Recipes

Presto! It’s Pesto!

Pasta with a basic pesto sauce is a casual dinner to enjoy any time. But it’s particularly nice eaten outside on a warm summer evening. The beauty of pesto is you don’t have to cook it. Just pop a few ingredients into your blender or food processor and – Presto! It’s pesto! For a delicious pasta and pesto dinner, simply cook some of your... [Read more of this review]

Insalata Caprese

Since this is one of my favorite dishes in summer, I just HAVE to share it again. Easy Insalata Caprese It’s tomato time! And, if you’re a gardener, you might be wondering what you can do with all those luscious tomatoes growing in your backyard right now. One of the easiest, yet most delicious, dishes to enjoy at the height of summer,... [Read more of this review]

Garden Pizza

Try this “Garden Pizza” right now in summer, when you can gather most of the ingredients straight from your garden (or load up on them at the farmer’s market) – sweet orange and yellow peppers, juicy red tomatoes, and basil so fresh it will take your breath away. Start with a single-serve prepared pizza crust like Boboli, or some... [Read more of this review]

Make Your Own Limoncello – Lemon Liqueur

A few summers ago in Sorrento, Italy, I bought several cute little bottles of a tangy lemon liqueur called Limoncello. I used many of the smaller bottles of limoncello for gifts when I got home. Of course, I kept a few of the larger bottles for my husband and myself, and we enjoyed them for several months. True Limoncello is made only in Sorrento.... [Read more of this review]

Try This Spicy Chicken Rub

If you’re like me, you love eating outdoors. And, if you can cook outdoors, too, so much the better. Here’s a delicious spicy chicken rub. Concoct the rub and prepare the chicken, then let someone else do the grilling outdoors while you set a beautiful table under the trees, then relax and enjoy a special evening meal with those you love. You... [Read more of this review]

Try These Toffee Crunch Bars!

Here is one of my favorite bar cookies that isn’t made from a mix. These Toffee Crunch Bars hold together well, and kids and adults alike love them. Plus, the recipe is very easy, so you’ll surely want to bake some of these bar cookies while the kids are home during the summer. TOFFEE CRUNCH BARS 1 c. shortening1 c. brown sugar1 egg1 tsp.... [Read more of this review]

Mint Cooler

Cool off with this delicious and refreshing Mint Cooler this afternoon. MINT COOLER 2 c. boiling water8 mint tea bags1 1/2 c. lemonade2 c. orange juice2 c. crushed ice2 (12 oz.) cans ginger aleOrange Slices and mint sprigs Steep the mint tea bags in the boiling water for about 3 minutes. Add the lemonade, orange juice, ginger ale and mix well. Add the... [Read more of this review]

Spinach Souffle Delight

Here’s an easy, yet delicious and impressive way to serve spinach. 1 tbsp butter 1 tbsp flour 1 c. milk 1/2 tsp. salt 1 c. grated sharp cheese 3 eggs, separated 1 c. cooked spinach Make white sauce of first 4 ingredients. Add cheese: stir until blended. Add unbeaten egg yolks, 1 at a time. Add spinach; mix well. Beat egg whites until stiff;... [Read more of this review]

Monday’s Food Tip: Try This Meatless Main Dish – Eggplant Lasagne

Chicken, pork chops, steaks, burgers, and hot dogs – all foods we love to grill (and eat) in the summer! But summer is also a good time to try a meatless main dish once in awhile, when fresh vegetables are so readily available. This eggplant lasagne is a delicious (and low fat) way to serve vegetables as a main dish for dinner. Try it some evening... [Read more of this review]

Sparkling Fruit Juices – Just the Thing for a Hot Summer Day!

This delightful drink takes only a few minutes to make. Add a little sparkling mineral water (like Perrier) to orange juice, lemonade, cranberry juice, or your other favorite fruit juice. Serve in a pretty champagne flute, wine glass, or stemmed water glass. Garnish the glass with a slice of fresh fruit, if desired. A sparkling tropical fruit juice... [Read more of this review]

Impress Your Guests With This Simple Strawberry Sorbet

A cool and delicious strawberry sorbet can be an impressive end to a meal on a hot summer’s eve. And the only special equipment required is a food processor or blender. But you don’t have to tell your dinner guests how simple the sorbet was to prepare. That can be your little secret. Note: While sorbets are generally made without milk products,... [Read more of this review]

Simply Wonderful Scented Sugars

Scented sugars are so easy to create and they’re simply wonderful. They make perfect gifts too. To make your own scented sugars you’ll need some clean, dry jars with good seals, cheesecloth, plenty of granulated sugar (and other sugars, if desired), and a nice variety of herbs, spices, and flowers (always choose fresh herbs and flowers that... [Read more of this review]

A Cool & Refreshing Appetizer for Summer!

These attractive cucumber and salmon appetizers are a snap to make with our Divine Dill Dip Mix. Simply add cream cheese or sour cream to the dip mix. DILLICIOUS CUCUMBER & SALMON APPETIZERS 1/2 pkg. Divine Dill Dip Mix 1 c. sour cream OR 4 oz. cream cheese 1 large cucumber 1 pkg. (about 3 oz.) smoked salmon Fresh dill or canned pimento Combine... [Read more of this review]

Try Truffles!

Want to serve an elegant, yet easy, dessert? Try truffles. The chocolate kind, that is. Not the fungi. These rich and creamy bite-sized indulgences are really quite simple to make. The secret is to buy the best chocolate you can afford. For 25-30 basic chocolate truffles you will need: 4 oz. good quality bittersweet chocolate, chopped in small pieces 4... [Read more of this review]

Make Your Own Irish Cream Liqueur

Irish Cream liqueur is delicious served straight, or on the rocks, in a glass. But my favorite way to enjoy it is in hot coffee, with a generous (okay, VERY generous) topping of whipped cream and a light dusting of cocoa powder. Next time you’re hosting a dinner party, or just having friends over for coffee, make your own Irish Cream Liqueur. You... [Read more of this review]

Oven-Dried Tomatoes

Love the taste of sun-dried tomatoes but hate the high cost of such a gourmet treat? Then make your own. Well, sort of. Instead of sun-drying tomatoes outside, dry them inside in your oven. First, be sure to get the proper tomatoes for drying. I like to use about 20 plump Roma (Plum) tomatoes for drying, but cherry tomatoes work well, too. Set your... [Read more of this review]

Quick and Easy Olive Dip

Here’s a recipe that’s quick and easy yet delicious! 1 1 /2 c. green olives, chopped 1 (6 oz.) can black olives, chopped 1 c. cheddar cheese, shredded 1 c. mozzarella cheese, shredded 1/4 c. green onions, chopped (optional) 1 c. mayonnaise Mix all ingredients and bake in an uncovered dish at 350 degrees for 25 minutes. Serve with your favorite... [Read more of this review]

Tuscan Cherry Tiramisu

Here’s a dessert that’s sure to impress your dinner guests, yet it’s very easy to prepare! You’ll need: 1 c. ricotta cheese 1 c. powdered sugar 1/4 c. sour cream 1/4 c. coffee liqueur 1 1 /2 c. shortbread cookie crumbs (about thirty 2″ cookies) 1 (21 oz.) can cherry pie filling Grated chocolate or mint leaves for garnish... [Read more of this review]

Food with a Sense of History

As an author myself, I love reading (and writing) historical fiction. I find it particularly delightful when a novel includes a recipe that reflects the times of the book. Signora Da Vinci is a new historical novel from Robin Maxwell. It takes the reader back to the Italian Renaissance as seen through the eyes of Leonardo da Vinci’s mother, Catrina.... [Read more of this review]

Simple Raspberry Sauce

Take a trip to the farmer’s market for some fresh raspberries and try this simple sauce. You’ll want to make several batches and freeze a couple of them to save for the winter months. I got this recipe from THE PROVENCE COOKBOOK by Patricia Wells. But I found I have to add a bit more sugar than her recipe calls for, especially with red raspberries,... [Read more of this review]

Read More Posts From This Category