Holidays and Special Occasions - Just for the Two of You
Holidays and special occasions are the time to pull out all the stops, but too often recipes for events like Thanksgiving, Christmas, or 50th wedding anniversaries are geared toward crowds. Don't let the fact there are only two of you interfere with your celebration, these holiday and special occasion recipes are festive, delicious, intimate and perfect for a couple.
Stuffed Mushrooms with Pancetta and Sun-dried Tomatoes
Stuffed mushrooms are always a popular hors d'oeuvre, this unusual recipe has an Italian twist and features pancetta and sun-dried tomatoes. Serves 4.
Stuffed mushrooms are always a popular hors d'oeuvre, this unusual recipe has an Italian twist and features pancetta and sun-dried tomatoes. Serves 4.
Peach Crêpes: Light and lovely
Peach crepes are an easy and elegant dessert. They're best when made using fresh, locally grown peaches, but frozen peaches also work. Serves 2.
Peach crepes are an easy and elegant dessert. They're best when made using fresh, locally grown peaches, but frozen peaches also work. Serves 2.
Tailgate for Two
Tailgate picnics were a common feature of my childhood. Whenever we took a road trip, whether it lasted a day or, in one case, three weeks, at lunch we'd stop pull down the tailgate on the station-wagon, and my mother would unpack sandwich fixings, paper plates and napkins, and whatever else my parents had purchased for our tailgate party.
Tailgate picnics were a common feature of my childhood. Whenever we took a road trip, whether it lasted a day or, in one case, three weeks, at lunch we'd stop pull down the tailgate on the station-wagon, and my mother would unpack sandwich fixings, paper plates and napkins, and whatever else my parents had purchased for our tailgate party.
Strawberry Trifle: Elegant Simplicity
Quick and easy, this Strawberry Trifle is an excellent last-minute dessert suitable for just the two of you or for company. Serves 2.
Quick and easy, this Strawberry Trifle is an excellent last-minute dessert suitable for just the two of you or for company. Serves 2.
Honey-mustard Roasted Beets: Sweet, Earthy and Bright
These Honey-mustard Roasted Beets are one of my favorite beet recipes - simultaneously bright, sweet, and earthy. Serves 2.
These Honey-mustard Roasted Beets are one of my favorite beet recipes - simultaneously bright, sweet, and earthy. Serves 2.
Glazed Ham Steak: Sweet, Salty, Savory
This recipe offers most of the satisfaction of a glazed ham without having to spend a month eating it. The flavor profile is a tasty balance of salty, sweet, hot, sour and savory and so it touches effects every almost every taste bud in your mouth. Serves 2.
This recipe offers most of the satisfaction of a glazed ham without having to spend a month eating it. The flavor profile is a tasty balance of salty, sweet, hot, sour and savory and so it touches effects every almost every taste bud in your mouth. Serves 2.
Be My Sweetheart
This menu offers foods of love, some are actual reputed aphrodisiacs while others are simply licentious by nature. Most of these can be prepared in advance, giving you plenty of time for a little pre-dinner flirting. Serves 2.
This menu offers foods of love, some are actual reputed aphrodisiacs while others are simply licentious by nature. Most of these can be prepared in advance, giving you plenty of time for a little pre-dinner flirting. Serves 2.
Baked Leeks with Lemon and Garlic
In this recipe the leeks are topped with garlic flavored butter, lemon zest, and buttered bread crumbs.
In this recipe the leeks are topped with garlic flavored butter, lemon zest, and buttered bread crumbs.
Chocolate Espresso Mousse: Sexy, Sensuous, Sensational
There are few desserts more sensual than chocolate mousse and the espresson in his recipes adds a delightful twist. Serves 2.
There are few desserts more sensual than chocolate mousse and the espresson in his recipes adds a delightful twist. Serves 2.
Football Buffet Party
To my mind, a fall or winter day watching a game in front of the TV calls for soup and sandwiches - with some coffee-table munchies tossed in for the boys parked in front of the TV and the ladies sheltering in the kitchen from the overt testosterone on display in the rec-room.
To my mind, a fall or winter day watching a game in front of the TV calls for soup and sandwiches - with some coffee-table munchies tossed in for the boys parked in front of the TV and the ladies sheltering in the kitchen from the overt testosterone on display in the rec-room.
Superbowl Treats and Recipes
This collections of recipes and treats is perfect Superbowl fare - or for any other casual party.
This collections of recipes and treats is perfect Superbowl fare - or for any other casual party.
New Year's Feast
I have an abiding affection for holidays and celebrations so I began a tradition of my own to acknowledge the new year: a New Year's Feast.I'd invite a few friends over for dinner on New Year's day, prepare a fancy meal, and we'd have a couple of glasses of champagne (sparkling wine) without worrying about other drivers or traffic checks by the police.
I have an abiding affection for holidays and celebrations so I began a tradition of my own to acknowledge the new year: a New Year's Feast.I'd invite a few friends over for dinner on New Year's day, prepare a fancy meal, and we'd have a couple of glasses of champagne (sparkling wine) without worrying about other drivers or traffic checks by the police.
Christmas Menu for Two
I've spent many Christmases alone or with just a friend or two, and as with all other holidays I absolutely dispute the idea that just because there are only one or two is no reason not create a feast. A smaller feast? Yes, but that makes it even harder to justify going out to eat instead of cooking.
I've spent many Christmases alone or with just a friend or two, and as with all other holidays I absolutely dispute the idea that just because there are only one or two is no reason not create a feast. A smaller feast? Yes, but that makes it even harder to justify going out to eat instead of cooking.
Pan-roasted Duck with Cranberry Coulis: Easy & Sophisticated
This is a wonderfully festive recipe: a real treat for Christmas, a birthday, or an anniversary and it couldn't be any easier. If cranberries aren't in season you have make a different sauce for it for ideas. Serves 2.
This is a wonderfully festive recipe: a real treat for Christmas, a birthday, or an anniversary and it couldn't be any easier. If cranberries aren't in season you have make a different sauce for it for ideas. Serves 2.
Holiday Sides for Two
Many of the eaters we serve at Thanksgiving and Christmas absolutely insist on tradition. There must be turkey or roast beef, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, perhaps that green bean casserole, candied yams, and on and on. For those of us who cook this gets boring. So here are a few options...
Many of the eaters we serve at Thanksgiving and Christmas absolutely insist on tradition. There must be turkey or roast beef, gravy, mashed potatoes, stuffing, perhaps that green bean casserole, candied yams, and on and on. For those of us who cook this gets boring. So here are a few options...
Thanksgiving Menu for Two
A traditional Thanksgiving dinner for two isn't that hard and is well worth the effort. Most of the dishes in this menu can be at least partially made in advance so you can relax and enjoy the holiday.
A traditional Thanksgiving dinner for two isn't that hard and is well worth the effort. Most of the dishes in this menu can be at least partially made in advance so you can relax and enjoy the holiday.
Apple/Sausage Stuffing: A Holiday Favorite for Two
This recipe for Stuffing (or dressing if you prefer) for Two includes apples and Italian sausage is packed with flavor and created specifically to go with Apple-Brined Turkey. Serves 2 with leftovers.
This recipe for Stuffing (or dressing if you prefer) for Two includes apples and Italian sausage is packed with flavor and created specifically to go with Apple-Brined Turkey. Serves 2 with leftovers.
Roast Turkey for Two: Doable and Delicious
It's possible to roast turkey for two people producing a delicious holiday meal. It's a matter of knowing how to scale. Serves 2 with leftovers.
It's possible to roast turkey for two people producing a delicious holiday meal. It's a matter of knowing how to scale. Serves 2 with leftovers.
Mashed Rutabaga with Maple Syrup and Bourbon
Mashed ruatabagas with maple syrup and bourbon are slightly sweet, slightly tart, slightly rich, and all delicious. Serves 2.
Mashed ruatabagas with maple syrup and bourbon are slightly sweet, slightly tart, slightly rich, and all delicious. Serves 2.
Cranberry Mousse: A Holiday Tradition Made New
Cranberry Mousse is light, luscious, sweet, tart and a wonderfully different take on a holiday meal tradition. Serves 2 to 3.
Cranberry Mousse is light, luscious, sweet, tart and a wonderfully different take on a holiday meal tradition. Serves 2 to 3.
Roast Cornish Hens au Provence
Roast Cornish Hens are the perfect solution to roast chicken for two. This recipe is flavored with Herbes de Provence and lemon. Serves 2.
Roast Cornish Hens are the perfect solution to roast chicken for two. This recipe is flavored with Herbes de Provence and lemon. Serves 2.
A Flagging 4th of July
For most of us, the 4th of July means grilling or barbequing. My favorite is barbequeing (slow smoking) ribs but I've also been known to fire-roast Cornish game hens, grill steaks or kebabs, and smoke a whole salmon.
For most of us, the 4th of July means grilling or barbequing. My favorite is barbequeing (slow smoking) ribs but I've also been known to fire-roast Cornish game hens, grill steaks or kebabs, and smoke a whole salmon.
Tip: Picnics
Above all, a picnic should not be ordinary, nor should it be an effort - at least not during the picnic itself. A little advance planning and work goes a long way toward keeping the picnic itself more joy than job but even a spur-of-the-moment picnic can be pure pleasure if you're prepared.
Above all, a picnic should not be ordinary, nor should it be an effort - at least not during the picnic itself. A little advance planning and work goes a long way toward keeping the picnic itself more joy than job but even a spur-of-the-moment picnic can be pure pleasure if you're prepared.
Happy Anniversary: Celebrate Your day
Anniversaries are the ultimate couple's meal, even more so than Valentine's Day because it commemorates not only your love but your history. To me, this is the time to pull out all the stops.
Anniversaries are the ultimate couple's meal, even more so than Valentine's Day because it commemorates not only your love but your history. To me, this is the time to pull out all the stops.
Beef Wellington: Elegant, Easy, Exceptional
This recipe for individual Beef Wellingtons looks like a million dollars and tastes like heaven. It's also surprisingly easy to make, albeit time-consuming, but can easily be completely prepped a day in advance. Serves 2.
This recipe for individual Beef Wellingtons looks like a million dollars and tastes like heaven. It's also surprisingly easy to make, albeit time-consuming, but can easily be completely prepped a day in advance. Serves 2.
An Italian Easter Feast for Two
This Italian Easter Feast isn't completely traditional nor completely Roman, but it is mostly both of those. None of it requires a lot of effort and the flavors match delightfully. Double or triple the recipes and you have a great dinner party. Serves 2.
This Italian Easter Feast isn't completely traditional nor completely Roman, but it is mostly both of those. None of it requires a lot of effort and the flavors match delightfully. Double or triple the recipes and you have a great dinner party. Serves 2.
Valentine's Day Menu for Two
Popular with lovers of all ages, there is no other holiday so suitable for a couple unencumbered with children. This menu is as intimate as it gets.
Popular with lovers of all ages, there is no other holiday so suitable for a couple unencumbered with children. This menu is as intimate as it gets.
Curried Shrimp in Puff Pastry
Curried shrimp is a quick, easy, and even elegant main dish suitable for a special occasion.
Curried shrimp is a quick, easy, and even elegant main dish suitable for a special occasion.
Rack of Lamb with Horseradish
Perhaps the most perfectly elegant meal for two, rack of lamb usually has six ribs (three each) guarding that most tender of any cut of meat, the tenderloin.
Perhaps the most perfectly elegant meal for two, rack of lamb usually has six ribs (three each) guarding that most tender of any cut of meat, the tenderloin.
Pork Medallions with Apple Cream Sauce
Medallions of pork tenderloin are quickly sautéed. Then a pan sauce is made combining apples, cream, and Calvados, a French apple brandy. This is easy enough for a weeknight meal, but worth saving for a special occasion. Serves 2.
Medallions of pork tenderloin are quickly sautéed. Then a pan sauce is made combining apples, cream, and Calvados, a French apple brandy. This is easy enough for a weeknight meal, but worth saving for a special occasion. Serves 2.
Blood Orange Pots de Creme
Pots de Crème are deliciously rich and decadent desserts. This version based on blood oranges and has a beautiful Valentine's Day pink hue.
Pots de Crème are deliciously rich and decadent desserts. This version based on blood oranges and has a beautiful Valentine's Day pink hue.