first
Lots of people have game nights on a regular basis but this was a first for me. Lots of people play Cards Against Humanity but this was also a first for me. A first, but definitely not the last. I wanted the food to be fun food, kind of like bar food but my style. […]
The first time I created one of my Antipasto Platters my guests thought it had been catered by an Italian deli. This is one of my go-to appetizers that pleases everyone. You can alter the ingredients based on what’s in season, what’s in your pantry and your guests’ taste. For the detailed recipe, go to: […]
These are the pizzas I made for my friends who courageously volunteered to put my house back in order after the termite battle. We all sang, “Ding-dong! The termites are gone!” as we scarfed down these homemade rustic delights. P.S.: Don’t tell anyone that you used store bought pizza dough. For the recipes on each […]
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 my friend Brent’s favorite appetizer. It is one of those super simple recipes that is easily scaled up or down, depending on the number of guests. I’ve made it for huge parties and intimate dinners for two. Every time I served it, there wasn’t a piece left. The nice thing about this recipe […]
If you’ve been following my blog, you already know that I serve a lot of vegetables. I never get tired of cauliflower and prepare it many different ways. I’ve been known to serve it Indian style, with potatoes and mustard seeds, which is spicy and delectable. But for this menu I wanted something simple. The […]
When halibut is fresh and wild, it is totally delectable, providing you don’t overcook it. It takes much less time than you think and pairs well with many different sauces. For this dinner, I made a quick tomato sauce using canned diced organic tomatoes (from Costco), capers and diced black Kalmata olives. Other than the […]
Once I knew how I was preparing the halibut, I thought that a light lemon risotto with fresh oregano would balance the meal. Risotto is an Italian dish that features arborio rice: a short grain, high starch rice that is cooked very slowly in stock. It requires constant stirring. When it’s done, you add Parmesan […]
I have been toying with the idea of mixing prunes and dark chocolate in desserts. I like both flavors and sometimes find myself in my pantry looking for a snack, and I grab a moist delicious pitted prune and a square of dark chocolate. Who would have thought these would combine to make a great […]
