Tip of the Week – Start a Food or Drink Tradition

Posted on September 14, 2011 by kelleychisholm

This week’s tip is to start a new food and/or drink tradition. Most of us have a family holiday stand-by – whether it’s chile on Christmas Eve or corned beef and cabbage for St. Patrick’s Day – you get the point.

My suggestion is to establish a non-holiday tradition that you and your family can enjoy for years to come. One of my favorites is our weekly family night, where the person whose turn it is not only gets to pick out the activity, but also selects the menu, including dessert.  I hope Gabe and Lexi will continue this tradition when they have kids of their own. I must admit, however, that my most favorite tradition was inspired by my late and great stepfather, Gerry, and our mutual love for the Washington Redskins.

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Rock That Guac!

Posted on September 10, 2011 by kelleychisholm

Since I can’t go to Mexico whenever I crave guacamole and because I don’t always feel like making my own, I set out to find some of the best places to get it in Raleigh. After six long months of trying guac around the city (rough job!), here are some of my favorites, including some honorable mentions and (gasp!) a store-bought brand. I also include a link to my own recipe that I posted earlier, as I feel it is a great contender to all of the wonderful guacs listed here.

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Posted in Recipes, Vegetables/Vegetarian/Vegan | Tagged , , , , , , , , , , | 4 Comments

Tip of the Week: Pesto – Presto!

Posted on September 8, 2011 by kelleychisholm

It is so easy to grow basil, as long as it gets enough sunlight. For the past several years I’ve grown it in containers instead of planting  it directly in the ground and it has done quite well. I like being able to walk outside and cut whatever I need for recipes, and I especially love making fresh pesto at least once a year.

This week’s tip is on getting the most shelf life out of your pesto by freezing it in ice cube trays. Once frozen, transfer the pesto “cubes”  to plastic bags, and – presto! – You can reap the rewards of your garden into the colder winter months. This stuff is awesome as a base to homemade pizza, in pasta dishes, on chicken, etc. And it is so easy to prepare.

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Glorious Gumbo

Posted on September 5, 2011 by kelleychisholm

Like Madam Rue’s “Love Potion Number Nine” – only better!

If you like okra, now is the time to take advantage of it before the fall sets in. I recently purchased some at the State Farmer’s Market – if you go there, I recommend walking around and checking out the prices before buying because there are some stands that give you better deals than others.

I used some of the okra to make this wonderful shrimp, andouille sausage and chicken gumbo – it is delicious! I serve it over hot white rice, which I make so it will come out right when the gumbo is ready.

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Posted in Meat and Poultry, Recipes, Soups and Such | Tagged , , , , , , , | 2 Comments

Restaurant Review: Café Tiramisu – Raleigh, N.C.

Posted on August 30, 2011 by kelleychisholm

One of my favorite Italian restaurants in Raleigh is Café Tiramisu. Located in the North Ridge shopping center off of Falls of the Neuse Rd., this small and cozy café has some of the best Northern Italian cuisine around. Chef Paul DeMartino opened Café Tiramisu in 1996, a few years after his first restaurant, Piccolo Mondo closed its doors. Those who loved Piccolo (myself included) were thrilled to see his new place.

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Cheats: Souper Easy Gazpacho

Posted on August 27, 2011 by kelleychisholm

“It’s déjà vu all over again” – Yogi Berra

Some of you may remember a recent posting for my recipe for gazpacho. It is truly a refreshing soup and a great way to take advantage of the wonderful veggies now in season, but I will admit that it does take some time to prepare.

Just recently I stumbled upon a gazpacho salad at Whole Foods Market (note – I need to add this to my list of favorite store-bought salads). It occurred to me that maybe I could use it as the base of a good gazpacho by adding just a few ingredients. And I was right – while I still prefer my own gazpacho, this is quite tasty and is a great time saver!

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Posted in Recipes, Soups and Such, Vegetables/Vegetarian/Vegan | 1 Comment

Tip of the Week – Are You Prepared for a Disaster?

Posted on August 24, 2011 by kelleychisholm

With Hurricane Irene heading toward North Carolina, this week’s tip is about being prepared when disaster strikes. Do you have enough food and water for your family and pets in case of emergencies such as hurricanes, earthquakes, tornados, ice storms, etc.?

The American Red Cross recommends “when preparing for a disaster, store at least three days of non-perishable, nutritious food that requires little or no water or cooking to prepare. Don’t forget to store a manual can opener with non-perishable food items. When assembling items, remember that you and your family may be without water, gas, or electricity for an unknown period of time.” You can check out the Red Cross website at: http://www.redcross.org/flash/brr/English-html/kit-contents.asp for a complete list of food and non-food related items to include in your emergency kit.

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Cheese-y Yellow Squash Casserole

Posted on August 22, 2011 by kelleychisholm

Years ago I made this squash casserole to take to my Mom’s for Thanksgiving. It was an immediate hit, even with those of my family who don’t really care for squash! Of course, it’s the addition of the cheeses (especially the creamy and nutty Gruyère) and the breadcrumbs that make it so tasty. My recipe is adapted from Southern Living’s Party Cookbook (1972). If you are looking for a different way to prepare squash – try this. It is fantastic!

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Bellini, Anyone?

Posted on August 19, 2011 by kelleychisholm

The first Bellini I ever drank was courtesy of my best friend Rose. If I can remember correctly, she ordered the peach puree online after enjoying a Bellini somewhere on a business trip. Wow, it was wonderful, and as a champagne lover I was thrilled to be introduced to this refreshing drink!

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Roasted Red Pepper Hummus

Posted on August 13, 2011 by kelleychisholm

I first tried hummus in 1995 during an Outward Bound Leadership program. There were 12 of us from various parts of the U.S. who spent five days sailing (should I say rowing) a 26-foot wooden boat, hopping from island to island in the Puget Sound in Washington state and learning about team building, management and leadership. One of our food staples was hummus, which we made daily from some sort of pre-packaged powder and water. After spending hours upon hours, rowing and rowing, the powdered hummus was amazingly good for what it was, maybe because we had worked up our appetites.

Since that adventure I quickly learned that you can make hummus with fresh ingredients – no powder in sight – and have been making several different versions of it ever since. My favorite is this roasted red pepper hummus that is great as a dip or a spread. And not only does it taste wonderful, but it is low in fat and good for you.

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Posted in Appetizers, Low fat, Recipes, Vegetables/Vegetarian/Vegan | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 3 Comments