RECIPES
The Bloody Mary Bar
I host Super Bowl parties for the sake of hosting a Super Bowl party. My motto is, "Any excuse for a party." Even though I was born and raised in Texas, I have no understanding of the game. I more closely relate to the Violet Crawley, Downton Abbey meme, 'A Super...
Poached Eggs with Ricotta, Arugula and Parmigiano Reggiano
Whenever I eat poached eggs I always think about the movie Julie and Julia. When Julie tasted her first poached egg, she commented, "It tastes like... cheese sauce. Yum." I adore poached eggs. Not only for their taste, but their versatility. Best yet, poached eggs are...
Skillet Eggs with Swiss Chard and Smoked Gouda
Eggs for dinner? Absolutely. Eggs are not just for breakfast, they are a fantastic, quick and inexpensive way to make dinner. To quote my friend Cris Briger, "if I have eggs and butter I can make a meal for friends in a pinch. Omelets, egg salad, deviled eggs,...
Caramelized Onion, Cognac and Mushroom Soup with Croutons
Is there anything more comforting than tucking into a bowl of hot French onion soup? Beautiful slices of good quality toasted bread, loaded with melted Gruyere and caramelized onions. It is a simple, rustic and delicious dish. And yes, while it takes some time, it's...
Easy Entertaining: Individual Tomato Tarts
Have you noticed that when you throw a dinner party on a Friday night, the weekend feels longer and quite simply more festive. Don't skip hosting a dinner for friends due to fear of prep time. And certainly, please don't suffer...
Molten Chocolate Cakes
Is there anything better than a hot chocolate cake? Known as lava cakes or molten chocolate cakes, these little jewels are so delicious and amazingly easy to make. A cake shell on the outside, with warm chocolate flowing through the middle, these are the perfect go-to...
Simple Vinaigrette
Yes, bottled vinaigrettes are convenient, but they are often full of salt, sugar, and other additives. Making your own vinaigrette is both simple and delicious. I use this recipe all the time. You can use any type of oil that you like (walnut oil, grapeseed...
Mussels with Cream and Pernod
One of the things that I loved most about living in Scotland was the abundance of fresh seafood, especially mussels. I would buy them weekly from the local fishmonger. I have made, and tried, many recipes, but this is by far my favorite...mussels with cream and...
ON THE BOOKSHELF: Le Picnic: Chic Food On-The-go
Witlof, Blue Cheese & Pear Salad Author Suzy Ashford's book La Picnic has me thinking about outdoor dining and warm weather in spite of this cold spell. The self-taught chef and food writer reimagines outdoor lunching in this brilliant little book....
Grilled Bread with Ricotta and Tomatoes
I firmly believe there are two kinds of people in this world: those who love sweet foods and those who love savory foods. I am in the latter category. And when cold weather hits, a bowl of fruit just doesn't quite cut it. This morning we awoke to ice...
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