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Created on July 01st, 2010
Quick Summer Recipes for a Fantastic 4th of July Menu
Put together a casual BBQ chicken dinner for eight in just a little more than a couple of hours.
Category: Holiday Food & Entertaining
Created on June 28th, 2010
Pound Cake: Simple and Sublime
Sometimes there is no substitute for simple and easy. Recipes with a few ingredients that work well together and that are almost no-fail simply can’t be beat. My mom’s pound cake recipe is exactly that. It has a short list of ingredients – six to be exact – and with the help of a stand [...]
Created on June 27th, 2010
The Fête & Feast 4th of July Survival Guide
Next weekend we’ll celebrate our country’s birthday with parades, fireworks, and of course a lot of great food. Whether you’re hosting a backyard bash, taking a dish to a communal party, picnicking before fireworks, or packing a cooler for a day on the lake, you’ll find a bevy of recipes here to help you with [...]
Created on June 08th, 2010
Celebrate Mardi Gras Any Night of the Week with Jambalaya-Stuffed Pork Tenderloin
Back in February, on Fat Tuesday proper, I celebrated all the joys of New Orleans food with friends and family as part of a Zatarain’s biggest Fat Tuesday Celebration. Zatarain’s equipped parties around the country with supplies, decorations, and party ideas so we could bring a bit of the spirit of Mardi Gras and Louisiana [...]
Created on June 01st, 2010
A Southern Peach Cobbler Recipe with a Lavender and Vanilla Twist
Cobbler and the South are like bread and butter, peas and carrots, hook ‘em and horns, and other natural combination. This is not to say that they don’t have cobbler in the North, but when I think of the many ubiquitous foods in my Southern heritage, cobbler is a stand out. When I was growing [...]
Created on April 22nd, 2010
Picnic Fare: Fast, Easy, and Elegant Appetizers
If you’re short on time but still want to put together an elegant appetizer for a picnic, potluck, or your own party, don’t despair. You can put together a beautiful dish that travels well in no-time flat just like I did for a recent food blogger potluck.
Created on April 01st, 2010
Podcast: Buying Ham and Lamb – The Basics
Ham and lamb are two favorite main dishes for Spring menus. Listen as I share the advice I received from a local expert on how to choose the best cuts of each for your table.
Created on March 30th, 2010
Easy and Elegant Spring Lamb Dinner
Spring entertaining is so much fun. Fresh ingredients like artichokes and asparagus are abundant, and lighter meats like lamb become the star of the show after a winter of hearty fare. I particularly enjoy entertaining outside on our porch, taking advantage of the longer days to watch the sun set over dessert with good friends. [...]
Created on March 28th, 2010
Get a Leg Up on Spring: Ham and Lamb 101
As I drive around Central Texas and see the wildflowers in bloom or sit on my back porch enjoying the lovely Spring weather, my mind turns to Spring menus and two of my favorite main ingredients: ham and lamb. While both are very popular centerpieces for an Easter table, I love to serve them all [...]
Created on February 10th, 2010
Mardi Gras Made Easy with Zatarain’s
This year Zatarain’s is throwing a nationwide Mardi Gras party on Fat Tuesday, February 16, with participants from all across the country, in hopes of setting the world record for largest Mardi Gras house party. Thousands of participants will be hosting Mardi Gras celebrations at home with their closest families and friends and I’m happy [...]
Created on February 06th, 2010
A Luxurious and Healthy Valentine’s Day Dinner
While my Valentine’s Day menus often include decadent favorites like lobster, steak, and truffles, this year I wanted to put together a healthier menu that would still feel decadent.
Created on February 02nd, 2010
Make-Ahead Super Bowl Hors D’oeurves & Appetizers
[Jump right to the recipes: New Twists on Old Favorites, An Elegant Super Bowl, or Red Chile Beef Empanadas]
Football is all about fandom, and half the fun of being a fan is sharing your obsession for the sport with other similarly obsessed folk. For many years I was torn between my love of the sport [...]
Created on December 28th, 2009
Celebrate with Wine and Cheese
When I think of a New Year’s Eve party, I envision nibbles, bubbles, and all of the trapping of a glittery cocktail party. A celebration to beat all celebrations as we put the old behind us and take a fresh look at life, love, and other important things. In my world, two must haves at [...]
Created on December 13th, 2009
Christmas Cookies: Shortbread with a Twist
[Jump to the recipe: Lemon-Lavender Shortbread]
My local Austin food blogger brethren and I love nothing more than to get together and share food. And while the food is important – we are food bloggers after all – we get together for so many other reasons. We have a shared passion for not just food but [...]
Created on December 10th, 2009
Party Hors D’oeuvres Recipes: Warm and Creamy Artichoke Dip
One of my favorite additions to a winter holiday menu is a warm and creamy artichoke dip. There’s just something satisfying about dipping a crisp crostini or cracker into a bowl of rich and melty goodness. It’s a nice alternative to a typical queso and adds a hint of sophistication to any menu, be it [...]
Created on December 07th, 2009
Christmas Cookies = Love
[Jump right to the recipe: Cranberry Palmiers]
There’s just something about a cookie that seems to make the holidays that much sweeter. Cookie swaps, cookie gift baskets, and cookie trays at the office all speak to our shared love of the Christmas cookie. Cookies really are more than just a tickle for the sweet tooth. They [...]
Created on November 24th, 2009
Thanksgiving Survival Guide
Thanksgiving is just two days away. Are you ready? You’ll be fine – trust me. Remember, Thanksgiving is all about friends and family, the food is just a catalyst for the gathering. As you gird up to face the coming three days, I thought it might be useful to share some of my tried-and-true tools [...]
Created on November 23rd, 2009
Thanksgiving Dinner Lessons from The Blind Side (or Why a Pre-Made Thanksgiving Can Be the Best Thanksgiving)
Last night I went to see The Blind Side. In case you’ve missed the many tissue-worthy promos for this movie, it’s the story of Michael Oher, an athletically gifted boy from the poorest area of Memphis who is almost lost to the world of drugs and poverty. Through a series of events which from my [...]
Created on November 19th, 2009
Your Thanksgiving Menu: Choosing the Right Wine
Let yourself off the food and wine pairing hook this Thanksgiving – it turns out it’s not as big of a deal as you might think.
The Thanksgiving Food and Wine Conundrum
As turkey day looms there’s an uptick in Thanksgiving wine advice from magazines, blogs, and wine merchants. Most talk about the difficulty of finding a [...]
Created on November 17th, 2009
Thanksgiving Dinner Ideas: Side Dishes Made Easy
It’s been almost a decade since I’ve had to plan a Thanksgiving dinner but this year I’m on the hook. After spending a few hours on recipe creation and planning, I remember why it’s such a huge pain. Putting together a big collection of recipes that all work together not only from a flavor-perspective but [...]
