Melon Carpaccio with Burrata and Crispy Sage
Growing up, I was never much of a melon fan. Watermelon, absolutely, but the others I could happily leave behind. Somewhere along the way, that changed. These days, when summer is in full swing, I can’t get enough of a perfectly ripe melon.
DIY Spice Jars
I like to think I keep a clean and orderly house until I look at my spice cabinet…eek! I am a hoarder! There are tiny bags of spices and herbs, different bottles of all sizes, mixed on two levels. Is it any wonder I think I am out of something only to find it…
Spaghetti and Meatballs
The culinary snoop in me wonders if this well-known classic Italian dish originated in Italy or the USA. Turns out it’s all American! Italians from 1890 to 1920 emigrated to America by the millions. These impoverished immigrants (some on the brink of starvation) went from spending 75 percent of their income on food in Italy to…
Barley and Bacon Risotto
Stir. Stir. Stir. This is my cheats version of risotto and does not require frequent visits to the stove top. A typical risotto recipe involves going back to the pot to stir in each ladleful of stock when the last one has been absorbed. Although it doesn’t take long to cook (roughly 30 minutes), you…
Cranberry and Pistachio Biscotti
Biscotti (twice-baked), is an Italian cookie that is formed into a log shape, baked, sliced and then toasted to a crisp texture. This has to be one of the easiest desserts to make. Cranberry and pistachio are a perfect duo for this biscotti recipe by balancing the sweetness of the dough with a bit of…
Raspberry and Cranberry Mousse
Color can have an amazing impact on the food you serve. If it’s visually appealing, it’s easier to eat. The key driver for eating is of course hunger, but what we choose to eat is not determined solely by nutritional needs. Our senses are heightened when foods can be seen, smelled and displayed in a…
DIY Rosemary Salt
I love gearing up for the Christmas holidays as it’s one of my favorite times of the year. People seem a bit kinder, smile more and the feeling of mutual respect resonates more during this time of the year than any other. Not to sound the alarm bells, but there are only 46 days before…
Butternut Squash Soup
I affectionately call my husband the fridge police and he doesn’t mind. He’ll come into the kitchen, usually when I’m getting dinner started, and go through the contents of the fridge. “What about this?” he’ll say, or “do you think this is going off?” and “how long has this been here?” All of which…
Spinach Rice
A simple and easy way to serve rice and get your vitamins too! We’re all familiar with the cartoon character, Popeye the sailor man, who was always eating spinach to make him strong. While you would have to eat vast amounts of spinach for the daily recommended amount of iron (only 3.5 milligrams of iron…
Crab Pasta with Lemon
Pasta is one of my go-to dishes when I am either pressed for time or not in the mood to cook. There are oodles of dried pasta varieties available, including a good selection of gluten-free, making it a versatile staple most cooks have in their cupboards. I had a package of cooked imitation crab meat…
Picnic Bread
I absolutely love the way the kitchen smells when bread is baking in the oven. It transports me back to a time when I was a young girl. My siblings and I would take turns delivering mail to our grandparents who lived down the road from us. My paternal grandmother was always baking something, especially…
Parmesan 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…
Easy-To-Make Almond Milk
Almond milk is something I’ve been wanting to try for a while but like anything else I investigate, timing is always key and I need to be in the ‘mood’ to experiment. When I found out just how easy it was to make and the taste didn’t put me off, I wondered why it took…