Recent Posts

2009 BETIS Rioja and 2009 Freemark Abbey Cabernet Sauvignon

April 28, 2013September 9, 2016

Today's wine review is a two-for-one. My hubby and I enjoyed these two bottles side by side over two nights. It all started with a blind tasting... I really enjoy tasting wines blind. I find that having no idea what's in the glass in front of me allows me... Read More

How To Mains

Cheater’s Chicken Adobo

April 26, 2013September 1, 2016 Asian, chicken, Mains

If you are Filipino, know a Filipino, or know anything about the Philippines, you've heard of Chicken Adobo. As the unofficial national dish, it is traditionally any protein (I've seen chicken and pork used most commonly) cooked in a vinegar and garlic based sauce. Every Filipino has their own version,... Read More

Mains Recipe

Mmm, Fried Chicken…

April 22, 2013September 1, 2016 chicken, Mains

I hate deep frying. The hot oil, the splatters, the cleanup, all seem too annoying most of the time. So I pretty much never deep fry things in my house, with the one big exception of fried chicken. I pretty much enjoy all fried chicken. Whether it's from the grocery... Read More

Recipe

Chocolate Cake – my first attempt at making a layer cake “from scratch”

April 21, 2013July 27, 2016 baking, cakes, chocolate, desserts, frosting, sweets

Homemade Chocolate Layer Cake with Marshmallow FrostingI've made croissants, cookies, macarons, caneles, pies, tarte tatin, and many other sweet treats, but can you believe that until today I had never made a cake from scratch? For the entirety of my life, if I wanted to bake a cake, I used... Read More

Recipe Soups and Stews

Spicy Sausage and Lentil Soup

April 10, 2013September 1, 2016 lentils, Mains, pork, sausage, soup

When I first met my husband, he was not what you'd consider a food lover. If it wasn't a ham sandwich or spaghetti with meat sauce, he didn't want to come near it. Slowly over the years I have turned him around and I quite happily say now he is... Read More

✷ Pasta Recipe

Bucatini Carbonara – Bacon and Eggs pasta at its best…

April 9, 2013September 1, 2016 bacon, eggs, Italian, Mains, pasta

When I was young, I adored Fettucine Alfredo, but as an adult, I find most Alfredo sauces too cloying and rich. When I want a creamy, cheesy pasta dish, I crave nothing but Carbonara sauce, simple bacon and eggs. It takes no time at all to make, and is so... Read More

Italy Nebbiolo Tasting Wine

2005 Marchesi Di Barolo Barolo

April 9, 2013September 9, 2016

Barolo is a tricky wine for me. The acidity makes a perfect match for food, but the tannin means you have to be careful exactly what you pair it with or else you run the risk of terrible clashes. If you aren't familiar, it hails from the Piedmont region of... Read More

France Pinot Noir Tasting Wine

2009 Maison de la Cabotte Côte de Nuits-Villages

April 8, 2013September 9, 2016

With such simple pork chops tonight, I wanted a tasty red without much tannin. The 2009 Maison de la Cabotte Côte de Nuits-Villages, from the Burgundy region of France, was Pinot Noir at its simplest, with low tannin, medium light body, cherry fruit and enough acidity to make it a... Read More

How To Mains

Brined Pork Chops and Israeli Cous Cous

April 8, 2013September 1, 2016 cous cous, Mains, pork

Making pork chops tonight... using the induction burner and trying a new brine. I always brine my porkchops, I find it makes them juicier and more flavorful, especially since they can be tricky to cook to the perfect doneness. Please forgive the fact that I am not giving you formal... Read More

Appliances Personal

Induction Vs. Electric – The Search Begins…

April 6, 2013July 28, 2016 induction

It's no secret that I hate my stove. To be fair, it isn't a terrible appliance. A lot of people like electric ranges, but I grew up on gas. In comparison, the electric range is so slow to react, and while my oven gets hot and holds the heat decently enough (I... Read More