first
This is another composed salad that is simple to make and refreshing and delightful. The key to this salad is blanching the asparagus and plunging them in ice water (shocking them). This preserves the vibrant green color and fresh flavor. The orange zest surprises the palate and makes this a unique taste experience. This dish will […]
It’s great to have one or two cold pasta salads in your repertoire. They are simple to make and you can tweak them to your own taste. This one includes cheese tortellini and baby spinach. For this party, I served the pasta mounded on top of the spinach, but I have also tossed it all […]
If you follow my blog, you know that I make cookies for every party. Maybe it’s the child within us that smiles when we reach for a cookie. At this party, at Krista’s request, we ordered a glorious cake from her favorite bakery. I know the pastry chef who created this confection and it’s stellar […]
In my house, party cookies meant the rich butter cookies that were covered with colored sprinkles that my mom bought at the bakery only when there was a party. These actually come close and you make them yourself. The fun part is that they are made with a cookie press and sprinkled with sanding sugar. […]
This is another one of those dishes you can add to a brunch or dinner buffet. I grow rosemary in my garden and have the other ingredients in my pantry at all times. New Year’s Day, I put the potatoes in the oven when I got up, they developed a beautiful crust and complimented the […]
This is my basic recipe for preparing basmati rice. The ration of rice to water I use is 1 cup rice to 1 1/2 cups water. The most important element to making perfect rice every time is to make sure you have a pot with a tight fitting lid. If you don’t, take a piece […]
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 […]
I always include fresh fruit in my dessert selections. I use what’s in season and whatever has the most succulent juicy flavor. Mouth watering white peaches were in the market when I was shopping for this party. They were great on their own but became totally delectable when macerated in a divine but delicious peach […]
I always include cookies as part of my desserts. They are fun to make and perfect for guests who just want a bite of something sweet. I usually have them out on the sideboard, in my dining room, from the start of the party so people can sneak a nibble whenever they want. These are […]
I love lamb chops and always have since I was a kid. People think lamb chops are difficult to make but they are really easy. This is not so much a recipe as basic instructions for preparation. I buy racks of lamb (at Costco) and trim away all the fat, cut them apart, season and […]
