Recipe Swap Roundup - Celebrity Swap

One of the things I love about food blogging is the community of fellow bloggers I've had the chance to meet. I love getting a glimpse into their daily lives through the food they make and blog about. People have such different tastes and I think it's fascinating to see what everyone chooses to eat.

I know I tend to gravitate towards certain kinds of recipes, which is where the recipe swaps come into play. More often than not they take me out of my comfort zone and force me to try something new. While most of the swaps have a theme, that theme is generally broad enough that you never know what you're going to be assigned. This theme for favorite celebrity recipe, with celebrity being defined as someone who has published a cookbook, been on TV, or is basically a known name, was broader than most because there was no specified ingredient or cuisine to choose from. The recipes below are an eclectic mix and I think they all sound utterly delicious.

Katie made Anthony Bourdain's Roti de Porc au Lait for her parents, who just moved to Texas:



Jey isn't normally a fan of rosemary but in Giada De Laurentiis' Chicken Burgers with Garlic Rosemary Mayo, the flavor was mellow enough for her to love:



Nichole and her husband really enjoyed Tyler Florence's Shrimp Scampi:



Kim, a newcomer to the swap, is more of a baker, but she really enjoyed Rachael Ray's Garlic, Ginger, and Scallion Shrimp, one of my absolute favorite Rachael recipes:



I love a good salad and I've seen this Bobby Flay recipe for Chopped Apple Salad with Toasted Walnuts, Blue Cheese and Pomegranate Vinaigrette on a few blogs so I was happy to finally give it a try:



Melissa had some leftover fried onions from a previous dinner so she modified Alton Brown's mac and cheese to make Fried Onion Mac & Cheese:



Kate's healthier version of Guy Fieri's Baked Chicken Cheesesteak Spring Rolls were a big hit:



Nicole has a food crush on Bobby Flay, the creator of the Breaded Chicken Cutlet with Prosciutto, Brie & Arugula that she absolutely loved:



Dawn enjoyed Giada De Laurentiis'Tuna and Artichoke Panini both hot and cold:



Jenna was a little disappointed with Jamie Oliver's Farfalle with Carbonara and Spring Peas, saying the mint was overpowering:



Christina loved Ina Garten's Roasted Asparagus with Parmesan, even though her husband and kids aren't fans of the "Truffala Trees":



Coleen initially thought Ina Garten's Croque Monsieur was a Monte Cristo, her favorite sandwich, but after realizing they were different she loved the results:



Kristina knew she'd love Ree Drummond, aka The Pioneer Woman's Peach Whiskey Barbeque Chicken because she's a huge whiskey fan:



Melissa's Chicken Marengo from Melissa d'Arabian made enough to feed an army:



Chrystal and her son really enjoyed Rachael Ray's Cumin and Lime Roasted Pork Tenderloin:



Nicole had another Rachael Ray recipe, this one for a delicious and flavorful Chipotle Chicken Chili with Flaming Tequila-Pepper Salsa and Avocado Ranch Dressing:



Leanne has already thought of a few variations to Giada De Laurentiis' Roasted Stuffed Tomatoes:



Cathy has had Martha Stewart's Grammy's Chocolate Cookies bookmarked to make for awhile now and they were worth the wait:



Mary Ellen loves arugula so this Giada De Laurentiis recipe for Arugula Pesto was right up her alley:



The Paula Deen Corn Casserole recipe Ashley received was a bit outside her usual side dish rotation, but it ended up being a welcome addition:



Jaida received a recipe from Chef Larry, as seen on Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. His Chicken Croquettes were a bit time-consuming to make but very delicious: