“We should have you over for dinner!”
We’ve all said it… and meant it… but for whatever reason, the dinner just never happens. Yet when it does, it’s always a treat. Last summer, some “new-ish” friends DID follow through and invited us over. We knew the company would be great — the delicious meal was a bonus! They served steaks from the grill, warmed bread and this Roasted Pear Salad with Blue Cheese and Port. Simple. Elegant. Fabulous. Continue Reading →
One of the great things about our neighborhood is that an impromptu dinner party can break out at any time. Often, it’s just a matter of cobbling together what everyone has on hand. But last weekend I had a slam-dunk meal in my back pocket. And by ‘back pocket’ I mean freezer. The hard work was already done for this hearty, rich and decadent Beef Shortrib Ravioli with Mustard Cream Sauce. Continue Reading →
The older Husband and I get, the more we’re into routines. If one or both of us are traveling, we FaceTime at the end of the day. We don’t discuss our thoughts on a movie we’ve seen, until we have a post-movie snack and maybe a nightcap. We typically go to church on Saturday nights, after which we can be found at our favorite Mexican restaurant – in our usual spot, with our usual order. And on Sunday mornings, our ritual includes coffee and watching CBS Sunday Morning. We’ve recently taken that routine up a notch, thanks to Almond Biscotti with Dark Chocolate and Sea Salt. Continue Reading →
I just grabbed one of these Dark Chocolate Energy Bites as a reward for going to the mailbox — it’s around -50º below zero with windchill!
Truth be told, we weren’t supposed to BE in the frozen tundra today. We had been invited to join a group of dear friends this week in Mexico — where, by my calculations, there’s about a 135º temperature difference at the moment. Continue Reading →
Sometimes, even the best of relationships benefit from taking a break. “P.N.” and I hadn’t been getting along, and I felt the need to create some space. We’re still friends though – in fact, we spent some time together last weekend. Continue Reading →
Eggs aren’t the enemy! The Raisin & Fig household has been doing a LOT of reading about good vs. evil – when it comes to food. For years, we were told that if you were trying to manage cholesterol and heart health, then eggs were bad. However, the latest research – and there’s lots of it, tells a different story. So we’re sharing this recipe for “Eggs in Clouds” to welcome these little orbs of sunshine back to your table. Continue Reading →
I admit that I frequently try to convert my friends… sometimes they politely change the subject, sometimes they quickly shut me down, but every once in awhile, they’ll take me up on my challenge to get out of their comfort zone. And yes, on a few occasions I’ve tricked them into it. Continue Reading →
I signed up for a 30-day “Bod Pod” challenge in a weak moment. (It’s a workout program that targets, um, body fat.) I’m about halfway through the month and finally getting the hang of the food part. Because it’s based on strength training, we’re encouraged to eat protein. Lots of it. (I’m running out of things to do with chicken.) Continue Reading →
These little morsels will have you struggling to find the right balance between polite moderation and downright gluttony. At least that’s been my experience… Continue Reading →
I learned a lot making this recipe for Chicken Satay with Peanut Apricot Sauce.
First, dry skewers tend to burst into flames. Thankfully I’d soaked mine – though not nearly long enough. The ones that survived are pictured here. Continue Reading →
I'm glad you stopped by ... pull up a stool, grab your favorite beverage, and let's make something delicious!
