Garlic Miso Cremini Mushrooms

Garlic Miso Cremini Mushrooms

It’s prime grilling season and, unlike other times of the year, we find ourselves gravitating to the meat counter at our local butcher shop for steaks. If you’re a carnivore, there’s nothing better than a medium-rare ribeye seared to perfection and served with a carb-loaded side. In an effort to cut down on carbs, we […]

[Continue reading...]
Gabrielle’s Blueberry Pancakes

Gabrielle’s Blueberry Pancakes

Blueberry pancake – pure yumminess! My niece Gabrielle and I exchange breakfast photos frequently via Facebook messenger. Our favorites are strawberry and raspberry toasts, crepes, muffins, etc so I was surprised when she messaged me last week to say she’d made blueberry pancake batter for our family reunion in Maine. We were camping and she […]

[Continue reading...]
Maple Dijon Heirloom Carrots

Maple Dijon Heirloom Carrots

This Maple Dijon Heirloom Carrots dish is such a simple recipe that pairs so well with a variety of proteins. I served these over the weekend with a juicy ribeye steak, but we have them often with grilled fish. Tasty, easy-to-make and pretty too! If you can’t find multi-colored carrots at your market, simply use […]

[Continue reading...]
French Roots, American Dream – Gruet Winery

French Roots, American Dream – Gruet Winery

Gruet Brut Rose

I’m a big fan of Gruet wines and find it fascinating that an acclaimed French Champagne maker would travel to the USA in the 1980s, specifically New Mexico, to start a sparkling wine business. What foresight and drive! About Gruet Winery Gilbert Gruet and his wife Danielle, dreaming of producing fine Champagnes, founded Gruet et […]

[Continue reading...]
Tour of Spain Wine Dinner at Spuntino in Clifton

Tour of Spain Wine Dinner at Spuntino in Clifton

Spuntino Wine Bar & Italian Tapas (http://spuntinowinebar.com), which specializes in small plates dining of Italian classics with a modern twist, is hosting a Tour of Spain Wine Dinner at its location in the Clifton Commons on Thursday, July 26 at 7pm. Spain, which is known for bold reds, crisp whites and distinctive sparkling and fortified wines, is the third largest […]

[Continue reading...]
Watermelon and Basil Margarita

Watermelon and Basil Margarita

Watermelon and Basil Margarita anyone? Why yes! Once again, I have a ton of basil in my garden that I’m trying to be creative is using. I just hosted a party so decided to use basil in a signature cocktail. I try to always do a signature cocktail to greet my guests with, I just […]

[Continue reading...]
New Jersey Blueberry Dumplings

New Jersey Blueberry Dumplings

It’s blueberry season in New Jersey where I live and, while I love them fresh with Greek yogurt, I also like them in baked goods. I was going to a potluck where I offered to bring dessert and thought….why not do something different than my usual Very Berry Cobbler and steam some of my Great-Aunt […]

[Continue reading...]
Chive Sour Cream Salad Dressing

Chive Sour Cream Salad Dressing

This Chive Sour Cream Salad Dressing was something we used on fresh green lettuce during the summer months in Quebec when I was growing up when the days were warm and eating outside was de rigueur. It’s a really simple, tangy dressing that you can make a day in advance if kept in a container […]

[Continue reading...]
Mussels in Garlic White Wine Sauce on the Grill

Mussels in Garlic White Wine Sauce on the Grill

Mussels Cooking

I’m always looking for easy dishes for summer that I can make right on the grill and not in a hot kitchen. We love mussels and prepare them in several ways but our favorite, when it’s nice out, is to cook them right in our extremely old wok, right on my grill’s side burner or […]

[Continue reading...]
Limerick Lane Cellars Tasting Room Visit

Limerick Lane Cellars Tasting Room Visit

About Limerick Lane Cellars Limerick Lane Cellars is a 30-acre estate located in Sonoma County’s Russian River Valley, just south of Healdsburg. While the area is renowned for Pinot Noir and Chardonnay, Limerick Lane grows and produces world class Zinfandel and Rhone-blends. Limerick Lane was originally planted in 1910 by the Del Fava family, immigrants […]

[Continue reading...]