Blood Orange Mint Gimlet

Oh, look, it's snowing again. For the bazzilionth time this winter. Shocking, I know. I'm trying hard to be positive and see the bright side. I'm cozy and dry at home. I have food in the fridge and a blissfully well stocked liquor cabinet. I have a sweet furry dog to keep me extra warm. But the house-bound, stir-crazy thing is making it hard to see the glass as half full. So I'm going to fill it with a little spring.

It's ironic that so much beautiful citrus is available in the middle of this snowy mess but it would be a shame not to take advantage of it.

Beautiful blood oranges were piled high on a display in my market and the smell of fresh mint hit me when I walked past the herbs.

So what if it's atrocious outside. It's warm and citrusy and minty inside. Cheers!

Per Serving:
2 oz. Gin
2 oz. Fresh blood orange juice (approx. 1 blood orange)
1/2 oz. Lime juice
1/2 oz. Simple syrup
1/2 oz. Elderflower liqueur
5 Sprigs fresh mint

Combine the gin, blood orange juice, lime juice, simple syrup, edlderflower liqueur and fresh mint in a cocktail shaker. Muddle the mint using a muddler or a wooden spoon. Fill with ice, shake well and strain into a cocktail glass. Garnish with extra mint and a wedge of blood orange, if desired.

Creamy Chicken Stew

Know what makes a food blogger happy? New pots and pans. OK, and kitchen appliances and new dishes and cooking gadgets. But for sheer ooing and aahing, nothing beats a shiny new pan. The only problem comes when we're hesitant to use it because it's too pretty and we don't want to mess it up. This new beauty from OXO sat on my table, being admired, for longer than I care to admit.

The Month in Review - February 2015

Snow...snow...snow...groundhog emerges, says "eek, snow" and runs back into his burrow...snow. Pause for chocolatey love celebrations. Snow...snow...snow...oh, look at all this lovely citrus in the markets now...snow...snow...snow. That was my February. How was yours? I guess the only upside (and I'm struggling to find one, believe me) is that I got to spend a lot of time in my kitchen. So, it was a freezing cold, overly snowy and generally unacceptable February but with lots of delicious food.  Let's take a quick look back at all the recipes before we climb back under the covers and pray for spring. Did I mention it's snowing this morning?

Banana Bread Doughnuts with Banana Glaze

One sad, lonely, over-ripe banana. One baked doughnut pan. And a sweet tooth. That's how this all started. Normally, if I have sad bananas, I think about banana bread but this time I had just one. Not enough for a well flavored bread. But, it was just right for a small batch of baked doughnuts.

Vegetable Frittata with Pasta Chip Crust

Today I have the pleasure of introducing you to my newest snack obsession, Pasta Chips. I'll admit that I couldn't wait to taste every flavor and then I mostly just wanted to munch away while watching a great movie. But what makes these special is that each variety is its own little flavor bomb and really deserves to be used in some way other than just shoved into my mouth in record speed. So, I think the only practical solution is that, from now on, I just buy two bags of each!

Marinated Greek Yogurt Cheese Balls (Labneh)

I'll be the first to admit that I'm completely obsessed with Greek yogurt. If I don't have my daily serving, I get a little cranky. If my supermarket runs out of my favorite brand, I will go to another market to find it. I need my fix! But apart from my daily treat, I love using it as an ingredient in dips, dressings and even cakes and quick breads. But my number one passion these days is turning it into cheese.

Pasta with Cauliflower Ragu

A few years ago I was attending a business dinner at a fine Italian restaurant and saw cauliflower ragu on the menu. I'd never heard of it before and, I admit, it sounded a bit odd. But, given my lifelong fondness for cauliflower, it was a sure bet I'd order it. And I promptly fell in love.

Thirsty Thursdays: Salted Caramel Triple Threat Chocolate Martini

Salted Caramel Triple Threat Chocolate Martini

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this boozy dessert in a glass!

Cherry Cheesecake Skillet Brownies

Let's say that you're in the mood for an ooey gooey chocolatey dessert. OK, that would be pretty much every day. But let's say that you also wanted to make something pretty simple and no fuss. And a little special, but still no fuss. And maybe even a little romantic? These skillet brownies are so what you're looking for!

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pretzel Tarts for Two

It's getting to be that time, isn't it? Heart shaped boxes of chocolates for sale everywhere. Cards and bouquets of flowers and restaurant reservations to be gotten. Hmm. I'm all for the chocolates and cards and flowers but being packed into crowded restaurants on Valentine's Day is actually not big on my list. I much prefer a romantic dinner at home. And this is definitely the time to splurge on a good dessert.

Thirsty Thursdays: Pink Greyhound

Pink Greyhound

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this simple and refreshing variation on a classic!

Tamale Pie

After a long busy day, when I get hungry and realize it's already dinner time but I'm still at my desk, want to know what makes me happy? Remembering that I have dinner all ready in the fridge and it just needs a quick re-heating. Really happy.

Greek Yogurt and Grapefruit Panna Cotta

In case I haven't mentioned it in the last ten minutes, I don't like winter. I bring this up again this morning as I look out the window at a snow and sleet covered mess outside. It's also Groundhog Day but I doubt he can see his shadow or even dig his way out of his burrow. Sigh. Still, all this inclement weather means more time in my kitchen. And it's all a bit more bearable when I can get some of Florida's sunshine, at least in citrus form.

Thirsty Thursdays: Blood Orange Whiskey Sour

Blood Orange Whiskey Sour

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this beautifully colored seasonal sipper!

Winter Root Vegetable Gratin (and a Le Creuset Giveaway!)

I don't recall ever eating gratins at home but my first restaurant taste of one fixed my obsession forever. Rich, creamy, gooey, often cheesy, they were right up there with the best in comfort foods. And so I learned to make them. But seeing first hand how rich they really were, made me rethink them. Oh, not to top eating them...don't be crazy! Just to remake them a bit.

Greek Yogurt Coeur La Creme

If you're not familiar with this French classic, it's typically a luscious blend of cream cheese and heavy cream, sweetened and topped with a fruit sauce. The French word coeur means heart and this dish (literally "heart of cream") is usually molded in a heart shaped pan, hence the name. And that certainly makes it popular for romantic occasions. Sure, I'm all about chocolate on Valentine's Day but this makes a nice dessert alternative, especially if there's also a box of chocolate candy involved for late evening snacking.

Thirsty Thursdays: Cherry Bourbon Manhattan

Cherry Bourbon Manhattan

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this sweet version of a favorite classic!

Un-Stuffed (Deconstructed) Cabbage Rolls

Stuffed cabbage rolls were on my mother's regular meal rotation when I was a kid. And I loved them. Even the cabbage part. As a very young woman on my own, I kept a crazy schedule with a full time job and grad school at night. No time to cook much and mostly what was in my fridge was yogurt. Except on those lovely evenings when I'd get home late, open the fridge and find that my mother had dropped by during the day and left me a pot of her homemade cabbage rolls. She was such a good mommy.

Dried Plum and Honey Scones

When I was growing up, my father used to eat prunes and tell me they were healthy. But all I saw, when he offered me one, was a wrinkled, shriveled mess. I couldn't image what kind of tree had grown it and I certainly wanted nothing to do with it. And he would chuckle and continue eating his prunes. At some point in my adult life, somebody clued me in that prunes were dried plums. Plums? Really? I like plums. I eat plums. They're really plums, huh? Hmm.

Thirsty Thursdays: Vodka Ginger Twist

Vodka Ginger Twist

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this light but flavorful drink!

Nutty Whole Wheat Couscous Pilaf

I have a very well stocked pantry with an enviable variety of grains from which to choose when making interesting recipes. The only thing that could possibly be more interesting is if I actually looked in there once in a while instead of just reaching for potatoes. But, it's a new year, a whole new me, a healthy me...OK, I was out of potatoes. But that gave me a chance to reacquaint myself with one of my favorite quick cook grains.

Cauliflower "Rice" and Butternut Squash Bake

Over the weekend I found myself doing the thousand yard stare into my pantry, trying to decide what to make for dinner. I had some salad ready and some chicken but I needed a side dish. Potatoes, polenta, rice...hmm...I kept coming back to the rice. I guess I like rice with chicken. Except that I'm trying to cut back on the starches for a while and add a few more vegetables. And then it hit me that I could make my favorite non-rice rice!

Thirsty Thursdays: Bourbon, Apple and Ginger Sour

Bourbon, Apple and Ginger Sour

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this sweet and tangy drink with a kick!

Crunchy Pickled Beets

Let's talk about beets this morning. Come back here! I'm not talking about that mess you got at some school cafeteria somewhere. And when people tell me they think beets taste like dirt, I have to assume a cafeteria is the only place they've tried them. Beets are sweet. Unless they're pickled. Then they're sweet and sour. And good.

Curried Potato and Chickpea Soup

OK, I'm officially cold. Somehow the holidays make the weather seem bearable and being outside, among the lights and decorations is festive enough to overcome the chill.  But my annual post-holiday intolerance of all things cold, snowy and wintery has set in.

Thirsty Thursdays: Sparkling Apple and Cranberry Champagne Cocktail

Sparkling Apple and Cranberry Champagne Cocktail

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this celebratory drink!

The Year in Review - 2014

At last we've come to the end of 2014 and not a moment too soon. I'm not gonna lie, this was not my favorite year and I'm looking forward to waking up tomorrow morning with a fresh new attitude and endless possibilities.

Glazed Orange Cranberry Crumb Loaf

OK, so Christmas is over and the long Christmas weekend is over and you've eaten all the cookies in the house. You might have even made some public statements about being sick of sweets and ready for a healthy new year. But... the new year isn't here quite yet and you're getting hungry again and you do sort of still want something sweet. Or maybe that's just me.

Thirsty Thursdays: Spiked and Spicy Hot Chocolate

Spiked and Spicy Hot Chocolate

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this cold weather treat!

Of Travels and Lighthouses and Christmases Long, Long Ago

OK, not long, long ago. Just two years ago. But I'm a little obsessed with Christmas music these days and the song It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year with the line "And tales of the glories of Christmases long, long ago" was running through my head. Just like the line from The Carpenter's Home For the Holidays that reads "I met a man who lives in Tennessee and he was headin' for Pennsylvania and some homemade pumpkin pie" was looping in my brain the other day when I made pumpkin pie. I'll be over this soon, I promise.

Double Chocolate Pumpkin Pie

I have Christmas music playing pretty much non-stop these days. When I'm at my desk, when I'm at the gym...it's my annual binge. And, come the new year, it will be banished again until after next Thanksgiving. One of my favorites has always been Home for the Holidays by The Carpenters and it's made me associate Christmas with pumpkin pie.

Chocolate and Peanut Butter Crumb Bars

I like giving homemade food gifts because I think the love and effort that goes into making them truly expresses to the recipient that they were important enough to you to make the effort. And so I spent the morning of my dearest friend's birthday in the kitchen, baking these treats for her. I also have a treat for you today because Peanut Butter & Co. will send 4 jars of their peanut butter, in your choice of flavors, to the winner of my giveaway below.

Thirsty Thursdays: Hot Buttered Rum Nog

Hot Buttered Rum Nog

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this warm and comforting seasonal favorite.

Peanut Butter and Chocolate Morsel Snack Cakes

If you think that I'm capable of walking past a package of chocolate chips stuffed with peanut butter then it's obvious that we've never met. It was definitely one of those "stopped in my tracks" moments in the baking aisle when there, next to the chocolate chips and the peanut butter chips, was the combo of my dreams. Thank you, Nestle, for your new DelightFulls filled baking morsels. Or snacking morsels, as the case may be. Or just buy two and do both.

Savory Cheesecake with Honeyed Walnuts

Today I have the pleasure of working with Mirassou on some great holiday entertaining ideas.

We're deep into holiday entertaining mode around here. Cocktail parties, appetizers before dinner, something special for New Year's Eve perhaps? I have some great wine and that needed a great appetizer to match. Wine and cheese is a given but a savory cheesecake is so much more impressive. And I promise you there won't be a sliver left because it's just too good.

Banana Cashew Pancakes

Have I ever mentioned to you that I am a cashew thief? I mean that, if there's a bowl of mixed nuts around, I will surreptitiously steal all the cashews. And if you happen to comment on how few cashews there are in the bowl, I will stand there and complain to you about how the mixed nut companies are shorting us on cashews while pretending there is an equal number of them in the can. This has happened.

The Month in Review - November 2014

Excuse me but can somebody please tell me what happened to the first part of December? These days it seems like I blink and I'm handing out Halloween candy, blink again and I'm roasting Thanksgiving turkey and and now all my get-it-done at the start of the month December plans are late. Some of you may be getting Christmas cards for Valentine's Day if this keeps up.

Thirsty Thursdays: Cranberry Gin Fizz

Cranberry Gin Fizz

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this seasonal treat!

Easy Baked Rice Balls (Arancini)

Today I have the pleasure of partnering with Minute® Rice to create this mouth-watering recipe. As always, thank you for supporting the products I love and use in my kitchen.

We all have our guilty pleasures and, while mine are usually sweet, rice balls have the savory honor. There's a gourmet Italian market dangerously close to my apartment and they make the most perfect arancini. They also have an amazing produce selection which is why I go there...cough, cough...OK, moving right along.

Mediterranean Tapas Potatoes

Every year it seems like I spend the month of December coming up with creative ways to feed guests. Oh, planning a dinner is easy enough but what about those in-between, buffet type foods. A cold cut platter, cheeses, crudites, something more special?. But what?

Thirsty Thursdays: Chocolate Covered Pretzel Martini

Chocolate Covered Pretzel Martini

Check out today's post on A Cocktail Life for this candy store treat in boozy form!

Cheesy Polenta and Spinach Baked Eggs #HavartiHolidays

If you recall, a couple of weeks ago I was whining about not being motivated to make a fuss over breakfast and calling it a successful meal when I've actually poured milk into my bowl of cereal. But, it's the holiday season and making a good breakfast for someone you love or visiting guests is such an act of love. And, in fact, it is on holidays and birthdays that I haul out the bacon and eggs and French toast to make people happy at breakfast. But that's kind of the problem because the recipients are happy but the cook is eating leftover cold French toast crumbs while cleaning the kitchen. Wow, I guess I wasn't done whining.

Chocolate Gingerbread Crumb Cake

The post-Thanksgiving weekend comes with certain traditions around here. Pumpkin and turkey decorations are put away, I can hear the Christmas tree vendors setting up down on the sidewalk and my kitchen smells like gingerbread.

Thirsty Thursdays: Hot Cocoa Martini

Hot Cocoa Martini

Check out this special Friday after Thanksgiving post on A Cocktail Life for a comforting treat in boozy form!

Gratitude, Tears and Reflection

Autumn beauty in the city.

No recipe today, my friends.  Those of you cooking tomorrow’s feast already know what you’re making.  But before we break for the long weekend, I wanted to say a few personal words about life and love and this past year.