04/4/14
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Braised Chicken Thighs with White Wine & Dijon

Braised Chicken Thighs with White Wine & Dijon  |  Brown Basmati & Wild Rice  |  Baby Arugula with Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette The girls and I arrived home at 2:40am Monday morning…almost exactly 5 days {to the minute} from when we left in the darkness and rain the Wednesday before.  The early morning departure for a Continue reading → «Braised Chicken Thighs with White Wine & Dijon»

03/14/14
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Acqua Pazza with Sea Bass

TUESDAY Acqua Pazza with Chilean Sea Bass “This classic Neapolitan fish preparation is both delicate and full of flavor.  The term aqua pazza {“crazy water” in Italian} refers to both the dish and the poaching broth, which is stained red from tomatoes and aromatic with garlic and herbs.  It’s one of those satisfying dishes, like San Francisco’s cioppino, Continue reading → «Acqua Pazza with Sea Bass»

03/10/14
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Prosciutto~Wrapped Chicken with Charred Green Beans & Scallions

MONDAY Prosciutto~Wrapped Chicken Thighs with Anchovy Butter  |  Charred Green Beans & Scallions I should know by now, after thirteen years into this horse “habit”, that things rarely go according to plan.  Yet, when plans go awry {like they did this weekend}, I am still surprised.  I won’t bore you with all of the horrific Continue reading → «Prosciutto~Wrapped Chicken with Charred Green Beans & Scallions»

03/9/14
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Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes & Basil

For me this is hardly a recipe, but rather a recollection of something I “threw” together one very hot evening a few years ago and, go figure, it has become one of our favorite dinners.  Pasta with basil and tomatoes is a well~documented culinary marriage but this particular memory is all mine.  It all started Continue reading → «Pasta with Roasted Tomatoes & Basil»

02/23/14
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Surf & Turf with Creamy, Buttery Cauliflower Puree

FRIDAY Grilled NY Strip Steak  |  Pan Seared Sea Scallops  |  Creamy, Buttery Cauliflower PureĂ©  |  Gremolata  This dinner is certainly not standard Friday fare for us.  Prime steak…lusciously large sea scallops…those two items alone could land your grocery bill into dangerous, unwanted territory.  But, after a long week of traveling in both Shanghai and Continue reading → «Surf & Turf with Creamy, Buttery Cauliflower Puree»

02/11/14
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Chicken Salad with Almonds & Oranges

MONDAY Chicken Salad with Arugula, Marcona Almonds, Pumpkin Seeds & Oranges When I serve a salad as the main course for dinner to my clan it has to be substantial.  And by “substantial” I don’t necessarily mean in size {although my football/baseball playing high school son eats his weight around here} but rather in flavor…it Continue reading → «Chicken Salad with Almonds & Oranges»

02/7/14
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Celery Soup

WEDNESDAY Jane Grigson’s Celery Soup  |  Buffalo Chicken Wings It is just about 5:30pm on a very wet Friday evening.  Rain…glorious rain…has been coming down, steadily, for hours.  Not a shower, mind you, but a thoroughly soaking rain streaming down from a sky the color of battleship gray.  It has eluded us for months, this Continue reading → «Celery Soup»

02/5/14
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Braised Beef Short Ribs

TUESDAY Braised Beef Short Ribs  |  Mashed Potatoes  |  Skillet~Roasted Brussels Sprouts “Nothing creates a sense of well~being like a barely simmering braise or stew cooking quietly on the stove or in the oven.  The warm aromas wafting in the air are deeply comforting.  Dinner is cooking.  A simple and economical cut of meat is Continue reading → «Braised Beef Short Ribs»

02/4/14
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Roasted Italian Sausages with Tomatoes, Peppers & Onions

SUNDAY {Super Bowl} I am not going to muddle this simple recipe with a bunch of verbiage.  Suffice it to say that this is peasant food at its best.  Sausages, vegetables, herbs, a bit of olive oil & some heat for a good hour will deliver a soul satisfying meal.  Its range spans from sausages Continue reading → «Roasted Italian Sausages with Tomatoes, Peppers & Onions»