Crown & Chaos – Real life. Real Women. Real talk

Ba Noi’s Vietnamese Egg Rolls

June 21, 2020

I’m privileged to be sharing the most precious of recipes with you today. Forget everything you know think you know about egg rolls. Because these are the eggrolls to rule all eggrolls. A tradition passed down through generations, I’m sharing the recipe with you for Vietnamese egg rolls. Of course I have special permission to share with you. This is one you’ll want to make for every special occasion. This recipe calls for ground chicken, but you could use ground pork as well. Delicious on their own, you can also serve with fish sauce – but they’re seriously good with everything or by themselves. Recipe makes about 25 eggrolls.

What Quarantine Means to My 9 Year Old

May 22, 2020

Everyone is feeling the struggle at this time, but the hardest hit in our family has been Emma, my 9-year-old daughter. I’ve lost my job because of Covid-19, but I’m lucky I’ve been able to give Emma more attention during this quarantine. Luckily her Dad has been able to work from home this whole time. Emma’s emotions have been a roller coaster the last two months, and I’m sure I’m not the only Mom going through this. So I thought it would be helpful to share the emotions we might all be going through.

My Quarantine Food Journal

May 15, 2020

It’s either week 7 or 8 of quarantine. I’m not really sure anymore but even more sure it doesn’t really matter either. It’s been a major change to every part of life, resulting in many, many challenges (homeschooling anyone?). But it’s also provided a unique opportunity to find your passion and really lean into it. I’ve been gardening for a while, so it was no surprise that I find extra joy in watering my plants in the morning. But I’ve also discovered a great love for cooking and baking. With grocery supplies scarce, it’s been a welcome challenge to find new recipes with what’s available already in the pantry. My good friend, Amy, also referred me to a service where we were able to get a crate full of a variety of vegetables, fruits, rice, bread and eggs.

Cecilia’s Best Guacamole Ever

May 14, 2020

The official appetizer of this house. I’ve been making this for years. It’s a tried and true gem coming straight from my Mama’s kitchen. I always get compliments on this recipe and never seem to make enough.

Blackberry Smash

May 13, 2020

What do you do when you have a ton of berries that you don’t know what to do with? Throw them into a cocktail of course! This one can be made with Vodka or Whiskey. Or probably anything really, I’m not judging.

Chicken Milanese

May 12, 2020

Easy, tasty and plays well with others. This dinner-time staple is a cinch to whip up with ingredients you already have. Pair with pasta, veggies or on a sandwich. It’s too good to miss.

Rick’s Filet Mignon

May 11, 2020

I’ve been trying to master this one for years. I’m not quite there yet but I am sharing my Dad’s directions for the perfectly grilled filet mignon. Served with cheddar mashed potatoes and asparagus, it’s the epitome of my dream meal.

Rafaela’s Sopa de Fideo

May 10, 2020

This dish makes me think of childhood. While no one had a chance to get my Grandma Rafaela to write down the exact recipe, I’ve done my best to recreate it for you. There aren’t any real measurements. So cook everything to taste.

Roasted Rosemary Garlic Potatoes

May 9, 2020

Another family favorite. This time coming from my Uncle Butch, the unofficial head chef of the family. This side is crucial to any proper Sunday Family Breakfast.

Magnolia Bakery-Inspired Cupcakes

May 8, 2020

When you can’t travel to NYC for their famous cupcakes, you make NYC come to you. Perfect for when you want to eat your feelings or just in need of a decadent pick-me-up. This cheat uses a box cake mix (because who can tell the difference) and the official Magnolia Bakery recipe for chocolate buttercream icing.