by TT on February 1st, 2012 | Desserts, Recipes
While it may seem silly to be planning your Valentine's Day menu so much in advance of the day, there are some definite benefits. First, there's no need for last minute panic and shopping. Second, you have the opportunity to try the recipe before the actual day, so that you are able to perfect it. Third, if you make a sample round of the dessert, you get to eat an extra dessert!
This week's dessert idea is a wonderful combination of wine, pears, almonds, and mascarpone. Not only is it a delicious dessert, but it also has a beautiful presentation.
by TT on January 30th, 2012 | Soups & Stews
Having one person that is vegetarian in our house doesn't make meal planning difficult, usually. When there are four or more of us for dinner, I simply substitute the meat item with a non-meat protein, and everyone is happy. In fact, quite often I make two of the non-meat protein, as I enjoy a good number of vegetarian items.
The tricky times are when there are only three of us dining. It feels more cumbersome to make two different entrées for a party that small. Our of deference to our vegetarian, I make a meal that is vegetarian and (hopefully)
by TT on January 18th, 2012 | Desserts, Recipes
If I asked you what food you think of when I say Valentine's Day, I would be willing to guess that most people would respond, "Chocolate." Although I am not an adoring fan of that addictive treat, I appreciate that most people, such as my children, are. So, what better way would there be to continue our Valentine's Day series than with a second chocolate treat?
This week's recipe comes to us courtesy of
Chef Greg DeMichiel, who has been featured on WE TV's
My Fair Wedding and VH1's
Famous Food. With his recipe for Flourless Chocolate Cake you will
by TT on January 16th, 2012 | Breakfast Dishes, Recipes
My husband and I went to a fabulous winter farmer's market this past Saturday. Both the quantity and quality of products available were amazing. In addition to typical items, such as chicken eggs and root vegetables, there were veal, lamb, goat, ducks, pâté, lobsters, mushrooms, and greens. Being a bigger market, there were more cheeses and baked goods available than usual.
Obviously, visiting this farmer's market was quite a treat for us. Not only did we get to make some great purchases and sample some yummy tidbits, but we also found sources for illusive items, such as homemade sausage and
by TT on May 28th, 2009 | Main Dishes, Recipes
As I was thinking about dinners for this week, I knew that I wanted one of the dishes to include steak. With a multi-day stretch of rain forecast, grilling was a less desirable option. Panfrying the steaks seemed like a simple way to make dinner on an evening that was most likely to be filled with taking children to and from practices.
Although panfrying on its own would have been okay, I wanted to make a dinner with a bit more flavor. Searching through my cookbooks, I found several different recipes for Steak au Poivre. This dish seemed to have a
by TT on May 26th, 2009 | Appetizers, Healthy Cooking, Recipes, Side Dishes
A while ago we purchased lamb shanks while grocery shopping. We put them in our freezer, saving them for a special "dinner for two" night. Last Sunday seemed the perfect day for cooking them. After defrosting them overnight, we slowly braised them with red wine and an assortment of spices and vegetables.
Unfortunately, while they were cooking, it seemed that fate had other plans, and the shanks were put aside until Monday. However, there was a hidden benefit to that. I hadn't planned an interesting side dish for Sunday, but with dinner delayed a day I decided to go to the
by TT on May 20th, 2009 | Appetizers, Recipes
Lazy Sundays are wonderful. With four children, these don't happen all that often. However, this past Sunday was a free day without a schedule.
We started our day by savoring several cups of coffee, watching food shows, and making a little breakfast. This relaxing start was followed by shopping for new kitchen decor. I am very lucky in that my husband enjoys shopping with me. We went to a couple stores, found a few chicken pieces for our kitchen, and then headed to the grocery store.
As we were braising and roasting lamb shanks for dinner, we decided to make an afternoon
by TT on May 18th, 2009 | Healthy Cooking, Recipes, Spreads & Sauces
Last week, there was no Tapas Monday. My husband was traveling for business and there's no joy in candlelight tapas alone, so it was a regular dinner at a normal time last Monday. However, as my husband was returning from the trip on Friday morning and we had an evening softball game to attend, it seemed like the perfect reason to have tapas on Friday.
With the softball game ending at 8 and a jet-lagged husband, I knew we would want a dinner that was ready shortly after we returned home. Therefore, I needed dishes that either needed little preparation or
by TT on May 14th, 2009 | Desserts, Recipes
I have to start by confessing that I was late in giving my mom her birthday gift this year. Yes, I did send a card on time, and I did call her on her special day, but I didn't send a present. To be honest, I was stumped as to what she would need or want. So, I pondered for a while. . .
As Mother's Day drew near, I decided the best option would be to give her a two-for-one gift, which meant now I needed a bigger and better idea than the lack of idea that I already had.
