Cheese and Dairy
Vegetarian Nachos Supreme Stuffed Bell Peppers
Nachos supreme stuffed bell peppers! Outtake from the Taste of Tucson cookbook. Recipe and food photography by Jackie Alpers. […]
recipe
Cookbooks
Recipe for The Parish’s Strawberry Habanero Infused Tequila
This infused tequila makes a mean margarita or straight-up sipper. […]
documentary food photography
Tequila Vs Mezcal: What’s the difference?
Wondering what the difference is between different types of tequila and mezcal? Jackie Alpers has answers! Includes recipes for Tequila Citrus Sipper and Paloma cocktails […]
Chicken
Sonoran Style Grilled Chicken Drumsticks
There are Southwestern regional influences that vary from New Mexico to Arizona, Texas, and Southern California. Here in Tucson, our regional cuisine is defined by fresh veggies, grilled meats and all of the delicacies that a mid-sized, sunshine filled desert city/college town, 60 miles from Mexico, has to offer. It’s summertime eating all year round. This recipe was There are Southwestern regional influences that vary from New Mexico to Arizona, Texas, and Southern California. Here in Tucson, our regional cuisine is defined by fresh veggies, grilled meats and all of the delicacies that a mid-sized, sunshine filled desert city/college town, 60 miles from Mexico, has to offer. It’s summertime eating all year round. This recipe was originally developed for Today.com. […]
Drinks & Cocktails
Drinks & Cocktails
Pomegranate & Earl Grey Whisky Smash
This recipe was originally developed for Lipton tea in conjunction with the FoodNetwork.com […]
Atkins Friendly
breakfast
Skillet Stuffing Shakshuka
Be sure to make extra-extra stuffing for Thanksgiving so that you can make my Skillet Stuffing Shakshuka the next morning with the “leftovers” Serves 2-4 Ingredients: 2-4 cups leftover stuffing (one cup per person), warmed […]
Celebrations
Creepy Spaghetti Carbonara with Fungi (Mushrooms)
This recipe was originally developed for TasteCooking.com. It’s quite spooky looking, yet elegant enough to serve at a Halloween themed adult dinner party. […]
Comfort Food
Recipe for Healthier Tuna Noodle Casserole
How to make tuna noodle casserole. […]
Appetizers
Buffalo Chicken Rumaki Bites
Whatever happened to Rumaki, that vaguely Polynesian appetizer that they used to serve at tiki themed parties in the 70s? Maybe making buffalo-style rumaki will help modernize them a bit and bring them back into […]
Atkins Friendly
My mom’s Marinated Flank Steak, “Sonoranized”
Recipe for marinated flank steak using my mom’s recipe from the 80s, adding in some Mexican oregano and extra citus so now it’s an Ohio meets Tucson recipe. […]
Chicken
The Italian Stallion Hot Dog
This no-recipe recipe is my tribute dog to Sweathog, Vinnie Barbarino. Slice an Italian roll across the top, not the side. Spoon a tablespoon of warmed marinara sauce inside the cut roll, then tuck in […]
Comfort Food
Spaghetti Squash Supreme Pizza Boats
Pizza flavored spaghetti squash: It is good for you, it’s fairly low in calories, is very filling… and it tastes like pizza. So it’s win-win-win-win. […]
Baked Goods
Bombshell Boxed Brownie Dessert Pan Pizzas
These individual brownie pan pizzas are baked and served in Lodge 3.5” cast iron skillets. You can use one 9” cast iron skillet instead if you prefer. The options for different toppings are endless. Have fun experimenting […]
Baked Goods
Mini Brownie Stack Cakes
Remember, that brownie mixes now come in gluten free varieties too! This recipe was first written for Refinery29. Ingredients 1 package brownie mix Cooking spray 2 cups mixed fresh berries 1 cup whipped cream. Instructions […]
cooking crafts
Frozen Yogurt Bark With Berries and Granola
All of the bark and none of the bite […]
Celebrations
The Mexican Street Corn Hot Dog
Inspired by Mexican Style Street Corn, this whole beef jumbo hot dog is topped with roasted corn, mayo, lime and spices and served in a top-cut, whole grain bolillo roll. Food photo and recipe by Jackie Alpers. […]
Appetizers
Spicy Ranch French Onion Dip
Two Dips That Live As One, Together At Last […]
Appetizers
The Cheesiest Cheese Crisp with Chipotle Ranch Dipping Sauce
Serves 2 to 4 A cross between a Mexican pizza an an open-faced quesadilla, the cheese crisp is the perfect comfort food. Southern Arizona restaurants started selling the dish more than 50 years ago and […]
Comfort Food
Quinoa Burrito Bowl With Chipotle Lime Vinaigrette
This recipe originally was written for and published on Refinery29 as part of an article on easy and affordable grain bowls. Check out the rest of the recipes on their site. The Greek yogurt adds a little […]
Comfort Food
Recipe: Sweet Corn Paletas
Sweet Corn Paletas Mexican ice pops often incorporate more exotic ingredients than their northern counterparts and my Sweet Corn Paletas are no different. Makes 12-16 servings Ingredients 1 cup milk, I used almond milk but any kind […]
Baked Goods
Recipe: Three Sisters Pizza With Corn Masa Crust
Corn, beans and squash are three of the earliest domesticated crops grown by Native Americans in the Sonoran region. For this recipe, prepared corn masa, which is usually used to make tortillas or gorditas, is […]
breakfast
Recipe: Grain Bowl With Green Quinoa, Tepary Beans and Egg
Grain Bowl With Green Quinoa, Tepary Beans, Avocado and Egg Start your day with this Sonoran style power breakfast. It’s high in protein, complex carbs and healthy fats. Serves 1. Ingredients 1/2 cup dry quinoa […]
casserole
Gooey, Creamy, Cheesy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole
For a lower carb version of this dish, replace the pasta with an additional cup of chopped broccoli. Serves 4 Ingredients For the “Copycat” Condensed Cream of Chicken Soup 3 tablespoons butter ¼ cup flour […]
Condiments
Recipe for Sriracha Lime Vinaigrette Salad Dressing
This super easy salad dressing recipe is especially good on a Greek salad, cucumber salad or Asian Chicken salad and you can make it right in the bottle if you only have a little bit of Sriracha left. […]
Chocolate
Oreo Ice Cream Sandwiches With Sprinkles!
This may be one of the easiest recipes ever. It was originally written for and published on Refinery29 where you can find seven more of my Oreo recipes. I literally wrote the book on sprinkles, so if you’re […]
Atkins Friendly
Thai Cauliflower “Fried Rice” with Coconut
Cauliflower that has been pre-chopped into tiny rice-sized bits is my favorite new food product. It’s almost indistinguishable from real rice in recipes, yet contains significantly less carbs, so it’s perfect for grain-free and Paleo diets. […]
breakfast
Creamy Wheat Berry Breakfast Hash Bowl
Prepare the grains according to package instructions unless otherwise noted. You can do this in advance and store the cooked grains in the refrigerator to save time later. Different varieties of the same grain have […]
Cheese and Dairy
Spinach Linguine with Walnut Pesto
Walnuts are less expensive and easier to find than the traditional pine nuts and I think they taste even better. Plus they’re loaded with healthy fats. This recipe originally was written for and published on Refinery29 as part […]
Appetizers
Sweet Pepper Poppers
How To Make Sweet Mini Pepper Poppers Lay peppers on preparation surface. Slice off the front of each one, leaving a deep well and the stems intact. Fill the remaining hole with jalapeño cream cheese […]
Baked Goods
Chicken Pot Pie in a Mug
For centuries, people believed that it was impossible to make a chicken pot pie in the microwave. I have proven them wrong. This recipe first appeared in the article “10-Minute Dinner Recipes That ANYONE Can […]
Baked Goods
Appetizers
Vegan Cocktail Pups recipe With A SECRET INGREDIENT!
Vegan Cocktail Pups The secret ingredient is baby carrots! This is so simple that there isn’t even a recipe. Just toss a bag or two of baby carrots a crockpot with your favorite barbecue sauce […]
Appetizers
Parmesan Crisps with Caviar and Crème Fraîche
Festive enough for New Year’s Eve, this pretty appetizer only takes about 5 minutes to make. Bacon infused caviar adds an unique smokiness that will intrigue your guests and is fairly inexpensive, but any decent quality caviar will […]
Chocolate
Dark Chocolate Chia Pudding With Frozen Berries
Frozen berries top this easy dessert with a 5-minute prep time… because it’s hot out there. Chia seeds are truly a super-food packed with antioxidants, fiber and loads of healthy Omega-3 fatty acids, so they are a […]
Chicken
Italian Style Grilled Chicken with Parmesan and Sun-dried Tomatoes
This is a healthy and extremely flavorful way to dress up boneless skinless chicken breasts. Adding just a small amount of butter on top, and using grated parmesan for a garnish, keeps the fat and […]
Chicken
Thai Grilled Chicken Thighs
All of the ingredients for authentic Thai cuisine are available at most grocery stores. Sambal Oelek and Thai fish sauce can be found in most Asian food sections. This recipe was originally published on iVillage.com […]
breakfast
Spicy Southwestern Style Mashed Potatoes With Sausage Gravy and Biscuits
There was a time in history when an all white meal consisting mostly of flour and milk was the most depressing idea imaginable. In Dicken’s “A Christmas Carol”, Ebenezer Scrooge famously sat down to a […]
Baked Goods
Carb-Free Sausage, Egg & Cheese Muffin Cups
There’s no flour in these muffin cups, yet they’re still light and fluffy! The secret is to beat the egg whites with an electric mixer until stiff peaks form. I mixed in spicy Italian chicken […]
Appetizers
Sprinkles Fairy Bread Sandwiches
Make any day a celebration! Just barely sweet, these sparkly sandwiches make a fun breakfast surprise, after-school snack, or party food. Inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s poem “Fairy Bread” in A Child’s Garden of Verses, fairy […]
Appetizers
Sparkling Cranberry and Brie Crostini
An unpublished photo from my book, Sprinkles!: Recipes and Ideas for Rainbowlicious Desserts was nominated for the 2014 Photography Master’s Cup in the Food Photography category. Here’s the recipe to go along with the photo, reprinted from […]
Atkins Friendly
Monster Eggs
Looks can be deceiving; my favorite monsters are scary looking, but innately good. Just like these monsterized eggs, which have been turned green and frightening looking, but are completely delicious. They are also monstrously easy to make. Save […]
Atkins Friendly
Baked Goods
My New Sprinkles Food Network Column
I’m beyond thrilled to announce that I am writing and photographing a monthly column for the Food Network! It features seasonal & holiday recipes, fun projects and entertaining ideas that use sprinkles. Here’s January’s! http://blog.foodnetwork.com/fn-dish/2014/01/how-to-beat-the-winter-blahs-with-sprinkles/ Brighten […]
Cheese and Dairy
Roasted Whole Baby Cauliflower with Herbs & Parmesan
“I’m really into cauliflower right now”, my friend Helen announced as she pulled Bon Appetit’s version of this dish out of her oven. Now I am too. I’m also obsessed with the idea of roasting […]
Baked Goods
Christmas Cookie Season
It’s christmas cookie season, and while biscotti isn’t technically a cookie per se, they often find their way onto the plethora of platters that mark the season. From cookie swaps, to office parties, to host/hostess gifts, […]
Easy
Postmodern Art Popsicles
What is the nature of art? Can it exist in popsicle form? Is it still art after the popsicle has been eaten? How does the process of melting affect the piece? These are some of […]
Dinner
BLT Lettuce Wraps: THE BEST Late Summer Meal
I had no idea when I made this yesterday that today, AUG. 31st, was NATIONAL BACON DAY. All I had been thinking was how the BLT is the perfect end-of-summer meal. Tomatoes are at their best, […]
breakfast
Breakfast Popsicles + A Goodreads “Sprinkles!” Cookbook Giveaway
Looking to kick start a hot summer day? These chocolate & coffee frozen pudding pops are just the ticket! Take an average cup of joe and turn it into a stick of WHOA! Sugar-free instant […]
breakfast
5 Healthy Breakfasts in Cute Cups!
This week I put together five easy, healthy, breakfast recipes for iVillage. They are all in cute single size servings! There’s something for everyone; low-carb, no-carb, high-protein, gluten-free, vegetarian/vegan, low-fat, and/or low-sugar! Click on the […]
Chocolate
Frozen (or not) No-Bake Chocolate Cheesecake Mousse with Summertime Sprinkles
It’s a healthy, frozen, chocolate treat that’s high protein, and low in calories, fat and sugar. What more could you want? Oh yeah, it has sprinkles! Lots of them in pretty summer colors that are […]
Baked Goods
Low-carb Bacon-Wrapped Mexican Hot Dogs on Cheesy Cloud Buns
I made this low-carb bread replacement (often called “Oopsie Bread”) out of eggs and cream cheese from a recipe I’ve seen all over the internet. It turned out great. It smells like cheesy-bread while it’s […]
Appetizers
Artichoke Week!
(Self proclaimed) Artichoke Week continues! Grilling makes artichokes taste even better. My newest article for Broadway and Thresher explains how to do it properly.
Appetizers
Consider the Artichoke
There was a basket of cute purple and green baby artichokes in the produce section of the market. My intent was to buy the larger globe artichokes for my recipe but these charmed me. I […]
Appetizers
Parmesan Pepperoni Crustless Pizza
If you bake a layer of Parmesan cheese in the oven it will crackle and pop after a while, turning into a crispy, brown cheese cracker that’s much tastier than any pizza crust I’ve encountered. I […]
Chicken
Buffalo Chicken: Tenders & Tacos Recipes
I have an on-going, and pretty much constant craving for buffalo wings. I’d alway thought that buffalo wing sauce was one of those fast food enigmas (like the McRib) that could never be replicated by average people. It’s […]
Atkins Friendly
Win Friends With Salad
I am going to make a bold statement and say that you can indeed win friends with salad in stark contrast to the Simpson’s clip I’ve posted below. Here’s a good one to start with: […]
casserole
Three Ways to Make Johnny Marzetti
I’ve hit a carb overload. The holidays are over, thank god. I’m really ready to get back to eating healthy, but I also want food that carries some weight to it, so I came up […]
Baked Goods
Chocolate & Coffee Figgy Pudding
I want some figgy pudding! How could I not after hearing that song year after year. So, I came up with this recipe for Chocolate & Coffee Figgy Pudding for my latest article in Broadway+Thresher […]
Celebrations
Pretty in Pink: Candied Lady Apples
These easy candied apples are a healthy, sweet treat that are fun for kids to make. I used Lady Apples, which are stunning, tiny, sweet apples that resemble crab apples. Also called Christmas Apples, they […]
Appetizers
Recipe for Fennel, Blue Cheese & Spanish Chorizo Mini Pizzas
This week I’m a guest writer/photographer for heart-stoppingly beautiful new magazine about rural culture, Broadway+Thresher. Here’s a link to the article, featuring my photos and the recipe I developed for “Fennel, Blue Cheese & Spanish […]
Baked Goods
Northern Style Southern Biscuits
Until recently, the only biscuits I ever made at home came from a Pop n’ Fresh can, so when friends from overseas asked me for a real American biscuit recipe, I scoured every book I […]
casserole
I love brussels sprouts!
Brussels sprouts and bacon compliment each other so perfectly that this may be my favorite food of all time. You cook the bacon in with the sprouts so that a little bit of bacon grease […]
Appetizers
Chicharrones, Cornichons & Chicken Liver Pate Bites
My choice for snack of the day is… Chopped liver paté smeared onto pork rinds and topped with cornichons! This may seem like an unlikely, (and un-kosher) combination at first, but the pork rinds add […]
Atkins Friendly
Mini Pumpkin Goat Cheese Cheesecakes
Saying that I don’t eat a lot of sweets is perhaps not the best way to start a post about dessert. Cake in general is not really my thing. I prefer fruit, though I do […]
Atkins Friendly
Scrambled Eggs With Gorgonzola & Salsa
This recipe is the result of an early morning haze wherein I emptied random things from the refrigerator into a pan in a blurry attempt to make breakfast. It came out better than I expected, […]
Appetizers
Coctel De Camaron: Mexican Style Shrimp Cocktail
The shrimp cocktail I grew up with in Ohio was reserved for special occasions. It was served in a chilled martini glass filled with crushed ice topped with a dollop of horseradish and lemon juice […]
Cheese and Dairy
Red Wine Sausages With Creamy, Cheesy Noodles
It’s the middle of the end of summer and it’s insanely hot. Today it was 112 in the shade (my thermometers under an overhang); and yet, I still felt the urge to cook up this […]
Appetizers
Tiny Sweet Peppers Stuffed with Cheese
Miniature sweet peppers weren’t really sold anywhere a couple of years ago. Suddenly they’re everywhere. They have a little bit more of a bit to them than their name suggests, but they are far from […]