There’s nothing like a good beef stew on a cold winter’s day to raise your spirits and tempt your taste buds. Chunks of tender beef swimming in a rich dark gravy surrounded by bright crispy carrots and homey potatoes. The trick to a good stew is time and flavorings. This recipe generously...

Nothing says lovin like something from the oven and  this classic Italian Pizza says it very well.  Bright red rich tomato sauce, redolent with the scent of fennel seed, basil, and garlic serves as the base.  Topped with sausage, spinach, onions, artichokes, and covered with creamy mozerella cheese. Use...

Roasting vegetables brings out their sweetness by caramelizing the sugars and concentrating the flavors. Choose firm blemish free vegetables that require about the same cooking time.  Choices include parsnips, which look and taste like white carrots, carrots, turnips, and rutabagas.  Rutabagas take...

When you think of french cooking what do you think of, herb wise that is? Using a blend of dried french herbs you make and store yourself adds flavor and saves time.  Your grocer most likely has all the ingredients you need.  However I love the San Francisco Herb Company which sells dried herbs in...

Valentine’s deserves a sensuous menu so we start with: Cold Shrimp Appetizer with spicy lemon dip Cooked jumbo shrimp – which is really an oxymoron, I mean shrimp means little and jumbo means big so… well I digress. 5 jumbo ( 12-15 per pound)  cooked shrimp per person. 1/2 cup of mayo...