The dreaded announcement at O’Hare: Your flight has been delayed for three hours. Now what? You’re missing your business dinner, and you haven’t eaten all day. You could grab a cheeseburger/ fries, a candy bar, and large soda, and call it a day. But that doesn’t really fit into your new healthy lifestyle. What do you do when your choices are so limited when traveling on the road or in the air? [More]

A Sicilian Favorite in Rome



Earlier this year, I rented an apartment in Rome to learn to cook like a Roman. I took advantage of the seasonal produce of artichokes, strawberries, and puntarelle in Campo dei Fiori, the open market in central Rome. Before I arrived, a friend said I must try the Beef Roll-ups in a Sicilian restaurant near the Maxxi Museum. Twist my arm. I arrived one afternoon without a reservation. Of course, that is not a problem. I was in Italy! The waiter, the charming restaurant, and simple food were memorable. How could I re-create these great Sicilian beef roll-ups at home? After three attempts, I think I’ve found a good substitute when I’m not in Rome. [More]

A Sicilian Favorite in Rome



Earlier this year, I rented an apartment in Rome to cook like a Roman. I took advantage of the seasonal produce of artichokes, strawberries, and puntarelle in Campo dei Fiori, the open market in central Rome. Before I arrived, a friend said I must try the Beef Roll-ups in a Sicilian restaurant near the Maxxi Museum. Twist my arm. I arrived one afternoon without a reservation. Of course, that is not a problem. I was in Italy! The waiter, the charming restaurant, and simple food were memorable. How could I re-create these great Sicilian beef roll-ups at home? After three attempts, I think I’ve found a good substitute when I’m not in Rome. [More]

Bite-size Desserts for a Crowd



What are your “go to” desserts for a crowd? Look no further. Who doesn’t like moist chocolate brownies, or cupcakes with butterscotch frosting? Both are family favorites that are tough to beat. The cake-like brownies can be made in under an hour so don’t reach for that cake mix. My mother was known for these brownies. They were known as Marcella’s Brownies. This legendary recipe is included in Scratch That™ Seasonal Menus and Perfect Pairings, my first cookbook. The Golden Glow Cake/ cupcake recipe was also a favorite. Recently, my mother found the scribbled Golden Glow 4-H recipe (from the 60’s) crumpled in a drawer. (A blog follower noticed that I was a former 4-Her and asked if I had the recipe.) My three sisters and I took turns making this great dessert for supper. What fond memories we have of the gooey frosting that was so easy to make, no thermometer required. Make the recipes into individual cupcakes and bite-size brownies, and you are set for the next bake sale, family gathering, or work party.

The crumpled Golden Glow Cake recipe listed oleo margarine instead of butter, and directions were non-existent... I promptly changed oleo to butter, added vanilla extract to the frosting, and tested the recipe several times so the directions were perfect. As a child, we didn’t have a mixer so we mixed the recipe by hand. That method still works today. The frosting is so easy because it doesn’t need a thermometer. Bring the mixture to a boil, and that’s it.

It’s very important to have everything ready to go for the brownies and frosting. Don’t over bake them and take the time to sift the powdered sugar if it is lumpy. Pour the frosting on the hot brownies as soon as they come out of the oven. Enjoy them with a cold glass of milk.



Talk to you in a month, [More]

Just Good Grilled Pizza



It’s Spring, and grilling is back for many of us. My husband has been making Grilled Pizza for years. Yes, he keeps learning and getting it right with guests lined up on our doorstep. No, we do not have a fancy wood-fired pizza oven, just a regular gas grill. Three things make his grilled pizzas great: Quality ingredients, good equipment, and advance prep. (that’s me) With these three specifics in place, anyone can make great grilled pizza. [More]