Happy 2021! I SO wish I could say the world is back to “normal“, but sadly we’re not there just yet. But I’m hopeful. I strongly believe if we all do our part (and get vaccinated), we will begin to see the light at the end of the tunnel. It is a marathon, not a […]

Margaritas are what you pour for life’s happiest moments, as evidenced by 6.4 million #margarita tags on Instagram. A refreshing, crisp cocktail that brings a fun and festive tone to almost any occasion. Sound like something you need right now? In this crazy COVID world, I think we are all looking for happiness, anywhere we […]

Two of my favorite things to bake (and cook) with are olive oil and polenta. Olive oil because it adds complexity and richness and polenta because it adds texture and flavor. I have blogged about my two desserts with olive oil so far: my pear olive oil cake and my chocolate mummy cakes, but I thought […]

Danish Aebleskiver, also known as Danish pancake balls, is a traditional Danish food served during Christmas. The center of these Danish pastries is soft and fluffy, almost creamy. The crust is crisp and slightly browned and the apple filling is sweet and tangy. In Danish “Aebleskiver” simply means apple slices which are the most traditional […]

Going old school French with this recipe for Duchess potatoes. Chances are, you’ve probably had Duchess potatoes, but likely didn’t even know it. Most don’t know the name or why it gets such royal recognition. Considered a classic dish in French cuisine, this dish is said to have been created for a British Duchess who […]

Tis the season. And by that, I mean cookie season. It’s what December has become, and in all honestly, I adore that. For me, baking cookies is calming, and a welcome escape from the grind and stress of everyday life (especially now). My love of cookies, which includes both making and eating them, has never […]

This is what happens when your kids watch Gordon Ramsay’s MasterChef Jr, and this is why I love cooking shows.  Never in a million years would have I thought to make this recipe with my kids (ages 7 and 9 at the time), yet I did. The results were surprisingly decent.  Croquembouche pronounced “croque-en-bouche”, is a beautiful […]

And so we approach our first COVID Christmas. Who could ever imagine this is where we would be? Cookie season is in full swing, yet to be honest, my spirits are nowhere near where they typically are this time of year. I don’t feel particularly festive. Many are back in lockdown, gatherings are not permitted […]

Popular all over Latin America, dulce de leche confections called alfajores come in many varieties. Here is my twist on this beloved classic, halvah-caramel alfajores; delicate butter cookies with an irresistible halvah-caramel center and dusted with powdered sugar that will make you swoon at first bite. I’m serious, this is the cookie to kick off cookie […]

I’m not sure if a fish dish can be considered sexy, but if it can, this braised fish with tomato sauce should be. A healthful dish with flaky white fish and rich, flavorful stewed tomatoes and spinach. The bonus here, it’s also a quick meal and can be pulled together on a hectic weekday night […]

An apple tart tatin is a classic French dessert everyone should learn how to make. It is also the perfect easy dessert to make for any holiday meal. Considered a simply pastry where the fruit (most commonly apples) are caramelized in butter and sugar before the tart is baked. A tarte tatin is for the most part, […]

Crispy, oven-baked leaf potatoes. These are an adapted version of a dish my mom used to make when I was a kid. Scalloped potatoes were one of her signature dishes. Talk about decadent; potatoes, cream, butter, cheese…need I say more, they were outrageously good. My leaf potatoes are a slightly healthier twist, I still use […]

Green bean casserole was a dish my mom, and millions of others, make for Thanksgiving. It’s a reliable, love-hate dish, that many of us have had at least once in our lives, if not more. Many, including my mother, still make this dish, but many, like myself, have adapted or modernized it over the years. […]

Bolognese, known in Italian as ragù alla bolognese, ragù bolognese, or simply ragù is a meat-based sauce in Italian cuisine, commonly associated with the city of Bologna. But contrary to popular belief, Bolognese has no definitive tie to the city of Bologna, in northern Italy. Food historians typically agree that the dish originated in Imola, […]

A simple roast chicken is a technique that everyone should master, but it’s not easy. One of the first things they teach you in culinary school is that the test of a good chef (or restaurant) can be determined by their roast chicken and not their most elaborate dish. I’m serious. And I’ve tested this theory […]