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September 10, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Croatian Cuisine

“I have never eaten a piece of frozen fish in my life,” said the guide who met us at the airport and escorted us to our hotel in Split. This was my first inkling of what to expect in Croatian cuisine. The guide knew I was interested in food and had read my blog. Fresh, […]

August 27, 2015
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Crostini with Brie & Strawberries

Crostini are a fantastic last minute appetizer. The combination of flavors is limited only by your imagination. For these, I used really ripe runny brie cheese and the sweetest strawberries I could find. Here’s a secret: Sometimes the smallest strawberries pack the most flavor. CROSTINI WITH BRIE & STRAWBERRIES EVENT: Last Minute Company Dinner YIELD: […]

July 13, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Turkish Salad

I wanted something crunchy and refreshing as a side salad to compliment the Fish Sliders and Pulled Lamb Sandwiches. I found a recipe from an out-of-print Turkish cookbook and was intrigued. The combination of apples and zucchini with a yoghurt hazelnut dressing was something I had never eaten. The original recipe called for raw garlic […]

July 2, 2015
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Homemade Tomato Sauce

Ingredients 3 cloves of garlic, crushed 6 tablespoons olive oil One 2-lbs can Italian tomatoes, coarsely chopped or crushed * 1 tablespoon fresh basil Salt and pepper to taste Directions In a medium sauce pan, over low heat, cook the garlic until translucent. Don’t overcook or burn the garlic. Add the canned tomatoes with their […]

June 22, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Videos: Antipasto Platter

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: […]

June 12, 2015
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Roasted Cauliflower

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 […]

May 20, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Basil, Fontina & Sugar Plum Tomato Pizza

If you read my recipe for White Pizza, you know how easy it is to make great pizza at home. The question now becomes what type of ingredients will you use for toppings. The choices are limitless! This is totally different from the White Pizza and different from a typical cheese and tomato pizza. Most […]

May 15, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Italian Sausages & Peppers

Italian Sausages and Peppers is a typical family style dish served in Italian homes at large family lunch. It seemed perfect for this meal. I think of an Italian grandmother standing over the stove, putting this together. I didn’t have an Italian grandmother. But I’d like to imagine, if I did, this is what her […]