What happens when you receive a package from your dear friend who resides in Tokyo? In my home the entire family gathers to see what has been sent. Marie sends me many fun packages. My husband and boys enjoy the chocolates and candy. And, I receive many wonderful girly things like lip balm, hand gel, soaps, etc. I feel like a kid at Christmas for all the packaging is brightly colored and brilliantly decorated. None of the labeling is in English. All the print is Japanese. Sometimes I have no clue what is in the packaging until I open it to peek at the contents. On one occasion I had left the contents of one of Marie’s care packages on my kitchen table. I was at work one day and my husband called me at work and this is the conversation we had: My Hubby: “Babe, I think some of... Read the Rest →
What happens when you receive a package from your dear friend who resides in Tokyo? In my home the entire family gathers to see what has been sent. Marie sends me many fun packages. My husband and boys enjoy the chocolates and candy. And, I receive many wonderful girly things like lip balm, hand gel, soaps, etc. I feel like a kid at Christmas for all the packaging is brightly colored and brilliantly decorated. None of the labeling is in English. All the print is Japanese. Sometimes I have no clue what is in the packaging until I open it to peek at the contents. On one occasion I had left the contents of one of Marie’s care packages on my kitchen table. I was at work one day and my husband called me at work and this is the conversation we had: My Hubby: “Babe, I think some of... Read the Rest →
The French have eclairs, Greeks have baklava, Italians have cannolis and the Americans have pies! Americans have long had a love affair with pies and are proud of their pie heritage. Pie recipes have been handed down from generation to generation and are kept under lock and key. Pies are the true essence of an all American dining experience where comfort food is a trip down memory lane. You can’t help but feel all warm and fuzzy when you have a slice of pie. A pie speaks a thousand words with its universal appeal. It is versatile and whatever filling you put in it, whether sweet or savory, it always tastes heavenly. This holiday season, no matter which part of the country you are in, it always makes you feel like you’re home. The Grand Traverse Pie Company is just the place to get your pies. The Grand Traverse Pie... Read the Rest →
The winner of the hand crafted cutting board is “Rachel”, congrats Rachel from “My Naturally Frugal Family“. For the holidays we like to dress up our tables. Coconut Custard pie is easily converted into tart form and makes a lovely addition to your dessert table. We love tarts, particularly on holiday tables, because they look a little more polished, as if the pie dressed up for the occasion. There are many people who think there is a great deal of work that goes into a coconut cream pie. Truthfully, it is one of the easiest pies to make and it seems to receive more than the average compliments. All pies are delicious, but the exotic nature of coconuts seems to add more flavor. You’ll note in the photos that our coconut cream is very yellow. As you’ll read in the recipe there are 5 large egg yolks in the custard.... Read the Rest →
The winner of the hand crafted cutting board is “Rachel”, congrats Rachel from “My Naturally Frugal Family“. For the holidays we like to dress up our tables. Coconut Custard pie is easily converted into tart form and makes a lovely addition to your dessert table. We love tarts, particularly on holiday tables, because they look a little more polished, as if the pie dressed up for the occasion. There are many people who think there is a great deal of work that goes into a coconut cream pie. Truthfully, it is one of the easiest pies to make and it seems to receive more than the average compliments. All pies are delicious, but the exotic nature of coconuts seems to add more flavor. You’ll note in the photos that our coconut cream is very yellow. As you’ll read in the recipe there are 5 large egg yolks in the custard.... Read the Rest →
Our last post featured a giveaway. If you haven’t commented and added your name please click here and do so. We are giving away a lovely hand carved cutting board. We found the cutting board at the farmers market, a hub for artesian products and fresh produce. These days you may find some of the same produce from the farmers markets on the tables of your local restaurants. It is wonderful to see that more and more restaurants are keeping the food seasonal and local. One such restaurant is called Poppy Hill Tuscan Kitchen. From the folks at Poppy Hill Tuscan Kitchen comes Blackbird Pie Company. “Scott Mahar is an acclaimed executive chef who brings his dedication to whole foods and local sourcing with him to Blackbird Pie Company. He is currently the Executive Chef at Poppy Hill Tuscan Kitchen in Fredericksburg, Virginia. Under Chef Scott’s direction, Poppy Hill was... Read the Rest →
Mention the words Key lime and automatically thoughts are turned toward (a) pie and (b) Key West, Florida. Key lime pies and Key West, Florida are synonymous. As a matter of fact, on July 1, 2006 Key lime pie became Florida’s state pie. Key limes are also known as Mexican limes and West Indies limes. Originating in the Indo-Malayan region Key limes traveled by way of Arab traders North Africa and the Near East. Carried by the Crusaders to the Mediterranean regions of Europe and then, according to some accounts, Columbus brought the key lime to Hispaniola in the New World. The Key lime made its way to Florida along with the Spanish settlers. It flourished in the Florida Keys until a hurricane destroyed the groves. Today, most Key limes are grown in Mexico. Key limes are much smaller (ping-pong to golf ball-sized) than Persian limes. They are nearly spherical,... Read the Rest →
