What's New at Valerie's Place — July 24, 2026 🍫

Avocado Open-Faced Sandwich

An open-faced sandwich layered with lemony ricotta, sliced avocado, and heirloom tomatoes on toasted sourdough. Finished with sunflower seeds and a sprinkle of lemon sea salt.

Recipes

Tequila-Lime Chicken Wings with Spicy Avocado Crema

Chicken wings baked at high heat are tossed in a tequila-lime-agave sauce and broiled until crisp, then served with a cool, spicy avocado crema for dipping. These sticky, tangy wings with their creamy dipping sauce are a guaranteed crowd-pleaser for any fiesta-themed party.

Recipes

Steakhouse Wedge Salad with Gorgonzola and Crispy Pancetta

Crisp iceberg wedges draped in a rich Gorgonzola and sour cream dressing with Roma tomatoes and shatteringly crispy baked pancetta. A steakhouse classic that embraces cheat day with its creamy, indulgent blue cheese dressing.

Recipes

Vanilla and Coffee Cream Puffs

Golden choux puffs are baked until crisp and hollow, then filled with both vanilla whipped cream and espresso whipped cream and dusted with confectioners' sugar. These light, elegant pastries pair two classic flavors in one impressive yet surprisingly approachable dessert.

Recipes

No-Bake Granola Bars with Carob Drizzle

Oats, puffed rice, almonds, dried cherries, sunflower seeds, and coconut are bound with a blended date syrup and almond butter mixture, then frozen and finished with a carob drizzle. These wholesome no-bake bars make a perfect make-ahead snack for lunchboxes or on-the-go energy.

Recipes

Sweet and Spicy Apricot BBQ Chicken Thighs

Chicken thighs are baked and then broiled with a homemade barbecue sauce built from apricot preserves, Fresno chiles, and Dijon mustard until caramelized and sticky. These sweet-heat thighs deliver a glossy, finger-licking glaze that balances fruity sweetness with a slow chile burn, perfect for a casual dinner party.

Recipes

Avocado and Grilled Corn Salad with Green Goddess Dressing

Charred grilled corn and jalapeno tossed with creamy avocado and romaine in a homemade green goddess dressing with fresh herbs and anchovy. A vibrant summer salad that captures the best flavors of the grilling season.

Recipes

Jalapeno-Stuffed Bacon-Wrapped Shrimp with Cherry Cola Barbecue Sauce

Jumbo shrimp stuffed with fresh jalapeno strips and wrapped in bacon, pan-cooked until crisp and served with a homemade cherry cola ba

Recipes

End of Summer Vegetable Gratin

Salted slices of eggplant, yellow squash, zucchini, and tomatoes are arranged in a spiral over caramelized shallots and baked under a blanket of fontina and Parmesan. This beautiful gratin is the ideal way to showcase the last of summer's garden bounty as an elegant side dish.

Recipes

Savory Horseradish Panna Cotta

A savory twist on Italian panna cotta infused with horseradish and Dijon mustard. A unique and sophisticated accompaniment to beef tenderloin.

Looking to make something else?

Other Recipes