Lager Pulled Pork with Herby Olivio Biscuits

Winter is here and that means it is time to cook up some comfort! With a polar vortex looming around New England this week, pulled pork and herby biscuits are calling our name.  This slow cooked, bone-in pork butt is loaded with flavor thanks to a tasty rub and a bottle of our good friend Sam Adams. […]

Winter Rinktum Ditty

Whether you are staying close to the fire this New Year’s Eve or planning your next Game Day Menu, this heritage dish speaks Winter Comfort all the way.  This is an early New England dish with a name the kids will love to say.  “Come on Kids!  Get your Rinktum Ditty!” I mean, I love it […]

Fleur de l’Orange Christmas Cakes

Citrus is such a wonderful flavor to celebrate during the winter months.  I call this cake Fleur de l’Orange because of the layers of orange flavor.  The orange juice and Cointreau are forefront and the zest and Olivio Extra Virgin Olive Oil add fragrance, spice and a story.  I chose to use extra virgin olive oil because […]

Candy Apple “Nachos” for your Little Turkeys

Candy Apples are a favorite treat for us this time time of year.  While these Candy Apple “Nachos” are still finger lickin’ good, we have taken some of the commitment out of biting into a whole apple by serving these as wedges with all of you favorite fixings.  We made Olivio’s Salted Caramel for a […]

Buttermilk Chive Spoon Bread aka Pilgrim Soufflé

Part savory custard,  part polenta, think of this as “Soufflé Americana”.  Delicious and hearty, the corn meal is wonderful staple of the season.  The chives and buttermilk brighten this nostalgic side and the goodness of Mediterranean Olive Oil in the Olivio Buttery Spread keep your heart health in mind.  Now that is something to be thankful […]

3 Compound Buttery Spread Ideas for the Holiday

Note: “Compound” does not mean “complicated”.  Infact, these delicious additions to your Holiday spread are anything but… Easy and packed with flavor and the goodness of Mediterranean Olive Oil, we made our Holiday assortment of compound butters this year using Olivio Buttery Spread.  Whip with a variety of herbs, fruits and spices, reshape  into logs […]

Ghosts, Goblins and Spookalicious Wings

We love having friends and neighbors back to our place to warm up after a chilly night of Trick or Treating in the neighborhood.  These Spookalicious Wings make for the perfect casual snack that will certainly please the kid in all of us.  Sweet, sour and packed with a little heat, these are made with […]

Mulled Cider Duffins for the People

DUFFIN: noun, a breakfast treat (or any time you need a pick-me-up snack) made with the ingredients and flavor of a donut, prepared with the technique of a muffin; fabulous and better for you! Baked, not fried and basted with Olivio and cinnamon sugar, these Mulled Cider Duffins satisfy any Leaf Peepers craving 🙂  Mini […]

Bubbling Black Plum Crisp

Crisp Autumn air is a call to the kitchen for me.  The delightful yet chaotic summer schedule is replaced by a welcomed structure and my little family finds a fresh routine.  My orange clove candles are lit, cider is mulling, the millet is planted at the front door and I’m diggin’ harvest season!   Living on the […]

Simple Summer Steak and Potatoes ~ Fire up the Grill!

I love simple food with big flavor!  Grilling wins my heart every time with its ability to elevate great ingredients and limit the time I spend in the kitchen.  AJ and I really stepped up our grill-game in collaboration with Fire Magic Grill.  If you are in the market for a state-of-the-art grill, this beauty is a work […]

Watermelon Mojitos …for the ‘Rents

AJ shook up this rockin’ Mojito at the peak of summer last year.  At the time, I was 28 weeks pregnant. (By omitting the rum, this drink makes a fantastic MOCK-tail that certainly delighted this Baby Mama!)  Back by popular demand, and with rum in-tow this summer, we are ready to toast the sun, the […]

Master Your Holiday Meal!

‘Tis the season for big family dinners and holiday entertaining!  Are  you hosting this year?  If you are looking for some last minute inspiration for your holiday meals, check out the Master Your Holiday Meals web cooking series that Brian Dunn, Corporate Development Chef at Roche Bros and I put together with 5 home cooks across Massachusetts! […]

Fennel Risotto with Saffron Wine Reduction and Seared Phillips Grouper ~ The International Restaurant and Food Service Show of New York

AJ and I had were honored to be invited up on the Main Stage as presenters at the International Restaurant and Food Service Show of New York at Javits Convention Center last weekend.  We had a blast doing what we love to do best together… cooking and dishing about MasterChef:)  With over 18,000 attendees and […]

Panko Crusted Sicilian Olives with Herbed Goat Cheese

Hot olives, creamy goat cheese and a crisp panko crust?  Yes, I’m in love.  Go beyond the cheese board and crudite- think hot, toasty amuse bouche and give your guests an extra bite that says you were expecting them.   We all know the kitchen (no matter the size) is the favorite hang out in […]

Turkey Sage Meatballs with Cranberry Glaze

This app is a shout out to the Queen Bird and her favorite Berry.  As AJ and I will be heading down to Connecticut to celebrate with the in-laws this year, we wanted to have a little get-together with some friends up in Boston.  Pavlov got it right…there is something about the flavors of the […]

Pan Roasted Monkfish with Siena Farms Summer Vegetables

Monkfish, or  “poor man’s lobster”, came in our Cape Ann Fresh Catch CSF this week!  Monkfish are opportunistic feeders and have a sweet tooth for shrimp, shellfish and sand eels.  The flavor  is rich, sweet and succulent reminiscent of lobster, without the hassle of a shell.  The texture of the meat is more firm than […]

Lime Infused Watermelon Cubes with Minted Feta

Guilty pleasure confession: I love to sit with an entire, chilled watermelon half on my lap and chow.  Give me a spoon and 15 minutes and there will be nothing but rind and one happy soul left over.  However, that’s when I’m alone, without a witness, as it looks like I am about 7 months […]

Virginia Belle’s Brownies

My folks were out here this past week to celebrate the MasterChef premiere with AJ and me.  I didn’t waste a minute asking them to whip up a few of the dishes that remind me of my childhood.  I have lived over 3,000 miles away from them for over 10 years, so recipes are how […]

Cava Sangria with Brandied Fruit and Garden Mint…Let’s call it SUMMER!

Cava Sangria with Brandied Fruit and Garden Mint

If this drink could talk it would say, “I has hoping you would swing by!”  This is a toast to AJ and some of our most fun times together, laughing and making plans for our future over Cava Sangria at Pipa in NYC.  While I tried to weasel the exact recipe from the bartender without […]

Gordon’s Beef Wellington with Spring Carrots, Potatoes Mousseline and Blackberry Demi Glace

Our dear friends, Lynne and Laurence, visited me and AJ this weekend from Vermont.  Lynne is a theatre professor and author at the University of Vermont and Laurence is an accomplished CIA trained French Chef.  Because nothing says, “We think you’re special” louder than Gordon’s Beef Wellington, I decided to put Chef Jeff’s method to the […]