Homemade Fresh Tomato Salsa & Guacamole

Memorial Day has come and gone so that means summertime is nearly upon us! And what's an essential component to any summer get-together? Chips and salsa! Even better when its a deliciously homemade fresh tomato salsa and homemade guacamole too! Both are so simple to make but offer so much more than the run-of-the-mill store bought variety that is hastily grabbed at the last minute. I have made both the Salsa and Guacamole on several occasions to rave reviews and now you can too!

This Week in Foodie TV

Iron Chef Michael Symon poses with members of the military during 
the taping of ICA from the Marine Corps Base Hawaii

Iron Chef America airs a special episode from the historic Marine Corps Base Hawaii that pairs Iron Chefs with experiences cooks from the Army, Navy, and Marine branches of the military. Plus, just in time for summer, it's "Grilling Week" on Food Network!

Summer BBQ Calculator

Happy Memorial Day weekend! It is the day to remember all the brave soldiers that have fought for us and for our country. We appreciate all that you do!

Memorial day is also the unofficial start to Summer! Which means the start of days at the beach, bonfires, hot dogs, s'mores, picnics, warm nights, and BBQ's! So if you plan on hosting a picnic, BBQ or elegant cocktail party, we've got the tools for calculating how much food and drinks you should need for all your summer events.

Ink-Sack. A unique LA sandwich shop

Los Angeles has some of the best eateries around. Many of their restaurants are geared to those who have great taste but little time during lunch breaks. Instead of going through a drive-thru for a quick on the go meal, I have found myself seeking out the little shops with awesome food in a matter of minutes. That is how I came across "Ink-Sack" off Melrose in West Hollywood.

Lessons Learned from Italian Cooking: Tubetti Cacio e Uova

Lessons learned from Italian Cooking #3: Pasta is a blank canvas. You can dress it up with basically anything you have in your fridge, freezer, and pantry. Some of the most basic ingredients such as eggs, cheese, and fresh herbs can come together and create a decadent dish that you will want to share with friends and family.

In this edition of Lessons Learned, I have made

 Tubetti Cacio E Uova: Tubular Macaroni with Cheese and Egg.

This Week in Foodie TV





Chopped meets Food Network Star as the contestants are given a Chopped-inspired dessert mystery basket! That and more found in This Week in Foodie TV.

Peanut Butter Cream Cookies AKA faux "Do-Si-Dos"

I am a sucker for anything peanut butter (throw chocolate in the mix and I am one happy girl!) so I decided to make my version of the popular peanut butter cream Girl Scout Cookies, "Do-Si-Dos!" The recipe was very easy but you have been warned...MILK REQUIRED! Try these out on your family and you will have them hooked on YOUR version of the classic :)

Halfway Homemade: Trader Joes Chicken Skewer Fajitas

Here at Appetito, we want to encourage you to put on that apron, pull out the wooden spoon and get cookin'! But there are times we could all use a little help in the kitchen. That help can come from a cookbook, a cooking show, friends or family there to chop up veggies or toast some bread, or....it can come from store bought items from your local grocer! Hence: "Halfway Homemade."

I decided that I was going to make lunch for my family last week so I raided my parents kitchen for whatever I could find. I saw that they had tortillas, onions, fresh peppers from the garden and cilantro. Instantly, FAJITAS came to mind! But hmm....no steak. No chicken. No shrimp. Can't just have pepper and onion fajitas! But then I noticed the premade Chiptole Chicken Skewers from Trader Joes. Perfect! And so began my halfway homemade lunch.

This Week in Foodie TV

Restaurant: Impossible is in California for the second week in a row, this time in Aptos, CA, where Chef Robert Irvine tries to save the once-successful Ristorante Barolo. That and more in "This Week in Foodie TV!" 

My Mother's Day Menu

Chicken Piccata, Roasted Potatoes, and Sauteed Spinach w/ Bacon & Pine Nuts

A lot of families take Mom out for a lovely brunch or dinner for Mother's Day. I know that for us, being in a restaurant family and having Mother's Day being the busiest day of the year, it was always important for us to do something special for my mom in the morning before my dad had to head to work. Some years we took her out, others we would cook a special breakfast for her. Unfortunately, this year I won't be able to do that for her :( But on the bright side, there is my fiancee's mom to cook for! So if you are looking for some inspiration for that special menu on Mother's Day (or for someone else special on a different occasion), here's what I'll be making:

Appetizer: Parmesan Garlic Stuffed Artichoke
Starter Plate: Penne with Creamy Marinara Sauce
Main Dish: Chicken Piccata with Mushrooms
Side Dishes: Herb Roasted Potatoes & Sauteed Spinach w/ Bacon and Pine Nuts

Fonuts...what are FOnuts?

picture courtesy of Fonuts.com

Fonuts: Origin - faux donuts

"Don't call them a donut"-- fonuts.com

Ok! We won't! But what they? Fonuts are "donuts" (sorry, I didn't know another word for...that word) that are baked or steamed but NEVER fried like a normal donut would be. I got a chance to try these little bites of heaven at an en event and I recommend you take a trip up to LA to try one (or 4..) too!

Foodie TV Shows We Love: "Chopped"

New episodes of Chopped air Tuesdays at 7pm PST
on Food Network

"Chefs, please open your baskets. And for the appetizer round we have.....Mahi Mahi, Candy Cane Beets, Verjus, and Olive Loaf. 20 minutes on the clock, starting.....NOW!"

So raise your hand if you know what at least two of those ingredients are, cause I didn't. Really, you knew verjus is a very acidic juice made by pressing unripe grapes, crab-apples or other sour fruit?!? Or that Olive Loaf is a meatloaf (usually bologna) stuffed with green olives, sweet peppers, basil and garlic?!? Whatever, overachievers. You can put your hands down cause now comes the tough part...try making those four ingredients into a fancy appetizer in just 20 minutes and having it judged by three world-reknowned chefs as part one of a three-stage competition where the winner takes home a cool $10,000 grand prize.

How To...Preserve Lemons!

What to do with leftover lemons, a mason jar, and a ton of salt? Make homemade preserved lemons, of course! 

This Week in Foodie TV

Triple D goes to Guy's "Johnny Garlic's" on Monday's new episode, plus a Friday re-run visits one of the most unique burger joints I have ever been to, "Tioli's Crazee Burger" in San Diego's North Park neighborhood.

No Reservations attends the "Cook It Raw" festival in Japan and Guy Fieri profiles his own restaurant, Johnny Garlic's on Diners, Drive-Ins, & Dives. Read on to hear more about these and what else foodies will be setting their DVRs to this week.

Restaurant ReCreations: Scarpetta's "Spaghetti with Tomato & Basil"

  

The finished product of my Restaurant ReCreation of
Scarpetta's "Spaghetti with Tomato & Basil"

Welcome to the first post in our series, Restaurant ReCreations, where we will take a look at some of your favorite restaurant dishes and explore how you can recreate them right at home in your very own kitchen! We will explore dishes from different cuisines and varying types of restaurants all while trying to keep it simple enough that the most amateur chef in all of us could follow along and turn out a quality interpretation of that restaurant's best offering. And with that in mind, let's jump into our first Restaurant ReCreations adventure!

Beereview: The Bruery Provisions, Old Towne Orange

Craft beer has gained in popularity and has taken the beer industry by storm within the last few years. One place that knows what they are doing when it comes to this industry is "The Bruery Provisions" in Old Towne Orange. Stop by, grab a flight of 5 craft "bru's," a cheese and meat plate and enjoy the smell of hops in the air!

Welcome to Appetíto!

Hello everyone and thank you for visiting Appetíto! This is a joint venture from a food-loving brother and sister who grew up in a family where food was a uniting force that brought people together.

Raised as the children of a restaurant-owning father who emigrated from Italy, our family loves to eat, but also eats to love and the culture of food has come to influence our lives in more ways than we could have imagined. Our intention is for the blog to capture that love and appreciation in the form of sharing experiences with our readers. As you peruse Appetíto, readers will find posts covering a variety of topics that aim to illustrate the different ways we have come to take enjoyment from food. To read more about what serves as the inspiration behind Appetíto and to find out a little bit more about the people behind the site, check out the "About Appetíto" tab above! Read on below to learn more about all of our different tabs and feature!