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Poppyseed parmesan cheese twists
Savory goat cheese cake with two flavors of pestos
Watermelon and heirloom tomato salad
Pan seared wild halibut on a bed of artichoke heart puree
Roasted baby squash and zucchini
Fresh mixed berry torte with whipped cream
Fresh fruit
Appetizers
Solstice sangria or Aperol spritz
Dinner
Pouilly-Fuissé
When I was growing up, seasons were tied to the school year, not necessarily the weather. It could be hot and sunny on New Year’s or Christmas or cold in spring. (Yes, for Los Angelenos, 50’s is considered cold.) So for me, summer really started when school was out and we had summer […]
As you can see from the photos, we definitely had tequila that night. I also created a drink I call Tequila Surprise. It came about quite spontaneously. My friend Dano arrived early just in case I needed last minute help. I asked him to muddle some sliced cucumbers, add two fingers of tequila, […]
I hope the photo of the table for the Mexican Fiesta inspires you to create your own unique table setting. I love to mix high and low — the same way I like to dress. So, the dinner plates were handmade by a little old man called Paci whom I met at his store in […]
This rice tastes exactly like the rice I rolled up in buttered corn tortillas on Olvera Street, when I was a child. It’s a fairly starchy, moist rice. I used extra long grain enriched rice which is readily available at supermarkets. In other rice recipes, I use basmati or arborio rice but not here. This […]
I love the versatility of these tacos and the fact that I make the filling the morning of the party and keep it in a 200-degree oven or covered on the countertop until the party. Assembling the tacos is a great job to give to one of your guests. Be careful. I had a guest […]
When I have a party, I like to serve something a little special. Crab Enchiladas with Roasted Tomatillo Sauce are very special! If you hate crab, are worried that your guests won’t eat it or it’s too expensive where you live, you can substitute shredded chicken (breast or thigh meat, or a combo). Whatever you […]
I love these brownies! So much so that I must give away any leftovers, or I will be eating them for breakfast. These are definitely not your usual brownies. They have a hint of cinnamon and a touch of heat from the cayenne pepper. They are slathered with loads of yummy frosting. At the Mexican […]
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 […]
These are great to make ahead and freeze. This recipe calls for masa harina flour which is available at most supermarkets and all Latin markets. To make masa harina, dried corn is treated in a solution of lime and water which loosens the hulls from the kernels, which softens the corn. The soaked corn is […]