We tested out almost all my soups for the perfect second course of Christmas dinner (all soup recipes here). They were delicious – but I wanted something new. We always use clean, never āpreviously frozenā and wild caught seafood preferring to purchase from Vital Choice or Wild Caught Alaskan Salmon and Seafood companies. Alternatively, we…
Author: Allison Biasella
A Franklin, TN resident who loves this Hallmark town, married to an Italian. A self-taught cook, a sometimes singer, a photographer and an aspiring writer. But mostly, lately, a cook.
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gluten free, sugar free chocolate cake with a blueberry tinted, coconut white chocolate frosting
I have said it before and I will say it again: I am no baker. I am a burner. But for some reason I can make a mean cake. As innocent and understated as this soft lavender colored dessert appears, it is as dense and chocolatey as one could wish for. From its pure chocolate…
stuffed turkey loaf with egg and an avocado pistachio pesto
When the weather breaks and the smell of fallen leaves and chimneys set ablaze travel the air into your living room with windows finally thrown open to welcome it all, you crave things warm and savory. At least I do. And if I could have breakfast at every meal I would!! These were easy to…
gluten free, sugar free vanilla & lemon white chocolate cake
(Cake is topped with Fresh Figs, Raspberries and Mint) Autumn is my absolute FAVORITE season of all, and this cake with champagne (tea or coffee) really helped put me in a Fall state of mind. You Will Need: 2 1/2 Cups of Almond Flour1 Teaspoon of Baking Soda2/3 Cup of Unsweetened Vanilla Almond Milk3 Tablespoons…
stuffed radicchio with a sunflower seed pesto
After my gallbladder was removed I agonized over what foods I could eat. For a self-professed foodie this was worst-case-scenerio type stuffā¦ Being afraid of food. I quickly learned this was a typical response of the 750,000 plus people in America alone (per year) who have had this surgery. I can go further into why…
no bake cake with fruit puree, cashews and a nut butter pistachio crust
I am going to keep this one short and *sweet* – because really, thatās what this dessert was: a sweet, quick, satisfying accompaniment to our coffee – though it would have been equally as good with tea or champagne. You Will Need: * Lightly Salted Pistachios * Monkfruit Sweetener (optional and not recommended unless you…
quick easy sushi: my take on the california roll with baked salmon and a coconut amino sauce
We went to one of our favorite restaurants with family who were here visiting and we fell in love with one of their sushi options. I am not someone who eats sushi with fishā¦ I canāt stomach the idea of uncooked fish. At all. But this sushi had baked salmon on the top of a…
grilled coconut bbq citrus ginger tuna with baby potato salad and avocado
Tuna Steaks are some of our favorite seafood. The simplest to cook, in my opinion, outside of shrimp and they are extremely versatile. These basically make themselves! You Will Need: * Tuna Steaks (wild caught, fresh or frozen) * Baby Potatoes (red or white – enough for the people youāre feeding; estimate six per person)…
dairy free roasted red pepper & tomato soup with wild rice & parsley
I think by now, if you follow this account, you know how I feel about soups. I have a whole menu drop-down dedicated to soups. And it makes it all the easier when using this soup machine (and I have purchased almost a dozen in total). One of my all time favorite soups is a…
sexy salmon squid ink pasta
I canāt believe Iām sharing this recipe to be honestā¦ Everyone has that recipe they donāt share. Or donāt completely share (leaving out one key ingredient so itās a treasure when only they make it) and this would be mine exceptā¦ I want to share it. Down to the last ingredient. It is the BEST…
grilled garlic and cilantro shrimp, polenta and bosc pears
Polenta is one of those overlooked, versatile yummy comfort foods that I donāt think gets enough attention. I know a lot of people have used the kind of creamy polenta you have with shrimp as opposed to shrimp and grits but, Iām talking about these formed ālogsā of polenta you can find in all different…
stuffed toads in the hole with smoked salmon, goat cheese, spinach, bacon and a truffle mayo
New Years this year, had a more poignant meaning to me. Iāve had some health struggles that stemmed from a simple (or rather, common) gallbladder removal surgery that had me in and out of the hospital spanning four months. To say I was thankful to turn the page into the new year was an understatement….
lemon poppyseed, sugar free cake with a peanut butter chocolate frosting
My husband is the true sweets lover – Iām more of a carbs and salt person. That being said, there are times when a slice of cake is just perfectā¦ Especially last week when we scored on some sugar-free chocolate chips and hazelnut flour. Just a small 8ā and 6ā round, two tiered cake for…
stuffed delicata squash with salmon, wild rice, herbed goat cheese and spinach over pesto with sprouted pumpkin seeds
There isnāt a squash I havenāt fallen in love with – some more than others – but when I realized the delicata squash had a skin you could eat, it intrigued me to no end. I had to get my hands on some, stuff them and relish in no left over skins. I found these…
wild sockeye salmon lettuce tacos with guacamole, grilled eggplant and peaches
We typically get our salmon from only one place: Vital Choice because we trust their quality; they do not break the cold chain and therefore the product arrives as fresh as if you were there on the day it was caught. That being said, it’s not always convenient to wait (though as short a wait…
lemon poppyseed loaves
Much like the other chocolate loaves I created before, these are just as easy and have a lighter feel to them as opposed to the dense chocolate beloved by my husband. I thought these would be fantastic with tea or coffee… Heated up with just a tab of butter or olive oil… Iām interested in…
roasted stuffed butternut squash with black rice and veggies over a cauliflower parsnip puree
Stuffing squash (or stuffing squash INTO something – see recipe here) has to be one of my new favorite ways to gobble up my favorite season, Autumn all year long. This was so good and so decadent but only took what felt like a moment. The only real struggle was getting the squash open in…
carrot, coconut and ginger soup
I made dinner this past weekend which had carrots as a side dish, and they were the best carrots I had ever had. That’s a huge statement since… It’s just a carrot; nothing to get too excited about. I steamed them first and then sautĆ©ed them in dried herbs till they softened and got all…
salmon with apricot mousse and mandolin apples over sautƩed veggies with an avocado citrus pesto
I love salmon on weekends… It’s perfect for any day of the week really but, something about the anticipation of the pretty pink fish with a glass – or three – of sweet rose, that makes the weekend feel like it really started. And, I love to surprise my husband with new ways of making…
potato pita with veggies and a mango sauce
When learning about Medical Medium and what each food and herb can do for me, I realized I had been eating all wrong… for a long time. The transition to starting my day with lime water (most people have lemon but I have to work up to that; too sour for me still) and no…
nori veggie rolls with a mango, basil and cilantro sauce
I have been searching the internet for a simple, easy to understand, basic way of eating for a while. I am (or at least I think I am) limited in what I can eat while I try to get a hold of this histamine issue… That being said, everything Iāve read leads to inflammation being…
gluten free penne with a zucchini and artichoke pasta sauce
I have been on a low histamine (mostly low histamine) diet for months now… And this past weekend I was a ābad girlā. I ate chicken, I had wine… Popcorn (air-popped from home but still), more wine… I ate a tiny chocolate cookie, some french fries (with ketchup), more wine… It was just that kind…
smashed potatoes with ghee and basil infused olive oil, sautƩed summer squash with oregano
Potatoes are our go-to for low histamine bases… They are full of nutrients and fiber without the fat, cholesterol or dreaded histamines that Iām still battling. I wanted to try something quick but had a real depth and presence that I could place with some veg over a ton of healthy lettuce. Smashed Potatoes are…
creamy summer squash and cauliflower soup with dill
I love soups when the flavors sound strange together but come out beautifully. Summer squash? Sure. Cauliflower? Sure. But together? I decided I wanted to continue to lower my histamine levels while also having something low carb and filling – soup it is. You do not need to be on a low histamine diet to…
squid ink pasta with ground beef, kale and a pistachio pesto
Squid Ink has a lot of nutrients, fantastic flavor and a sexy dark aura. Pair it with my “meet you in the schoolyard”, tough-guy pesto and you have a robust filling dinner that is as glorious as it is glamorous. Like many pastas, this is a quick meal that would fit the 20 min-prep weekday…
sweet potato au gratin with sautƩed onion and a rosemary bƩarnaise sauce
The weather here in TN is unlike anything I’ve experienced before. One day it’s 75 degrees, then the next day it’s 42. I can’t plan any meals based on weather like we would during winter or summer right now as we seem to be in-between and everything is settling. So, I pick what is in…
rosemary and macadamia nut butter biscuits with ricotta and olive oil
I’ve written a bit on histamine intolerance lately and how the simple effort of making just a few changes to your diet can make all the difference in how you feel. Even if you’re not having any heart palpitations, skin flushing, rashes, brain fog, sleeplessness, itchy skin, runny nose, chest congestion, etc – these ingredients…
twice baked sweet potato with veggies and a macadamia nut pesto
This is another low histamine dish that you can cook with very little effort and makes you feel really full and happy. That’s the great thing about comfort food – or just potatoes in general, right? They make you feel full and that makes you feel happy. Or at least it does me. While waiting…
roasted vegetable soup with ricotta and kale
I have been trying to add more healthy options to my diet, things that I may have passed over in the produce isle. They say to stick to grocery store perimeters; stay away from the interior… Produce is a great place to start getting creative. We all know the benefits of kale, but have you…
salmon and lemon orzo with tarragon
I’ve written before about how hard it is for me to get creative with salmon during a weeknight. I’m tired, I’m hungry… I’m just coming back from a walk and I don’t want a lot of cleanup. I discovered the best way to cook salmon was in parchment because it ticked all those boxes: quick,…
sweet potato and kale soup
Weāre hanging onto colder weather here in Franklin for as long as we can… We had snow, then it was 70 degrees and then it dropped back down to the 40ās and Iād be happy if it just stayed put for a while. Iām not done making soups and snuggling up under blankets! This soup…
acorn squash wellington with pistachio pesto and goat cheese, roasted broccoli and creamy cauliflower āmashed potatoesā
I’m on a use-what-you-have kind of a kick lately, and what I have is a recent love affair with fennel seed. And acorn squash. And my pistachio pesto. What to do… what to do… I looked online and could not find one instance where acorn squash was used as a Wellington – Butternut squash yes,…
(best damn) turkey meatballs with fennel and cream cheese
I’m never giving up Italian food. Ever. Ever. Not sure if that’s why I married an Italian, seeing as I’m the one doing all the cooking (insert an off in the distance gaze – pondering life choices <here>) but, he does find his way into the kitchen whenever an Italian dish is being made. Just…
decadent vanilla cream and wild blueberry martinis
Most people when starting a health journey are told to stay away from alcohol. I don’t subscribe to that rule but, I DO think when we DO have alcohol we can make smarter decisions… I don’t understand total avoidance – it just makes me want something more! In this case, I was craving something sweet…
stuffed roasted butternut squash with a pistachio pesto
I love butternut squash everything. Now that we’re more “North” than my husband and I have been in a while, we see it on more menus than when we lived in Florida, especially during this past winter. I always get so much inspiration from the weather and this meal feels like a holiday. It feels…
roasted butternut squash soup with cashews and ground sage
Soup again? Yes. Never gets old in my opinion, especially during this weather. I was told Franklin, TN hadn’t had a snow “storm” in over five years. Now today, stores, local offices… all closed for the second day in a row due to whatās happening outside. We’re expecting more snow tonight through tomorrow… What is…
spinach and fresh mozzarella stuffed chicken over a cheese-free walnut pesto
Not a massive stuffed chicken fan only because I can’t find that many alternations which are easy to do on a weeknight with things you may already have around the house. People like to get fancy… I’m sometimes a purist and just go with the classics: things stuffed with cheese. The chicken came out very…
shrimp bisque with mushrooms, cashews and low carb dunking chips
Shrimp bisque was something I was dreaming about for days… Thinking this was because I was about to have it at some obscure new restaurant I had yet to discover (we only just moved here) or that I would manifest it into existence by just obsessing about it. I realized instead… In the end, what…
stuffed bell peppers with ground turkey, spinach and liviva āriceā over cauliflower āmashed potatoesā with dill
I love stuffed peppers… I love how versatile they are but, usually they include a carb Iām trying to avoid: rice. Liviva Foods has an excellent substitute for rice (among some other things) that worked perfectly here. You Will Need: * Bell Pepper * Rice (or substitute) * Spinach * Parmesan (or cheese of choice)…
wild caught salmon en papillote with turkey bacon, air-fried sprouts and dill
Salmon is still such a treat for us – no matter how many times we have it – so I try to create something new whenever I can. I love baking our salmon in parchment “pockets” covered in some sort of moisture-sealing topping and a seasoning. The salmon comes out perfectly moist and flaky and…
sugar free sunflower butter and chocolate loaves of ooey-gooey gorgeous
I’m not a “baker” – I’m a “burner”… I can’t bake anything if it’s a dessert or something that needs exact precise measurements. I can follow directions; I just can’t not burn anything. Which is why these are perfect – they never burn. The ingredients keep them moist. They’re keto. And they’re easy. PLS SEE…
christmas table-setting and dinner, our still-unpacking-style
This was my first Christmas with my husband in our new town of Franklin, and we were only a month into living here. Boxes everywhere… I did the best I could using what we found. I’ll outline the menu and then just show photos, as well as where I got some of the things you’ll…
pan fried tarragon shrimp over polenta with a roasted red pepper sauce
I have a love for polenta that I don’t think has been adequately expressed on this site… So here we go again with some happy yellow discs that are like little creamy plates to host something crunchy on top. In this case it’s shrimp but if you’re more partial to scallops, I have that recipe…
grilled figs with turkey bacon, ricotta and a blueberry reduction dressing
I use this dressing with almost everything; chicken, fish, pancakes and obviously salads. This is especially good with a shrimp and polenta salad… You Will Need: Blueberries A Small Pot A Small Potato Masher or Wooden Spoon Figs Turkey Bacon Ricotta Lettuce (we used baby lettuce) A Grill Olive Oil Cut your figs on down…
amaretto sours with homemade sugar-free sour mix, orange and pomegranate seeds
My husband and I wanted to create a Christmas drink that we’d have every year which we could make a tradition. After having spent the majority of quarantine watching all our carbs and sugar intake, we realized there wasn’t much that was festive and still relatively “healthy”. Then I took out my sour glasses from…
cream of zucchini soup with onion and cilantro
For anyone who wants a clean creamy soup which is also a detoxifying powerhouse with the addition of cilantro, or just wants a keto-soup that leaves you feeling full for hours, this one is a sure thing. Adding the cilantro is a tasty benefit as it removes heavy metals and inflammation from your body. The…
kielbasa salad with sprout āpetalsā and a wild blueberry dressing
I never met a kielbasa I didnāt like – until I saw all the sugar involved… I searched our local grocery store for kielbasa without sugar to no avail. I literally gave up, resigned to the fact I would never again enjoy kielbasa warmed on the stove with a mustard dipping sauce. That was a…
sweet italian sausage over a parmesan puree of roasted cauliflower and onion in a brown butter sauce (includes a salmon variation)
I just finished watching the PBS documentary about The Little Inn at Washington (for the sixth time – and youāll find it now on Amazon Prime if looking for it before PBS releases it again this coming August). I remembered when I went there, I donāt remember everything I ate but I do remember the…
no sugar or carbs, guilt free guilty pleasure
Iām a self-professed wine girl. I love white, red, blush, the glasses, a vineyard, etc… I have every different Riedel glass for every different varietal. I have the Swan Riedel decanter (though we donāt dare use it!), an incalculable amount of wine drinking gadgets and aerators and so on and so forth and I love…
cream of mushroom soup with thyme and parmesan
I love cream of anything. And as we continue to be brave and creative with our culinary exploits, I want to make sure I publish recipes that feel decadent but not be considered real cheating. Soups are a great way to accomplish this. You will want to play around with the amount of each seasoning…
chilean sea bass in a brown butter garlic lemon sauce with seasoned brussel sprouts
The first time I had Chilean Sea Bass was in a small restaurant, Red Fox Tavern in Middleburg, VA. This restaurant / Inn resides off a main street two street lights long. It is an āold moneyā town where people love their horses as much as their children, there are big homes, a tiny post…
sous vide pork tenderloin with vegetables
A pork tenderloin is one of the easiest things in the world, and cooking sous vide is like cooking with a crock pot on steroids. This came out juicy and the seasoning stayed with the meat. If you can find miniature pork loins I highly recommend them… You Will Need: A Sous Vide (my sous…
bacon and dill deviled eggs
I remember my first deviled eggs experience. I don’t know why, except that it was like someone was introducing me to eggs and mayonnaise – for the first time. Which makes no sense since mayo is literally made of eggs, but in my mind these were two completely unrelated items, coming together. And I had…
steamed artichokes with a basil butter dipping sauce
As you can see with my website icon, I love artichokes. I love the ease of cooking, the health benefits, the way they taste and, of course, ripping through them to get to their heart. So good (more on that in the menu under Bio). You Will Need: Artichokes Kitchen Shears A Knife Butter Olive…
baked spinach and grass fed beef in cheese rolls
I had never tried these cheese rolls before. Though I knew they were inexpensive and versatile, they sat in my fridge for quite some time. Iām embarrassed to write that now, considering all the meals where we could have enjoyed them. Nevertheless, hereās a quick idea for anyone who has been eying these at the…
asparagus and sage soup
Making a lot of soup lately… It calms me drinking soup during this quarantine. I can feel the bone broth nutrients hitting my system and Iām immediately calmed knowing that Iām putting ingredients in my body that are good for me. Good for my gut, for my mind and took no time at all to…
chicken and roasted broccoli soup with toasted sesame oil
I had wanted to find a way to use up what we had at the time in our home: a half empty box of broth and some broccoli. Of course that would be fine but, my husband would have said he was still hungry and hour later. And then into the keto snacks heād go……
bacon and cheddar sous vide egg bites
I watched a youtube video of a chef who was going to different well known locations and trying some of their more popular foods on the menu. During one video, he and his cousin went to Starbucks and ordered one of each of their Sous Vide Egg Cups. Almost 40 dollars later (for three cups),…
cream of broccoli soup
Whenever you read ācream ofā anything, you donāt think *healthy*. But this soup is very low in calories and carbs, while filled with nutritious ingredients in a filling warm concoction. I had missed soups… I used to make them creamy with potatoes or cashews. Then we started Keto and I would dress up our favorite…
roasted herbs de provence shrimp in a lemon, garlic butter sauce
In this unprecedented time of fear and uncertainty, I have not only slowed down on cooking, I have decided to not even use my bone china. I have used (with my husbandās curious enthusiasm) paper plates and napkins. Well, thatās not entirely true; I still use cloth napkins… I just canāt find the energy and…
mini stuffed rosemary meatballs with toasted sesame seed oil and creamy cheesy cauliflower
Eating āKetoā has been so much easier than I expected. I donāt miss bread, I donāt miss pasta, I donāt miss rice or chips… I get to eat meat, seafood, desserts, CHEESE. Last night I made a Cheez-It snack that tasted just like the real thing… (see instagram post) and it satisfied my need for…
bathtub oasis {condo style}
Thereās not much that will relax me more than feeling water. Iām not a huge ocean person, unless the beach seems more rugged than touristy. I like the splashing water against jagged rocks and free formed beaches that almost beckon you to explore them for ship wreck treasure. The beaches we have here are pretty,…
garlic basil pork loin with pureed vegetables
Pork loin is one of the most versatile proteins I can think of. And much like the cornish hen recipe preceding it, this recipe is just as fool-proof. Thereās no great story to accompany this post; itās about as straight-forward as it gets for an easy Sunday night dinner. You Will Need: * Pork Loin…
rosemary and lemon cornish hens with roasted broccoli and cheddar cauliflower āmashed potatoesā
I like a thing thatās a miniature version of the original thing: * Puppies* Personal Shakers for a Cocktail* The Mini Cooper ……. * Puppies So when I started to cook these cornish hens instead of roasted chicken, I realized what little work I really needed to do in comparison. Choose veggies as a side…
cheese tacos with chicken, salsa, avocado and sour cream
I am a massive cheese fan. I am also aware there is a heightened spotlight placed on dairy farms recently however, I admit I still love my cheese… Perhaps in the future when I have received the complete benefits of this low carb lifestyle, I will let go of dairy but, for right now, I…
high falutinā egg cups with a turmeric mayo and champagne
I love brunch. I love everything about it. I love the laziness, the decadence and (yes, Iāve said this before) unapologetic day-drinking. I especially love when I can have it at home, in our big king bed with my most favorite purchase of last year: The Scully & Scully Breakfast Bed Tray It shouldnāt have…
salad, pasta & a bundt cake
**This post includes a full meal: Starter, Main and Dessert. Scroll through if necessary.** Cooking, table-setting, hosting, decorating… these have all been what have brought me the most happiness. I love cooking for and taking care of my husband and my friends. It has been a way for me to show my love and my…
mini eggplant pizzas
So itās Tuesday and thereās nothing really notable about this day. Sure, it signifies the end of Monday but, thereās not even a cute Tuesday wine reference like Thirsty Thursday or Wine Wednesday, or a memory hashtag like #TBT or #WBW. Tuesdays are the new Wednesday of the week: a forgotten hangnail of a day…
butternut squash and nutmeg ricotta wonton raviolis with a sesame brown butter sage sauce
I donāt know how it happened that I ended up with a tv in every room of my home, including an iPad set up in the kitchen and an extra tv just hanging out (though hidden) under my massive desk made from a dining room table in the second bedroom. Itās awaiting its forever home…
citrus and rosemary cornish hens with creamy corn soup and pistachio snow peas
When I first told Joe that I was going to be making us Cornish hens, he literally laughed. I absolutely took it personally until I found out his family would have these baby hens every Christmas, and he was wondering what took me so long to make them. In truth, it took my making my…
shrimp wellington with steamed asparagus spears and a tarragon bƩchamel sauce
I love a wellington… any wellington. They look so impressive but theyāre really just pockets you stick things in, heat up and serve. Theyāre the simplest thing and I wrestled with the idea of posting about them because itās like admiting the emperor has no clothes. Anyone who may have been impressed or intimidated by…
breakfast in bed: chocolate pancakes with a brown butter sauce, spinach, cheese & pesto croissants
I always have to start my mornings with coffee… Iām not a huge tea person (though the right kind can be lovely). Blame my father; I have very solid memories of his drinking coffee every morning. Iām a fan of flavored coffees and in this case, I used almond milk and added fresh vanilla to…
pretty in pink, shrimp charcuterie tray
Cheese. Enough said. For the most part, Iām a massive fan. You put cheese and creamy marinated artichoke hearts on a shiny silver tray with other goodies and a gorgeous full bodied wine, and Iām not going anywhere. Letās be honest, if youāre avoiding this heat, use a charcuterie tray like this What a gift…
pesto potato casserole with fresh basil and mozzarella, zucchini noodles with dill and grated parmesan
āMeatless Mondaysā was started by someone, or maybe even a company of someones trying to redirect the public from the overconsumption of meat. This was an honorable endeavor, in my opinion. There are so many yummy ways to give meat a rest on this most unpleasant of weekdays. Pasta is one of the first ideas…
berries in puff pastry with goat cheese and ricotta, soft scrambled eggs with spinach, dill and avocado
Brunch is an absolute treasure to me. I donāt know when it was invented or where… At some point someone decided to create this time honored tradition of champagne, eggs and something decadent. Long live this glorious nod towards gluttony, excess and day drinking. Pink champagne is fun, it matches the strawberries and is much…
panko fried scallop over polenta discs, with a roasted red pepper sauce and marinated artichoke heart salad
Iām not sure there is anything you canāt fry. Shouldnāt fry? Maybe. But canāt… not convinced. I try not to fry too much, and certainly never deep fry. While Iām not a big scallop fan, nor am I the big scallop fan (sea scallop over bay scallop), lightly frying these and placing them over a…
toasted coconut mahi mahi with a lime avocado mousse
I donāt usually follow fads. When the new ācoconut oil everythingā trend started I ran in the opposite direction; I wanted nothing to do with it. I like the taste of coconut but usually, when these things happen, itās a saturation of epic proportions which for me, is a complete turn-off. Same with pumpkin spice…
honey bacon wrapped tarragon shrimp over a pineapple disc with dill and tarragon mayo
On most days I just stare into my teeny tiny pantry and wish things into existence. It doesnāt work of course but, I do sometimes find things I forgot I had and make some miracle I can later play off as planned. I donāt remember what day I decided to make this little miracle but,…
smoked gouda cauliflower āmashed potatoesā
I love mashed potatoes. I love any potato. When I first started using cauliflower to curb my cravings, is when everyone else did. I think most of us ran to cauliflower to cure all our carb problems. Iām not sure who first saw the potential of the cauliflower but until then, I wasnāt making much…
panko fried tomato caprese with sliced almonds
A quick dinner for Joe after a long walk… Reminiscing about old movies I loved while growing up. āFried Green Tomatoesā: really struck a chord with me. As I got older and watched it again and again, I got from it more and more. We should all do that; revisit things now that weāre older…
steak cooked in a brown butter sauce, basil sautƩed snow peas and garlic, rosemary, sour cream mashed potatoes
I used to stay completely away from red meat. Not just because I was convinced it was bad for me, but also because I never really knew what to do with it. Save the usual ground beef, steaks were a mystery to me. I then learned (and quite quickly), how truly archaic a manās appetite…
sweet onion split pea soup with basil, parmesan panko fried flounder and a mustard lemon vinaigrette (variation)
I am getting a bit of cabin fever. I have never really had it before and prided myself in not being someone who goes stir-crazy in one place for an extended period of time. That being said, Iām going a little mad stuck in my condo day after day, night after night because of these…
dinner party and chess, feast before battle (salmon wellington)
When I was in college I had a boyfriend who tried in vain to teach me how to play chess. He did his best to be patient with me however, I simply would not stay still and focused; too interested in the mundane basic boring things (like what party at which fraternity house we were…
about me
When thinking of my life I realize how much care has gone into what I have surrounded myself with, what I have searched out to buy, how I choose to spend my time and really, what makes me happy. Joy is intentional; it does not come without some search of yourself, some consistent effort and…
smoked salmon avocado toast with coddled eggs and champagne
I feel as though the construction work on our building will never end. Ever. Granted, itās not just our building; itās the entire community ācompoundā but, the new roof shingles have taken well over a year to replace. It has been an ongoing noise onslaught which has driven me to drink. This includes during todayās…
chicken cordon bleu, brussel sprouts and walnuts with a lemon dijonnaise
Chicken has been something of a crapshoot lately. I never know what is safe to eat anymore. What are we really eating… Is āorganicā really organic? You can drive yourself crazy overthinking every company. Once youāre sure youāve found a good one, thereās a recall. In the end, you just do the best you can….
have luggage, will travel
I first started wandering when I was young. I would say thatās like āmost peopleā however, as I have gotten older, I have realized not everyone was prone to wandering at a young age. Some kids sat quietly alone, or they played with other children. Some kids didnāt do either; they just latched themselves to…
split pea, lima bean soup, strawberry, shrimp and almond salad with a mustard lemon vinaigrette
Whenever I have leftovers itās mandatory to get them eaten. I donāt know why I feel that way; more often than not, food tastes better when theyāve sat in their juices or herbs for a day or more but, I cannot make them more enticing than if I were to cook something new. If we…
soy ginger scallops, wilted spinach, baby potatoes and a strawberry almond amaretto crumble
The storm off the gulf is pounding us with rain, more than the usual amount we get in Florida this time of year. Iām thankful for it. The storm keeps the construction workers on their toes and rushing off roofs in a screaming frenzy because they wait until the most deliberate painful last minute, only…
petite turkey kielbasa wellington with rosemary potatoes and brussel sprouts over a tarragon, sesame sauce
Sometimes I get it in my head I was born during the wrong era. I should have been alive during Victorian times, when everyone ate abundantly (well, the wealthy did anyway – which I would obviously be in this fantasy), wrote long loving poetry and took walks with parasols. Theyād paint mindlessly, gossip and drink…
parmesan, dill tuiles with garlic shrimp and fresh basil
Another week has passed and weāre already headed towards mid-July. The days are hotter and oppressive. These are the months when I wonder why I live in Florida. The relentless sun drags on and on, until itās well into the tomb of the evening and youāve dug into your couch so long it no longer…
basil and parmesan panko fried flounder, baby greens with a mustard lemon dressing
Fried food isnāt usually my thing. I probably should admit this up front. When I do fry things they donāt then ordinarily go over a salad. Today I felt like I needed a change; something about the start of a new week does that to me. I wanted to try to lighten things up and…
semi-sweet chocolate chip biscuit cookies
Iām not a baker. I repeat: I am not a baker. If you want a cake, I can make a cake. If you want cookies, I can do that. If you get all specific and crazy like ācreamy in the middleā or something, you can go to a bakery. I do try however, to make…
roasted acorn squash two ways ~ as a creamy soup and with smoked gouda and fresh basil
I donāt talk much about squash. I donāt crave it, I donāt think itās ābeen too longā since Iāve last had it… Letās just say itās not a staple in my marriage. With that though, I donāt treat it carelessly when we do buy it and Iāve worked really hard to get this right. I…
fresh lemon and dill pasta, sautƩed shrimp with basil and garlic
I have never met a pasta I didnāt like. In fact, my pasta preference has gotten me into some trouble as I also really like clothes… Nevertheless, my relationship with this carb has been an overall positive one and I have experimented with it greatly. In my vast catalog of experience Iāve found, I prefer…
citrus rosemary spatchcocked roast chicken, artichoke avocado salad with a homemade berry dressing
So I will admit something… I had never attempted a roast chicken until Prince Harry got engaged. To be honest, I was intimidated. The size of it, the inside being in a bag (or not), would it fit in my Mini Smart Oven… (we use our standard oven for storage). When I saw the Meghan…
no pasta lasagna
Itās pouring here in Florida, as it does now most days. The storms are heavy and arrogant. They command all of your attention with either the massive claps of thunder, the unrelenting rain or the sky firing up suddenly with rapid bolts of lightening surly to hit somewhere near you. Some days, the electricity goes…
smoked salmon, cheese and cucumber, yellow potatoes with soft scrambled eggs
When I think of the weekend, I think of two things: Friday night and Sunday morning. Itās almost as if Saturday gets lost in the shuffle. I would feel bad about it if it werenāt for the fact that Sunday has such a bad rep and needs a champion in its corner! Hereās where brunch…
potato, beef and bacon soup, parmesan basil toast and caesar soft boiled egg salad
When I think of easy recipes, I think of soups. It wasn’t always this way, I used to have to stir a pot, make sure it didn’t boil over, get out an immersion blender… Then I graduated to a regular blender, however it didn’t occur to me that heat rises while plopping a scalding hot…
garlic and tarragon shrimp over homemade cheese-free pesto
Sundays nights in Florida aren’t typically nights you can enjoy long walks holding hands with your partner, thinking about the week to come… It’s hot, it’s humid, it’s a problem. Sometimes though, we get a break from all that and even better still, it lasts for weeks. Just long enough to forget about running away…
chipotle ziti with red pesto and micro greens
When I finally made the decision in my thirties to get married (late in life compared to some), I was quite specific with who I wanted as a partner. Sometimes life is funny and takes who you want and gives you instead, who you need. I met my husband and shortly afterwards I tried to…
thanksgiving spoons
Holidays are stressful for anyone. Even, I imagine, Ina Garten, Martha Stewart and Nigella Lawson. I relish in the chaos, however. The music, the smell of all the food cooking, my husband running in and out of our kitchen sneaking tastes of everything… It’s beautiful even at that stage. When I think of Thanksgiving specifically,…
live a curated life 