Appetizers

Pumpkin Sourdough Crackers on a board with cheese and apples surrounded by fall leaves

Pumpkin Sourdough Crackers

Top these beautiful autumn inspired Pumpkin Sourdough Crackers with pumpkin seeds, black sesame seeds or even brown sugar to punctuate their seasonal appeal. Served with gruyere and thinly sliced apples or pears, these make a delicious appetizer or snack.

Sourdough Cracker Leaves on a wood tray garnished with a sprig of rosemary.

Sourdough Cracker Leaves

The addition of mature sourdough starter to these flatbread crackers adds an element of soul. There is an attractive artisanal quality to the large irregular cracker leaves, browned to a golden hue on the edges, flecked with choice bits of herb, cheese, seeds or salt on its surface.

Cowboy Caviar on a bed of angel hair cole slaw served on a square plate

Cowboy Caviar

Hi there! It’s been a long time, hasn’t it? There are probably at least a million reasons. For my part the last few years have involved distracting challenges with moving, health, business, politics, organization, technology, photography and Apple products, just to name a few…. but that’s not really what I […]

Pineapple Sweet Potato Salsa in Wonton Cup on small Japanese Plate.

Pineapple Sweet Potato Salsa

The flavors of Pineapple Sweet Potato Salsa are tropical and the colors are rich and warm: sunny yellow pineapple, deep orange sweet potato and crisp white flakes of coconut. Add a squeeze of lime, a touch of spice and a spoonful of honey for a lovely summer salsa.

Wonton Cups arranged on a white platter.

Wonton Cups

Wonton Cups are mild in flavor and commit to neither sweet nor savory. They blow with the prevailing winds and act as a vessel, a vehicle for whatever flavor your appetite is currently inclined toward. For an appealing appetizer, fill them with a sweet or spicy salsa, sweet jam or something of your own design.

Herb Spiced Olives with, rosemary, coriander and fennel seeds, served in a small red dish with breadsticks on the side.

Warm Spiced Olives

Simple and delicious, Warm Spiced Olives are completely delightful as a party snack or pre-dinner nibble. Wonderfully fragrant and meltingly tender these olives are infused with the lingering flavor of warm chiles and sweet fennel.

Wooden bowl filled with chestnuts in an evergreen wreath

Chestnut Roasting

The Christmas Song “Chestnuts roasting on an open fire, Jack Frost nipping at your nose….” ~ Torme and Wells My knowledge of chestnuts is forever colored by the work of two men: my grandfather and Johnny Mathis. Johnny Mathis provides the atmosphere. When I was small my mother had a […]

Spiced Chocolate Cream Cheese Spread with Sugar Cookies and served with a vintage spreader stamped with "Spread the Love".

Spiced Chocolate Cream Cheese Spread

A little brown sugar, along with cinnamon, chili and chocolate, adds an appealing hint of heat to velvety cool cream cheese. Top with chocolate curls and cocoa powder then serve with ginger snaps or shortbread cookies for a pretty deconstructed cheesecake to share with friends.

Fried Nuts with Rosemary

Rosemary in the Garden… As autumn approaches, rosemary has become the star of my garden. In my new yard in Tennessee the serpentine retaining wall near our small vegetable garden is topped with a row of five rosemary bushes. As the other herbs and vegetables begin to play out these […]