Life is beautiful. Sure, it can be scary, crazy and sad at times, but for the most part it is very beautiful. I can’t help feeling a bit sentimental writing this post. My road to the Culinary Institute of America has been a wild journey. I’m OVER-THE-TOP excited to be starting my culinary career (THIS [...]
Hello weekend . Last night, my dad made frozen margaritas for “cocktail hour”. I can’t even remember the last time I had a margarita…I MISS THEM! Paired with crackers and cheese, I was a happy girl. I love him so much! Not only did my dad prepare cocktail hour, he also manned the grill! For [...]
Let me tell you about our dinner last night. I’ve been craving avocado. My mom harvested a bunch of asparagus from her garden. I searched for a recipe that would include both, and that would pair well with Riesling… And my trusty Bon Appetit had a recipe that met the requirements. I love when that [...]
Looking for the perfect light, hearty and flavorful Summer meal? Well, you’ve come to the right place . Nothing says Summer to me quite like garden-fresh herbs. It has been raining all week, and my mom is quickly growing her bounty. I was happy to take advantage of the young crop! This Mediterranean Couscous was [...]
Yesterday I worked in a kitchen. I put grill marks on chicken breast and learned to move deliberately around the hot flame. I chopped fruit, vegetables and herbs and learned to let the knife do the work and that the term for 1/4 inch small dice is “bruinoise”. I watched the Chef I was shadowing [...]
Dear Friends, I write to you this evening with a satisfied soul. I have finally discovered a dish that is worth having leftovers of: Italian-Style Slow-Roasted Pork Shoulder. I thought my meal last night was pretty outrageous, and then I made this little piece of heaven. Let’s swoon, shall we? (NOTE: I’ve never prepared pork [...]
This is the healthiest thing I’ve made in a long…LONG time. After a big lunch and late afternoon snacking, I looked at the clock and could not believe it was nearly dinner time! I wanted something light and satisifying. I saw these strawberries at my grocery store earlier in the day and could not say no. I [...]
Was “spring forward” a hard adjustment for anyone else? I felt a tad off balance all day. I remedied my discombobulation with a springy-spring dinner at 8pm (?!). The flavors reminded me of spring and the long fusilli pasta I used literally had a ‘spring’ to it! Now, this is how I like to welcome [...]
For the past week or so I have been doing a “home study”, with Kevin Zraly as my guide in an attempt to expand my wine knowledge. From the terroir, to the history, to the taste, I am captivated by the wonderful world of wine. It is a subject matter that I plan to continue [...]
French Onion Soup aka Soup-for-the-Single-Girl-with-Bread-and-Cheese-that-Needs-to-be-Used. This was sweet, doughy, cheesy and nutty from the comte cheese broiled on top. Believe it or not I almost couldn’t finish my bowl! I never realized how filling onions could be. Er…maybe it was a combination of everything. I’m glad I didn’t have any engagements after eating this. My [...]
