This post is sponsored by the Florida Keys and Key West, which I happily accepted believing that visualization is key to realization. A romanticized vision of Key West, utterly inspired by Ernest Hemingway and the movie “Key Largo”, has placed it high on my list of 1000 places to see before I die. What did Hemingway love […]
Appetizers
Southern Heat in Louisville
Tell me Louisville, Kentucky is not at the epicenter of a culinary explosion and I’ll show you someone who needs to wake up and smell the bourbon! Things are hot in Louisville and it’s about to get even hotter with the release of Southern Heat by Chef Anthony Lamas and Gwen Pratesi – a gorgeous, beautifully […]
Ottolenghi’s Tomato and Pomegranate Salad
If anyone could be called the leader of the “Vegi Renaissance”, it has to be Yotom Ottolenghi, although he readily admits to having been paralyzed at the prospect of writing a weekly vegetarian recipe for his Guardian column back in 2006. Hard to believe given the breadth of exciting vegetable, grain and legume creations shared […]
10 Easy Sweet Potato Ideas + Recipes
Fall is in the air and visions of mouthwatering dishes of apples, sweet potatoes and pumpkins are dancing in my head. Even if it’s only wishful thinking on my part (I’m over this hot, humid weather we’ve had in SoCal), my mind quickly filled with orange yearnings when I came across a playing card-sized calendar […]
King Salmon with Limoncello Fruit Salsa
Another Fast, Fresh & Easy dish to indulge your senses and nurture well-being. Fresh King Salmon is best prepared simply to highlight its flavorful pink flesh brimming with healthy omegas and complemented by a vibrantly colored fruit salsa of juicy strawberries, sweet yellow mango, and creamy avocado – a trio of California-grown produce that beautifully […]
Mad Men Final Farewell Party
The bittersweet moment when Mad Men fans must say goodbye to the memorable characters of Sterling Cooper, their paramours and adversaries has finally arrived. A fan since day one, I will miss the series, but take comfort in the fact that, today, nothing is ever completely over – when we’re nostalgic for the “good ole […]
Beyond Meat Keftedes at Camp Blogaway
These garam masala spiced vegan, gluten free, non-GMO keftedes (plural of kefte) made with Beyond Meat Feisty Crumbles were a big hit at Camp Blogaway with everyone who tasted them. Spiced meatballs are popular all over the world, from Morocco in the west through the Middle East (kefta or kufta), to Greece (keftedes), Turkey (köfte), Armenia (kyufta), […]
Get Creative with Castello: Cheesy Lemon Caraway Focaccia
This is a PARTNER POST with Castello® Cheese. Get creative with any of Castello’s uniquely crafted cheeses. All you have to do is say “cheese” and I’ll come running! I’m the one who said that a cheese board would be my wish if I were stranded on a desert island – that and a complementary beer […]
Make Hawaiian Ahi Tuna Poke At Home #Mahalo
Steamy days in the islands call for cool food that provides instant sustenance without heating – and that’s how Hawaiian poke (pronounced POH-kay) was invented. Just like all species, humans seek foods that are available to them and provide necessary sustenance. Hawaiian culture has always revolved around the sea. Ancient Hawaiians drew their sustenance – physical […]
Tea Eggs for Chinese New Year
Is it the Year of the Goat, Sheep, or Ram? In Vietnam, where the celebration is called Tet Festival, it’s definitely the Year of the Goat. Japanese followers of the lunar zodiac have been busy sending postcards heralding the Year of the Sheep. In Hong Kong I saw mostly cute, fluffy sheep, although retailers’ store […]