French Cheese, there is simply nothing like it! One of my favorite things to do is wander around the excellent cheese shops in France. Did you know that there are over 400 types of cheese? Within these varieties, there are different aging periods making the actual number of choices closer to 1,600!! No wonder cheese ... Read more
Paris Windows & Trends for Fall One of my favorite things to do while in Paris is to look for trends, it feels like a throwback to my first career in apparel design. Many of you probably already know that this was my first trip back to France in exactly 3 years. This time I ... Read more
Leeks are an underused vegetable. Did you know that leeks are loaded with antioxidants that fight inflammation? If you have not heard by now, inflammation in the body is something we all need to pay attention to. Inflammation can cause all kinds of illnesses and can cause our cells to age. Leeks also contain cancer-fighting ... Read more
Did you ever start a project and a few hours in think, OK, am I crazy? I have! More than once if I'm being honest. Some of you that attend regular cooking classes know that my husband Mark, goes salmon fishing in Alaska most summers. Last year, I had the idea that while he was ... Read more
How to Cook the BEST Bacon Did you ever wonder why things taste so good at restaurants? It's because they have a few tricks up their sleeve! I was chatting one time with one of my favorite restaurant chefs' and he gave me the secret to the very BEST bacon! And now I am going ... Read more
Sometimes you need an easy one-dish dinner to feed a crowd. Am I right? I developed this Green Chili Chicken Casserole recipe for an article I wrote for TexasLiving Magazine called Elevated Casseroles. The word casserole often conjures up childhood memories of the same 3-4 dishes served in regular intervals and stuffed with things like ... Read more
Stains Be Gone Now and then you come across a product that changes your life. I discovered Carbona stain cleaners after reading a book describing how the French household is set up including a long chapter on laundry. The French have access to many solvents and cleansers that we can't get in the United States ... Read more
Have you ever seen anything more beautiful than this Lemon Tart? The perfectly fluted crust, golden color, and the garnish of lemon slices **tiny daisies, and mint leaves let you know it's something special. Tarts are one of my favorite French food classifications. I like to make savory tarts, like my recent Ratatouille Tart, ideal ... Read more
Apricot Prosciutto Appetizer Recipe My Apricot Prosciutto Appetizers are full of fresh flavor and can be made in a matter of minutes. The appeal of these scrumptious morsels depends on fantastic fruit; so, select apricots that are sweet and juicy for this one. Can't find the ideal apricots? Then choose my personal favorite, nectarines, or ... Read more
What is Bastille Day anyway? In America, we celebrate our independence on July 4th, and in France, they celebrate Bastille Day in a similar fashion. On July 14th, 1789, the Bastille, a medieval fortress, used as a state prison, was attacked by an angry mob, freeing the prisoners held there. This act is seen as a ... Read more
