Voodoo in the Air and Peruvian Green Sauce

The last week has been a blur. Or should I say, the last week and a half? It took awhile to get things back to "normal" after coming home to paint dust and splatter. I cleaned each and every cabinet out and was happy with my work. Yes, I still have the refrigerator to do but cabinets that haven't been cleaned inside, in probably years, are finally clean again. There is a certain sense

Quinoa with Chimichurri Sauce

Today finds us in Argentina being served an enormous grilled steak doused in chimichurri. The grill is burning, the smell of meat is in the air and this green, herby, garlicky sauce is being poured liberally over my meat and served to me by a handsome gaucho with massive arms and a cute tush. Don't I wish? Truth is, I don't eat meat anymore but I can assure you that if I was being served

Give Me Some Sauce Tuesday or Lemon Oregano Pesto

I'm ready for a little joy and hopefully this pesto will do the trick. Oros ganos, a Greek word meaning joy of the mountain, defines the mountain sides of Greece where oregano and marjoram flourish. The sweet, spicy scent was created by Aphrodite as a symbol of happiness. Marjoram is in the same family as oregano and not quite as strong in flavor. Bridal couples were crowned with garlands of

Teriyaki Shrimp or Glaze and Grill

Teriyaki is the Japanese cooking technique of marinating, and then grilling and glazing, usually chicken or fish. It is believed to have originated in the States, though the word teri  means luster and yaki means broil or grill. Originally it contained four ingredients-mirin, sake, sugar and soy sauce. A worthy combination but one that has been somewhat Americanized as it has become quite a

Give Me Some Sauce Tuesday/Wednesday or Jamaican Jerk

After a whirlwind weekend wedding we attended in the mountains, we awoke in our superb accommodations to help my son pack his last car and SUV load of belongings for the drive to Denver. After a longer drive than usual we quickly unpacked the SUV and ran it to Costco for new tires. In that time I also cooked dinner and started the washing machine while he started going through his

Give Me Some Sauce Tuesday or Peanut Party Sauce

 Years ago when my kids were wee ones, I discovered peanut sauce. Or maybe it was they discovered peanut butter and then I discovered peanut sauce. I'm not a big fan of peanut butter though I do get cravings now and then, particularly when I'm sick. Go figure. When I'm down and out I like peanut butter spread lightly on toast, (preferably Pepperidge Farm or challah) and then lots of

Tomato Sauce

Tomato Sauce

The truth is that I hated tomatoes as a kid. My mother always kept them on the window sill in the summer and even had a few tomato plants. They  smelled so good but I just never wanted to taste a mushy ripe tomato. However I loved ketchup. I ate it on everything. I ate it on steak and chicken and turkey. I think my mother always wondered what I’d look like as an adult with