May
3

Matt Armendariz: Food on a Stick!

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
Recipe Type: Dessert
Prep time: 5 mins
Cook time: 15 mins
Total time: 20 mins
Serves: 4
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
  1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
  2. 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.
  3. 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.
  4. 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.
  5. Chow down! (that was my own addition. it really doesn’t saw 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!

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{ 65 comments… read them below or add one }

Heather (Heather's Dish) May 3, 2011 at 5:05 am

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!

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Yuri May 3, 2011 at 5:18 am

Love the s’mores! Food on sticks is FUN :)

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Jessica @ How Sweet May 3, 2011 at 5:57 am

um, s’mores on a stick?! best idea ever.

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sabriena May 3, 2011 at 6:17 am

I love corndogs. I’m so plain!

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Sarah - Recipe Love May 3, 2011 at 7:04 am

I adore corndogs!

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Jessica May 3, 2011 at 7:09 am

Oh corn dogs and deep fried candy bars on a stick. Definitely all the fair fare :)

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Kelly May 3, 2011 at 7:31 am

What cute book! I <3 corndogs! Espically since you can't get them in the UK!

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Brian Meagher May 3, 2011 at 7:32 am

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!

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Amber @ Caleigh's Kitchen May 3, 2011 at 7:50 am

YUM! All of that looks so good! Just bought the book on amazon!

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Monika May 3, 2011 at 8:07 am

I haven’t done much on a stick before, but clearly need to change my errant ways!
I love shish kebab.

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Kelly S. May 3, 2011 at 8:34 am

The smore’s look great! I love kabobs!

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julia May 3, 2011 at 8:52 am

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.

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Katie May 3, 2011 at 8:57 am

I’m pretty sure that smores on a stick are my new favorite food. Those looked like homemade marshmallows!

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Nicole W. May 3, 2011 at 9:00 am

Homemade popsicles or creamsicles. Such a nice, fresh summer treat!

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Lisa {smart food and fit} May 3, 2011 at 9:03 am

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!

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Shawnda May 3, 2011 at 9:31 am

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 :)

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Shawnda May 3, 2011 at 9:32 am

And we’re fans on facebook! (Thanks for the awesome giveaway.)

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Chasley May 3, 2011 at 9:39 am

Yum, I have to try the smores. My favorite food on a stick is steak skewers with mushrooms, onions and green peppers.

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Carri May 3, 2011 at 9:40 am

Kabobs! What’s not to love about an entire meal you can carry around with one hand!!

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Lauren May 3, 2011 at 9:43 am

Fudgesicles!!!!

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Candela May 3, 2011 at 9:58 am

Caprese, Fried Crispy Shrimp (hot fish caramel sauce thanks) & Mozzarella in Carrozza !! ;)

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Megan May 3, 2011 at 9:58 am

My first pick is cakeballs on a stick but I do love those corndogs from the fair!

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Helen May 3, 2011 at 10:26 am

Kebabs and Popsicles. Love summer parties :)

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Lisa May 3, 2011 at 10:26 am

Chicken kebab on a stick. I love food street vendors…even if I don’t know from whence all their food comes! :)

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Elle Hyson May 3, 2011 at 10:45 am

Lamb kebobs

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Elle Hyson May 3, 2011 at 10:46 am

am a facebook fan

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Mary May 3, 2011 at 10:57 am

Roasted hot dogs and marshmallows over a campfire are my favs. Leaving a comment on FB too.

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Linda May 3, 2011 at 12:16 pm

Corn dog. Hands down. :)

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Melissa (My McDonald Meal) May 3, 2011 at 12:31 pm

What an awesome idea- host a “On a Stick” party this summer. I love fruit salad on a stick!

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Margie May 3, 2011 at 1:39 pm

Marshmallows yum :p

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Susan May 3, 2011 at 1:48 pm

My favorite favorite favorite food on a stick is chicken satay. Although I love cake pops and lollipops and popsicles too.

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Lea May 3, 2011 at 1:51 pm

Fruit salad on a stick :)

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Amanda Thompson May 3, 2011 at 2:26 pm

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!

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Katie May 3, 2011 at 3:04 pm

I’m a classic girl–all about the corn dog but I am dreaming of those smores on a stick now!

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Kelley {mountain mama cooks} May 3, 2011 at 3:23 pm

Definitely corn dogs. A total guilty pleasure!

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Zita May 3, 2011 at 3:24 pm

Chicken Satay with yummy peanut sauce!

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Lisa C May 3, 2011 at 4:17 pm

Love any type of kebob! It just says “summer”!

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Allison C May 3, 2011 at 4:32 pm

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.

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sheryl May 3, 2011 at 4:33 pm

Gaby, these photos are amazing and I admire Matt’s work. This is a book I will certainly add to my collection!

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Angelica May 3, 2011 at 4:48 pm

Grilled veggies on a stick (skewer), teriyaki chicken, but my first love is corndog. I love Matt’s blog!

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Katie May 3, 2011 at 5:32 pm

roasted marshmallows…delicious!

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Amanda May 3, 2011 at 6:17 pm

Those s’mores look delish but the ravioli totally caught my eye – yum!

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Carrie N. May 3, 2011 at 8:08 pm

At the Minnesota state fair, famous for things like ostrich on a stick, I tried arancini (those cheesy rice balls), sticked. Amazing!

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shoecakes May 3, 2011 at 8:41 pm

I must admit that I love corndogs. I pretty much go to midway fairs for the sole purpose of eating them…biggest guilty pleasure!!

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Ledina May 4, 2011 at 3:50 am

Hmmm difficult one. Veal shish kebab and corn dogs!

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Snippets of Thyme May 4, 2011 at 5:21 am

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

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Maris (In Good Taste) May 4, 2011 at 5:21 am

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!

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The Flying Quiche May 4, 2011 at 8:23 am

*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.

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Quyen - Kitchen Runway May 4, 2011 at 10:59 am

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!

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Katherine May 4, 2011 at 7:34 pm

corndogs and strawberry popsicles!

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Jennifer (Savor) May 4, 2011 at 8:01 pm

Matt barely knows me but I love him and that I can be really sassy on FB with him. I am pretty sure he is a bit crazy about me as well. BH food?

Food on a stick: my brown rice crispy treats or marinated shirmp

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Clinton May 5, 2011 at 7:49 am

Great idea! Food on a stick is always better. It’s BBQ season!

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Krystal Hulsey May 5, 2011 at 1:39 pm

My favorite food on a stick is definitely cake pops! My friend is obsessed with Bakerella and she makes them for all the holidays. They are super cute and you don’t feel bad eating one!

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Kristin Murdock May 5, 2011 at 7:09 pm

GABY! First off I want to say Happy Cinco de Mayo and I hope you have just been living it up all day long! Secondly, I am so excited about this book and if I don’t win it here I am totally adding this to my weekly Amazon order. Love Matt and love food on a stick. My favorite has to be the classic corn dog, freshly dipped and fried. Oh me oh my.

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Debbie May 5, 2011 at 7:41 pm

Chicken souvlaki is a favorite food on a stick!

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Jennifer May 5, 2011 at 11:21 pm

the most delicious food on a stick would have to be a marshmallow. sometimes I don’t even bother with the chocolate and gramcracker. the mellow is the best part!

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Jennifer Ross May 6, 2011 at 7:23 am

I love dark chocolate covered strawberries on a stick! This book sounds great!

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Kimiko May 6, 2011 at 4:06 pm

My favorite is, not a corn dog, but a CHEESE DOG on a stick! I LOVE getting those from the mall food court. Yum!

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gabby May 6, 2011 at 4:43 pm

What a great idea for a cookbook! Crossing my fingers! I love corndogs and cheese on a stick..like a corndog, but with cheddar cheese instead of the dog. :)

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Jennifer May 10, 2011 at 9:19 am

What a fantastic cookbook.

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Jennifer May 10, 2011 at 9:19 am

I am already a fan on Facebook.

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Murissa Maurice May 11, 2011 at 3:43 pm

I too got one of his books and follow his blog and love both.
I just reviewed it on my site and gave it thumbs up. I will have to
go to one of these blog conferences one day!
The Wanderfull Traveler

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marybeth lynn May 18, 2011 at 8:25 pm

Hey Gabby
Wondering if you might know how much coconut milk goes into the peanut dipping sauce – my copy of the book doesnt say . . . .

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Susan January 10, 2012 at 5:54 pm

prawns on a stick,yum! But good old fashioned home made corn dogs,yum,yum!

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Kerry January 10, 2012 at 7:37 pm

I found a recipe for chicken and waffles on a stick. Easy to make and so good!

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