The grill is hot, the burgers are sizzling and the cooler is full of ice. The dog days of summer are here and there is nothing more fun than getting together with family and friends for a cook out. My favorite thing about summer parties is seeing all the delicious treats everyone comes up with. Inviting guests to bring along a summer side dish is a great to way plump up the dinner table and test their creativity.
Potato salad is great summer standby bound to please even the fussiest of eaters. For this recipe I worked with my friends over at Hickory Farms to jazz up a summer potluck go to with a taste of their Sweet Hot Mustard. This hot twist on a cool summer classic is the perfect addition to your next backyard gathering.
Just last month I had the opportunity to experience one of the newest hot spots in Denver, Uncorked Kitchen. The unique dinner / wine / cooking school opened last fall and the husband-wife team behind the business is reinventing how dinner out can be a fully hands-on experience. The beautiful two story location can be found just north of Park Meadows mall, featuring stunning views of the sunset from the patio and kitchens. Would-be chef’s join culinary experts in the kitchen where they learn how to create a masterpiece before sitting as a group to enjoy the meal.
Most cooking classes leave you with a handful of tips, a new recipe and a couple of bites of the finished product. At Uncorked Kitchen I had the pleasure of learning how to effortlessly whip up traditional French cuisine and enjoyed the fruit of our labors for dinner that evening. The three course meal included Camembert and Caramelized Onions Tartlets, Potato Galette, Pork Tenderloin Medallions with cider sauce and Tarte Tatin. While the names at first sounded foreign and complicated the finished product was perfect, and I learned just how easy it would be to integrate French cooking styles into my own kitchen.
This month’s reading challenge selections are HEARTY long reads so I’ll only include 3 books for you to check out during July. If you’ve been following along since March [because why start in January when everything is SO busy] you should be through 25 books this year – exactly halfway. Let me know what your thoughts are about this month’s books and shout out how far along you on in your 50 book challenge! Continue Reading…
If there are two things I’m a HUGE fan of it’s vacations and saving money. Since we’re right in the middle of summer now is the perfect time to start planning your next vacation this fall – or saving a little extra before your upcoming trip in August. We’re very lucky to have wonderful jobs that allow us time to travel so exploring the country (and world) is a top priority of mine. Continue Reading…
Welcome to My Bliss
