Chocolate Truffle recipe – simple to make at home
Oh my. Valentine's Day is tomorrow and we are snowed in. No chance to run out for cards or flowers or chocolates. I'm going to have to improvise with what I have in the pantry. I do have some good…
The Blood and Sand cocktail, made with blood orange
The Blood and Sand cocktail is a throwback to the Prohibition-era days when Rudolph Valentino was one of the greatest stars of the Silver Screen. Named after "the Sheik"'s 1922 movie, this classic cocktail is one of the few that…
Tangerine Drop Martini
Mid-winter brings a more monotonous selection in the produce aisle but a bounteous variety in the citrus section. While the fresh berries and melons of summer have faded into memory, the market is piled high with oranges, grapefruits, lemons and…
Making Beef Stock from bones
I recently bought a share of a beef cow with some friends. We split a half a steer between the five of us. My friend Casie had tracked down a farmer who could sell us meat that was organic, grass-fed…
Porcini Mushroom Barley Soup
The Italians, especially the Tucsons, use porcini mushrooms, fresh or dried, in sauces, risottos and stews. When you buy them dried, they have a very concentrated savory mushroom aroma. Because I could not bring home the fresh porcini, I was happy to bring home a few vacuum packs of the dried mushrooms as a souvenir of Tuscany.
Thanksgiving podcast appearance!
Today at noon, I'll be a guest on Wiseheart Woman's blogtalkradio podcast. The host, Lisa Capehart and I will be talking about "New Healthy" alternatives to Thanksgiving food favorites. "New Healthy" Food Ideas for Thanksgiving Podcast Go to Wiseheart Woman's…
Homemade Potato Gnocchi with quick tomato sauce
Gnocchi is Italian for "little lumps", which describes it perfectly. Gnocchi are like light little lumps of potato goodness. When they are done correctly, they should be as "soft as clouds". They are pressed with grooves to hold onto a sauce, making them pair perfectly with a basic homemade tomato sauce.
Italian Pickled Eggplant
As part of apertivo in Fano, Italy, I had eggplant that was delicious. I've had plenty of marinated or roasted eggplant before, but this was a tangy, raw eggplant pickle. When I came home, I knew that I had to try to make pickled eggplant myself.
Lion’s Tail cocktail made with homemade Pimento Dram
The Lion's Tail cocktail is a spicy combination of rye or bourbon, lime juice, syrup, bitters and Pimento Dram. It's especially good using this homemade Pimento Allspice Dram.
Homemade Grenadine and an El Presidente Cocktail
I'm starting to see the fresh pomegranates back in the stores again this week. I do love cutting them open and popping out those garnet-colored seeds to eat. They stain your fingers bright pink, but I really don't care. They…
Easy Thai Tomato Coconut Soup
One cool trick that I've learned is to make tomato soup from canned tomatoes. I always keep cans of diced tomatoes in the pantry. If I dig a little deeper, I can usually find a can of coconut milk, too. So, if I just add some onion, garlic, celery, pepper and fresh basil & ginger, I have a delicious, creamy Thai-flavored Tomato Coconut soup that I can make in about 15 minutes.
Multi-Colored Ham Vegetable Quiche
If it's been a while since I've been to the market for groceries, it can be challenging to come up with dinner. If I dig around in my fridge, most of the time I have eggs, cream, vegetables, cold cuts…