Eating Hoppin’ John with blackeyed peas is a Southern New Year’s tradition to bring good luck and, with the addition of greens, which represent money, prosperity in the new year. Some suggest that the origin of this “good luck” tradition dates back to the Civil War, when Union troops, especially in areas targeted by General Sherman, typically […]
Appetizers
Salmon Mousse and Champagne
Salmon and champagne are a natural pairing for the holidays or any occasion where you desire a touch of elegance and sophistication and lately I’ve been struck with a powerful urge to create a few show stopping salmon dishes after enjoying an incredible Skuna Bay salmon dinner at The Hobbit (more on this later). Each […]
Recipe for Carrot Pumpkin; Sauce or Soup
Happy Halloween !!! From ghoulies and ghosties and long leggety beasties and things that go bump in the night, Good Lord deliver us! … Scottish saying Whatever you feel about the “holiday” – love it or hate it, costume or not, lights on or lights off – it’s an opportunity to revel in the pumpkin. […]
Star Olive Oil Tasting
A few weeks ago I was among a group of food writers, bloggers, publishers, lovers, invited by STAR Fine Foods to celebrate the launch of their first Extra Virgin Olive Oil made exclusively from California olives. It is the first locally grown olive oil for the importer which has introduced thousands of Californians and households […]
Creamy Zucchini and Goat Cheese Dip
Drumroll…. here’s the third recipe in this year’s Zucchini Throwdown and I’m dedicating it to Roxana of A Little Bit of Everything because of her kind comment urging me to keep them coming on my previous post where I declared an end to zucchini season 🙂 Don’t get the wrong impression, just because this humble […]
Garlic Miso Chicken Wings
I’ve found another TopMom during my food blog travels! Our August Mom of the Month’s name is Nami and when I first encountered her site, I fell in love with her personable style and how she made traditional Japanese dishes quick and easy for home cooks with simple instructions and beautiful prep-to-finish photos. Nami moved […]
Zucchini Keftedes with Feta
In keeping with my garden theme during this bountiful time of year, the past week was officially declared Zucchini Throwdown at She’s Cookin’ and I’ll be sharing three simple + seasonal recipes for this most prolific summer squash. First up is a recipe from Chef Michael Symon’s Easter Goes Greek spread featured in Bon Appétit‘s […]
#1 Dip: Guacamole
I didn’t fact check the stats but I’m pretty sure that a majority of households across the country will be grilling this Sunday for Father’s Day! Whether dad’s favorite is a juicy, medium-rare steak, robust barbequed ribs, or a burgers and hot dogs All-American guy, you’ll want a few simple, but sensational sides to round […]
Banana Cashew Hummus with Wonton Chips
I cook and write here and for OC Family.com and my emphasis is on easy to prepare, healthy recipes that appeal to both kids and adults. Parents frequently ask how to get their kids to eat vegetables; well, it starts with you – if you don’t eat veggies and/or never cook, serve or order them, […]
Baked Salmon Egg Rolls
I love eggrolls: Chinese egg rolls, Vietnamese egg rolls (Cha Gio), Filipino eggr olls (Lumpia), but knowing that they’re deep fried, I don’t eat them as often as I’d like to. So I came up with Baked Salmon Egg Rolls for a healthier option. A few weeks ago I was craving eggrolls something fierce. The […]