This is a family favorite for any occasion, but we especially make a lot of it during the holidays. MIS EN PLACE  Ingredients: 1...

  If you prefer cake over pie, this is the cake for you! Mise En Place INGREDIENTS: For the Cake: 1 3.4 oz lemon instant...

  When we were at the University of Arkansas during family weekend, we were graciously hosted for dinner by a former tennis teammate of my...

  It’s either an acquired taste or you loved it the first time you tasted it. Menudo is not for everyone but if you like...

  This has always been a crowd pleaser. The recipe makes a dozen enchiladas with a little bit of the filling left over. MISE EN...

  Although my wife does not enjoy cooking, one of her specialties that consistently garners rave reviews is her potato salad. The creamy texture along...

  My aunt was married to a Sicilian-American. She learned to be a superior cook of Italian food from her mother-in-law, who we all called...

  My wife made this during the holidays and it was a big hit. MISE EN PLACE INGREDIENTS: For the Cake: 1 1/2 Cups chopped...

  I got this recipe from my son and his partner. They always introduce us to dishes with which my wife and I are unfamiliar....

  I almost forgot I had this recipe until someone gave me some fresh basil from their garden. I got the makings of the recipe...

  This is a dish I had when visiting Santa Cruz, Bolivia. Sajta de pollo is a signature dish of Bolivia, made with chicken, onions,...

  This is a dessert that I grew up eating brought from the thousands of immigrants that came to Tampa from Spain during the late...

  I have always loved eggplant and especially when my aunt would make eggplant parmesan! Eggplant was a prevalent side when we visited China and...

  I’ve always seen this recipe made with turkey. As I prefer chicken over turkey, I changed it up, added my own touches and came...

  When we were in Paris, we stopped at a sidewalk bistro for some wine and a snack. They served us a toast point topped...

  I’ve tried several French toast recipes and after gathering a little from this one and a little from that one, I came up with...

  At a recent dinner gathering, one of our friends, Jill, brought this dessert and we all went crazy over it. I asked her for...

  My friends, Melanie and Dan Diaz, brought their homemade empanadas to a party once and I couldn’t stop eating them. I was surprised to...

  Many are unaware of the difference between a crostini and bruschetta (pronounced brooshketa). The difference is mainly in size, the crostini being the smaller...

  If you were Catholic and have Spanish or Cuban roots, this was a popular supper on Fridays.  While the dish originated in Spain, it...

  Although my grandparents were from the northern regions of Spain (Galicia and Asturias), this dish is said to have originated in the region of...

  Yes, real men do eat quiche!! I enjoy a good quiche for breakfast, brunch, lunch or dinner. It’s a very quick meal to make...

  Approximately 30 years ago a lady brought a cake to my wife’s office that she called an Italian sour cream cake. My wife absolutely...

  Most of you who have followed my website know I am married to a Mexican-American beauty! One of her favorite hot drinks growing up...

  This is a confectionary delight from the secret archives of the Mones Family. My wife is a great baker and always produces such great...

  This is one of my retro recipes that I got from a colleague in 1974. I hadn’t made it in years and decided to...

  This is not for the faint of heart! Fuego is the Spanish word for fire and this salsa fits the bill. However, you can...

  Bolognese sauce is very different from with the sauces I grew up. The sauces I was used to were those made by my aunt...

  According to Chef Keller, “This custard is more than simply one of the three benchmark bistro desserts: It’s the pinnacle of bistro desserts.” The...

  Thermidor sauce has always been related to the timeless dish of lobster thermidor, a classic French lobster preparation that was very popular in upscale...

  While “caldo” is the word for soup, I found this dish to be more like a stew. However, if your preference is for a...

  This recipe takes me back to my childhood when a quick summer meal was opening a can of beanie weenies and heating them up....

  I found the basics of this recipe from a magazine and added some changes of my own. It’s a great side dish, rich with...

  I really don’t know the origin of this dish. I tried researching and my findings always come back to my hometown of Tampa, Florida...

  This is a staple in Spanish and Cuban American homes. We had this rice at least once or twice a week. Sometimes it’s served...

  You can’t get any simpler than this for a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner. Growing up we very often had fried eggs over buttered...

  Ropa Vieja (Spanish meaning “old clothes”) is a shredded beef dish that was a regular staple growing up. It got it’s name from years...

  This is an easy and delicious dish that is great as a side dish or as a main dish with a good salad. MISE...

  Chimichurri is the signature condiment of Argentina and Uruguay. It is similar to pesto but it’s never to be emulsified. It is a loose...

  Galicia is located in the north western corner of Spain. While the region is most famously known for its seafood, this hearty soup is...

  Socca is a signature dish and the most popular dish from Nice, France, with a close second being salad Niçoise.  The recipe is pretty...

  More holiday sweetness! We were introduced to these cookies by our cousin and matron of honor almost 50 years ago and they remain an...

  One of the best treats during the holidays are my wife’s sugar cookies, or as I like to call them, crispy butter!! People can’t...

  It’s been a long long standing tradition in our family to have a leg of fresh roasted pork on Christmas Eve along with black...

  Yuca is the root of the cassava plant, as opposed to yucca which is a desert plant. It is a root vegetable much like...

  The literal translation of this dish is the tail of a bull, so you might wonder why, in English, it is referred to as...

  For just about all of the last 52 years, one of the things I looked forward to most about my birthday was and is...

  Fall is here and winter is on the way. What better dish to serve during this weather than a rich and creamy bisque. MISE...

  Pork has always been one of my favorite meats and I think it is very versatile. This pork recipe, while made for a sandwich,...

  My paternal grandparents and my maternal grandmother were from Asturias, Spain. Much of the food that I grew up with were dishes from this...

  My wife and I love Asian food and kung pao anything is one of our favorites. I found some beautiful extra large shrimp on...

  With so many of us overeating during this pandemic, I thought it would be good to add some lite but satisfying recipes. Believe me,...

  One of my favorite ingredients to spread over my Asian food is hot chili oil. It’s the first thing I ask for when I...

  Don’t be fooled by the title. These tomatoes are not dry at all. They are definitely shrunk to more than half their size, but...

  Here’s an idea for this holiday weekend or anytime. This is a refreshing dessert or palate cleanser before or after your main course meal....

  My grandmother made this dish often and it made for an inexpensive, quick and delicious dinner. Served with white rice, peas and a crisp...

This is considered the signature dish of Antigua, Guatemala. I liken it to Mexican mole, only Chicken Pipian is a red sauce whereas mole is...

  This pasta salad has been a staple for every covered dish party and every BBQ and most family gatherings that we have experienced. It’s...

  One of the first “fancy” dishes I fixed for my wife right after we got married was a Cornish hen with a cherry sauce....

  You can use other than gold baby potatoes with this recipe. I used the Yukon gold. MISE EN PLACE INGREDIENTS: 24 Oz. baby potatoes...

  OK, full disclosure, these are easy if you have already made my stuffed hatch chilies and you have some chicken mixture left over. Otherwise,...

  It’s hatch chili pepper season. This is one of my favorite peppers. I like using it as an alternative to the poblano pepper because...

  I learned about this dish when I took a cooking class several years ago. I liked it so much that it has become a...

  These dessert bars are like a blond double crusted, fruit filled brownie, only better. The recipe was given to my wife over 40 years...

  This is one of my wife’s favorite dishes. In our travels, it’s one of the items she consistently orders, be it in Houston, Paris,...

  This pastry is as easy as it gets and very satisfying. I would make them the day you want to eat them as the...

  When visiting friends in California, we went to breakfast at a restaurant in Encinitas named The Original Pancake House. I’m not a pancake eater....

  This is a great recipe that can be jarred and given as gifts. It makes a lot and lasts a long time. Great for...

  This is one of the easiest recipes you will ever encounter and yet so delicious and visually pleasing!! This is a great side dish...

  As I have stated in some of my other blogs, I learned a lot about Italian cooking from my Aunt Margaret who was married...

  I was stationed in San Antonio when I was in the United States Air Force, where I met and married my wife. We had...

  This recipe is by Samin Nosrat from her book  Salt Fat Acid Heat. It is so simple to make and unbelievably succulent and flavorful....

  When I was in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, I experienced some really great dishes that I had never tasted before. When dining at the Bijan restaurant, I was...

  I was on one of my many stops at Costco the other day and saw a bag of fresh garlic for a phenomenal price....

  The signature dish of Tampa, Florida, arroz con pollo is always found at every Hispanic restaurant and every Latino home at least on a...

  So many different salads! So many salad dressings! Here are some salad dressing recipes, some with a different twist, that will bring some variety...

  This is a quick, easy and delicious dish to prepare when you’re on the go or forgot to take something out of the freezer...

  This is one of my favorite recipes for chicken salad. It’s great to serve on a plate of lettuce, as a sandwich on your...

  Growing up near McKay Bay in Palmetto Beach, a neighborhood of Tampa, Florida, we were afforded the pleasure, as kids, to go crabbing for...

  Don’t let the color fool you. This is a delicious and different rice that has a little bit of a kick to it and...

  If you’re a banana-nut bread lover, you need look no further for the best recipe ever for this delicious treat. My wife’s recipe delivers...

My aunt was married to a Sicilian-American and it was from her that I learned most of my Italian food recipes. She, in turn, learned...

Looking for a satisfying sweet treat but don’t want the calories that come with it? Try this dessert that has only 268 calories per serving...

  This was one of my favorite dishes when I visited Delhi, India. When I was back in the states, I searched and tried different...

  I had never had Mexican food until I was 21 years old and was stationed in San Antonio as a newly inducted airman in...

LIGHT, EASY & DELICIOUS This is another light meal that I developed for my daughter’s fitness students. It’s easy and delicious. MISE EN PLACE INGREDIENTS:...

I’ve been missing New Orleans and their incredible food. Here’s my version of Shrimp Creole. MISE EN PLACE INGREDIENTS: The Stock: 3 Tbsp olive oil...

Mangoes are in season. Even if you are not a mango lover, I think you will like this dessert. MISE EN PLACE INGREDIENTS: Mango filling:...

  I love this marinade for chicken. I’ve also used it for pork ribs. MISE EN PLACE INGREDIENTS: 1/2 Cup roughly chopped garlic 2 Tbsp...

A few years back, when I was a fundraiser for a chapter of a national charity, one of my volunteers was a woman from Italy....

This is an easy salad that presents beautifully and great as your salad course for company. When used with my recipe for lemon garlic vinaigrette,...

After having a version of these at the Enchantment Resort in Sedona, Arizona, I had to come home and do what I could to duplicate...

For Father’s Day, Instead of Mimosas, treat your dads to a Prosecco Margarita. This recipe is courtesy of Chef Marcella Vallodolid. INGREDIENTS: 1 1/2 cups...

This is another recipe I developed for my daughter’s fitness group that offers great taste with minimal calories and fat grams. I presented it to...

  After visiting Kuwait and enjoying their food, I was especially enamored of their kabobs. I was determined to come home and replicate it. I...

My mother would make this salad often, especially during the summer. No need to fix anything else as this salad has vegetable, starch and protein....

I rarely use any other dressing for my salads than this simple recipe. It’s a crowd pleaser. I usually make double or triple the recipe...

I first learned how to make meatballs from my Aunt Margaret. As you have read in other posts, her mother-in-law immigrated to the United States...

This is another recipe that I developed for my daughter and her fitness group.  It makes for a great summer appetizer, especially in the outdoor...

Looking for a refreshing summer dessert that is healthy and satisfying? Look no further. A few years back, when my daughter owned a physical fitness...

One of our favorite street foods when visiting Shanghai were scallion pancakes. They were prepared by a young couple outside a storefront and I couldn’t...

This is Peru’s answer to Mexico’s Magarita! Refreshing and delicious! MISE EN PLACE INGREDIENTS: 2 Oz. Pisco (most liquor stores will carry this. I buy...

This is an inexpensive but very delicious and satisfying dish. Like many peasant dishes, there are a variety of recipes for this dish called Picadillo...

With the summer days coming upon us, one of the most refreshing alcoholic drinks that I serve is my homemade sangria. Sangria generally includes red...

This is a dish that was not only a tradition for Christmas Eve, but was also served as dinner with white rice and a salad....

My grandmother made this dish in a pressure cooker. You can do that and it should take no more than an hour. You can also...

1905 SALAD MISE IN PLACE INGREDIENTS: 1/2 head iceberg lettuce 2 ripe tomatoes, cut in eighths 2 stalks celery, sliced 1/2 cup Swiss cheese, cut...

This is a copy cat recipe of Shrimp Paesanos  contributed by Adrean Kempf Christman from the cookbook, Family Favorites. MISE EN PLACE INGREDIENTS: Shrimp: 1...

“Most of us have fond memories of food from our childhood. Whether it was our mom’s home made lasagna or a memorable chocolate birthday cake,...