Author Archives: Lynda Mahana
Onion Soup
Can you imagine a cold and drizzly winter night; and all you can think about is getting home, putting on something comfortable and getting cozy on the couch. Wouldn’t it be nice if you had something hot to eat to warm you? You know, the answer is soup! Soup is so easy to make and one of the easier is onion. Why is it so easy? Because with this recipe it is made in a crock pot. The […]
Holiday Entertaining with Recipes
The holidays are here and you are itching to entertain friends and family; but, you are not in the mood for a big party or one that lasts for hours. Consider a simple, but short cocktail and hors d’oeuvres gathering for an hour or two. Everyone is busy with multiple parties, so begin the party at six and end it at eight. Your guests still have their evening open. The following are some interesting suggestions for what to serve? […]
Mediterranean Cheese Tort
I created the following recipe with ingredients that work well together; and the best part of the creation is the presentation. The tort is a savory cheese cake with multiple layers: including sun-dried tomatoes; roasted red peppers; walnut basil pesto and Kalamata olives. The addition of creamy goat cheese pulls it all together. When served with crackers or corn chips, it is a perfect appetizer when having guests. Note: […]
Princess Cruises Shines at Chef’s Table
It was our third cruise on the Caribbean Princess before I discovered the Chef’s Table. We had been on many cruises, tried all the specialty restaurants, but were now only discovering the Chef’s table. So, on the first day of the cruise, I called the front desk, asked a few questions and signed up to participate. I think the word foodie is way overused, but let’s face it, that is what I am. After a wonderful day sightseeing and […]
Coconut Cake and Boiled White Icing
This gallery contains 1 photo.
I love butter cream icing; but when my son Benjamin requests coconut cake for his birthday, it’s not butter cream that I use. Many years ago I originally saw the recipe for boiled white icing in an old edition of the Settlement Cookbook . It looked rather complicated; but one day I experimented and found that it makes mounds of a creamy and delicious white icing. Over the years this icing has become the topping for not only my coconut cakes, but numerous […]
Coconut Macaroons elevated to Flavortown
This gallery contains 3 photo.
Recently at a friends party I tasted a coconut macaroon from the dessert tray. My favorite candy as a child was the Mounds bar, so; anytime I see a sweet made with coconut, I’m in. I naturally asked for the recipe and prepared to, gather the ingredients as well as a couple of extra ingredients I felt would really push this confection over the top. I finished making them as my husband was ready to leave for work. Naturally he asked to […]
Lunch/Brunch
Today can only be described as beautiful. The house was filled with family celebrating the baby naming of our fifth granddaughter. As with most joyous occasions, food is usually a focal point; and today was no exception. After gathering in the family room and participating in a short naming ceremony everyone was hungry and ready to eat. One of my favorite activities is planning a menu when I entertain. For this occasion I thought about who was coming and what were […]
Brussels sprouts
As a child I hated Brussels sprouts. They looked just like cabbage and whenever my mother cooked cabbage, the house smelled awful. Consequently, in my mind, if smells bad…it tastes bad. In the last few years I have discovered two recipes that take my thoughts on this vegetable to the delicious level. In fact, until my husband said, enough with the Brussels sprouts, I served them frequently. I now even make them for special occasions. Recipe #1 3 C Brussels […]
Easiest Way to Peel Garlic
Most cooks use a ton of garlic in their cooking; and if they don’t shame, shame shame! Garlic is good for the body and it makes so many foods taste better. A good cook always has fresh garlic on hand. Here is the easiest way I have found to peel it and always have a fresh amount of it in the fridge. My husband first told my about this method and have used it ever since. There is no muss, […]
Ten Years after Katrina
This year marks the tenth anniversary of the devastating storm known as Katrina. Through a great deal of help from outsiders and inhabitants alike, the city of New Orleans is once again a thriving community. In fact it is now a better place to live, because of an unexpected horrific tragedy that gave a city the opportunity to rebuild and remake itself. Being raised in New Orleans and personally touched by the storm I consequently wrote my Mother’s story about […]