20+ Uses For Pesto & A Recipe For Homemade Pesto Sauce

The Italian word pesto means paste; the verb pestare means to pound or bruise. Classic pesto sauce, which originated in the basil-rich Italian province of Liguria, consists of basil, garlic, olive oil, pine nuts, Parmesan and Pecorino cheeses plus a touch of salt for seasoning. It’s traditionally made by pounding the ingredients with a mortar…
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TIP OF THE DAY: A Medley Of Kitchen Tips

We recently received the most delicious chocolate pecan pie from Comfort & Joy Kitchen. The rest of their casseroles, cobblers, pies and pot pies looks so good, we’re planning to work our way through the menu. Clicking through their website, we came across these kitchen tips, two of which were revelations to us. While you…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Five Minute Marinating Tips

Whether you decide to grill, roast, or sauté meats and other foods, marinating will make them tastier. A marinade is a savory, acidic sauce comprised of an acid, oil and seasonings. The food—fish, meat, vegetables—is bathed in the marinade to enrich its flavor and/or to tenderize it. The breaking down of the tissue also causes…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Grilling On Planks

Salmon on a cedar plank. Planks available from HomeWetBar.com.   Are you a convert to plank grilling yet? Grilling on planks of wood boosts the flavor of grilled fish, meats and vegetables by infusing them with subtle, smoky flavors. The Haida natives of the Pacific Northwest are the earliest known people to have used plank…
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TIP OF THE DAY: Dessert Stacks

Dessert stacks are easy to make. Photo courtesy Filicori Zecchini.   Call it a dessert stack, a mock mille-feuille (Napoleon) or whatever you like: It’s a really easy way to serve an impressive and fun stacked dessert. Graham crackers, pound cake and loaf cake, phyllo or wontonscan be used as the base, filled with bananas,…
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