In France, Croque Madame is a toasted ham and cheese sandwich with the addition of a simple white cream sauce and fried egg. The Croque Monsieur is the same, but without the egg. This creamy, cheesy, slightly salty, flavorful French delight originated in French cafés and bars as a quick snack or lunch. Typically, Emmental…
Tag: Cooking
Haunted Ginger Bread House with Template! Do You Dare??
While grave-digging recently, I came across this stunning, spooky beauty from Oh Sugar Events. Oh sure I could make one in time for Halloween and post it on Once Upon a Spice 😉 RIGHT! So instead, I decided to post the lovely images along with the template (at the bottom) for you–I dug long and deep…
Pasta alla Carbonara Una Pentola “One Pot” Version & a little history
We all know what pasta embodies, but have you ever wondered what “carbonara” means? Carbonaro means charcoal in Italian, but to this day, the connection to this savory, flavorsome dish remains uncertain. Some food historians believe this pasta may have been popular among charcoal makers working in the Apennine Mountains; or perhaps it is called…
Golden Lemony 4th of July Potato Salad Featuring Dijon & Dill
This creamy slightly piquant salad is paired with the rich, sweet, soft texture and pleasant aroma of dill and spicy Dijon; kissed with white wine and seasonings. It makes the perfect traveling or stay at home picnic fare. Alongside fried or barbecued chicken, or anything grilled, you have a complete culinary celebration. Delectable! Ingredients: 3…
A Real Twinkie Cupcake Recipe…Experience the Difference
Twinkie Cupcakes In the wake of yesterday’s post about the history of America’s beloved Twinkie, of course I had to offer a recipe to follow the blog. I chose cupcakes because they were the most similar tasting to pop culture’s spongy, cream-filled cakes. The addition of the Princess cake emulsion is what truly gives them…
Mexican Refried Beans & Yellow Rice: The Real Deal
Well, we’ve spent the week gathering some scrumptious Mexican main dishes, but where are the recipes for the “not to be denied sides?” Today we dedicate the day to just that, or those 🙂 We’ve all opened up a can of refried beans to find a pasty, cylinder shaped, tasteless, bland blob of? Squeezed and…
France: Food, Wine, Culture & Cooking
We are dedicating this week to enchanting, romantic and mesmerizing France. While my concentration will be on food and recipes, I found it fitting to first offer some interesting facts about “la République française.” Also known informally as “l’hexagone” (the hexagon) because of the general form of the country. To not only whet the palate,…
Traditional Southern Red Velvet Cake with Heritage Frosting
This is Mama Carmela’s cherished recipe for Red Velvet Cake with Heritage frosting. Perfection takes a bit of time, but this is an easy to follow, classic, Southern cake, made with love and tastes outrageous; well worth the little bit of extra effort! It is incredibly delicious with cream cheese or cooked heritage frosting—my choice…
Southern Smothered Chicken Breasts with Onion Gravy & Food Facts of the Old South
This week’s recipes will be dedicated to the Rich South where regional cuisine developed local food supplies and blended with the varied cultural backgrounds of its cooks. The rural agricultural South produced vegetables, fruits, nuts, rice and corn. Game was plentiful: deer, rabbits, squirrels, birds and ducks of all kinds. Oysters, crabs, shrimp, saltwater and…
Tom Kha Gai: The Best Thai Coconut Chicken Soup
This amazing, immune boosting soup offers bona fide, bold, and delicious Thai flavors that make it totally irresistible! This is the best Thai coconut soup I’ve had the pleasure of experiencing. It’s simple to put together and takes mere minutes to prepare. Toss in a few de-veined shrimp the last 2 minutes if you wish….
Once Upon a Spice 