This time of year reminds me of working at the tearoom and making soups, salads, scones and quiches with fresh, delicious ingredients. We mostly made crustless quiche there, and although it’s amazing in it’s own way, today I was craving a more traditional quiche with a flaky pastry crust and a silky, creamy interior. This…
The weather is being fickle here in the Mississippi river valley! I’m pretty sure this is true for most of Minnesota as well. For a few days it will be calm, sunny and a balmy 65 degrees…. and then we’ll get cold, rain, and even snow flurries! Come on Spring, get it together. Anyhoo, I’ve…
We adore macaroni salad, and I seem to make a lot of it during the spring and summer months. It’s an easy, frugal, delicious and very versatile thing to have around. I serve it as a side dish with dinner, pack it into Mason jars for inpromptu picnics, and I usually make enough so I…
My daughter Andrea is an amazing mixologist and she created this sultry cocktail for happy hour today. She uses only the best ingredients and the end result is nothing short of outstanding. for one voodoo bloody mary: 2 Tablespoons jalapeno pickle juice OR pepperoncini juice 2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce 1 and 1/2 oz. Stoli vodka…
As most of you know by now, I’m a total tea fanatic. I was employed by a couple tearooms over a 10 year time period as a tea valet, artist in residence, baker and chef. I’ve done photo shoots for the national TeaTime Magazine, and I absolutely love everything about the afternoon tea ritual. One…
Hello there! It’s gorgeous outside today and it’s got me thinking about crisp, cold refreshing salads and dinner on our screened-in porch. Maybe a tall glass of iced tea? This is such an easy little salad to put together, and the chunks of grilled chicken make it delicious and satisfying enough to pass as lunch…
Here’s an easy, high protein, delicious dinner idea. If you like tuna melts you’re going to LOVE salmon melts. I made ours on artisan bakery baguette, and sprinkled some capers over the top for a little extra fanciness. ~ preheat oven to 425 degrees F. ~ 1 medium “take and bake” baguette 15 oz. canned…
Can you tell I’ve been dreaming about summer? This pretty salad was inspired by dreams of a summer picnic. Can you see it? A big quilt under a shady tree, on a sunny day. A picnic basket, wildflowers and clover in a Mason jar, a book of poems, vintage linens and dishes printed with romantic…
This is a recipe I’ve been making for ages, and it’s always a hit. We love to serve these on holidays (Super Bowl Sunday, included.) You can feel free to use apricot or peach preserves in place of the grape jelly, and chipotle powder in place of the smoked paprika if you like spicy! Once…
I don’t make cupcakes very often because they’re so hard to resist. They’re definitely a treat I can’t have around the house all the time, but some occasions call for this adorable dessert. Rose water cupcakes are an elegant, more “adult” version of the children’s birthday party variety. I just had to make a batch…