Showing posts with label The Secret Recipe Club. Show all posts
Fresh squeezed orange juice and chilled Mexican beer combine together for a fun twist on the classic mimosa.


Beer Mimosa - lacocinadeleslie.com

Hello, friends! Welcome to another installment of The Secret Recipe Club. I've been apart of the SRC for a couple of years now, and have really enjoyed discovering new blogs from all over the world, learning about different cuisines, trying new recipes, and of course, making new friends along the way. Sadly, The Secret Recipe Club is coming to an end this month.

Secret Recipe Club: Beer Mimosa

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Roasted cauliflower and tart fall apples topped with melted manchego cheese atop toasted bolillo roll slices.

Cauliflower Apple Manchego Melts - lacocinadeleslie.com

¡Hola, mis amigos! Welcome back to another edition of The Secret Recipe Club. This month my assignment is The Wimpy Vegetarian, written by Susan who also happens to be our group's hostess with the mostess. Susan describes herself as a mostly (wimpy) vegetarian married to a mostly carnivore. Her blog is filled with tantalizing vegetarian recipes which also include tips on how to adjust for meat lover's. Comforting fall-inspired recipes like Lightened Maple Carrot Flan, Mexican Stuffed Sweet Potatoes, and Mexican Street Corn Tart were just a few of the recipes that caught my eye.

Secret Recipe Club: Cauliflower Apple Manchego Melts

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Can you believe how fast time flies by? It feels like it was just the other day that I was posting the reveal of my July assignment for The Secret Recipe Club, and now all of a sudden it's August 1st and time for another installment. Granted, I've been a little distracted lately, and will explain in much more detail later this week. But first, a little about my assignment this month. Lavender and Lovage is a stunningly gorgeous blog written by Karen, whose love of food was greatly influenced by her grandmother and mother. (Something I can relate to.)  Karen divides her time between France and England, and devotes that time to food writing, food styling and photography, and teaching cooking workshops.


Mexican Salsa Roasted Cauliflower - lacocinadeleslie.com

It took me a couple of days to stop swooning over the beautiful photography, mouth-watering recipes, and Karen's dreamy, Julia Child-style kitchen. (Or at least that's how I imagine how Julia Child's kitchen might have looked like.) My original plan while perusing through Lavender and Lovage was to choose an appetizer or dessert to serve at Hope's high school graduation party. But as we read through Karen's blog, Hope and I ended up wanting to make pretty much every single recipe for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and dessert for the next two weeks. We finally narrowed down our choices from Spiced Cinnamon and Coffee Buns, Baked Lemon Chicken w/ Saffron, and Shirred Eggs over Kale & Garlic, down to a rather impressive Whole Roasted Cauliflower in a Spicy Mexican Sauce.

Secret Recipe Club: Salsa Roasted Cauliflower w/ Queso Fresco

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This slow cooker fajita-style shredded chicken seasoned with ancho chile powder, cumin, garlic, and bell pepper, is a flavorful filling for tacos, burritos, and/or tostadas.



Happy 4th of July, amigos! To my friends and family celebrating in the US, I hope you are having a safe and happy Independence Day. And because it's also the first Monday of a new month it's time for another installment of The Secret Recipe Club. My assignment this month is my friend Dorothy's blog, Shockingly Delicious. With 25 years of recipe writing and recipe developing under her belt, Dorothy offers great recipes, tips, and how-to's that'll transform just about anyone into a fabulous home cook. Dorothy's byline--"unbelievably drool-worthy, scrumptious, 'scary good' recipes for people who love food"--is the perfect description of her blog, I have been a fan and follower of Dorothy's blog since "meeting" her in another cooking group a few years ago.

Secret Recipe Club: Slow Cooker Fajita Chicken Tostadas

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Brunsviger is a classic Danish coffee cake with a buttery sweet brown sugar and cinnamon glaze.


Brunsviger (Danish Coffee Cake) - lacocinadeleslie.com

One of my favorite things about The Secret Recipe Club. is discovering new-to-me cuisines and/or recipes that I might not have ever thought to make. My assignment this month is Sid's Sea Palm Cooking. Sid loves preparing good food and sharing it with friends, so much so that she hosts a monthly Tapas Night in her home and later shares photos and recipes on her blog. Sid's blog is full of delicious and easy-to-follow recipes, but what really drew me in were her authentic Danish recipes. My mouth was watering just reading through the recipes. Asier (Danish pickles), Skidne æg (hard-boiled eggs in mustard sauce), Lagekage (Danish layer cake), and Melboller (flour dumplings) which Sid says are perfect for soup. are all on my list of Sid's Danish recipes to try. I ended up choosing Brunsviger because the words Danish Coffee Cake just spoke to me.

Secret Recipe Club: Brunsviger (Danish Coffee Cake)

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Hello, May! The beginning of a new month means it's time once again for another installment of The Secret Recipe Club. My assignment this month is Dancing Veggies written by Amanda, a vegetarian who loves to cook. Amanda's blog focuses on quick and easy vegetarian recipes with simple ingredients you can find at your local grocery store. Being the zucchini addict that I am, I was tempted with many a tasty zucchini recipe, like Zucchini Oat Bread, Spinach & Zucchini Lasagna, and California Enchiladas (stuffed with zucchini). But there were quite a few non-zucchini recipes that also caught my eye: Sweet Potato Lentil Burgers, Greek Baked Eggs, and Herbal Tuna Salad just to name a few.




Secret Recipe Club: Egg Foo Young

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Delicious and moist Pineapple Zucchini Bread with cinnamon and chopped pecans.


Pineapple Zucchini Bread - lacocinadeleslie.com

Hi, my name is Leslie and I am a zucchini-holic. I don't know when this addiction started, but if loving zucchini is wrong I don't want to be right! So when I saw a recipe for Pineapple Zucchini Bread on my assigned blog for The Secret Recipe Club, I really couldn't help myself.

Secret Recipe Club: Pineapple Zucchini Bread

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It's the first Monday of a new month which means it's time once again for The Secret Recipe Club. This month my assignment is Making Memories with Your Kids, written by Erin, a single mom of two who loves to bake and craft. Erin's blog is a fun family-friendly mix of recipes and crafts for making wonderful memories with kids of all ages.


With so many festive recipes to choose from a few that caught my eye were Bread & Butter Pickles, Bacon Double Cheeseburger Dip, and Twinkie Pie. I ended up choosing Erin's Pumpkin Crumb Coffee Cake because I had some leftover Calabaza en Tacha (Mexican candied pumpkin) sitting in my fridge just waiting to be used. I had seen similar recipes on Pinterest where you simply combine cake mix with pumpkin puree, but the crumb topping is what ultimately won me over. Not only is this cake super easy to whip up, it's also incredibly delicious... like a cross between a pumpkin bread and old-fashioned pumpkin pie. My family and I are completely smitten with this recipe!

Secret Recipe Club: Pumpkin Crumb Cake

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Learn to make Cocada de Forno, a sweet and irresistible Brazilian delicacy.


Baked Coconut / Brazilian Cocada - lacocinadeleslie.com

Happy February, amigos! Can you believe it's already the second month of the New Year? Not only is today the first day of the month, it's also the first Monday which means it's time once again for The Secret Recipe Club. Yay! My assignment this month is Bewitching Kitchen, written by Sally who aside from being a talented food blogger is also an awesome biochemist. Sally has been sharing her love of food on her blog since 2009 and has an impressive catalogue of recipes to choose from like Feta Cheese Zucchini Loaf, Roast Chicken w/ Clementines, and Cremini Mushroom Meatloaf.  Sally was born and raised in Sao Paolo, Brazil and also shares traditional Brazilian recipes which were what really drew me in. Her Coxinha de Galinha (chicken fritters), Pao de Queijo, and Brigadeiros are all on my "to make" list.

Secret Recipe Club: Baked Coconut (Cocada de Forno)

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Cinnamon and dried hibiscus flowers add a merry and bright twist to the classic hot toddy for a delicious holiday treat.



A very merry December to all! With the holiday season in full swing, I only had one thing in mind while choosing a recipe for The Secret Recipe Club... Something festive for the holidays! My assignment this month is A Fit and Spicy Life written by Mellissa whose tagline perfectly sums up her blog, "A lot of cooking, a little wine, and workouts to keep it all inline." Full of health-conscious recipes like Ramen Noodle Salad, Ginger Carrot Soup, and her Spinach, Mushroom & Onion Mini-Frittatas, you'll also find fitness tips and wine recommendations on her weekly Wine Wednesday series.

Secret Recipe Club: Cinnamon Hibiscus Hot Toddy

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All the creamy and cheesy goodness of pimento cheese in a delicious pasta salad.


Pasta Salad with Homemade Pimento Cheese - lacocinadeleslie.com

Happy November, friends! I can't believe it's already November. And it's the first Monday of the month which means it's time once again for The Secret Recipe Club. This month my assignment was Lori's Culniary Creations. Lori is a fun, spirited Harley Davidson-riding wife and stepmom with an amazing outlook on life:

"Today is life - the only life you are sure of. Make the most of today. Get interested in something. Shake yourself awake. Develop a hobby. Let the winds of enthusiasm sweep through you. Live today with gusto." 

Lori's brings her enthusiasm and sense of adventure to her blog which is filled with quick and easy on-the-go meals perfect for busy wives and moms looking to be a little more adventurous in the kitchen. I have a long list of Lori's recipes that I've added to my "to make" list including her Peachy Cream Crepes, Zucchini Stuffed Burgers, Avocado Kiwi Ice Cream w/ Caramel Swirl, Tomato Florentine Soup with Peanut Butter Crostini, and her Tropical Pumpkin Pie.

Secret Recipe Club: Pimento Cheese Pasta Salad

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Fresh zucchini takes center stage in these fluffy pancakes seasoned with cinnamon and nutmeg.


Zucchini Bread Pancakes - lacocinadeleslie.com

It's the first Monday of a new month which means it's time for this month's Secret Recipe Club reveal. My assignment this month is Adventures in All Things Food written by Andrea, who keeps herself busy on her family farm along with her husband and their three adorable children. Andrea's blog has a little bit of everything: delicious recipes, tales of family and farm life adventures, crafts, book reviews, product reviews and giveaways. There's something for everyone to enjoy.

Secret Recipe Club: Zucchini Bread Pancakes

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Classic BBQ Chicken Sandwiches filled with tender pieces of shredded chicken in a tangy vinegar-based North Carolina style barbecue sauce.


Happy Labor Day to my friends (and family) in the US! But that's not the only thing we're celebrating today. The first Monday of a the month means it's also time for another installment of The Secret Recipe Club. Every month I'm assigned a new food blog from which I choose a recipe or two to cook and share here in my cocina on reveal day. This month my assignment is Cupcake Muffin, written by Sara who has been blogging for 8 years. One thing that really stood out to me about Sara's well-written blog is a list of menus that she's currently cooking her way through. The list of menus was recently given to her by her mom, but they were originally written by her great-grandmother, and has been passed down from generation to generation. Isn't that incredible?!

Secret Recipe Club: BBQ Chicken Sandwiches

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An easy no-bake dessert made with Galletas María, dried cranberries, coconut, and sweetened condensed milk, with a subtle hint of orange.

No-Bake Coconut Cranberry Cookie Bars - lacocinadeleslie.com

Hi friends! It's the first Monday of the month, which means it's time once again for The Secret Recipe Club. My assignment this month was Chit Chat Chomp, written by Melbourne based blogger Leigh, who loves to cook, loves pots of tea, twinkling Christmas lights, and all things French. That latter part explains the chic, French vibe I got while reading through Leigh's blog. One thing that I really caught my attention was her 2013 Cookbook Challenge that she started to motivate herself to cook more recipes from the books in her collection. I for one need to really consider starting my own cookbook challenge, because my cookbooks have been long neglected and could use some love and attention.

Secret Recipe Club: No-Bake Coconut Cranberry Bars (with Galletas Maria)

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All the flavor of hot wings in a creamy, cheesy, and spicy Buffalo Chicken Dip made with Valentina Hot Sauce.


Buffalo Chicken Dip with Salsa Valentina - lacocinadeleslie.com

I'm so excited about this month's Secret Recipe Club because I've been a long-time admirer of my blog assignment for this month. Daily Dish Recipes is written by Nicole. Nicole is a mom of 5, writer, food blogger, and she has one heck of a green thumb. (I have major garden envy!) Because Nicole and I got to know each other through another food blogging group I have pinned and made a few of her simple, down home, feel good recipes. Like her Jolly Rancher Vodka. A must try! Other recipes I've wanted to try are Nicole's Pumpkin Donuts, Corn Cob Jelly, Crockpot Curry Chicken, and Summer Berry Cinnamon Bread Pudding.

Secret Recipe Club: Buffalo Ranch Chicken Dip w/ Valentina Hot Sauce

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A vibrant mix of bacon, onion, tomato, zucchini, and colorful bell peppers, Pisto Manchego is often referred to as Spanish ratatouille.

Pisto Manchego with Zucchini - lacocinadeleslie.com

It's because of recipes like this Pisto Manchego that I love being part of the Secret Recipe Club, because every month I get the chance to discover new-to-me blogs full of swoon-worthy recipes from all over the world. My assignment this month is Things I Made Today written by Vicky Cassidy, a wife and mom who loves to cook, bake, blog and photograph everything around her. Vicky's blog is so beautiful and elegant, it's like looking through the pages of a gourmet food magazine like Saveur or Food & Wine. It's no surprise that her recipes have been featured on Apartment Therapy, Buzzfeed, The Kitchn, and Food52. But what I liked most about Vicky's blog is that it features simple, easy-to-follow recipes made with fresh ingredients.

Secret Recipe Club: Pisto Manchego

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Another month is upon us, which means it's time for another installment of The Secret Recipe Club. For those of you unfamiliar with the SRC, it's a fun virtual recipe swap with another blogger who has no idea who will be cooking something from their blog. 

My assignment this month was Baking & Creating with Avril, a bright and delightful blog full of baked goodies and family friendly savory recipes. As usual, I didn't have anything specific that I was looking to make, but with the word "baking" in the blog title I was definitely leaning towards something sweet. With so many mouth-watering recipes to choose from Avril's blog did not disappoint. Recipe like Nutella Drop Cookies, Pumpkin Black Bean Soup, and Zucchini Cornbread all caught my eye, but in the end I decided to go with Avril's Honey Bun Cake.

Secret Recipe Club: Honey Bun Cake

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It's the beginning of a new month which means it's time for another edition of The Secret Recipe Club. This month my assignment was Edesia's Notebook written by Lesa, a mid-western wife and mom with two very precious little girls. I was immediately drawn to Lesa's blog just from the title because Edesia is the name of the Roman goddess of food. (I love Greek and Roman mythology!)

As usual the kiddies and I looked through Lesa's blog trying to decide which of her mouth-watering recipes to make. Family friendly recipes like Baked Tilapia w/ Spinach & Tomatoes, Tequila Marinated Steak Quesadillas, and Strawberry Caprese Salad were just a few that caught my attention.

Ultimately we chose Lesa's Bacon Ranch Chicken Pizza because who doesn't love pizza? And with ingredients like ranch dressing and bacon, we really couldn't resist. This colorful pizza was a huge hit with everyone, including my suegro (father-in-law) and my boys who usually pick off the veggies I try to sneak on their pizza. I'm pretty sure it was the ranch dressing that got them to eat all their veggies and I'm totally okay with that.



Secret Recipe Club: Bacon Ranch Chicken Pizza

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Spinach, requesón, mushrooms, and manchego cheese combine to make these irresistible Spinach Squares that can be served for brunch, a light lunch, or even as an appetizer.

Spinach Squares w/ Requesón - lacocinadeleslie.com

Secret Recipe Club: Spinach & Requesón Squares

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When trying to decide which recipe to make from my Secret Recipe Club assignment this month I had two things in mind: Halloween and candy! Because that's pretty much what the month of October was all about, in addition to celebrating my 20th wedding anniversary, my Hubby's 42nd birthday, and my eldest son's 15th birthday.

My assignment this month was Ilona's Kitchen, written by a wife and mom who loves to travel and cook. Reading Ilona's blog is like reading a letter or email from a trusted friend because she tells you straight up whether a recipe has way too much butter or not enough. The kiddies and I had a hard time narrowing down our choices. I was tempted to get an early start on my holiday baking with her Cranberry Bundt Cake and Cinnamon Apple Pie Cake, but the search was over as soon as my kiddies saw her Caramel Swirled Pretzel M&M Blondies. My kiddies LOVE anything with m&m's and thought this would be the perfect Halloween dessert. And they were SO right!

I did make one small change by substituting Mexican cajeta for the caramel sauce. I also added in more pretzels, that I lucked upon at one of the farmacias here in town, because I love desserts that are the perfect balance between sweet and salty. And the blondies were so soft and tender. Very cake-like, but also kind of fudgy in the middle because of the cajeta. These Cajeta Swirled Pretzel M&M Blondies were a big hit in our house, and I'm sure they'll be a big hit in your's too.


Cajeta Swirled Pretzel M&M Blondies - lacocinadeleslie.com

Secret Recipe Club: Cajeta Swirled Pretzel M&M Blondies

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