Recipes

I’ve been recently purchasing rotisserie chickens from the Roli Roti truck when I’m at farmer’s market. They’re a little more expensive than the chickens at Safeway – but free-range, plump and packed with herbs. When the chicken is picked clean over the course of a few meals, nothing is more satisfying than making a bone…

A four-foot-tall pink jellyfish chandelier…three courses of delicious seafood…one ridiculous plastic crab hat…nothing less would do for the birthday celebration of my great friend Margaret!  The night’s menu included Spanish and Moroccan flavors – two of her favorite places to travel. Enchantment Under the Sea Menu  Castelvetrano olives Black rice tabouli salad with cranberry bean…

Black rice lends a dark elegance to this super simple, super healthy salad. It made for a quick lunch on Monday, but could see serving this at a spring luncheon party topped with a beautiful piece of broiled salmon. Black rice salad with beet greens, nuts and olives Four servings, 35 minutes 1 cup black…

After a long stretch of travel, an early Thanksgiving, entertaining an eight-year old for a week, more travel, a second Thanksgiving, more houseguests and decorating  for Christmas…Rob and I collapsed on the couch on Sunday night with apparently not a scrap to eat in the house for dinner. I read somewhere that lentils are the…

While in Greece, I learned a recipe (similar to this) for cooking fresh fava beans with fennel, tomatoes, olive oil and smoked sausage. This fall soup is a spin on that classic combination – cheating by using canned beans and crushed tomatoes but resulting with the same hearty flavors. Greek Bean, Fennel and Sausage Soup…

Now that Halloween has passed, the holidays are just around the corner. There are only so many quiet weekends available for cooking before things start to book up with Thanksgiving and Christmas events. When I posted the recipe for marinated christmas lima beans last week, Heatherina asked for more ideas for savory homemade gifts. These…

I love a recipe that is simple, but takes a few days to complete. There’s something so gratifying in checking in on the process every couple hours. Gourmet beans in oil with truffle salt have become my new favorite thing to eat after making them for the italian dinner party a few weeks ago. According…

Gorgeous food, easily prepared. Great conversation with friends. Meeting new people. Last night’s dinner party was everything I love about hosting!  Here’s the play-by-play guide: Spanish-inspired Menu Appetizer of Spanish cheeses Mussels in a chorizo, chickpea, tomato broth Fresh tomatoes with kale pesto dressing Roasted cauliflower Warm crusty baguette Dessert of grapes and spanish dark…

Panzanella is a classic italian recipe for a summer salad made with tomatoes and stale bread. When I had extra jalapeño cheese bread on hand, I turned the recipe into a “torta” version with Mexican flavors for lunch. This would be a great way to use up any leftovers from taco night. Mexican Panzanella Salad…

Happy Valentine’s Day to everyone!  After yesterday’s morning tea party, I dashed off to work with a client in the afternoon and returned home to prepare for the day’s second entertaining event.  Matt and Jon were arriving for dinner at 7:00. I planned an easy, frenchy menu for the dinner. A big pot of coq…