From the category archives:

Breakfast and Brunch

Avocado Toast with Furikake and Shichimi

August 11, 2016

Ah, avocado toast… what used to be a simple fast breakfast has become a trend featured in magazines and available on restaurant menus. With a fried egg on top, of course.
So I decided to give you my take on avocado toast. Drizzled with soy sauce and sprinkled with Furikake or Shichimi. Avocado and soy sauce [...]

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Summer Party Appetizer Board

July 1, 2016

The 4th of July is just a few days away and I am greatly looking forward to it. This is the one summer holiday where our whole family congregates, if they’re anywhere nearby, szroom, like the ends of two magnets. From babies to nonegenarians, a big jumble of folks related by love and DNA. Actually, [...]

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Egg.Onion.Potato

May 2, 2016

I whipped up this plate of food for lunch one day and had no intention of writing about or shooting it. I had served it on one of my plates I usually use as a prop, thinking this fanciness would make me feel just so special. Well, it looked so beautiful that I decided to [...]

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French Breakfast Puffs

February 27, 2016

I first made French Breakfast Puffs around 1959 from my Mom’s Betty Crocker Cookbook. I guess that means I have been making them regularly for 57 years. I’d say it has to be a pretty damn good recipe to be kept in a cook’s repertoire for that long, and still be thoroughly enjoyed every single [...]

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Pumpkin Roll Cake with Cream Cheese Filling

November 14, 2015

Thanksgiving is in two weeks and I am still working out my menu. But, for sure, this Pumpkin Roll Cake with Cream Cheese Filling will be one of the desserts. It looks cool, it has that creamy sweet middle, and it’s pumpkin-y. Oh yes. I found this recipe on the inside of the label on [...]

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Scallion Pancakes Korean-Style with Lemon Soy Dipping Sauce

September 28, 2015

I have found that sometimes I would really like to have a snack that has interesting textures and complex taste that is sweet, salty, sour and spicy. Do you ever get that craving, too? Well, scallion pancakes with lemon soy dipping sauce totally and exactly fills those requirements. Aren’t you the lucky one to find [...]

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Nectarine & Corn Salad with Lime Ginger Cilantro Vinaigrette

August 30, 2015

Stone fruit and corn on the cob are piled high at the market now, celebrating the last soft days of summer. I wanted to create a salad using these wonderful foods with a zippy vinaigrette to complement their sweet flavors. According to my family members, I succeeded, in spades.

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Corn Pancakes with Almond Red Pepper Romesco

July 13, 2015

Romesco, Romesco. Wherefore art thou, Romesco?
Ooops, I was getting a little silly there. I’m over it now. Continuing on….
Romesco sauce originated in Tarragona, Catalonia, in northeastern Spain. Fishermen made this sauce to eat with fish, but once made, it can be used in salads, with grilled veggies, meat, chicken, stirred into fish stews, tossed with [...]

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Shrimp & Cheesy Grits with Bacon & Tomatoes

April 29, 2015

It was once again time to go through the pantry and check all the expiration dates, resulting in a number of Bob’s Red Mill grains that I need to use up pretty soon. White rice flour, spelt berries, semolina flour, wheat germ and corn grits. Don’t you just love Bob’s Red Mill products? I [...]

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Picadillo with Green Olives and Raisins

March 3, 2015

The first time I ate Picadillo was in 1972. I had some neighbors from Costa Rica who invited me over for dinner, and served a diced potato and minced steak picadillo, sort of like hash. I didn’t know much about cooking back in those days, so my memory of dinner isn’t crystal clear. It was [...]

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Arepas ~ Venezuelan Corn Flour Flatbreads

February 13, 2015

All of us, at one time or another, have had food made from ground corn, be it cornbread, corn tortillas, tortilla chips, tamales or polenta. In my pantry there is a new kid on the block called pre-cooked white maize meal or “harina de maiz blanco precocida”, which is what I used to make [...]

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Fennel Romano Coins & Salad Greens with Buttermilk Sriracha Dressing

September 19, 2014

Did you know that September 7th was Grandparents Day? Yes, I’m sure you all did. But here I am, a grandmother 3 times, and I’m without a clue. As usual. But the wonderful thing was, it coincided with me meeting my new granddaughter, Coralina (Coco for short), for the first time. She was born March [...]

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Scotch Eggs with Garlic Butter Parmesan Fries

June 29, 2014

The signature or national dish of a country or state or city can be counted on to be interesting and delicious, because it has been around for ages and has been perfected by numerous cooks. A whole country can’t be wrong, can it? Unfortunately I am not going to be able to visit every country, [...]

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“Croque-Madame” Brunch Gratin with Asparagus & Prosciutto from Grace-Marie’s Kitchen

April 15, 2014

“Croque-Madame” Brunch Gratin was the entrée recipe for the Easter Family Brunch class at Grace-Marie’s Kitchen at Bristol Farms in Manhattan Beach last week. I have to say, this Gratin was one of the best things I have eaten recently, with buttery crusted bread topped with Swiss cheese, prosciutto, asparagus, béchamel and a beautiful egg [...]

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Brunch Roasted Shrimp & Pineapple Salad from Grace-Marie’s Kitchen and A 20 Year Anniversary

April 12, 2014

Easter Family Brunch was the theme of the Lunch With Friends class at Grace-Marie’s Kitchen at Bristol Farms in Manhattan Beach last week. Who doesn’t look forward to a holiday brunch, with delicious dishes set out on the board and you get to fill your plate to your heart’s content and your tummy’s satisfaction. The [...]

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