Author: MS

Holiday Series: Easy Holiday Cheese Board

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The easiest spread on any pre-dinner table is a cheese board and lots of bottles of wine and kiddy drinks of course- that’s all I’m saying. INGREDIENTS 3-4 cheese wedges such as brie, goat cheese, Merlot, and blue cheese 6-8 cups Chex Party Mix mixed olives assorted meats, such as salami, prosciutto, and pepperoni assorted fruit, such as pomegranate, pears, citrus, and persimmons assorted veggies, such as marinated artichokes, and pickles spreads, such as honey, fig preserves, and jams {more}   Best Cocktails for 2018, Best Wines for 2018, Kid non-alcoholic drinks for 2018  

Food: Holiday Series – What To Bring for Potluck

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I was over the moon when I found this recipe online. A reminder of my childhood days, during the holidays when my mother and aunts got together to bake and make holiday desserts for a family gathering. I always helped in the kitchen, but only because I wanted to taste all the goodies being whipped together across the kitchen counters all the way to the dinning table – where the women gathered to share secrets to their version of the same old recipe, and laugh out loud at all the fun being poked about this and that. I loved every minute of it. So, since potluck is the sharing of the responsibilities of the hostess – here’s a great recipe for a unique dessert – chocolate salame – that’s been tried and tested by our extended families, eons ago, somewhere in a Mediterranean kitchen: Ingredients 100 g di biscuits like digestives or similar 100 g of butter at room temperature 150 g of sugar 100 g of good quality unsweetened cocoa powder 2 eggs Icing sugar Butcher’s twine Instructions Break the biscuits coarsely with your hands: do …

Food: Marble Pound Cake

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When I was a child, there was a tradition established where relatives – mostly the women – visit one another on a particular date each month. The date was determined based on a symbolic event for that certain family – such as a birthday or a wedding date.  The hostess would bake a cake or two or make brioche and other wonderful baked goods, fresh lemonade in the summer and cinnamon spiced tea in the winter and sometimes even ice cream or jello would be added – for the kids that behaved during the visit. I don’t recall behaving until the cake and ice cream was served and then I had to glance over to my mother to make sure I was entitled to getting my share. So in light of traditions, and hosting a tea party or Sunday brunch or even a simple get-together just because, I share with you this wonderful old-world, easy marble cake recipe, just like the ones my mother and aunts made – right  here: Ingredients 3 eggs about 210 g 210 g of cane …

Food: Dinner Tonight – Butternut Squash Pizza

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A few weeks ago I had food poisoning from a chicken salad I bought for lunch. The same one I normally ordered from an organically sustainable eatery in downtown.  After that incident, I haven’t craved meat and the idea of seafood makes my stomach turn. Not sure what happened, but it’s as if my stomach has realigned itself and I have no choice but to obey. So for tonight – since I was craving pizza at 3 in the morning – I plan to make these wonderful beauties instead. Ingredients 12 slices of butternut squash 1 tablespoon of extra virgin olive oil 1 teaspoon of salt 1/2 tablespoon of water Freshly ground black pepper For the seasoning 300 g (1 cup) of peeled datterini, or tomato pulp Extra virgin olive oil 1/2 teaspoon of dried oregano Salt 250 g (1 ½ cup) of mozzarella torn into pieces 2 tablespoons of grated pecorino romano  {more} {photo source}  

Decor: Chanel’s New Flagship Store – Manhattan

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In light of the fact, a few department stores are either closing down or renovating and reinventing themselves here in northern California to remain key players in this day and age of online shopping, I have to applaud Chanel’s newly designed flagship store in Manhattan. The very idea of a modern chic decor approach, which others are following, is a sure way to captivate passersby:

Thanksgiving: Turkey 101 or Whole Chicken

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I am not a fan of Turkey and if I am not hosting an extended family dinner, I usually go with a whole chicken – applying the same recipe but on a different bird –  if you will.  Here’s a recipe I found, which is simple enough to follow for the first-time host or the expert. In case you go with the chicken recipe – no lined cheesecloth needed – you can go with the oven bag to lock in the flavors. INGREDIENTS 1 (14-16) pound turkey, giblets and neck removed, patted dry 2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, at room temperature 2 tablespoons fresh sage, plus more for stuffing the bird 2 tablespoons fresh thyme, plus more for stuffing the bird 3 tablespoons fresh parsley zest of 1 lemon 3 teaspoons kosher salt 1 1/2 teaspoons black pepper 1 piece large of double lined cheesecloth 2 lemons, halved 1 garlic head, tips sliced off 1 onion, halved 7-8 cups low sodium chicken or turkey broth WHITE WINE PAN GRAVY 1 cup white wine 4 tablespoons salted butter 6 tablespoons all-purpose flour drippings from the turkey 2-3 cups low sodium chicken or turkey broth, as needed  {more} And of course, we can all use …

Lifestyle: Things You Might Want To Know

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The best way I could put the reason behind this post is this.  You know how when you attempt to subscribe to an online site, there is a pop-up  asking if you are a robot – and if not, to key in a set of squiggly numbers and letters to prove it.    Well, sometimes when I talk only about the beautiful things on this site, I realize that I may come across as a robot, especially on days where there are tragic events that redefine or reshape the world.  And although my efforts are to calm the anxiety, and help promote clear thinking, it is always a good idea to share some realities once in a while.