Mother's Day

Eggs Benedict Salad

May 10, 2019

As you can see with this post, and the one earlier in the week, we’re on an Eggs Benedict kick. That’s because it happens to be my mom’s favorite breakfast/brunch dish and Mother’s Day is coming up fast. I wanted to make sure you had some options on what to make this Sunday, just in case you’re anything like me and usually wait until the last minute to plan things out. The best part about this dish, however, is that it’s great any time of the year, not just for Mother’s Day. This Eggs Benedict Salad is featured on this week’s episode of Married and Hungry and I hope you all enjoy it! If you haven’t had a chance to see the episode, make sure you go give it a watch!

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Banana Peanut Butter Cupcakes

May 12, 2017

I’m not sure if you’re aware of this already or not, but I happen to know for a fact that moms really love cupcakes. So since Mother’s Day is right around the corner, I think these Banana Peanut Butter Cupcakes are a great way to show your mom (or all the moms in your life) just how much you care for them. If they’re anything like my mamma—who literally has kept every single craft and gift my sisters and I have given her throughout the years—then I can guarantee you that they definitely love something homemade. I’ve said it once and I’ll say it again and I’ll probably say it for the rest of my life, nothing says I Love You more than something you make yourself, because a gift from the heart means so much more than a gift you can buy at any store….unless it’s like a car or a house because I know my mamma would NEVER say no to a Jaguar or a mansion. Am I right or am I right? So until you can buy your mother that car or house they’ve always wanted, because no one deserves it more, why don’t you get in the kitchen and bake her these cupcakes in the mean time. They’re just as amazing as a car or house, and that’s no joke. Happy Mother’s Day to all the mammas out there, especially mine because she is truly one of a kind.

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Banana Doughnuts with Salted Caramel

May 9, 2016

Let’s be honest, the last thing we want to think about at the start of the week is work. I mean sure, we have work that needs to get done, and to-do’s that need to get crossed off, but let’s put those out of our minds just for a second. We have way more important things to think about, like doughnuts for instance. Doughnuts make Mondays worth living and make Fridays appear closer than they really are. Whether you stop by your local shop on your way to work and pick up a doughnut or two for the drive, or if you make your own, doughnuts need to make a weekly appearance in your life. In all of our lives. Don’t you agree? Lucky for us all, these Banana Doughnuts rolled around in cinnamon sugar and served with salted caramel for dipping are here to save the day. It’s a good way to use up those ripe bananas on the counter that continue to call out your name. You can make banana bread any other day. Today is about these doughnuts with salted caramel.

You know what else is here to save the day? Sliders. Yeah, you read that right. Sliders. Speaking of tiny hamburgers (smooth unexpected transition there, Jonathan) did you know that I wrote a book all about sliders?! I did! And just in case you were living under a rock and missed my big announcement last week, my first cookbook The Slider Effect is now up for preorder! You can read all about it here in last week’s cookbook update post! If you preorder now, for a limited time, you’ll receive an exclusive e-book with 5 recipes not included in the book! All you have to do is forward your order confirmation or a screenshot of your confirmation to theslidereffect@gmail.com. The ebook has three slider recipes, one bun recipe and one sauce recipe. It’s a great preview of what’s to come from the actual book on June 28th! This is my very first cookbook, and so I’m very excited to share this ride with you all. Thank you for all of your support and for continuing to listen to me going on and on about it! These doughnuts though, am I right?! Woof.

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Strawberry Pistachio Cupcakes

May 6, 2015

I don’t know if cupcakes are still a thing or not (I’m behind on a lot of food trends, try not to judge me), but I figured Mother’s Day is the perfect day to bring them on back because let’s face it, mom’s happen to really like cupcakes. That’s a fact, feel free to quote me on that. I know what you must be thinking though, cupcakes are a fad. They’re practically out the door. No one likes them. Much like kale, they’re on their way out, but you know what I say to those cupcake doubters, those cupcakes haters? “What did cupcakes ever do to you?!?!” They’re just trying to live their life. They’re nothing but adorable mini cakes trying to get everyone to like them. That’s all. Nothing else. They’re tiny cakes packed with tons of flavor allowing people to eat as many as possible without guilt because let’s face it, tiny cakes are made to be guilt free. Call me crazy, but I like to believe that they are virtually calorie free. I’m sure that’s how it works. So go ahead and eat as many as you can. Do what you like. Have a ball. Throw a cupcake party. Make sure you invite me though.

One of my all time favorite flavors happens to be pistachio (pistachio almond ice cream is the bee’s knees by the way, but that’s a story for another time), so I think it’s a huge understatement to say that I am super obsessed with this recipe. Okay so if I’m being honest, obsessed doesn’t even begin to describe it. The idea of pistachio cake makes me all sorts of happy and just in case you didn’t already know, let me refresh your memory. These Mini Pistachio Boston Cream Pies are all that’s right in the world. Nothing screams fancy schmancy more than miniature versions of one of my favorite desserts. That was when my eyes were opened for the first time.

I know that not everyone has a mom like mine who loves BBQ, so I’m sure the latest post, Strawberry Rhubarb BBQ Wings might not be everyone’s go-to Mother’s Day recipe. But have no fear, I’ve got you covered. I thought it best to share a recipe on the other end of the spectrum as well because I consider myself a fair and balanced kind of guy. Where there’s a savory post, there has to be a dessert. So here we are cupcake recipe on hand, and not just any cupcake but a super delicious cupcake at that. Get in the kitchen and bake up something sweet for the moms in your life. They deserve all of the cupcakes. After all, they carried us for all of those months and fed us and raised us and taught us everything we know. If being the number one super women in all the world doesn’t deserve a cupcake, then I don’t know what does. My mom deserves all the cupcakes and so much more.

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B3 Doughnuts: Bourbon Blueberry Basil

May 10, 2013

It seems almost silly to celebrate Mother’s Day. We put so much pressure and emphasis on this one day in particular. Just one day out of the year to praise and pamper the women who gave birth to us. One day dedicated, especially, to the ladies who raised us and put (perhaps still do) our needs in front of theirs, each and every day. One day isn’t enough to show the amount of love and gratitude we have for these women. How could we possibly fit it all into 24 measly little hours? Everyday should be Mother’s Day. After all, they were parents to us every day, not just one day in May when they felt like it. No, they were there holding our hands when we were scared. Feeding us soup when we were sick. Making us laugh when we were sad. Singing us Happy Birthday when everyone else forgot or were to busy to care. These were normal occurrences that happened on the daily and without so much as a thought or hesitation. They were super heroes when we needed them to be because who else would or could be? We know all this and yet we somehow forget that they deserve so much more than just one day out of the 365.

So let’s celebrate their love and dedication everyday. Let’s thank them for being there for us and for all that they did, and still do, more than just once a year. Let’s throw this May day out the window and create our own rules. From now on Mother’s Day is everyday—or subsequently Father’s Day as well—because we owe it to them. Because they deserve it. Because we wouldn’t be here without them.

I could go on record to say that my mother is the best mother any son or daughter could ask for. I could go on and on about the woman who carried me for all those months (as she likes to point out in moments of guilt but I have to remind her that I did her a favor; she only carried me for 7 months). I could reminisce and share stories as to why my mother is the greatest, numero uno, A#1, mother in all the world. Sure, I could do all those things but I’m positive I’m not the only one who feels that way towards their mamma. Also I’m not sure I would even know how or where to begin. So this is dedicated to the woman who taught me everything I know. Dedicated to the days you’d drop me off at school and pick me up. Dedicated to the mornings you’d sing and dance for me to wake up. Dedicated to the moments when you were right (which was like always). To all the answers you had. To the special psychic abilities that freaked me out, the ones only a mother possessed. The jokes you told. The games we played. The meals you cooked. The strength you had. The hardships you survived. Devoted to the days you’d tell me to stop jumping on the bed because I’d get hurt—a handful of stitches above my left eye later—I finally understood you had indescribable super powers to look into the future. Above all this is to the love and commitment you have for your three children. We wouldn’t even be a quarter of the people we are today if it wasn’t for you. Now three grown adults who owe it all to you. With all the love in the world, I thank you.

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