Recipe Weekend/ CookBook Review: On a Stick: 80 Party-Perfect Recipes by Matt Armendariz

mothers day girl


Ah, food on a stick. Just screams Summer and festivals and fairs, doesn't it? 


If your Mom loves that type of food, she's gonna LOVE this book!

on a stick cover


SynopsisWhy do the world’s most delicious foods taste even better served on a stick? Author and photographer Matt Armendariz answers the question with dozens of delightful recipes for party food, street-cart food, junk food, and more. From elegant hors d’oeuvres to humble everyday fare, it’s all here:

     •  deep-fried mac 'n' cheese
     •  s'mores
     •  antipasti
     •  bacon-wrapped shrimp
     •  fudge puppies
     •  fish and chips

...and more!

Plus tricks for using sticks and skewers like cocktail picks, sugarcane, and fresh rosemary, ideas for entertaining, and quick and easy recipes for delicious homemade marinades, dips, and sauces. See for yourself why everything tastes better On a Stick!



Check out the contents page to see what all is included!


Review: I love this book! How can you not it has recipes for kids, families, and for adults too! Woo hoo! Admit it, even adults love food on a stick! Especially during Summer, when you want easy food! Matt has some super ideas, like Pinchos de Gambas (Spanish shrimp), 
Pizza skewers with Garlic Butter Sauce, Spicy Cajun Skewers with Spicy Buffalo Dipping Sauce and Panzanella (Italian bread salad) with Sherry Vinagrette, that are not only perfect for appetizers, but for making a meal around. The section seems evenly divided between fried food, grilled food and simple prepared. 


The second section has anything for whatever sweet tooth your family has! From sugar cookies on a stick (where I got my idea for the Tulip Cookies from!) and a super easy Royal Icing recipe, to Berries n Buttermilk Smoothie Frozen Pops, to chocolate covered cheesecake, Mojito Melon Fruit Skewers, to the eternal Smores and Pineapple Funnels (which you could use any fruit with really). His alcohol flavored treats are beyond yummy. 


We love this book and definitely will be making our way through the book this Summer, especially the grilled items and frozen ones! Check it out and you'll agree, this is the perfect cookbook for Summer!


Here's a favorite recipe from the book- Matt makes Sangria like we always have! Perfect for a Summer treat for MOM AND DAD! If you change to grape juice only and substitute some Lemon Lime soda in, you can serve to the Kiddos-not quite the same, but it would work! And if you don't freeze it, perfect for baby and bridal showers! 


Red and White Sangria Pops

Ingredients:


Red Sangria
3/4 cup red wine 
1 1/4 cups orange juice 
1 tbsp powdered sugar


White Sangria
1/4 cup white wine
1/2 cup white grape juice 
1/4 cup peach nectar


Pops
24 pop sticks
24 small 3-oz cups 
1 orange, thinly sliced 
1 lemon, thinly sliced 
1 lime, thinly sliced 
2 kiwis, peeled and thinly sliced 
1/2 cup red grapes 
1/2 cup green grapes 
1/2 cup strawberries, stems removed and thinly sliced


Directions: 
1. For the sangria:
In one pitcher, combine red sangria ingredients; stir and set aside. In another pitcher, combine white sangria ingredients; stir and set aside.
2. For the pops:
Arrange cups on a baking sheet and place a few pieces of different fruits in each one. Fill 12 of the cups with the red wine mixture and 12 with the white wine mixture. Cover all cups with a sheet of plastic wrap. Poke a pop stick through plastic wrap into each cup.
3. Freeze cups at least 4 hours. Remove from freezer, peel cups off pops, and serve.




About the Author:
Matt Armendariz is a man with a passion for good food and a wonderful life with a dash of irreverence, as evidenced by his entertaining food blog, mattbites.com. His work has been recognized by numerous shows and publications, including The New YorkerBon AppétitHouse BeautifulEpicuriousSerious Eats, and Everyday Food, and he's even baked cookies with Martha Stewart. He lives in Los Angeles.






Disclosure / Disclaimer: I received this book, free of charge, from Quirk Books, for review purposes on this blog. No other compensation, monetary or other, has been received or implied for this post. Nor was I told how to post about it

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