Blog
Arancini with Fontina
Rice Balls Rock! I have been deeply involved in developing a menu for a very important dinner for a very good friend of mine. It’s to celebrate his birthday and the theme is the Sopranos. I will blog about the entire party once it has transpired, as long as I don’t get “bumped off”. For the […]
Continue ReadingIt’s an Affectation
What’s up with miniature wine carafes being served next to my glass of wine? – a “just-for-you” diminutive decanter. Why? The trend has been going on for awhile now to bring you a mini-carafe and an empty glass to the table when ordering wines by the glass. Are you supposed to feel like you are […]
Continue ReadingPappa al Pomodoro
Under the Harvest Moon My husband and I were invited to an amazing “Under the Harvest Moon” wine tasting dinner the other night. It was held at a beautiful house in La Canada, California. It was one of the first real chilly evenings here. There was a long table set for 30 people on the […]
Continue ReadingDutch Baby Pancake
Come on Baby, Make Me Some Dutch Pancakes! I don’t know why, but I was craving Dutch Baby Pancakes last weekend. My mohter-in-law used to make these a lot. My family is crazy for anything with lemon, so I thought they would like this for breakfast. A Dutch baby pancake, sometimes called a German pancake, is […]
Continue ReadingRed Wine Reduction Sauce
Sauce Me Up! My friend, Shannon, wants to know how to make a simple sauce to go with meat. There are basically 5 “mother” sauces in French cuisine that were catagorized in the late 1800’s by French chef, Auguste Escoffier. He developed a classification system for the “mother” sauces. With the lack of refrigeration, sauces […]
Continue ReadingOde to October
Boo hoo, cry me a river, build a bridge and get over it! October is the best month of the year. It is my favorite or should I say preferred month. I got married in October because I love it. The weather is meant to be perfect, sweaters come out, stew gets made, etc… Unfortunately, Southern […]
Continue ReadingOpa! Chicken Burgers
Think Outside the Bun! This is along the lines of the previously posted Chow Mein Burger, though using ground chicken instead of Turkey. It’s a delicious and healthy take on your average burger. This is served with a refreshing Tzatziki and guess what! It’s made with Greek Yogurt! Enjoy. See recipe below. Opa! Chicken Burgers Serves […]
Continue ReadingMi Piace – Oranges with Olive Oil & Pepper
Last night, we were invited for dinner at our friend’s, Melanie and Walt’s home. We have so much fun when we get together, we could have stayed several more hours, but it was a Sunday night…… Melanie made a wonderful Chicken Cacciatore and an amazingly simple, regional Italian dessert from Abruzzo Italy. It’s just sliced […]
Continue ReadingCurried Shrimp Croustades
The Chaos of Catering! Having cooked and shopped for two days straight, I am very tired. My knee doesn’t feel like it’s properly in the socket. I am catering a party tomorrow. I suppose my days are numbered on the big jobs. It’s a ton of work, though I love it. I am in my […]
Continue ReadingThe Classic Manhattan Cocktail
The Bitter Truth All of my life, my father’s favorite drink has been the Manahattan–that classic cocktail made with whiskey, sweet red vermouth, a dash of bitters and a cherry. Traditionally made with Bourbon or Rye whiskey and Angastura bitters, I am told that they are delicious–I never touch the stuff, myself. My father, being […]
Continue Reading