Fennel-Parmesan Shortbread

When we lived in New York, I would come into the city once or twice a week and began my outing by meeting Mr. S. for a cappuccino at Blue Bottle coffee in Rockefeller Center.  We always shared a cookie as part of our java ritual.  Fennel-Parmesan shortbread, a savory twist, quickly became a favorite…

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Slow-Roasted Tomatoes

Slow-roasted tomatoes are about the closest I’m ever going to get to sun-dried.  The ones available here are mass produced and to be honest, aren’t that appealing.  According to TLC, the practice of drying tomatoes for use throughout the winter began in Italy, where tomatoes were placed on the tile roofs of houses until the…

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Pear Clafoutis

Pear Clafoutis

Clafoutis (kla-foo-tee) is a cross between a flan and a soufflé with batter similar to that of crepes.  Clafoutis is a rustic breakfast/brunch food that hails from France and the traditional recipe calls for fresh cherries but you can add whatever fruit you like.  I bought Forelle pears last week and they were taking the…

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Roasted Squash & Apple Soup with Goat’s Cheese & Bacon

Soup. It needs no explanation – everyone knows what it is and it’s been around for a millennia.  There are so many variations.  I love the combination of vegetables and fruit.  There’s something so opposite about the two that you’d think there’s no way they belong together in the same pot…but trust me, the two…

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Homemade Potato Chips

It always excites me to find something new. The other day I stumbled across Irvin Lin’s food blog and was drawn to his post on how to make potato chips using the cold oil method.  I re-read the sentence again…cold oil method?  This method uses less oil, less chance of oil splattering when the potato…

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Steak Tartare

So you think you know your salt, do you? While there are mixed reviews about Salted: A Manifesto on the World’s Most Essential Mineral, I enjoyed reading it. Yes, there’s lengthy writing on the history, the many variations of artisanal salt available today, and it makes for a great reference manual, however I purchased it…

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Halibut Ceviche with Watermelon

Ceviche (seh-BEE-chay), popular in Central and South America, is a seafood dish and consists of raw fish marinated in citrus juice and seasoned with chilies and chopped coriander.  The citric acid in the juice cooks the fish making the flesh opaque and firm just as if it had been cooked over heat.  The first time…

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Honey-Crisp Oven-Fried Chicken

What is it with fast food that can send your stomach growling after a whiff of something deep-fried?  When my sensory system is alerted to these aromas, it’s all I can do to stay away.  According to The Urban Daily, Scottish immigrants to the United States are often credited with being the ones to introduce…

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Carrot Soup with Feta and Quinoa

When it’s cold outside there’s nothing more comforting and warming than homemade soup.  Soup, by the way, doesn’t need to be arduous nor does it need to take a long time to make to taste good. Carrot soup with feta and quinoa should make you take notice as this isn’t something ordinary but downright scrumptious!…

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Halloumi with Oven Roasted Tomatoes and Couscous

If you haven’t heard or tried halloumi cheese, you’re in for a treat.  Halloumi, the squeaky cheese, does not melt when heated. Instead it develops a delicious crust that surrounds a slightly springy, mild interior that squeaks between your teeth! Halloumi is the traditional white cheese of Cyprus and is made from ewes’ and goats’…

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