A smarter, more patient person would have snapped a photo of Sriracha Yogurt Dipping Sauce. But I dipped and noshed first, littering the spicy and tangy yet creamy sauce with unsightly crumbs. Soooo not photogenic.

But I didn't really think about that until now, as I'm trying to invent excuses. Forgive me. I must have been famished. I plowed through the whole bowl of sauce.

On top of that brilliant mishap, I'm told it's barbecue season. Summer; heat; sunny outdoors. Clearly a great time to grill.

So, instead, I thought I'd send something golden and fried your way. You know, in case you want to surmise an alternative to the traditional burger accompaniment: The Almighty French Fry. Because plantains will still satisfy that starch craving, but combined with some coconut flakes, they're so much tastier, and sound much more sophisticated. Possibly healthier too, but I didn't verify that.

... Read the rest of plantain and coconut fritters with sriracha yogurt sauce on BatterLicker.com!

But I only started attempting anything beyond that about a year and a half ago when, inspired by a tequila-based cocktail I had enjoyed at Tres (back then, Tres Agaves), I decided to put a fresh twist on the processed sweetener (grapefruit soda) by substituting juice from a freshly squeezed-by-me grapefruit and club soda. My version of La Paloma set in motion an exploration of cocktails that hasn't stopped since.

From sparkling vodka elderflower lemonade and apple brandy limeade to a gin-based version of a dark 'n stormy (or, depending on how you look at it, a ginger beer/ale version of a gin and tonic) and creamy candy cane cocktail, you might think me a purveyor of purely clear liquors.

The cucumber infusion that wound up as my bride's specialty cocktail and the lemon peel and vodka infusion that became limoncello after a few months would do nothing to convince you otherwise.

However, in real life, I dabble in the brown stuff more often than the clear.

On Saturday, I spoke on a BlogHer Food Conference panel about the resurgence and modernization of vintage recipes. During the panel, I gave a longer-than-it-should-have-been-because-my-hands-were-shaking-and-ohmygosh-how-do-I-answer-questions-while-simultaneously-keeping-track-of-what-I'm-mixing demo on how to make two versions of the timeless (and my favorite) Manhattan cocktail.

I learned that:

... Read the rest of manhattan with maraschino liqueur and bourbon-bathed cherry (not to mention cherry-infused bourbon) on BatterLicker.com!

I've already checked that off my to-do list for 2012, as I do every year about 3 weeks before Jay follows suit.

And every year, during those 3 weeks, I enjoy constantly asking Jay what it feels like to be with an older woman. Sometimes he even humors me with a response other than eye-rolling.

... Read the rest of gin mint julep and gin mojito on BatterLicker.com!

Thankfully, her fun and sassy demeanor disarmed my intimidation before I did too much damage in the kitchen. And I was happy to have shared a stove and chopping board, albeit briefly, with such an incredibly talented woman.

A few years' worth of mostly social media exchanges later, I was excited for Gabi when I discovered she had procured a cookbook deal. When her PR rep sent me a complimentary copy of The Brokeass Gourmet Cookbook** to review, I could hardly contain myself upon its arrival. I can neither confirm nor deny whether I Gabi-vangelized the delivery person.

For those unfamiliar with this kindergarten-teacher-turned-cuisinière's food blog and general background, I highly recommend you hop on over there, even if it's just for a cursory visit. Once you bounce around her site a bit, you'll see that Gabi's cooking philosophy is grounded in accessibility and flavor.

These values carry over into her 116-recipe cookbook, where she starts with advice that will make meal-making much easier to manage no matter your skill level: how to stock a pantry with essentials like flour, olive oil, and salt for merely $50. And if you're a bit of a lush like me, you'll appreciate her subsequent input on how to smartly stock a budget bar.

... Read the rest of gabi moskowitz's brokeass gourmet cookbook and broccoli-kale gratin on BatterLicker.com!

This plantain and coconut crusted fish recipe was inspired by something similar devised by another cook on my team during last month's Top Chef competition. But I wasn't remotely involved in helping prepare the fish that night, so I scraped together this similar recipe based mostly on memory. The resulting fish is very moist, slightly coconutty, and has a flavorful crisp crust.

... Read the rest of baked plantain and coconut crusted fish on BatterLicker.com!

Fast forward a few years to a couple savory - and much tastier - plantain preparations, and suddenly I find myself pulling a Heidi Klum: declaring plantains in and potatoes out; then double cheek-kissing my dear old potato pal as I bid him auf wiedersehen.

In a baked chip form, plantains become a fun snack food. For the easiest, most consistent preparation (and even crispiness), use a mandolin or, for the less gadgety among us (me included!), a regular vegetable peeler to thinly slice the plantains. (Trust me; I tried to very thinly slice some of the plantain by hand, and the results weren't quite as uniform; plus they took longer to crisp up on the oven.)

... Read the rest of baked plantain chips on BatterLicker.com!

Upon return, kitchen chaos ensues. Each team scrambles to grab the kitchen tools they require or, as often is the case, improvising when those tools - or stove burners or even counter space - are already in use.

Most recently, the teams tackled coconut. Although plantain and coconut crusted fish wowed its way to the top of the judges' list, I walked away obsessed with marinated grilled asparagus (Bill's genius) dipped in a lime-coconut hollandaise (I made it, but have no idea who on my team came up with the idea).

... Read the rest of marinated asparagus and lime-coconut milk hollandaise on BatterLicker.com!

But Jay's more of a one-and-done eater: not particularly keen on leftovers or repeats. So his desire to have this pork be a repeat player in multiple meals every single week says a lot, to me ... as does the fact that, allegedly, my friend Joe's first words the morning after a recent pork-featuring barbecue were, "That pork was delicious; I need the recipe."

Besides being addictively delicious and abundantly flavorful, this pork is super easy to make.

... Read the rest of five spice marinated pork on BatterLicker.com!