Guests in town for the holidays? There are times when it’s just easier to stay at home and entertain – it’s more casual, you don’t have to stress about having a large party or poor service, or worry about how long the food is taking or splitting the bill, it can accommodate nap times, and […]
She's Cookin'
Turkey Time!
Cooking Thanksgiving dinner can be stressful and in my previous post I shared TWO TIPS to help the day go smoother: 1. Read your recipes and directions carefully. 2. Cook side dishes in advance (esp. if you’re like me and have only ONE oven). I considered adding a third tip: don’t do anything different, but […]
Brussels Sprouts Grow on Trees
There’s been a lot of talk about brussels sprouts this past week: about children wanting to eat them (for real!) and a mom who just can’t stomach it, to Thanksgiving recipes for the cruciferous veggie (how did brussels sprouts become a Thanksgiving tradition anyway?). In response to the parents commenting on the PBS Whrll slideshow, […]
Two Tips for Tackling Turkey
Making Thanksgiving dinner on your own can be a daunting task – even for your more experienced cooks. Just because I’m a cooking blogger doesn’t mean that all my meals turn out perfect, or that I’m an expert in all things culinary, or that I have some awesome Viking professional kitchen…. And the Thanksgiving dinner […]
A New Twist on Banana Bread
Beloved banana bread with an autumn twist along with the health benefits of fiber-rich oatmeal and flax. My 18 year old devoured this bread with peanut butter for breakfast and lunch for three days straight and her BFF declared it the “bread of the gods”. A powerful endorsement from an age group whose four main […]
Just Another Excuse for Pinot Noir
The Bon Appétit Challenge was something I dreamed up after seeing the movie “Julie &Julia” in August. Basically, I have set out to cook the cover recipe of every Bon Appétit magazine that I have. My archives go back to 1990; fortunately, I did recycle a few here and there 🙂 This is the cover […]
Only 17 Days Until Thanksgiving!
With Thanksgiving just weeks away, I’ve been thinking about side dishes to accompany my favorite turkey recipe which I’m going to share here and on OC Family next week. I find inspiration in the oddest places – this time it was within the pages of American Way magazine on my flight to Northwest Arkansas last […]
Do you need an excuse to open a lovely Cabernet on a fall day?
Filet Mignon with Cabernet Sauce * Simple * One Skillet 4 T. butter (divided use) 4 filet mignon steaks 1/3 cup chopped shallot (optional) 2/3 c. Cabernet Sauvignon 1 T. drained capers 1 T. Dijon mustard Melt 1 tablespoon butter in heavy large skillet over medium-high heat. Sprinkle both sides of steaks with salt and pepper. […]
Bon App̩tit Challenge РFive Spice Apple Pie
The challenge: cook every cover recipe from the gazillion Bon Appetit magazines I have saved over the years. The idea struck me as I contemplated cooking the cover recipe of the September 2009 issue “Chicken a la Mattone” or Chicken under a Brick – I smiled inside at the thought of posting a recipe that […]