Chicken Lollipop with Plum Sauce and Toasted Sesame Seeds

Chicken Lollipop

By Courtney, Coco Cooks ~ Since I started catering  on my own as Coco Cooks,I’m obsessed with presentation. The challenge is to provide high flavor and appeal, low-cost, but not sacrifice taste. Summer is coming and I have some events lined up. An inexpensive option for passed  appetizers is  always a tasty chicken wing. 100 wings can be cut down into 200 pieces easily. But how  can I make it more highbrow , than low brow? Lollipop them! In catering or restaurants starters are either … [Read more...]

Happy Mother’s Day & Sweet Potato Surprise

Sweet Potato Surprise

By Rocquie, Sage Trifle ~ My Mother is a marvelous cook and loves to cook. I loved spending time with her in the kitchen when I was growing up, watching her, and when I got old enough, helping her. She is my inspiration. She still loves trying out new recipes and every time we talk, we talk about what we have been cooking. We both love getting in the kitchen together to make feasts for family and friends. We love planning the meals, making our shopping list, and going to the grocery store. … [Read more...]

Pickled Fresh Green Almonds

Pickled Fresh Green Almonds

From Courtney, Coco Cooks ~ The weather around the globe has been indecisive, but one can tell spring has truly arrived by what’s available in the markets. If you see green almonds in your culinary shopping pursuits, then spring has arrived. But it’s so fleeting and you must catch it while you can, during the months of April , May and June. I found fresh green almonds at Arax, a Middle Eastern grocery in Niles. I had heard of them but never have seen them before. My co-worker told me of … [Read more...]

Organic Blue Cheese Burger

Organic Blue Cheese Burger

For several days, I kept thinking about spaghetti with meat sauce. Every time I thought about it, I immediately thought about pink slime, which has been all over the news. Yuck. I don't eat much meat and what I do eat I am very particular about. Sadly, I have probably eaten pink slime. However, now that I am aware of the insipid practice, I won't knowingly eat pink slime again. Because I kept wanting to cook and eat spaghetti with meat sauce, I went to Earth Fare, which is very close to … [Read more...]

Classic Stracciato for a Beautiful Spring Day

Classic Stracciatella

By Courtney, Coco Cooks ~ Certain Someone is a simple man in his dessert tastes. So naturally the divine duo of a rich vanilla based custard , with a semi sweet chocolate ribbon stream stracciato ( torn apart) while churning, is bound to be a favorite. I decided to serve this up for the Easter holiday following a simple fresh slow grilled ham , pan fried leeks and potatoes, and a pea and carrot medley. Even stuffed , Certain Someone made room for two servings of ice cream. I used to think … [Read more...]

Roasted Cod with Warm Tomato Tapenade

Roasted Cod

By Rocquie, Sage Trifle ~ Here's an easy and healthful recipe for you. The Mediterranean flavors of the warm tomato tapenade brightens all kinds of white fish as well as chicken or baked tofu. It is also delicious served over brown rice. The dish comes together very quickly for a pretty and elegant presentation. I served it with orzo and freshly grated Parmesan plus braised baby bok choy. [Read More & Get Recipe] … [Read more...]

Farmhouse Chicken Pot Pie!

Farmhouse Chicken Pot Pie

By Rocquie, Sage Trifle ~ Remember the folder of old recipes I brought back last summer from a trip to my Parent's home, and my hometown, in Alabama? When I was looking at this one, Mama told me it was a very good recipe. She clipped tore the recipe from The Atlanta Journal on Wednesday, October 9, 1968. The recipe calls for a very unusual ingredient--powdered creamer. I suppose it was a hot, new item at that time. I bought the smallest size of "original" Coffee Mate, started reading … [Read more...]

Spa Vinaigrette

Spa Vinaigrette

By Rocquie, Sage Trifle ~ I have jumped on the "salad in a jar" bandwagon. I was recently piqued with this concept by a photo I saw on Photograzing which was submitted by Skinny Girl Trapped in a Fat Body. I take my lunch to work everyday because it is easier, quicker, healthier, cheaper, and much, much tastier. Normally, I take leftovers from whatever I cooked for dinner and I pack it as I clean the kitchen. Every now and then, I don't have any leftovers and will make a peanut butter … [Read more...]

Lavender and Wildflower Honey Creme Brulee

Lavender and Wildflower Honey Creme Brulee

By Laurie, Laurie Bakke's Kitchen ~ Simple custard uses local honey. It’s March in our small town of Hendersonville. The produce markets have slimmed down with the cold of winter, but several items are still available. Let’s start with honey. It comes from the nectar of flowers, sage blossoms, sourwood and dandelions, raspberries, clover and wildflowers. Honey is available locally at The Hendersonville Community Co-op located at 715 Old Spartanburg Hwy. Also, another source for … [Read more...]

Steak and Fresh Vegetable Soup

Steak and Fresh Vegetable Soup

By Rocquie, Sage Trifle ~ I made this soup over the course of a dismal and rainy Saturday afternoon. It was soothing for me, repeatedly going to the kitchen, checking and stirring, and adding additional ingredients every few minutes, while doing other things around the house. Plus, the aroma of simmering soup brought cheer into our home. Because I built this soup in layers, over some length of time, I found no need to add commercially prepared, canned broth to add "cooked all day" … [Read more...]