Leek Pie

Leek Pie, French leek pie, leeks

Food brings back memories in powerful ways. This past week I recreated the first dinner Corey and I shared in France for our honeymoon. Our good friend Marshall was teaching English in Noyon, France and we were lucky enough to get to visit him for part of our journey. He graciously prepared this dinner for us and it was an epicurean delight.

We started the meal off with a bottle of Sauternes—a wine made by a rare fungus growth on grapes, which results in a higher sugar content, producing a very sweet but complex tasting wine. We paired the wine with goat cheese, foie gras, Camembert cheese, Moroccan olives, and several fresh baguettes. read more

Chinese Lettuce Wraps

Chinese Lettuce Wraps, Chinese appetizer, authentic Chinese appetizer, hoisin sauce

I love Chinese food, especially appetizers! I get hungry just thinking about crispy wontons, fried shrimp toast, savory spring rolls, and the endless varieties of delectable dumplings. The flavor combinations, textures, and delicious sauces of Chinese cuisine make it one of my favorites.

Oftentimes, American Chinese restaurants poorly represent the fare, offering unhealthy and/or bland dishes. Today I present you with an authentic Chinese appetizer that’s both healthy and delicious: Chinese lettuce wraps. read more

Carbonara

carbonara, Italian, panncetta, pasta

Everyone loves carbonara! It’s fast, requires fewer than ten ingredients, and is truly delicious. Pancetta adds richness, making each bite savory. If you haven’t tried pancetta yet, you really should! I used to substitute bacon for it, as I didn’t have a good local source.

I recently discovered that I can get cured meats—pancetta, prosciutto, and sopressata, for example—at my local deli for a fraction of the cost of prepackaged varieties. I immediately bought some pancetta, wondering whether it would taste noticeably different than bacon. It actually has quite a distinctive taste, less smoky than bacon, more peppery and porky. read more

Cherry Chicken Salad

Cherry Chicken Salad Sandwich, tea sandwiches

I often have sandwiches for lunch because they’re fast, convenient, and portable. The cherries and sour cream improve on basic chicken salad. Versatile and easily prepared, this cherry chicken salad is perfect for a weekday lunch.

Cherry Chicken Salad

If you don’t already have Mother’s Day plans, consider holding an afternoon tea party for your mom—it’s a nice way to show your love. Everything for the tea can be made in advance (besides the tea of course), leaving you plenty of time to spend with your mom. This cherry chicken salad is great for tea sandwiches. read more

Lemon Curd

lemon curd, afternoon tea, lemon curd recipe

I’m typically not a lemon dessert fan; something about the lemony-tartness encroaching on the sweet flavors bothers me. Why intentionally ruin a good thing? But, in my culinary journeys I’m always willing to try new things, especially if they’re part of an authentic meal or cultural tradition. So, during my first afternoon tea, I dutifully tried lemon curd with my scones. Overwhelmed by all the sensual delights at the time, it didn’t strike a chord with me one way or the other. read more