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Glitzy Chocolate Puddings

Chocolate! I catered a lunch this week and made this deeply decadent dessert – Nigella Lawson’s (a kitchen Goddess) chocolate puddings. It’s incredibly simple and will satisfy your chocolate craving. Glitzy Chocolate Puddings Serves 8 4 oz. bittersweet chocolate ½ cup soft butter 4 eggs 1 cup sugar 1/3 cup flour ¼ tsp baking soda […]

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  September 10, 2010   2 comments

Vesper Martini

Shaken, not Stirred….. That phrase instantly brings to mind that most iconic of Martini drinkers, Ian Fleming’s Bond– James Bond, that is. What do we know about this fictional character beyond the fact that he was a hard-drinking, chain-smoking womanizer?  He was well dressed, a bit of a foodie and not afraid of bucking convention.  […]

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  September 9, 2010   1 comment

Warm Potato, Dill, Caper & Mustard Salad

Karen Martini I adapted this recipe from Karen Martini’s “Where the Heart is that my friend Sharon gave me.   She is a very popular chef in Melbourne Australia. I love all the rustic earthiness of the way she approaches food.   I also love her name! Warm Potato, Dill, Caper & Mustard Salad Serves 8 1½ lbs fingerling […]

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  September 8, 2010   1 comment

Things on a plate

One of my favorite weekend lunches is what my family calls “things on a plate”.  You can put whatever “things” you like on it.  We typically have – hearts of palm, artichoke hearts, salami, fresh mozzarella, basil or pesto, olives, cornichon (teeny tiny pickles), tomatoes, goat cheese, etc.  It’s really anything you can find in […]

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  September 7, 2010   2 comments

Balsamic & Molasses Chicken

Sticky,Tangy & Sweet Tonight we are grilling chicken for dinner. I thought that this balsamic and molasses marinade sounded good, tangy and sweet. Balsamic & Molasses Chicken Serves 4 4 chicken drumsticks and thighs, 2½ lbs, skin removed ½ cup molasses ½ cup balsamic vinegar 1 tsp orange zest ½ tsp kosher salt ½ tsp […]

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  September 6, 2010   No comments

Tanqueray Rangpur

I don’t know about you, but I could use a Gin & Tonic! Unfortunately, it is only 8:45am. My husband discovered Tanqueray Rangpur a few years ago. Rangpur is a citrus fruit, which is a hybrid between the mandarin orange and the lemon. It has a very acidic taste. The Rangpur is known as a Canton lemon in […]

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  September 3, 2010   1 comment

Orzo with Butter, Lemon & Herbs

Tangy Orzo This recipe makes a great side dish.  Yes, another lemony recipe!  I actually served this as a side dish with the Pork with Lemon Picatta Sauce. Orzo with Butter, Lemon & Herbs Serves 6 12 oz orzo 4 Tbs butter 1 clove garlic, crushed Juice of 1 lemon 4 Tbs parmesan cheese, grated […]

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  August 31, 2010   No comments

Onion Fennel Gratin

Forgotten Fennel We had a dinner party over the weekend and I made this onion, fennel gratin. Fennel is an under utilized vegetable in this country. Once it is cooked, it loses the “licorice” taste. I made it with onions, but it is also works well with potatoes. Onion Fennel Gratin Serves 4 2 Tbs […]

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  August 30, 2010   1 comment

Pork with Lemon Picatta Sauce

Piqué Piccata is an Italian word, the feminine form of the word piccato, meaning “larded.” It is also spelled “piccata” “picatta” or “pichotta. It is a translation of the French piqué, past participle of piquer (“to prick, lard”). When used in reference to a way of preparing food, particularly meat or fish, it means “sliced, […]

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  August 27, 2010   2 comments

Strawberry Mousse

My Lucky Day Last night, I was out of blog ideas. It happens. You try to come up with 260 blog posts in one year! It ain’t easy, my brain is fried! Anyway, I was heading to bed and found a recipe that I had hand written in a class at La Varenne in Paris in 1982 […]

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  August 26, 2010   No comments