Rockin' the USA: Guy Fieri on the Road

The Guy Fieri tour bus stops in Nashville tonight/ATL MondayComing to a city near you! Our favorite Food Network Guy and his gang have hit the road---taking their rock 'n roll cooking show all across America and we're getting in on the fun!Guy's numero uno, our buddy Kleetus, sent us this shot of their awesome tour bus from their recent stop in Philly. Guy and the gang are ready to party in Nashville tonight and hitting Atlanta on Monday, November 23! All of you great Southern chefs, cooks, and those who just like to party should head out to see his show. Maybe we'll see you there! I've seen Guy live before and he really knows how to have a good time. I hear he's got an amazing master flair bartender / mixologist from Australia on as the opening act so maybe we'll pick up some new cocktail recipes and some new moves to show you! Check out the tour schedule for the Guy Fieri Road Show and get your tickets before they sell out!

Update on Thursday, December 3, 2009 at 11:36PM by Martie Duncan

On stage at Guy's show with Anne BurrellWe had a blast in Nashville with Guy! I had some fun on stage-- hanging with Kleetus, and Dirty P. Guy had his look-alike, chef Anne Burrell from Food Network, on stage helping with the cooking duties. I got to do my thing, too--- dancing, singing, and making a little mischief. It was a good time, Guido style.

Our favorite sandwich man, Panini Pete, from Fairhope, Alabama also made the trip up to Music City and was hanging out with the guys. There are only a few more shows left so try to get to one--- it's a good time.

Thanksgiving How-To: The Complete Thanksgiving 911

From our Thanksgiving table photo shoot with Vietri & Bromberg's for Birmingham Home & Garden MagazineOK, I am crazy busy these days--- like most people. Video shoots, photo shoots, recipe development, party planning sessions, meetings, meetings about the meetings, etc, etc! And I don't have to carpool or take a dog to the vet, go to the soccer game, and all of those other things most women I know have on their schedule every day. WOW. How doyou have time to do it all? Well, I started looking for a resource to help some readers who've asked me for help for their Thanksgiving get-togethers. Instead of piecing the information together, my friends at MyRecipes.com have come up with a complete how-to guide to Thanksgiving. You can find answers to your most asked questions: everything from problems with lumpy gravy to thawing your bird, dry dressing and lots more. If you can't find the answer to your Thanksgiving dilemma here-- shoot me an email and we'll help you!

Go to MyRecipes.com Thanksgiving 911 slideshow

More Thanksgiving resources:

Pumpkin Pie Recipes & Tips

Turkey Hotline

Favorite Holiday Casserole Recipes

USDA Food Safety Hotline

Party Cheap and Chic: Celebrate with Cupcakes!

Celebrate any day with cupcakes!Who knew the vanilla cupcake had a special day? Today happens to be National Vanilla Cupcake Dayand it reminds me how much we take the cupcake for granted. Don't you feel happy when you get a cupcake? What about when someone surprises you with a cupcake? Maybe a co-worker or friend leaves a little bundle of joy, (the confectionary kind) on your desk just to say "thanks for a job well done", "thinking of you" or even "things will get better"? Isn't that just the best??

Cupcakes make every party better and they are an inexpensive option to a whole cake. You can now find cupcakes in any variety--- not just any flavor. Mini cupcakes or babycakes are the current rage and there are shops dedicated to only cupcakes popping up all across the country! I've been a fan of the Cupcake Cafe in Manhattan for many years; their designs are as beautiful as the flavors.

Here are some places to get awesome cupcake recipes:

MyRecipes.com has the very best recipes for cupcakes (and holiday cookies, too) and you can save your choices in their menu maker! Easy reference for your party planning! Some of my favorite recipes include these:

Basic White Cupcakes: A great basic you can add almost any topping or flavor to! A perfect palette for a kid's cupcake party.

Banana Cupcakes with Amaretto Buttercream: Not for the kiddos! The banana blends so beautifully with the Amaretto-- which is an almond flavored liqueur. Delish!!

Another recipe perfect for fall parties and holiday entertaining is this one for Pumpkin Cupcakes with Orange Cream Cheese Frosting. Try them for the day after Thanksgiving with those holiday leftovers! The flavor says Thanksgiving in a delicious new way!

One more, perfect for holiday entertaining! These Double Ginger Cupcakes with Lemon Glaze remind me of the gingerbread with lemon curd my mother always made for us around the holidays. Try them-- even the non-sweet eaters will love these.

Martha Stewart's Maple-Walnut CupcakeMartha Stewart's Best Cupcakes Martha is a cupcake expert and has a huge collection of recipes and photos-- including video how-to's on her site. One of my favorites is this Maple-Walnut Cupcake; perfect for fall and totally yummy. Here's a link to the recipe. Try it for a fall fling party, or bonfire. Serve with a warm cup of apple cider--- your guests will rave!

My personal fav and go-to icing recipe?? The traditional chocolate icing recipeyou get on the Hershey Cocoa box. Awesome! Try it with the Basic White Cupcake recipe above. This will take you back to your childhood in one bite!

HAPPY NATIONAL VANILLA CUPCAKE DAY!

First Halloween Pictures!

We've already started getting pictures of your Halloween costumes and couldn't resist posting this one of the cutest little lion in the jungle, Charlie!

This fearless lion costume was ordered online at OneStepAhead.com, but Pottery Barn Kids, Target, Old Navy, and other retailers do have their own version of the friendly lion in case you don't have time to order.

More Martie Party Ideas:

Pumpkin People

Caramel Apple Martini

Spooky Snack Menu

Costume Ideas

MyRecipes.com All Halloween site!

Last Minute Halloween Ideas: My Halloween Costume plus more Recipes and Decorating!

Halloween is days away and the emails are still pouring in asking me for party ideas---- and every magazine under the sun is also sending me email ideas for fright night fun. Here is the best of Halloween---- all in one place: 

From MyRecipes.com and Sunset Magazine, these cute Chocolate Caramel Apples with Sprinkles are on my party table this year! Use tart Granny Smith or Fuji apples; mix and match for best results. Get the recipe.

A new use for all of those pumpkins you got at the farmers' market or pumpkin patch! A Great Pumpkin Beverage Cooler! Love it! From the creative folks at Southern Living---- and while I've not tried this one, I've never, ever had a bad result from anything I've tried from any of their magazines. Get the how-to now!

Who doesn't love cupcakes--- and these spooky Skeleton Cupcakes from MyRecipes.com will be the hit of the party. Stack them on a tiered stand for a whole graveyard of scary faces!

MyRecipes.com has an entire Halloween microsite with more how-to videos, pictures, Halloween party recipes, and party menu suggestions than you will find anywhere! Check it out for last minute party help.

Do you need some Creepy Cocktails for your party? Fine Living has 12 of them complete with photos and recipes. Witches Brew, Blood Sucker Cocktail, Liquid Ghost, Zombie, and this one shown, the Black Devil Martini made with dark rum.

Personally, I prefer my own Caramel Apple Martini recipe. Made with butterscotch schnapps, this grown-up version of the fall favorite is always a hit. If you're serving for a party, go ahead and make up a large batch and then all you have to do is pour over ice and serve.

OK, you're officially on your own. I'm flying off on my broom---- the parties start tomorrow night! I'm going as an ICE (Department of Immigration) Agent with a warrant for David Beckham. What are you going as this Halloween?