Categotry Archives: Starters
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: […]
Mini Tomato Tarts
I first tasted a tomato pie at a favorite southern diner. With a party on the horizon, I started to experiment with making this pie. My husband said that it was really good and when one of my daughters tried it, I had her seal of approval. I knew I had a winner. For the upcoming party I needed to convert my recipe to appetizer size and so I developed a mini tomato tart. It was simple enough after […]
Kalamata Olive Tapenade
When guests drop in I always put something out to nibble on. It is usually cheese and crackers; but often I like to add a spread or two. The easiest and one of the fastest spreads to make is this recipe for an olive spread. A blender and some olives and in ten minutes it is ready. Talk about tasty, if you luv olives, garlic and a little citrus, you’ll be making this one over and over. 3 cloves garlic […]
Rosh Hashanah Luncheon
So many things are a tradition in my Jewish faith and lunch after services on the first day of Rosh Hashanah is one of them. As the family grows, so do the numbers attending; and this year the table held twenty five. Friends are included too; and in-laws and friends alike, bring toys for all the children to play with. My family is a blended one, like many. The best part of that equation is that everyone gets along. In […]
Savory biscuits to serve with cocktails
Looking for a tidbit to serve with cocktails this summer? Two recipes that satisfy and stimulate the palate before dinner are both spicy and delicious. Love both over at our house. The cheddar chili biscuit is both sweet and hot with jalapeno peppers and a hint of sugar.It is a cross between a savory cookie and a biscuit. Caraway seeds and pecans give the next biscuit its unique flavor. Make a batch of either… or both plus some extras to freeze […]
Cream of Artichoke Soup
One of the better and most requested soups in my repertoire is Cream of Artichoke Soup. From my friends to my kids to my kids friends, everyone requests, Artichoke soup. Many people think that artichokes sound too exotic for them; but I have to say that they don’t know what they are missing. The soup is not heavy and has a lemony smooth flavor. The base of this soup is chicken stock. Most of the time I make my own […]
Sambusak
It has been over thirty years since my mother-in-law taught me how to make these wonderful savory pastries. Although labor intensive, when you gather family or friends for a morning of coffee and schmoozing, the process goes very quickly and the effort produces a delicious end product. A delicate pastry, this recipe calls for a savory filling and are called by a myriad of different names. The name usually depends on what country the pastry originated and what filling is used with […]
Stuffed Italian Artichoke
It seems a lot of my taste in food comes from my New Orleans upbringing. My family didn’t move to Atlanta until I was in my forties, so my Southern ways are strictly New Orleans sophisticated. I don’t mean to sound snobbish; but the quality of the food I was raised with was first rate and its recipes, way above a casserole made with mushroom soup. After moving to […]