A Savory Moment by Life At The Table

Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Brandy, Mushroom, and Thyme Cream Sauce   Melodic and flavorful.   Why do we all love the sound of their names as well as the taste of herbs?   “ Scarborough Fair ”, an old English ballad forever immortalized four herbs in its refrain, parsley, sage, rosemary, and thyme.   Many thanks to Simon & Garfunkel who recorded this song in 1968.Why Parsl...

Rethink the Division of Work at Mealtime There was a time in our not-so-distant past when mom prepared, served, AND cleaned up after a meal while the family waited, dined, and departed from the table. It’s just the way things were. Oh my, how times have changed. It’s time to rethink the division of work at mealtime.   Times Have Changed Today’s dynamics of home life have changed with wo...

Saffron Couscous with Golden Raisins and Toasted Almonds To keep from getting bored in the kitchen you have to mix up your cooking repertoire. As a chef, I love and appreciate food from every part of the world. Today, let’s take a trip around the globe and explore couscous.   What is Couscous? You may wonder, “What exactly is couscous ?” Well, you may be surprised to learn that technically, i...

How To Manage Leftovers Effectively   Have you ever wondered how to manage leftovers effectively? Well done! You’ve cooked and enjoyed a delicious meal! Hmmm. Now what to do? You poured your heart and soul into this creation and the table experience. From the moment you organized the ingredients, through the preparation, the serving and then to the best part, feeding yourself and your hungry...

Colcannon   The next time you have a potato in your pantry and are wondering what to do with it. Think about Colcannon. It’s a traditional Irish potato dish that will make your tastebuds dance a jig.   The Background of Colcannon The name, “colcannon”, comes from a Gaelic word, “cál ceannann”, which means “white headed cabbage”. It’s a classic Irish dish that’s made with potatoes and cab...

Potatoes and the Irish Famine Hashbrowns, french fries, mashed, or bake. Potatoes are a classic favorite all around the world. These starchy tubers have a preparation style for just about every meal. Today, let’s shine a little light on a very sad moment in the history of the potato, specifically, what happened with potatoes and the Irish Famine.   The Great Famine Let’s travel back to 1840s...

  Looking to break away from your typical spaghetti dinner? Need something simple and tasty to serve on a school night? Want a dish that will impress everyone at the table as soon as they take their first bite? Baked ziti with Italian sausage is the perfect choice for you!   A Little History Baked ziti, or “ziti al forno” has an interesting history. From as early as the renaissance, bake...

The History Of Pasta: As Cloudy as Your Pasta Water A creamy fettucine alfredo . Zesty marinara or penne . Or some fresh pesto on angel hair noodles. I love them all!  I guess you could say that I have a “sauce spot” for pasta. Where did all these variations come from? Let’s take a take a look at the delicious theories of the history of pasta. Think of the Pasta-bilities If you’re searching for a...

Sautéed Brussels Sprouts A bad experience with Brussels sprouts can give people the wrong idea about a vegetable that’s not only nutritious, but believe it or not, is also very delicious. Have you ever tried sautéed Brussels sprouts with bacon? Brussels Sprouts Are From Brussels You might be less than surprised to learn that Brussels sprouts were first cultivated in Belgium and named after i...

Elevate Your Cooking Game By Using Kosher Salt Ceremonial purifier or flavor enhancer? This important mineral has been part of society and culture—and mealtime—for centuries. Yes, I’m talking about salt. It’s most familiar to us as a flavor enhancer to be used from a shaker on the table. But throughout history, salt has played an important role in culture, from curses to currency. In today’s...

Stout Beer Braised Chuck Roast A complete meal considers everything that’s on the plate and what’s next to it. From raising your fork to your lips with that first bite, to hoisting your glass in a toast to good company, everything on the table contributes to this experience. So how do you pour more flavor into your meal? With beverages, either thoughtfully paired with the meal or used as an ingred...

The marketing slogan, “ Beef—it’s what’s for dinner ,” has been around for a generation or more. Every time I hear Sam Elliot’s baritone voice I long for a good, juicy cut of red meat. But, do you know the health benefits of eating beef? Not only does it taste good, but it has health benefits as well! We’re Eating More Meat According the USDA, meat consumption is the highest its been in 50 years ....

Whether it’s cold or warm out, chocolate is always a nice treat. Today, let’s talk about a hot chocolate recipe to warm the soul – in fact, it will warm both the body and the soul! Some Cool History for the Hot Drink Hot chocolate’s rich flavor is paired with a rich history that goes back 3,000 years, when the Mayans are thought to have first created it. It spread from Mexico to Europe...

Feeling guilty for giving into your sweet tooth?   We’ve all been there!   Allow me to calm your conscience as we talk about the health benefits of dark chocolate.   Yes, the health benefits of chocolate! The Rich History Chocolate is derived from the seeds of the cacao trees. And chocolate has a history that goes all the way back to early Mesoamerica.   It’s popularity skyrocketed when Europeans...

This is the story of how the black-eyed pea transformed from lowly cow fodder to good luck on New Year’s Day.   Gain Prosperity From Your Plate   Let’s set the scene from my growing up years. It’s January 1st. The frost on the windows indicates that it’s the prime time for warm, yummy, comfort foods. On New Year’s Day this always meant sweet and simple things, like hot chocolate, fresh c...

Want to be fluent in a variety of traditions on this Christmas Day? There’s no better place to start than at the dinner table!  This day has special meaning around the globe. And it’s the ultimate family holiday when it comes to tradition and mealtime. This means there is a wide, and sometimes surprising variety of Christmas foods served in celebration. It’s like each culture expresses their joy f...

It’s that time again! Holiday banquets and dinners are on the agenda at every turn. If you’re looking for a new recipe to add to your yearly festive feasts, borrow an old favorite from my family for your holiday table, sweet and sour green beans.   The Making of a Tradition One of the best things about holidays is traditions. Especially when it comes to cooking and eating. One example that I...

Traditions like cooking a special dessert or decorating the tree together, are what make the festive months both fun and meaningful.   Establish and enjoy holiday traditions at the table to create memories that will last a lifetime with family and friends.   The Tradition of Traditions Every holiday has its own set of traditions at the center of the festivities. This is especially true for ce...

Like salsa dancing , salsa, the food we tuck into with our chips,  comes in many styles, steps, and beats. Here’s a new salsa twist on the holiday season – cranberry salsa.   Little Known Facts About Cranberries One fact about cranberries you may not know is that cranberries bounce . And another name for cranberries is the bounce berry. They also float because theres’s a small pocket of...

The holidays are upon us! Don’t get bogged down with the cooking, gift wrapping, and cleaning house. Instead, let’s enjoy the beauty of the season. For example, we could offer up a cheer for the festive cranberry! You’ve seen them in the store and at holiday gatherings in some shape or form. Many of you, like me, may have grown up thinking cranberries come in the shape of a number 10 can. Th...

In the heart of Cleveland, OH, sits a non-descript house in an equally non-descript working-class neighborhood. It’s a home with a famous past and a legendary leg lamp lighting the front window. It’s the house where the movie “A Christmas Story” was filmed.   The Christmas Story House After years of disrepair it’s been restored to its previous glory and is now open for tours year ‘round. A fe...

With roots that date back to the times of Attila the Hun and the fall of the  Roman Empire, this delicious dish is a modern day favorite. Today, let’s explore the history of meatloaf.   Going Back to the Start – The History of Meatloaf Let’s travel back in time to the fifth century. This time is rich with migration, political frenzy, and discovery. In the midst of all the chaos, the Roman coo...

  The festive holiday months are upon us and with them comes some of my favorite things – family, fun, and food. So, i f you’re looking for a dish to catch eyes and please palates, make my scrumptious goat cheese and sage stu ff ed mushrooms for your holiday soiree!   A Stuffed Mushroom Dish for Your Next Soiree I know that in my family, finding just the right dish for a family hol...

  Lions’ Manes, Porcinis, Maitakes, oh my!   Let’s get to work understanding the mushroom: from lowly fungus to nutrition powerhouse. Don’t Let the Misconceptions Scare You Away Mushrooms can catch a bad rap. I know that whenever I was young and these weed-like toadstools would appear in my front yard, my mother told me to stay away. Why on earth would I eat them now? It is true that som...

Lying in the hallway of the emergency room, the policeman who had worked my wrecked leaned over me and said, “You know you’d be dead if you hadn’t been wearing your seatbelt.” This moment helped me learn about giving thanks on thanksgiving.   Life’s Surprising Moments Are Not Always Pleasant Following a collision from behind on the freeway, my 2000 4- Runner was airborne with my back wh...