Cocktail Recipe: Cranberry Sauce Old Fashioned

You might be scraping up the last of your cranberry sauce as you finish up Thanksgiving leftovers. But before you put it on your plate, I have another suggestion: put it in a cocktail shaker.

When you think about it, cranberry sauce — with softened cranberries, sugar, spices, and orange juice and zest — is a perfect base for the sweet-and-savory Old Fashioned.

Cranberry Sauce Old Fashioned

2 jiggers bourbon (I used Maker’s Mark)
1/2 Tbls cranberry sauce (I use this recipe)
1/4 jigger ginger simple syrup*
2 dashes orange-flavored bitters

Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker. Add ice. Shake hard, 15-20 seconds (shake hard so the ice can break up the sauce). Add ice and drink to rocks glass. Twist orange peel swath over top then add to glass. Enjoy!

*A recipe for ginger simple syrup is pretty easy to find online. I also provide a recipe on the free stuff page for my newsletter subscribers.

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5 Cocktails to Toast the Impending Apocalypse

So…2020.

Amiright?

One of the things that have helped me get through it is live video happy hours. Moseying up to my favorite bar (Dogwood, I’m looking at you) has now been replaced with launching Zoom or FaceTime to share a drink with friends and family. Just because I’m in yoga pants does not mean I skimp on the cocktails.

Below are five drinks you can enjoy as we watch the ship go down.

The Maple Manhattan

This Friday (10/16), I’ll get to enjoy cocktails with my Boozy Book Broads mates Melonie Johnson and Danielle Dresser as we chat with Diana Biller, author of the PHE-NO-MEN-OL The Widow of Rose House (a perfect Halloween read). We’ll be enjoying a Maple Manhattan during the chat, which is very much like the original Manhattan (which my Instagram friends can attest I’m a huge fan of) with one fall-friendly addition: maple.

I got this recipe from SidewalkShoes.com. Shake it up and join us Friday!

2 oz bourbon
¼ oz sweet vermouth
1 tbls maply syrup
2 dashes bitters
1 cherry for garnish

Add bourbon, vermouth, maple syrup, and bitters to a cocktail shaker. Add ice. Shake for 15 seconds and strain into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with cherry.

Recipe courtesy of SidewalkShoes.com.

Texas Martini

In honor of my recent move to Texas, I wanted to re-create this drink I heard everybody ordering at a Tex-Mex restaurant in Austin. The Texas Martini, according to the bartender, is just a margarita -- up or frozen -- in a martini glass with olives. They are DELICIOUS!! Briney olives act like the salt on the rim!⠀

The Texas Martini by Angelina M. Lopez

2 oz tequila
1/2 oz triple sec
1/2 oz simple syrup
1/2 lime, squeezed
3 olives on a pick⠀

Chill martini glass. Shake first four ingredients over ice. Empty into chilled glass. Garnish with olives.⠀

Instant Sangria

I love red wine. It’s a family requirement. It also might be an authorial requirement, since I based the Filthy Rich series on the production of delicious red wine. But I also love cocktails. So in honor of my many alcoholic loves and my pretend Spanish kingdom, the Monte del Vino Real, I came up with this cocktail that tastes like Sangria without all the soaking and waiting.

Instant Sangria by Angelina M. Lopez

1 oz whiskey, bourbon, or vodka (pick your poison)
1/2 oz triple sec
1/4 oz simple syrup
Chunk of orange (no peel)
Chunk of apple (no peel)
Cheap red wine
Apple slice, halved
Orange slice, halved
Club soda (optional)

Put first five ingredients (down through apple chunk) into stemless wine glass. Mash fruit and blend with muddler or back of spoon. Fill 2/3 of glass with red wine. Add ice or large ice cube. Add orange and apple slices. Stir to combine. If it’s too sweet or thick for your preference, you can top it with club soda or sparkling water. Enjoy! 🍷🍹

(Note: I like brown liquors in this because it gives it a fuller, richer flavor, like sangria that’s been soaking for awhile. But vodka is a cleaner taste. Pick whichever you prefer.)

The Angelina

While I was slaving away this spring on Serving Sin, my third book in the Filthy Rich series, I invented this Mexico-inspired drink. Since Serving Sin spends half its time in the incredible city of Guanajuato, Mexico, it makes sense. I named it the Angelina because it is: 1) sweet, salty, spicy and tart, and because 2) I invented it. So there.

The Angelina by Angelina M. Lopez

1 oz of mezcal⠀
3/4 oz ancho chili liqueur⠀
1/4 oz simple syrup⠀
1/2 lime, squeezed⠀
3 drops chocolate or mole bitters⠀

Rim glass with seasoned salt. Fill glass with ice. Put all ingredients in cocktail shaker. Shake with ice. Strain shaker into glass. ¡Salud!⠀

The Ol’ Monte

We fell in love with this drink at one of our favorite bars in D.C., Densons. But when they took it off the menu, my hubby figured it out how to make it at home. THAT was a fun (and blurry) evening of taste testing.

The Ol’ Monte by Peter Lundquist

1 oz Rittenhouse Rye
1 oz Amaro Montenegro
3/4 oz Dolin Blanc ("Blanc" NOT "Dry")⠀

Stir with ice. Serve up in a coupe glass with a lemon swath⠀

You're welcome. We love you.

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Keep up with all my drinking adventures by following me on Instagram!

Quick Tips From An Experienced Social Isolationist

First things first: I hope you and your loved ones are healthy and safe. It's a crazy and unprecedented time and we're all in this together!

As a writer for the last 20 years, social isolation is something I've practiced willingly and often. Most days, it's a real mark of achievement if I change out of yoga pants and put on makeup. But most healthy people do not and should not practice this brand of introvertism, so know that it's going to take practice. Here are some quick tips from an experienced social isolationist:

1. Create a daily schedule
You might have seen the schedule floating around for school children. But adults need schedules, too. A daily schedule allowed me to launch an author career when no one was standing over me telling me I "had" to write. Create a quick rough schedule for yourself -- include meals, exercise, work, breaks, fun time -- and you'll feel less discombobulated when you're wondering "What should I do with myself now?"

2. Make lists
Along the same vein, write down meals you want to eat, things you want to bake, ways to pass the time as a family, games you want to play. Sit down and brainstorm this stuff for an hour. Having these lists at the ready will provide calm and ease frustration when you're just not sure how to fill the time.

3. Exercise
I know. This is obnoxious. When do people NOT include exercise as something you should do. But don't worry about your weight or waistline -- I certainly don't! 😅 🍟 Instead, think about easing that anxiety we're all feeling right now. A few jumping jacks, a walk around the block or the yard, or a quick online exercise video are a great way to work out some of that stress juice we're all producing in excess amounts.

4. Be patient with yourself
Give yourself a HUGE break. This stuff is so hard. And you can only Netflix and chill for so long. Forgive yourself for feeling bored, stressed, terrified, frustrated, impatient, or whatever negative emotion you're having. Everyone is feeling something they'd rather not. Pet your cat, hug your housemate, or hug yourself. Be as kind to yourself as you'd be to the person you love the most.

5. Healthy distractions
So many institutions, businesses, and creatives are offering free distraction online right now. Take advantage of them! I realized that as a person who promises escapism for stressed-out and hard-working adults, I needed to put my money where my mouth is. So, this week, I'll be live and online three times offering what I hope is some entertaining distraction.

TUESDAYS, 6 p.m. ET - Live readings on Twitter
Join me on Twitter at 6 p.m. ET every Tuesday, when I'll be doing #LivingRoomReadings. A writer friend suggested the hashtag and I think it's a wonderful way for authors to offer a little diversion and entertainment. I'm hoping to do them every week at the same time, reading from my own stuff as well as from some favorite authors. 

Click to watch my #LivingRoomReading of LUSH MONEY

WEDNESDAY, March 18, 9 pm ET - Interviewed by Kenya Goree-Bell on The KGB on Instagram
I'll be with author friend Kenya Goree-Bell on Wednesday on Instagram. Kenya has hosted a popular author interview show on Facebook and Instagram for awhile now. We'll talk about the book, craft and all kinds of mischief authors get up to.

FRIDAY, March 20, 6 pm ET - Happy hour with the hubby on Facebook Live
We're all going to need a drink by Friday. #Amiright??? Hubby and I will be hosting a Facebook Live at 6 p.m., where we'll be talking about how we did during our first full week of social isolation, what was good, what was challenging, and the counting how many wine bottles we still have to survive this thing.

If you miss one of these live events, don't worry. Most of these services allow me to save the recording, so I'll be posting them to here.

Together, we'll get through this. Remembers, hyperromantics unite!

8 Podcasts to Distract You From the End of the World

Looking at the Apple Podcasts top chart is like taking a glance at our national anxieties. On Monday of this week, the number one most popular podcast was "Cults." "Stay Tuned with Preet" with his premiere podcast "The Time President Trump Fired Me" is number 2. Among the Top 20 list are "The Fall Line," a true-crime serial about marginalized communities in Georgia, "The American War," "Pod Save America," and "Zealot." Which is ANOTHER podcast about cults.

I'm all about staying up-to-date on current events. My Twitter feed is full of outraged observations about the latest atrocity committed by our administration -- interspersed with tweets about fun outings, cocktails, and Project Runway.

But the times when I listen to podcasts -- on the road in traffic, at the gym first thing in the god-dang morning, making dinner at the end of a long-long day -- are not the ideal times for me to get fired up about our administration or terrified for the future of my two kids. So below are a list of my favorite podcasts that work as a distraction from the woes, generally thanks to great storytelling, fascinating topics, astonishing research and -- sometimes -- smooth-jazz, tickle-your-ear voices.

C'mon, get happy! Let these podcasts chase all your cares away.

We're Alive (audio drama)

What better to distract you from the actual end of the world than a podcast about the pretend end of the world? A search for entertaining, sweep-me-away audio (when times weren't quite so dank) is what led me to podcasts, and thank God I was searching when this audio drama about a zombie apocalypse was still top of the charts. "We're Alive," created by KC Wayland who recently produced "Bronzeville" with Laurence Fishburne, is a three-season, 48-chapter series that follows a band of survivors in LA after it's hit with zombies. Great writing, sound effects, and acting have you enmeshed in the story from go, and I became as tied to these characters as I am tied to my Games of Thrones loves. My loyalty was rewarded -- "We're Alive" has perhaps the best and most satisfying series finale of any story I've ever engaged in, regardless of the medium ("Dexter" and "True Blood" should have taken notes).

Stuff You Missed in History Class (history)

Two hosts, Tracy V. Wilson and Holly Frey, provide entertaining and insightful summations of lesser known historical events. I was drawn to "Missed in History" by their more gruesome history lessons -- they've done episodes on "Lizzie Borden and Her Axe," the "New England Vampire Panic," and "The Case of the Colorado Cannibal" -- but more valuable are their dives into historical events by or affecting women, people of color, or others who didn't write the history books. I learned more about "The Tulsa Race Riot" in their 36-minute episode than I ever did in my six years sitting in Tulsa classrooms.

How to Be Amazing with Michael Ian Black (interview)

I'm not a fan of "cult-of-personality" interview podcasts -- so often the interviewer just wants to talk to the interviewee about all the times they've worked together. So why do I listen to comedian and actor Michael Ian Black? He makes his interviewees cry. He has this habit of asking these really balls-to-the-walls questions that you assume the subject would never answer -- and yet he asks them in a way that is very caring. Caring in a kind of New York, in-your-face way. And then the subject answers and cries. I was shocked by what Project Runway's Tim Gunn shared with him. I wanted to sit at the feet of Barefoot Contessa Ina Garten and soak up her wisdom after her interview. And I'm pretty sure he made ultimate smart ass Megan Mullally cry, too.

The Adventure Zone (story telling)

I downloaded "The Adventure Zone," a podcast of three adult brothers playing Dungeons & Dragons with their dad, as a gift to my son who was stuck in the car with me as we drove to visit colleges. The decision nearly proved lethal. As we whipped along the always-packed and suicidal I-70, I was laughing so hard I couldn't see. I literally considered pulling onto the shoulder. The McElroy Brothers -- Justin, Travis and Griffin -- gained podcasting fame with the advice show "My Brother, My Brother and Me." "The Adventure Zone" was a whim while they were taking paternity leave. It proved to be a three-year-long love affair with fanciful story telling, dice throwing, and the unique comedy that can come about when four people love each other and can annoy the holy living crap out of each other. Just trust me. Check it out.

Criminal

I don't know how to categorize this show, which is the highest compliment I can pay it. Calling it "true crime" lumps it in with all the other whodunits, and "Criminal" is soooooo much more than a voyeuristic poke into a family or community's pain. "Criminal" is a subtle-and-curious look into the community of crime -- the people who record it (a courtroom sketch artist), the people who are victimized by it (like this daughter), and the people who sink into tar pits to try to uncover it. My favorite episode, a truly courageous episode by host and co-creator Phoebe Judge, is this one about people who research decomposition. By the way, Phoebe earns my vote for best female podcasting voice. It's like butter.

Social Media Marketing Podcast (biz)

This new communication beast we call social media changes daily. Hourly. With twice weekly podcasts, the "Social Media Marketing Podcast" helps me keep up. Host and founder Michael Stelzner interviews guests with his listeners in mind -- whenever guests dive down the rabbit hole of their specialty, he pulls them back and asks them to explain it for the rest of us. This podcast serves the place of a university course in social media marketing -- clients, you now know my trick. Please don't fire me.

In the Dark (true crime)

This expertly researched and reported podcast does what so many other true crime podcasts fail to do: provide a larger picture of what it all means. "In the Dark" looks at the disappearance of Jacob Wetterling, an 11-year Minnesota boy who disappeared in the midst of the stranger-danger frenzy of the '80s. But more than just poking at the crime, reporter Madeleine Baran puts together an alarming look at how little oversight there is over our nation's sheriff's departments and how little accountability they have. Jacob Wetterling's murderer came forward just one week before "In the Dark" began -- the true mystery was not how killer Danny Heinrich got away with it for so long, but how the Stearns County Sheriff's department did such a horrible job.

The Bright Sessions (audio drama)

"The Bright Sessions" has everything you could want out of an audio drama: adventure, romance, time travel, and telepathy. But creator Lauren Shippen has added a little something extra to this story line about a group of 20-somethings struggling to live with their special mental abilities, abilities that allow them to read minds or feel other's emotions or coerce people. There's a distinct "femaleness" to the whole presentation, which as an audio-drama lover accustomed to so many male-driven stories, I really appreciate. She nails the personal connections among all the characters.

Since I need A LOT of distraction these days, I'm always looking for new podcasts. What are your favorites podcasts? Please let me know in the comments below.

How To Throw A Lip Sync Party

Lip Sync Fever 2016

The art of miming a vocal performance has risen like a phoenix from the ashes of Milli Vanilli's lip-sync scandal to become a badge of honor for celebrities who win lip-sync competitions on Jimmy Fallon and Lip Sync Battle (and no, Channing Tatum is not going too far in this video).

You are invited to a winner-take-all lip sync battle party on Sat., Feb. 27. Doors open at 7. Performances start at 8.

So began the phenomenal invite from my husband that lured all of our friends to our house three weeks ago -- and saved me from having to write a blog intro.

There was a lot of work that went into making this party a success -- and every second was worth it! Here's a how-to list that I hope will make it a little easier for you to get your Milli Vanilli on. 

1. Get Inspired

Watch this:

2. Vet your friends

It's hard to "perform" in front of people. And I had no interest in throwing a party that none of our friends wanted to attend. So before we sent out the invites, we asked close friends if a lip sync party -- where every attendee had to perform -- was a party they were interested in. We were shocked that 95 percent of our friends said yes. 

3. Decide on "the rules"

The loosy-gooseyness of most parties doesn't work for a lip sync party. It's only fun if your guests are committed and engaged. So we made it mandatory that everyone:

• Perform
• Contribute $5 for a winner-take-all grand prize.
• Show up in time for the first performance. 

We were very demanding. People loved it. Click below to get a handy-dandy copy of the rest of my husband's rules.

4. Send your invite with lots of lead time

Make sure to give your friends lots of time to choose a song and practice their routines. And keep your invite list relatively small. With about 35 guests and only 14 performances, it still took us three hours to get through all of them. 

5. Start practicing your routine

Expectations of the host's performance will be high. Start practicing early. Here's a snippet of mine. The song is "Velcro" by Clairity. And I post this with a trembling finger and nervous sweat. Be kind:

Some tips to make your routine a success:

1. Know the words. People can tell when you don't.
2. Dress up. Whether it's a costume or just an out-of-the-ordinary look for you, wearing something different makes it easier to play your goofy role.
3. Bring a friend. It is MUCH easier to perform with a friend or friends acting as backup dancers, taking over some of the lyrics, or playing air guitar. My husband jumped on stage for the last chorus of my song and did my dance routine with me. I had so much respect for the people who went up there by themselves.
4. Use props. Our entire backroom was filled with tubs of stuff people had brought to make their performances shine.
5. Up the ante. Regardless whether you use costumes, props, or a surprise guest (Beyoncé!!), do something to up the ante as you perform the song. 

6. Decide on a stage. 

We rented a 8-by-12 foot stage from a local party store, who dropped off the stage the day of the party and picked it up on Monday. Those eights inches off the floor did make a difference -- it felt like a true performance. But there's no need to go quite so big. Just make sure to delineate a space large enough for groups to perform and performers to dance.

7. Figure out the sound system.

It's ideal if people can send you their song ahead of time so you can just cue it up in Apple Music, Spotify, or a similar subscription music service. But some people will want to keep their songs close to the vest, so make sure to have a jack where people can plug in their phone or computer. Also make sure your speaker system is loud enough to be heard over the hooting, hollering, and the fact that some people confuse it with karaoke.

8. Buy the booze, beer, and food. Buy tequila.

Liquid courage is the name of the game, so buy alcohols -- like tequila -- that people can get down quickly. We bought six large bottles of wine, four red and two white, and no one touched them. Beer and booze. Food. Tequila. Don't forget the limes.

9. Gather money and performance times.

As guests arrive, gather their $5, ask when they'd like to perform and, if you don't already know, get their song. Some want to go first. Some want to close out the night. First come, first served in this scenario. Create a list of everyone's name and song, which will become the emcees cheat sheet for calling performers to the stage and the ballot at the end of the night. 

And then invite everyone to grab a drink, grab their courage, and get ready for some magic.

Like this: 

Shakira "Hips Don't Lie"

Taylor Swift's "Shake It Off" as Bernie Sanders

And this:

My favorite part of the night was when guests thanked me and my husband by sitting us in front of the stage and performing "We Are The World" to us.

What song are you going to lip sync at your next lip sync party? 

How to Have Fun With Crock Pot Recipes

Fun with crock pot recipes? Follow my logic. Dicing up some ingredients and throwing them into the slow cooker in the morning means that in the evening:

• You can have a healthy meal at the end of a stressful day, rather than grabbing fast food on your drive home and adding THAT to your guilt tally. And your waistline.
• Various family members running from one activity to the next can dip out a ladle of goodness whenever they have a moment, leaving said love one properly and healthfully caloried-up for nighttime activities.
• You can do what you want to do when you get home from work -- kick off your shoes, laze on the couch and enjoy a glass of wine before dinner -- rather than hustling into the kitchen to cook.
• Hosts can actually spend their dinner parties enjoying their guests rather than trying to flambé  something while opening the door, managing coats and handing out cocktails.

See. My slow cooker allows me to get all of the goodness out of home cooking with none of the stress of cooking at the end of full day. I'm a year-round slow cooker advocate, but these are some stick-to-your-rib recipes I like to pull out for the winter months. 

Favorite weeknight crock pot recipes

Spicy Chicken Stew From All You

Spicy Chicken Stew – I double up this recipe whenever I make it. It’s so good and it only gets better as it sits. This is also my go-to when I want to share the love: Give it to a friend who wants to take a night off from making dinner and I promise they'll be asking for the recipe.

Slow Cooker Meat Loaf with Shitake Mushrooms – This is a Cooking Light recipe that is so moist and delicious that I don’t need to be dieting to enjoy it. Cooking it in the crock pot is pure genius, eliminating all the issues about dryness that you can get with oven-cooked meat loaves.

Favorite crock pot recipes for entertaining

Cola Shredded Tacos from Sunset

Slow Cooker Pulled Pork – This simple recipe from Good Housekeeping is crazy delicious. Grab some buns, a bag of chips and some pickles, and you’ve got a party for a crowd.

Cola Shredded Beef Tacos – We call these Dr. Pepper tacos at my house. The recipe calls for Mexican Coke, which I can never find, so instead I buy Dr. Pepper for the syrupy sweetness the recipe is looking for. I make these with frijoles and salsa verde, and they truly wow my guests. 

 

FAVORITE HEALTHY CROCK POT RECIPES

Slow Cooker Chicken Verde - So, yes, sometimes I’ll make the salsa verde from scratch like this recipe recommends. And sometimes I’ll buy chunky chili verde from the produce or deli aisle, puree half of it, and that’s quite alright, too.

Slow Cooker Cabbage Soup -- We're meat eaters in this house (as you may be able to tell) but I imagine you can make this with vegan sausage and it would be just as delicious. You just need something to add the spice and richness that the sausage lends.

Favorite recipes for Sunday dinner

Classic Beef Stew from Real Simple

Slow Cooker Tuscan Pot Roast -- This is a long time favorite; while it technically is a pot roast, the meat falls apart and becomes this awesome gravy that I love to ladle in shallow bowls over grilled slices of French bread. Instead of using a cup of wine, I use a half-cup of wine and a half-cup of beef broth to increase the richness.

Classic Beef Stew -- I found this in the same issue of Real Simple as the recipe above. I find both recipes to be simple, dependable recipes that provide a tasty, one-pot winter meal.

 

Have a favorite Crock Pot Recipe? Baby, It's getting cold outside and we're all going to need some good recipes to get us through the winter. please share a link to your favorite recipe in the comments below.

How to Throw a Comfort Food Dinner Party

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In the spring and summer, I advocate easy entertaining. Throw a six pack in the cooler, some chicken and zucchini on the grill and you're good to go. But the advent of fall beckons us indoors. Lures us into sweaters and snuggling into the couch and eating foods that are oh-so-bad for us. So I find myself wanting to take my time with a fall dinner party. I want to create a setting that makes my friends want to linger; cook foods that will compel us to stick around the dinner table while we digest.

Fall, then, is an ideal time to prepare comfort food, the fatty, buttery, bacony dishes our moms made that now occupy the menu of every hip restaurant in the country. While I champion taking your time with this Comfort Food dinner party, I also offers ways you can shave a little time off the top. I'm not responsible for what happens to your waist.

1. Prep and planning

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Apron by Dr. McNinja creator, Christopher Hastings

Fall is a good time to begin using the dining table again, so limit your invite list to the number of people you can fit around it. Sending everyone an email is fine. Do your grocery shopping the day before the party. Try to reserve party day for just decorating and food cooking. Sounds extravagant? Trust me, if one partner can be responsible for driving kids to baseball, walking the dog and grabbing lunch, and the other partner can get Zen with the party duties, both partners will be less flustered when guests start knocking at the door.

Time-saving tool: Peapod. I let this grocery delivery service deliver the bulk of my groceries and then head to a specialty market for items like fresh-baked desserts or stand-out salad fixings.

2. Decorating

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I used to go overboard decorating for dinner parties, but now I have three secret weapons: Candles, flowers and white plates. White plates create a clean canvas for all that delicious food. Candles can be used in the middle of the table (judiciously so they don't get in the way of food passing or conversation) and in the living room. And inexpensive grocery store flowers in appropriate fall colors add a touch of pizzazz. I know it doesn't sound like much, but taking your time setting up these three details before guests arrive will enhance the sense that it's a special night at your house. 

Time-saving tool: Placemats are an inexpensive and quick way to add flair to your table. The ones I use are from Ikea and cost $3. I also have them in black and silver.  

3. Menu

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Cocktails

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Appetizers

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Main Course

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Dessert

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What are your favorite Comfort Foods? Let me know in the comments below or on my Facebook page. I'd love to add to my Comfort Foods menu.

The Best Appetizer You Will Ever Eat

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Yes, I said it. The Potatoskinadilla is the best appetizer you will ever eat. Bold words, I know. But I swear to you, after you eat the cheesy, bacony, crisp tortilla-y goodness of a Potatoskinadilla, all other appetizers will pale in comparison.

My husband and I discovered this incredible concoction -- all the goodness of a potato skin in a quesadilla -- at our favorite local bar, Dogwood Tavern in Falls Church. We were instant uber-fans of the treat, talking it up to friends, bringing out of town guests to try it, rushing to the bar for a late-night fix before closing time. Something about the combination of creamy mashed potato, earthy potato skin, melted cheese and crisp bacon all wrapped up in a toasted tortilla had us hooked. And we weren't the only ones who thought it was great: our brother-in-law, a restaurateur from Chicago, took the idea back to one of his bars!

So imagine our despair that one late night when we showed up and realized that our beloved Potatoskinadilla was nowhere to be found on the new menus. Noooooooo!!!! While the cook is happy to make it for us whenever they have mashed potatoes on the menu, I decided that I should no longer depend on my local tavern to supply my favorite fix. 

A "comfort food" dinner party that I hosted for friends this weekend (check out my blog, "How to Throw a Comfort Food Dinner Party" on Friday) inspired me to figure out the recipe for the perfect Potatoskinadilla. What could be more comforting than mashed potatoes, cheese and bacon in a convenient little pocket? And by George, I think I got it.

Potatoskinadilla

Serving: 1 potatoskinadilla, serves 3-4 people

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Ingredients 

• 1 baked potato, medium
• 2 Tbl butter
• Salt
• Smoked paprika
• 3 pieces thick-cut bacon
• 3/4 cup shredded cheddar cheese
• 3 tsp chopped chives
• 1 tortilla, burrito-sized
• guacamole, salsa and sour cream on side

Scrub potato, poke several times with a fork, then bake it in the microwave until tender, 5-7 minutes, turning once. Let potato cool until can handle easily. Cut in half. Scoop out insides leaving 1/4 potato in ONE of the shells. Other shell can be scooped clean and discarded.

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Melt butter in microwave. Brush butter on inside and outside of remaining potato skin. Season inside with with salt and smoked paprika. Cook under broiler, skin side up, for about 4 minutes, until skin is crisp. Dice into small pieces.

Add 1 Tbl melted butter to potatoes. Season with salt. Mash with fork.

Cook bacon in microwave one-and-a-half minutes until cooked but not crisp. Dice into small pieces. Finish cooking in small pan until crisp.

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Lay out tortilla for assembly. Use a butter knife to spread a thin layer of mashed potato on one half of the tortilla. Do not overdue it! You want the flavor of the mashed potato without the quesadilla becoming too goopy. 

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Then add cheese, bacon, potato skin pieces and chives.

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Fold tortilla. Brush outside of Potatoskinadilla with remaining melted butter. Place in a pan on medium heat. Cook until bottom is a crisp brown. Flip and continue to cook until inside is melted and bottom is brown.

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Slice Potatoskinadilla into thin strips. Serve with guacamole, salsa and sour cream. To serve a crowd, triple this recipe and assemble three Potatoskinadillias on a sheet pan. Cook under the broiler.

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In-Between Tip: All my thanks and appreciation go to my favorite local bar, Dogwood Tavern, for inventing this deliciousness. While they may not always have the Potatoskinadilla on the menu, they have incredible Honey Siriacha Wings, phenomenal burgers, and killer Mac & Cheese Fritters to keep me happy. Read all about this great bar in my blog: "Dogwood Tavern: Where Everyone Knows Your Name," and check them out at 132 West Broad St., Falls Church, VA, 22046

He Won!!!

Last month, I asked for your help to raise votes and assist my son in winning a video contest. The contest, put together by the Intellectual Property Owners Educational Foundation, asked young filmmakers to create short films about getting a patent. Well, thanks to your help, he won! My son, Simon Lundquist, was one of two winner in his age group with Natalie DiMundo from Santa Monica, Calif.

On Tuesday, Dec. 9, these two young winners, along with two winners in the 16-18 age group, will each receive a $5,000 award at a recognition dinner at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and National Portrait Gallery in D.C. Simon is most nervous about getting a tux and giving a speech. 

With his winnings, he plans on updating his video equipment and putting a bulk of the proceeds aside for college. His young eyes are already set on the great (expensive!) film schools of NYU, UCLA or USC. So we, the parents, are hoping he enters many more money-making film contests!!

We are very proud of him. Kind of in awe. And very grateful for the it-takes-a-village support of family, friends, neighbors and wonderful strangers.

All of the 2014 IP Video Contest Winners

Help An Aspiring Filmmaker

Go to the IP Video Contest site to vote for Simon Lundquist 

As a parent, there is nothing more rewarding than when your children find their passion. It's wonderful to see this little person you have put all this time and energy into find the thing he wants to put all of his time and energy into. It also feels like an assurance that they will one day have a job. Bonus!

My son, Simon Lundquist, found his passion several years ago when he used an inexpensive digital camera to make a stop-action movie of a Playdough ball rolling around on his bed. The Playdough had googley-eyes, which he had to carefully move for every shot.

Since then, his movies have become more action-adventure-sci fi: lots of punching and crazed robots and magic typewriters and dystopian futures. But he's also a practical kid interested in becoming a working filmmaker, so recently he entered a video contest for the Intellectual Property Owners Education Foundation and became a finalist.

Here's where you come in: He needs votes to win. So I'm taking today's blog post to ask you to please go to the following site - http://www.ipvideocontest.com/?page_id=345 - and vote for him in the 13-15 category. If you're interested in voting in the 16-18 category as well, Simon recommends voting for Christian Surtz.

Thanks for your help with this. And please let me know when your child needs some online support. I'd love to return the favor.