Need More Squash In Your Life?

Vegan and Dairy-Free Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse

This post for Chocolate Brownie Peanut Butter Trifles is sponsored by Dixie Crystals. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

This super-decadent, fool-proof Chocolate Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Trifle is the epitome of flavor overload! Serve it up in individual dessert glasses or one big bowl family-style.

Dear Peanut Butter Cups,

I'm sorry. As a kid, I quickly dismissed you at Halloween as a reject candy. I would hold you as a bargaining chip for more desirable candy contraband when trading with friends. I didn't understand you. I ate peanut butter with jelly... not chocolate. And the "cupcake liner"... that was just another obstacle after opening up the wrapper standing in they way between me and my fatness.

To be honest, my mind was not yet mature enough to comprehend the intensely sophisticated flavor combination your confectionery genius brought to the table. But somewhere along the way, just a few years ago actually, I finally got it. Chocolate and peanut butter... you make sense to me now. I embrace you fully. You are not only welcome in my home, but into the depths of my stomach.

Just to show how much I now care for you, let me make a dessert in your honor. It's rich. It's decadent. And it's a whole lot of awesome... Chocolate Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Trifles.

Fudgy chocolate brownies. Chocolate pudding. Whipped Cream. Quick 2 Minute Peanut Butter Mousse. And of course, lots of chopped up Peanut Butter Cups. Yea, that's some serious stratification (yes... stratification... I just used a word I used in 9th grade Earth Science class to talk about this trifle. Thank you Mrs. Wenger) I can get behind!

And let's talk about this Quick 2 Minute Peanut Butter Mousse. It's got a secret ingredient that you will never guess. Unless you just guessed silken tofu, in which case, you correctly guessed the secret ingredient I just stated you would never guess.

Yes, silken tofu. Now, all my meat-loving friends. Before you get your bacon in a twist, hear me out. I was just as skeptical as you were about this, until I tried my Vegan and Dairy-Free Chocolate Peanut Butter Mousse last year. Silken tofu is MAGIC. You can't taste it. It's invisible to the taste buds. But when blended up, it takes on a perfectly smooth consistency that will literally leave you in awe. It'll be the best 2 minutes you ever spent in the kitchen. You're welcome.

Head over to Dixie Crystals to make these Chocolate Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Trifles!

Chocolate Brownie Peanut Butter Cup Trifles

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Southwest Omelette Breakfast Wontons

By Chris Cockren Leave a Comment

Looking for a creative breakfast recipe that can help stretch those last few eggs in the fridge? Boom... Southwest Omelette Breakfast Wontons!

I've never been a big brekfast person. I know, judge me as you will. At the food store, I always skip the cereal aisle... unless Asheley needs a refill of her honey nut O's. Or on the very-rare-once-a-year occasion I have that cinnamon sugar toast crunch itch.

I must have been the biggest pain the in the butt growing up at breakfast time. I can vividly remember the only 2 items I would eat in the morning were donuts and chocolate chip muffins. Yup, I was the poster child of healthy eating.

Don't worry... I'm making healthier choices now for breakfast, although not nearly as exciting. It's usually a yogurt on the run sorta morning. But once in a while, I get motivated to actually make something totally and utterly epic for breakfast.

But let's see if this scenario every happens to you. You wake up, are excited to cook your family something amazing for breakfast, and then as you open the fridge all your hopes and dreams are crushed by the almost empty egg carton. The worst.

But hey, have no fear. There's a legit breakfast solution that we can salvage here... Southwest Omelette Breakfast Wontons. Those few eggs can go a long way when you cozy them up with some southwest ingredients and stuff 'em in some wontons. Heck yes.

In the Shared Appetite household, there are always a few staple ingredients lying around (besides way too many snack foods)...

Frozen corn. Duh, corn is awesome. The end.
Bell peppers and jalapenos in the freezer. Ask my wife and she'll be the first to tell you I'm always buying more produce than we can use. Peppers freeze very well, so... yea.
Some shallots and onions on da counter.
lots and lots of cheeses. Because, well, my wife is obsessed with cheese. Happy wife, happy... you know.

And this, my friends, is how these Southwest Omelette Breakfast Wontons were born, and then immediately devoured by Asheley and I. Yes, I know I said this makes 4 servings. But we were fatties that morning.

Okay, so really the only thing you might need to buy then are wonton wrappers. But I seriously always have wonton wrappers lying around. You can pretty much stuff anything into wonton wrappers and make food more fun to eat.

Try it out and see for yourself. And hey, pro tip... you can totally use wonton wrappers as faux-ravioli skins (stuff 'em like you would a ravioli and drop in some hot water.... boom).

Speaking of things you need in your fridge? Add Safest Choice™ Pasteurized Eggs to your list. They are pasteurized. Yes... you heard that right. Pasteurized. You can literally eat them raw without any worry of salmonella. That's pretty amazing, especially when you have a wife that loves to like the brownie bowl clean 😉

southwest Omelette Breakfast Wontons | sharedappetite.com

Southwest Breakfast Wontons

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Apple Pie Wontons with Salted Caramel Whipped Cream

By Chris Cockren 10 Comments

Get your creative apple pie on and up your dessert game with these Apple Pie Wontons with Salted Caramel Whipped Cream! They are beyond legit!

Pumpkin. It's everywhere. I was at the grocery store yesterday and every aisle endcap was trying to push everything pumpkin on me. Pumpkin bread mix. Pumpkin tortilla chips. Pumpkin butter. Pumpkin toothpaste (just kidding... although I'm sure it exists, somewhere).

Here's my question. What about apple?! Give me a choice between pumpkin and apple, and I'll choose the latter. Anyone else with me on this? Anyone. Oh, I get it. You've all been brainwashed by Starbuck's pumpkin spice marketing campaign, which started in like August or some ridiculousness like that.

Break the cycle, people. Remove the pumpkin flavor shackles. It's time to experience apple the way it was meant to be enjoyed... surrounded by copious amounts of sugar, butter, and cinnamon, and wrapped up in a handheld fried wonton. And then topped with a crazy addictive salted caramel whipped cream.

Still want that lame pumpkin muffin? Exactly. Live life the way it was meant to be enjoyed... stuff yo' face with these Apple Pie Wontons with Salted Caramel Whipped Cream.

I know, I've kind of been obsessed with wontons lately. I made these Peach Cobbler Wontons with Bourbon Whipped Cream a few weeks back (ahhh, summer... I miss you). I'm all about Southwest Wontons when it comes to serving up an insanely good party app. Breakfast isn't even safe from my wonton wrath... Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Wontons!

Don't get me wrong. I'm a huge fan of apple pie straight up. But that requires SO many extra steps... a plate. A fork. Who has time for all that. I want apple pie in my face as quickly as possibly, the way our caveman ancestors ate pie... with their hands.

And can we just talk about SALTED CARAMEL WHIPPED CREAM for a second. ~~Sorry for shouting~~. No I'm not. It's so freaking good. You should be super impressed I showed enough restraint to not eat the entire bowl of it before taking these photos. That's impressive.

Soon you'll be adding salted caramel whipped cream to everything and anything you can. Trust me.

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Honey Gochujang Popcorn Clusters

Korean Kimchi Burgers with Avocado and Gochujang Aioli

This recipe for Honey Gochujang Popcorn Clusters is brought to you by Casillero del Diablo Wines. The content and opinions expressed below are that of Shared Appetite.

Looking for an easy enteratining creative party snack to serve up at your next get together? How about some Honey Gochujang Popcorn Clusters!

I love Halloween. Like, a little too much. Our attic is full of decorations that I've collected over the years, and come the end of October, you better believe I host one heck of a costume party. Last year? The theme was puns and some of my friends really got into it. Some favorites included Putin' On The Ritz (the dude wore a tux and had a huge medallion of ritz crackers with Putin's face on it), a Waist of Time (he made a belt of watches and small clocks), Cereal Killer (boxes of cereal with fake knives stabbing them), and Asheley was 50 Shades of Grey (i.e. we got a ton of free paint swatches and went to town).

This year's theme? Celebrities That Have Been Arrested. This is going to be amazing. I can't wait. My friends are pretty darn creative, so I'm expecting some legit costumes.

Legit costumes need some epic eats. And lately, I'm all about easy entertaining food that can be made ahead of time. Because, really, as much as I love being in the kitchen, I want to hang out with my peeps.

So you better believe I'll have a pretty sweet cheese and meat board out. Definitely some Sweet Potato Hummus (which I love to serve on crackers with shallot and honeycrisp apple). Oh, and lots of crostini. I am obsessed with crostini. Especially these Acorn Squash Crostini with Ricotta, Bacon, and Fried Sage and Filet Mignon Crostini with Romesco, Goat Cheese, and Crispy Shallots. And Apple, Bacon, and Leek Pizza Bites. Oh, and I'll totally have a couple slow cookers keeping some make-your-own sandwiches going... my friends love these Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders with Avocado Ranch and Slow Cooker Korean Chicken Sandwiches with Avocado and Gochujang Aioli.

And now, new to the party... welcome this sweet and spicy Honey Gochujang Popcorn Clusters. Oh heck yes.

Don't know about gochujang? It's basically the Korean answer to Sriracha. It's way thicker though, and has a nice fermented flavor to it. I love making spicy aioli with it, and I use it wherever hot sauce is called for in cooking. Try it... you won't be disappointed.

Mix it up with some honey and smother it all over popcorn, peanuts, cashews, and pepitas? You pretty much have a version of homemade cracker jacks with a Korean twist! Yup, that's one heck of a party snack. Best part, it can be made way ahead of time. #winning

Of course, no adult costume party is complete without something to wash down all that food with. Pumpkin beer is an obvious choice. But I'm totally not a beer person. I'm all about wine, though. And what better wine to serve on Halloween than a deep red Diablo wine. Casillero del Diablo Wines, that is.

Being the Wine of the Devil, it's the obvious choice for Halloween parties everywhere. Apparently, the dude who created this wine all the way back in 1871 created a legend in order to protect his private reserve from strangers... he said that the devil lived in the wine cellar! Pretty genius move.

And you better believe the winners of our costume contest win some sweet prizes. I'm talking gift cards... and maybe even some of the Casillero del Diablo Wines special limited-edition “Hallowine” gift boxes I found at my local wine store!

For all my fellow parents out there... after trick-or-treating with the kiddies, feel free to enjoy a treat yourself by pouring yourself a glass of Diablo wine. And then eat some of your kids' candy... you know, to make sure it's safe. Go ahead, you deserve it.

Of course, popping open a bottle of Casillero del Diablo wine with these Honey Gochujang Popcorn Clusters are a great idea... I'm such a fan of sitting back with a nice glass of wine and snacking on this or that. What better snacking choice than sweet and spicy popcorn clusters?! You better believe I'll have one hand on my wine and one hand on the bowl of popcorn.

And hey, join in on the Casillero del Diablo Legendary Costume Contest for your chance to win a dSLR camera! Check the photo below to find out how to enter! The contest end October 31st, so get your creative costume on!

You can learn more about Casillero del Diablo wines by checking out this video about The Legend of Don Melchor de Concha y Toro

Spicy Korean Kimchi Ramen

By Chris Cockren 13 Comments

Done in under 45 minutes, this quick and easy Spicy Korean Kimchi Ramen with pork belly, poached egg, and scallion is beyond legit!

Ramen has exploded here in NY. For the past year or two, the ramen scene in the city has been growing at a crazy awesome rate. Ramen masters from Japan have been setting up shop all over, and you better believe we have been taking full advantage of it. Asheley literally can't get enough of the stuff. Even during a heat wave (when hot, steamy soup is the last thing on a normal person's mind), Asheley craves ramen.

But who can blame her... the stuff is freaking magic. And if you are thinking this real deal ramen is anything like those sad $.20 packets you survived on during your college years, think again. They are nothing alike.

Traveling into the city has been pretty rare lately... you know, with the whole having a 3 month old and everything. Although Olivia has been to Brooklyn twice so far for some food (or, more accurately, watching mommy and daddy eat food), she has yet to experience her first bowl of ramen-watching. This obviously needs to change.

And in the meantime, I decided to step up and try to make Asheley a big ole' bowl of comforting ramen at home. With a spin, of course.

I've been really loving Korean flavors lately, and there was some kimchi in the fridge that was staring me down for several weeks now. Boom. This quick and easy Spicy Korean Kimchi Ramen was born.

You know when someone says something is spicy, and then you're like... uhm, yea not at all. This is not one of those times. This is SPICY. In the best way possible. It's not going to burn your face off (it's a flavorful spicy), but it gives me a runny nose every time... truly spicy food always makes my nose run for some reason.

One of my favorite spicy bowls of ramen has to be Ivan Ramen's Red Chili Pork Ramen. It's so flavorful, so intense, so perfect. And although the flavor profile for this creative ramen is completely different thanks to the help of some key players in the Korean flavor department, it's just as comforting when you're stuck at home and need to get your spicy ramen fix.

Best of all, this ramen comes together in under 45 minutes. That's right... just 45 minutes stands between you and this quick and easy Spicy Korean Kimchi Ramen. That's a whole lot better than the typical multi-day process with a bajillion steps it takes to create the authentic, real deal ramen.

What's better than slurping up noodles out of a spicy Korean kimchi broth... studded with pork belly, scallions, and of course... a velvety, perfectly poached egg. Heck to the yes.

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Healthy Mini Vegetarian Greek Sliders

By Chris Cockren 12 Comments

This post for Healthy Mini Vegetarian Greek Sliders with Hummus, Israeli Salad, Pickled Cabbage, and Tahini Sauce is sponsored by Flatout Bread. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Give your snacking a major flavor upgrade with these Healthy Mini Vegetarian Greek Sliders with Hummus, Israeli Salad, Pickled Cabbage, and Tahini Sauce!

In years past, going to and from work was easy. Drive to work. Work. Then drive home. Done.

With a baby? Wake up an hour earlier than usual. Immediately feed baby. Burp baby. Change and dress baby. Baby spit up on outfit. Change baby again. Give baby to spouse so you can shower. Switch with spouse. Let baby play independently for a few minutes so you can get together diaper bag (swaddle cloths, burp cloths, 57 extra outfits, diapers, wipes, butt cream, binkies...) and bottles for the baby sitter (i.e. my mom). Baby is crying. Comfort baby. Try to pack yourself lunch with one arm because you are now holding the crying baby. Pack up the car. Start driving. Binky fell out!!! Get back in her mouth while still driving before baby starts freaking out and you've reached the point of no return. Phew, that was a close one. Yes! Baby fell asleep in car. Please stay asleep all the way. Crap, we hit traffic. Baby hates traffic and woke up screaming. Blast jammy jams and reach back with one arm to try to gently rock the carrier. You are out of shape, so the mere act of stretching back results in a pulled muscle. Baby falls asleep again. Arrive at babysitter. Bring everything in and get baby settled. Leave for work. I'm already exhausted.

And then the same on the way back of course...

But you know what? It's amazing. It is SO easy to get caught up in the everyday grind. But then I see my daughter smile. I see her look intently into my eyes, like she's trying so hard to understand every word. She coos and cahhhs at me. She even started to recently giggle here and there. And I remember what an utterly amazing miracle she is.

Now, back to the everyday grind. When Asheley gets home from work, she's normally hangry. No, I didn't mispell hungry. She's hangry. Like angry hungry. In the past, she would just feed herself and all would be well. But now? Baby first. And you better put on a happy face, because baby girl can sense when you're angry or frustrated. A calm parent makes a calm baby... or so I read in one of those books.

So, while Asheley is taking care of Olivia, I'll fix her (okay, and me) a little snack to tide us over until we can finally eat dinner. And since I'm trying to get rid of all this pregancy sympathy weight (Asheley already lost all of her pregnancy weight, of course), I've been trying hard to make better snacking choices. Choices like these Healthy Mini Vegetarian Greek Sliders.

And hey, I'm sure you and your kids are pretty darn hangry as well when school is over and dinner isn't quite ready yet. These Healthy Mini Vegetarian Greek Sliders will totally hold y'all over while homework gets done before dinner!

There's the place in NYC called Taïm that we absolutely love. It's an Israeli vegetarian take-out joint that serves up the best falafel sandwiches in the city. It's not just the falafel that makes the sandwich special. It's everything around it. Creamy hummus. Israeli salad. Pickled Cabbage. Tahini sauce. Ermagherd, so freaking good.

So I figured, hey... what if I just take all the stuff besides the falafel (since making homemade falafel isn't the quickest snack choice) and put it on a Flatout Bread Ancient Grains Foldit® Artisan Flatbread.

Guys. Phenomenal. Like, best after-work snack I've ever made.

My good buddy Tyler is obsessed... OBSESSED... with Taïm. We pretty much need to go there every time we are in the city together because he needs to get his fix. So, I had him try on of these Healthy Vegetarian Mini Greek Sliders and he started excitedly clapping. Yes, clapping. The flavors are so on point. And since they are pretty darn healthy, he went ahead and had two.

Let's break this down. The Flatout Bread Ancient Grains Foldit® Artisan Flatbread is absolutely delicious. It serves as a great blank canvas to build these epic flavors on. It's got just 10g net carbs, contains
10g of protein, and is only 130 calories.

Next comes some good store-bough hummus. Choose whatever flavor you'd like. I went with some roasted garlic hummus from my local market.

All these other components you can make ahead of time and just pile on when snacking calls... The Israeli Salad is a perfect combo of cucumbers and tomatoes with some olive oil and lemon juice. The pickled cabbage adds a perfect acidic crunch that's pretty darn addicting. And that tahini sauce? It's a perfect lemony-garlicky bite that rounds out this epic vegetarian snack.

Make sure to check out Flatout Bread in your local market. They come in all sorts of flavors and make the perfect tabula rasa (blank slate) for your kids to build some after-school masterpieces (or, if you're like Asheley and I... a little after work snack!). Find a store near you with this Flatout Bread and try a $.50 off coupon!

Butternut Squash and Swiss Chard Manicotti with Parmesan Cream Sauce

By Chris Cockren 7 Comments

This post for Butternut Squash and Swiss Chard Manicotti with Parmesan Cream Sauce and Fried Sage is sponsored by Wisconsin Cheese Talk. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Make your family one heck of a seasonal dinner with this Fall pasta dish: Butternut Squash and Swiss Chard Manicotti with Parmesan Cream Sauce + Fried Sage!

I wake up and it's dark. I get home from work and it's almost dark.

I wake up and need a sweater. Going home from work, I get in my car and it's a thousand degrees in there.

Local corn at the market is dwindling. Tomatoes are back to looking sad and overpriced.

Hello, fall. Grrrrrr.

But wait a minute. Fall is actually a pretty great time of year...

Apples are everything. Especially when it's in pie (and then leftover apple pie cinnamon buns). Or apple crisp ice cream. Oooo, and apple cider. There's the BEST apple cider mill relatively close to my house. They also conveniently sell chocolate chip cookies.

I could say pumpkin is everyting as well. But I'm not a big pumpkin fan. Judge me quietly.

The color of the leaves are absolutely amazing. And the fact I don't have to rake up said leaves (thanks to my awesome landscapers!) are even better.

I love Halloween. Like, a little too much. I ate lunch with someone at work the other day that said Halloween is just for kids and adults shouldn't celebrate it. She now eats lunch by herself.

And finally... squash. I actually LOVE squash. I go all Bubba Gump on squash. Like with this Butternut Squash and Swiss Chard Manicotti with Parmesan Cream Sauce and Fried Sage. It's a mouthful to say, but even a bigger (and better) mouthful to eat.

You can find the recipe for this Butternut Squash and Swiss Chard Manicotti with Parmesan Cream Sauce and Fried Sage over at Wisconsin Cheese Talk.

Grab The Recipe!

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Peach Cobbler Wontons with Bourbon Whipped Cream

By Chris Cockren 11 Comments

This post for Peach Cobbler Wontons with Bourbon Whipped Cream is sponsored by Dixie Crystals. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Looking for something different to wow your family and friends for dessert? These creative Peach Cobbler Wontons with Bourbon Whipped Cream are it!

When it was just Asheley and I, we would be in the city almost every other weekend. And the mission was always the same. Find awesome food. I have an ever growing and evolving list of places that I have been and want to go, and some serious damage would be done in the eating department every visit.

Now with Olivia here, things are a bit different. We can't just get up and leave for the day. Days in the city are a little more infrequent (and require a whole lot more planning and forethought), but all the more special and valued.

During one of our latest adventures in the city, my buddy Steve and I checked out this dumpling joint he's been dying to try called Mimi Chengs. All I can say is... legit. Hands down the best dumplings I ever had.

And when I saw they had a special dessert dumpling on the menu, you know I had to try it. Those Peach Cobbler Dumplings were pretty magical, and I immediately knew I had to recreate them at home (with a healthy addition of Bourbon Whipped Cream, of course).

These little creative wontons have all the flavor of peach cobbler, crammed into bite-sized (or two bites if you have a normal size mouth unlike me, I guess) bundles of joy.

Seriously, these bad boys are so freaking good.

Feel free to leave the bourbon out of the whipped cream for the kiddies 🙂

I'm not going to lie and say making these wontons are a super quick and easy process. But the work is well worth the result. How impressed are your family and friends going to be when they find out you made Peach Cobbler WONTONS?!

There is a tiny bit of a learning curve when folding wontons. You definitely will get quicker and more efficient with them as you go. The biggest tip I can give you is be careful not to overfill them. It's tempting, I know. But when you try to stuff too much filling in, it's very difficult to close. Trust me. I know from experience.

Actually, I have a new biggest tip... get your friends and family to help you fold these wontons. Many hands make ~~light work~~ lots of wontons! I started letting my friends help me fold whenever I made these Southwest Wontons... and they all were totally game to jump in and be part of the process.

You can find the recipe for these Peach Cobbler Wontons with Bourbon Whipped Cream at Dixie Crystals!

Peach Cobbler Wontons with Bourbon Whipped Cream

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Southwest Wontons

Mexican Street Corn and Avocado Crostini

By Chris Cockren 13 Comments

This post for Mexican Street Corn and Avocado Crostini is sponsored by Wines of Garnacha and Honest Cooking. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands who support Shared Appetite! #GarnachaDay

Looking for some creative crostini to add to your party menu? These Mexican Street Corn and Avocado Crostini are the perfect little summer appetizers!

Unless you're one of those annoying California people that wake up to perfect weather every single freaking day (just kidding, we love ya CA), you like me are trying to soak in every last morsel of summer. It's already starting to slip through our fingers. It's getting dark earlier and earlier. Halloween candy is stocked in full force. And my fall jacket is staring me straight in the face.

But here in NY, our summer corn is still pretty darn perfect. And anyone that knows me knows that I'm obsessed with the stuff. In salads like this or this. In soup and gazpacho. Even in ice cream. And yes... lots and lots of Mexican Street Corn. On top of a hot dog with bacon. As hands-free croquettes. With a kick-butt Korean twist.

And now, as a super easy entertaining appetizer. Mexican Street Corn and Avocado Crostini. Welcome to the party.

Asheley is always stuck being my recipe tester. I know... it's such a hard job. Poor her.

Don't you dare feel bad for her. It's a great gig.

Anyway, she ususally takes a single bite of whatever it is I'm testing and that's about it. But these? She downed like 3 in a row without coming up for air. #success

Granted, as she told me after she was done chewing, I combined 2 of her favorite things ever... avocado and spicy corn (she was thinking of this Southwest Corn I believe).

And for me, this is like the perfect summer party appetizer. I love Mexican Street Corn and everything, but let's be honest. Going to town on a full ear of corn at a party isn't the most pretty thing ever. You squirt corn juice all over the place. You kinda look like a savage. And then you have all that corn in your teeth.

But these creative crostini beauties? They are perfect 2 bite appetizers. Okay, maybe 3 or 4 bites if you have a normal size mouth.

And if you want bonus points when serving up these Mexican Street Corn and Avocado Crostini, make sure you're serving up some fermented grape juice. Wine. Serve wine.

And hey, check out Wines of Garnacha. It's a Mediterranean grape varietal that first originated in Spain and is now grown in France, Italy, and the US. Wines of Garnacha produces a whole bunch of different wine styles and flavors, including both red and white wine, and is perfect for the summer. Okay, it's perfect for any season really. And at only $10-20 a bottle, it's a pretty sweet deal.

Follow along with Wines of Garnacha: Facebook | Instagram | Twitter

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Roasted Peaches with Ricotta Buttercream and Sugared Cornbread Crumbs

Peach Vanilla Cheesecake Trifle

This recipe for Roasted Peaches with Ricotta Buttercream and Sugared Cornbread Crumbs is brought to you because I was part of the Every day, care™ project with Whirlpool® as part of a sponsored post for Socialstars. #EveryDayCare

Looking for a unique and sophisticated late summer dessert? Boom. These Roasted Peaches with Ricotta Buttercream and Sugared Cornbread Crumbs are beyond legit!

There are many things Asheley and I hope to get right with raising our now 2-month-old little miracle. Olivia didn't come with an owner's manual though, and we must have missed the opportunity in school to sign up for the how to be a good parent class.

The one thing we really really really want to get right? Getting her to happily eat a variety of foods.

Picky eater = our biggest fear.

So hey, if you have any advice for us on that, leave a comment below. Thanks 🙂

Take for instance, dessert time. I want her to be as excited to try the unique combination of flavors in these Roasted Peaches with Ricotta Buttercream and Sugared Cornbread Crumbs as those dumb character ice pops and other "kid-friendly" desserts.

Because really, this creative peach dessert, as weird as it may sound, is freaking ridiculously legit. And I want Olivia to experience awesome flavor like this.

Real ingredients. Actual fruit. FOOD.

I do have one strategy that I hope will help with having a great little eater on our hands. Having her be a part of the cooking process. My mom signed me up for cooking class in the 2nd grade with Mr. Scoops. His real name was Mr. Scupinsky or something like that, but us cool 7 year olds stuck with the nickname.

And look at that mom, those cooking lessons were a good call. Now I absolutely love food (some would say a little too much...), and one of my favorite parts of my day is to care for my family by cooking for them.

So Olivia is going to start early with me in the kitchen. Well, as soon as she is actually aware that she has hands and knows how to kinda use them.

Just look at our little baby girl. Doesn't it look like she LOVED picking these peaches? Okay, well she's like 2 months old and she was a little cranky. But it was a wee-bit hot, she was hungry, and mommy put a hat on her for the first time. Wouldn't you cry?

Bottom line. It was a great family day out 🙂

This is a habit I hope to continue with my little sweet Olivia. Her seeing where the food comes from, how it grows, and who grows it. And hopefully, by her being a part of the process, she'll be more excited to try new things.

This recipe has been adapted from Bon Appetit.

Laundry. Cleaning. Cooking. These words are typically looked at as boring, mundane chores. But hey, these chores have the amazing power to make a lasting positive impact on the little ones in our families. Join along with the Whirlpool® Every day, care™ mission, and know how all the little things you do on a daily basis add up to something greater. Check out this video...

Looking for More Peach Recipes?

Peach Basil Arnold Palmer Cocktails

Peach, Corn, and Basil Flatbreads with Balsamic Glaze

Peach Bourbon Hand Pies

S'mores Ice Cream Sandwiches

Blueberry - Thyme Soup with Honey Vanilla Mascarpone

Your friends and family will love you just a little bit more when you make them these four ingredient S'mores Ice Cream Sandwiches.

I always like to start my diet on the same day of the week... tomorrow. I've been telling myself tomorrow for a lot of tomorrows at this point. And now it's actually time. I think. ~~Maybe tomorrow instead.~~ Ugh.

I'm rocking my current dad bod way too hard. Like, I can actually hear the button on my work pants grunting as it holds on for dear life.

But it's hard. Especially when you ~~have~~ had these in the freezer. They are everything that is good and right with this world during the summer.

These entire S'mores Ice Cream Sandwiches only take 4 ingredients. That's it. Super easy. Perfect for kids and kids at heart. They can even be made and assembled way ahead of time = easy entertaining. So go ahead, get one last backyard bash in before the end of summer. Just don't forget to make this creative summer dessert.

S'mores Ice Cream Sandwiches for all... except me. I'll be the angry fat guy on the treadmill chomping down on a carrot.

Need More Summer Dessert Ideas?

Here are some of my favorites...

Toasted Marshmallow Milkshakes

S'mores Graham Cracker Toffee Bark

Peach Vanilla Cheesecake Trifle

Crab Cake Sandwich with Mango Bacon Aioli

Question: What should I make this week for dinner? Answer: Crab Cake Sandwich with Mango Bacon Aioli!

It's the LEAST wonderful time of the year. Well, for us teachers at least. The first week of school is officially underway... and besides the whole having to put on pants thing, I also need to leave that sweet little baby girl that was just born on July 1st.

Instead of getting all bummed out about having to hand her off every morning to our babysitter, I'm bringing you a recipe that reminds me of one of my favorite days I spent with Asheley and my little love bug.

Two of our really great friends just had a baby as well, so we of course got together quite a bit over the summer. It felt really good to be with other first-time parents. We could share our battle wounds, after all. One night we decided to try and actually venture out into the real world, past the safe confines of our homes where our kids could feel free to cry their faces off without the fear of disrupting other people. It just got real. We ended up going to this really awesome open-air patio-esque seasonal restaurant right by the beach. Tons of fresh seafood, a vibrant atmosphere to mask the fussiness of our baby at her witching hour, and just the amazing feeling of being out of the house and interacting with other adults for a few hours.

Asheley and I rarely eat seafodd. It's just not something either of us grew up with (we come from families of picky eaters, so we blame them). But hey, when you're at a restaurant literally a few steps off the beach... you gotta do it. Asheley ordered this really great crab cake sandwich topped with a mango bacon mayonnaise. So naturally, I had to recreate it at home. Boom. Crab Cake Sandwich with Mango Bacon Aioli.

Trying to cook dinner at home is a little more tricky now that we have Olivia in the mix. There is that little itty-bitty window of time to cook and inhale our food, because of course our little girl's fussiest time of day always has to coincide when mommy and daddy wants to eat. The struggle is real.

To cut down the prep time on this dinner, I grabbed some great looking crab cakes from our seafood guy at the local market. If you have time to burn (don't rub it in), go for making crab cakes from scratch if you are into that sorta thing.

Now, this mango bacon aioli. It's completely legit and is packed with a big, bold flavor. Before you start going on and on about all your past aioli-making fails.... try this. I've had my share of fails too, but this was foolproof. Ridiculously easy... and the payoff was huge.

Oh... you're worried about eating raw eggs? Me too. I'm no Rocky Balboa, so raw eggs aren't part of my usual food intake routine.

Boom. Safest Choice™ Pasteurized Eggs. Pasteurized. Goodbye salmonella, hello peace of mind.

So go ahead. Lick that brownie batter bowl clean. Eat raw cookie dough. And of course, make this Mango Bacon Aioli 😉

Roasted Grape and Blue Cheese Pizza with Honey, Walnut, and Thyme

This recipe for Roasted Grape and Blue Cheese Pizza with Honey, Walnut, and Thyme is the result of partnering with Castello for a Summer of Blue. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Uncork some wine, set up the patio furniture, and enjoy the rest of your summer with this Roasted Grape and Blue Cheese Pizza with Honey, Walnut, and Thyme.

Well hello there new school year. ~~Stinks~~ Nice to meet you.

Yup, this is officially the first week of a new school year. It's the first time I can ever remember (as a student or teacher) going back to school before Labor Day. Eh, that's okay... at least I have off next Monday now 🙂

And sure, although the start of the school year signals the unofficial end of summer for me, it actually still has a few weeks left... so don't you dare even think about packing up that patio furniture yet. Get out there, crack open some beers and bottles of rosé, and keep on keeping on.

Oh, and of course make this Roasted Grape and Blue Cheese Pizza with Honey, Walnut, and Thyme.

Why roasted grapes? Simple.

If you've ever had them, you fully understand. If you've never had them, you have not yet lived fully and need to unlock this missing piece of happiness in your life. It's that important.

Grapes are naturally high in sugar, so when it gets all hot in the oven during the roasting process, these little purple gems caramelize into bursts of fruity goodness.

I have a confession. I'm not a big blue cheese fan. There, I said it. Judge me quietly as you will.

But, this Castello^® Saga Blue Brie is different. It's not your average blue cheese. It's a triple-cream blue and white cheese with that is a uniquely delicious flavor experience.

And when it pairs up with roasted grapes, honey, walnuts, and thyme? Yea.. it's pretty legit.

What I really love about this pizza? It's kind of like an epic cheese board... all on one big ole' slice of bread. Just don't forget that wine 😉

Fried Zucchini with Chipotle Honey Dipping Sauce

Chicken, Zucchini, and Mozzarella Burgers with a Fried Egg

This recipe for Fried Zucchini with Chipotle Honey Dipping Sauce is sponsored by TABASCO. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite! #TABASCO10

Anyone else have a crazy amount of zucchini this time of year? Get excited about your bountiful squash "problem" and make these Fried Zucchini with Chipotle Honey Dipping Sauce.

Does someone in your family have a restaurant that they always need to go to for every occasion? We sure do. My grandparents love this local Italian place. It's good, but not oh-my-gosh-this-is-spectacular-and-I-need-to-go-here-every-single-chance-I-get good.

My grandparents go every single Sunday for pizza. For birthdays, anniversaries, and the like, the entire family gets an invite to order from the "real menu". I don't even need to look at it at this point. I know my go-to order.

Chicken Parm with a side of fried zucchini. Their fried zucchini is the stuff. So freaking good. And they don't just give a few little rinky-dink pieces. It's comes as a mountain of cripsy, golden brown goodness.

And now I'm bringing that mountain to our house... trying my hand at fried zucchini for the first time. Here's my Fried Zucchini with Chipotle Honey Dipping Sauce.

We made it! The final day of the #TABASCO10 Challenge. 5 short days, 5 original recipes, and only 10 ingredients to work with (minus fennel, since it's icky).

This was so much fun. When I first agreed to take on this beastly challenge, I figured it would be a piece of cake. Then I started thinking about these little 9 ingredients, and guys... it's hard! It was like putting on a culinary straightjacket. But then this funny thing happened. I learned how to dance in my straightjacket... to get a little creative with the ingredients I had.

And I can honestly say... this was one heck of a delicious week.

My Other TABASCO 10 Challenge Recipes:

Spicy Chipotle Honey Chicken Kebabs

Honey Glazed Chipotle Zucchini and Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken

Chipotle Chicken, Rice, and Mozzarella Zucchini Boats

Pineapple, Bacon, and Teriyaki Hot Dogs

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Popper Hot Dogs

This is a sponsored conversation written by me of behalf of Ball Park Park's Finest. The opinions and text are all mine, as is the recipe for Pineapple, Bacon, and Teriyaki Hot Dogs.

Looking to up your grilling hot dog cred? These Pineapple, Bacon, and Teriyaki Hot Dogs are packed with flavor, only have 6 ingredients, and are done in under 20 minutes.

Want to make Asheley really happy at your next backyard BBQ? Simple. Just grill her up a hot dog. Seriously. She'll be one happy girl... well, as long as there is plain yellow mustard to go along with it. Not spicy brown mustard. Not dijon. And don't even try that whole grain stuff. Plain yellow mustard...the more nondescript of a brand, the better.

And don't get me wrong. I'll very happily eat a hot dog (ketchup and mustard, thank you very much), but I'm also all about getting a bit creative with my toppings.

Now that I think of it, do you know what would be a pretty legit idea? Set out a huge spread of all epic toppings, and let guests create their own hot dog creation. I'd be all over that. I'll be keeping that nugget of goodness fresh in my head for the next backyard bash I throw.

One great flavor combo you should definitely try? Pineapple, Bacon, and Teriyaki Hot Dogs. Scallions too. Obvi.

There's this hot dog joint in the city called Crif Dogs that Asheley and I totally love. They have all these creative hot dog flavors, one of which is called the Tsunami Dog. And this is the recreation of that glorious, glorious hot dog.

And hey, if you are looking to take your hot dog experience to the next level, check out your local grocery for Ball Park Park's Finest. It's a premium hot dog that's packed with big, bold flavors... and you all know how much I love huge flavors. These dogs are made with 100% beef and are free of all fillers and artificial stuff. Look for all 5 flavors at your market!

Oh... remember how I was telling you back when I was grilling up those Mexican Street Corn Hot Dogs that the Ball Park Brand was going to try and set the Guinness World Record for the Longest Team Barbecue Marathon in NYC? Well, mission accomplished. They grilled for 34 hours and 35 minutes (over 3,000 hot dogs) straight! And this is the coolest part. They donated the hot dogs to City Harvest, a food rescue organization.

Have A Hankering For More Hot Dogs?

Bacon Mexican Street Corn Hot Dogs

Macaroni + Cheese Topped Hot Dogs

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Ball Park. The opinions and text are all mine.

Chipotle Chicken, Rice, and Mozzarella Zucchini Boats

Chicken, Zucchini, and Mozzarella Burgers with a Fried Egg

This recipe for Chipotle Chicken, Rice, and Mozzarella Zucchini Boats is sponsored by TABASCO. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite! #TABASCO10

It's summer... have a whole lot of zucchini in your fridge? Make these Chipotle Chicken, Rice, and Mozzarella Zucchini Boats for a healthy weeknight dinner!

All my stay-at-home-parents out there... I salute you.

It's Asheley's second day back at work, so I'm doing this whole parenting thing alone during the 9 to 5 grind. It's going great and all, but man... it's a full time job. Asheley and I were a great tag team all summer long. She wanted to shower? I watched the baby. I wanted to make lunch? She was in charge of keeping the baby alive.

Half of my tag team is at work. Now what? Time for a road trip to see Grandma 😉

Seriously, I'm going to my mom's house today. And no, it's not because I want her to watch Olivia. I'm actually going to help her with a few house projects thank you very much. Her watching Olivia is a great little side perk. And I'd be lying if I said I didn't strategically plan to help her on one of these days I was the solo parent. #winning

Hey, have you been following along with me this week as I participate in the TABASCO 10 Challenge?

Oh, you haven't? Well now don't you feel bad...

Take a look back to this recipe (or this one or this one) to find out all about the week-long task TABASCO challenged me with.

Usually around this time of year, I'm inundated with home-grown zucchini from our garden. Usually. But this year, we apparently have a bunny that has been eating every freaking zucchini blossom off our two plants. Jerkface.

But hey, if you have a ton of zucchini (and no jerkface bunnies ), these Chipotle Chicken, Rice, and Mozzarella Zucchini Boats are a great way to utilize it in a main starring role at your dinner table.

My Other TABASCO 10 Challenge Recipes:

Spicy Chipotle Honey Chicken Kebabs

Honey Glazed Chipotle Zucchini and Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken

Chicken, Mozzarella, and Zucchini Burgers with a Fried Egg

This recipe for Honey Glazed Chipotle Zucchini and Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken is sponsored by TABASCO. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite! #TABASCO10

With just 10 minutes of prep, this Honey Glazed Chipotle Zucchini and Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken is the perfect way to spice up weeknight dinner.

Today's a bit of a rough one over here in our house. It's Asheley's first day back to work after having just 8 short weeks home with our baby girl. It's sad really that the mom's in this country don't get treated better when it comes to maternity leave... if only she worked at Netflix. But in any case, Daddy's in charge these next 3 days.

Then I goes back to work as well, at which time we fully expect Olivia to be independent and care for herself while we are away at work. Don't worry, she's a pretty advanced 2 month old.

With both of us going back to work, weeknight dinners are gonna need some creative help. Like, it was tricky enough cooking dinner when I was off all day this summer. Newborns really have a way of throwing off your routine 😉

Enter this creative chicken recipe. It takes just 10 minutes of prep. Throw it in the oven and boom. Instant dinner... Honey Glazed Chipotle Zucchini and Mozzarella Stuffed Chicken.

If you've been following along this week, you know that this is the 3rd of 5 recipes for the super awesome TABASCO 10 Challenge. #humpday

5 days to create 5 original recipes... any only 10 ingredients to choose from.

It's been really fun (albeit difficult) to find a creative way to use these 10 ingredients. Well, 9 ingredients... because I'm sure as heck not using fennel. Bleh.

This honey glazed stuffed chicken is totally going to become a weeknight staple in our house.

Now don't get all freaked out by the chipotle in the title. If you aren't a fan of spicy, there's no need to worry. It's not hot. But there is a gentle warmth that just lingers for a bit. That's why I'm really loving the TABASCO Chipotle Sauce. It's got a really mellow heat to it, but the flavor is jam-packed to the brim.

And the honey glazed breadcrumb topping? The sweet is the perfect balance for that gentle heat (hey, that rhymes), and the crunch from the breadcrumbs is legit.

BTW, don't worry about making homemade ciabatta breadcrumbs if you're in a rush. And since it's a weeknight, you're most likely in a rush. The breadcrumbs you have in the pantry will work just fine. I made a big batch of ciabatta breadcrumbs because, well, that's the only option I had according to the strict overlords that keep watch over this recipe challenge.

My Other TABASCO 10 Recipes:

Spicy Chipotle Honey Chicken Kebabs

Huevos Rancheros Sausage Breakfast Tacos

By Chris Cockren 4 Comments

This recipe for Huevos Rancheros Sausage Breakfast Tacos is sponsored by Johnsonville® and Social Stars. As always, all opinions and recipes are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite! #SausageFamily

Done in under 10 minutes, these Huevos Rancheros Sausage Breakfast Tacos are the perfect reason to wake up excited on weekdays.

Full confession time. I'm not the best when it comes time to cooking breakfast. Normally Asheley and I are always on the run to get out the door... something that now is definitely going to be compounded by the whole having a 2-month-old added into the mix.

But man, I gotta get better at making us breakfast in the morning. Especially now as we transition back to the real world i.e. work (Asheley goes back this week and me the next), I want to start eating better. And as my mommy always told me, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

Now look at these Huevos Rancheros Sausage Breakfast Tacos. Aren't these worth spending 10 minutes on every morning? Yes, every morning. They are that good.

Growing up, I was always a bacon guy. My mom never ever made sausage (probably my picky-eater-father's fault) . Whenever I went out to breakfast and the server asked sausage or bacon... I didn't understand the question. Doesn't everyone prefer bacon?

But then a couple of years ago I revolted and said the heck with it. Let's get crazy and finally see what this breakfast sausage is all about. It was a moment of enlightment and anger... I could finally see the breakfast sausage light, but was angry at all the previous missed opportunities to indulge in this morning treat.

And with Johnsonville® fully cooked breakfast sausage, weekday breakfast just got a whole lot quicker. These Huevos Rancheros Sausage Breakfast Tacos are protein-packed and can be served up in less than 10 minutes (and by my calculations of the speed at which I inhaled them, about 67 seconds to eat).

Mornings... you just got a little bit happier 😉

Follow Johnsonville® on Facebook | Twitter

Spicy Chipotle Honey Chicken Kebabs

By Chris Cockren 5 Comments

This post for Spicy Chipotle Honey Chicken Kebabs is sponsored by TABASCO. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite! #TABASCO10

With just four ingredients, you can make one killer of a grilled dinner. These Spicy Chipotle Honey Chicken Kebabs are bursting with spicy-sweet flavor!

Boom. Day 2 of the TABASCO 10 Challenge and this is probably (it is) my favorite recipe of the bunch. I know, I guess as the parent of these recipes I'm not supposed to have a "favorite" and should love them all equally.

I do love them all... but I have just a little bit extra love for these super easy 4 ingredient chicken kebabs. Asheley agrees. These kebabs rock. She couldn't believe the flavor party going on in her mouth was the result of 4 simple ingredients.

And better yet, this is a recipe even the most inept home cook can totally pull off and gain some serious grilling cred with their family. Trust me... you've got this. Spicy Chipotle Honey Chicken Kebabs for the win.

So just as a reminder what we're doing here this week... I've been tasked to create 5 recipes, 5 days in a row, with just these 10 ingredients. And anyone that knows me knows that I love a challenge (as long as it has to do with whisks and spatulas and not hammers or power tools).

I knew instantly I wanted to play with the spicy-sweet thing

...because hello, spicy and sweet were made for each other, just like Ben (Affleck) and Jen (Garner). What, they just broke up? The horror.

Let's try that again.

...because hello, spicy and sweet were made for each other, just like Ben and Jerry. That's a pair that'll always stay together 😉

But I never knew just how good the Chipotle TABASCO with honey would really be... it's pretty magical.

And hey, if you want to complete this meal with some rice and grilled veggies, I'm sure your family would be appreciative. And now that I have you thinking about Ben & Jerry's ice cream, you can treat them to some dessert as well.

Oh, and bonuses: these Spicy Chipotle Honey Chicken Kebabs are gluten free and kinda paleo friendly (well, depending on what level of paleo-ness you are trying to achieve).

My Other #TABASCO10 Recipes:

Chicken, Zucchini, and Mozzarella Burgers with a Fried Egg

Chicken, Zucchini, and Mozzarella Burgers

By Chris Cockren 8 Comments

This post for Chicken, Zucchini, and Mozzarella Burgers is sponsored by TABASCO. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite! #TABASCO10

Chicken burgers get a bad rap as being boring and dry, but that ends today with these Chicken, Zucchini, and Mozzarella Burgers topped with a fried egg!

I've come to accept it. This is officially the last week of summer vacation. #lame

But thankfully I have something pretty cool I'm working on to keep me excited through this bummer of a transition out of stretchy mesh shorts and t-shirts and into actual tailored pants that probably don't even fit me anymore (I blame our newborn baby for my lack of good food choices lately...).

Get this. TABASCO reached out to myself and a few other totally rad food bloggers to participate in their TABASCO 10 Challenge. 5 Recipes. 5 Days. And I can only use the 10 ingredients listed below.

So you'll be seeing a recipe every day this week... let's see how creative I can get with these ingredients.

Recipe #1. These super juicy and flavorful Chicken, Zucchini, and Mozzarella Burgers.

Let's talk about this list for a second. Technically, I only have 9 ingredients to work with, because I loathe fennel. Yea, I know loathe is a strong word. So is hate, detest, and abhor. And all these words equally describe my relationship with fennel. Gross.

So a total of 9 ingredients to work with. That's it. Challenge accepted TABASCO. Let's do this.

This creative chicken burger is pretty freaking awesome. I'm definitely not one to jump up and down for a chicken burger normally (yawn... give me the beef), but these are really flavorful, juicy, and moist thanks to the additon of shredded zucchini, mozzarella, and Chipotle TABASCO into the patty.

And the mini ciabatta definitely adds a lot more textural fun to the burger than the typical squishy bun.

For that extra kick-donkey touch? A fried egg, because, well... #runnyyolk

A couple of tips for ya...

definitely make sure to squeeze out as much moisture as possible from the shredded zucchini. The excess water will make it difficult for the chicken patty to stay together otherwise.
Refrigerate the patty for a few hours (or overnight) to help it really stay together on the grill. If you are pressed for time, you can put 'em in the freezer for about an hour before grilling.
make sure your grill grates are oiled and don't get all worried if the cheese starts oozing out a bit while cooking. It's all good.
There's Chipotle TABASCO in the patty, but it doesn't make it spicy. It just adds some serious flavor. Feel free to squirt a bit more to the finished burger if you want a spicy bite. I sure did.

Corn, Blueberry, and Halloumi Grain Salad

By Chris Cockren 4 Comments

This post for Corn, Blueberry, and Halloumi Grain Salad is sponsored by Schick Hydro® and Social Stars. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite! #MakeItEpic

Looking for an epic creative summer side dish? Boom. This is it... Corn, Blueberry, and Halloumi Grain Salad with Walnut and Basil will be the hit of any party!

Well, it happened again. Another summer vacation almost over. There's just one short week left. I'm totally not complaining. Being a teacher is such a great gig and I'm almost (not really) excited to get back into the routine of things.

Although, hey, we literally have no idea what our routine is going to look like now that we also have to get a 2-month old baby up, fed, and in the car with me to get to the babysitter's (i.e. Mima!) before I go to work. We will see how that goes...

But here's what I do know. This creative summer side dish has been the hit salad at our house (and all family and friend gatherings) the past two months. Asheley, who hasn't had a huge appetite at all this summer, will gladly devour a crazy big portion of it. Like, she skips getting a serving spoon out and putting some in a bowl for herself and instead just dives right into the whole batch of it.

Corn, Blueberry, and Halloumi Grain Salad. You are here to stay in our house... because you are epic.

Are you a little intrigued by the corn and blueberry thing together? You should be. It's a magical, epic combination that I'm currently obsessed with. Asheley and I experienced it for the first time in a pasta dish at an awesome San Francisco restaurant a couple years back... and now I've been using the flavor combo ever since.

And have you heard of halloumi cheese? It's literally the coolest cheese on the planet. It's the Fonzie of the cheese world. You can grill it... and it doesn't melt! It's got a flavor profile and texure kind of like mozzarella with a saltier bite.

Ever been to a backyard BBQ party where there are like a billion different side salads put out on the table because every guest brought their "famous whatever-they-make". And then at the end of dinner you look at all the serving bowls and see which ones are still full (i.e. the rejects)? Yea, this bowl is gonna be empty, because it's the shizz. Just saying. #truth

And for all my dudes out there, don't let this Corn, Blueberry, and Halloumi Salad be the only epic thing at your summer parties this year. You can get your epic shave on with Schick Hydro® razors and groomer. My face is feeling f-i-n-e fine thanks to these shaving tips from Schick.

Looking For More Summer Salads?

Watermelon, Feta, and Arugula Salad with Balsamic Glaze and Pickled Onions

Sweet Potato Bacon Salad

Stone Fruit Salad with Avocado, Ricotta, and Salsa Verde

Simple Corn and Basil Salad

Red, White, and Blueberry Salad with Lemon Vinaigrette

BBQ Chicken Salad with Avocado Dressing

Two Ingredient Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream

Toasted Marshmallow Milkshakes

I can smell the campire now with this super easy Two Ingredient Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream! Perfect for summer or whenever the s'mores craving hits!

Guys. I love ice cream.

Maybe a ~~little~~ lot too much. But that's okay, because it's summer. So it's okay... right?

My grocery store is pretty awesome... they stock all these small-batch artisan ice cream makers. So naturally I feel it to be my moral obligation to try as many different pints as possible over the last month or so. You know, so that the grocery store knows that stocking these items was a good idea. #thisiswhyimfat

But you know what I have never ever seen in the ice cream aisle? Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream. Never. And that's a travesty. Oh the culinary horror.

And sure, I could make it from scratch like I did last summer for these Ultimate S'mores Sundaes with Candied Bacon. But who's got time for that when you have a newborn crying up a storm? Not this dude. Or I could whip up my favorite dessert drink of all time... the Toasted Marshmallow Shake. But I had a hankering for eating with a spoon, not a straw.

So then I had this genius idea. I recently heard on some cooking show that you can rechurn melted ice cream. So then I thought... how about I intentionally melt some good-quality vanilla ice cream, give it a quick blend with toasted marshmallow fluff, and then rechurn it for some frozen toasted marshmallow goodness?

Boom. The easiest, simplest, foolproof... Two Ingredient Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream.

And the best part? You totally can tell everyone that you made ice cream. They don't need to know your little secret 😉

Chris, can I take this technique and apply it with any flavor I want? That's a great question... and the answer is yes. You can melt any flavor ice cream you want and modify it to your liking. The possibilities are as vast as your imagination... which, by the way, makes this a great little project to do with your kiddies too!

Looking for More Toasted Marshmallow?

Ultimate S'mores Sundae with Candied Bacon

S'mores Graham Cracker Toffee Bark

15+ Creative S'mores Recipes

The Ultimate S'mores Bar

S'mores Graham Cracker Toffee Bark

By Chris Cockren 5 Comments

This post for S'mores Graham Cracker Toffee Bark is sponsored by Dixie Crystals. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Skip the camfire and get your s'mores fix with this super easy entertaining 5-ingredient summer dessert for S'mores Graham Cracker Toffee Bark!

I'd like to meet the person that invented the s'mores. Like, it's a pretty amazing combination. Simple, but magical.

The only drawback? Sometimes you want a s'mores right this second and don't want to have to build a fire or get the grill going just to get your fix. Know what I mean? Boom.

S'mores Graham Cracker Toffee Bark. All the flavor of a s'mores, but better... because it's already made and waiting for you to take a bite. Heck to the yes.

Better yet? You only need 5 ingredients to make this ridiculously awesome summer easy entertaining dessert happen. FIVE INGREDIENTS.

Going to a backyard BBQ? Make this.

Hosting a party and don't have a lot of time to prep? Make this.

Looking for a budget friendly summer dessert? Make this.

Have a pulse? Uhm, make this.

Bottom line, you need this in your life. It's hands down one of my favorite concoctions of the summer. Just make sure that if you live somewhere kinda warm, you store it in the fridge and take it out a few minutes before serving.

And listen, no one needs to know if you decide to keep all this bark for yourself and not bring it to that party. I totally get it 😉

Want to make this super easy S'mores Graham Cracker Toffee Bark? The answer to that question needs to be yes, by the way.

S'mores Graham Cracker Toffee

Need more S'mores In Your Life?

The Ultimate S'mores Sundae with Candied Bacon

ultimate smores sundae homemade toasted marshmallow ice cream and candied bacon

The Best DIY S'mores Bar

the-best-smores-recipe-ultimate-smores-bar copy

15+ Creative S'mores Recipes

Meet Olivia!

By Chris Cockren 7 Comments

Meet Olivia. 7.1.15. 9 pounds - 5 ounces. 21 inches.

This welcome is long overdue. You've been asking to see some photos of the little munchkin for awhile. And I kept meaning to write this in my free time. But as every parent reading this understands (you might actually hear them laughing through the screen), free time is a faint memory of their before-kids-past.

I'm totally not complaining though. We prayed for our little miracle for 3 years. It wasn't an easy journey (and for those that want to know more about our struggle with infertility, Asheley wrote an article for a blog here.)

Everyone kept telling us throughout Asheley's pregnancy that having kids was the most rewarding thing in their lives and that everything was about to change...

Yes, it's hard. Why won't you just go to sleep?! Why are you crying?! What do you want?!?!

Yes, we constantly are worried and are nervous. What was that sound she made?! She's spitting up a lot... is she okay? She's sleeping a lot, what's wrong? Should we call the peditrician?! I know... but hey, we're first time parents. If God blesses us with a 2nd child (no rush on that one God... we're good for now haha), I'm sure things will be much different in the worry department.

Yes, it's amazing. A new part of my heart is now alive for the very first time. There is a love so deep, so unexplored before now. With every smile, every little coo, every glance at our beautiful little baby, I'm so filled with love.

Side note. People who do newborn photography... big props to you. It's SO different than photographing food and engagements/weddings! I thought it would be easy to scrunch her up into a pose. Nope. I thought she would sleep easily and cooperate fully when I wanted to photograph her. Nope.

At least got a few quick photos of our baby girl 🙂

--------------------------------

Here are some favorite photos from Olivia. I'll let her take over from here...

Top Left: One of the cuter sonogram photos of me! (let's be honest... a lot of the sono photos look like I'm a baby alien). NOT flattering. This one I at least look like a little gummy bear 🙂

Top Right: Oh hey guys, I'm born! Look how chubby I am! When I came out the doctor turned to mommy + daddy and said Whoaaaaa... this is a big one!

Bottom Left: I'm not a chubby baby anymore... but don't worry, mommy is feeding me plenty 🙂

Bottom Right: one of mommy + daddy's favorite photos of me. They told me we were going to Brooklyn for Smorgasburg and I got so excited!

Daddy says I make faces like he did when he was a baby. His mommy (my Mima!) sent me this photo of him... look at the side-by-side comparison! I'm definitely a daddy's girl!

Daddy thinks he's funny. He's not. Okay, he is. And I love him a lot. Every morning we have daddy-daughter time (mommy is NOT a morning person), and daddy loves to take silly selfies with me. He's always trying to copy me. It's okay for now, but he better learn to cut it out when I get older.

LOVE bathtime! I'm a happy baby sitting in my little tub. Daddy is in charge of drying me off after... he does a pretty good job.

It was daddy's birthday a few weeks ago! We're not going to talk about the several hours I screamed my face off while he was trying to enjoy his birthday dinner. I apologized about that... I was just a really cranky girl and was very gassy. But by the time cake came out, I calmed down and Mima was able to snap a great family moment. Don't we all look happy?!

We are 🙂

Thank you all so much for all your positive thoughts, prayers, encouragement, and well wishes throughout Asheley's pregnancy and the birth of our baby girl! We are so grateful!

Chris, Asheley, + Olivia

Grilled Summer Vegetable Flatbread with Blueberry, Bacon, and Lemon Ricotta

This recipe for Grilled Summer Vegetable Flatbread with Blueberry, Bacon, and Lemon Ricotta is sponsored by Flatout Bread. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Looking for a creative weeknight dinner that's bold on flavor and light on the waist? Boom. Grilled Summer Vegetable Flatbread with Blueberry, Bacon, and Lemon Ricotta.

I always thought I was a pretty productive person. Full time teacher. Running this blog. And of course staying busy with all things related to co-owning a wedding photography studio. But man. I gotta tell you. This baby. She's helping me take my productivity to a whole new level.

A full day to accomplish one or two things is now replaced with hurry up and get it done while the baby napping. But oh wait... Olivia has decided not to nap. Or she decided to just close her eyes for like 10 minutes. Ohhhhhh daddy, you had a plan for today? Well I just called an audible. Welcome to parenthood.

Luckily I have an amazing wife that gives me time every day to get some work done. Asheley, you're awesome. And an awesome wife deserves someone to cook up dinner for her. Quickly, of course, considering we have a very tiny window to eat in between nursing, burping, changing, crying, and all the other unexpected joys of having a newborn 🙂

Thankfully this time of year, the grill is always open for business and summer produce is rocking. Boom. Instant kick-donkey dinner... Grilled Summer Vegetable Flatbread with Blueberry, Bacon, and Lemon Ricotta.

So if you are thinking... Chris, this sounds amazing except for the blueberries, you need to just trust me already and try it. I've been adding blueberries to savory dishes a bunch lately, and it's pretty darn extraordinary. I learned the tip after having an amazing pasta dish with corn and blueberry at Flour + Water in San Francisco a few years ago. It was magical.

And sure, you could make this vegetarian by leaving out the bacon... but no. Bacon is amazing. Case in point, check out this meme.

I always judge the quality of a meal by how much Asheley leaves on the plate. She is pretty consistent with leaving a little bit on the plate usually... but when it's licked clean, I know I hit on a gem of a recipe. Well, winner winner ~~chicken~~ flatbread dinner, this Grilled Summer Vegetable Flatbread with Blueberry, Bacon, and Lemon Ricotta was a heck of a success.

And with Flatout Artisan Thin Pizza Crust on hand, this dinner was extra easy, quick, and light on the waist. A quick snack or meal is always nearby with Flatout Flatbread. Hellow wraps, pinwheels, and pizza! And bonus, they are a good source of fiber, have 7g of fiber, and are all 130 calories or less!

Want to try Flatout Artisan Thin Pizza Crust? Get it cheaper with this $.50 off coupon!

Follow Along with Flatout Bread: Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest| Instagram

Spicy Roasted Pineapple and Avocado Bacon Burger

Stuffed Jalapeno Popper Bacon Cheeseburger

This recipe for Spicy Roasted Pineapple and Avocado Bacon Burger is sponsored by Cayman Jack. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Time to bump up that boring backyard bbq menu with a creative burger to make your party epic? Boom... Spicy Roasted Pineapple and Avocado Bacon Burger!

The summer here in NY has been pretty mild so far. Most days in the 80s. Comfortable. Beautiful. Is this how you California dwellers feel, like, all the time? #notjealous #okaymaybealittle

But this week's different. It's officially a heat wave here in NY. Temperatures are above 90 every day this week, which, by itself isn't a terrible thing. But add in this ridiculous humidity and you have a recipe for one over-heated, over-cranky, over-weight dude.

But it's also weeks like this that I'm reminded... it's summer! And summer is a beautiful thing. Especially when you are a teacher and don't have to work. So what's a guy to do for lunch on a random weekday afternoon? Cook up something pretty darn fantastic, that's what. And I know what's gonna totally hit the spot and help me beat this crazy heat. This Spicy Roasted Pineapple and Avocado Bacon Burger... with a side of an ice cold margarita.

Hello, summer. I'm winning.

Now you can feel free to cook your burger however you darn well please. That's your call and I'm not gonna mess with your burger cooking method. We all have our ways.

But Tyler and I have a new personal favorite way. Sous-vide. That's right, we cook our burgers in a temperature-controlled water bath thanks to our immersion circulator. All it takes is a quick 15 minutes at 62-65°C and then a quick sear in a cast iron skillet, on the grill, or with our pyrotechnic friend the blowtorch. The burgers are beyond juicy and cooked absolutely perfect every single time.

What you can't mess with, though, are these killer toppings. We're talking thick-cut bacon. Fresh juicy pineapple that's been caramelized with chili powder in the bacon fat. And, of course... you always need some avocado in our house (Asheley = obsessed).

And hey, if you want to really embrace summer, you need a margarita in that hand. No, no... put that blender away. Nope, no shaker necessary. All you have to do is reach into the fridge and grab some ready-to-serve, hand-crafted Cayman Jack margaritas.

What, what? You don't have any in yo' fridge? Oh, the travesty. You need to Find Cayman Jack.

You know what's pretty epic about these margaritas? They use premium ingredients. And like we all know... greatness in any meal starts with premium ingredients. They use 100% Blue Agave Nectar. Pure Cane Sugar. And get this... organic key limes! There are no chemicals, corn syrup, or other gross garbage that so many other ready-to-serve margaritas contain.

With all that premium goodness, I know it's going to pair like a boss with my Spicy Roasted Pineapple and Avocado Bacon Burger.

Goodbye heatwave. Hello summer refreshment.

Follow Cayman Jack: Facebook | Twitter | Instagram

Need More Burgers?

Korean Kimchi Burger

The Fat Tyler

Copycat Dallas Burger

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Cayman Jack. The opinions and text are all mine.

Blueberry Margarita Sorbet

By Chris Cockren 7 Comments

This post for Blueberry Margarita Sorbet is sponsored by Dixie Crystals. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

This Blueberry Margarita Sorbet is a refreshing summer dessert treat with an adult twist. If you prefer, you may omit the tequila and salt for plain Blueberry Sorbet.

What the heck. How is it the end of July already.

Okay, I'm going to try not thinking about it. Let's watch some TV to get my mind off of... oh come on with these back to school commercials!

Those back to school commercials are what gives us teachers nightmares all August 😉 But hey, summer is only ½ over... so it's time to live it up. And by live it up, I mean catch up on DVR'd shows while bouncing Olivia in my arms hoping for the love of all things good and decent in this world that she will go to sleep and stay asleep for a couple hours. #parenthood

Speaking of Olivia. She's awesome. Asheley and I are totally in love. It's so great having the entire summer off all together.

Asheley is extra excited that she can finally eat and drink some of the finer things in life again now. Soft cheeses. Hot dogs . Sushi. And of course... alcohol. So when I was making this bold and vibrant sorbet, I said what the heck. Let's get crazy. Let's live the wild life with reckless abandon. Let's spike this Blueberry Margarita Sorbet with tequila. Boom.

Making sorbets are super easy to put together, and so satisfying in the summer heat.

Like... get ready for this, I even sometimes prefer a big, vibrant sorbet over ice cream ::gasp!!:: on a hot, sunny day. I know. I said it.

Get the recipe for this Blueberry Margarita Sorbet over at Dixie Crystals!

Blueberry Margarita Sorbet | sharedappetite.com

Need More Dessert Inspiration?

The Ultimate S'mores Sundae with Candied Bacon

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15+ Creative S'mores

Bacon Mexican Street Corn Hot Dogs

This is a sponsored conversation written by me of behalf of Ball Park® brand. The opinions and text are all mine, as is the recipe for Bacon Mexican Street Corn Hot Dogs.

Elevate your backyard BBQ game this summer with a serious hot dog upgrade... Bacon Mexican Street Corn Hot Dogs!

Boy has life changed these last couple of weeks. You may have noticed that my last recipe post was over two weeks ago. Two weeks! That hasn't happened... ever. It's for good reason. A great reason. Asheley and I have been adjusting to life with our new baby girl!

Don't you worry. I'll be posting some photos of her soon enough. If you follow me on Instagram, you may have already seen a sneak peek of baby Olivia 🙂

So with a new baby at home, there's been a pretty constant stream of visitors popping in and out. Unfortunately with my current sleep deprived state, cooking for all these visitors hasn't really happened yet. But I'm totally starting to get that entertaining itch... I was made for hosting parties. I need to have one soon.

But we all know by now that your typical boring backyard BBQ food isn't going to cut it at a party at our house. Plain hot dogs? Nah. I've been known to upgrade my dogs, like with these Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Popper Hot Dogs. And now there is a new creative hot dog in town. These Bacon Mexican Street Corn Hot Dogs. And they are darn freaking good.

Roasted Corn. Crumbled Bacon. Cotija Cheese. Fresh Chives. And of course, that spicy Sriracha Mayo. Hello beautiful, get in my belly.

These will definitely take your backyard BBQ from ordinary to extraordinary. Boom.

I'm totally digging these Ball Park Park's Finest frankfurters. They are all about elevating your grilling experience from bland to bold. They are packed with big flavors, are made with 100% beef, and are one heck of a premium hot dog.

Take a look in your refrigerated section at the grocery store for all five flavors of Ball Park Park's Finest: Jalapeno Cheddar, Slow Cooked Chili, Signature Seasoned, Slow Smoked Hickory, and Cracked Dijon Mustard.

And get this. This August in NYC, Ball Park + a team of grill masters will attempt to break the world record for the longest running group BBQ at the Finest Grillathon. YOU can join Ball Park brand in its attempt to break the Guinness World Record:

If you think you have what it takes to be part of the world-record breaking grilling team, submit a video grilling your finest hot dog creation and tell Ball Park brand all about your passion for grilling hot dogs and why you deserve a spot on the team. Enter for your chance to win here.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Ball Park. The opinions and text are all mine.

Tropical Pineapple Coconut Sangria

By Chris Cockren 22 Comments

Cool down this summer with this refreshing Tropical Pineapple Coconut Sangria! It's an instant party in a pitcher!

If you've been around these parts the past handful of months, you know that Asheley and I are expecting our very first little one. Baby girl Olivia was due this past Sunday. Apparently she's stubborn and is enjoying her current stay a little too much. So after our latest sono appointment just the other day, our doctor has decided to evict her... apparently she's getting a bit chubby (a true sign that's she's my daughter).

So, at this very moment that this post is live, Asheley is being induced into labor. And no, I'm not typing this out while she's in labor. Give me some credit. I scheduled this sucker yesterday. I'm right there by her side... for her to scream at, curse at, and verbally abuse however she sees fit until this baby girl safely arrives.

I don't know what it is, but almost all of our friends doing the whole baby thing recently have also had girls. So it's a good thing our little Olivia can have a baby boy friend pretty soon... it's time to celebrate my food blogging friend Zainab as she and her husband Mr. J are expecting at the end of July! #woot

I couldn't be happier for my virtual food blogging friend, and wish you both lots of joy and happiness as you grow your family to a party of 3! And big thanks to Alice @ Hip Foodie Mom and Allie @ Baking A Moment for getting this virtual baby shower organized! You ladies are the best!

For those of you that know Zainab, she is obsessed with tropical flavors. Now, I know... she totally can't indulge in this Tropical Pineapple Coconut Sangria right now. But hey, this baby boy will be here before we know it, and there will be a whole lot of summer left for Zainab to kick back with Mr. J and enjoy a glass!

Make sure to check out all the other tropical baby shower recipes that were created!

Blackberry Coconut Cupcakes, by Baking a Moment
Blueberry Coconut Meusli Bars, by The Spiffy Cookie
Blueberry-Ginger Coconut Cheesecake Popsicles, by Floating Kitchen
Caramel Coconut Cluster Bars, by Eats Well with Others
Chocolate Coconut Cake, by Brunch with Joy
Coconut Breakfast Pudding with Sauteed Nectarines, by Cooking and Beer
Coconut Cake, by I am Baker
Coconut Cream Pie Ice Cream, by The Recipe Rebel
Coconut Energy Bites, by The Kitchenarium
Coconut Key Lime Angel Food Cake Roll, by Flavor the Moments
Coconut Key Lime Pie Cookie Bars, by Two in the Kitchen
Coconut Key Lime Macarons, by Life Made Sweeter
Coconut, Lime, and White Chocolate Milkshake, by A Clean Bake
Coconut Pineapple Banana Smoothie, by The Bitter Side of Sweet
Coconut Pineapple Fried Rice with Shrimp, by Healthy Nibbles and Bits
Coconut Sweet Potato Muffins, by Luci's Morsels
Double Chocolate Chip Cookies with Toasted Coconut, by The Cooking Actress
Key Lime Coconut Button Sandwich Cookies, by Culinary Concoctions by Peabody
Key Lime Coconut Pound Cake, by Grandbaby Cakes
Lavender Coconut Macarons, by Broma Bakery
Macaroon Tarts with Ginger Coconut Whipped Cream and Pineapple, by A Cookie Named Desire
Mango Coconut Donuts, by Chez Catey Lou
Mango Coconut Smoothie, by Jessica in the Kitchen
Mango Summer Cake, by Keep it Sweet Desserts
Mini Coconut Cream Pies, by Hip Foodie Mom
Pina Colada Pie, by Life, Love, and Sugar
Skinny Blueberry Lime Scones, by Club Narwhal
Spiced Lentils with Toasted Coconut, by This Gal Cooks
Toasted Coconut Banana Meringue Pie, by The Sweet {Tooth} Life
Triple Coconut Rum Layer Cake, by bethcakes
Tropical Pineapple Coconut Sangria, by Shared Appetite
White Chocolate Coconut Key Lime Cookies, by Culinary Couture

Southwest Kale, Corn, and Bacon Dip

This post for Southwest Kale, Corn, and Bacon Dip is sponsored by Sargento®. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands who support Shared Appetite!

This Southwest Kale, Corn, and Bacon Dip will definitely bring an explosion of flavor to your party! Just 10 minutes of super easy prep!

I've always wondered what it would be like to compete on Chopped. 4 ingredients. An insanely short amount of time. A whole lot of pressure, knowing full well you are going to be judged by some serious chef talent. Psshhh... piece of cake.

Not.

But I'm always super excited to partcipate in Chopped-like challenges in the comfort of my own home. With no time restraint. And Asheley being the sole judge, who pretty much will eat anything and everything I make.

The challenge? Cook up something tasty using Sargento® Chef Blends 4 State Cheddar, Kale, Bacon, and Oyster Crackers. Boom. Southwest Kale, Corn, and Bacon Dip.

Are you shocked I went with a southwest spin? I know, it's so unlike me. That was sarcasm. I love southwest flavors. Heck to the yes.

And I freaking love dip. Like, if I showed up to a party and they announced that the only food they would be serving were a smorgasbord of dips... I'd be in heaven, and the hosts would be my new best friends.

This Southwest Kale, Corn, and Bacon Dip is not only huge on flavor, it's ridiculously easy to make. The total prep time only takes 10 minutes. The hardest part is cooking bacon. Yea, it's that simple.

Sargento® cheese has a ton of different flavors and varieties... 30 in all! The Sargento® Chef Blends 4 State Cheddar features their Sharp Wisconsin Cheddar, Sharp Vermont Cheddar, Sharp New York Cheddar and Mild California Cheddar cheeses. That's some cheddar overload right there!

For some cheesy inspiration, check out Sargento on Pinterest or their official website.

Want to win $10,000? Yea, you and me both. How about you go ahead and win this Chopped at Home Challenge... you can do it. I know it. You know it. Go do this.

What recipe would you submit to the Chopped At Home contest featuringSargento® cheese?

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Sargento. The opinions and text are all mine.

Bacon Wrapped Brats with Cheddar Beer Sauce and Sriracha

Bacon Wrapped Jalapeno Popper Hot Dogs

This post for Bacon Wrapped Brats with Cheddar Beer Sauce and Sriracha is sponsored by Johnsonville® brats and Social Stars. As always, all opinions and recipes are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite! #SausageFamily

Fire up the grill and throw a legendary backyard BBQ with these Bacon Wrapped Brats with Cheddar Beer Sauce and Sriracha!

Oh hey there Independence Day! You're looking fine. It's just about that time of year when us Americans get our patriotic celebration on, and I have to be honest... I'm not sure at this point what my July 4th is going to look like.

Baby girl Olivia is literally due any day now. Actually, her official due date is tomorrow! Asheley is hoping she's the punctual type. The hospital bag is packed. The car seat base is installed in my new daddy-mobile. And Asheley is beyond ready to be able to actually move and breathe again. Baby girl Olivia... we are as prepared and ready for you as first time parents can be (which, my guess is, not really ready at all).

So yea, it's pretty doubtful Asheley and I will be hosting a BBQ this year, but you totally need to do it up right. We will most likely be feeling the very beginnings of sleep deprivation at that point, so you need to celebrate for us.

Get your family and friends together. Fire up that grill. And kick your backyard BBQ up a notch. I'm talking about these Bacon Wrapped Brats with Cheddar-Beer Sauce and Sriracha. This is legit celebration food right here.

I'm pretty much a fan of anything that is served up in a bun. It's the ultimate party food... no utensils required. And brats are perfect for pretty much any summer party occasion... cook outs, picnics, family dinners, BBQs.

And with Johnsonville® brats, you've got flavor options. Original, Beef, New Orleans, Cheddar, Hot 'n Spicy... the list goes on and on. You can check out their full line of flavors here.

All I know is... it's always a good idea to wrap your brats in bacon (obviously), and this combination of cheddar-beer sauce + sriracha might just become a staple condiment duo for my backyard bashes. I'm thinking my friends are going to love slathering anything and everything with the stuff.

Follow Johnsonville® on: Facebook | Twitter

Need More BBQ Inspiration?

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The Ultimate S'mores Sundae with Toasted Marshmallow Ice Cream and Candied Bacon

Macaroni and Cheese Topped Hot Dogs

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Red, White, and Blueberry Salad

Korean Kimchi Burger

The Fat Tyler Burger

Stuffed Jalapeno Popper Bacon Cheeseburger

Korean Inspired Mexican Street Corn

Chocolate Covered Strawberry Eton Mess

Grab a coupon for Flatout Bread Hungry Girl Foldits!

Need an easy entertaining summer dessert that can completely be made ahead of time? Boom... this Chocolate Covered Strawberry Eton Mess is your answer.

Guess what happens when you do a Google search for meringue, strawberry. and whipped cream? Apparently you find out that there is a dessert called Eton Mess. Thanks Google, for always teaching me something new.

Quick history lesson for ya... also thanks to the Google. Eton Mess is a traditional English dessert that all started at England's Eton College. I'm not one that usually jumps for joy at English food (yawn... boring!), but those guys across the lake actually got something right with this sweet bundle of summer joy.

I'm all about this Chocolate Covered Strawberry Eton Mess. It's the epitome of a make-ahead easy entertaining summer dessert. And it's darn tasty.

So with the traditional Eton Mess, you usually mix together strawberries, broken meringues, and whipped cream into one big mess of a dessert.

Born at Eton College. Mixed together into a mess of a dessert. Eton... Mess... Eton Mess. Get it? Good.

But here's the deal. We're not just going to mix everything together and slop it in a bowl. Our summer parties are way too epic for that, right? We need the presentation to be just as legit as the flavors happening in the bowl.

So we are going to layer this Chocolate Covered Strawberry Eton Mess like a boss. A fluffy bed of homemade whipped cream. Some freshly chopped strawberries. A healthy dose of shaved dark chocolate. Those beautiful broken-up homemade chocolate chip meringues. And one heck of a garnish... a chocolate covered strawberry.

Dessert just got a major upgrade.

You can find this recipe for Chocolate Covered Strawberry Eton Mess over at Safest Choice Eggs!

Grilled Peach, Corn, and Basil Flatbread with Balsamic Glaze

By Chris Cockren 9 Comments

This post for Grilled Peach, Corn, and Basil Flatbread with Balsamic Glaze is sponsored by Flatout Bread. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Brighten up your summer eating with this healthy Grilled Peach, Corn, and Basil Flatbread with Balsamic Glaze!

There are just 7 school days standing between me and summer vacation. Just 7 days before turning that morning wake-up alarm off and enjoying the sole responsibility of relaxing all day, every day. Oh wait... that's right. Baby Olivia is due to arrive in just over a week.

Looks like I'll be waking up to a different kind of alarm clock this summer. And will be enjoying my summer relaxation time in a very different way.

And honestly, I can't wait. #excited #terrified

But one thing that I won't comprise on this summer... flavor. I wait all year long for these few months of fresh produce overload. When fruit bursts with juicy goodness. When I just need to take a few steps outside to grab some fresh herbs from our patio planters.

Ah, summer. You are awesome. Especially when you give me legit eats like this Grilled Peach, Corn, and Basil Flatbread with Balsamic Glaze. Heck to the yes.

Guys. Grilled peaches? You need them in your life. Seriously.

Throw 'em in salads. Or in a bowl with some vanilla ice cream. Or make one heck of a variation of the classic caprese salad... grilled peaches, fresh corn and basil, mozzarella, and balsamic glaze.

Put that all on a flatbread, and you have yourself some good summer eats.

So can I be honest? With our baby on the way, I've gained quite a bit of pregnancy "sympathy weight". Not good. The button on my jeans is currently holding on for dear life.

I'm making it my mission to start eating healthier now that summer is here, so I was super happy to try out Flatout Bread Hungry Girl Foldits... even if I'm a Hungry Guy. They come in 100% Whole Wheat with Flax, Traditional White, and Rosemary + Olive Oil. Best part? All are 100 calories or less, are low in fat, and are a good source of fiber.

Of course, the Hungry Girl Foldits are perfect for burgers and sandwiches, but they also make for one super easy pizza or creative flatbread!

Want a rad coupon? Click on the image below!

Korean Kimchi Burgers

By Chris Cockren 9 Comments

This post for Korean Kimchi Burgers is sponsored by Schick Hydro® and Social Stars. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Fire up that grill and serve up some of these flavor-packed Korean Kimchi Burgers... loaded with grilled scallions, kimchi, avocado, and gochujang aioli!

This weekend is Father's Day. Already. Holy cow.

I can't help but wonder if this Father's Day is going to be a little different for me. If Olivia decides to come a week early... this will be my very first Father's Day. But that's totally up to her. Your call Baby O.

But in any case, I'll also be celebrating my dad. And the dude loves burgers. Like, I'm pretty sure he would be happy eating burgers for dinner every day. But here's the thing. He'll only eat 'em plain. Cheese and salt are the only two acceptable toppings. Picky eater? Uhm... yea.

And sure, there's a time and place for a purist burger. I'm totally down with that. But this isn't one of those times. I mean, I'll grill up a plain cheeseburger for my dad. That's how I roll. Give the guys what he wants and make him happy.

But the rest of us will be indulging in some serious burger action. We'll be giving our tastebuds something to get excited about.

We're talking cheddar cheese. Napa Cabbage Kimchi. Grilled scallions. Avocado. And a Gochujang Aioli that I'm totally addicted to.

Now that's a serious burger.

Of course, anytime a dude's got company coming over to celebrate a special occasion, he's gotta look good. And that's where Schick Hydro® comes in. With their Schick Hydro® 5 Groomer, you better believe I'm looking fine... as fine as a guy that gained a healthy amount of "sympathy weight" during Asheley's pregnancy that is. Oops.

And hey, check out this deal. Buy 2 participating Men's Schick or Edge products in a single transaction and get 2 Fandango Movie Tickets (up to a $20 total value)”! This promotion runs through July 10th. Get more informations about this groovy deal here.

Want More Kimchi Goodness?

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Frozen Mexican Hot Chocolate

By Chris Cockren 9 Comments

This post for Frozen Mexican Hot Chocolate is sponsored by Dixie Crystals. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

Cool down with hot chocolate... frozen hot chocolate, that is! This thick and creamy Frozen Mexican Hot Chocolate is spiked with cinnamon and cayenne pepper for an ultimate summer drink!

Guys. I'm kinda freaking out a little bit. Any day now, my life is about to change big time. Someone is going to start calling me daddy. Well, maybe not right away. She'll probably just lay there... sleeping, pooping, and eating. But you know what I mean.

I don't have the first clue about being in charge of another life. Like, the hospital is actually going to release this little baby into my care. Are they sure about that? I've been trained in so many things in life. Long division. Works cited pages. Conducting in multiple time signatures. But being a father? Nope, didn't get any classes in that growing up.

And yes, I'm totally reading up on the essentials in a few baby books. I know all about the rainbow of poop that's in my future, and have that swaddling diagram bookmarked for future use. But let's get real. Reading about being a parent is very different than... being a parent. So I'm just trusting and praying for wisdom... big time. I'm excited. I'm terrified. Let's do this.

All that had nothing to do with this Frozen Mexican Hot Chocolate. Sorry. I just wanted to share.

But this Frozen Hot Chocolate? Yes. Just yes. This twist on the classic drink made famous by Serendipity here in NYC has just the right amount of cinnamon and cayenne pepper for one heck of a new flavor experience.

And it's ready to drink in under 10 minutes. Boom.

If you'd prefer your Frozen Mexican Hot Chocolate sans the Mexican part, just leave out the cinnamon and cayenne pepper. I get it. You're a purist. It's all good.

You can grab the recipe for this Frozen Mexican Hot Chocolate over at Dixie Crystals!

Frozen Mexican Hot Chocolate

Fresh In The Garden With Basil + $100 American Express Gift Card Giveaway

By Chris Cockren 189 Comments

We are coming up on our first summer in our new home and I couldn't be more excited! Well, technically we moved in during the middle of summer last year, but I'm not counting that considering it was spent moving and unpacking an absurd amount of boxes (like really, how do 2 people amass so much stuff?!).

Oh, and painting... there was a lot of painting.

Besides being super pumped about getting to enjoy our new home come this summer (i.e. epic parties need to happen), I can't wait to finally get my vegetable and herb garden started up. One thing that made me incredibly bummed last summer was having to actually go to a grocery store to grab some fresh basil, cherry tomatoes, and the like (#firstworldproblems, I know). I loved just walking out of our old house and BOOM... thy bounty overfloweth.

I'm still trying to plan out where would be best to get my legit new garden started up in our backyard, so I'm getting the ball rolling with the easiest type of gardening... growing some fresh herbs in containers!

Container gardening is SO easy because you can literally just move your plants to wherever the sun is... or if my plants are spending too much time tanning, get them in some shade to recover.

There's something about having a patio full of planters growing herbs that makes me incredibly happy. I get super pumped about the ease of getting to walk a few steps outside, grabbing a few sprigs of this or that, and giving my food a flavor punch of fresh-from-the-garden herbs. There's no comparison in taste... stuff you grow yourself just tastes better. #fact

And, let's just be honest. Sprucing up the patio with fresh herbs just looks awesome. It's instant edible decorating!

You've definitely seen Burpee Home Gardens vegetables and herbs at your local plant emporium. It's a trusted brand in gardening and I was excited to get my hands on some quality Genovese style basil. The stuff is high-yielding, which is exactly what I need to sustain all those epic parties we'll be throwing throughout the summer. We go through a lot of basil in our house during these few short months!

With our very first baby on the way (and scheduled to arrive just before the start of summer), I'm sure we'll be having plenty of family and friends wanting to stop by and meet our little miracle. So get growing Burpee Home Gardens basil... I have big plans for you.

Make sure to check out the Burpee Home Gardens store locator to see where you can stock up on all your favorite vegetables and herbs! And to get you started, how about a chance to win a $100 American Express Gift Card!! Just leave a comment below letting me know what vegetables and herbs you want to grow in your garden!

Looking For Some Basil-Inspired Recipes?

Peach Basil Arnold Palmer

Simple Corn and Basil Salad

Raw Zucchini and Squash Spaghetti with Roasted Cherry Tomatos and Pistachio Pesto

Nectarine and Lemon Basil Sugar Crostini

Red, White, and Blueberry Salad

Quick and Easy Creamy Tomato Basil Soup

Winter Caprese Salad

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This giveaway is open to US Residents age 18 or older (or nineteen (19) years of age or older in Alabama and Nebraska). Winners will be selected via random draw, and will be notified by e-mail. The notification email will come directly from BlogHer via the sweeps@blogher email address. You will have 2 business days to respond; otherwise a new winner will be selected.

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Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Burger

By Chris Cockren 10 Comments

This post for is sponsored by Johnsonville® and Social Stars. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite! #SausageFamily

Dinner for Breakfast? Heck yes, especially if it's one of these Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Burgers! And easy meal ready in under 20 minutes!

Some people love to do the whole breakfast for dinner thing. Personally, I don't get it. No, I don't want pancakes for dinner. I want them for breakfast. With chocolate chips (obviously... because I'm five). And I will barely consider even having an omelet for breakfast, so get that crap out of here come dinner time.

But bringing dinner to the breakfast table? Well. Now we are talking. That's a movement I can get behind.

You already know my obsession with the Bacon, Egg, and Cheese combo. Like when I put 'em in these wontons. Or on this avocado toast. Brussels sprout salad. Totchos (that's tater tot nachos, for all you healthy people). Heck, even risotto can get the bacon, egg, and cheese treatment in my house.

It was only a matter of time. Burger, meet breakfast. Breakfast... burger. Specifically, a Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Burger. Boom.

Did you know that Johnsonville® is bringing some serious flavor in the burger department? Yea, I have to admit. I didn't either. That is... until I grilled up two of their Cheddar Cheese and Bacon Johnsonville® Grillers this past weekend. And that, my friends, was a start of a beautiful breakfast.

And because I'm the president of the #thisiswhyimfat campaign, I topped each burger with a thick slice of cheddar cheese, and then a generous dose of crispy bacon. To top it off... the crown jewel. A perfect sunny-side up egg. #runnyyolkforlife

Follow Johnsonville® on Facebook and Twitter!

Need More Bacon, Egg, and Cheese?

Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Breakfast Totchos

Bacon and Egg Brusels Sprout Salad with Sweet Potato and Avocado

{Gluten Free} Bacon, Egg, and Cheese Corn Risotto

Bacon Jam and Egg Avocado Toast

Korean Inspired Mexican Street Corn

Enter to win here and find out where you can be heading on vacation!

This post for Korean-Inspired Mexican Street Corn is sponsored by Weber Grills. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite! #QinColor @webergrills

Want a showstopper side dish that delivers big on flavor and presentation? Boom. Korean Inspired Mexican Street Corn with Gochujang Aioli!

Listen. I'm not here to toot my own horn (that's funny because I'm actually a music teacher and my main instrument is the trumpet... get it?), but I'm pretty confident in my abilities to throw a pretty kick-donkey backyard party.

I've got it pretty much down to a science. The pool is open. Thy drinks floweth freely. And the food is always bountiful. Asheley would say too bountiful. But what can I say? I want to make sure that everyone has plenty to eat... and just in case they all bring along a small army of friends, I'm prepared.

My favorite part of the summer party spread? The side dishes. LOVE side dishes. The more, the better. Like this indulgent Sweet Potato Bacon Salad. Or a very patriotic Red, White, and Blueberry Salad. Maybe a refreshing bite of this Watermelon, Feta, and Arugula Salad. And definitely a scoop of these Pineapple Bacon Baked Beans.

And let's not even discuss my obsession with corn. So many recipes to choose from! Simple Corn and Basil Salad? Maybe. This Spicy Southwest Corn? SO good.

And now, my newest corn obsession. Korean Inspired Mexican Street Corn... all grilled up and slathered with Gochujang Aioli, crumbled queso fresco, fresh herbs, and a squeeze of lime.

Let's talk grilling. This is a strict Weber Grill family. Has been for a long time. I started out with one of those sweet Weber Q Series portable grills at my very first apartment. When we bought our house, I upgraded to one of those serious Weber Genesis Grills. It's beyond legit!

I ended up giving my portable grill to a friend who needed one, and I have to admit... I miss it. It was so perfect because I could easily pack it up, put it in the car, and move it to wherever the party was happening.

And then, in a series of events that is so far past coincidence and that I can only deem as pure and utter fate, I have been reunited with a portable grill... the Weber Q 1200 in Color!

It's available in 6 sweet colors and folds up for easy transporting. Tailgating. Camping. Beach night. It's all possible with Weber Q 1200 in Color.

Just don't forget the Korean Inspired Mexican Street Corn. You won't be sorry. It's huge on flavor and quite possibly might be my new favorite summer bbq side dish.

Want to win your very own Weber Q 1200 in Color?

Boom. Weber Grills are giving one away every week through the end of June! And oh yea... there's a pretty sweet grand prize as well. You can win a Weber Q in the color of your choice along with a legit trip to a colorful destination of your choice.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Weber Grills. The opinions and text are all mine.

Roasted Strawberry Jalapeno Margarita

By Chris Cockren 10 Comments

This post for Roasted Strawberry Jalapeno Margarita is sponsored by Schick Hydro® and Social Stars. As always, all opinions and recipe are my own. Thanks for supporting the brands that support Shared Appetite!

When you want to bring the heat and the sweet to your next party... Roasted Strawberry Jalapeno Margaritas for the win!

Let's talk summer beverages. Backyard BBQs are imminent. And staying hydrated is of the utmost importance 🙂

I wish I could say that I was a beer person. That would be an easy solution to quench that summertime thirst. Sadly, can't stand the stuff. I know. Major bummer, right?

But here it is... and I'm secure enough to say it. I'm all about the fruity summer drinks. Especially margaritas. Any flavor. Any kind. Any time. Bring 'em on.

When you want to a get a little fancy and elevate your margarita game this summer, try serving your guests a Roasted Strawberry Jalapeno Margarita. A little sweet. A little heat. A whole lot of flavor.

Roasting the strawberries brings flavor to a whole new level of caramelized goodness. And the jalapeno infused tequila? It'll put hair on your hair. Seriously. It's powerful stuff.

I only let the jalapenos hang out in their tequila bath for about thirty minutes, and it carried a legit punch of heat. Add more infusion time at your own risk.

Speaking of putting hair on your hair, check out this pretty funny video about the retirement of an epic beard with the Schick Hydro®. This guy reminds me of some of my friends from church. A couple years back they all grew some epic beards and carried them around like a badge of honor.

I've never partaken in the growth of a full on beard. I prefer my signature short goatee (so do the ladies... right Asheley 😉 ), which I can keep pretty sweet-looking with the Schick Hydro® 5 Groomer.

Need More Margarita Inspiration?

Simple Peach Margarita