food detective
Labor Day is upon us and that means that corn season is almost over. I am a huge fan of the Yankee Street Market’s corn cart that’s parked on Stroop Road in Dayton, Ohio. Every day they sell freshly picked sweet corn, tomatoes, cucumbers, onions, zucchinis, and a variety of melons. It’s so convenient that I swing by almost every day. I almost
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fête fact
As an empty nester it’s an odd thing to be waiting behind a school bus. The first thing that comes to my mind is where has the time gone. Then if it’s a particularly long delay with seemingly first-time parents saying good-bye to their little ones I usually get a bit misty-eyed and nostalgic. How many back-to-school-eves have I helped my daughters
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food detective
My husband and I could eat fresh-picked sweet corn every single day. But just like those truly vine ripened tomatoes the season will soon be over. So I was super excited when I discovered a new way to enjoy these fresh picked ears in the New York Times. The food section had an intriguing recipe featuring orecchiette with a fresh corn sauce. Orecch
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Cocktails in the garden- what fun! But for a midweek party do you simply serve a nibble and a drink or do you offer up something a little more substantial? When you’re having a larger group for cocktails it’s sometimes hard to navigate how much food to serve. The answer came to me on a recent trip to a party supply store. As I was looking for
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
When my adult children come home I find myself wanting to resurrect our old family memories. Breakfasts were always a big deal for my girls growing up at our small breakfast table for three. Chocolate chip pancakes, steel cut oatmeal, smoked salmon on bagels, and the ever-present poached egg. It used to drive
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entertaining with style- making it work for you
The past few months I’ve been on the flower show circuit as a photography judge. Walking through the floral design entries I’m continually blown away by their sheer beauty, creativity and inventiveness. Flower shows for me are what five-star restaurants are to others. I’d love to try to replicate what I see at home but I’m confident it’s most likel
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Lately my husband has been such a sweetheart I thought I’d bake him a pie. Wait a minute- me make a homemade pie? Those of you who know me know that I’m not very skilled when it comes to baking. But just because I’m not terribly accomplished at something doesn’t mean I shouldn’t give it a try. Now I’m not suggesting I’ll go hog wild into
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Some times life contains a lot of “too”, as in “and she cooks too”. The national flower show I was co-chairing blew in like a southern storm, then shone brightly on our city, and left as quickly as it came. It was such an incredible event. We had twenty-six judges come in from around the country to judge over two hundred horticulture, floral design
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
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Here’s a fresh and vibrant salad that I am going to convert into a side dish. I got the recipe in my daily feed from Bon Appétit; after a couple tweaks it’s sure to be my wingman throughout the summer. While it makes a tremendous luncheon salad, I love it alongside grilled fish, chicken and meat. Because it’s as easy to make as it is fresh
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Need a fresh app in a flash? Try this spin-off of grilled flatbread with lightly seasoned cucumber, creamy burrata, and slivered basil. Forego the grill by picking up a box of amazing pita crackers. In less than five minutes you’ll have a crispy, creamy, bright and fresh appetizer that will wow your guests in no time flat.
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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 →