Entree

Summer Vegetable Tian

I love the movie “Ratatouille,” the animated film about a rat who wants to be a chef. Every time I watch it, it reinforces my belief that anyone with a passion for food and cooking can pull off a great meal. When I found out Thomas Keller, world renowned chef/owner of The French Laundry restaurant in Napa Valley was the consultant for the movie, it all made sense why I got that feeling. Amazingly Keller has no formal culinary school training but like Remy, the rat with the incredible sense of smell and a fabulous palate to go with it, they both have a strong passion for food and an “all things are possible” attitude. It really comes across in the movie.

“Anyone can cook, but only the fearless can be great.” – Chef Auguste Gusteau Continue reading →

Grilled Orange Shrimp Salad

Whenever we travel, our neighbor Susan watches Kato, our cat, and sends us texts and pictures to show us how much he is not missing us at all….or not as much as we miss him! That’s a great relief for us but no big surprise since Susan loves animals. She does foster care for animals that are not ready to go to a new loving home for a variety of reasons. Some are for health reasons and some are because they are too young and need to get a bit older to be spayed or neutered. We have watched her compassion in caring for these animals turn them around and prepared them for their new family. The bonus is we get to play with all kinds of animals and never do the dirty work! Continue reading →

Creamy Orecchiette Pasta With Peas and Ham

It just couldn’t be easier and that’s exactly what I needed! I love one pot dinners or a meal in a bowl! Summer is really ramping up with so many parties that my head is spinning……in a happy, creative kind of way! The calendar is getting a very festive look to it as I fill in each new party date. So with planning all the future great things to eat, tonight’s dinner got put on the back burner, so to speak. Continue reading →

Herb Goat Cheese Stuffed Chicken with Spicy Orange Sauce

It’s 3 o’clock in the morning and my mind is wandering through my mental recipe files. Sleep….no, eat….just can’t stop seeing food combos. Counting chickens instead of sheep. What to make for our anniversary dinner this year? The weather’s great so grilling is perfect. An elegant chicken, not an everyday chicken is where I am going. Keep it light so we don’t feel stuffed on this romantic evening. Stuffed….that’s it! I’ll stuff a chicken breast and drizzle it with sauce. Continue reading →

Cajun Jambalaya

Girls night out! It certainly has taken on a different meaning than it did 20 years ago but I still look forward to it just as much, if not more. We have mellowed and the nights are more about sharing food and drinks at new local restaurants, an occasional play, catching up on our lives and the latest books we’ve read and always lots of laughing! My girlfriends Amanda and Heidi and I have made this a monthly event and we rotate on who is in charge of next months night out. Continue reading →

Crock Pot Asian Pork Loin Bowls

I’m crazy for food in a bowl! I don’t mean cereal or the usual stuff that goes in a bowl. I mean making a meal that could be served on a plate but instead you stage it in a bowl. For me that adds an element of fun and makes it so easy to mush all the flavors together. Somehow it just tastes better!

Asian flavors really resonate with me like a comfort food. Every once in awhile I make something that knocks my own socks off and this one did that to me! Continue reading →

Roasted Butternut Squash Salad with Lime Agave Vinaigrette

I’m usually surrounded by people who adore food but I do have a few picky eater friends and family. Brandon, you know who I mean! Well this salad is quite the little eye catcher so when I was having this for lunch one day, it attracted the attention of my dear friend Brandon, the aforementioned picky eater. I must say he was intrigued and I asked him if he’d like to give it a taste. I think the combination of flavors and textures is what wows you and it was enough for him to give a slight nod and say, “I’d eat that salad”. His wife Kathy could not believe he said that because squash is on the Do Not Eat List! Continue reading →

Heart Shape Salmon en Croute with Dill Sauce

I think I bit off more than I could chew but what I did get my teeth into was very yummy! David and I like to have an intimate Valentine’s dinner at home and I planned a doozy! But I ran out of time trying to be the caterer of all courses gourmet, the flower arranger and table designer, the sommelier and the relaxed, fetching wife! Something had to give! Continue reading →

Who Stuffed Those Shells?

Sneak those veggies into some pasta and your kids will love it! Bursting with cheesy goodness, the veggies add color and flavor and a healthy aspect to an old favorite. This is an easy recipe and fun to make with your kids, if you are not trying to hide the veggies. Their hands are just the right size to hold the pasta shells and stuff them. These are the kinds of meals that kids will remember when they grow up and are out on their own, cooking for friends in college. Double the recipe and freeze some for one of the crazy days when you just can’t make dinner. Continue reading →

Take It Outside!

Every since I was a child I thought food tasted better when you ate it outside. From camping trips to eating a vine ripe tomato with a shaker of salt while watering the garden, it just tasted more real outside.

Now the summer season is almost upon us and I am so excited to start grilling everything I can get my hands on. Grilling is not just for meats; veggies and fruit are great on the grill too! Grilling makes everything taste better and the cleanup is a breeze.

Continue reading →