Sunday, December 26th, 2010 | Recipes

Maggi and I go way back. We met about 30 years ago in NYC. I was visiting my Dad one school vacation when  his Polish girlfriend Joanna came by to cook us a lovely meal. During preparation she pulled out her silent partner... Maggi. The two of them made the most delicious salad,  it's no wonder my father married her... Joanna that is, not Maggi. Maggi has been around since the late 1800's and is a vegetable protein based  meat enhancer that is essentially Eastern Europe's equivalency to soy sauce.  Maggi was developed as an inexpensive alternative to enrich the flavor of soups and stocks during economically challenging times.  Now a Nestle product, Maggi is available all over the world and most likely can be found in your local super market. So, I'm a big soup maker but I have be honest, ...

Thursday, December 9th, 2010 | Holiday, Tasty Events

These are a few of my favorite things… and soon to be yours!!! YOUR INVITED! Join us for a night of Shopping, Sipping and Tasting! Tuesday: 12.14.10 - 5:30-8:00pm Wednesday: 12.15.10 - 5:30-8:00pm Unique Gifts for the Hostess in your Life Introducing... PoCo|Swag Aprons! Powell & Company Signature Aprons Hand-made with love and dozens of designs to choose from! Our ...

Monday, December 6th, 2010 | Food Styling, Holiday

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Monday, November 22nd, 2010 | Cocktail, Food Styling, Holiday, Recipes

I love a challenge almost as much as I love a really good cocktail! So when my bff asked me to create a Thanksgiving Inspired Adult Concoction, I was more than happy to help out, besides, what are friends for? This tasty task was sure to be fun, but it did come along with a few guidelines. Not too filling, fattening or sweet easy-do-ahead batch recipe creative rimming on glasses 'Pumpkin Martini' was the very first image to flash through my brain when recruited. I knew it had to be creamy and a little sweet to truly get the effect I was going for. Pumpkin Pie, Meet My Shaker! Here is where a little innovation and a trip down memory lane happens. See, back in the late 80's and early 90's I had a lot of ...

Monday, October 18th, 2010 | Desserts, Farming, Recipes

Apple picking season is here! This is a great activity NOT to be overlooked in New England. Orchards from Harvard Massachusetts to Little Compton Rhode Island are welcoming families of all ages to stroll the groves and fill up on apples, cider and other seasonal treats. Not only a great way to get a hearty dose of the great outdoors, apple picking inspires all kinds of wonderful kitchen activities! I've been busy cooking up local varieties in all sorts of delicious ways; but hands down, my favorite way to incorporate these crisp, seasonal sweethearts into my culinary regime is in my simple Rustic Apple Tart.  Free-form and individually unique, these tarts are quick to make and can stand up to any Apple Pie! Don't sweat the labors of homemade pie crust (unless you enjoy cruel punishment, go right ahead), years of ...

Monday, July 26th, 2010 | Recipes, Seafood, Tasty Events

Living on the South Shore has it's perks, and fresh seafood is definitely one of them! I have strict rules when it comes to seafood and demand quality. The best way to determine freshness is by performing the good old fashion 'sniff test'. Never be afraid to ask your fishmonger for a whiff. If they say 'no' they have answered your question and that's your cue to find a new monger! Fresh fish should never smell fishy... it should smell like the ocean. Having lived in New England my entire life I have had countless opportunities to experiment with all different types of fish. Although I could never choose a favorite, this flounder recipe is so delicate, so pretty and so flavorful it is almost mind boggling. Flounder Poached in Coconut, Ginger, Basil Broth has been the ...

Sunday, July 18th, 2010 | Farming

Summer just isn't the same without Lovage! What is Lovage you ask??(I get this a lot at my cooking classes, it's okay!) It's a big, beautiful, tasty perennial that has so many uses I am always amazed that we overlook this guy the way we do. I first came across Lovage in 1993 at the Plymouth Plantation of all places. I was visiting the plantation with my toddler son, nieces and nephew for a family field trip. While the  kids were running around playing Pilgrims and Indians, I was immediately drawn to the abundant gardens that seem to be everywhere. The 'gardener' was present, doing some weeding and watering, so I took the opportunity to get a little education of my own. I learned that the pilgrims had several different gardens, all with very specific purposes. The ...

Monday, July 5th, 2010 | Holiday, Recipes, Rescue of the Day

Life is funny. Maybe that's why we have the Pineapple Upside Down Cake! This quirky cake has been showing up around the holidays for my entire life. See, my 93 year old grandmother, Damma, is a big fan. She showcased this sweet treat whenever the opportunity arose, and each time that cake came out my grandfather Pops would fall in love with her all over again. I must admit, for me the treat was all about the visual, as even now I haven't fully developed a passion. If you are going to equate the Pineapple upside down cake with a particular holiday, I pick Independence Day! The fourth of July is fun and free; and is the quintessential 'home' for this Vintage Americana Treasure....

Wednesday, June 30th, 2010 | Recipes, Seafood

On a quest for fresh fish this past weekend I happened upon these nifty grill mates 'Fire & Flavor' at the fish counter - Roche Brothers that is - These planks were calling my name. I visualized my meal instantly! I always forget how much I like cedar plank grilling until I run across a recipe or a cedar product like this one. Dinner was decided. 'I'll have 3 salmon and 3 tilapia..... pleeeeease'. I dashed home and started soaking! See, we've done this before and the results are always DIVINE! The flavor is intense and so satisfying. Cedar planks from the  market are always convenient, but the reality is you can go to Lowes, or any home improvement center, and grab a bundle of cedar ...

Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010 | Farming

It is Summertime Officially!!! And you know what that means......... Fresh Farm Produce, Farmer's Markets and CSA's.... I know what your thinking... Local farms, yeah! Farmer's Markets, got one down the road! CSA, ummm what? It's okay, you're not alone! Lots of people are just getting into the CSA groove, now it's your turn! CSA is short for Community Supported Agriculture, a system in which consumers receive food directly from the farmers who produce it. But unlike a farmers' market system, supporters of community agriculture actually share in part of the farmers' risk. That is, they pay in advance for a portion of the farmer's total crop. Crops that do well will be abundant in the share, crops that do less well will be less abundant. For their ...