If you can find Ortega’s Red Bell Pepper Taco Shells*, you can make Valentine Tacos (photo #1). Or, arrange conventional tacos in a heart shape (photo #2). In either case, top Valentine tortillas with your favorite red garnishes, such as: Bell pepper Onion Radish Tomato Top fish tacos with rosy pink imitation crab leg […]
Many people grow herbs at home. How about peppercorns? If your Valentine has a green thumb, a peppercorn plant is a different kind of gift. You can grow one as a houseplant (photo #1); or if you live in a semi-tropical climate, you can grow it outdoors (here’s what you need to know to grow […]
[1] Creamy heaven, half mashed potatoes, half melted cheese. The recipe was developed by Cheryl Bennett of Pook’s Pantry (recipe and photos #1 and #2 © Idaho Potato Commission. [2] Pommes Aligot is stretchy, like fondue. [3] Laguiole, the original cheese used for Pommes Aligot. It’s difficult to find in the U.S., but there are […]
Today, a sonata on the Dirty Martini, offering a different interpretation for its fans. Dirty Martinis are typically made with green olive brine and a green olive garnish. This twist on the Dirty Martini recipe below is black olive brine and black olives. For a touch of heat, it infuses the vodka with black peppercorns […]
From ancient times, man has used drinking straws. Here’s the history of the drinking straw, dating back to Sumeria. The modern drinking straw, made of paper, debuted in 1888, ultimately coated in wax so it would hold up longer before getting mushy. But mushy it did get, losing its shape when saturated with liquid. The […]
[1] Lover’s Leap, a blend of superior black teas with rose and chamomile petals, is available in both loose tea and tea bags (both photos © Steven Smith Teamaker). [2] Lover’s Leap Tea, nicely boxed. Lover’s Leap Tea is a limited edition for Valentine’s Day, created by our favorite tea emporium, Steven Smith Teamaker. […]
If you don’t have romantic plans for Valentine’s Day, how about inviting friends for cocktails? You can set up a bar buffet with pitchers of three or four red or rosy cocktails: Bloody Mary Cranberry Mimosa Cosmopolitan Crantini Other options: Mulled wine, perfect for February. Kir, white wine poured atop crème de cassis (blackcurrant […]
[1] chocolate chips, white chocolate chips and chocolate chunks (all photos © Meli’s Monster Cookies | Bluehall Bakery). [2] It takes just 12 minutes for warm cookies to emerge from your oven. [3] You can make bar cookies with the dry mixes. [4] Decorate a cake with crunchy cookies. If you’re a cookie lover […]
January 25th, 2020 begins the Lunar New Year (a.k.a. Chinese New Year, but it’s celebrated in many other Asian countries). It lasts for 15 days. We were chatting the other day that it’s the Year Of The Rat, an animal which does not evoke pleasant thoughts. So we looked it up. It turns out that […]
Fine food lovers: The days of mixing sour cream with Lipton Onion Soup mix are behind you. Herewith, a better recipe for Game Day or any party. It uses sautéed onions, crème fraîche and fromage blanc, making it more “French” than a dip made with onion soup mix. The recipe comes to us from Bellwether […]