Category Archives: Recipes

Cardamon, Honey Cake with Fresh Baked Pears

Perfect for Fall, this recipe calls for Bosc pears, try not to substitute- this varietal has firmer flesh than others, which helps hold its shape during baking. You will swoon over the combination of sweet, sticky cardamon spiked honey liberally soaked into this lovely cake. You’ll need For the cake: 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flourContinue reading “Cardamon, Honey Cake with Fresh Baked Pears”

Candy Cap Roasted Butternut Squash

The haunting maple flavor of Candy Cap Mushrooms makes this so much more than a great side dish. This wintery squash can also become the base of a magnificent butternut squash soup if you have leftovers. You’ll Need: 2 pounds butternut squash, peeled and cut into medium-sized dice 1 cup dried candy cap mushrooms  1/2 cupContinue reading “Candy Cap Roasted Butternut Squash”

Decadent Creamed Corn Casserole!

Trust me when I say– someone at your dinner table will ask you for this recipe!  You’ll Need: 8-10 ears of fresh shucked corn off the cob, or 1 pound frozen white kernels and 1 pound frozen yellow kernels. Or, all yellow. 1/2 onion, peeled halved and studded with 3-4 cloves 1 large russet pototoContinue reading “Decadent Creamed Corn Casserole!”

Roasted Pumpkin Salsa

Looking for something diffrent this Holiday Season? Try my recipe for roasted sugar pumpkin salsa! Pumpkin is not only the leading food this time of year! Pumpkins also have definite health benefits. If you want food to fill you up, but not fill you out… Pumpkin will be your new fav! You’ll Need: Good qualityContinue reading “Roasted Pumpkin Salsa”

Holiday Cheat Sheet- Just in case you’re wondering how much to Shop, Cook and Serve!

As a professional chef, one of the most frequent questions I’m asked is how much food do you need to feed each guest? So, I decided to build a mini cheat sheet for the upcoming holiday season! Hope this helps! Every 2.4 pounds of food you donate creates a meal for someone else.  Cocktails: IfContinue reading “Holiday Cheat Sheet- Just in case you’re wondering how much to Shop, Cook and Serve!”

Make Ahead- Chocolate Espresso Pot De Crème!

Perfect sweet little finish to a large festive feast, just in time for the holiday! And make ahead the day before so you don’t need to worry about making dessert the day of your event. Also, great little treat just to have hanging around the fridge. If you can save them from getting gobbled up. Continue reading “Make Ahead- Chocolate Espresso Pot De Crème!”

Gingerbread Pancakes with Molasses Spiked Maple Syrup!

These pancakes that taste like you are eating gingerbread cookies for breakfast! So magicial and delicious! They’re light, soft, fluffy with a pleasant boldness. Nicely spiced without being overwhelming. If you’re sensitive to these bold flavors like I am, tone them down a bit by adding less than the recipe calls for, and spike theContinue reading “Gingerbread Pancakes with Molasses Spiked Maple Syrup!”

Not-So-Traditional Bulgarian Banitsia

Banitsa is a famous cheese, yogurt, and egg pie. Historically renowned dish of Balkan cuisine and typically served for special events. I can’t get enough of it. Based on my geographical location and ingredients, this recipe still has enormous flavor; the sharp feta cheese with the richness of the eggs and yogurt is a perfectContinue reading “Not-So-Traditional Bulgarian Banitsia”

Charred Beef Tip with Chinese Five Spice and Grilled Cara Cara Oranges

Chinese five-spice is pungent and encompasses all five tastes—sweet, sour, bitter, salty, and umami—and uses five different spices. This dynamic Asian seasoning is a mixture of star anise, cloves, Chinese cinnamon, Szechuan peppercorns, and fennel seeds. It’s easy to make at home, but it’s ok to purchase it premade too. I usually pair it withContinue reading “Charred Beef Tip with Chinese Five Spice and Grilled Cara Cara Oranges”