February signals the beginning of the Valentine season and it’s never too soon to make plans for an evening of romanticism. Always set the table the night before to save time. Begin the memorable evening with a stunning deep red, … Continue reading →

Many times, we just need to catch up by using a day off as a work day at home. Make the most of the moment by multi-tasking. Crockpot a hen while getting your work done. Purchase the hen the day … Continue reading →

Call it tailgating or cheerleading cuisine, if your friends gather for a game, they will be hungry. Try my hotdog “stand” treat for a winning combination of flavors. Lightly split each hotdog and insert a thin slice of Cheddar cheese. … Continue reading →

Spices wake up our senses and Jamaican Jerk Chicken can jump start your dining experience. In a blender combine: thyme; parsley; jalapeno; ginger; scallions; garlic; dried chili pepper; soy sauce; vegetable oil (not olive oil) and no salt. Marinate raw … Continue reading →

The warmth from the oven warms the home – add the aromas from a slow home-cooked meal and life is cozy. Place a chicken breast, per person, in a Dutch oven and add: chicken broth; ginger slices; 1 yellow squash, … Continue reading →

When the big weather chill occurs, nothing warms friends and family faster than a fantastic dish of Cioppino. This is an Italian style Bouillabaisse (Seafood Stew). Steaming hot and filled with fresh seafood treasures, this seafood soup is served en … Continue reading →

Looking for a festive hors d’oeuvre? Try one of my family’s favorite: Kelly’s Eggplant on Crostini. Boil an eggplant in salted water, with the ends cut off, and poke holes in it with a fork. When the eggplant is tender … Continue reading →

Cuisine, prepared with spinach concepts, gives us the opportunity to continue December seasonal designs. Famous terms such as Florentine and Rockefeller are synonymous with the dark leafy vegetable intensified with vitamins, spinach. Try my Shrimp Rockefeller for an entertaining showstopper. … Continue reading →

December cuisine gives us the opportunity to make lovely designs with red and green impacts in the plating design. There are some great pairing possibilities such as green tomato soup and lobster medallions. Another fun and easy pairing is with … Continue reading →

Flavorings certainly make a huge difference to the taste of our food. The basics of salt and pepper have branched into multiple sources of salt and multiple styles of peppers. Liquid flavorings boost the impression of the taste such as … Continue reading →

Cranberry sauce isn’t just for Thanksgiving. That lovely deep red berry color is a seasonally responsive and brightens poultry throughout December. Simply prepare your favorite poultry dish and finish the cooked bird in the oven by covering it with fresh … Continue reading →

While attending LaVarenne in Burgundy, France, we studied the art of baking Palmiers – from scratch. Puff pastry is a masterful composition of dough with multiple layers of butter to make the pastry flaky and also puff, when heated. Frozen … Continue reading →

During autumn, turnovers are so tasty, with hot fruit fillings that satisfy. My grandmother used to make apple turnovers by cooking the apples for hours. As homemakers entered into working professional roles, homemade crusts transitioned to canned biscuits rolled out … Continue reading →

In the Caribbean, there exists a dish called Chicken Chiquita. From its name, it announces that it consists of chicken and bananas. What a delightful combination. The island spices, including nutmeg and curry, enhance the flavoring. However, I decided to … Continue reading →

When one conjures up the thought of Halloween food, we tend to think of sweets first. Try stuffed red bell peppers for an impacting plate. Most cooks fill stuffed bell peppers with a ground meat mixture. That works; but, as … Continue reading →