Recipes or Reservations

Delicious Orchards (or “The D-O” for short), is a food lover’s paradise located in Colt’s Neck, New Jersey. It began as family farm back in the early twentieth century. The business expanded over the years but remained predominantly an agricultural enterprise. In the late 1950’s, an entrepreneurial member of the family began to sell apples […]

Ratio by Michael Ruhlman just might be one of the greatest cookbooks ever written. It is one of the few books in the genre that actually teach you how to cook. Most other cookbooks are nothing more than a collection of recipes.  They guide you step by step through the cooking process but keep you […]

Hanger Steaks are one of my favorite cuts of beef.  Their texture is similar to Skirt steaks but their flavor is far more complex. Both Hanger and Skirt steaks are cut from the cow’s diaphragm. Skirt steaks are cut directly from the plate portion. Hanger steaks are cut from the muscle that literally hangs between […]

Dean Martin sang, “When the world seems to shine like you’ve had too much wine, you’re in love…” We have lived in our house for four years. Weather has been warm and we are doing spring cleaning. My husband and I have this policy that when we go out to dinner or drink wine at […]

Before I begin, recently I heard a friend get upset because she was invited to dinner at a friend’s house, someone she considered a longtime friend. They were served something they enjoyed at dinner.  During dessert, they asked for the recipe and were flatly, rudely, refused.  Claiming, it is a “family secret”.  Really? Since, I am now annoyed and […]

Chateau Pierrail / Bordeaux Superieur 2009 It is winter here in New Jersey. Time for braising and stews.  This time of year with those meals we tend to go for the bolder wines and we are always fond of a good bordeaux. Although the flipside is usually a good Bordeaux is as they say en […]

Janine here.  Let me begin by saying I love to drink wine with dinner but only red wine.        Red, red wine. It goes to my head. Frankly,  I have never really enjoyed a glass of white wine. Chardonnay (too oakey – blech) or pinot grigio (after taste) and very rarely a sauvignon blanc (eh) or vin verde (ok).  Yes, I cook with […]

We have begun a new adventure together. Just starting our food blog. My husband and I have talked about it for so long but with work, life, school, etc. it just kept getting pushed to the side. Apologies in advance but design and postings will improve over time as we get acquainted with WordPress. Cheers, […]