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This is another recipe that you will see different variations of on my blog. Just in case you wondered, I test recipes several times before I post them. I want to be sure they work and that my tasters rate them as totally delectable. These are crostini composed of a vegetable spread called Ajvar (available […]
The staples in my pantry include lots of canned beans: garbanzo, kidney, black beans, cannellini and giant white butter beans. Canned beans are great for making spur of the moment dips, soups and side dishes. Beans are also a great source of protein. Which is probably why any given night, I can often find my […]
I love making savory or sweet rustic tarts or galettes. I usually make my own dough but for this party, with such a large number of guests, I needed to save time. I used one of my go-to shortcuts: Refrigerated Pie Crust. Yes, handmade dough is wonderful but this works just fine. I made two […]
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 […]
Until I started reading about Moroccan food, I had no idea that artichokes were featured in the cuisine. In this recipe, they are treated to a glorious bath that includes preserved lemons, saffron, honey and other spices. The flavor is unique and wonderful! This can be made early in the day and served at room […]
Olives are great to serve with drinks before dinner. Of course, you can just buy good olives, put them in a dish and stop there. If you want something sensational, go the extra step and make these. You might be tempted to omit the vanilla but don’t. The combination of vanilla and all the spices […]
About 15 years ago, I had the good fortune to take a week long cooking class with Lorenza di Medici at her home Badia a Coltibuono in Tuscany. A small group of us were given the opportunity to stay at her incredible estate and spend several hours each day cooking with Lorenza di Medici. Each […]
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 […]
I love the idea of taking sweet dessert recipes and making them savory. Creating something unexpected. That’s where the idea of a Savory Goat Cheese Cake came from. Once I made it, I thought why not go further and turn it into a layer cake, and this is the result. Your guests will rave, it’s […]
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 […]
