Making homemade versions of easy, convenient, store bought foods can be tricky sometimes. We’ve all come to rely on convenient, ready-made, over processed, and preservative added foods in our hectic fast paced lives. I am completely guilty of this, especially…
Poached Eggs with Lemon Asparagus
I think one of the most lovely and (yes, I’ll say it) sensual foods is the poached egg. A little bit difficult to master, but so, so good on pretty much anything. As part of a crisp salad with…
Salsa and Guacamole
With the Super Bowl coming up, dips and small bites are in demand. We have been invited to a couple of football parties this weekend and trying to find a dish that is not only tasty, but easily portable, can…
Easy Black Bean Enchiladas
It is pretty well known to those around me that I love spicy food. Even as a kid, I would have hot pepper eating contests with my friends; we would competitively chomp down bowlfuls of jalapenos, move on to Tabasco…
Roasted Beet Salad with Shallot Dressing
I know what you are going to say…..Beets! Yuck! Blech! Who would eat something like that? It tastes like dirt! Never! I felt the same way until a couple of years ago. I had rudely relegated these ruby colored tubers…
The Best Tomato Soup
As we deal with the “Polar Vortex of Doom” in our part of the country, with the cold winds blowing, I start to crave something special… Is it warm spiced cider in front of a roaring fire? Hmm, sounds enticing,…
Fran’s Retro Thai Inspired Sesame Noodle Salad
Thai Inspired Cold Sesame Noodle Salad Do you have those food memories that even as an adult, you still can’t resist? Beyond the piles of remembered Halloween candy (1000 Grands… Dude…) or the insane amounts of fast food burgers consumed…
Spicy & Healthy Thai Inspired Steak Salad
Heathy Thai Steak Salad for Dinner! If you’re anything like me, you’re looking to clean up your act a bit after indulging in all of the big family dinners, sweets, wine and too many cheese plates to mention (Brie with…
Using Real Orange Juice in Crinkle Cookies
Real Orange Crinkle Cookies After whipping up several dozen cookies to give out for the holidays, I thought I was done with baking for a bit. Hmmm, not even close. The little bags that I bought to transport my cookie…
My Favorite Mandelbrot & Coconut Macaroon Recipes
Classic European Cookie Recipes for the Winter Holidays! It’s that time of year again…. The first “real” snow has fallen, Christmas music plays nonstop, and I’ve already broken out the long-johns from their warmer weather storage…. It’s holiday time! …