Ricotta and Roasted Grape Crostini
This Ricotta and Roasted Grape Crostini is an easy, elegant appetizer. By roasting the grapes that are doused in olive oil and balsamic vinegar, it concentrates and intensifies the flavor. It's a great appetizer when paired with wine.
By - Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Yields: 12 crostini
Stir-Fried Udon With Bacon, Parmesan & Gochujang
If three chefs, one Korean, one Japanese, and one Italian walked into a kitchen (bar)... This Stir-Fried Udon With Bacon, Parmesan & Gochujang is sort of a carbonara using Asian ingredients. I know it sounds a bit odd, but it totally works. The key to making this is to have all your ingredients prepped and ready to go because this dish is very quick to make. You should use frozen Japanese udon, which has a completely different texture than the dried version.
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Yields: 2 Servings
Sheetpan Layerless Lasagna
Giada De Laurentiis came up with this easy Sheetpan Layerless Lasagna. If you like crispy edges, this is it. By putting it on a sheetpan, it creates more crispiness. I love the fact that you don't have the tedious task of layering. You can make it ahead of time and refrigerate until it's time to serve - pull it out of the fridge about 30 minutes prior to baking.
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 50 mins
- Yields: 6 Servings
Black-Eyed Pea Ribollita
Ribollita is a Tuscan bread soup that is traditionally made from the previous day with stale bread and leftover vegetables. I made this Black-Eyed Pea Ribollita for New Year's eve. Eating black-eyed peas is meant to bring good luck for the year, and I think we could all use some. This soup is outstanding and I will be making it again. You can use any kind of beans, like cannellini beans, which are often used in Tuscan dishes.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Pickled Red Onions
Pickled red onions are going to have permanent residency in my fridge. These vibrant onions happen to be Viva Magenta 18-1750, which is the Pantone color for 2023. If you, like me, are not a fan of the sharp and pungent taste of raw onion, this is the answer. Pickling them in white vinegar, sugar, and salt tones the harsh flavor way down. There are many uses for these onions - use them in salads, tacos, and sandwiches. They are particularly good in grilled cheese.
- Prep: 10 mins
French Dip Sandwiches
We made these French Dip Sandwiches using leftover prime rib from Christmas dinner. There are two restaurants in Los Angeles that claim they are the originator of the French Dip Sandwich - Philippe the Original and Cole's. I have only recently had Philippe’s. My husband and family think it was nuts that I had never had one. Admittedly, I am not a big fan of beef and eat it only occasionally. This recipe is from Rachael Ray. It’s easy to make and I have to say it was very good.
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Chili Crisp Baked Feta
This Chili Crisp Baked Feta is really good. It's a little bit spicy, salty, and delicious! Once out of the oven, it gets a drizzle of hot honey. If you've never had hot honey then you are missing out. I love it on pepperoni pizza.
Disney Molasses Crackle Cookies
I don't normally bake, but I decided these cookies would put a smile on Santa's face on Christmas eve. (They did in fact do just that!) These Disney Molasses Crackle Cookies are from Disney's Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World Resort. The cookies are sweet and a little bit spicy from the ground ginger, cinnamon, and cloves and perfect to have while watching a classic Disney film.
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 10 mins
- Yields: Makes 30 cookies
Steamed Cranberry Pudding
Every Christmas eve my wonderful late mother-in-law made this Cranberry Steamed Pudding. Most old-fashioned steamed puddings have suet in them, which always put me off as a child and now as an adult. This particular pudding recipe has no fat in it at all. It's served with whiskey hard sauce, which is dramatically flamed in a dark dining room!
- Prep: 25 mins
- Cook: 2 hrs
- Yields: 12 Servings
Rosemary-Sizzled Salami, Dates, and Pecans
My daughter Zoe made Rosemary-Sizzled Salami, Dates, and Pecans from Bon Appétit for a party. It's a warm mix of nuts and salami which is perfect to add to a charcuterie plate. The salami gets slightly crispy and sweet dates chewy and pairs perfectly with the saltiness of the salami.
- Prep: 5 mins
- Cook: 5 mins
- Yields: 6 - 8 Servings
