Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies
When I’m not in the mood to step out of the box with flavors, I enjoy going back to the basics with tried and true recipes that I have been using for years. It’s a great opportunity to see how far I have come and a wonderful reminder of how fun food can be. My Classic Chocolate Chip Cookies is the first recipe I made at the wee age of 9 or 10. I can’t tell you how many times I have baked these classic cookies over the years. The book I use is a 1980’s Betty Crocker cookbook covered in ...
Balsamic Strawberry Shortcake
March 2nd for most people is like any other day of the year. But for me, it is the day I celebrate my birth. My own personal holiday if you will. You guessed it; today I turn the ripe old age of…. Ha! You thought I was going to bake and tell. Well, there is no way I’m going to share my age on a website that is read by millions…well maybe thousands…ok actually..hundreds of people. I have to leave some level of mystery. Right? Since I wasn’t really in the mood to bake a cake this year, I opted for one ...
Sautéed Shrimp with Bulgur Wheat
“Easy” has become one of my most favorite four letter words these days. But, easy doesn’t have to mean boring, mundane or ordinary. In this case, it’s unique and packed with flavor. I was actually inspired to experiment with bulgur wheat when a coworker was using his French press coffee maker to cook the tiny wheat nuggets for an office potluck party. Needless to say it was a strange cooking method, but one that actually worked. I was even impressed to find the final creation didn’t have a coffee undertone. So you don’t have to worry. I made sure to keep the ...
Radish & Spinach Salad with Buttermilk Dressing
I felt like a corporate domestic goddess while sifting through my large stack of food, home and business magazines. As I was tearing out the recipes that inspired me, I was immediately taken back by the simplicity of this salad. True to the photo in the Food & Wine Magazine, this salad was ambrosial in person. Instead of using bibb lettuce, I opted for some fresh spinach and crisp iceberg. This decision gave a nice contrast of green and a uniqueness in texture. I also loved the pop of red from the crisp radish slices. Of course, I can’t forget to talk ...
Recent Recipes & Stories
Sweet & Tangy Cucumbers
If I see yet another flake of snow this year, I’m going to scream. Pittsburgh was hit pretty hard with several major snow storms and it has been months since I’ve seen something other than white in my front yard. Even Sophie is over it. With the official day of spring just around the corner, I’m starting to look for simple recipes that bring... [Read more]
My Most Common Cooking Mistake
While sipping on a Lemon Drop Martini, my most favorite beverage, I was having a great conversation about this website. My dining companion asked me, “What is your most common cooking mistake?” I took another sip, thought for a moment and then answered, “I always burn nuts when I’m toasting them.” Out of the thousands of things that could... [Read more]
Balsamic Strawberry Shortcake
March 2nd for most people is like any other day of the year. But for me, it is the day I celebrate my birth. My own personal holiday if you will. You guessed it; today I turn the ripe old age of…. Ha! You thought I was going to bake and tell. Well, there is no way I’m going to share my age on a website that is read by millions…well maybe thousands…ok... [Read more]
Easy Dipping Oil
Go to any fancy Italian restaurant and you are sure to be greeted with a basket of crusty bread and fruity olive oil. You don’t have to put on your Sunday best to experience the same pleasure of tearing chunks of bread and plunging them deep into a shallow bowl of goodness. I wasn’t planning on posting an article about the pepperoni bread I bought... [Read more]
DeLallo Italian Market Adventure
Having lived in Pittsburgh for nearly 1 ½ years, I’m still discovering pockets of great local markets that make my tummy flutter with glee. When a representative from DeLallo Italian Market asked if I was interested in receiving a $25 gift certificate to experience what the store had to offer, I couldn’t help but jump at the opportunity. As I... [Read more]
Chicken Salad Lunch
Promptly at 12:30 pm every day, I watch my coworker’s lumber up to the microwave to cook their frozen meals. As anyone with a food blog knows, I tend to have a lot of leftovers and those typically become my lunch. But there are times when leftovers are not an option and I also have to succumb to the modern conveniences of the freezer. But there has... [Read more]
Tips
My Most Common Cooking Mistake
While sipping on a Lemon Drop Martini, my most favorite beverage, I was having a...
4 Tips for the Perfect Dinner Party Wine
You’re invited to a dinner party and you want to bring a nice bottle of wine....
8 Football Game Day Recipe Ideas
The trees bordering my backyard have turned from deep greens to rich shades of fiery...
Tips for Creating the Perfect Antipasti Platter
What Tuscan meal would be complete without a platter of meats, cheeses and roasted...
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Stories
DeLallo Italian Market Adventure
Having lived in Pittsburgh for nearly 1 ½ years, I’m still discovering pockets...
Sausage Gravy & Pittsburgh Snow Storm Pt. 2
This is the second part to my Pittsburgh Snow Storm series. You can read the first...
Buttermilk Biscuits & Pittsburgh Storm Pt. 1
This is the first part to my Pittsburgh Snow Storm series. You can read the second...
Top 9 of 2009
All of the recipes I post on this site are delicious in their own unique ways. Many...
Read more Stories
