All Posts

~Classic Rotisserie Chicken Salad √ ~Cucumber and Chive Tea Sandwiches √ ~Salmon and Dill on Crisp Toast Rounds (Crostini) √ ~Orange Cranberry Scones √ ~Lemon and Cream Trifle ~Applewood Smoked Ham and Havarti Ciabatta Continuing our Series on Teatime at Home: Simple Elegance, the feature this week are Smoked Salmon Crostini, which have been made by my family, in one form or another, forever. You can use a baguette and put olive oil and toast it lightly, which is supergood

~Classic Rotisserie Chicken Salad √ ~Cucumber and Chive Tea Sandwiches √ ~Orange Cranberry Scones √ ~Salmon and Dill Bruschetta ~Lemon and Cream Trifle ~Applewood Smoked Ham and Havarti Ciabatta Continuing our Series on Teatime at Home: Simple Elegance, the feature this week are Orange Cranberry Scones for this very special Mother’s Day to honor those that have cared for us, guiding and nurturing us at our very best, and our worst. Through thick and thin, for every seas

~Classic Rotisserie Chicken Salad ~Cucumber and Chive Tea Sandwiches ~Salmon and Dill Bruschetta (Recipe to Come) ~Orange Cranberry Scones (Recipe to Come) ~Lemon and Cream Trifle (Recipe to Come) ~Applewood Smoked Ham and Havarti Ciabatta (Recipe to Come) Continuing our Series on Teatime at Home: Simple Elegance, the feature this week are Cucumber and Chive Tea Sandwiches, which are beautiful as well as incredibly versatile and can be served in far more settings than teatime

Chicken Salad has been as much a part of my life as any seafood that we made frequently from the Gulf Coast, be it shrimp, snapper, crabs, flounder, or catfish. Our chicken salad recipe was made by my mother, her mother before her, and eons back as far as I can remember. And this wasn’t just any chicken salad, mind you. This was a tradition for every holiday, Easter, Thanksgiving or Christmas. Then there were the family gatherings-reunions, birthdays, baby and wedding showers

Galveston beach and her eternal breeze whipped my hair as I entered the expansive grounds of the enchanting and stately hotel that rises along the seawall into The Grand Galvez. Known as “Queen of the Gulf” for generations, its Mediterranean elegance positively glows with renewed life after its renovations. On a perfect spring afternoon, several family members and I set out for The Grand Galvez. I was anxious to see the changes. From the outside, it was all classic Galvesto

Easter, for as long as I can remember, has been something we anticipated for weeks to arrive with the first hint of spring. Growing up in the South, the air was still cool, but you could feel summer waiting just around the corner. Our home would slowly transform as plans were made, menus discussed, and small traditions carefully carried out. Fresh flowers always found their way to the table, nothing overly fancy, but always arranged beautifully. We usually picked hydrangeas f

Spring feels like a breath of fresh air as I open windows all over the house. Bright sunlight abounds and birds chatter with cheerful song; the world outside begins to wake up again. In our family, spring means spending as much time as possible outdoors, walking through the yard to see what has survived winter, noticing the first green shoots pushing through the soil, and feeling invigorated. Gardening becomes one of our most joyful rites of the season, as garden beds are tur

Strawberry shortcake has long been one of those desserts that quietly marks the arrival of spring. The first bright red strawberries of the season are piled onto a yummy cake with clouds of whipped cream; the result is simple and satisfying. The sweet smell of berries mixed with cream instantly feels like a celebration of childhood with warmer days and the kind of dessert that brings everyone back to the kitchen for more! For many years in my family, strawberry shortcake was

Point Zero, the Center of Paris- Île de la Cité! You know the story, just like Groundhog Day, it’s 4:30 AM, I’m already awake, can’t return to sleep, and am in my polka-dot pajamas standing on my balcony. We’ve seen this movie before. After of days and days of not adjusting to European time, I’ve given it up. Besides, I like it out here on my balcony at this time of morning, I can look down and see the little store where last evening we bought breakfast fruit, plump apricot

Beef stroganoff was always a special dish at our house when I was a kid; still is! We salivated when mama started it, searing the meat, onions and fresh garlic sizzling in her big pot. We were a family of seven, so we always made it with hamburger meat, unlike the tenderloin I used in this recipe. No matter what the meat, this was a huge hit, one that always made daddy sit up and take notice. He was such a carnivore. For many years I used hamburger, making it for my family,

Well, Hello Paris, La Ville de la Lumiere-The City of Light! I still couldn’t believe it, Paris, oh, La La! Four-thirty AM, awake and alert, no joke! That time zone business still biting me, waking me long before the city stirred. My family was zonked like zoo animals, wrapped in flannel sheets and huge comforters, completely out. I stood on my balcony again, totally enthralled by the sleeping city, its indescribably enchanting and fetching life surrounded and captured, as br

Valentine’s Day is about doing something that you adore and making a moment in time, then sharing it with those that matter most to you. Food has always done that better than words alone. A shared meal is especially endearing, whether it’s made as a surprise or prepared together for that special occasion and served enthusiastically. This dinner was designed to feel meaningful and unfussy, the kind of meal that invites conversation and remains long after the plates are cleared

SCALLOPS & LIME CREAM SAUCE Description: Delicate scallops are lightly seared to keep them tender, then finished with a soft lime cream sauce that adds brightness without overpowering their sweetness. They have that zing that makes you want to sing! So, dig in and don’t fight, these lovely mollusks are good to the last bite! Ingredients: 2 pounds sea scallops 2 tablespoons olive oil 2 Tablespoons Tony Chacheres Creole Seasoning 1 cup heavy cream Zest of 1 lime 1 tablespoon fr

Key Lime Pie Recipe: Description: A classic, tart, and creamy pie that lets fresh lime shine, she’ll make a pie thief come out of the woodwork, so beware, and guard yours closely! Ingredients for Crust: 1½ cups graham cracker crumbs ⅓ cup sugar 6 tablespoons melted salted butter Directions for Crust: 1. Preheat oven to 350°F. 2. Combine graham cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter. 3. Press firmly into a 9-inch pie plate. 4. Bake crust for 8 minutes and let cool slightl

A smooth and scrumptious margarita with fresh lime and homemade simple syrup and a little Cointreau twist. Don’t expect a drop to be left, there never is! Simple Syrup: ½ cup sugar ½ cup water Margarita: 1-ounce Cointreau 1 or 2-ounces tequila 1-ounce fresh lime juice 1-ounce simple syrup Rim: 2 Teaspoons kosher salt 1 Teaspoon lime juice Directions: 1. Simmer sugar and water until dissolved; cool completely. 2. Shake Cointreau, tequila, lime juice, and simple syrup with ice

Few treats are as timeless and indulgent as fresh strawberries dipped in rich, glossy chocolate. With their stems left on, these berries are easy to dip, elegant to serve, and perfect for special occasions, celebrations, or sharing with family and friends. The contrast of juicy, slightly tart strawberries and smooth gourmet chocolate creates a dessert that is both luxurious and nostalgic. Our family is wild about these simple berries dipped in milk chocolate or semi-sweet cho

Well hello Paris, Bonjour! You’d think I would’ve slept like a baby, but I couldn’t contain my excitement, yes, you got me, awake again at four AM and sneaking a peek out our Paris Balcony! I’d grown fond of the little store across the street and three stories down, I made up reasons to go in there, in some ways, it was like a 7-11, but it had its own little charm. Part of the reason was out front of the store, there were the most beautiful fresh rosy-red raspberries, plumb b

Well goodbye London, Hello Paris, Bonjour! Once again, I find myself awake at four AM, ready to explore. I burrowed into my covers, adjusting them to keep warm while reflecting on yesterday’s great adventure. From the moment we woke, we were on the move, visiting countless amazing landmarks. Here are a few highlights: a few highlights: (references from Wikipedia). The Palace of Westminster The Palace of Westminster is a masterpiece of dramatic spires and pointed arches. Know

Well, hello again London! I woke slowly, realizing we were still in London, its pageantry and grace charming us everywhere we looked. Yesterday we explored Paddington Station, its glamour, neighborhood spirit and transportation history stamped in time, opening in 1854 and designed by Isambard Brunel. It was also the home of a most adorable bear, Paddington, featured in numerous books and movies. Our visit to Notting Hill was just as memorable with storybook streets, candy

Well, hello London! I woke up hours before my family, it was dark outside, the booming fireworks from the night before settled in over me, we were celebrating the New Year in Europe! After arriving the day before, and an all-night flight, jet lag yanked the rug out from under us as we stayed up, not napping from our 7:30 AM flight on New Year’s Eve. That morning, we had been all in for visiting the world famous Borough Market, tasting, window-shopping and soaking up the w