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 cliff. For me breakfast and brunch have always been a bit of a bear.
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Purists might cringe when they read this post, the rest may jump for joy when they discover how easy it is to make a dynamic duo of sauces for grilled filets or beef tenderloin. I never know which guests will prefer with their steak- horseradish sauce or béarnaise. Honestly I like a little of both. What I don’t enjoy is trying to make a
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Last Wednesday I invited Carrie Walters, from the DLM Culinary Center, Liz Valenti, from Wheat Penny, and Wiley, from Meadowlark, over for lunch. I knew I wanted to serve something seasonal, but also something with a bit of flair. Let’s be honest how often do these three top Dayton chefs get to sit down to a midday meal that is reminiscent of days
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food detective
I am crazy for fried green tomatoes. Meadowlark in Dayton, Ohio fries up some of the best. Lucky for me the restaurant is practically in my backyard. I can pick up an order to go then devour them at home, piping hot with a big spoonful of their tangy chow chow relish. But with each bite I secretly wish I could master making my own. Lucky for me
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Farm stands and markets are cropping up everywhere in southwestern Ohio. Worth the trip- the 2nd Street Market in downtown Dayton and the Yellow Springs Farmer’s Market. But I have to say that Dorothy Lane has a pretty incredible daily farmer’s market right inside their grocery store. And right now the peaches from Branstrator Farm in Clarksville
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Is there anything better than waking up on a summer Saturday, grabbing a big cup of coffee and heading off to the local farmer’s market? That scenario is tops in my book. Second on the list- the cascading menu that tumbles out of my orange collapsible picnic tote. What better way to mark the summer solstice than with a cool gazpacho highlighting
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food detective
In our family the birthday girl dictates the celebratory meal. Most often the menu features bacon wrapped grilled fillets, asparagus or broccoli tossed with lemon and the ever-present twice-baked potato. But as the girls have grown so have their palettes. On a recent trip to Whole Foods in Palm Desert they were offering samples of crispy
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food detective
My step-daughter and her chef boyfriend gave me the best cookbook for Christmas, Prune by Gabrielle Hamilton. I love the way the book appears to be a copy of her cooking manifest for her restaurant, complete with hand written notes in the margins. Personally I read cookbooks like others read novels. I have a stack of cookbooks on my bedside table.
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Falling head over heels doesn’t have to be complicated, especially when you have crazy good ingredients. Here is a truly decadent dessert that is easy as one, two, three. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth but I make an exception for Pure Madness peppermint bark. It truly is crazy chocolate love. The layers of dark and white chocolate are
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
When my husband and I are empty nesters for Thanksgiving we have a “poultry-free” meal. It is extravagant and decadent. When our offspring come home to roost for the holiday it is a full out Norman-Rockwell-esque extravaganza. Cooking a traditional Thanksgiving dinner is not my idea of a fun time. Too much prep, too many dishes, not enough oven
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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 →