Today I am craving ‘normal’. I am half way around the world enjoying a glass of wine in a lovely street cafe and yet I am craving homemade food and all that is normal about it. Too much travel this last month has left more eager than usual to return home and embrace everything ‘normal’ […]
Cola and Jam Spare Ribs
I’m sorry but I have to “phone this one in” this week. Its not just because spare ribs are nearly impossible to pho tograph…but that is certainly part of it. (I really can’t wait to see how the rest of the Doristas did photographing this one! ) I wasn’t even going to make these this […]
June 10, 2011 by 20 Comments
Mojito Melon Skewers
Show up to the next backyard party you attend with a platter full of these and you will get quite a lot of attention. I did. The recipe (slightly adapted here) comes from Matt Armandariz’ new book “On a Stick” which I reviewed here last week. It seemed only fair that after reviewing it I […]
June 4, 2011 by 8 Comments
Candied Orange Peels – Grandma Style!
Could Candied Orange Peels be my birthright? A sweet journey through grandma’s kitchen If you grew up with the joy of visiting your grandmother, you likely know the golden rule: at Grandma’s house, you get to eat all the forbidden snacks. My grandmother was no exception. Sure, she would pretend to honor my mother’s strict […]
June 1, 2011 by 9 Comments
Quiche Me Honey Honey (Quiche Me!)
French Fridays with Dorie Quiche Me Honey Honey (Quiche Me!) Internet browsing for a recipe often takes me first to Epicurious or The Food Network even though more often than not I end up using recipes found elsewhere. I also prefer to blog-stalk as the personal touch blogs can offer the recipe seeker appeal […]
May 13, 2011 by 21 Comments
Tourteau de Chevre
French Fridays with Dorie I don’t know if the saying “better late than never” is really true or not but I can tell you if I had never sampled this tourteau de chevre I would have been very disappointed. I know. If I had never sampled the tourteau I would not have known enough to […]
May 10, 2011 by 16 Comments
Peanut Butter and Jelly Bars
My Persian ‘in-laws slash extended family’ number into the double dozens at an average get together. It took me a couple years to figure out which of the ‘cousins’ were actually cousins and which were, you know, ‘cousins’. It hardly mattered as once you are loved by one of them you are Family. Period. I […]
May 10, 2011 by 6 Comments
Bistrot Paul Bert Pepper Steak
As you might imagine, I have an orientation toward flaming foods. Nothing reads ‘fabulous‘ at the dinner table more than the sight of actual flames dancing across an entree or desert (or in this case, sauce.) I first caught the flambe bug while first learning to cook. I couldn’t resist the showy (show off!) nature […]
April 29, 2011 by 29 Comments
Mustard Batons for chic cocktail hours
French Fridays with Dorie Who wouldn’t love showing up to a cocktail party and being hit up by these savory mustard batons? That would certainly set the mood for cocktails and chatter, n’cest pas? I mourn the loss of the all-but-lost-art of the proper cocktail party. They were a huge part of my early childhood […]
April 22, 2011 by 23 Comments
Céleri Rémoulade – something French on the side!
Monsieur Céleri Rémoulade, will you forgive me my trespass? It seems as if I neglected to acknowledge the fine specimen sitting next to last week’s endearing Cuban. When you stand next to something as tasty and mouthwatering as a Cuban you run the risk of not being noticed. Several readers did notice! I am hoping to […]
April 20, 2011 by 12 Comments
Cuban “Mojo” Chicken (and Sandwiches!)
The orientation toward eating yesterday’s dinner today does not have to be thought of as an abomination. Perhaps earlier societies would look upon it that way but then things were different then. People were more ignorant of the world around them and perhaps more fearful of the things it it which they did not understand. […]
April 3, 2011 by 12 Comments
Quinoa Fruit and Nut Salad
French Fridays with Dorie You don’t have to twist my arm to fool around in the kitchen with quinoa. Quinoa and I have been flirting around with each other for over a year now even though so far its nothing too serious. We were first introduced by a mutual friend and while it wasn’t all […]
April 1, 2011 by 40 Comments
Lemon Olive Oil Cake
with Cardamom Cream
It was the peak of citrus season in Southern California I wasn’t getting any! Since I didn’t get any last year I was having quite a dry spell. There is nobody is more appreciative of my fruit tree growing friends’ largesse than I am but it was once again looking as if another season was […]
March 25, 2011 by 12 Comments
Salted Butter Breakups
French Fridays with Dorie Salted butter breakups to the rescue! If reinvention causes me to work up a thirst, natural disaster, environmental destruction and human tragedy of epic proportions will likely kill my desire for cooking up much of anything. This week’s sorrowful events in Japan have left me with zero drive for ‘chefing it […]
March 18, 2011 by 34 Comments
The French 75 Cocktail – The Cognac Version Please!
Website renovation and reinvention really worked up quite a thirst for the French 75. Since we are nearly finished with our new Sis Boom “look and feel” I thought it was time to celebrate with a bit of champagne. If you know me you know that I rarely require arm twisting to open a bottle. […]
March 12, 2011 by 13 Comments
