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 February 26th, 2010 | Desserts, Recipes
Last week we celebrated our daughter's twelfth birthday with our family. As is tradition, the birthday girl got to choose the dessert. While most people think of cakes and birthdays as a given pairing, our kids tend to choose other dessert items. Sam decided on a chocolate swirl cheesecake.
I had figured that Sam would want something with chocolate, as all four of our kids are chocolate addicts. However, more than half of our crowd aren't chocolate lovers. So, I needed to find a way to make a dessert that would please the birthday girl and her adoring crowd. Obviously, my
by TT on February 25th, 2010 | Restaurant Reviews
Although I have categorized this article as a restaurant review, I have to admit that it isn't a full review. Yes, my husband and I have been to Agave in both Portsmouth, NH, and Newburyport, MA, but we ordered the same dish and same drinks at each visit. However, and this is a big however, that dish and those drinks are well worth a review of their own.
We made our first visit to the Portsmouth location,
Agave Mexican Bistro Dos, last July. Enjoying a couple's weekend in this coastal city, we spent Saturday evening strolling the downtown. We discovered
by TT on February 17th, 2010 | Healthy Cooking, Recipes, Side Dishes
After a week and a half away from my kitchen, I was excited to spend some quality time cooking last night. Sadly, the reason for my kitchen absence was not a vacation to a tropical island nor a business trip in a fun city; a kitchen-based injury was the basis. Needless to say, my mandolin and I are not on speaking terms. It even may take some therapy to repair our relationship.
So. . .after a week and a half of letting others prepare meals and making the simplest of dishes on my own, I was ready to embark on a
