Allison Biasella

gluten free, sugar free vanilla & lemon white chocolate cake

This 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…

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 stuff… 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, that’s 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 fish… I can’t 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 an under 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 you’re feeding; estimate six…

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. It is also available a bit cheaper on Amazon but I can’t verify quality. I have only ever…

sexy salmon squid ink pasta

I can’t believe I’m sharing this recipe to be honest… Everyone has that recipe they don’t share. Or don’t completely share (leaving out one key ingredient so it’s a treasure when only they make it) and this would be mine except… 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 don’t 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, I’m talking about these formed “logs” 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. I’ve 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 – I’m more of a carbs and salt person. That being said, there are times when a slice of cake is just perfect… Especially last week when we scored on some sugar-free chocolate chips and hazelnut flour. Just a small 8” and 6” round, two tiered cake for…

stuffed delicata squash with salmon, wild rice, herbed goat cheese and spinach over pesto with sprouted pumpkin seeds

There isn’t a squash I haven’t 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… I’m 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 sautéed them in dried herbs till they softened and got all…

salmon with apricot mousse and mandolin apples over sautéed 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 that makes the weekend feel like it really started. And, I love to surprise my husband with new ways of making the salmon (we love our tried and true parchment method of course, and an additional…

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 I’ve 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 “bad girl”. 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, sautéed 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 I’m 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 sautéed onion and a rosemary béarnaise 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

We’re 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 40’s and I’d be happy if it just stayed put for a while. I’m 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 “mashed potatoes”

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 what’s 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 “rice” over cauliflower “mashed potatoes” with dill

I love stuffed peppers… I love how versatile they are but, usually they include a carb I’m 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

When I was diagnosed with an egg yolk and nickel allergy I was… pissed. Tell me what’s good that doesn’t have yolk in it?! So, I did the elimination diet (did you know food and meds also have nickel in them? Not just what you cook with?) and, I noticed a big change within just…

kielbasa salad with sprout “petals” and a wild blueberry dressing

I never met a kielbasa I didn’t 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 you’ll 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 don’t remember everything I ate but I do remember the…

no sugar or carbs, guilt free guilty pleasure

I’m 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 don’t 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 “old money” 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. I’m embarrassed to write that now, considering all the meals where we could have enjoyed them. Nevertheless, here’s 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 I’m immediately calmed knowing that I’m 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 he’d 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 “cream of” anything, you don’t 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 husband’s curious enthusiasm) paper plates and napkins. Well, that’s not entirely true; I still use cloth napkins… I just can’t find the energy and…

mini stuffed rosemary meatballs with toasted sesame seed oil and creamy cheesy cauliflower

Eating “Keto” has been so much easier than I expected. I don’t miss bread, I don’t miss pasta, I don’t 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}

There’s not much that will relax me more than feeling water. I’m 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. There’s no great story to accompany this post; it’s 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 “mashed potatoes”

I like a thing that’s 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 falutin’ egg cups with a turmeric mayo and champagne

I love brunch. I love everything about it. I love the laziness, the decadence and (yes, I’ve 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 shouldn’t 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 it’s Tuesday and there’s nothing really notable about this day. Sure, it signifies the end of Monday but, there’s 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 don’t 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. It’s 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 béchamel sauce

I love a wellington… any wellington. They look so impressive but they’re really just pockets you stick things in, heat up and serve. They’re the simplest thing and I wrestled with the idea of posting about them because it’s like admiting the emperor has no clothes. Anyone who may have been impressed or intimidated by…

breakfast in bed: chocolate pancakes, brown butter sauce, spinach, cheese and pesto croissants, fruit, hazelnut coffee and fresh vanilla cream

I always have to start my mornings with coffee… I’m 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. I’m 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, I’m 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 I’m not going anywhere. Let’s be honest, if you’re 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

”Meatless Mondays” 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 don’t 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

I’m not sure there is anything you can’t fry. Shouldn’t fry? Maybe. But can’t… not convinced. I try not to fry too much, and certainly never deep fry. While I’m 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 don’t usually follow fads. When the new “coconut oil everything” 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, it’s 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 doesn’t 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 don’t remember what day I decided to make this little miracle but,…

smoked gouda cauliflower “mashed potatoes”

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. I’m not sure who first saw the potential of the cauliflower but until then, I wasn’t 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. “Fried Green Tomatoes”: 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 we’re older…

steak cooked in a brown butter sauce, basil sautéed 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 man’s 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, I’m 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, it’s not just our building; it’s the entire community “compound” 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 today’s…

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 “organic” really organic? You can drive yourself crazy overthinking every company. Once you’re sure you’ve found a good one, there’s 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 that’s like “most people” 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 didn’t 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 it’s mandatory to get them eaten. I don’t know why I feel that way; more often than not, food tastes better when they’ve 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. I’m 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. They’d paint mindlessly, gossip and drink…

parmesan, dill tuiles with garlic shrimp and fresh basil

Another week has passed and we’re 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 it’s well into the tomb of the evening and you’ve dug into your couch so long it no longer…

basil and parmesan panko fried flounder, baby greens with a mustard lemon dressing

Fried food isn’t usually my thing. I probably should admit this up front. When I do fry things they don’t 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

I’m 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 “creamy in the middle” 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 don’t talk much about squash. I don’t crave it, I don’t think it’s “been too long” since I’ve last had it… Let’s just say it’s not a staple in my marriage. With that though, I don’t treat it carelessly when we do buy it and I’ve worked really hard to get this right. I…

fresh lemon and dill pasta, sautéed shrimp with basil and garlic

I have never met a pasta I didn’t 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 I’ve 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

It’s 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. It’s almost as if Saturday gets lost in the shuffle. I would feel bad about it if it weren’t for the fact that Sunday has such a bad rep and needs a champion in its corner! Here’s 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 with steamed salmon, polenta and brussel sprouts

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,…