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This is another one of my go-to appetizers for parties. The richness of a triple cream brie or a camembert combined with the sweet surprise of fig jam is always a hit. It’s perfect when you are having a large number of guests and want to have something already out while waiting for everyone’s arrival. […]
Baked pastas are always great as part of a lunch buffet. This one is both vegetarian and gluten free. I wanted to come up with a way to use brown rice pasta (for my gluten free guests) that tasted as good as regular pasta. You can use spinach or chard or kale. I love to buy […]
My copper collection started with a gleaming copper-and-brass chafing dish my mother brought home one day. She was in a silver plating shop, having silver platters replated, when it caught her eye. Someone had brought it in to be polished and never picked it up. The storeowner sold it to her and home it came. […]
The inspiration for the table setting came from many different sources. The first piece I found was the beaded fuchsia sari. Saris are not completely beaded but I thought I could cut it apart and put it back together for the top of the table. It worked and you can see the result. For the […]
This is nothing like the American version of generic pistachio ice cream which usually tastes like vanilla ice cream with a few chopped nuts and a bit of green food coloring. This is a serious rich, deep pistachio flavored wonderfulness! I would expect nothing less from Melissa Clark, one of my favorite food writers. This […]
There is a lot to know about couscous. There are entire books written about couscous. Couscous plays such a major role in Moroccan cuisine that there is even a “couscoussier”, a two-tiered pot designated especially for this. Couscous is actually a tiny grain that is prepared by steaming several times. In between the steaming, the […]
This is one of those typical Moroccan dishes that combine meat (lamb) with dried fruit. If you’ve never eaten this type of stew, it is far more sophisticated than simply lamb with fruit. The fork tender lamb is cooked in a sauce loaded with spices, and each bite reveals a glorious blend of sweet and […]
Before I even thought about making a Moroccan feast, I was intrigued with preserved lemons. I made this recipe and asked a few friends to sample it. My newly converted vegan friend waited until everyone had served themselves and then he scraped the sauce off the chicken, piled it on his plate and declared, “This […]
It may seem like extra work to first grill and then saute the zucchini, but it really makes party prep easier. You grill the zucchini the day before the party while you’re grilling the eggplant and carrots. You finish the dish in a saute pan, just before dinner. You don’t have to stand and wait […]
This dish is a great example of the magical blend of heat, savory and spices. The harissa creates the heat and the garlic, ginger and cumin — the savory, and the honey balances it all with a touch of sweetness. Don’t worry: This dish does not taste sweet. The honey brings all the flavors […]
