How to Bake Focaccia: Recipe for Onion, Olive & Cheese Focaccia

A few weeks ago I received a copy of Baking Basics and Beyond by Pat Sinclair for a review.

As you may know, I'm more of a cook than a baker. Cooking allows for more wiggle room and more creativity when it comes to following recipes.

Although I think of myself as quite a creative person, another part of my personality is very methodical: I like numbers, formulas, and directions. And that's

A few weeks ago I received a copy of Baking Basics and Beyond by Pat Sinclair for a review.

As you may know, I'm more of a cook than a baker. Cooking allows for more wiggle room and more creativity when it comes to following recipes.

Although I think of myself as quite a creative person, another part of my personality is very methodical: I like numbers, formulas, and directions. And that's

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Indian Lamb Balls in Tomato Sauce

After competing in the Pro Am DC, which I did not win, I had two pounds of boneless leg of lamb left in my freezer.

My friend Sylvie, who is one of the four finalists in the same competition {YAY!}, offered to come over with her gorgeous yellow Kitchen Aid and its grinder attachment, so that I could grind the lamb. I was game!

So then I had two pounds of ground lamb...what to do? Lamb balls

After competing in the Pro Am DC, which I did not win, I had two pounds of boneless leg of lamb left in my freezer.

My friend Sylvie, who is one of the four finalists in the same competition {YAY!}, offered to come over with her gorgeous yellow Kitchen Aid and its grinder attachment, so that I could grind the lamb. I was game!

So then I had two pounds of ground lamb...what to do? Lamb balls

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Pan Roasted Asparagus with Queso Fresco

Happy Friday! Hope you are all looking forward to the weekend; I know I am.

There will be salsa dancing, cooking, practicing calligraphy, seeing a few friends, and trying to motivate myself to exercise.

But first, I want to share with you a recipe I made last week that was inspired by a recipe that Isabelle pinned for Roasted Cumin-Lime Carrots.

Instead of carrots, I used asparagus. Since

Happy Friday! Hope you are all looking forward to the weekend; I know I am.

There will be salsa dancing, cooking, practicing calligraphy, seeing a few friends, and trying to motivate myself to exercise.

But first, I want to share with you a recipe I made last week that was inspired by a recipe that Isabelle pinned for Roasted Cumin-Lime Carrots.

Instead of carrots, I used asparagus. Since

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Braised Lamb Shanks with White Beans and Tomatoes

If you are tired of reading about lamb, skip this post.

This is the last post in the series of Supper Clubs sponsored by Tri-Lamb Group. The first two were leg of lamb and lamb pizza. I really think Tri-Lamb Group saved the best recipe for the last Supper Club: Braised Lamb Shanks with White Beans and Tomatoes.

Last Thursday, I came home to a box filled with lamb shanks, white beans, canned

If you are tired of reading about lamb, skip this post.

This is the last post in the series of Supper Clubs sponsored by Tri-Lamb Group. The first two were leg of lamb and lamb pizza. I really think Tri-Lamb Group saved the best recipe for the last Supper Club: Braised Lamb Shanks with White Beans and Tomatoes.

Last Thursday, I came home to a box filled with lamb shanks, white beans, canned

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Mandarin Oranges from Tuckey's

It's the middle of the winter. Although Saturday was a sunny warm day, Sunday was grey and chilly. Who knows what today will bring...

While I'm editing photographs for new recipes to share with you, I want to bring a bit of sunshine and sweetness to you. These are some gorgeous, juicy and just so-cheerful-to-look-at mandarin oranges from Tuckey's.




Don't you just love citrus especially in the

It's the middle of the winter. Although Saturday was a sunny warm day, Sunday was grey and chilly. Who knows what today will bring...

While I'm editing photographs for new recipes to share with you, I want to bring a bit of sunshine and sweetness to you. These are some gorgeous, juicy and just so-cheerful-to-look-at mandarin oranges from Tuckey's.




Don't you just love citrus especially in the

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Mexican Mac & Cheese: Recipe for Wisconsin Cheese

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite dishes had only two ingredients: macaroni and cheese.

My parents would cook macaroni until they were soft, drain them and add them to a bowl. The bowl most likely had a character from one of the Russian fairy tales on the bottom. Then, they'd add shredded cheese. The cheese would melt as soon as it hit the hot pasta and form long strings when I

When I was a little girl, one of my favorite dishes had only two ingredients: macaroni and cheese.

My parents would cook macaroni until they were soft, drain them and add them to a bowl. The bowl most likely had a character from one of the Russian fairy tales on the bottom. Then, they'd add shredded cheese. The cheese would melt as soon as it hit the hot pasta and form long strings when I

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Mexican Breakfast: Chorizo, Potato & An Egg in an Cast Iron Skillet

Last weekend I developed a recipe for Wisconsin Cheese. Make sure to come back on Friday to check it out: Mexican Mac & Cheese!

One of the ingredients in my Mexican Mac & Cheese was chorizo. What's not to like about this salty and fatty pork product?

You can add chorizo to soups, pizzas, casseroles, or use it as a decadent part of your breakfast.

Here, I used Mexican chorizo in combination

Last weekend I developed a recipe for Wisconsin Cheese. Make sure to come back on Friday to check it out: Mexican Mac & Cheese!

One of the ingredients in my Mexican Mac & Cheese was chorizo. What's not to like about this salty and fatty pork product?

You can add chorizo to soups, pizzas, casseroles, or use it as a decadent part of your breakfast.

Here, I used Mexican chorizo in combination

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What to do with Leftover Hamentashen Dough? Cookies with Caramel Pear Preserves

Confession: I tend to hoard things. Those things include art supplies, cards, shoes, clothes (that no longer fit), people (for whom I've lost that warm and fuzzy feeling) and food!

My pantry is filled with items that I haven't used for over a year, and my freezer holds things such as chicken, pizza dough, and sorbet that I may or may not ever consume.

I need to stop hoarding.

I really must.

Confession: I tend to hoard things. Those things include art supplies, cards, shoes, clothes (that no longer fit), people (for whom I've lost that warm and fuzzy feeling) and food!

My pantry is filled with items that I haven't used for over a year, and my freezer holds things such as chicken, pizza dough, and sorbet that I may or may not ever consume.

I need to stop hoarding.

I really must.

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Marinated Lamb with Crispy Polenta Cakes, Roasted Tomatoes & Yogurt Dip: Recipe for Pro Am DC (Fans of Lamb)

I was born in the year of the sheep under the astrological sign of Aries--it's no wonder, then, that I LOVE lamb.

I tend to order lamb whenever I eat out at Indian, Mediterranean or American restaurants and am also not a stranger to cooking lamb.

Some of my favorite dishes include Shepherd's Pie with Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes, Lamb Pizza, and Lamb Sausage, Mozzarella & Arugula Sandwich.

I was born in the year of the sheep under the astrological sign of Aries--it's no wonder, then, that I LOVE lamb.

I tend to order lamb whenever I eat out at Indian, Mediterranean or American restaurants and am also not a stranger to cooking lamb.

Some of my favorite dishes include Shepherd's Pie with Goat Cheese Mashed Potatoes, Lamb Pizza, and Lamb Sausage, Mozzarella & Arugula Sandwich.

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Feta Stuffed Olives

One of the lessons my parents taught me from an early age was not to show up at someone's house empty-handed. You always bring something: wine, flowers, a gift for the kids, or something you baked.

When I was offered a preview copy of Gourmet Gifts: 100 Delicious Recipes for Every Occasion to Make Yourself & Wrap with Style by Dinah Corley, I could not wait to see what recipes and wrapping ideas

One of the lessons my parents taught me from an early age was not to show up at someone's house empty-handed. You always bring something: wine, flowers, a gift for the kids, or something you baked.

When I was offered a preview copy of Gourmet Gifts: 100 Delicious Recipes for Every Occasion to Make Yourself & Wrap with Style by Dinah Corley, I could not wait to see what recipes and wrapping ideas

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Mushroom Stir Fry Recipe

I love mushrooms! I have such fond memories of going mushroom picking with my parents and my sister when I was a little girl. Of course, we had to leave our Moscow apartment and head to the outskirts of the city to find a forest first. We would make a day trip out of it: pick mushrooms, make shashliki {kabobs} on the fire, and head home exhausted, but happy. My parents would then saute,

I love mushrooms! I have such fond memories of going mushroom picking with my parents and my sister when I was a little girl. Of course, we had to leave our Moscow apartment and head to the outskirts of the city to find a forest first. We would make a day trip out of it: pick mushrooms, make shashliki {kabobs} on the fire, and head home exhausted, but happy. My parents would then saute,

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Guest Post on Bella Nutella: Nutella Panini with Apple & Walnuts

Guess what today is? Nutella day!!!

Do you love Nutella? I do!

Know who else loves Nutella? My friend Paula! Paula and I met during the Pomegranate Trip. She's funny, talented, beautiful, and carries individual packages of Nutella with her wherever she goes. What's not to like?




When Paula asked me to do a guest blog post for Bella Nutella, I said YES!

Here's my little story:


I don’t

Guess what today is? Nutella day!!!

Do you love Nutella? I do!

Know who else loves Nutella? My friend Paula! Paula and I met during the Pomegranate Trip. She's funny, talented, beautiful, and carries individual packages of Nutella with her wherever she goes. What's not to like?




When Paula asked me to do a guest blog post for Bella Nutella, I said YES!

Here's my little story:


I don’t

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Buttermilk Pancakes with Boozy Persimmons and Mangoes

When it comes to breakfast, I'm a savory girl. It's very rare I crave cereal, granola or pancakes. Bagels with cream cheese and lox, an omelet, or roasted potatoes? Those I would take any day.

This past Sunday, I woke up at 10:30 am. No, I did not go salsa dancing the night before. In fact, I even took a nap that Saturday. Maybe I just needed extra sleep. Or maybe, I did not want to face the

When it comes to breakfast, I'm a savory girl. It's very rare I crave cereal, granola or pancakes. Bagels with cream cheese and lox, an omelet, or roasted potatoes? Those I would take any day.

This past Sunday, I woke up at 10:30 am. No, I did not go salsa dancing the night before. In fact, I even took a nap that Saturday. Maybe I just needed extra sleep. Or maybe, I did not want to face the

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Chickpea Soup with Potatoes, Rainbow Chard & Other Vegetables

Monday I shared with you a recipe for cheesy scones. While they were amazing, Melissa and I needed something else to round up our cooking lunch date and decided to also make soup.

The starting point for the soup was a can of chickpeas. Then we picked up other vegetables, added a few pantry ingredients, and ended up with Chickpea Soup with Potatoes, Rainbow Chard & Other Vegetables.

This

Monday I shared with you a recipe for cheesy scones. While they were amazing, Melissa and I needed something else to round up our cooking lunch date and decided to also make soup.

The starting point for the soup was a can of chickpeas. Then we picked up other vegetables, added a few pantry ingredients, and ended up with Chickpea Soup with Potatoes, Rainbow Chard & Other Vegetables.

This

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