Frankie Bones HHI

Up until a few years ago, I would never have dreamed of ordering spaghetti at a restaurant. It was boring. My meals had to have pizzazz and extravance. Spaghetti and meatballs was just so...anticlimactic. But as I've gotten older, it is one of my favorite things to order from authentic italian restaurants. (Especially after days on end of ordering so-good-but-so-bad seafood pasta Alfredos because I'm on vacation and you only love once and blah blah anything else to justify it). Yes, I realize spaghetti and meatballs is by no means a healthy dish but let me live in my own deluded world where anything that isn't fried or creamy is a healthy option. So anyways, this spaghetti and meatballs is from Frankie Bones, a restaurant in Hilton Head Island where I am currently vacationing. It was perfect: the meatballs were homemade (this should be a given but you'd be surprised). I'm guessing they were a veal/pork mixture and they were absolutely excellent. The sauce was light but flavorful and the spaghettini was al dente perfection. It might seem weird to be this excited about spaghetti and meatballs, but I've only ever had two versions of this dish that I actually liked. The spaghetti and meatballs at Frankie Bones deserves to be commended. Also, the bread and garlic herb spread's not too shabby either.

My Mom's Waffle Cake

Doesn't that picture just make you salivate? This is my mom's famous waffle cake. Anyone who has tried it is hooked. Basically, it's chocolate, butter, and condensed milk all melted together to make a heavenly filling that is spread between thin wafer-like things. It's been a staple of my life since childhood. While other kids would bring brownies and cupcakes to the class bake sale, I would bring waffle cake. It may not have the aesthetic allure of a rainbow sprinkle covered cookie or a triple fudge brownie, but what it lacks in appearance it makes up for in sheer deliciousness.

Jamaican Jerk Chicken, Mon

This Jamaican Jerk Chicken came from Sattdown Jamaican Grill in Sherman Oaks, CA. The food: well prepared and elegant. The restaurant: cozy and welcoming. We even got to meet the chef, Tony, who made his way from Jamaica to Florida and finally to California. The jerk chicken was 

...sorry, just got foodstracted by the sheer memory of the spicy and complex sauce and fall off the bone meat. Anyways, the place was amazing and I definitely recommend it!

Cajun Shrimp Fettuccine: So Bad Yet So Good

This is my crowd pleasing Cajun shrimp pasta. I used an existing recipe I found (on Pinterest or something) and tweaked it to satisfy my taste buds. Inside this wonderful creamy creation is a heavenly blend of herbed goat cheese, Parmesan, gruyere, and asiago cheese plus an assortment of spices such as paprika, Cajun seasoning, red pepper flakes, etc. I sautéed the shrimp beforehand with some olive oil and spices, then added it back in once the sauce was finished.

Bill's Pecan Pie

(see full image)

So today I had the best pecan pie in the world. I don't even like pecan pie so this was life changing. The pie was made by a cordon bleu trained chef who just happens to be my sister's neighbor! This pie had it all: the crunch from the caramelized pecans, the sugary "yumminess" between the nuts (you know what I mean), and a buttery crust that was to die for. I may be a reformed pecan pie eater now. But only if it's Bill's.