It was wonderful news to hear that my friend Krista, who does a lot of the beautiful photography on this blog, was having a baby. Then I got the news that it was a girl. I immediately volunteered to give a baby shower. Krista and I had lots of conversations about the shower and […]

February 6, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Apple Fig Crumble

Fruit crisps or crumble are one of my favorite desserts. In summer, I use luscious berries and juicy stone fruit. In fall and winter, I use apples combined with dried fruit. Usually, I make these for dessert and serve them with vanilla ice cream or freshly whipped cream, and I make sure there is plenty […]

January 28, 2015
At Home with Friends

3 comments

Fresh Fruit Salad

Fruit salad is really easy to make. The tricky part is knowing how much to make and how to keep the fruit looking and tasting fresh, after it has been cut up. When calculating how much to make, I usually allow ½ cup of fruit salad per person if there are several other food options. […]

January 19, 2015
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Roasted Tomatoes

It might seem silly to post a recipe for roasted tomatoes, but the more I talk to people, the more I realize that there is a need for even simple basic recipes. With a recipe this simple, it’s imperative that you use the best quality tomatoes you can find, and the best quality olive oil […]

New Year’s Day Brunch Menu

Buffet

* Fresh fruit salad (GF)

* Apple fig crumble (GF)

* Greek yoghurt (GF)

Smoked salmon platter (GF)

* Capers, sliced tomatoes, sliced onions, sliced Persian cucumbers and pickles

* Bagels and cream cheese

* Pumpkin monkey bread

* Shakshuka (GF)

* Blintz soufflé

Lamb hash (GF)

Chicken livers with mushrooms

* Roasted Tomatoes (GF)

* Roasted fingerling potatoes (GF)

* Knishes (kasha, potato)

* Rugelach (chocolate, prune, cinnamon)

* Poppy seed strudel

Beverages

Coffee

Tea

Mimosas

Bloody Mary

(GF) Gluten Free

* Vegetarian

January 9, 2015

December 1, 2014
At Home with Friends

1 comment

Spinach Salad

This is a great salad to serve as part of a Moroccan Feast or any party where you want a relatively easy but special salad. I served each guest a portion of spinach and then invited them to add Beet Salad, Artichoke Salad or Fennel Salad on top of the spinach. I usually allow a […]

September 22, 2014
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3 comments

Almond Meringue Bites

I really love meringue cookies. These are some of my favorites because they are so easy to assemble and quick to bake. Unlike a traditional meringue which is usually baked for 1 1/2 – 2 hours, these are done in approximately 30 minutes. When first made, they are crunchy on the outside and a bit […]

September 15, 2014
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4 comments

Pignoli Cookies

I fell in love with pignoli cookies while in Italy. Pignoli is Italian for pine nuts. In Italy, they make them very tiny, the size of a nickel or a quarter. Make sure the almond paste you buy is soft. If you get it home and it is really hard, you may have difficulty getting […]

June 13, 2014
At Home with Friends

4 comments

Jicama Salad

I love the fresh taste and crunchy texture of this salad. It’s a great balance to the rest of the menu. It keeps several days, and since there is no oil it doesn’t get soggy. “Ras el hanout” translates into “head of the shop”. The idea is that this was a very special blend made […]