Spa Cuisine Recipes

The Egg & I

So I was making quiche and I started thinking about this movie. This is how my brain works. One long stream of consciousness list. Have you ever seen it? The Egg & I? It’s adorable. “This musical comedy, based on a book by Betty McDonald, featured Colbert and MacMurray as newlywed Manhattan-dwellers who move to…

chicken soup with rice

Today I made a pot of Chicken Soup with Rice. This was Andie’s favorite soup and one of her favorite books when she was a munchkin. I used THIS RECIPE from Gourmet Magazine. photographs by Melissa Placzek I added a few things, like whole, fresh sprigs of rosemary, a little fresh lemon thyme, mushrooms, and…

Stuffed Acorn Squash in the Slow Cooker

This is a delicious, easy, healthy dish that you can prepare quickly in the morning, and 6 hours later…dinner is served! photograph by Melissa Placzek ~ Slow Cooker Stuffed Acorn Squash~ 2 acorn squash, halved and seeded 1 Tablespoon olive oil 1/2 lb. light bulk sausage 1/2 lb. ground bison 1 large egg, beaten 3…

Beef & Basmati Dumplings with Lemon Sauce

photograph by Melissa Placzek ~Beef & Basmati Dumplings~ These Greek meat and rice dumplings are moist and flavorful, and surprisingly low in fat when you use extra lean meats. I have made them with fattier meats before, but because of the way these little dumplings are cooked, the extra fat really isn’t necessary. This way…

Scenes From Valentine’s Day ~ A Strawberry Menu

~Valentine’s Treat 7~ A Strawberry Menu “…Sit on a cushion, and sew a fine seam, and dine upon strawberries, sugar and cream.” ~From the Mother Goose nursery rhyme “Curly-Locks” Happy Valentine’s Day! We started celebrating yesterday… We started the day with Strawberry Milk and I made a loaf of Strawberry Breakfast Bread This got rave…

Candied Broccoli Salad

photograph by Melissa Placzek ~Candied Broccoli Salad~ Fry 1 lb honey-maple bacon until crisp. Blot with paper towels. Chop up bacon and set aside. In a big bowl, combine: 1 big bunch broccoli, chopped 1 cup sunflower seeds 1 heaping cup raisins 1/2 small onion, chopped fine 1 cup mayonnaise (lite, if you wish) 1/2…

Cooking With Wine~A Recipe Collection

“A meal without wine is like a day without sunshine.” ~ Anthelme Brillat-Savarin photograph by Melissa Placzek I’ve enjoyed cooking with wine pretty much since I started cooking. A splash or red wine in spaghetti sauce elevates the flavor from merely “good” to “fantastic.” Cooking with wine adds depth to your dishes. I was going…

Cantaloupe & Port

An elegant, refreshing dessert. ~Cantaloupe & Port~ 1/3 cup water 4 Tablespoons fresh mint 3 Tablespoons honey 1/3 cup ruby port 3 cantaloupe fresh mint sprigs for garnish Combine 1/3 cup water, 2 Tablespoons minced mint and honey in a saucepan. Stirring over low heat, bring to gentle simmer. Remove from heat. Cover. Allow syrup…

“Chinese Takeout” Sesame Chicken Salad

photograph by Jeffrey Placzek ~Sesame Chicken Salad~ 8 chicken breasts (bone in, skin on) extra virgin olive oil dash of Tony Chachere’s Cajun seasoning 1 lb. asparagus, ends removed, cut into thirds diagonally 2 red bell peppers, cored, seeded and cut into thin strips 4 scallions, white and green parts, sliced diagonally 2 teaspoons white…

Bouillabaisse

“Bouillabaisse, this golden soup, this incomparable golden soup which embodies and concentrates all the aromas of our shores and which permeates, like an ecstasy, the stomachs of astonished gastronomes. Bouillabaisse is one of those classic dishes whose glory has encircled the world, and the miracle consists of this: there are as many bouillabaisses as there…