I enjoy learning about the holiday traditions of other cultures, especially when they involve food. Latkes are the traditional food of Hanukkah. The oil they are fried in is symbolic of the oil that was used during the celebration of the Macabeeʼs victory in reclaiming the Temple after it was desecrated by the Romans. Tradition states that although they had enough olive oil ...
Appetizers and Dips
Caprese Salad- Tomato and Basil Celebration
I love it that we have such an extended growing season here in Florida. Though many gardens are no longer abundant with basil, our local community garden is so I thought I would make this simple salad over the holidays. If you don't have basil growing in your area, you can usually find it fresh at your local farmer's market or grocery store. Once you get the hang of ...
Blueberry Balsamic Salad with Goat Cheese Croutons
One of the things I love most about gardening is out ability to grow plenty of beautiful baby greens in a small area. These fresh picked leaves are fresher, sweeter, and healthier than anything you can find in a store and my kids eat with enthusiasm what they have helped grow. Sometimes it felt like I was getting stuck in a routine with my salad dressings. I kept making ...
Poinsettia Cheese Torta
A few years ago I started making a layered cheese dip that was perfect for the Christmas season because of its colors: red, green, and white. In addition to making an incredibly beautiful presentation with the poinsettia-like flower on top, this was also very delicious and fabulous to make in advance. By layering sun dried tomatoes and fresh basil leaves on the bottom of your ...
Classic Hot Cheese Dip
With December upon us, so starts the season of entertaining and parties. Often we need a quick, economical appetizer idea and it is nice to find one that uses seasonal ingredients. Onions provide the perfect medium for this cheesy option. If you want to really mix things up you can top the dip with nuts, add your favorite herb, seafood, or another vegetable. It is delicious ...
