perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
One of my perennial resolutions is to go through an old binder of mine entitled “Sandy’s Best”, a collection of recipes that I have been lugging back and forth for years. Most of the recipes are from the late 1980s to early 2000s. Some are clearly dated. Others have fond memories. It’s funny but when I’ve tried to resurrect many, they’ve landed in
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dinner for two
Last week those of us in California got a brief respite from the atmospheric river that has been relentlessly raining down. I seized the moment, heated up the pool and whipped together a dinner for two to enjoy out on the patio. A first since November. My love affair with my husband’s grill continues. (You might be asking who did I give that
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food detective
On a recent visit to my daughter’s, my son-in-law treated me to one of the best burgers I have ever had. Some call it an Oklahoma burger. Others a Depression burger, as small amounts of ground beef are cooked with heaping piles of thinly sliced onions to stretch out the meager portion of protein. After that trip I began reading about these burger
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food detective
With the big game right around the corner, why not cook up two competing batches of chili to place bets on. And getting in the game-day spirit, how about a red beef chili for the Chiefs and for the Eagles a salsa verde chicken chili. My go-to beef chili is a tried-and-true champ. A great competitor, this white chicken chili that I adapted from my
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food detective
This holiday season I decided to turn up the heat and give my husband something really hot… a new gas grill. It was a real upgrade from our thirty-five-year-old dinosaur that came with our house. I had so much fun reaching out to my favorite grill masters from across the country for their advice and input (thank you all!) I settled on the Weber
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what to bring
Tis the season to share with those you care. And what better way than with a homemade token of your appreciation. I find sweets are best delivered in small packages. Here is a rich indulgence that’s guaranteed to delight, super dark and slightly salty. Each year I make a big batch of my hot fudge sauce. I’ve found four-ounce Ball jars are the
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perfecting the "done before they arrive" party- a work in progress
The holidays will be here before you know it. Now’s the time to start filling your freezer with sweet and savory treats that you can pull out in a moment’s notice. A couple months out I tackle some of my more time-consuming recipes. When our kitchen table and bedrooms begin to fill, I’m always glad I did. Gingerbread cookies are always a favorite.
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food detective
One of the ways I show love and support is by making things to eat that not only nourish but comfort and satisfy. When I went out to stay with my daughter and son- in-law to welcome their new addition, I wanted to shower them with just that. I had many of their favorites in mind but thought it might be fun to throw some new ones into the mix. Top
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food detective
Want an exceptional homemade pizza that takes less time to prepare than opening your freezer and popping a subpar store version in the oven? The trick is to swap naan for pizza dough. Then to top with high quality creamy cheese and a drizzle of honey. Naan is a leavened oven baked flatbread from India. It is soft, chewy and slightly tangy. It's
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food detective
What is better than a just-picked off-the-vine tomato? How about it’s perfect accompaniment! If you love caprese salad with thick slices of beefsteak, rounds of mozzarella, a hefty drizzle of extra virgin olive oil and plenty of fresh basil, you might just flip for this tomato salad featuring whipped ricotta. I adore whipped ricotta and get very
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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 →