Last spring when my husband and I visited Greece, we spent a day on Mykonos, a picturesque island with white-washed houses and narrow cobblestone streets. After a morning of touring through the isle, we were tired, so we stopped at a seaside restaurant for lunch. The menu listed many Greek classics, but one more unusual dish– a small pita topped with a round of grilled Halloumi cheese, plus chopped tomatoes and arugula–grabbed my attention. I ordered it and was not disappointed.

I loved the idea of this Greek open-faced sandwich and vowed to try to recreate it at home. During the Continue reading →

If you’re honoring a special mother this coming Sunday with a homemade meal, try adding this glorious lemon roll garnished with fresh strawberries and mint as dessert. I first made this cake roll back in 2003 and have always loved that it can be prepared a day ahead. It needs only to be garnished at serving time.

For this special confection, a golden tender cake baked in a sheet pan is cooled, unmolded, and then Continue reading →

Every year when spring has finally arrived –-typically towards the end of April where I live in New England—I switch from cold- to warm-weather cooking. Seasonal ingredients such as asparagus, fresh peas, and watercress are included, along with mint and chives from the herb garden. The recipe for Continue reading →

Growing up in the South several decades ago, the only burgers I remember were made with beef. Covered with cheddar cheese, garnished with pickles and onions, they were embellished simply with dollops of catsup and golden mustard. It was years before I tasted other variations. However, by the time I entered the food world as a young cooking teacher, I began to experiment with new fillings and garnishes.

I paired beef burgers with chunky guacamole and smoked bacon, replaced cheddar with blue cheese in Continue reading →

Recently, after finishing a TV cooking demo for a noontime show called “Mass Appeal” at our local NBC affiliate, the host asked me what I’d like to cook for my next demo at the end of February. Before I could answer he suggested a Mardi Gras dish since I would be on air several days before “Fat Tuesday.” I spent much of my childhood visiting New Orleans and went to college in the Crescent City, so I enthusiastically said yes and began searching my files for a Creole recipe to celebrate this special day,

What could be better to serve on Mardi Gras than an appetizer of spicy chicken wings with Creole Continue reading →

During the holiday season my husband and I ate with abandon. Homemade cookies and cakes arrived at our door and in the mail from friends who are talented bakers. We indulged in all manner of cheeses–Mont d’Or from France and Jasper Hill’s Harbison from Vermont were our favorites. We also assembled bountiful charcuterie boards on more than one occasion. On Christmas Day with our extended family, everyone forgot their diets and savored a beef roast with port wine, bacon, and shallot sauce served with sides that included a potato and crème fraîche gratin and sugar snaps tossed in brown butter. Now that the season of feasting is past, I am looking for recipes that are more healthy, simpler to prepare, and inexpensive. Cauliflower soup with toasted hazelnuts and Gruyère just happens to meet all these Continue reading →