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January 4, 2016
At Home with Friends

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Zucchini Boats Stuffed with Mushrooms & Zucchini

One of the first cookbooks that I ever bought, that I still have, was Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking. I was living at home, still in school, and my mother did all the cooking. I don’t remember what possessed me to buy the book but I do remember my first recipe was […]

November 12, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Parmesan Crackers

I am always on the lookout for great tasting gluten free crackers. I’ve made Parmesan crisps by spreading mounds of freshly grated Parmesan cheese on paper-lined baking sheets. This resulted in delicate thin Parmesan crisps but required careful handling and attention to detail. I had a cup of leftover grated Parmesan cheese and decided to […]

November 2, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Individual Mini Veggie Frittatas

When I was growing up, eggs were strictly for breakfast. Occasionally, they were hard boiled and turned into egg salad or deviled eggs. They were never considered party fare for guests. It wasn’t until I started spending time in Italy and saw people ordering artichoke frittatas as a first course that I realized they make […]

July 2, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Fried Ravioli with Tomato Dipping Sauce

Are you afraid of deep frying food? I was. When I was a kid, my Mother didn’t fry much. Eggs were poached, potatoes were baked; and on the one or two occasions she made fried chicken, I was banned from the kitchen. I had this irrational fear of frying. The kitchen could be set on […]

June 8, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Baked Risotto with Lemon & Fresh Oregano

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 […]

May 29, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Cheese Toast

This is what my mom used to call garlic bread. She made it whenever she made lasagna or spaghetti and meatballs: Her take on Italian food. I call it Cheese Toast because the flavor really comes from the Parmesan cheese on top. Yes, there is garlic, but it is very light. When I make garlic […]

April 20, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Polpettone Stuffed with Eggplant and Smoked Mozzarella

Meatloaf is a standard in many home kitchens. For many people meatloaf is immediately associated with mashed potatoes and gravy, and it evokes childhood memories. Meatloaf and mashed potatoes is comfort food to be eaten when it’s cold outside and we need to feel the warmth of hearth and home. I would never take away […]

March 16, 2015
At Home with Friends

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Boneless Chicken Breasts Stuffed with Goat Cheese

When I was growing up, my mom made chicken that we lovingly called “crummy chicken”. She cut up a whole chicken, bathed each piece in melted butter and coated it with a mixture of seasoned breadcrumbs, grated Parmesan cheese and salt and pepper. I later saw recipes that called this Parmesan Chicken but I will […]