So, some of you might know this guy named Matt. He’s the man behind so many beautiful photographs we see around the world and the voice behind Matt Bites. He’s also my bestest friend. I met Matt a few years ago at a blogging conference and the rest is history! We are pretty awesome partners in crime and I’ve never met anyone that can match my love for guacamole and margaritas except Matt. Needless to say, we have a lot of fun together. Matt is always doing something fabulous and today I’m excited to share one of his latest projects: On A Stick!
Not only is this the quintessential cookbook for all things party related because let’s be real here people, food on a stick is pretty much the best food to serve at a party, but the recipes are ah-mazing. Everything that comes out of Matt and Adam’s (Adam is Matt’s partner and a genius food stylist who by my record has the worlds most perfect dollop) kitchen is amazing. Like for real. Everything. Not to mention each image in On A Stick! is beautiful. I kinda want to print some out and decorate my office with them. Would that be weird? I don’t think so 🙂
Anyways, back to the book, like I said before – it rocks!
Some of the recipes include:
Fried Ravioli. Pure amazingness, I mean really. Does it get much better than fried pasta….
Lamb Souvlaki. Totally making this for the boyfriend this week – he’ll freak out with happiness…
Smores…. ok seriously guys, if you don’t think this is the coolest looking smore in the entire world, then I don’t know if we can be friends anymore. Okay so I’m only kidding. Of course we can be friends. But how freaking cool are these?
So pretty much the bottom line is that you need this book. I mean summer is right around the corner. And summer obviously means lots and lots of parties. And parties mean food on a stick. I totally brought that full circle!
**And now for the giveaway! I’m giving away a copy of On A Stick! All you have to do is leave a comment here telling me your FAVORITE food on a stick!! I know we’ve all been to the fair before – do you like corn dogs on a stick, chicken skewers, cake pops…. For an extra entry, head on over to the What’s Gaby Cooking facebook page, become a fan and let me know your fav food on a stick there too. If you’re already a fan – just leave another comment to let me know! I’ll randomly pick the winner on Friday (5/6) morning.**
Another favorite recipe from the book are Ice Cream Sandwiches! Who doesn’t love a good ice cream sandwich… we made this last night at work and then promptly devoured them!
ICE CREAM SANDWICHES
Ingredients
- 1 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 cup white sugar
- 2 cup AP flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup unsalted butter at room temp
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 cup chocolate chips
- 4 cups vanilla ice cream slightly softened
Instructions
- Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Making the cookies: combine sugars, four, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. In a separate bowl, use an electric mixer to beat the eggs until light and fluffy; add the butter and vanilla and continue beating until combined. Add dry mixture a little at a time to egg mixture, stirring with a wooden spoon. Continue stirring until ingredients are fully incorporated.
- Drop dough by heaping spoonful (approx 2 1/2 tbps) onto prepared baking sheet and baking for 12-14 minutes. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack and let cool to room temp.
- Top the underside of 1 cookie with 1 cup ice cream and press a second cookie on top. Repeat with remaining cookies and ice cream. Tightly wrap each ice cream sandwich individually in plastic wrap and freeze at least 30 minutes, or until ready to serve.
- Chow down! (that was my own addition. it really doesn't say chow down in the book)
On A Stick! is available right this very second on Amazon. Go order a copy or 2 or 17 and give it to all your friends. You can thank me later 🙂
**All pictures are from On A Stick! and shot by Matt and styled by Adam** They were kind enough to let me use some in this post!
food on sticks is always better than the other way around! it has a great way of turning something ordinary into something fancy without actually being fancy at all. in short, magical!
Love the s’mores! Food on sticks is FUN 🙂
um, s’mores on a stick?! best idea ever.
I love corndogs. I’m so plain!
I adore corndogs!
Oh corn dogs and deep fried candy bars on a stick. Definitely all the fair fare 🙂
What cute book! I <3 corndogs! Espically since you can't get them in the UK!
My favorite food on a stick (at least this week) are Moinkballs. Bacon wrapped meatballs grilled and glazed with a sweet, sticky BBQ sauce or pepper jelly. Yum!
YUM! All of that looks so good! Just bought the book on amazon!
I haven’t done much on a stick before, but clearly need to change my errant ways!
I love shish kebab.
The smore’s look great! I love kabobs!
Doesn’t take much to please me, corndog. Done and done. But it MUST be a fair corndog, not a frozen one from a package. Fresh dipped in batter, then fried to golden perfection with LOTS of mustard for dipping.
I’m pretty sure that smores on a stick are my new favorite food. Those looked like homemade marshmallows!
Homemade popsicles or creamsicles. Such a nice, fresh summer treat!
What a cute book. I wonder if I put vegetables on a stick, this may get my four year old to eat them! I like the s’mores on a stick and the ice cream sandwich! Perfect book for summer parties for kids and adults!
What a fun book! We make a strawberry shortcake kabobs every once in a while that are good and really fun – but the 5 year old in me still loves corn dogs 🙂
And we’re fans on facebook! (Thanks for the awesome giveaway.)
Yum, I have to try the smores. My favorite food on a stick is steak skewers with mushrooms, onions and green peppers.
Kabobs! What’s not to love about an entire meal you can carry around with one hand!!
Fudgesicles!!!!
Caprese, Fried Crispy Shrimp (hot fish caramel sauce thanks) & Mozzarella in Carrozza !! 😉
My first pick is cakeballs on a stick but I do love those corndogs from the fair!
Kebabs and Popsicles. Love summer parties 🙂
Chicken kebab on a stick. I love food street vendors…even if I don’t know from whence all their food comes! 🙂
Lamb kebobs
am a facebook fan
Roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over a campfire are my favs. Leaving a comment on FB too.
Corn dog. Hands down. 🙂
What an awesome idea- host a “On a Stick” party this summer. I love fruit salad on a stick!
Marshmallows yum :p
My favorite favorite favorite food on a stick is chicken satay. Although I love cake pops and lollipops and popsicles too.
Fruit salad on a stick 🙂
I used to work at this little 50’s joint when I was in college and they made the best fresh-dipped corndogs ever! I’ve since lost the recipe for the batter, so I’m hoping Matt’s recipe is close!
I’m a classic girl–all about the corn dog but I am dreaming of those smores on a stick now!
Definitely corn dogs. A total guilty pleasure!
Chicken Satay with yummy peanut sauce!
Love any type of kebob! It just says “summer”!
I grew up in MN and went to the state fair annually. EVERYTHING was on a stick and usually fried, but my favorite were fried pickles on a stick. Fried snickers on a stick would be my second favorite.
Gaby, these photos are amazing and I admire Matt’s work. This is a book I will certainly add to my collection!
Grilled veggies on a stick (skewer), teriyaki chicken, but my first love is corndog. I love Matt’s blog!
roasted marshmallows…delicious!
Those s’mores look delish but the ravioli totally caught my eye – yum!
At the Minnesota state fair, famous for things like ostrich on a stick, I tried arancini (those cheesy rice balls), sticked. Amazing!
I must admit that I love corndogs. I pretty much go to midway fairs for the sole purpose of eating them…biggest guilty pleasure!!
Hmmm difficult one. Veal shish kebab and corn dogs!
Those raviolis on a stick! Yum. What a fun filled book just in time for summer finger foods.
I am here from “White on Rice” blog to offer up my recent rhubarb discovery! I hope you take a peek. This is so much fun to bounce around and share this new find. I was attracted to this recipe photo in the Martha Stewart Living magazine for April – “Poached Rhubarb with Elderflower Sabayon”. First, I learned that rhubarb is scarce in the South. When I saw some, I latched on to it. Second, poaching the rhubarb didn’t look like much, and I got a little skeptical. Third, in conclusion, this was one of my best desserts ever. The look is mysterious but the subtle, sweet, tangy flavors were divine. I snatched more hard-to-find rhubarb and made a “rhubarb mostarda” to go with my grilled pork chops this past weekend. Savory this time but none the less delicious; perfect pairing with pork. Here is the “Poached Rhubarb with Elderflower Sabayon”…
http://rileymadel.blogspot.com/2011/04/poached-rhubarb-with-saboyan-cream.html
My grandmother use to make steak on a stick and it was called lollipop steak, so I would have to say that is my favorite!
*nerd alert* the renaissance festival near me does just about everything on a stick. My favorite has to be the cheesecake and fried pickles. Separately.
The classic corn dog is my favorite food on a stick!!
Such a fun book and giveaway!! Everything is more fun & whimical on a stick!
corndogs and strawberry popsicles!