What are your plans for New Year's Eve this year? Are you going to a party? Hosting a soiree at your house? I confess, I have not always enjoyed New Year's Eve in the past. Too much pressure to have fun; to hard to get a babysitter; too many overpriced pre-fixe menus. But this year, I am looking forward to attending a friend's party with my ...
Holiday Appetizer: Gravlax
Are you looking for the perfect appetizer to wow your guests this holiday season? I have just the thing: gravlax. Gravlax is salmon that has been lightly cured in salt and sugar. Once cured, you slice the gravlax are paper-thin and top them with a dill mustard sauce. Serve on slices of buttered pumpernickel. It sounds fancy, and it looks fancy, but ...
Parmesan Pepper Gougeres
I am super-excited to announce that as of this month, I am a brand ambassador for Parmigiano Reggiano, the King of Cheese. Parmigiano Reggiano is one of my favorite ways to add richness and depth, umami if you will, to dishes -- everything from salads to soups to, of course, pasta. I always seek out the true Parmesan cheese, Parmigiano Reggiano, ...
Gravlax for New Year’s Eve
Are you looking for the perfect appetizer to wow your guests this New Year's? I have just the thing: gravlax. This Scandinavian cured salmon is part of my family's holiday celebration every year and every year we ask ourselves: why don't we make this more often? Goodness knows it is not hard. The catch? You have to plan in advance -- three days in ...
Holiday Entertaining with Gougeres
With Hanukkah starting this week and Christmas only two weeks away, many of you have entertaining on your mind. Let me take this moment to remind you of my favorite make-ahead hors d'oeuvres: gougères. One of the most classic French pre-dinner bites, gougères are small cheese puffs made with pâté à choux, which is the same dough that is used to ...