violet jelly

a plastic bag that is about half full of freshly picked violet flowers

Maybe you have seen candied violets as a garnish on fancy desserts or cocktails, but we're celebrating a more homey preparation of this springtime flower

tocinillo de cielo, a traditional Spanish custard

tocinillo de cielo, a traditional Spanish custard

"Tocinillo de cielo" is a traditional Spanish custard. The name translates to something like "little bacon from heaven." I'm not sure how "bacon-y" it is, but it's definitely a heavenly dessert. It's a great recipe to have on hand if you have a lot of extra egg yolks. Bonus: this traditional Spanish dessert is lactose free.

"Hoppy Hour" a great choice for beer lovers and valentines

If you're still trying to think of something fun to do on Valentine's Day, I have a suggestion for you. Last week I attended the first "Hoppy Hour" event scheduled by the Giant Eagle Market District in Robinson. Hoppy Hours are beer tastings intended to showcase various breweries, where you can sample selections from the …

“Hoppy Hour” a great choice for beer lovers and valentines

If you're still trying to think of something fun to do on Valentine's Day, I have a suggestion for you. Last week I attended the first "Hoppy Hour" event scheduled by the Giant Eagle Market District in Robinson. Hoppy Hours are beer tastings intended to showcase various breweries, where you can sample selections from the …

fruit cake

Now that the holidays are over, you may be sick of fruit cake. But I want to tell you about a very special fruit cake. I didn’t realize this until now, but the making of this cake started in the fall of 2012. Remember when I found those very interesting pears growing wild by a …

refresh dinner

Restaurant Week in Pittsburgh is in full swing! Don't let the rest of it go by without trying Verde's new menu and revitalized restaurant service.

Duck!

Eating duck is becoming more popular even though many are intimidated by cooking this less common poultry. Jump on the bandwagon and try my simple approach to duck confit!

Christmas powder cookies

For anyone who enjoys a little baking, making holiday treats is one of the best traditions of this time of the year. Making that special cookie or sweet for our loved ones can be very fulfilling and fun. But it can also be tricky: lots of people I know have special dietary requirements, so sometimes …