I started a tradition when my nieces (and later my nephew) were very young. Every year at Christmas, I took them to lunch at a restaurant and then we went shopping for toys and food for all the folks who didn’t have as much at Christmas as we always have. When the girls were very little, I didn’t have much experience handling kids on my own, so I chose a popular chain … [Read more...] about Monte Cristo Casserole
Tomato Gorgonzola Butter Pasta Sauce
I love a recipe that combines weeknight elegance and weeknight easy. And this sauce takes very little time to whip up with results that are unique and packed with flavor. The combination of tomatoes and blue cheese for that tang of cheese and sweet- tart edge of tomato is an absolute winner. Pasta enrobed in this rich sauce makes a great family meal, or an impressive dish to … [Read more...] about Tomato Gorgonzola Butter Pasta Sauce
Guinness and Oatmeal Quick Bread
It must have been close to St. Patrick’s Day. I had a six pack of Guinness on hand. Maybe I’d made some Guinness Glazed Irish Bacon or some Irish Rarebit. I love cooking with mallty stout, but I don’t particularly like drinking it straight, so I was looking for ways to use all those bottles. An Irish-inspired rustic loaf seemed the perfect thing. This bread has the lovely, … [Read more...] about Guinness and Oatmeal Quick Bread
Pastrami on Rye Pasta Bake
Tis the season for the rich, comforting pasta bake. It’s cold and gray, but not so much frigid winter as that doleful in between. I still want the warmth and comfort of cozy, hearty food, but I am growing tired of winter greens and roots and the spring bounty hasn’t sprung yet. I’ve souped and stewed, and I have depleted my stock of frozen-in-summer vegetables. So it’s time to … [Read more...] about Pastrami on Rye Pasta Bake
Melty Cheese and Caramelized Onion Fondue Dip
I love this recipe for many reasons. It combines some of my favorite things (sweet caramelized onions and gooey cheese), it never fails to delight guests, and it can be elegant or rustic. This is the kind of recipe that makes me feel like a much more put-together person than I am. I seems to me like the kind of thing you read about in a magazine food story, where the writer has … [Read more...] about Melty Cheese and Caramelized Onion Fondue Dip
