Béarnaise sauce is one of my family’s absolute favorite sauces, and if I was prepared to make it every day, I’ve no doubt they’d eat it. Though the sauce for this creamy chicken tarragon is not butter, egg yolk and vinegar based like real béarnaise, it does have a very similar taste. But with this recipe you don’t have to frantically whisk the sauce right up to the moment before serving. In fact, you can easily keep this creamy chicken tarragon in the fridge or the freezer without the sauce splitting. Instead of including vinegar this sauce gets its acidity from mustard and white wine. The balance of the sour,…
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Zesty smoked salmon
Are you ready for spring? I know it’s only February, but I can’t wait for the sun to start warming up my patio and defrost my bones! I’ve already got the patio furniture lined up, and the rosé is in the fridge, so I thought I might just give it another notch with this savory zesty smoked salmon appetizer, or lunch if you like. Maybe it’s because I’m Scandinavian, but I could easily eat smoked salmon every day. It’s no secret that Scandinavians have had a particular liking for raw and raw cured fish since the Vikings, and some even claim that it was the Norwegians who introduced raw…
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Little heavenly ricotta bites
Need a great idea for an appetizer that is fast and easy to make and that will instantly charm your guests’ taste buds? In my book these little heavenly ricotta cream bites are the perfect appetizers. They are creamy, crunchy and light with that amazing freshness and fragrance that basil and lemon so perfectly provide. I’ve been making these for years, and every time I serve them, they seem to be gone before I know it, and my guests always ask for the recipe. I think it often comes as a surprise that these little pale rather innocently looking mouthfuls are so powerful and packed with taste. Because of the…
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Gnocchi and greens
Gnocchi is but one of many magnificent wonders to have come out of Italian cooking. For some reason, though, it seems these gems always come in second after pasta, which is a pity because if cooked right, these delicately soft silky-smooth Italian potato dumplings can send you straight to heaven. Believe me, I’ve been there! And this warm gnocchi and greens salad is definitely a good way to gnocchi self-indulgence. Truly, I could easily eat Italian food every day. I really love pasta, and Italian cooking is very honest. It’s filled with fresh ingredients and what you see is what you get. The only downside is that if I…