Pulled Pork Tamales with Corn Salsa

Posted on May 14, 2013 by Brandon Matzek

Pulled Pork Tamales with Corn Salsa Several days ago, temperatures in San Diego shot up to the mid 80′s and 90′s, causing an almost instantaneous craving for summer flavors.  Fresh berries, sweet corn, juicy tomatoes, grilled meats and gloriously green herbs.  I immediately got in my car to do some grocery shopping.  Windows down.  A warm breeze blowing.  Spotify on full blast.  Pulled Pork Tamales with Corn Salsa in mind.

This recipe captures the essence of summer.  Smoky, succulent pulled pork is encased in corn masa, then steamed until light and tender.  Accompanying the tamal is a corn salsa spiked with red onion, serrano chile and chopped cilantro.  This salsa is fresh, fresh, fresh.  A perfect counter to the richness of the tamal.  Summer, I am ready for you.  Continue reading for the recipe.

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Posted in Dinner, Mexican, Photo, Pork, Recipe | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , | 7 Comments

Maple Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Frosting

Posted on May 6, 2013 by Brandon Matzek

Maple Cupcakes with Marshmallow Frosting

Baby shower time!!! My friend Krystal is having baby #2 soon, and a group of us food bloggers are throwing her a Virtual Baby Shower! Krystal and I first met at a food photography/styling workshop hosted by Matt Armendariz and Adam Pearson. Since then, we’ve kept in contact with each other in the digital space. Sadly, I wasn’t able to participate in Krystal’s first VBS for baby Elena (whose Instagram pictures slay me – so adorable!). So I jumped at the chance to participate in VBS #2. Especially when I heard it was cupcake themed.

Let me tell you about these Maple Cupcakes with Toasted Marshmallow Frosting. Imagine a stack of pancakes that’s been doused with a substantial amount of butter and maple syrup, then topped with a melty, ooey gooey, toasted marshmallow. Yeah, that’s what these cupcakes taste like. They’re quite addicting. I actually sat down and ate three of them shortly after photographing the picture above. Continue reading for the recipe.

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Posted in Baking, Dessert, Photo, Recipe | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 23 Comments

Homemade Olive Oil Mayonnaise

Posted on April 30, 2013 by Brandon Matzek

Homemade Olive Oil Mayo I’ve been quite busy over the past two weeks tying up loose ends before I go on vacation with the man.  We are leaving tomorrow evening for New York City!!!  So I’m going to keep this quick.  As quick as this recipe for Homemade Olive Oil Mayonnaise.  Seriously, this comes together in a matter of moments.  And I’ve got a video below to prove it!!  Continue reading for the recipe.

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Posted in Easy, Paleo, Photo, Recipe, Sauce | Tagged , , , , | 16 Comments

Bacon Caramel Corn

Posted on April 20, 2013 by Brandon Matzek

Bacon Caramel Corn This is what happens when you buy bacon in bulk.  Freshly popped corn is tossed with marcona almonds, crispy bacon, smoked sea salt and cayenne pepper, then drowned in a rich, deeply-hued caramel.  Bacon Caramel Corn is both super tasty and super addicting with the most satisfying crunch.  To be honest, I’m usually not the biggest fan of caramel corn.  I often find that it is too cloyingly sweet.  Luckily, this version of caramel corn isn’t too sweet.  It’s quite savory actually with just a hint of sweetness.

Bacon Caramel Corn can be made up to two days in advance.  Be sure to store it in an airtight container in the refrigerator.  If you’ve never made caramel before, I’d recommend doing a practice run.  This caramel is simply a mixture of sugar, water and corn syrup, so if you mess it up, throw out the batch and try again!  Continue reading for the recipe.

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Posted in Appetizer, Dessert, Snack | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 11 Comments

Blood Orange Marmalade

Posted on April 11, 2013 by Brandon Matzek

Blood Orange Marmalade

So I think I might have a new obsession: Orange Cardamom Scones + Blood Orange Marmalade + Mascarpone Cheese.  Sweet, tart, creamy, flaky, and buttery.  Does it get any better than that?  Not just for scones, this sunset-hued spread can liven up any slice of buttered toast or cream-cheesed bagel.  Typically thought of as a breakfast food, marmalade can actually be used in many other applications.  Try spooning a dollop over vanilla ice cream to brighten up your late night dessert.  This marmalade can also be shaken into a seasonal cocktail or be used as the base of a fruit vinaigrette.

I’m already one paragraph in, and I have yet to mention the best part of this recipe.  It only requires 3 ingredients.  And 1 of them is water!!  If you’ve never made marmalade before, don’t be intimidated and give this recipe a try.  I’m sure you’ll be surprised at how easy it is.  Continue reading for the recipe.

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Posted in Fruit, Pantry, Photo, Recipe, Vegetarian | Tagged , | 19 Comments