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This is a composed salad. It looks like a work of art, Dutch Old Masters, when you present it; but then when the guests dive in, it morphs into a Jackson Pollock: a mess of colors and shapes. A composed salad can include anything. I choose seasonal ingredients, keeping in mind what I know my […]
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 […]
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 […]
Before beets were trendy, I always loved them. I used to be in the minority and now my friends have figured it out. This salad is a feast for the eyes as well as the palate. The natural sweetness of the beets is complimented by the saltiness of the feta and the slight acidic note […]
This is one recipe that will surprise your guests. The assertive spices together with the cooling Yoghurt Dipping Sauce made this a hit at my party. They look like ordinary meatballs but the flavor is anything but ordinary. Make them really small. If people like them, they go back for more. If the spices are […]
A Caprese salad is a simple salad made of sliced mozzarella cheese, tomatoes and fresh basil. Even when I make this with the freshest mozzarella cheese and sweetest tomatoes, I find it a little flat in flavor. I long for the saltiness of good olives and a bite of fresh grilled veggies. So I put […]
Sometimes I get inspired by tasting something wonderful at a restaurant that I want to duplicate, and sometimes I get inspired by bad food. A few months ago I was at a party with a Latin theme. I love theme parties and Latin inspired food. I had been told that they were serving empanadas. I […]
Many years ago, I had a new acquaintance and we found ourselves talking about — what else? — food. We were amazed to find out that we both were hooked on sesame Ryvita crackers. These are a simple whole grain, healthy cracker that we both loved. We talked about how we like to slather them […]
The idea for this soiree came to me at the Summer Solstice Party. While we were sitting in the garden, having drinks and appetizers, someone said, “These appetizers are so good, we could just make a dinner of appetizers”. I thought, what a great idea, a dinner of all appetizers, drinks and of course […]
