Cream of Tomato Soup
Indulging in the warmth of a comforting bowl of homemade Cream of Tomato Soup is so satisfying. Paired with a grilled cheese sandwich, this Italian-style delight transforms into an American culinary classic. The ease of preparation and its hearty and delicious nature make this version a go-to dish in my kitchen.
Asparagus, Bread and Brie Salad
Salads are a mainstay of my diet. I savor a bowl of fresh greens and veggies not just for afternoon or dinner fare but for brunch and, occasionally, breakfast. This one strikes a balance between elegance and heartiness, whether you're serving an intimate group or a...
Gluten-Free Spice Cake
Many of us have a sweet tooth, but we’re also aware that excessive sugar isn’t healthy. I believe in a balanced approach to life where desserts are occasional indulgences, not daily sustenance. Lately, I’ve been craving a sweet treat with fall flavors. One of my favorite autumn desserts is my Norwegian Apple Cake, but I also wanted a gluten-free, low-glycemic option in my repertoire. After some experimentation, I came up with this delicious Gluten-Free Spice Cake.
The Land of Trolls and Apple Cake
A delicious traditional Norwegian Apple Cake recipe from my mother’s homeland. The land of trolls, fjords, and apple cake.
Red Wine Poached Pears
Whole pears drenched in a red wine syrup is a simple and beautiful dessert. I like to eat them as is, with no whipped cream or anything else added, other than a sprig of mint or a cinnamon stick to garnish. Make these up to two days ahead of time and then pop them in...
Cinnamon Apple Crisp
Sitting on our deck, I’m watching a gaggle of wild turkeys in front of me scratching the dirt and pecking at dried-out grass fronds. They are a nervous bunch. Four of the twenty birds are caught in our fenced yard, and in a panic. Ric goes to open the gate and shoo...
Vegan Mushroom Bourguignon
I would toil away late into the evening in the back of my little store, in the kitchen with an apartment electric oven and limited supplies. After my long day, and after all of my customers had left, I would clean up, sweep the floors and then begin preparations for...
Provencal Asparagus Tart
There is something about French Provencal food that really speaks to me. Haute Provence cuisine is a much lighter and simpler style of cooking verses Haute Cuisine, which is what a lot of people associate with French cooking. Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur region of...
Apple-Cherry Pie
Years ago, when I had my gourmet shop on Fishers Island, my mother-in-law at the time, Anna, would make pies and cookies for me to sell at the store. I decided to sell the pies for fifteen dollars, which Anna thought was outrageously expensive. However, the minute I...
Buttermilk English Muffins
Today, most Americans think of Thomas’ when English muffins are mentioned. Jane Austen acknowledges the muffin man in her novel Persuasion and of course there is the old English nursery rhyme, “Muffin Man” from the early 19th century. The type of muffins that were...
Vegetarian Mushroom Stroganoff
A wonderful warm and delicious vegetarian mushroom stroganoff recipe with a splash of white wine. I've made this with olive oil instead of butter, and a smaller amount of sour cream than most stroganoff recipes. Vegetarian Mushroom Stroganoff This is a dish that...
Roasted Pepper, Artichoke and Cannellini Bean Salad
Life at my day job as a Realtor has been roller-coaster of changes by the hour since our town has gone into lock-down mode. I had a conversation with a friend that personified all that is and will be so challenging during this period. We are all concerned about...
Apple and Mango Chutney Stuffing
Since I am a vegetarian, I'm always charged with making the meat-free dishes for Thanksgiving. I love stuffing and gravy, so I make vegetarian versions of both. Here is a simple recipe for a really delicious vegetarian stuffing that I used to make when I was a...
Roasted Squash, Red Onion and Pomegranate Salad
The quiet was as soft as could be, with only the occasional sound of the kitty's paws padding along the wood floors, so it was a perfect morning to spend a little extra time curled up in bed with the fireplace and a steaming latte warming me up. Outside, the snow was...
Cranberry – Apple Chutney
Cranberry–Apple Chutney with its sweet, tart and slightly savory flavors, is delicious as a Thanksgiving side dish, heavenly in a cranberry-apple baked brie, tasty as a condiment served with any poultry dish, and a great addition to a turkey, chicken, or grilled cheese sandwich.
Lemon Jewel Couscous
Looking for a side dish with bright and fresh flavors? This Lemon Jewel Couscous is great hot, cold, and at room temperature. It can be served as a side dish or as a wonderful vegetarian or vegan entrée, when plated on a bed of greens, such as arugula. In the warmer...
Cranberry – Apple Baked Brie
Whether you are entertaining at home or bringing a dish to share at a get-together, this Cranberry-Apple Baked Brie is a beautiful, delicious, and impressive appetizer on any table. Using a store-bought puff pastry makes this a fairly simple dish to assemble. Often...
White Wine Focaccia Bread
Lifetimes ago, when I had a gourmet food shop on Fishers Island, this was a recipe I made on a daily basis for both my catering clients and to sell in the store. With its light texture and flavorful toppings, it never lasted long. It can be served as is, sliced in...
Apple Fennel Tart
I wish I could tell you that this apple and fennel tart was my brilliant idea, but the truth is, I tasted something similar at a friend’s house last year. It was different and delicious, so I filed the idea away in my brain to reference later down the line. The...
Roasted Tomato and Sweet Pepper Strudel {vegetarian}
Every summer I'm on a mission to grow vegetables at our home. Living in the mountains at an altitude of 7,000 feet makes this a great challenge. For the past two years, we have ceremoniously harvested two or three tiny tomatoes and a few basil leaves to make an...
Sweet Cherry Blueberry Pie
I’m crazy about anything cherry. They are pretty to look at and I love their luscious juicy flavor. As much as I enjoy a great sour cherry pie, I wanted to share this sweet cherry and blueberry pie as a delicious alternative. This is a great recipe to use when you...
Red Onion Marmalade
Who would have thought that simmering red onions, sugar, vinegar, and a couple of herbs could produce such a lovely compote that lends itself so beautifully to just about any savory dish? This Red Onion Marmalade is one of my favorite condiments. I use it on fried or...
Tamales with Roasted Vegetables
Every year around this time I try to come up with a new holiday recipe that can serve as a vegetarian entrée or a side dish. This year I made a Mexican Nogada sauce, which originated in my family’s hometown of Puebla, Mexico, and paired it with corn and cheese tamales...
Roasted Butternut Squash, Red Onion & Sage Lasagna
Evidence of cheese making dates back to 6,000 BCE, so the recent study likening a cheese addiction to that of heroin really didn’t worry me too much. I don’t smoke, rarely drink, eat a vegetarian diet and live a healthy lifestyle overall, so if cheese is my drug of...
Roasted Butternut Squash with Quinoa Stuffing
Today I was quiet, recovering from an insanely busy few weeks that culminated with a meaningful, fun and gorgeous gala to benefit an organization that rescues women and children from the sex trafficking trade. It was a lot of work, but to see it all come together with...
The Modern Waldorf Salad
My favorite girl and I have just returned from a big road trip to Arizona to visit with family. China and I have done this many times over the years – the two of us hanging our heads out the windows with the wind blowing in our faces. Tooling our way down through...
Olive Oil and Salt Roasted Sweet Potatoes & Beets
The weather has been a bit funky here and I can't figure out what to wear or eat because one minute it is eighty degrees and the next minute it is cold and rainy. Part of me is looking forward to the fall and all that comes with it, but there is the other part of me...
Pavlova With Fresh Berries
This lovely dessert is my final ode to our trip and England. Not that it is really considered an English dish, I believe the Russians and Aussies are still arguing over who invented it, but the Pavlova is a sweet that is served up a lot in England and it was the...
Norwegian Gløgg
Every holiday season, my mother would make a Scandinavian drink called Gløgg. A traditional Christmas spiced drink in Norway, it is loaded with brandy, port and red wine. Now that my mother is gone, it is holiday tradition that my brother and I carry on and share with...
Garlic and Cheese Grits – Southern Style
So many birthdays in August that it seems as if we have been celebrating and traveling all month! Actually, we have traveled to thirteen states in thirty days! A couple of weeks ago we were back in North Carolina. We were met in the driveway by Nate, one bad-ass...