Boursin & Prosciutto Pastry Bites
There’s something irresistible about an easy appetizer that looks impressive but asks very little of the cook. This Boursin cheese and prosciutto puff pastry is exactly that. Salty prosciutto and creamy Boursin are tucked beneath golden,
Black Bean Salad
Beans. They’ve been around since time immemorial and while there are thousands of varieties, only a tiny fraction are mass-produced for our enjoyment. The only beans I knew growing up was my mom’s baked beans usually made from navy beans and sometimes she’d throw in kidney beans, much to my chagrin. I really had no…
Blackberry Sorbet
It’s the subtle changes in the weather when I start to notice a shift as we slowly drift out of summer and into autumn. I know, shhh! not so loud but it’s true. The sunlight looks different as it lands in areas of the house and the air smells different. As I was rinsing the…
Baked Fontina Dip
I was on the train into the city and caught a glimpse into my future. I spotted an elderly couple who were deep in conversation. They looked so cute together; her silver hair was a bit disheveled and his white mane slicked back. Both were in great shape. He pulled out two books from his…
Caprese Salad (insalata caprese)
Insalata caprese is a tomato and mozzarella salad from the island of Capri. This simple yet delicious Italian antipasto makes perfect use of local heirloom tomatoes which are available now in grocery stores and markets. Extra-virgin olive oil highlights the sweetness of the heirloom tomatoes and is the only dressing needed. What makes this salad…
Quinoa Salad
Ancient grains…two words that conjure up something you might find in an archeological dig! They’ve been around for a millennium and include quinoa, amaranth, spelt, and kamut. Quinoa (pronounced keen-wa) is a grain that comes from the Andes mountains of South America and its origins dates back to that of the Inca’s. There are more…
Homemade Pesto
Almost every cuisine on our planet has found an important role for garlic and is among the oldest known horticultural crop. Egyptian and Indian cultures referred to garlic 5000 years ago and by the Chinese 2000 years ago. Pesto hails from the northern region of Liguria and is a Ligurian superstar! Pasta isn’t the only…
Easy To Make Cinnamon Rolls
As much as I enjoy making things from scratch, the truth be told there are times when I just can’t be asked! I was craving something sweet the other day and cinnamon rolls popped into my head. My mom used to make them and I have too, all from scratch. To satisfy this craving I…
Lemon Rosemary Sorbet
Want to make an easy, delicious-tasting dessert or pallet cleanser? Sorbet is simple to make and because it contains no dairy, it’s perfect for anyone who is lactose intolerant or vegan. This frozen treat knows no boundaries so use your favorite fruit or chocolate and satisfy your cravings for a frozen treat. Lemon and rosemary…
Gazpacho
It’s funny how conversations get replayed in your head. I was just thinking now about one I had a couple of months ago with my daughter, Laura. She asked me if I liked her at this age (20) or when she was younger. I paused, thought about what she asked, and said that I enjoy…
Peppers Stuffed with Couscous, Halloumi and Currants
There is no such thing for me as a casual glance at a cookbook. And, when I see one that is esthetically pleasing to the eye with beautifully illustrated drawings, tactile, and delicious-looking recipes I am hooked! Mr. Wilkson’s Vegetables truly is ‘A Cookbook To Celebrate The Garden‘. For every vegetable he writes snippets of…
The Cookery’s DoughNation
Food trucks have been around since the mid 1800’s although back then they were called chuckwagons. Food trucks of today have evolved and now offer gourmet food at take-away prices. These mobile kitchens are growing in numbers and the ones that really entice me to stop by and sample are those using a variety of…
Thai Larb
The other night John and I were watching Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. Guy Fieri was visiting a diner in Hawaii called Opal’s. It’s owned by a Thai family and as we watched the larb come together, our mouths started to water. It has been far too long since we had this! Larb is the national…