Summer deserves to be celebrated and I have the perfect cocktail for the occasion–a Raspberry Basil (Franco) Limoncello. I’ll explain how Franco fits into this recipe in a minute. And yes, it really does tastes as good as it looks and sounds. Not to mention it’s super simple to make. I made this Limoncello with our chef, Franco, last fall at Tuscookany and I’ve been saving it for a special occasion and […]
Need to bring an appetizer to a Super Bowl Party this weekend? This artichoke-Parmesan crostini is perfect. It’s simple to make and with the bacon crumbles on top, sure to be a crowd-pleaser!This version was inspired by a Martha Stewart recipe–I added the bacon. I mean, after all, it is the Super Bowl. And if I wasn’t bringing wings, I figured I better bring the bacon! INGREDIENTS 1 baguette, sliced […]
Pillsbury Crescent Rolls. You can fill them with ham and cheese or turn them into pigs in a blanket, but I decided I wanted to try something really different. And who would have ever guessed how good they are filled with sauteed mushrooms, Feta cheese and arugula! I know, you’re probably thinking that sounds crazy, but they were crazy good, not to mention very simple to make. I experimented with […]
Cinco de Mayo. Quick. What’s the first thing you think of? Tequila, chips, salsa and guacamole? I thought so. But how about this…tequila IN your guacamole! Sound crazy? Well, actually nothing sounds that crazy on Cinco de Mayo! Thanks to my good friend, Jonna Stoycos, I have the perfect, and most unusual, tequila-infused guacamole recipe. But this is definitely not one for the kids, if you know what I mean.Jonna […]
Tzatziki is one of those funny Greek words that’s hard to pronounce (tsah-ZEE-kee) but boy is it good to eat! Just the thought of Greece conjures images of lazy summer days, sun-kissed beaches, white-washed buildings with bright blue shutters and long afternoons in tavernas sipping glasses of retsina and dipping pita into big bowls of tzatziki. But if you can’t make it to the Greek Isles this summer, you […]
Don’t let the word tarragon stop you from trying this! When I saw this recipe years ago in the LA Times I almost didn’t make it because I didn’t really care for the strong taste of tarragon. But to my surprise, I discovered the marinade flavors blended into a smooth mellow taste and didn’t scream “licorice”. Now it is one of my easy summer go-to BBQ recipes. Not only do […]
Jake came home from college last Friday and the one thing he wanted to do was make make his now-famous guacamole. It took some cajoling on my part to get him to share his recipe, but since it was Mother’s Day, he relented–under one condition. I was allowed to do only two shots…ingredients before and guac after. He wasn’t about to pose with each step of the process. So […]
I’m always happy when baby artichokes are in season and I can I pick them fresh from the garden. But last month when I added all new soil and compost to the planter on my deck, my three-year-old artichoke plants went into shock and didn’t survive. So until later this summer, I must rely on Trader Joe’s or Farmer’s Market. Today I decided that if I had to use store-bought artichokes […]