holidays & recipes: happy new year 2012

We will return to our regular schedule January 4th 2012! Winter is the time of the year when we crave those rich comfort foods that make us feel like we are swaddled in a warm, fuzzy blanket of goodness. There are many other times when comfort foods are required to relax frayed nerves. Some of those stressful times are caused by the very people who are supposed to support and soothe us: our family. We all have one. We call that family member the black sheep and it is his/her’s sole purpose in life to make the rest of the family cringe. Some people may have an entire flock of black sheep and you may be the only little white lamb adrift in a sea of darkness. We ask that you share your stories, and you should have plenty after the holidays, with us and the comfort food you long... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: happy new year 2012

We will return to our regular schedule January 4th 2012! Winter is the time of the year when we crave those rich comfort foods that make us feel like we are swaddled in a warm, fuzzy blanket of goodness. There are many other times when comfort foods are required to relax frayed nerves. Some of those stressful times are caused by the very people who are supposed to support and soothe us: our family. We all have one. We call that family member the black sheep and it is his/her’s sole purpose in life to make the rest of the family cringe. Some people may have an entire flock of black sheep and you may be the only little white lamb adrift in a sea of darkness. We ask that you share your stories, and you should have plenty after the holidays, with us and the comfort food you long... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: breakfast of champions

Sweets for my sweet, sugar for my honey… one simply can’t get enough of sugary delights to brighten one’s day. But don’t get me wrong, I’ll be indulging my sweet tooth during the holidays without inhibiting my passion for sweets. What better way to celebrate the season than getting that sugar high, that extra boost of energy that’s much needed during this time of year. Making French toast, pancakes, and homemade stollen, is one of my breakfast traditions. Stollen is a traditional German loaf-shaped cake with dried fruit, lightly sprinkled with powdered sugar. I make them the way they’re supposed to be made, without skimping on butter. It’s what I would call a special breakfast. Honestly, I only enjoy a calorie-laden breakfast (full of fat and butter, makes everything all the more delicious!) during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, New Years, my Birthday, and Valentine’s Day. There’s nothing French about how Americans... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: breakfast of champions

Sweets for my sweet, sugar for my honey… one simply can’t get enough of sugary delights to brighten one’s day. But don’t get me wrong, I’ll be indulging my sweet tooth during the holidays without inhibiting my passion for sweets. What better way to celebrate the season than getting that sugar high, that extra boost of energy that’s much needed during this time of year. Making French toast, pancakes, and homemade stollen, is one of my breakfast traditions. Stollen is a traditional German loaf-shaped cake with dried fruit, lightly sprinkled with powdered sugar. I make them the way they’re supposed to be made, without skimping on butter. It’s what I would call a special breakfast. Honestly, I only enjoy a calorie-laden breakfast (full of fat and butter, makes everything all the more delicious!) during Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, New Years, my Birthday, and Valentine’s Day. There’s nothing French about how Americans... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: beggars purse

These adorable little sacks remind us of exactly what they are called, beggar’s purse. These are a beautiful addition to the Elegant Christmas Dinner menu. While the Cornish game hens, stuffing and Brussels sprouts were quite easy to make, these beggar’s purses will require a little more attention. That being said, they are quite inexpensive as the ingredients are not extensive and they are seasonally available. We recommend taking your time when making these, following the directions carefully and you will find your guests oohing and ahhing at the results. The beggar’s purses present wonderfully, letting your guest know you have taken a little extra care to make their Christmas special. An Elegant Christmas Dinner Menu Cornish Game Hens and Wild Rice/Cornbread Stuffing Roasted Brussels Sprouts Beggar’s Purse Caramel Coated Seckel Pears Beggar’s Purse (Martha Stewart’s Holiday book.) Ingredients 4 Leeks, washed thoroughly 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 1/2 lbs... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: beggars purse

These adorable little sacks remind us of exactly what they are called, beggar’s purse. These are a beautiful addition to the Elegant Christmas Dinner menu. While the Cornish game hens, stuffing and Brussels sprouts were quite easy to make, these beggar’s purses will require a little more attention. That being said, they are quite inexpensive as the ingredients are not extensive and they are seasonally available. We recommend taking your time when making these, following the directions carefully and you will find your guests oohing and ahhing at the results. The beggar’s purses present wonderfully, letting your guest know you have taken a little extra care to make their Christmas special. An Elegant Christmas Dinner Menu Cornish Game Hens and Wild Rice/Cornbread Stuffing Roasted Brussels Sprouts Beggar’s Purse Caramel Coated Seckel Pears Beggar’s Purse (Martha Stewart’s Holiday book.) Ingredients 4 Leeks, washed thoroughly 4 tablespoons olive oil 1 1/2 lbs... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: christmas breakfast with polenta

Our next recipe for our Christmas breakfast buffet menu is a hot cereal. Oh, no! Not mush again! No, not mush, but if you grew up watching “The Little Rascals”; reruns, of course, we aren’t quite that old, you may have had an aversion to the oatmeal your mother put in a bowl and served to you for breakfast. You might have looked at the oatmeal with disgust and declared, “I’m fed up with mush!” Hot cereals were the overalls, work boots and flannel shirts of the breakfast world. Hot cereals were almost always lumpy, plain and boring. The high-heeled fashionistas of this breakfast world were definitely the ever popular sugary cereals and pop tarts. Hot cereals couldn’t stand up to (Well, actually hot cereals could stand up your spoon.) the brightly colored, sugary confections we loved for breakfast. But, as we grow and mature. As our bodies begin to... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: christmas breakfast with polenta

Our next recipe for our Christmas breakfast buffet menu is a hot cereal. Oh, no! Not mush again! No, not mush, but if you grew up watching “The Little Rascals”; reruns, of course, we aren’t quite that old, you may have had an aversion to the oatmeal your mother put in a bowl and served to you for breakfast. You might have looked at the oatmeal with disgust and declared, “I’m fed up with mush!” Hot cereals were the overalls, work boots and flannel shirts of the breakfast world. Hot cereals were almost always lumpy, plain and boring. The high-heeled fashionistas of this breakfast world were definitely the ever popular sugary cereals and pop tarts. Hot cereals couldn’t stand up to (Well, actually hot cereals could stand up your spoon.) the brightly colored, sugary confections we loved for breakfast. But, as we grow and mature. As our bodies begin to... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: a christmas breakfast buffet menu crème brûlée french toast bake

We’d like to present to you our second holiday menu, which is a Breakfast Buffet. What could be better than several sinfully delicious breakfast items served buffet style? This is an easy, lovely beginning to Christmas day. And, if you are like many people your Christmas may be split between two or more households. So, if you aren’t going to be eating Christmas dinner at your home, you can at least create a festive meal for your family that will create memories in your own home. Christmas Breakfast Buffet 1. Crème Brûlée French Toast Bake 2. Creamy Polenta with Honey and Blueberries 3. Dutch Baby 4. Savory Quiche 5. Baked Ham and Egg Cups Our first recipe first arrived on our doorstep in the hands of Camille’s brother about 5 years ago. He brought the recipe; we bought the ingredients and added it to our Christmas breakfast buffet. “You are... Read the Rest →

 

holidays & recipes: a christmas breakfast buffet menu crème brûlée french toast bake

We’d like to present to you our second holiday menu, which is a Breakfast Buffet. What could be better than several sinfully delicious breakfast items served buffet style? This is an easy, lovely beginning to Christmas day. And, if you are like many people your Christmas may be split between two or more households. So, if you aren’t going to be eating Christmas dinner at your home, you can at least create a festive meal for your family that will create memories in your own home. Christmas Breakfast Buffet 1. Crème Brûlée French Toast Bake 2. Creamy Polenta with Honey and Blueberries 3. Dutch Baby 4. Savory Quiche 5. Baked Ham and Egg Cups Our first recipe first arrived on our doorstep in the hands of Camille’s brother about 5 years ago. He brought the recipe; we bought the ingredients and added it to our Christmas breakfast buffet. “You are... Read the Rest →

 

holidays: crabs & blueberry stars 4th of July

July 4th. Independence Day. The day when all Americans celebrate their freedom. From one region of the United States to the next traditional foods are prepared with the anticipation of backyard feasting and evening fireworks. One of my favorite meals to prepare for the 4th of July is a traditional crab boil. Growing up on the east coast of the United States and having family members who reside in Maryland the crab boil became a focal point of summer family gatherings. When our Maryland cousins visited they brought bushels of blue crabs. My family simply boiled them, set out copious amounts of melted butter atop tables layered with newspaper and, with mallets in hand, the feasting began. Often referring to our great country as a “melting pot”, we are proud of our many cultures. What better way to celebrate the freedoms that allow us to cherish our individual cultural backgrounds... Read the Rest →

 

holidays: crabs & blueberry stars 4th of July

July 4th. Independence Day. The day when all Americans celebrate their freedom. From one region of the United States to the next traditional foods are prepared with the anticipation of backyard feasting and evening fireworks. One of my favorite meals to prepare for the 4th of July is a traditional crab boil. Growing up on the east coast of the United States and having family members who reside in Maryland the crab boil became a focal point of summer family gatherings. When our Maryland cousins visited they brought bushels of blue crabs. My family simply boiled them, set out copious amounts of melted butter atop tables layered with newspaper and, with mallets in hand, the feasting began. Often referring to our great country as a “melting pot”, we are proud of our many cultures. What better way to celebrate the freedoms that allow us to cherish our individual cultural backgrounds... Read the Rest →