My roommate and I visited one of our best friends, Ellen, in San Diego this past weekend. We had a lovely time catching up and enjoying the beach (and getting sunburned). Typical of most weekend getaways, we ate every meal out. Shout out to Sean, if you’re reading this. :)

When we got back to LA, I was itching to cook. I had a few bell peppers in my fridge, so I decided to make this bite-size appetizer of grilled Naan topped with goat cheese and roasted red and orange bell peppers.

Simple, delicious and a guaranteed hit at any dinner party.

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Last week, the extremely sweet and talented singer/songwriter, Colbie Caillat, asked me to bake an ice cream cake for a birthday party. I gladly accepted the offer.

Since I’d never made an ice cream cake before, I relied on trial and error, baking a couple of different cakes. I combined components, techniques and recipes from various sites/chefs and came up with this delectable vanilla custard cake with strawberry and vanilla ice cream, strawberry compote and whipped cream frosting.

I created a few fondant pieces for the cake–the Chicago Bears logo and some decorative circles. This was my first time working with the gum paste, so the result was not as perfect as I’d hoped; however, now that I have a tub of fondant in my pantry, I’ve got plenty more to use for practice. :)

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Today marks the one year anniversary of Sweet Caroline’s Cooking! Not only have I expanded my culinary knowledge and skills throughout this journey, but I’ve also “met” some of the kindest and talented food bloggers along the way.

To celebrate my blog’s anniversary, I figured I’d share five of my favorite posts, including my very first post.

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By Andy

I can’t think of a better way to start the day/weekend than indulging in a fresh, homemade bellini. Well, maybe I can, but this certainly ranks high up on the list.

Sorry to post yet another cocktail, but I wanted to post these bellinis ever since my brother, Andy, made them for my family the other weekend. If you hadn’t already gathered from the asparagus pesto pizza, he’s a great cook.

Rather than make a simple version of the drink, he had to go above and beyond. He whipped up three different flavors–peach, strawberry and acai, all of which were absolutely delicious and refreshing. These bellinis are perfect for summer, and are acceptable to drink at any time of the day. Happy Friday. :)

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Though this isn’t a ground breaking recipe, it’d consider it a worthy staple. I never get around to making homemade margaritas, primarily because I always find it much easier to buy margarita mix for large parties.

However, my apartment was overflowing with limes, so I thought it the perfect opportunity to whip up a margarita (instead of using the limes to bake something fattening, which I would normally do).

For the non-drinkers out there, I would still enjoy this drink without the tequila, as it was sweet and refreshing. I added a bit of lime zest to give the drink an extra burst of flavor.

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Ever since our family friend Estela made this salsa, we’ve been hooked. The key ingredient is the spicy and smokey dried chile peppers that she brings back for us when she visits home in Mexico.

Though incredibly spicy, we never remove the seeds from the peppers, as that’s where you get all the flavor–that’s even coming from the girl who has a very low spice tolerance.

The salsa is delicious plain with tortilla chips, or in burritos, tacos, eggs (really anything). I’m sure this recipe would still be delicious with dried chiles from the states, as most of you aren’t able to run to the store in Mexico, but the authentic chiles really do make a difference. :)

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By Andy

This asparagus pesto pizza is by far one of my favorite appetizers my brother Andy makes. So, when he made the pizza the other week, I had to snap a few shots so I could feature it on my site.

The creamy pesto and gooey cheeses perfectly juxtapose the slightly charred pizza crust. My description and photos don’t do it justice though–you need to eat a slice yourself to understand. Thank you Bobby Flay for your ingenious recipes.

If you have any vegetarian friends, I highly suggest making this for them. :)

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I’m not afraid to admit that I’m a huge Harry Potter fan–meaning yes, I’ll be at the midnight showing tonight. So, when my friend Molly asked me yesterday if I wanted to make butterbeer cupcakes in honor of the movie release, you can bet that I sacrificed missing my favorite workout class to make these delectable treats.

The texture of the cake was fluffy and moist, and made even better with the gooey butterscotch filling and silky frosting. Though delicious, the cupcakes were extremely sweet–and that’s even coming from the girl with the huge sweet tooth. :)

Cheers!

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By Uncle Steve

This bean dip is the perfect appetizer or side dish for any get together or party. My Uncle Steve whipped up this dip for our 4th of July party, and once I took a bite, I knew I had to make it again. Though extremely simple, the dish doesn’t lack in flavor–the habanero salsa gives it just the right amount of kick.

My uncle is always coming up with new and inventive recipes, which we get to enjoy when he visits us here in California from Ohio. I was sad to see him, my aunt and cousin leave last week, but we all had such a great time together, from shopping to laying out to BBQing, etc. Keep an eye out for more of my Uncle Steve’s recipes!

Thanks for holding the tortilla in the photo, mom. ;)

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By Bob

Nothing says summer like my dad’s home cooked brats. Though the recipe and preparation are simple, the cooking process is what makes or breaks the sausage. My dad has mastered the process–he is, after all, the grilling machine in my family. As always, the bratwurst were a hit with everyone (my uncle, aunt and cousins were in town, visiting from Ohio).

The slightly charred exterior of the brats pop upon each bite, greeting the mouth with a juicy and tender interior. I would take these over the average hot dog any day.

Don’t mind our “classy” choices of beer for cooking, photographed below. :)

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