perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Nothing warms the soul like a hot bowl of homemade soup. You might think making your own, in your home, is beyond your reach. Think again. Making a creamy vegetable soup is as easy as one, two, three. First- begin with a base of sautéed onions. Second- add three to four cups of chopped vegetables, cover with liquid, and simmer until tender. Third
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
New year, new resolutions. Some might want to eat healthier, simplify, entertain more. Here’s a recipe to check the box on all three. A big bowl of healthy greens is a welcome sight at any gathering. But serving salad to a crowd can be challenge. It’s hard to toss without having everything fly out of the bowl. And once dressed the leaves seem to
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
This Christmas morning I served up one of the best breakfast brunches of all time. A while back I stumbled upon a recipe for hash using leftover stuffing from the night before. I thought how incredible this would this be with my grandmother’s sausage stuffing topped with poached eggs. But let’s be serious who has the time or wherewithal to whip up
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
It’s hard being good when holiday sweets and treats seem to appear at every turn. We know we shouldn’t, but don’t we all want to indulge just a bit? If you are hosting this season why not pass on the usual array of baked goods and offer up a sweet surprise instead. Something magical happens when our favorites are served in petite portions.
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
If you’ve reached your leftover limit here is an amazing open-faced sandwich that comes together in mere minutes. It’s the perfect accompaniment to soup or salad, meaning you can serve up lunch or supper in a snap. Two things ensure this recipe comes off without a hitch. The first is Naan, which is an oven-baked flatbread from the Middle East.
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Many Americans find themselves facing a big decision… what side dishes to serve with their Thanksgiving turkey. Despite all that is going on, the meal must also go on. This holiday season with all that’s in in the air you might want to keep things on the simple side. Here are a few of my favorites for you to consider. Each one can be made well in
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food detective
On the news they said that this week is the least that you will weigh all year long. Well if that’s not enough to put the fright into your Halloween I don’t know what is? This past summer the vet said I had to put my little Norwich terrier on a drastic diet. He’s down from 18.6 pounds to 15.4. I had lofty goals that we would both be lean and mean
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food detective
I love reading the food section of the New York Times. It’s a welcome break to the whirl of today’s headlines. Turning the pages I’m thrilled to discover a recipe for something that should be relatively easy to make, but for some reason never quite turns out. Imagine my excitement when I saw a feature article for the perfect Caesar salad. I’ve
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
I have to be honest- my past experience with Ball jars was to either use one as a vase or as a glass for a dark and stormy. Never in my wildest dreams would I ever consider actually canning something. I was afraid that I wouldn’t sterilize the jars properly, seal the lids correctly, and whoever consumed what was in them might
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entertaining with style- making it work for you
Sometimes the key to a fabulous flower arrangement is in the container. Right now the sunflowers are in full bloom in Yellow Springs, Ohio. The waves of bright yellow faces looking up are truly a sight to behold. One of the amazing perks of living in Southwest Ohio is that there are actual fields of corn, soybeans, oats, and yes, sunflowers
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Wherever I find myself, I’m happiest with a full dining room table. As a former professional chef and caterer I want to share what I’ve learned over the past three decades of entertaining. On this site you’ll find tricks of the trade to help even the most harried of you pull off a seemingly seamless fête. Come join the conversation! read more →