Need some inspiration for a romantic meal this Valentine’s Day (or any old day)? Here are four, simple-to-make dishes along with wine pairings that are sure to show your loved one(s) how much you care. Savory Cheese Tartlets with Blackberries paired with La Marca Di Conegliano Valdobbiadene Prosecco ($12) Cream of Asparagus and Vermont Sharp [...]
I came home from a business trip Saturday night to find my guy having planned meals for every night this week. How great is that!!? For dinner last night, he prepared salmon on the grill with this really great glaze on it that was inspired by a recipe by Bobby Flay. He reserved some of [...]
It is that time of year when braised meats and stews just sound wonderful. This week, my local grocery store had beautiful cubed veal available, so I created this simple-to-prepare, make-ahead, one-pot stew that is great reheated on a week night but elegant enough to serve at a dinner party. Ingredients: ¼ cup all-purpose flour [...]
Cambozola blue cheese has the rich flavor of Gorgonzola with the lovely gooey texture of Camembert. The off-white interior offers striking blue veins. It’s a cheese that’s growing in popularity because of its creamy texture and buttery, slightly tangy flavors. This grilled cheese sandwich uses fig jam to compliment the delicious sharpness of the blue [...]
My grandma used to make my sister and me peanut butter and banana grilled sandwiches in a cast iron contraption when we were kids. This contraption, an early version of a Panini press, had long handles that could be flipped on the stovetop until the bread was perfectly browned and gorgeous. I miss those days [...]
Last night, I had some friends over for fondue night. We don’t fondue as often as we should because when we do, it’s a great time. There’s no better way to stretch out a meal than to fondue. I served a cheese fondue made using Cabot Seriously Sharp Cheddar from Vermont and Victory Headwaters. Sharp [...]
When we lived in Ft Lauderdale, we often lunched at a small Cajun restaurant called Creolina’s. The food was amazing and one of my favorite dishes was the crawfish etouffée they served over plain white rice. This version calls for Andouille sausage as I like its porky flavor with the seafood. Ingredients: ¼ cup vegetable [...]
I know beef Wellington is pretty old-school, but I love recreating these types of recipes and I find that my guests really enjoy them – either for the first time or for the first time in a long time. Although beef Wellington looks fancy and difficult to make, it is not, even for novice home [...]
Although I’m originally from Quebec, I grew up in South Florida where the weather can be interesting at times. I’ve gone through hurricane preparedness more times than I care to remember, so when Hurricane Irene made its way to the northeast where I now live, it was business as usual at my home. While chips, [...]
Every summer, I go to Maine for a long weekend. I’ve done this since the year I was born, and my parents did this with their families growing up. It’s what we Quebecois do in the summer – drive to the nearest beach, get some sun and eat seafood. This summer when I drove up [...]
