Cool Pesto Dipping Sauce with Toasted Pita

I long for the days when I can clip basil in my backyard. Thankfully the ground hog didn’t see his shadow this month. That means my desire for truly fresh herbs will be satisfied in the very near future. Until that time arrives, quality jarred pesto will have to serve as a suitable substitute. I [...]

Bacon & Blue Dip

One of the ways I make entertaining look effortless is to always serve an easy and simple appetizer. It helps to keep my guests focused and entertained while I put the finishing touches on the meal. Best of all, appetizers keep my guests out of the kitchen and away from view should a mistake bubble [...]

Tips for Creating the Perfect Antipasti Platter

What Tuscan meal would be complete without a platter of meats, cheeses and roasted vegetables? There was no set recipe when it came to creating a perfect antipasti platter for my Party on the Porch. It just took a little creativity, a flair for styling and a love of great flavor. Here are a few [...]

Grilled Summer Vegetable & Chicken Kabobs

I could hear my dress shoes tap along the pavement as I bounced between the booths piled high with fresh picked vegetables. Every Monday, I stop by my local farmers market after work to take advantage of the season’s best flavors for my week of meals. The market was full of all of its bounty [...]

Roasted Rosemary Lemon Cornish Game Hen and Vegetables

This was the entrée and vegetable side dish for my Saturday Dinner Party. The aroma was intoxicating as I placed the large pan of golden game hens on the table.  I watched as he took a bite of the crispy skin and moist flesh.  He closed his eyes, chewed for a moment and swallowed.  Then, [...]

Savory Couscous

This was also a side dish for my Saturday Dinner Party. I work in a completely beige, windowless, office with giant Post-it sheets covering every square inch of my tiny space.  I have three mismatched chairs for visitors, my filing cabinet sticks when I open it, and my tired old desk is piled with my [...]