Summer Corn Risotto
My favorite summertime veggie is fresh corn. It's everywhere and it's cheap and it's sweet and crunchy right off the cob. The best thing is almost everyone loves corn, right? The biggest problem we seem to have is figuring out what else to do with it. Corn on the cob....check. Done and done and done. Corn and black bean salad is another favorite side dish of mine that is great for picnics or summertime BBQ's because it holds up well and can sit out without wilting. So here's my ...
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Rosemary Skewered Shrimp with Blistered Tomatoes and Brown Butter Vinaigrette
Rosemary Skewered Shrimp with blistered tomatoes and brown butter vinaigrette may be a mouthful to say but every little bit of this sentence will make sense to you when you take your first bite. I have to admit, I went fancy on you this time. I've been publishing a lot of easy weeknight meals or 'unfussy' recipes but every once in awhile you need something in your arsenal that takes just a little bit more effort and has that 'wow' factor. And I think this dish has it. You will get ...
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Stuffed Portobello Mushrooms
Stuffed portobello mushrooms make the best gourmet weeknight meal. Perfect for date night or even a casual evening with friends because the presentation is elegant but really the flavors are something everyone is familiar with. I mean who doesn't love a cream cheese and sausage stuffed mushroom as an appetizer at any cocktail party, right? So why not take the same idea and make it into a meal? But even better because it's a little lighter without all that cream cheese and with a touch of ...
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Chicken and Mozzarella Puff Pastry Cups
Leftover chicken? Busy week night? Weekend brunch? These versatile chicken and mozzarella puff pastry cups are the 'go to' for any occasion. They can be served right out of the oven - gooey and hot -or at room temperature as part of a brunch buffet. And they reheat beautifully in the oven for a few minutes. This makes it a great do-ahead dish, too. How do you make these magical little cups? Here's the play-by-play....and it couldn't be easier.
Game Plan
Start with a few good ...
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Egg and Avocado Toast
Egg and Avocado Toast. It doesn't get any simpler than that. It's like the perfect little black dress. It can be dressed down and casual for every day events like breakfast at home for one or dressed up with a few accessories for a special occasion like a bridal shower or luncheon for twenty.
Basic Version
So lets talk options. I decided to use hard boiled eggs because they are an easy do ahead step and they slice beautifully. Plus, who wants to stand there and make eggs twenty differ...
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Citrus Creme Brulee
Creme Brulee is an all-time favorite dessert of....well almost everybody. There is just something about that thin, crunchy layer of caramelized sugar as it cracks beneath the weight of your spoon and that smooth, creamy custard that lies just beneath. I am so hungry just thinking about taking that first delectable bite!
This Citrus Creme Brulee version is from my cookbook - The Savory Gourmet. I did not do a step by step version of this when I first created it but the full recipe is ...
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Shrimp Nachos
Warning! Highly addictive Shrimp Nacho recipe below. If you have any shrimp lovers coming over on game day this is nacho recipe is a must have. Best of all, you can make the salsa, bean and corn mixture and even the shrimp ahead of time and then just assemble and bake when the game comes on! Touchdown on the prep.
I secretly love football junk food. It's a fact. There is something so comforting about some chicken wings and nachos and a good old seven layer bean dip. Nostalgia? ...
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The Perfect Meatball
Oh yeah. I said it. It's a bold move to call this the perfect meatball but I really think I may have a winner. Take it from the girl who has made countless meatballs over the years and tried every kind of technique and recipe out there. This recipe is culmination of my years of learning and refining. And the best part? It's a pretty straightforward, basic recipe. No gimmics. But trust me....this ain't your mamma's meatball. It is crunchy on the outside and oh-so-tender on the ...
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Ultimate Leftover Turkey Sandwich
Fast forward a few days from now to that inevitable leftover turkey staring you down in your fridge as you ponder what wondrous midnight snack you can make with it. Sure, the classic cranberry and cream cheese sandwich comes to mind but why not try a new leftover turkey sandwich with a fresh twist? This ultimate leftover turkey sandwich comes to life with caramelized onions, fresh spinach, and a creamy mustard and horseradish sauce that may just change your whole view on leftover turkey. ...
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Roasted Mushroom, Cauliflower & Rainbow Chard Gratin
Fall is the smell of roasting vegetables. At least in my kitchen. And this roasted mushroom and cauliflower gratin mixed with sauteed onions and Rainbow Chard really puts me in that happy place where I can picture myself with a big bowl of hearty roasted veggies and crunchy, cheesy topping curled up in a chair next to a fire and reading a book. Okay that might not actually happen. More likely I'll be eating big spoonfuls out of the pan as I dash off to my kid's soccer game or basketball ...
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