Coffee-Brown Sugar Dry Rub

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Coffee and chiles, with brown or maple sugar, make a terrific dry rub meat, particularly pork.  But, I use this on steak and burgers, but it is surprisingly delicious on both lamb and venison.  I haven’t tried in on duck, but I think it would be delicious.  A rubbed-filled jar is a great gift for the foodie in your life.  Continue reading

Caramelized Three-Onion Crôustade with Apple Butter, Feta and Bacon

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Caramelized onions….mmmmm…a little sweet, a little sour, and just plain yummy.  The apple butter, with its hint of cinnamon, the saltiness of the feta and the crispness of the bacon juxtaposed against the creaminess of the caramelized onions, makes for a perfect “storm” of flavor!  Continue reading

Creamy White Bean-Tortellini Soup with Spinach and Garlic

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This is a “meal” soup.  I fixed this for a special someone who had just driven for about nine hours.  After that grueling ordeal, you don’t want something too heavy.  You want comfort food.  You don’t want to be stuffed, but you’re hungry.  This soup is the perfect solution for that dilemma. Continue reading

Hasselback Tomatoes with Basil-Mozzarella Filling

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The Eldest Progeny, who is a creative and fine cook, told me about this recipe he found in Cook’s Country, and thought it sounded interesting and delicious.  I didn’t have the recipe, so I winged it.  It flew pretty well, I think.  Continue reading

Tea Cup Chocolate Cake

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Tea Cup Chocolate CakeIn days past, before measurements were standardized, this is how things were put together.  Every woman had her “special” tea cup, she used just for baking, or not.  This is the way my grandmother made chocolate cake.  And what a cake it is. Continue reading

Salmorejo or Spanish Nectar of The Goddess

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Salmorejo is well known as a summer soup, the Andalusian version of gazpacho.  We just recently returned from the Iberian peninsula and whenever salmorejo was offered, it was in front of me.  This has everything—color, creamy texture, and flavor, flavor, flavor.  Continue reading

Sunday Dinner Rump Roast with Onion Gravy

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Sunday Dinner Rump Roast with Onion GravyNothing says Sunday dinner like a nice hunk of roast beef, right?  Some good gravy, roasted or mashed potatoes, maybe some green beans, asparagus, carrots or rutabaga…these, however will only be bit players.  It’s all about the meat.  Now, doesn’t that just scream “Sunday dinner, call the kids”?    Continue reading

Rutabaga, Carrot and Parsnip Mash

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Rutabaga, Carrot and Parsnip MashThis is winter comfort food, but hey, it’s been chilly recently, and these veggies are just such a nice foil for Sunday Rump Roast Beef with Onion Gravy.  And Rutabaga is an underutilized veggie and this combination, rutabaga, carrots and parsnips are just better together.  Continue reading

Mojo Verde (Green Sauce)

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Mojo Verde (Green Sauce)This is similar to The Goddess’s Green Goddess, in that it’s creamy and green!  The herbs are entirely different, so the flavor is different.  But, delicious?  Oh, yeah.  This is terrific to dress a potato or pasta salad, smear on a chicken sandwich and it is wonderful on a nice green salad with bacon bits.  But, The Goddess loves, loves, loves to dip roasted baby potatoes into this fine elixir…heaven!  Pure heaven! Continue reading

Roasted Red Grapes with Blueberries

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Roasted Red Grapes with BlueberriesThis is one of those little sweethearts-of-a-recipe.  It’s fast, easy and just supremely delicious.  It’s good warm or at room temperature.  I plop them on top of salads, serve them on the side of a grilled pork, chicken or salmon, or smear them on some nice toast with a bit of brie.  Continue reading