Tag: appetizers

Party Food – Baked Brie with Fig, Honey, and Toasted Walnuts

Party Food – Baked Brie with Fig, Honey, and Toasted Walnuts

When I was a little kid, my parents occasionally had parties. They weren’t too frequent because my father was usually in bed by 8:30 pm. But when they did occur, it was often a fundraiser for some candidate for local political office or an impromptu 

A Couch In Our Kitchen – Pesto and Sun-Dried Tomato Twists

A Couch In Our Kitchen – Pesto and Sun-Dried Tomato Twists

We have a couch in our kitchen. It may seem out of place to some, but the kitchen is the room where guests inevitably gather. So why not make it comfortable? You invite friends or family over for a meal, gathering, or party and you 

Early Thanksgiving Appetizers – Spiced Lamb-Stuffed Fatayer

Early Thanksgiving Appetizers – Spiced Lamb-Stuffed Fatayer

Every year we host Early Thanksgiving for our friends a few weeks before the traditional holiday. And every year the menu has a pattern. The main course is typical, as it is with most families, with few major variations from year to year. Turkey, gravy, 

Variations on a Theme – Tomato with Fried Breadcrumbs and Basil Oil

Variations on a Theme – Tomato with Fried Breadcrumbs and Basil Oil

Many of the things we eat are variations on a theme; the same type of ingredient that gets spiced, sauced, or wrapped a little differently each time, but is still, if you break it down, a similar idea. There is a myriad of types of 

Fish Dish – Seafood Salad

Fish Dish – Seafood Salad

In the spring of 1994, I became a student teacher in a suburban high school on Long Island. One of the first people I met would become my mentor. Tom was tall and lean. Very tall and very lean. He taught a marine science class, 

Baked Stuffed Clams

Baked Stuffed Clams

There’s something about carbohydrates and garlic; they go well together. Think garlic bread, garlic knots from any New York pizzeria, and even my mashed potato pizza, fragrant with roasted garlic, mashed potatoes, fresh mozzarella, and Parmesan cheese. The carbs are a vehicle for the pungent 

Food Maturity – Fattoush

Food Maturity – Fattoush

Over the years in my job, I have come to work very closely with a small group of colleagues. We have travelled together numerous times, attending conferences, meetings, and workshops and during these excursions, we have come to know each other well and become friends. 

The Sun Is Your Garden’s Best Friend…Or Foe – Greens with Blue Cheese, Pear, and Spiced Candied Pecans

The Sun Is Your Garden’s Best Friend…Or Foe – Greens with Blue Cheese, Pear, and Spiced Candied Pecans

Plants cannot live without sunlight. Photosynthesis converts light energy from the sun into chemical energy of glucose, the food that all plants need to survive. But too much sun might be a death sentence, depending on the plants one desires in their garden. As we 

My Obsession With Dim Sum – Shumai

My Obsession With Dim Sum – Shumai

I was a messy eater as a little kid. In practically every photo of me as a child, my face is dirty, often covered with food. I have no idea why my parents didn’t believe in napkins. The long-term fallout has proven minor, but I 

Too Good To Go – Bagel Chips

Too Good To Go – Bagel Chips

From growing and processing crops to transporting food and dealing with waste, food production has one of the biggest environmental effects of any human activity. Impacts include habitat destruction and loss of biodiversity when we clear land for agriculture, water pollution associated with animal waste