food detective
Happy Chinese New Year- it’s the year of the pig! What perfect timing that I stumbled upon the following recipe. One of my personal new year’s resolutions is to finally go through all my old cooking magazines that have literally been piling up for decades. And while I’ve been feeling some Marie Kondo pressure to simply pitch them all, I’m glad I
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food detective
The other night I was over at my dear friends Maggie and Richard’s for a drink. They truly are entertainers extraordinaire. Their home is so welcoming, their cocktails such fun, and their hors d’oeuvres divine. Those two really know how to make a guest feel special. As Richard poured a wonderful white burgundy in his crisp white apron, Maggie
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making it for two
Let’s be honest- after a long day who doesn’t want to come home to a little canapé? Please don’t roll your eyes because I make my spouse a small hors d'oeuvre to accompany his Makers Mark. And before you groan, let me show you how something that takes almost no effort can have a huge impact on those you love- be it your husband, wife, significant
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food detective
I pulled into my desert house right after my 26-year-old daughter and her friends had driven off after a little Cinco de Mayo girls’ weekend. I was truly impressed that they had left the house just as they had found it. And even more elated when I opened the freezer to find a large bottle of top shelf tequila chilling on its side. Let’s get serious
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Right before Valentine’s Day I taught a Girls’ Night Out cooking class at Dorothy Lane Market’s Culinary Center. The evening featured elegant and effortless appetizers and some simple but spectacular deserts. To make it more fun, Teresa Kearney, paired it all with wines from across Europe. Because let’s be honest, when having people over who
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food detective
One of my readers emailed me after my last post, which was on new year resolutions and my desire to make French cheese puffs, and asked me how I expected to lose seven pounds (another one of my resolutions) while eating gougères. Point well taken. So, I decided to investigate how I could work something bright and fresh into my canapé repertoire.
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
This time of year we all have resolutions. Maybe it’s to lose 7 pounds, improve your daily workout, drink more water, mediate each morning. I know these are all on my list, along with another… to start making gougères. You might wonder what the heck is that!? A gougère is a delicate little cheese puff made with a savory pâte à choux. À pâte what?!
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food detective
Football’s been a constant in our home the past few weeks. Personally, I am a diehard Michigan fan, I also like to root for the Cleveland Browns. Obviously, I have had little to cheer about. That said, my attention span tends to wander and wane when it comes to other teams and competitions. While my loved ones have been glued to the big screen
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
Bringing an appetizer to a special friend’s party calls for something a little exceptional. Nothing says home like a dip, though there is certainly nothing humdrum about this one. First glances are deceiving, this concoction is sophisticated and sublime. Smoked salmon and salmon roe. Don’t skimp on the ingredients, the highest quality yields
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
What could be more frightening than having company arrive and not having a canape (or two) to greet them? Fear not! Just in time for Halloween (and the upcoming holiday season) here are several appetizers that can be made well in advance and stowed in your freezer, or assembled in a matter minutes. Now you’ll always have something scrumptious to
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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 →