How the French Warm Up in Winter – Braised Pork Ragout with Mushrooms and Pearl Onions
Succulent, tender braised pork cooked slowly with mushrooms, pearl onions, herbs and tomatoes. The French know how to warm up a winter evening with Ragout. The name comes from the French ragoûter, meaning: “to revive the taste”. Enjoy this medley of deliciousness with pasta, couscous, polenta or mashed potatoes. One of the best things about […]
Super Bowl Snacks
For some folks Super Bowl snacks are almost as important as the big game and the half time show. I like to make snacks that I can set out for my guests to enjoy, so I can watch the game instead of being tied to the kitchen all afternoon. Here’s some of my favorite “set […]
The Last Word Cocktail – Dressed Up With Empress 1908 Gin
The Last Word Cocktail is traditionally made with gin. I dressed it up by making it with my favorite gin – Empress 1908. Empress is inspired by the legendary Fairmont Empress Hotel in Victoria, British Columbia This gin is a gorgeous indigo blue gin which changes color to a pretty soft pink when citrus is […]
My Go To Holiday Appetizers
My go to holiday appetizers are quick and easy and SO TASTY! I promise your guests will love them! Happy Holidays!
What To Serve On Thanksgiving Weekend – Pasta With Amatriciana Sauce
After a huge Thanksgiving meal on Thursday, I am ready for some quick, easy dinners on the weekend. One of my favorites is a traditional Italian pasta dish – Pasta with Amatriciana Sauce. What makes it so delicious? Traditionally made with salt-cured pork jowl or pancetta, I make mine with prosciutto. Pancetta is flavorful, but […]
Favorite Thanksgiving Recipes
Thanksgiving is a time to enjoy tried and true recipes, with a few new twists. One of my favorite dishes on the Thanksgiving dinner table is cranberry sauce. I always serve the canned jellied cranberry sauce because that’s what Mom always served for the kiddos at her Thanksgiving table. She also served a lovely Clementine […]
Spiced Apple Maple Ginger Cocktail
Let’s celebrate apple cider season! I love this time of year in Virginia – the leaves on our trees are starting to change color to the most beautiful golds and red. Our local orchard sells apple cider and a bountiful array of apples. My spiced apple cocktail is full of crisp seasonal flavors, just the […]
One Bite Puff Pastry Appetizers – Smoked Salmon Bites and Basil Pesto Tomato Bites
These are the perfect one bite appetizers to serve with champagne before dinner. I like to use frozen Dufour puff pastry for my appetizers because it is made with butter. I used to use Pepperidge Farm puff pastry, but I recently found out that it is made with vegetable oil, not butter as a main […]
Firecrackers – Spicy Mini Club Cracker Snacks
Spicy mini club crackers make the perfect summer snack paired with chilled Proscecco. So easy to make and pack on a picnic or an afternoon at the lake. Mionetto Prosecco DOC Treviso Brut is my “go to” prosecco in the summer. With aromas of golden apple, honey and white peach. It is a lovely apéritif, […]
Juicy, Tender Chicken Roasted In A Brown Paper Bag
Would you like to serve a tender, juicy, delicious roast chicken for dinner tonight? Here’s the secret…roast your chicken in a brown paper bag! My friend that shared this recipe with me told me that it is half recipe/half science experiment since it does not seem to make logical sense…but the bag does not catch […]
