appetizer
mushroom pâté
Now that November is here, I start looking for easy-to-make snacks, appetizers, and finger food for the upcoming holiday season. Everyone has their favorites and one of mine is pâté. The thing is, it’s rich and calorie laden. An easy solution without compromising taste is to use the mighty mushroom. Not only are delicious, they’re…
Read Morecrab phyllo cups
The freezer compartment of our fridge is puny! While it has 2 levels, it’s like playing a game of Jenga. Everything placed in the freezer has to be done with much precision and each time the freezer drawer is opened, there’s constant reshuffling. A while ago we purchased a package of frozen crab meat (imitation,…
Read Moreturkey meatballs – with an Asian twist
This dish transports my foodie mind back to Thailand. One of the first things introduced to us was a welcome snack called Miang kham. The base is a betel nut leaf and piled onto the leaf are fried shallots, ginger, toasted coconut flakes, garlic, lime, peanuts, chopped chili peppers, and topped with a drizzle of…
Read Moreradish leaf pesto
Pesto derives its name from pestâ which means to pound/crush. A typical pesto consists of crushed garlic, basil, pine nuts mixed with olive oil and Parmesan cheese. Pesto was originally used mostly to flavor vegetable soups. It wasn’t until the early 1900’s that it was used as a sauce for pasta. Earlier versions of pesto…
Read MoreOnion Dip – made from scratch
As a youngster and young adult, one of my favorite junk foods was French Onion Dip and a bag of rippled potato chips. It’s been years since I last snacked on a commercial onion dip but the other day while I was at the grocery store, I really wanted to buy one. Instead, my inner…
Read MoreBaked Vegetable Custard
Years ago I bought a book to hold all my scraps of paper that I scribbled recipes on or ones I cut from magazines and newspapers. I remember, after the last recipe was glued down, how triumphant it felt to see my collection in one place. The other day I went through one I started…
Read MoreRoasted Marrow Bones
Entertaining on a budget? These marrow bones aren’t only good in a base for soup or for the dog to chew on. And before you say eew! give this recipe a chance. Many generations have enjoyed roasted marrow and some added it to puddings and pastries. Have you ever eaten an Italian dish called osso…
Read More3 Easy Appetizers
Entertaining is fun or at least that’s my view but for some, though, it can be a dreaded task. Why? The ‘idea’ of having friends over for a bite to eat is simple enough until one starts to ‘think’ about what to serve, the timing, and execution of each dish. I believe that when you…
Read MoreParmesan Crisps
Entertaining can seem like a daunting task whether it’s your first time or 100th! The key to any successful party is in the planning. When I plan a dinner party its roots are usually based on a country we have been to and have enjoyed the food. From there I start thinking about what I’d…
Read MoreZucchini Goat Cheese Bruschetta
Bruschetta (pronounced brusketta), is an Italian antipasto where grilled slices of bread are rubbed with garlic and a splash of olive oil added. Who would have thought a simple Tuscan recipe of grilled bread could turn out to be so magical.
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