Archive for November 2022
HAPPY HOLIDAY COCKTAIL
Having a few special holiday cocktails in your repertoire is always a wise move. Whether you’re planning a dinner party or just trying to take the edge off after everyone leaves, this is one of my favorite go-to winter drinks. It’s a variation on the classic Hot Toddy. After you down your second one,…
Read MoreHOW TO HAVE FUN AT YOUR OWN HOLIDAY PARTY
When I was first married, I hated throwing parties. It was so much work, I never got to enjoy one minute of it. I’d spend all day on my feet frantically trying to get everything together before our guests arrived. Then I’d run around refilling drinks and washing dishes as everyone else noshed away…
Read MoreMINI-LATKES WITH SOUR CREAM AND IKURA
You can’t have Hanukkah without potato latkes, but you can have potato latkes all-year-round. My mini-version is great for a cocktail party, especially served alongside some champagne. If you’re feeling rich, it’s great to top them with sour cream and a few ikura pearls. Ikura pearls are those big plump delightful orbs of salmon…
Read MoreA NEW YORK CHRISTMAS
It’s nearly a week before Christmas, and New York is magical with holiday lights hanging over the avenues like strings of shimmering diamond necklaces. Storefront windows along Fifth Avenue are dressed with oversized ornaments and mannequins dressed as Santa’s helpers. People are loaded down with shopping bags and rushing about waiting for the dazzling…
Read MoreHOMEMADE HOLIDAY GIFT SPICE
Not sure what to get those friends that seem to have everything for the holidays? I’m a big fan of homemade gifts. I love giving them and I love receiving them. Of course, the gifts I usually create involve food, so it’s hard to go wrong. One of my favorite things to give is…
Read MoreAIRPORT ANONYMITY
I have a confession. I LOVE being alone. Don’t get me wrong, I adore the people in my life and I don’t want them to feel slighted, but sometimes I just like mingling with the masses, no one caring who I am or what I’m doing. I find being anonymous a great way to…
Read MoreFRENCH TART TENACITY
Just when I thought I didn’t need any more tools for my kitchen, my beloved neighbors returned from France with a beautiful rectangular French Tart pan to add to my collection. Having anything in my kitchen made in France fills me with both anxiety and confidence. The anxiety comes from knowing my final plated…
Read MoreFRENCH MUSHROOM GRUYERE TART
How can anything with sautéed mushrooms, caramelized onions and grated gruyere be a bad idea? Even with an epic fail with the crust on my first try, the second time proved to be perfect. This tart is perfect for a dinner party or just a simple bistro night at home. Enjoy! INGREDIENTS For the…
Read MoreTHANKSGIVING DRAMA
What’s a holiday meal without a little drama? My family is far from a quiet bunch and I can still hear some of the arguments of years past ringing in my ears. One particular memory from my childhood is on an annual loop, the dialogue still fresh and crisp as if it were spoken…
Read MoreNANA’S APPLE PIE A LA MODE
When my nana passed away, there were only two things my brother Paul and I wanted of hers; her rolling pin and her stained, faded apple pie recipe she kept in her top kitchen draw next to some dried-out rubber bands that she saved for years. Paul has the recipe framed in his kitchen…
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