New favorite alert. This panzanella has got to be one of my all-time favorite new salads. And since it feels like Spring in Northern California today, I just had to post about it. Packed with some of my all-time favorites; radicchio, fennel, olives, cheese, and sourdough bread, this hardy, earthy salad goes together effortlessly in […]

Winter does not have to mean boring in the cocktail department. Nor must it mean bourbon or brandy. Modern cocktails have evolved away from the more traditional brown spirit drinks paving the way for lots of other wonderful options. Meet my hibiscus rum punch; sultry, sexy, and loaded with fruity flavor. My rum hibiscus punch […]

These babies are malasadas, also known as Hawaiian donuts, and they are divine. Balls of dough that are deep-fried in oil and rolled in granulated sugar, much like a donut, but minus the hole. Malasadas, best served warm, can be found at many roadside stands and local bakeries as well as on fine dining menus […]

The Super Bowl is almost here, be ready people. A day of true indulgence, with dips, sandwiches, wings, guacamole, and so much more. My best advice, for the most anticipated game of the year, do whatever it takes to keep your whole squad satisfied, even if the big game happens to go south. And in case […]

Tomato soup is a quintessential American comfort food. Native to western South America and Central America, tomatoes, a member of the nightshade family, did not arrive in Europe till the early 1500s. Bright shiny tomatoes were thought to be poisonous by Europeans. In Europe, tomatoes were planted as ornamental curiosities, but not for consumption. The […]

Poached pears, or Poire à la Beaujolais, as they are known in French, are a classic dessert of the wine-growing region of Beaujolais. A simple and somewhat understated dish by today’s standards, but one I have loved for a long time. If you’re looking for a simple but eye-catching dessert during the winter and spring seasons, look […]

One of the most common things people will ask me is what is a good, easy “quick meal”. To be honest, this question is never actually straightforward because what is typically added before I have a chance to answer is: “oh yeah, it can’t have a lot of prep work, my whole family has to […]

My husband loves harissa and I have to credit him for exposing me to it. Maybe you’ve had it and loved it, maybe you had it and had no idea you had it, or maybe you’ve never heard of it till now. Harissa is, in a nutshell, a spicy, flavorful condiment and can be a […]

Coq au Vin is a classic French dish of which Burgundy, Alsace, Champagne, and Auvergne all claim paternity, it is also an absolute favorite of mine on a cold winter night. Where Did Coq au Vin Come From? According to various legends, Coq au Vin can be traced back to Julius Caesar and conquest of […]

Fig Newtons (now called simply Newtons) are love-it-or-hate-it kind of cookies. Seriously, people are very divided about this fig-focused sweet treat, but I love them. Fig Newtons, and Chips Ahoy chocolate chip cookies, have become synonymous with being a kid in the 70s/80’s. Nabisco Fig Newtons in my paper bag lunch, alongside my ham and […]

I am a sucker for just about anything with cinnamon and sugar. A favorite childhood treat was warm buttered toast with a generous dusting of cinnamon-sugar, what’s not to love? This was a comfort food to me and something I would choose over chocolate any day. Some things never change. I’m still a cinnamon and […]

A Hungarian snacking tray or “hidegtál” (as it’s called in Hungary), is a cold plate similar to an Italian antipasti plate. A hidegtál can consist of whatever is in your pantry or whatever the chef feels like adding. A snacking tray is, for the most part, a charcuterie board, cheese board, and vegetable board all in one. […]

This lovely cocktail is my pomegranate-rum punch and it may be just what you need to celebrate New Years in-style. Punch was actually invented as a beer alternative in the 17th century by men working the ships for the British East India Company. These men were serious drinkers, drinking as many as 10 pints of […]

My husband loves lamb stew. In all honesty, I think it’s because it reminds him of goat stew, something we both become fond of while vacationing in Anguilla. Can’t say that I’ve ever had (or would eat) goat stew on a regular basis, but in the Caribbean it’s as common as a fish sandwich and […]

This coquito recipe is dedicated to my sister. My sister has taught me too many things over the years. Just two years my senior, we have always been close. As a kid, I looked up to my sister in awe and worship. To me, she was perfect. Smart, witty, stylish, and thoughtful in ways that […]