Heirloom Tomato Salad with Bocconcini and Basil

June 22, 2011.   Categories Appetizers, Chef Viviane Banquet Farre, Favorites, Salads, Seasonal Vegetables, Summer, Vegetarian.

Heirloom Tomato Salad with Bocconcini and Basil

“Perfectly vine-ripened seasonal sweet tomatoes with melt-in your mouth mozzarella and a spicy olive oil command the attention of your taste buds.” This is how Chef Viviane Bauquet Farre describes one of her favorite seasonal salads she makes at least once a week when tomatoes are ripe and in season. Fresh, simple and healthy… this salad will become one of your summer favorites too. Be sure to visit Viviane’s website...

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The Best Brined Buttermilk Fried Chicken

June 15, 2011.   Categories Comfort Food, Favorites, Poultry.

The Best Brined Buttermilk Fried Chicken

I’ve made fried chicken using lots of recipes.  In recent years, the recipe that gets the most rave reviews is the one by Thomas Keller in his best-selling cookbook, Ad Hoc at Home. The recipe has become as famous as his restaurant in Yountville, California that inspired the gorgeous cookbook. Keller’s trick is a very flavorful lemon-herbed brine solution that he soaks the chicken in for 20-24 hours. It really adds a lot of...

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Spicy Lemongrass Chicken Soup

January 22, 2011.   Categories Appetizers, Comfort Food, Favorites, Light / Healthy, Poultry, Soups.

Spicy Lemongrass Chicken Soup

  It’s that time of year…. everyone in our house (except me – – knock on wood) is sick with a miserable cold virus that is making its way through Colorado.  My husband is the latest victim so I decided to make him a soup with enough nutrition and jalapeno spice to knock out the cold. This is easy to make and you can add whatever veggies you desire. The broth is delicious and packed with the nutrients of fresh,...

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Creamy San Marzano Tomato Soup

January 22, 2011.   Categories Appetizers, Favorites, Soups, Vegetarian.

Creamy San Marzano Tomato Soup

The best tomato soup recipe with San Marzano Tomatoes: Being the friend of a food blogger has it’s benefits…. but it sometimes has a price of not being able to dig into the food right away.  Many times I’ll be in the middle of serving food and will think “I should really put this recipe on the blog…” I grab the camera and instruct the famished friend to just wait a couple seconds while I snap a photo. ...

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Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Grilled Jalapenos

February 5, 2010.   Categories Appetizers, Favorites, Smoking / Grilling.

Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Grilled Jalapenos

Stuffed Bacon Wrapped Grilled Jalapenos Ingredients:   12 large Jalapenos 2-3 oz of cream cheese, softened 1/4 cup Machego or jack cheese, shredded 1/2 cup very sharp cheddar cheese, shredded 16 slices of bacon *you could also use goat cheese or feta as a variation* Step 1:  After washing peppers, cut off the tops and carefully clean out the seeds and ribs.   Rinse with water again and dry. Normally when working with chiles I...

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