food detective
I am completely smitten with these sweet potatoes. I could eat them every day. Truth be told, some days I do. The play between the puff inside verses the crunch outside is heavenly. Then to push it up a notch, these hot wedges get a drizzle of sriracha crème fraiche. Think sweet heat. You’ll be amazed how easy they are to make. Since sweet
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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
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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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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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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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 should please all palettes and fit every timetable.
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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 cliff. For me breakfast and brunch have always been a bit of a bear.
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food detective
Last month United threw us a curveball. A seven-hour delay in the Denver airport for our connecting flight home. Being held hostage by the airlines is never fun but this time I was carrying special cargo, my little Norwich terrier Willie. We waited for our crew to arrive at the gate for an hour, sat on the plane for 2 ½ hours for mechanics to
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food detective
I’m in the midst of a summer love affair with tomatoes. Can’t tell you how excited I get when I try something new and absolutely adore it. This happened at my husband’s surprise birthday breakfast for his entire office at our home. I usually don’t hire caterers. But because this party was at 8 AM, at my house, AND a surprise I knew I needed
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home is where the heart is
Is there a better way to start the day than with a big cup of French roast and the Sunday New York Times? How about the simplest of Sunday starts. A three-minute egg. In a time-warp egg cup. Al fresco on a sunny seventy-degree morning. This past Sunday was the perfect summer morning. The skies were clear and the humidity low. Walking outside with
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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 →