food detective
I came of age at a time when it was considered chic to dine on quiche and crepes. There were entire restaurants devoted to this fare. I loved the savory creamed chicken crepes, the studded quiche with its flaky crust, and the crocks of cheese capped French onion soup. But
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food detective
This is probably the most incredible breakfast sandwich… ever. Best part you can make all the components a couple hours ahead of time, then it’s just a quick griddle until you plate it up. And while it’s uncommonly light and airy it’s actually pretty sturdy, so you can take this
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food detective
As the countdown for the eclipse approached, I wondered how best to mark this extraordinary event. The moon was scheduled to block out the sun at 2:28 on Monday afternoon. Not the time I typically entertain. Then an idea came to me the night before just like a flash in
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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
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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
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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,
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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
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
The inn is full for Easter! With hikers, bikers, sun seekers, and sleepers- breakfast for a crew can be a challenge. Out in California “toast” continues to reign. So I figured I would hop on that train and make it the centerpiece of my Saturday breakfast/brunch/lunch. A grab-and-go affair that
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Another holiday weekend is upon us, happily for some of us that means another full house. Which most likely means offering up breakfast, lunch and dinner, several days in a row. The trick is figuring out a way to show your guests you care while not pushing yourself over the
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Well the last week was filled with activity. Monday night a dinner in honor of our visiting floral design presenters. Thursday morning a surprise birthday brunch at our house for my husband’s entire office. Saturday night- cocktails and a buffet for Dave’s actual 60th birthday. Three parties, three menus, three
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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 →