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One of my favorite ways to enjoy the true flavor of artichokes is to just steam them and dip the leaves indulgently into melted butter with an added squeeze of lemon–perfection. Stuffing artichokes with buttery breadcrumbs, cheese, and herbs is pretty hard to beat too. While both of these options are delicious, they aren’t exactly [...]
When it comes to entertaining in the summer, I like to keep it casual and relaxed. A fun and refreshing cocktail to get the evening started, and then a meal complete with something off the grill, and some really nice make ahead side salads and gratins that feature the farmer’s [...]
There was a time that on each and every Friday, I would have lunch with my good friends Sandy and Vanessa. I can’t tell you how many times we ordered this chicken salad at a place on Main Street in Pleasanton California called Tongs. I don’t even know if the [...]
The groundhog was wrong about his prediction for an early spring around here. Snow, the last week in March… really? With another day of yucky weather keeping me inside, I decided to do a little spring cleaning, beginning with my spice cabinet. I discovered an open jar of [...]
When I found out my friend Sarah Ashley Schiear would be a contestant on the ABC cooking showing The Taste, I couldn’t have been more excited! I have been watching and cheering for her each week on Tuesday nights as she advances to the next round, one bite at a [...]
Pretty poblano peppers, stuffed and lined up all in a row. When I looked down at them sitting in their vibrant red sauce, I knew I needed to grab a quick picture before they went into the oven. I wasn’t planning to do a post about them, but after I shared this picture [...]
January marks the beginning of a brand new year, fresh with opportunity and sometimes some changes. Our 5 Star make over group is taking the opportunity to embrace a little bit of change, and have reorganized under a new name: Creative Cooking Crew. Our goal each month is to create [...]
It usually takes me a week or so after Thanksgiving passes (an intermission), before I am ready to start hearing Christmas music on the radio, and get into the spirit of the season. I need the time to transition from pumpkins to holly. I can’t just jump right in. [...]
In my family, we all love the flavor of pumpkin, and are big fans of pie. But pumpkin pie? Not really a favorite around here, but for many Thanksgivings growing up, pumpkin pie would be made and served along with one or two other pies as part of our family tradition. If you didn’t [...]
If you are anything like me, the photo on the cover of this book made my mouth water as soon as I saw it. The book, An Edible Mosaic: Middle Eastern Fare with Extraordinary Flair, was written by my friend Faith Gorsky from An Edible Mosaic . This new release is Faith’s first cookbook , [...]
It’s 5 star make over time again, and this month’s theme is squash! Hosted by: 5 Star Foodie & Lazaro Cooks! Right away, I knew I would be doing something with butternut squash. Sweet, and remarkably vibrant orange in color, it’s definitely my favorite member of the squash [...]
One of the many things I miss about living in California is the Mexican food. Sure we have Mexican restaurants here in Richmond, but none that measure up to the ones I left behind, like Tony’s Jacal in Solana Beach. Around since 1946, they are a family business offering up [...]
Last week I traveled to Upstate New York with my parents to say a much too early good bye to my cousin, who left behind three beautiful daughters. Over 1,200 people attended her calling hours, which will give you an idea of the kind of person she was, and how [...]
Porcelain Web 720 from Scarlett Killaly on Vimeo. Don’t ask me how I came across this video. I think it was while on a search for tea party china, or serving dishes. Kind of a random find, but I am glad I took two minutes out to watch it because I enjoyed the artistic [...]
Pin it After spending a month up in the Adirondack mountains with my family away from cell phones, computers, and the hot humid weather of the south, I am slowly getting back into summertime in Virginia. Boy do I miss the cool breeze coming through the windows at night…and the loons sending out their calls [...]
Pin it In recognition of the longest day of the year, Mother Nature decided to turn up the thermostat here in Virginia on the first day of summer, and she hasn’t looked back. I wish I could call it a heatwave(which would mean at some point that wave would crest and return to normal), but heat [...]
Che piacere vederti! How nice it is to see you! Benvenuto Amici! Welcome Friends! Welcome to the Grand Opening of Ciao Fiore! An enchanting outdoor ristorante on the Mediterranean Coast featuring alfresco dining in an ambrosial garden. Chefs Norma from Platanos, Mangoes & Me!, Debi from Table Talk, and Lori Lynn from Taste With The Eyes are collaborating and cooking together in a virtual Ita
Pin itUn Ristorante Alfresco Virtuale Ciao Fiore! An enchanting outdoor virtual ristorante on the Mediterranean Coast featuring alfresco dining in an ambrosial flower garden opens its virtual doors on Thursday, May 31st. Chef Norma from Platanos, Mangoes & Me! will prepare the first course, Lori Lynn [...]
Pin itIf you read my last post, or follow me on twitter, you know I was in Louisville, Kentucky last week visiting the GE Monogram Experience Center with a great group of food bloggers from around the country. Some of those bloggers were people I felt like I already knew from all of our interactions [...]
Pin itI just returned from my first visit to Louisville, Kentucky where I had the opportunity to tour GE’s Monogram design center. The best part? I got to go and hang out with some of my favorite bloggers from all over the country. Some of those bloggers I felt like I already knew [...]
Pin itUn Ristorante Alfresco Virtuale ***Press Release Scheduled opening May 28, 2012 of Ciao Fiore! An enchanting outdoor ristorante on the Mediterranean Coast featuring alfresco dining in an ambrosial flower garden. Chefs Norma from Platanos, Mangoes & Me!, Debi from Table Talk, and Lori Lynn from Taste With The Eyes [...]
Pin it hosted by 5 Star Foodie & Lazaro Cooks! When I found out that this month’s 5 Star Makeover theme was junk food, there was only one thing that came to my mind… Yep; there they are: Kettle cooked potato chips. They are my weakness, and by far my [...]
Pin it hosted by 5 Star Foodie & Lazaro Cooks! Okay, here we are; the first 5 Star Makeover event of the year! As you can see from the images above, this month’s challenge is meatballs. I have to say, I am a lover of all [...]
I’m a bit late on this announcement…. A copy of my book, Friends at the Table goes to… Anna! Congratulations! Hope you enjoy the recipes with your friends at the table. Tis the season for indulging, and if you still haven’t had your fill of cookies, candies, and other confections that [...]
It’s beginning to look a lot like….. ~The perfect time to start a supper club, or rekindle the one you are already in! I’m excited to share a few pieces of press that are out right now. Shameless self promotion (I know)…but I am excited. The article I wrote about the supper club trend is [...]
Did you notice that the very next day after Halloween the advertising world took a giant leap into Christmas? Door busters, one- day sales, special can’t miss offers….really? Already? Do we really need to hurry up and buy those perfect gifts for everyone on our shopping list? I [...]
“Are you ready for some football?!” I guess that guy doesn’t get to sing that song on Monday nights before the game anymore; but I wouldn’t know, because I am not a football fan at all. Not even a little bit. If a football game is on [...]
If my Dad was asked to name his favorite type of fish, he would say haddock. No doubt about it. I think my Dad’s love affair with haddock began as a boy, growing up in an Italian catholic family in Upstate NY where on Friday nights it [...]
When your neighbor and good friend owns a bakery, there are lots of goodies that make there way to your door: chocolate croissants, baguettes, rolls, and sometimes foccacia bread. It’s all so good, and can be dangerous too, so I keep my running shoes close by. Crisp on the outside, light and [...]
This past weekend we were invited to our friends’ house for a casual summertime dinner party. When I asked what I could bring, our hostess said “How about an hors d’oeuvre? I think I’m making lobster rolls for our entree, and going with a kind of picnic theme.” My ears [...]
I don’t know Jennifer Perillo. We have exchanged a few friendly tweets, and I read her blog In Jennie’s Kitchen, but I do not know her. When I learned that her husband died suddenly of a heart attack earlier this week, I couldn’t help but feel an overwhelming sense of [...]
Remember the movie Fried Green Tomatoes with Jessica Tandy and Kathy Bates? Well I hadn’t seen it since its debut in 1991, so when my daughters asked me what it was about while searching through Netflix, I told them I really couldn’t remember, but I knew that I liked [...]
If you have been following my blog, you know that each summer my cooking classes go on hiatius, and I head to the Adirondack Mountains to be with my family up on the lake. It doesn’t take long to forget all about your cell phone (which has no service), or [...]
I have to say, when it comes to summertime desserts, I tend to lean towards the ones that are timeless favorites: Strawberry Shortcake, Peach Cobbler, Blueberry Pie, and when the weather is really warm, I start to wish for Lemon Icebox Pie. Afterall, these classic desserts have become classic for [...]
I have left the heat and humidity of Virginia behind for the pleasant temperatures of the beautiful Adirondack Mountains. We are with our family for our annual gathering up on Mountain Lake. The fish are biting, the kayaks are out, and everyone is getting excited about fireworks on the lake. With a family [...]
My tomato plants have little green fruit on them, but it will be a while before they are ready for picking. In the meantime, I have basil, thyme, and other herbs that are exploding out of the garden; begging to be used. Hard to resist such fresh [...]
I am a huge an of the blog My Man’s Belly , where the slogan is ”The best way to a man’s heart is through is stomach“. The first time I discovered Pamela’s blog I was hooked. Not only will you find innovative recipes for [...]
There’s a whole world of flavor packed into the 80 mile stretch of coastal South Carolina and Georgia that runs from the Savannah River in Georgia north to Pawley’s Island. Lowcountry (notice I use one word), is a picturesque area marked by flat expanses of salt water marsh grass and live [...]
hosted by 5 Star Foodie & Lazaro Cooks! Though June 21st is the official first day of summer , don’t you feel like Memorial Day weekend is the quintessential kick-off for summertime festivities? Kids are either out of school, or counting down the days to “No more pencils, no more books…..” The weather [...]
When Jaden Hair of Steamy Kitchen offered a guest spot on her site, you can image how excited I was! I’ve shared a recipe for Grilled Bruschetta with Asparagus and Parmesan from my new book, Friends at the Table: The Ultimate Supper Club Cookbook. Jaden is also giving away a copy to one [...]
After a lot of fun in Nashville, my next stop along the Friends at the Table tour was Philadelphia. I had a great time making Crispy Halibut with Zucchini Ribbons and Lemon Basil Sauce as a guest on the 10! Show. They have a really nice set and live audience, which adds to [...]
hosted by 5 Star Foodie & Lazaro Cooks! Green asparagus or white. What’s the difference? Unlike green asparagus, which is grown above ground, white asparagus (also known as spargel in Germany) is grown underground (see photos below, courtesy of Foodproject.com). Deprived from light, the development of chlorophyll is prevented, and [...]
Just returned from Nashville, where I kicked off my book tour. There probably aren’t too many people that head to the grocery store as soon as they get off the plane, but in my case, that is exactly what I did in order to prepare for my cooking segments the following [...]
After a very long wait and a whole lot of work, my book is finally getting closer to release date! Celebration started a bit early with an event hosted by Kathy Corbet and Custom Kitchens here in Richmond. Guests enjoyed samples of a few of the recipes from my book, like: [...]
hosted by 5 Star Foodie & Lazaro Cooks! We recycle, bring our own shopping bags to the grocery store, and have replaced our regular light bulbs with energy saving fluorescent light bulbs. ”Organic”, “local”, and “free range” have become more than just buzz words; people are starting to have a better understand of [...]
The arrival of today’s blue sky day (with 80 degrees in the forecast) couldn’t have had better timing. I just finished a week of cooking classes and I’m pretty sure I will spend a good part of this afternoon in our backyard in the hammock with a book in my [...]
Effortless entertaining; isn’t that the goal we are all after when hosting friends for an evening in our home? Who wants to be stuck in the kitchen cooking, tucked away from guests and all of the fun? Not me…and I feel the same way when it comes to mixing up cocktails. What I like [...]
Where you live, has spring arrived a little early? Or are you covered by yet another thick blanket of snow? We are kind of in between seasons here, but definitely heading in the right direction. Days are brighter, and a bit warmer, yet evenings are still cool. [...]
Remember the scene towards the end of the movie Julie and Julia where Julia Child is sitting in her kitchen holding her cookbook in her hands? That triumphant scene resonates in my mind; for at that time in my life the idea of holding my own published cookbook in my [...]
hosted by 5 Star Foodie & Lazaro Cooks! Bacon and eggs Quick–what’s the first image that popped into your head when you read those words? Was it a breakfast plate? Maybe a breakfast plate brimming with some sunnyside up eggs, crisp bacon, and perhaps a side of toast? Is that what [...]
