Contrary to its name, allspice is not a combination of spices, but an individual spice. It is the dried berry of a tree in the myrtle family. The berries are slightly larger than peppercorns. Their aroma is akin to that of cloves, cinnamon and nutmeg combined. It was the British that gave the berries...
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Black Bean Plantain Empanadas
Black bean plantain empanadas is what you might call an unusual combination of ingredients. It is a perfect vegan dish. I am not a vegan or even a vegetarian by the way, but find these empanadas absolutely irresistible. You can stuff an empanada with just about anything, creativity is your friend. I have adapted this recipe...
Nigella Seeds
Nigella? Nigel's twin sister? Nigella Lawson? NO!!! Read on..... Nigella seeds are a small and ancient oblong seed believed to be native to the Mediterranean. Through the whims of nature and steady commercial trade they have spread throughout North Africa, Southern Europe and Eastern Asia. Nigella seeds are the seeds of Nigella Sativa, an annual...
Saffron
Saffron, considered one of the world's most expensive spices ( $1000-$1500 per pound) comes from the crocus sativa, a wild crocus which grows predominantly in mild Mediterranean climates. You might ask yourself, What makes saffron so expensive? Well, the expense is the result of its labor intensive harvesting process, low yield, and a slow growing time. ...
Mint Julep Recipe - How to Muddle and Mix
Mint Juleps are the drink of choice at the Kentucky Derby. The Kentucky Derby odds might not be in your favor, but mint juleps will. They are delicious and need only a few ingredients: bourbon, water, sugar and mint. Please note the following: I do not own a traditional silver mint julep cup and neither...
Prosciutto
On a cold and snowy March morning (we live in the frigid north) my husband and I had the pleasure to meet Marc Berarducci, a talented chef with 25 years of experience in Italian and European cooking. Marc is also the author of two cookbooks : My Old World Kitchen: Some of my Favorite Italian...
Blue Margarita
Feeling blue? Well say good bye to your funk and try my Blue Margaritas! The intense blue lagoon color will make you think that you are on vacation even if you are not. Blue Margaritas are a nice alternative to the common Margarita we all know and love. [feast_advanced_jump_to] You might not find Blue Margaritas...
The Aunt Lou Recipe Archives from Post World War I America
This section of my blog is dedicated to one of my husband’s relatives- Aunt Lou. It is a way for us to share with you family recipes that were until recently hidden in the cobwebs (okay, a Ziploc bag in the pantry) of time. You will find the ingredients are simple, and the recipes...