Beef Stroganoff Soup

aThese cold December nights call for hearty stews and warm soups. I came up with an idea to combine the two. The Russians know how to keep themselves warm with meaty Beef Stroganoff. You will most often see Beef Stroganoff slathered on egg noodles and topped off with sour cream. I believe a concoction of…

Read More

Old Fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookies for Santa

Wondering what you are going to leave out for Santa this Christmas? Milk and cookies are his favorite and the traditional chocolate chip cookies are the best!. Good Old Fashioned Chocolate Chip Cookies never hurt anyone. When you’re bushed from the Christmas shopping and in over your head with the holiday cooking, turning to a…

Read More

Lebanese Red Velvet Pudding

Looking to bring some holiday colors to your menu? How about Red Velvet Pudding? Serve it as dessert or snack, it is lovely for all ages and decadent enough for the grown-ups at your holiday parties. This is not your everyday pudding out of the box. My Red Velvet Pudding is homemade and a variation…

Read More

Spiced Red Wine Poached Pears

Lately I have been roasting, grilling, and pureeing fruit. Today I will poach my pears. Since apples are considered the quintessential fall fruit, we often forget that pears are also gifts of the autumn season. Juicy pears poached in spiced red wine celebrates the fall season. Spiced Red Wine Poached Pears turn a festive autumn…

Read More

French Creole Christmas Dinner

I’m not French Creole, but I think a French Creole Christmas menu can be elegantly served for a preemptive holiday season dinner. A traditional French Creole Christmas dinner pays homage to classic French cuisine by including ingredients from southern Louisiana prepared with French flair.  It is served with grace accompanied by the finest in libations. …

Read More

Chocolate Rugelach for Hanukkah

It’s Hanukkah, so I thought I would deviate from Christmas recipes around the world and make a little Hanukkah treat.  Chocolate Rugelach has always been a favorite of mine.  I can eat the rich flaky pastry filled with chocolate and cinnamon all year long, as a matter of fact I do.  However, I have never…

Read More

Akoho sy Voanio – Chicken in Coconut Milk from Madagascar

The rain in not so sunny California has momentarily stopped.  More is on its way for the later part of next week, however in the meantime we are enjoying the sun again.  California doesn’t really have a white Christmas unless you go up north and into the mountains, even though we do have a mild…

Read More

Puerto Rican Eggnog – Coquito

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas….time to pour the eggnog….  Try singing the tune, it really does work.  Ok, that’s a little corny, but I love that classic song.  It’s been a favorite of mine ever since I got to sing it in my 5th grade choir for the Christmas show. So, why…

Read More