Hiding from the unpredictable winter weather on Groundhog’s Day? Let’s find a bright spot, whether it is sunny or cloudy. Create some savory treats. Try phyllo cups filled with colorful bites. Beautifully designed phyllo cups are available frozen. Just bake … Continue reading →

It’s time for a good winter quiche! My mom gave me a quiche dish decades ago, which is shallow with a scalloped edge; so, I recommend starting with an authentic quiche dish. Prepare your favorite pie crust dough. Bake the … Continue reading →

The famous and celebratory Chinese New Year is January 25 – with the iconic animal this year being the rat. We like to celebrate this fun holiday with a dinner party and our dear friends, but; honestly, I have been … Continue reading →

Nothing warms a person faster than a homemade bowl of soup. The selection is vast and the basic ingredient for many terrific soups is chicken both. Homemade chicken broth is preferred with a hen, spring water, onion in the cavity, … Continue reading →

Treat yourself to a home spa day. The prep includes pedicure and manicure items, new house shoes, your favorite robe, bubble bath or mineral treatment enhancers, a basket of new personal care products, and some magazines or e-magazines. Preselect some … Continue reading →

Everyone wishes for good luck in the New Year, which is why many serve black-eyed peas and also cabbage for wealth on January 1. Another tradition is to serve ham, which takes several hours to prepare. My suggestion is to … Continue reading →

Christmas dining allows for the thankfulness for our blessings. So, the meal should reflect consideration for this family gathering time. For centuries, a goose, a turkey, or a ham have been the meal of choice, which are all good choices. … Continue reading →

Christmastime entertaining encourages delightful beverages. Try a celebratory Christmas Sangria punch during your next gathering. Served chilled, the base ingredients are: 1 bottle of Merlot red wine, 1/2 cup of orange juice,1/4 cup of cranberry juice, 2/3 cup of super … Continue reading →

In December, it is a tradition to create entrees which have color tones of red and green. There is a lovely dish featured at the Meissl & Schadn restaurant in Vienna, Austria which is comprised of basil filled ravioli. It … Continue reading →

“Toast” to the holidays! Yes, Champagne can be the first pick; however, a toast can also be mini marshmallows on small skewer served with a non-scented candle for each mature guest to “toast” their own marshmallows. Serve this on large … Continue reading →

We love our Thanksgiving flavors – sage infused cornbread dressing, turkey with fruity cranberry, and green bean casserole. Make the moment last by planning for leftovers.  This is done by making enough and reserving it back early.  Just after serving … Continue reading →

Keeping things simple this time of year is recommended. Soon, very heavy and abundant dining will occur; so, if you are going to indulge, indulge with poached, fresh fish. Select your fish of choice such as salmon, Chilean Seabass or … Continue reading →

Does your Mahjong gathering need a culinary inspiration? For arrival, serve cantaloupe bites with goat cheese crumbles topped with bacon. Pair this with oolong tea. For the lunch break, serve steamed crab claws with lemon butter sauce and steamed vegetable … Continue reading →

The holidays are approaching fast; so, it is time to gather your friends for an Art Party to create you personalized annual Christmas letters or cards to send next month. Cover your dining table with newspaper. Fill the center of … Continue reading →

It may be a Halloween Celebration or Harvest Fest – Quesadillas will meet the need! These pan-seared Tex-Mex favorites begin with tortillas. What makes this a great choice is that quesadillas require a minimum of effort and can feed several … Continue reading →