 4 is child's play!) and I love the vibe. Needless to say, Florida is one of my favorite vacation destinations: short plane ride from Connecticut, lots of attractions to visit, beaches, palm trees, tropical drinks... did I mention BEACHES? Sure I live 20 minutes from a beach (but does a beach on the Long Island Sou

I've been eating avocados long before Avocado Toast became popular: guacamole & chips, smeared on bacon, egg & avocado breakfast sandwiches, and of course on cobb salads. So, it was no surprise to me, when avocado toast as a meal became super popular. Avocados are the BEST! And because my love for Mexican food runs deep, I integrate avocados into A LOT of my meals -- funny thing is: avocados do have that short shelf life. So you will see me touching avocados in the grocery st

One of the most recognizable attributes of a standard French Martini is the frothy foam on the top after the ingredients have been shaken in the shaker and immediately poured into the martini glass. I LOVE that froth! It means the pineapple juice is in there and I can almost smell the raspberries of the raspberry liquor! But just what if... what if there was a little "twist" to this classic martini cocktail? It wouldn't be a French Martini without these 3 ingredients: vodka,

My kids are always asking me to go to the local convenience store to get junk food and the $1 slushies. I'm all for a bargain and a $1 slushie is perfect for my wallet so I don't mind. Keeps the kids happy and it doesn't break the bank. And in my never-ending quest for fun & unique cocktails, I of course put 2-and-2 together and knew I could make a spiked slushie for the adults. 'Cause why should the kids have all the fun with their blue raspberry, cherry, or cola $1 slushies

My mother, Anne Marie, perfected this recipe after trying different variations and settled on this final version for her many bridge and poker games, family dinners, and quick weeknight meals. It's filled with so many great flavors: tomatoes, artichoke hearts, olives -- but they all work together in harmony. Keep in mind, you can substitute different pasta shapes or swap black olives for Kalamata olives and the result will be delicious either way! Ingredients: 1 tablespoon ol

I love a Margarita -- frozen, on the rocks, strawberry, mango, you name it! -- but I especially LOVE a Spicy Margarita, lots of jalapeno, lots of spice, lots of salt... and SKINNY is the name of the game too... bathing suit season is upon on and who wants a few extra pounds on them when they can avoid it. Not only is this margarita low-cal, but it's fresh and delicious too! And let me be honest, the margarita pre-made mixes are just not cutting it for me anymore. Once I tried

With Cinco de Mayo right around the corner, I texted my cousin, Paul (who is a big foodie like me) and asked him for his homemade guacamole recipe. He would make his version of guacamole for all the family parties and family vacations and it's DELICIOUS and so easy! Pre-pandemic, my immediate and extended family would take a vacation every year... 16 of us!... usually staying in a rental home all under one roof... I will definitely write more about THOSE experiences soon (but

There are a lot of different types of cuisine that I love and Mexican food hits the top of the list! So, when a friend of mine posted on social media the Rojo's Mexican Style Street Corn Dip, I was intrigued and I rushed to the store to try it. One word: DELICIOUS! I put that stuff on EVERYTHING: crackers, roasted peppers, crudites -- even as a topping for grilled chicken! But then I panicked and thought... what if the store RUNS OUT of this delicious, scrumptious dip??? So I

Well, actually, I visited Punta Mita, Mexico with my immediate and extended family back in April, 2015. But I recently discovered all the pictures from that trip on my old phone and with Cinco de Mayo in a few days, I thought it would be nice to take a trip down Memory Lane. Punta Mita, Mexico is a town located on the north end of Banderas Bay in the Mexican state of Nayarit. We flew into Puerto Vallarta and then took a van ride through town and about 30 minutes later we arri