Tacotacular dish call!

Whatcha bringing?! I'm down for Thai chicken tacos.

Mega Round-up! 'Taculars #34-37 (Spice, Cock7, Cheese, Caffeine!)

Ah, I am so behind on the round-ups! OK, here's a quick recap of our last four 'Taculars...a bit fuzzy on the details, so feel free to comment if I've screwed something up.

'Tacular #34: Spicetacular, hosted by Kate & Ian (May 2016)

Hey-ho, spices galore! What'd we make:

• The McMompsons brought Buffalo cauliflower and buffalo chicken bites (I think)
• Kate and Ian grilled up jerk chicken and served up a bowl of spicy cucumber salad
• JereMei made parathas stuffed with anardana (dried pomegranate seed)
• Marco and Laura made London broil fajitas
• Sandra (me!) tossed up a big bowl of Cacio e pepe
• The Fergormans made harissa-maple carrots and a batch of chai ice cream (always good for the ice cream, those two, yum!)
• And to round out dessert, Ayako and James brought frosted spiced cupcakes

Spicy times!

'Tacular #35: Cocktacular 7, hosted by the Fergormans (Aug 2016)

Whoo-hoo, drinks on a patio! There was a very loose L.A./Dubai theme, which not everyone chose to embrace. Okay, the deets:

• Ayako and James -- cucumber, ginger, and Prosecco sangria; cheese tarte soleil; and some kinda cream puffs with a yummy filling
• Fergormans -- watermelon strawberry sangria; veggie kabobs with a jalapeno-yogurt sauce
• JereMei -- I think they mixed up a big batch of prickly pear margaritas?...they definitely served up fish tacos
• Kate and Ian -- tequila sunrises, and a YUGE Cobb salad
• Sandra -- I stirred up a pitcher of pineapple mint caipirinhas, and baked up a tomato, corn, and goat cheese tart
• Sara and Dan -- strawberry theme! strawberry basil margaritas, and a strawberry shortcake

This year, no yelling at noisy, construction-loving neighbours required. Hurrah!

'Tacular #36: Cheesetacular, hosted by the McMompsons (Nov 2016)

We ate a lot of cheese. All hail dairy fat!

• The McMompsons went nuts with the cheesy snacks...popcorn, chips, poppers, dip, and the mesmerizing Wheel Of Cheese!!...they also went all '70s on us and busted out the raclette party grill thingamajig!
• Ian and Kate brought the makings for mini Philly cheese steaks, plus homemade quince jelly to serve with a chunk of Manchego
• Marco and Laura baked up spinach and cheese cannelloni
• The Fergormans served up a halloumi and arugula salad
• Ayako and James roasted up broccoli with Pecorino, and baked up a batch of cream cheese and chive biscuits
• Sandra (hi, that's me!) fried up some bocconcini-stuffed meatballs served in a marinara sauce
• JereMei made two giant pans of tiramisu
• Sara and Dan brought Ma Goodchild's carrot cake with a gooey cream cheese frosting

Lactose overdose!

'Tacular #37: Caffeinetacular, hosted by Ayako & James (Jan 2017)

Coffee, tea, cola! No Red Bull, though, phew. What did we dish up?

• Marco and Laura brought steak and coffee porter pie
• JereMei simmered up a pot of coffee chocolate chili
• Sandra (me again!) served up a batch of Coca-Cola chicken wings
• Sara brought slow cooker Coca-Cola ribs, and also sweet potatoes with a bourbon, maple, and coffee sauce
• Ayako and James tossed up a green tea soba noodle salad; and Ayako baked her infamous coffee, chocolate chip shortbread; and a coffee chocolate cake
• Jenn mixed up some old school White Russians (made with Kahlua), and chilled up some Vietnamese coffee ice cream
• And, finally....Kate baked up a batch of Earl Grey cookies

Go, go caffeine!