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How to make heirloom tomato bruschetta

August 5, 2020

Heirloom tomato bruschetta is a simple and delicious way to enjoy ripe, summer tomatoes. Mixed with fresh basil, garlic and olive oil, this classic recipe has only a handful of ingredients and is perfect in its simplicity. Try a bruschetta topping without tomato – this apple chutney bruschetta is a favorite.

heirloom tomato bruschetta in white bowl with crostini and tomatoes

Bruschetta is one of those things that you can barely classify as a “recipe”. It has clean, simple flavors that make for an incredibly delicious bite.

It is the perfect summer snack. I don’t think I’ve ever met a single person (kids included) who didn’t like it, so it’s a great little nibble to have on a warm summer afternoon.

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

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Gambas al Ajillo (Garlic Shrimp)

December 29, 2019

Gambas al ajillo make an excellent party appetizer or light dinner. Garlicky shrimp with crushed red pepper and parsley is a classic Spanish appetizer. Served with a crisp white wine, it makes an excellent addition to a tapas party, as do Spanish-style marinated olives and tortilla española.

Whether you are serving this as an appetizer for a fancy New Year’s Eve party, or as a nibble for a summer BBQ with a glass of wine, this Spanish garlic shrimp recipe is great for any occasion.

You can increase the portion and have it for a light dinner with a piece of crusty bread for soaking up all the delicious juices.

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Rosemary Lemon Chicken Thighs

July 10, 2019

Rosemary lemon chicken thighs are ready in about 30 minutes, like my bourbon jalapeno chicken thighs, making it a great choice for a weeknight dinner. Full of flavor, light on effort and super easy, this is a recipe you’ll come back to again and again.

I don’t often think of blogging about food that I cook for clients because the truth of the matter is that I didn’t think people would be interested. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Every pic I’ve posted lately about “client food” has been met with a one-word response: recipe?

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How to make cherry chutney

June 11, 2019

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Cherry Chutney is a fantastic summer condiment. It is one of my favorite fresh cherry recipes. If you are unfamiliar with chutney, let me give you a quick description. It’s like a relish, it has sweet and sour ingredients, usually coming from sugar or fruits and vinegar. It is a blend of sweet and savory.

Cherry chutney in glass canning jar with a bowl of cherries in the background.

Chutney is a great condiment to use with grilled meat or vegetables and this cherry chutney went splendidly with a grilled flank steak.

During warm summer months, when stone fruit is at its peak, I make big batches of this chutney to put up for winter months when I need a bit of summer.

If you make a purchase through one of the affiliate links, I make a few pennies at no extra cost to you. Questions? Please see disclosure for info.

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Kung Pao Green Beans

September 3, 2015

Kung pao green beans are a sweet, spicy side that will liven up any meal. This recipe is nut-free, but it still has all the flavor you’d expect from a classic kung pao. If nut allergies aren’t a concern, sprinkle some chopped peanuts over your green beans to get that true, authentic taste.

Kung Pao Green Beans

As a proclaimed lover of vegetables, I can’t quite understand anyone over the age of seven wrinkling their nose at the sight of them. That being said, I have a few clients who fall into that category and it is my job to come up with recipes that will entice them into eating something green.

I’m not a parent, so I can’t imagine what it is like on a daily basis but I can tell you that once a week I find myself trying to figure out what I can cook for vegetable-hating clients that will actually end up on their plates. This one came to fruition solely based on the fact that one of my clients loves anything spicy. I figured if I disguised the flavor of the vegetable with chilies and garlic, maybe I’d have a hit on my hands.

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Catalan Tomato Bread (pa amb tomàquet)

August 1, 2013

Grilled Catalan tomato bread rubbed with cloves of garlic is a delicious and easy snack. Drizzled with grassy olive oil and dusted with flaked sea salt, it is best enjoyed outside with a glass of Spanish rioja. A super simple dinner or appetizer, this bread is bursting with flavor.

I had been dreaming about travelling to Spain for nearly a decade, so when I finally landed there back in April of 2000, I cried. The moment my feet touched Spanish soil, I was almost in disbelief.

I was so overwhelmed that I could not contain my pure joy. It felt as if the entire universe lined up and planted me exactly where I was supposed to be for that one perfect moment. I wanted for nothing, except Catalan tomato bread.

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How to make pickled banana peppers

June 17, 2013

Pickled banana peppers are quick and easy, plus they are a tasty addition to sandwiches, pizza or just as a snack. Another quick and easy pickle is my curtido recipe.

My banana pepper plants have been rather prolific and for this I am grateful. As most of you who are regular visitors to this little space already know, I went a little overboard in planting. I have a tendency to overdo things and this was no exception.

Spending so many years living in an apartment with zero outdoor space, I may have gone a little crazy when I realized that I could grow some of my own food. This had been a goal of mine for a very long time (growing food, not going crazy… that ship has sailed).

I am fascinated by the entire process of planting a seed, taking care of it and watching it grow into something that will actually feed you.

The very first time I had a banana pepper was on a pizza, my Freshman year in college. A small group of us had descended on the pizza place next to campus. We were there under the pretense of “studying” I’m sure.

There were pool tables, dart boards (which I became quite skillful at playing), air hockey tables; all the things one thinks of when looking for an appropriate place to “study”.

Anyhow, there we were and one of the guys went to order our pizza and when the waitress came to the table and set it down in front of us, I noticed that it had peppers on it. Not wanting to draw any attention to myself, I dug right in but in my head was this little voice shouting “are you nuts?!”.

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Spicy Thai Chicken Salad with Chili Lime Dressing

July 10, 2012

Spicy Thai chicken salad with spicy chili lime dressing is my go-to summer dinner. The vinaigrette keeps me coming back for more and because it’s so light, I don’t feel the least bit guilty. This salad is a great alternative to it’s heavy, mayo-laden cousins.

In my continuing effort to avoid turning my kitchen into the sweltering fires of hell, I decided that this time I would cheat a little. Just a little, and it’s for the greater good. The heat index is hovering in the triple digits while beads of sweat are pooling at the nape of my neck. The least entertaining thought at this moment is “let’s fire up the oven”.

Store-bought roast chicken: In the winter months, this would be considered sacrilege… but in the blistering heat of summer, it is sweet salvation!

As if buying the chicken wasn’t enough, the food processor is going to do the majority of the work! Yep, this might be the perfect summer recipe. The amount of work involved barely even registers. If you don’t own a food processor it isn’t the end of the world, just a bit of chopping & grating.

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If You’re Afraid of Butter, Use Cream…

May 22, 2012

The above is one of my favorite quotes from Julia Child, one of the gutsiest broads to ever hoist a meat cleaver. (and I use that term lovingly)

On August 15th of this year, Julia would have turned 100 years old and I’d like to think would still be cooking.
In the 100 days leading up to Julia’s birthday, the JC100 is celebrating this culinary powerhouse and her recipes. Each week, a new recipe is featured and this weeks offering was Coq au Vin… one of my all time favorites.

I remember watching Julia & Jacques and loved her candor and fearless approach to cooking. She made it seem fun and most importantly, possible. She had a way of walking her audience through a recipe that made complex dishes seem effortless and isn’t that all we really want? To feel like anything is possible?

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