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I’m Going on a Picnic and I’m Bringing … Foie Gras!

There’s a word game played during long car trips called “I’m Going on a Picnic …”. It’s also a drinking game played at parties. I’ve played both, though not recently. Perhaps you have too?

And, it’s this month’s Creative Cooking Crew challenge … a virtual picnic. Continue Reading

The New BLT Sandwich: It’s not what you think! A Creative Cooking Crew Challenge

“Build a sandwich around 3 ingredients that start with the letters B.L.T.” that was the directive for this month’s challenge. And you know we’re not talking bacon, lettuce and tomato! Continue Reading

Creative Cooking Crew Challenge: The Mystery Basket Round-Up

What would you do if you were challenged to prepare a dish that included nut butter, vinegar, green apple and bacon?

Think about it. Could you pull it off?

Could you think out-of-the-box like the 13 members of the Cooking Crew who participated in this month’s challenge.

Feast your eyes on some beautiful, tasty and, of course, creative recipes. Continue Reading

Introducing the Creative Cooking Crew and Its First Challenge: Vegan

When I announced that I would be co-hosting a cooking challenge group, I knew immediately I wanted to get my son (the ‘visioneer’) to create a logo that brands and signifies our objective: modern, fresh and, most importantly, creative cooking. In fact, he gave us 3 logos with different images and varying shapes and sizes so that each group member could choose what best fits their blog – or mood. I’m going to feature all 3 in this round-up … just because.

Here’s our first challenge.

Continue Reading

Green Bean Casserole Makeover: It’s Italian, contemporary and it has fried spaghetti!

The ‘green bean casserole’ was created in 1955 by the Campbell Soup Company and has been a Thanksgiving favorite on a gazillion tables across America for more than 50 years!

This one is a makeover. It’s Italian. It’s lighter. And, it’s contemporary. This is an ‘instead of” recipe.  Continue Reading

Eating the Alphabet: Everything (including the serving vessel) starts with the letter “B”

It wasn’t intended. I started to make some kind of dinner using about a 1/2 dozen fresh brussels sprouts.

I thought of a rice bowl. A brown rice bowl. Then, as I started to pull out other ingredients, I suddenly realized everything started with a “B” and I got amused. (I’m easy that way.) Continue Reading

Apple Challenge: Salmon Tartar, Forbidden Black Rice and Cider Gastrique

Yes, apple is present everywhere in this dish!

I always try to take the theme of these challenges to some place different … some place unexpected. I knew immediately it would be featured in a savory dish: (1) for the obvious reason that I’m not a dessert-maker and (2) I love the yin and yang of sweet and savory.

You might think at first glance that this is complicated or fancy, but it’s really very simple. Continue Reading

A Duo of Sweet and Savory Cheesecake for High Tea

This month’s 5 Star Makeover Challenge is “high tea”. High Tea?  I don’t even own a teapot. Never did. On the very rare occasion I drink hot tea, I pop a mug with water and a teabag in the microwave.

… I don’t make pastries or eat gooey sweets either and I haven’t eaten white bread since I lost my baby teeth. That was a long time ago. These days, I’m more a ‘vino y tapas‘ kind of gal. Continue Reading

Really ‘Cool’: Watermelon Soup with Cilantro Drizzle

Fruit soup is a delicate balancing act — you want the sweetness of the fruit but you also want to balance that sweetness with a little acid and piquant heat. I think I accomplished just that for this month’s 5 Star Makeover Challenge: chilled soup. Continue Reading

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