A Cauldron or Bis Cuites? A Bit of History: While conducting research, I wondered what defines a soup as a bisque or a chowder? Both tasty concoctions boast a creamy soup as the final result; however, they do have a few key differences. Chefs blend a bisque until they reach a smooth, silky texture. On…
Flying Purple Pasta Eaters A Bit of History: While cooking my Easy Italian Vegetable Soup, I can’t stop the 1950s song the Flying Purple People Eater from running through my brain! Especially since my kids started singing a modified version, aptly titled, the Flying Purple Pasta Eaters, after they saw the soup. The wonderful color…
101 and Counting… A Bit of History Last year, the city of Paris, celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Bloody Mary cocktail at Harry’s New York Bar in Paris. The earliest claim for the invention of the Bloody Mary cocktail dates to 1921 by bartender Fernand Petiot. According to bartending history, the original mixture consisted…
Not Quite but More than Enough… A Bit of History Back in my Beantown days, I had the pleasure of eating at the Union Oyster House. This Bostonian landmark boasts a unique historical distinction as the oldest restaurant in the USA serving patrons since 1826. On a cold winter’s day in February, just before another…
100 Horses, a Queen, & a Tree…. A Bit of History Personally, chestnuts always evoke memories of Florence, Italy for me. In the winter time, the aroma of roasted chestnuts lingers in the air from the many street vendors’ carts. It is by far my favorite Italian street food. In my recipe for Smoked Chestnut…
The Nutty Pumpkin… A Bit of History Kabocha squash, a type of Japanese winter squash, is commonly grown in Japan, Thailand, Hawaii, Mexico, and parts of the USA. While scientists believe that most squashes originated in North and South America, Kabocha made its way to Asia and Europe via explorers in the 1500s. Often referred…
Below 60 Degrees in the South… Introduction: Yep, grab a bigger bowl for this one. Actually, skip the bowl and just eat out of the pot. This easy butternut squash chipotle chili recipe with bourbon aged stout will knock your socks off! Whenever the weather dips below 60 degrees in the South, we light the…
Sometimes Shiitake Happens… Sometimes Shiitake happens; mushrooms that is and life. However, in this case it was both wonderful and horrible. I happened to purchase a good amount of locally cultivated shiitake mushrooms (this was the wonderful part). Unfortunately, I was having just an awful week between my car and bike breaking down and just…
Ultimate Comfort Food… About the Recipe: Creamy Roasted Summer Tomato & Eggplant Soup Sometimes, even in the middle of summer, I crave a bowl of comforting, fresh tomato soup. I especially love this Creamy Roasted Tomato Soup on a rainy day or the frequent tropical stormy weather we have in the South! Summer is the…
A Recipe for Roasted Poblano Pepper, Tomatillos & Corn Chowder As most of us know, chowders or chowdah in New England, is a rich, creamy soup usually featuring seafood. A few weeks ago, my husband was craving tortilla soup. I was tired of all my old standby tortilla soup recipes and wanted to try something…