Eat, Drink and Have Fun!

Hello and welcome to my new blog, “Eat, Drink and Have Fun”! I am starting this blog because I imagine that I am not alone in my passion for great food, excellent cocktails and a thirst for fun!  I normally cook from intuition and don’t typically use recipes, which often leads my husband to say, “That was really good! Did you write it down?”, to which I respond, “No, but I am sure I will remember”. I am hoping that through blogging about the recipes I create, the drinks that I make and the adventures (small and large) that I experience that I will be able to both remember some of my favorite creations and share them with all of you!

The other thing I am striving for in my life is a balance between my love for cooking, dining out and enjoying wine and other beverages with a healthier life style. This is a journey for me since I have often struggled with maintaining an active social life, a busy career, and my passion for amazing food, while staying healthy! Along the way, I hope to share tips about ways to achieve this balance, which I am still uncertain about how to do much of the time.

My first recipe I would like to share with you is what my husband and I have coined,  “Savory Oatmeal”. We like to imagine that it would be on our menu were we to open our own restaurant some day, as we can’t imagine a more enjoyable way to prepare and serve oatmeal!

Savory Oatmeal: It is unbelievably delicious – it transforms oatmeal from the mundane to the magnificent! It almost tastes like serving delicious risotto for breakfast.

All amounts are estimated (adjust to personal preference):

• 1 cup freshly cooked oatmeal (we like bob’s red mill)
• Freshly chopped basil
• A sprinkle of cayenne pepper
• ½ ounce of chopped cheese (habanero pepper jack or any other variety)
• ½ ounce of chopped walnuts (or other kinds of nuts – preferably toasted, if you aren’t using walnuts, for the deeper flavor)
• Pinch of sea salt
• Freshly cracked black pepper
• 1 slice crispy bacon (crumbled or chopped), or 1 ounce chopped ham
• Prepare oatmeal according to directions, chop all of the toppings and then sprinkle or spoon all ingredients on top of the hot oatmeal and enjoy!