Posts tagged as:

Holiday

Western Shepherd’s Pie ~ Idaho Potatoes + Bloggers = True Love for Valentine’s Day

This Western Shepherd’s Pie is the result of a “love affair” between Idaho® Potatoes and food bloggers first sparked at Camp Blogaway! That’s where the coolest potato guy, Don, had a chance to get to know our community of food bloggers from across the country. Ideas started to hatch, and love blossomed…

Read Full Story

Sautéed Spinach with Almond Cream and Arils ~ Christmas Colored!

Rich, creamy, Christmas-y! This is one gorgeous platter of Sautéed Spinach with Almond Cream and Arils. According to its source, Chef Virginia, the recipe only has 167 calories a serving. I think THAT fact makes it even more gorgeous. Nom, nom, nom.

Read Full Story

The Chef, The Designer, The Kitchen and The Party

Ordinarily, I write here about cooking, trips and/or the antics of our Gourmet Club. But for this post, I was urged by Club Member Laura to write about the KITCHEN of our most recent dinner party, and the DESIGNER, who also happens to be in our Club. Laura is right, it doesn’t always have to [...]

Read Full Story

Happy Birthday Lemon Bars for my Dad

The weekend of my dad’s 87th birthday is also the weekend of Camp Blogaway with 90 passionate foodies in the local mountains. The conflict, of course, is how to not be a jerk of a kid. WHEW, Cousin Wendy hosted Easter at her house, which gave me a visit with my pop. ACK a gift!! [...]

Read Full Story

How to Roast a Goose & Why is John Crying?

Don’t feel sorry for John, that’s not his empty wine glass. John was on the front line, dicing onions as a member of Team Soup at our Traditional Old English Christmas Dinner. And he certainly wasn’t crying the remainder of this Gourmet Club cooking and eating extravaganza, I can attest to that. This was the [...]

Read Full Story

Chocolate Kahlua Truffles

This is my adaptation of a candy recipe in Cooking Light, truffles made with bourbon. If a sweet recipe calls for bourbon, I already think it will be better with Kahlua. Chocolate Kahlua Truffles were my final product. I wanted a “tiny” holiday gift to make for the peeps who matter to me at UCLA Medical [...]

Read Full Story

Last Minute Food Substitutions

This week is Thanksgiving. And what should arrive on my doorstep from uber-culinary publicist Lisa Ekus? The gigantic Food Substitutions Bible by David Joachim. It conjured memories of past Thanksgivings with friends and family – for which I am very grateful. And memories of “Oh S**T, there are no coffee filters!!” And “Wasn’t vanilla extract [...]

Read Full Story

The Original Classic Kahlua Pecan Pie

Heavenly Kahlua Pecan Pie and I go way back. In the late ‘80s, my little PR agency represented Kahlua as a client. Before spirits were OK to advertise on TV, and before stupid corporate changes decimated the brand (ouch, I’m still bitter), Kahlua was on TOP. The brand made piles of money and spent it [...]

Read Full Story

I Cannot Wait For Leftovers ~ My Two Favorite Post-Thanksgiving Recipes

Here you go, I am pulling up my two all-time favorite uses for leftover Thanksgiving turkey – Noodle Bowl for Two and Thai Pasta. Both have been published here before but I want to make a point of showing them to you again because it’s officially Turkey Season. Both obviously have Asian flavors. And they [...]

Read Full Story

St. Patty’s Recipe Roundup for “Our” Day

On behalf of all Pattis, Patricias, Pattys, Patricks, Pats and Paddys, today is “our” day. Our weather here in Southern California just turned gorgeous, and stores are full of spring flowers (this photo was shot in Chicago – home of some pretty great St. Patty’s Day activities). Larry surprised me yesterday with a beautiful spray [...]

Read Full Story

A Valentine’s Meal You Can Do, Sherie

Sherie and I were great pals in high school. She’s since raised three boys into independent grown men. Has been married forever. So I was surprised when she recently told me she “cannot cook.” Or doesn’t cook. Or is afraid to cook, the conversation was spotty since we were with a group of 15 fellow RHHS gal pals. But I didn’t forget it.

Read Full Story

Marcella’s Fudge

This is a big plus to attending Thanksgiving on my side of the family: Marcella’s Fudge may be eaten before dinner. It is right there with the appetizers. Most of us thought Marcella was a relative from the Old Country (Wisconsin). My sister, Janie and I only just asked this year… turns out Marcella was [...]

Read Full Story

Pumpkin Pie Rice Pudding

Making fresh pumpkin puree the other day yielded 9 cups of potential. Larry and I like pumpkin pie, but we also like rice pudding, so I googled around for recipes and ended up combining a few to produce this one. I suppose I could have tried to crockpot it. But even with constant stirring, this [...]