Sometimes you can’t beat a simple dessert. Panna cotta is just that. Considered a traditional Italian dessert, panna cotta, (which means “cooked cream” in Italian) is a well-known and incredibly popular dessert made of sweetened cream thickened with gelatin and molded.  Panna cotta, often referred to as a “sweet custard dessert“, because it’s made from cream, […]

I have always loved linguine with clams, a simple, classic pasta dish. Honestly, what’s not to love? Called linguine alle vongole in Italian, this traditional Italian favorite is the perfect warm-weather go-to pasta dish no matter where you live. Widespread and popular on almost every Italian coast, Naples boasts it all began there and is actually […]

Confession, I love a great frozen strawberry daiquiri. A treat for sure, but at the right time, on a hot day in the summer or on a white sandy beach somewhere tropical, there is truly nothing better. Refreshing, fruity, and easy on the eyes, I feel relaxed just holding this indulgent old timer in my […]

I’ve been candid about my love-hate with traditional American fruit pies before. Maybe my classic French training is to blame or perhaps it’s my fondness for French food generally. Whatever the reason, my preference is for a fresh fruit tart such as this strawberry tart. And for those who feel that making a homemade pie […]

Let’s chat a bit about okra. Some people are scared of it, but I love it. Okra, also known as “ladies fingers” or “ochro”, is a flowering plant in the mallow family (the same family that includes hibiscus and cotton) that’s cultivated for its edible green seed pods. For any “nose-to-tail” eaters trying to reduce food waste, […]

At my kid’s suggestion, I kicked off summer this year with a new Cuisinart ice cream machine. Seriously, best decision ever made. The motivation; is our family trip to Copenhagen last Spring. The food scene in this charming little city is truly amazing. From fine dining to street food, the Danes are absolutely killing it. […]

The wait for summer sometimes seems endless. It’s funny, I remember feeling that way as a kid, but I guess some things never change. Summer not only means warmer weather, it means longer days, more laid-back attitudes, and for me (and many parents out there), a temporary respite from making school lunches. Summer also brings […]

Ever have a golden berry? My guess is it’s unlikely. For those unfamiliar, golden berries are also known as Inca berry, Peruvian ground cherry, poha berry, goldenberry, husk cherry, and cape gooseberry.  Golden berries are small, bright, orange-colored fruits closely related to the tomatillo. Like tomatillos, golden berries are wrapped in a papery husk called […]

I love scallops, but shockingly, I am the only one in my family who does. My husband will eat them if I make them into a ceviche, my younger son will sometimes eat them, and my older son will not touch them no matter what. Because of this, I don’t make them at home as often […]

Before leaving NY, we lived in Brooklyn, Cobble Hill to be exact, on a quaint treelined street called Clinton.  It was a lovely old Italian area filled with old-school butchers, bakeries, lovely people, and Italian rainbow cookies. Not your typical “cookie” more cake-like, but something I love and have fond memories of.  Brightly colored, almond-based […]

I’ve always loved artichokes. A simple steamed artichoke with a side of melted butter is a true indulgence.  My mom made them for me like this as a kid, not all that often, but when she did, they were a real treat. Artichokes are themselves a very versatile vegetable and can be used to make […]

Unbeknownst to me, National Margarita Day is February 22nd. Seems like an odd time you ask me. Margaritas exemplify Summer, long sunny days, and warm relaxing evenings. So with that, I think a post about mango margaritas just in time for Memorial Day is the perfect way to ring in the Summer season. Margaritas are […]

Oh my, do I love chocolate crinkle cookies. I’m late to the crinkle game I will say, it was years before I finally discovered how truly delicious these cookies are. While I still go salty over sweet, I am obsessed with cookies, and I don’t discriminate. My cookie preference really just depends on my mood. […]

Bulgogi is one of Korea’s most well-known and loved barbecue dishes, typically featuring thin slices of beef that have marinated for hours and been grilled to perfection. The reason for the long marinating time is to allow the flavors to be absorbed, creating an extremely flavorful, tender meat so appealing to the senses, that you […]

Although quiche is considered a classic French dish, it actually originated in Germany in the medieval kingdom of Lotharingia, which the French later renamed “Lorraine“. The word “quiche” itself comes from the German word “kuchen“, meaning “cake“. Quiche is a savory dish consisting of a pastry crust filled with a flan-like mixture of eggs, milk (or cream), cheese, meat, […]