Grilled Chicken Berry & Glazed Pecan Fruit Salad

NOTE: Chicken is fully cooked, but the raspberry vinaigrette makes it look pink in the photos…sorry 🙂 I’ve been making these salads for years and have recently noticed an unnamed fast food chain has added something similar to their menu. Not to seem snobbish, but there is NO comparison between my homemade version and theirs….

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Guest Chef Wednesday! Miriam Shěn’s Delectable 15 minute Egg Fried Rice

Today’s beautiful recipe is compliments of my dear friend Miriam Shěn. She and I met years ago in college and our bond was instant and permanent. Among many similarities, we share the same passions about our family’s cultures and deep love of cooking. Miriam is Japanese American by culture, but met her husband, a native…

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Spices:  The Mystical Magic Potions, Top 10 Kitchen Essentials & More!

If the appearance of spices were to reflect their real importance in the history of the world, the bottles of spices would be filled with brilliant sparkling substances such as diamonds, rubies, emeralds and gold. When you open each bottle, a whiff of vibrantly colored, mystically fragrant, magical smoke would slowly billow softly throughout the…

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Sicilian Sausage & Alfredo Cheese Braided Pizza Bread

Another Saturday Night Special at home! I’ve converted Mama Carmela’s ham bread recipe into a “busy chef” version using Alfredo sauce as the base and also for dipping. Most pizzerias will sell pounds of their dough to the public. Find your favorite place and ask for a couple of pounds. This luscious bread is best…

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Balsamic Glaze: The Mysterious Dark Decedent Dynamic Drizzler…

Balsamic glaze is just an elaborate way of saying “reduced balsamic vinegar” and is also known as “reduction.”  It’s a very simple way to add a lot of flavor to dishes without adding a lot of extra calories or fat. Trader Joe’s offers an excellent brand or you can make your own by simply reducing down…

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Strawberry Shortcake Cupcakes

These charming, petite, portable shortcakes are an ideal treat for family get-togethers, parties, BBQs, bridal showers or even an afternoon tea. They are very easy to put together and the secret is to place fresh sliced berries in between the frosting—the sweetness from the frosting serves as the sugar for these luscious cakes so no macerating…

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Quattro Formaggio—4 Cheese Pizza Margherita

  The intense flavors of this luscious pizza can stand up to any meat-packed version; the marriage of the essences of these 4 appetizing cheeses are like no other combination. Plus, the subtle flavors of fresh basil and oregano compliment this pie to new heights!  Vegetarian pizza at its finest! Ingredients 1/4 cup extra virgin…

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