I love making stir fry because it's generally a healthy, fun, and colorful way to get a great meal quick, with relatively little mess. Generally all you need is a knife, cutting board, and a wok or stir fry pan and away you go!

Islands is one of my favorite restaurants to take my friends and that's because the food is always good and while the classics never change, they always have new offerings to switch stuff up too. On our recent guys weekend to Palm Desert, California they invited us to stop by and fuel up as well as taste their new Islands Golden Ale brewed in collaboration with Karl Strauss Brewing.

Birds Eye has some new Veggie Made pastas that they asked me to check out. So while looking at the freezer case I had a challenge - do I go with the probably really good on it's own pasta with alfredo sauce... or make my own? I think you know what the answer is here and that's because I love to innovate and create new recipes. So here it is, Spicy Cajun Alfredo with pork chops served over Birds Eye® Steamfresh Veggie Made™ Zucchini Lentil Pasta!

While Vegas has trended away from lavish buffets, the tradition of a casino buffet being the crown jewel of a resort is alive and well in San Diego. Last week we were invited to check out Viejas Casino Resort's buffet during their new Friday Crab Legs feast and we were not disappointed!

We've got a few more weeks of summer left and that means that we need to use these warm sunny days the best that we can. For many of us, that means taking one last family vacation somewhere fun. However, as important as spending time with the family might be, it's also important to spend time with your wife or partner. Especially during the summer, it can be a challenge with all the other distractions. Don't let that deter you though, it's worth it and so is she!

Last night I had the opportunity to not just visit a fantastic new brewery but also meet with five of the best chefs in San Diego. We were assembled to help raise money for Feeding San Diego, while also celebrating the launch of Flesh & Blood - Bitter Brothers new Golden Sour that has a stunning color and flavor of tart cherries and raspberry. Each of the five courses was inspired by and paired with one of their beers, for a culinary experience that I wish could be shared better than just my words and pictures.

One of my all time favorite comfort foods is shepherd's pie. It's easy to make and relatively easy to clean up too, plus it's cheap and very filling. The folks at Birds Eye^® though asked me to check out their new Mashed Cauliflower product and see how I liked it as an alternative to mashed potatoes. Years ago when my wife suggested this I laughed - and then learned that it is super tasty, in some instances even better texture and taste than mashed potatoes themselves. So, with that in mind I decided to switch up my shepherd's pie recipe and use Birds Eye^® Veggie Made™ Mashed: Original Cauliflower instead.

Eastern Europeans drink a lot of vodka - that's no secret. However, if you've ever been to a party or had a long dinner with someone from Russia, Poland, or Ukraine then you've probably also noticed that they are generally able to hold their alcohol better than their American counterparts. While some of that comes from years of practice and a generally high level of consumption, there's another secret too. Salo! Salo is a salted pork fat that is sometimes referred to as the Ukrainian national dish and was served at nearly every meal that I had while touring the country.

Eating healthy never looked (or tasted) so good! This is a quick and easy alternative to a bowl of ice cream this summer, as well as being a great way to start your morning off right.

There's almost no wrong way to make a burger. However, for me a good Hawaiian burger is up there among my favorite types to make and ultimately eat. Today, I'm going to share with you a creation that I designed to bring visions of beautiful hula girls, brilliant sunsets, and cool waves crashing on the beach to your mind. Of course, it all starts with a good burger and today we're working with a BUBBA Burger patty.

A few weeks ago I experienced one of my new favorite foods. It was so simple, so delicious, and so easy to make that I'm shocked that this isn't a nation-wide treat on every breakfast table. Apparently though, the people in Arkansas like to keep the secret of Chocolate Gravy and Biscuits to themselves. No more though! The awesome folks at Edwardian Inn in Helena, Arkansas agreed to give me the recipe to share with you. Well, only half of it, because "LOL... Gotta keep some secrets" when I asked about the biscuit recipe.

One of my favorite parts of traveling to a new area is trying new foods and traditions around dining. What I found while visiting the state, sponsored by Arkansas Tourism, frankly was confusing and exciting at the same time. While I expected BBQ and soul food, what I found alongside those staples was completely unexpected such as cheese dip, fried tamales, and chocolate gravy!

Who loves peanut butter cookies? How do you make them even better than they normally are? How about adding some bacon! This is a gluten free recipe that even gluten lovers will ask for more of...

When I first shared with friends that I was heading to Arkansas, the first thing most people asked was, "Why? What's there?" Honestly I didn't really know what to expect aside from some music history and hopefully some good BBQ. After spending four days in the Delta region I can't wait to go back.

As you probably know by now, one of my absolutely favorite restaurants is Fogo de Chao. There is little out there that's better than the experience of enjoying great cocktails while enjoying an endless parade of meat served by friendly gauchos - well, except doing it in Brazil itself I suppose! Each season the folks at Fogo also update their harvest table with seasonal selections but they've now updated their bar menu too. They are so excited about their new offerings that they invited me back again to try some of their new cocktails and small plates before the full dinner that I already knew would be awesome.

Unlike some cultures, we don't really have a codified series of "right of passage" rituals, but instead we have a series of events that prove to others that we are ready as an adult to join society as a full member. Throwing your first dinner party is an example of this modern right of passage. In itself, the act of cooking a dinner and inviting some friends over isn't complicated. However, the individual parts need to come together just right to make your event one that is being talked about favorably the next day. After all, it isn't just about the food. You need to make sure EVERYTHING is right. No pressure right? Don't worry though, we've got some tips and tricks to help make sure you pass with ease!

 One of my favorite items to order for Chinese takeout is Orange Chicken. Unfortunately, like anyone with dietary restrictions and those simply trying to eat more healthfully, that's usually not a good choice. However, with a bit of inspiration and some tweaking I've come up with a solution that is super quick and easy to make as well as relatively healthy  for you. Plus, it's gluten free so my wife can enjoy it too!

Like most guys, I LOVE chili. I don't just love one style, I pretty much love them all. But no matter what I'm making, it tends to be a pretty labor and time intensive endeavor. However, with some help from Stubb's Cooking Sauce and my Instant Pot, the process is a lot faster. So, today I'm going to make one of my favorite meals - Frito Chili Pie!

Summer is almost here and we've got a few months of outdoor grilling, tailgating and homegating in front of us. As men we are expected to be masters of the grill and while an important part of that is understanding how to "cook" the meat... it's equally important to know how to prepare that meat before cooking it.

When getting ready to grill, there's really three main ways to go - Rub, Marinade, or Sauce. Do you understand the difference though? This is a subject that deserves to be explored a bit, so let's look at how the preparation affects the way the meat tastes and looks on the other side.

Baseball is back and now that tax time is almost over, it's time to celebrate with an awesome party to celebrate. This is my favorite time of year since baseball for me is more than just a game - it's a chance to hang out with friends, enjoy ballpark treats, and cheer for my favorite teams. I'm clearly not alone since there are hundreds of baseball movies and scenes in TV shows as well and that's the inspiration for our ultimate Baseball Movie Party!