March 22, 2016

Divine Orange Sherbet Jello

The Dish That Helped Save My Life Divine Orange Sherbet Jello Side This orange sherbert Jello is the ultimate comfort food from your grandmother’s generation.  It is also Tom’s favorite and was an integral part of his recovery from his 105-day hospitalization in 2010, as it was one of the few […]
February 2, 2016

Black Bean Chipotle Chili with Steak

Some Like It (Really) Hot Chili Black Bean Chili Chipotle Chili with Steak Main This chili is our go-to meal when the frozen tundra of winter hits Southern California (or when the calendar says it is winter, otherwise how would we know? Seriously, it is supposed to be 80 later […]
November 28, 2015

NYC Salted Caramel Martini

A Martini Worth Its Salt NYC Salted Caramel Martini Cocktail Here’s a “go-to” drink for your next holiday soirée!  While in New York, Tracy and I stopped by the Bryant Park Grill for a bite to eat.  On the menu was a Salted Caramel Martini, which sounded like the perfect […]
November 7, 2015

Tom’s Perfect Pumpkin Tuscan Risotto

Italian Perfection Tom’s Perfect Pumpkin Tuscan Risotto Main Here is a recipe that Tom and I sent out with our Christmas cards in 2005 having deemed it “Tuscan Tom’s Recipe of the Year.”  We had just returned from a three-week vacation to Umbria, Tuscany, Venice, and Rome, so we were […]
October 20, 2015

Meat Loaf With A Kick

Comfort Food Extraordinaire Meat Loaf With A Kick Main While lying on the floor with a bad back watching daytime TV last week (a sad tale of water conservation gone awry), I came upon Chef Jeff Mauro making meatloaf on a show called The Kitchen.  Tom happened to be walking […]
September 24, 2015

Sweet Summer Corn Soup

Fresh Off The Cob Sweet Summer Corn Soup Soup & Salad Sure it’s autumn, but in Southern California, it’s summer all year long (almost).  I asked Tracy to make this soup after seeing a recipe in the Los Angeles Times from a chef named Gavin Kaysen.   She thought it […]
April 6, 2015

Supremely Lemon Bundt Cake

Lemon Heaven Supremely Lemon Bundt Cake Dessert A co-worker shared this recipe with me.  The secret here is the Duncan Hines Lemon Supreme Cake mix and the apricot juice.  It is perfect for Spring, especially as our neighbor’s lemon tree overhangs our driveway full of the sweetest lemons ever.  It […]
May 30, 2014

Maitai Tracy’s Kumquat Infused Vodka

Homemade Booze…KumQuat May Maitai Tracy’s Kumquat Infused Vodka Cocktail The adage says, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade.” Sure, but what if life (actually a dwarf tree in our backyard) gives you kumquats? Why make vodka, of course.                       […]
December 1, 2011

Picard Martini

A Cocktail That Is Simply Out Of This World! Picard Martini Cocktail I originally was going to call this martini the Star Trek: Next Generation, however, I decided on the shorter name because I learned this recipe from a friend named Patrick Stuart (not spelled exactly like the actor who […]