Chametz?! Today is one of those “first day of your life” days!

Do you know what chametz is?  I’m not even sure myself – my sister-in-law, Stacey told me it is the stuff you rid your house of before Passover.  She mentioned something about food stuffs that are not part of the Passover meal or week-long celebration, are thrown out. Well today was ONE of those days! [...]

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Pasta with Cauliflower and Collards-Tasty Tidbits Tuesday

DON’T be put off by the ingredients in this super winter pasta dish.  Depending on where you are when you are reading this, winter has either been a no-show or you’re cursing that damn gopher in Pennsylvania!  I’m in NYC and we’ve had a “pass”  (so far) on a snowy, frosty, icy winter.  Thank you [...]

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Thanksgiving Dinner Menu with an Italian Accent

Brie on baguettes Mixed Mediterranean olives Antipasta plate Garlic-herb rubbed Turkey roasted on onions and lemon Herbed bread and sausage stuffing Green beans with tarragon and caramelized onions Mashed Yukon Gold potatoes with chives Roasted parsnips, brussel sprouts and carrots with savory finishing sauce Cranberry ginger clove sauce Pumpkin pie with vanilla ice cream  

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Cucumber Coolers – Delightful and Refreshing

I guarantee you will be delighted with this crisp and thirst-quenching non-alcoholic drink.  I served it with dinner the other night, however my intention had been to serve it in the afternoon with some light refreshments or with lunch.  And when you are hot in the afternoon the way I was when we came home [...]

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How to Spend Memorial Day Weekend on the Jersey Shore

It’s Monday, it’s officially Memorial Day, the last day of long weekend.  You know when you work in an office, everyone wishes each other a restful relaxing weekend;  Now I don’t really work in an office on a daily basis and no one wished me a R&R weekend and I wonder if someone had, would [...]

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Strawberry Shortcake with Basil

Luscious Red Strawberries May and June and early July are the best months to get local strawberries! Sweet, luscious, juicy red strawberries and what better time than the upcoming holiday weekend to have real strawberry shortcake?  There’s a twist or two in this old standby dessert  and I think it will make a world of [...]

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Heart Healthy! Lemon-Tarragon Salmon over Asparagus

Red onions, lemon, and tarragon come together as a tangy topping for salmon and asparagus. 20 asparagus spears, trimmed to 6″ and halved lengthwise 2 large radishes, very thinly sliced 4 boneless, skinless salmon fillets 5 oz each, 1″ thick coarse salt and pepper 1 small red onion thinly sliced 1/4 cup plus 1 TBS [...]

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Cold February Means HOT CHOCOLATE

If you’ve been faithfully reading this blog, then you know that I’ve been all about February being the month of RED, as in American Heart Month and Valentine’s Day.  Ahhhh but of course February is also all about  CHOCOLATE. Here in New York City, Maury Rubin’s City Bakery celebrates HOT CHOCOLATE like nobody else. They [...]

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Super Sunday Super Bowl Snack-Super Good Super Light

If there was ever a day to eat junk food and/or fattening, artery-clogging food, THIS WOULD BE THE DAY! But wait, not necessarily! Here is a quick and simple and heart-healthy quesadilla – perfect for the game tonight. GOAT CHEESE AND MANGO QUESADILLAS 4 oz goat cheese room temperature 4 6″ whole wheat tortillas 1 [...]

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Count-Down to Christmas Dinner – Espresso Biscuits

TASTY  TIDBITS  TUESDAY I served this dessert at Christmas for several years.  Of course, the dessert table was laden with other choices, however, this is one of my favorites because it incorporates two of my favorite foods: chocolate and ice cream!  This year it may be resurrected. ESPRESSO BISCUITS 1  1/2 cups all purpose flour [...]

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