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Around here we don’t need Cinco de Mayo to have a passion for Mexican food! But it certainly doesn’t hurt! A roasted pork shoulder soaking in a citrusy marinade is enough to make my son and Jeremy and Jeannie and I absolutely giddy. This time I decided to take this dish a step further and take the [...]
As most of you know, I have one son, Tommy. But Tommy has a dear friend, Jeremy, from Australia, going to school in New York, who has lived with us off and on for years. Jeremy is with us on Sundays for family dinners, spends holidays with us, and is like a son to me. [...]
After watching the Johnny Depp movie Once Upon a Time in Mexico, my son became obsessed with Puerco Pibil. Puerco Pibil was the favorite dish of Sands, Johnny Depp’s character, so much so that he murders any cook who makes it too well. After watching the movie a number of times and my son asking and asking for me [...]
I have seen this recipe many times – on the Williams-Somoma website, Giada de Laurentiis, Mario Batali – and all had a certain appeal. That wonderful combination of sweet and sour. And that sweet and sour comes from two of my favorite ingredients – balsamic vinegar and honey! What could be better? Oh, one thing [...]
As the old song goes … you had a bad day… You’re taking one down … You sing a sad song just to turn it around … That song was the recurring theme with my loved ones this week. And this song just kept running through my exhausted, anxiety ridden brain over and over again. [...]
I love baking. I love baking and having the house smell of freshly baked cookies. The problem is … well, the cookies themselves. There are so many. And, if they’re good, and I baked them so how could they be anything but good, then I eat WAY too many of them. And when I eat too [...]
Okay. I want to make dessert. I want to make a yummy dessert. No, strike that, I want to make a really great, turn someone into putty in your hands, yummy dessert. Wait, but it has to travel well and be easy to make. (Not asking for too much, am I?) The downside? There’s just [...]
Now, you all know I am a huge fan of EveryDay Food Magazine. Really, Martha, what were you thinking by getting rid of our beloved little digest!? And there has never really been a recipe I tried from EveryDay Food that I haven’t liked … until now. I think it’s just a matter of taste as [...]
They say that music hath charms to soothe the savage breast … and yes, it’s breast, not beast. I received 20 bonus points on an American History final for knowing just that! But, I digress … ’round our house, my Irish cream recipe has charms to soothe the savage Dad, or any other grumpy person [...]
What is it about being stuck inside on cold, snowy days that makes you want to bake, and knead, and hibernate, and FEED people? The harder the snow comes down, the more you want to be in the kitchen creating delicious smelling things to fill the home. And nothing fills a home with comforting aromas [...]
Thanksgiving is my favorite meal to cook. Unfortunately, I find myself only doing the whole magilla once a year. But, you know, every once in a while I just get a HANKERING for those wonderful Thanksgiving flavors! Serve this with sweet potato fries and you’re all set, any time of year! 1 lb ground turkey [...]
It’s cold. I’m sick. Bubonic plague sick. Oh, no, not the flu. The flu would be too simple. Here’s some drugs, get some sleep, you’ll be better. I have the energy sapping, can’t keep your eyes open, will not go away virus that is sweeping the nation. I needed to make something. Something warm. Something [...]
HAPPY NEW YEAR, EVERYONE! Ever wake up in the morning and just NEED to bake something? Just.must.have.hands.in.dough. This was me … May have been being home alone on New Year’s Ever, or those I love being so far away, or wanting to take my angst out by beating oops, kneading dough a bit. Whatever it was, [...]
I have never quite understood the appeal of canned cranberry sauce. I know people who swear by it … whose families would call for a mutiny if there was not a jelled, can shaped blob on the table when turkey is served. Okay, you don’t want to go through the trouble of making your own, [...]
Many moons ago, while having dinner at my brother-in-law’s restaurant, I was treated to his Key Lime Pie. I was instantly in love. Smooth, frozen, not too sweet, limey puckering goodness. I begged for this recipe. It was one of those things that you just had to re-create at home … and I have, many, [...]
This fabulous recipe for Caramelized Apple Chips is from the September 2012 Southern Living magazine. I know it’s been making the food blog rounds like wildfire, but I found this over at Tracey’s Culinary Adventures. I fell in love. It was bookmarked into my to do list. And there it sat. And sat. And sat. And [...]
OMG! It’s a hurricane. The water is coming! The wind is coming! We need provisions! (as if this were a provisionless home!) I went to the market on Saturday, like I always do. I went with the same list I always go with … bananas, skim milk, chocolate milk, cold cuts, bread, veggies, pretzels … People [...]
The purging of piles continues. The piles of magazines into torn out piles of recipes. The torn out piles of recipes into the recycling pile or into a further to-be-made pile. And the to-be-made pile, for the most part into the ‘what was I thinking’ pile. In this pile of torn out recipes, I found [...]
When someone brings you a fish, you eat and you eat well! A friend brought back a beautiful salmon from a recent fishing trip and a recipe I had seen over at my addiction, Pinterest, came to mind. The original recipe called for garlic powder. I swapped out the garlic powder for ground ginger. Just not crazy [...]
There’s just a last hurrah of summer left. A few lovely tomatoes, definitely some beautiful basil. I wanted to cook something that really showcased the freshness of 2 of my all time favorite ingredients. And along came Giada de Laurentiiis and her Checca Sauce from Everyday Italian. Granted, this is a very loose interpretation of [...]
I have been wanting to make a beurre blanc sauce since watching Meryl Streep drool over the sauce while portraying Julia Child in Julie & Julia. I am an easily intimidated cook. Just the thought of making a beurre blanc had me quaking in my Wellies. A little encouragement from a friend and I decided to give this a [...]
So … today’s posting is a tale of woe … (It’s always something, isn’t it!?) I normally do my grocery shopping for the week on Sunday. I pick my recipes, see what’s on sale, clip my coupons, gather my bags, and toddle off. I don’t give much thought to what I am going to cook [...]
I know. I know. It’s the evil ORZO. Those that know me know this is the ingredient that strikes fear in my heart and soul. As soon as it gets a slight bit colder, I’ll make the lamb and orzo dish that has me shaking in fear of ORZO. But for now, let’s just say, when [...]
I don’t know about you, but I have PILES of cooking magazines EVERYwhere in my house. Every once in a while I feel the need to purge the piles. I spend hours upon hours pouring through them, tearing out recipes that I have EVERY intention of making. HA! These torn out pages then become piles [...]
From the time I was a child, Sunday night in my house has always traditionally been a pasta dinner. Truthfully, I get so tired of meatballs and sauce. I also wanted a pasta without meat to satisfy the vegetarians … It’s also been a slow-ish summer for me cooking-wise. Haven’t reached for the books on [...]
I saw this somewhere, I know not where, so if I have slighted you, mea culpa. This is great with cocktails – oh, it would be so lovely with a glass of bourbon, sitting outside, watching the sunset. It was quite good, huddled against the rain with a glass of wine. It’s really easy to [...]
Okay. So first it was ketchup. And now I have this slammin’, simple, delicious, eat it from the spoon ketchup, it really needs something equal … fingers in ears, folks, Ernie is about to start shrieking again … I know! I’ll make TATER TOTS! The Tot is truly one of the world’s most perfect foods. I [...]
Yes, Ernie. Yes, I know Ernie. Yes, I understand there are companies that have been making ketchup and putting it glass containers and placing those glass containers on supermarket shelves for over 100 years. And, yes, dear, I am well aware that there is an aisle filled with almost nothing other than ketchup at my local [...]
I try not to make this often. I cannot help myself when this is in the house. Every, single time I walk past the bag, I open it up and take a little bit. This is simple to put together and really yummy. Great for snacking on, or – as I do – scarfing down [...]
When I was a kid, I loved to take these apart and try to see how they went together. Most of the time I could take them apart, see how they worked and then put them back together – usually, with success, but not always! I have the same curiosity when it comes to food. [...]
When a dear friend calls and says, ‘Would you cook for me? I really feel like lamb. I’ll even pick up the lamb.’ How can you say no? The original plan was for rack of lamb, but we finally had a day with a break in the heat. The grill and eating outside was really [...]
Did you know that at some point in the history of Italy the Japanese invaded Italy, Tuscany in particular, and brought along with them and introduced to the cuisine starved Italians that delightful dessert known as TIRAMATSU? Oh, heavy, heavy sigh. As I type, I am still shaking my head in disbelief, so if my typing [...]
There are only so many ways you can cook chicken before you start to resent Frank Perdue, and Murray, and that lovely couple Bell & Evans. This wonderful recipe comes from Nigella Lawson’s Kitchen. Some really wonderful recipes in this book. This recipe may actually make my poultry resentment fade away. The recipe is quick [...]
One of my favorite features of the Sunday New York Daily News is Relish Magazine. The cooking sections in the New York area papers have become seriously lacking, so when Relish came along a number of years ago, it was a welcome addition. I don’t remember if I saw this recipe on their website or [...]
Kitchen catastrophe. My favorite cookie scoop BROKE – I know, we aren’t supposed to play favorites with our cookie scoops, but this one was my favorite! Perhaps from exhaustion due to over use. Perhaps a mutiny from the other scoops in the drawer. But somehow its poor little cogs slipped and it wasn’t pushing the [...]
Some of you may remember that last summer my friend Lizzy from that Skinny Chick Can Bake and I did a joint baked beans cook along – different recipes, same dish. We had so much fun doing this together we decided to try it again. The baked beans were my idea, so it was [...]
Not quite sure what it is, but I am on a Mexican kick. I can’t get enough ~ and to top it off, it can’t be spicy enough! And I have been waiting ever so (im)patiently for Marcela Valladolid‘s show Mexican Made Easy to start its new season! Finally it starts and wouldn’t you know [...]
Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday to you! Happy birthday! Happy birthday! Happy birthday to you! What better way to celebrate the birth of one of your favorite people on the planet than to bake a goodie with all their favorite flavors crammed into it. Really, does anything express love and sentiment better than a lovely [...]
I know a day (well, 2) late and a dollar short. Cinco de Mayo was 2 days ago. Sigh. But look at those chocolatey beauties … surely, I can be forgiven! And, trust me, they are delicious, chocolate, slightly sweet, with just ‘un poco calor’ at the end. I do have a perfectly good excuse. For [...]
Long day. Seriously long day. Not always easy being the President of Jerk Work. sometimes when I get home to my empty house I don’t want to cook and I don’t care if anyone else eats later tonight or tomorrow or next week. All I want are PJs and a pillow. Very, very selfish of [...]
I love Mac and Cheese. It doesn’t necessarily like me back – lactose intolerance is a terrible thing. Every once in a while I just can’t help myself – I just gotta have it. If I am going to suffer after eating Mac and Cheese, this is the mac and cheese it has to be! [...]
Most of you who follow me regularly know about Black Thursday – as we are fortunate enough to still jokingly call it – that was the day we began our paltry poultry journey. Those of us who are already heart healthy in my house are not as excited about this continuing turn over to life [...]
I am so pleased to be participating in the Holiday Recipe Club (if you want to join click on the link and send in an email)! I love these blog hops. So much fun to see what everyone else is doing and cooking and baking. I particularly love that this one is no pressure. I don’t [...]
When I was a kid, as we drove up through Brewster, we would get to a certain point and my father would point to the top of the hill and say, “I have a friend who lives up there. Blankety Blank lives up there.” (Names omitted to protect the innocent). It came to the point [...]
There are places I remember … Well, in my case, the song would have to be rewritten. There are flavors I remember … And they don’t necessarily have to be flavors that are tasted, some are flavors that I smell (yes, you can smell flavors) and they bring me right to a specific place or [...]
