In the April issue of Bon Appetit there is a feature on composed salads, all of which look good enough to make, but I had planned to make salmon anyway last night so the Salmon Nicoise it was! …especially since I had on hand those cute tiny potatoes in purple, white, and red in the…
BBQ Chicken and Grilled Sausage Dinner
This past week we have been very busy with a special house guest. Our aunt came to visit us all the way from Reston, Virginia! Before moving to the west coast almost 2 years ago we lived only a half-hour’s drive from our home in Maryland to hers in Virginia, and we saw each other…
Fried Zucchini Flowers
This morning at the local Farmer’s Market I spotted the first of the zucchini blossoms at one of the stands. Ever since a trip to Tuscany where I first tasted these delectable tempura-like, gently fried blossoms I have always wanted to try making them, but never had. Since moving to California they are not an…
Passover 2015
This year my Passover table was set for just four. My older son and his girlfriend left LA and endured the holiday weekend traffic (it was also Easter weekend) to arrive in time for the Seder. My younger son and his now fiancee (we are elated) from San Francisco had hoped to come but work…
Flourless Double Almond Cookies
Passover, the holiday commemorating the Jewish people’s Exodus from Egypt, and their transition from slavery to freedom, begins this Friday at sundown. Jewish families everywhere will participate in the ritual of the Seder, the festive meal that involves the re-telling of the Exodus through stories and song and the consumption of ritual foods. Family and friends…
Classic Cheesecake with Raspberry Topping
We recently had some friends over for dessert and I served this classic cheesecake which I have been making for many years, this time with a raspberry topping which I found in Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa’s Family Cookbook. Raspberry Topping 1 cup red jelly (not jam) such as currant, raspberry, or strawberry 3 half-pints fresh…
Classic Cheesecake with Raspberry Topping
We recently had some friends over for dessert and I served this classic cheesecake which I have been making for many years, this time with a raspberry topping which I found in Ina Garten’s Barefoot Contessa’s Family Cookbook. Raspberry Topping 1 cup red jelly (not jam) such as currant, raspberry, or strawberry 3 half-pints fresh…
Lemon Garlic Shrimp Skewers
These Lemon Garlic Shrimp Skewers were part of the menu for the birthday dinner I prepared for our son’s girlfriend a week ago. The menu included cheese quesadillas as an appetizer which you will find on the previous blog. The menu included Chicken Piccata, the grilled Lemon Garlic Shrimp, grilled zucchini and yellow squash, orzo, a…
Cheese Quesadillas
I recently served these Cheese Quesadillas as an appetizer at the birthday dinner I prepared for my older son’s girlfriend. I know she likes Mexican food so I thought this was a good choice. It is a simple recipe that can be made ahead and baked right before serving. Cut in smaller slices it’s a…
You Scream, I Scream, We All Scream for Ice Cream Cake!!!
I realize my last post was of the birthday cake I baked for my husband’s birthday, but Sunday my older son and his girlfriend drove up to see us from LA on their way the next day to visit my younger son and his girlfriend in San Francisco. And it just so happens that she…