The following message is intended for those 18+. This post has been sponsored by Vilanaru Barcelona. All opinions expressed are my own. Please enjoy responsibly! We’ve not yet wrapped up Christmas, but nevertheless today I’ve decided to post briefly about something synonymous with New Year’s Eve – sparkling wine. For many (most?), the turn of…
Christmas Dessert Tablescape featuring Mulled Apple Cider
We’re sharing some of our favorite tips for pulling together a festive, elegant holiday tablescape with ease, but no holiday spread is complete without Mulled Apple Cider. Today we’re showing you how with our favorite slow cooker recipe! I held a small dinner party this past Sunday, and my brother and son were talking, and…
Struffoli (Italian Honey Balls) & Giveaway
As we prepare for Christmas, I can’t help but share one of my childhood favorites – Struffoli otherwise known as Italian Honey Balls. Crisply fried dough balls are bound together with warm honey then piled high and topped with cherries and sprinkles. There was skit in the television show The Nanny about last names and…
A guide to hosting the perfect holiday party with Chef Tom Douglas
We are pleased to welcome 3-Time James Beard Award Winner, Chef Tom Douglas, to Living the Gourmet today as we discuss what it takes to host the perfect holiday party this season. A memorable holiday party can take weeks of coordinating. After you finalize your guest list and playlist, it’s time to plan the menu….
Italian Style Cream Puffs
Intricate but not complicated, these Italian Style Cream Puffs are worth every bit of effort this holiday season. With a few helpful tips, you’ll see how easy they are to perfect. We complete ours with a light yet decadent Ricotta Cream and Amaretto filling. Sweetened Ricotta Amaretto Cream swathed in flaky pastry shells, these bite-sized…
Italian Butter Cookies (+Video)
Soft, buttery cookies are sandwiched together with raspberry jam then dipped in chocolate and sprinkles for the classic, bakery favorite we all grew up loving! Make a batch of these Italian Butter Cookies for an unforgettable holiday this season. My first ‘commercial’ experience with food before Living the Gourmet came in the form of a…
Potato Leek Soup
Potatoes and Leeks are simmered together for a creamy, soul-comforting soup that will melt away all your winter blues. Today’s recipe is focused squarely on those pleasantly chilled, blissfully dreary late November and early December days sandwiched between the end of Thanksgiving and the start of the dreaded Christmas rush. During those few precious days,…
Bacon Wrapped Herbed Turkey
Slow roasted and wrapped in a layer of bacon with an herbed butter underneath, this juicy Thanksgiving roast will truly shine at your holiday table! Bacon. Everything is better with bacon. Aside from butter and money, what else can we really say “makes everything better” simply by its presence? And please, spare me the purple…
Viennese Apple Strudel
Thin, flaky layers of filo dough are baked with apple slices, warm spices and nuts between each fold to create this beautiful, golden Viennese Apple Strudel. In 1955’s film adaptation of ‘Guys and Dolls,’ a fair bit of the plot is set in and around Mindy’s dinette, and the delicious cheesecake and strudel they serve….
Truffle Goat Cheese & Pignoli Crostini
This post is sponsored by Montchevre but the content and opinions expressed here are my own. Spruce up your holiday menu with these elegant and easy Truffle Goat Cheese & Pignoli Crostini topped with Candied Fresh Cranberries! The focus here on Living the Gourmet for the past couple of posts has been piecing together a…
Parmesan Popovers and Blackberry Preserves
Popovers are deceptively easy to make and versatile as well. Today, we’re sharing a sweet and savory combination with our Parmesan Popovers and Blackberry Preserves – perfect for the holiday season! Last I posted, we were in the process of putting together a Thanksgiving starters spread, and I gave some wine pairing suggestions courtesy of…
Grilled Veggie Melts
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #ShareHarvestSnaps #CollectiveBias Satisfy your afternoon cravings with these wholesome, protein-packed Grilled Veggie Melts alongside the tasty variety of Harvest Snaps veggie crisps! Some years ago, I ‘invested’ in a panini maker. Yes, the return on my ‘investment’ would…
Thanksgiving with Decoy Wines
Thank you Decoy for sponsoring this post. Complete your own tablescapes with Decoy this holiday season. We’re celebrating Thanksgiving a little differently today by upping the ante with a delicate tablescape featuring mini goat cheese bites, pumpkin ravioli in an orange and sage sauce, then finishing it off with a melt-in-your-mouth Caramel Pumpkin Flan. Sometimes…
Sicilian Sesame Cookies
Lightly sweet with a warmly toasted coating of sesame, these Old World classic Sicilian Sesame Cookies are the perfect accompaniment to a good cup of coffee! It is a feud that spans generations, a feud that has persisted through the outbreak and conclusion of two world wars, that has defied the changes ushered in by…
Exploring New York Wines – Part III
This post has been sponsored by Macari Vineyards. All opinions expressed are my own. Please enjoy responsibly! Our journey through LI wine country continues as we stop by Macari Vineyards to enjoy a variety of their famous blends alongside a flaky, savory Spinach Strudel. Savory Spinach Strudel and Macari Vineyards Today, I’m going to talk…
Starting a Food Blog – PRT II featuring Candied Apples
This post has been sponsored by Fotor and all opinions expressed below are my own. In our first installment of Starting a Food Blog, we dug deep into the bare bone basics of what starting a site from scratch entails. Today, we’re going to talk about what goes into creating a blog post and one…
Italian Fried Shrimp Balls
Thank you Carapelli Olive Oil for sponsoring this post. For more information and a store locator, please visit CarapelliUSA.com and be sure to check out Carapelli’s social channels: Facebook and Instagram. These Fried Shrimp Balls are boasting in rich Italian flavors thanks to Carapelli Unfiltered Organic Extra Virgin Olive Oil. They are easy to make…
Pumpkin Spice French Toast
Soft brioche is thickly sliced then brushed with a creamy pumpkin spiced batter. Grilled to sweet perfection, serve this Pumpkin Spice Toast with a hot cup of coffee and enjoy the tastes of the season! According to Leonardo da Vinci, simplicity is the utmost sophistication…a mantra apparently lost on those who wrote of his fabled…
Harvest Morning Loaf
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and Mazola® Corn Oil. All opinions are mine alone. #MakeItMazola #simpleswap #CollectiveBias Fall mornings are complete now with a warm slice of this ultra moist Harvest loaf boasting of grated zucchini, carrots, and sweet apples! Cooking oil is one of those ingredients that are very easy to…
Beef Bourguignon
Thank you Decoy for sponsoring this post. Celebrate International Merlot Month this October by using the hashtag #MerlotMe on social! Braised beef simmered in a rich burgundy stew with fresh herbs, small onions, and butter roasted mushrooms, create one of autumn’s most quintessential flavor combinations. Today, we’re pairing Julia Child’s signature French classic, Beef Bourguignon,…
LTG Presents: Composer Jake Monaco
I am pleased to welcome composer Jake Monaco to Living the Gourmet, who is immensely successful in the world of animated television scoring. Jake most recently scored the Warner Bros. Animation’s Scooby Doo and the Gourmet Ghost, starring world-famous chefs Bobby Flay and Giada De Laurentiis, which released on DVD September 11. It’s a perfect…
Exploring New York Wines – Part Three (Honey Pine Nut Tart)
This post has been sponsored by Benmarl Winery. All opinions expressed are my own. Please enjoy responsibly! Today, we’re continuing our tour of New York wines, but today we’re leaving Long Island for the region that, quite literally, ‘started it all’ for American wines – Upstate New York. Honey Pine Nut Tart & Benmarl Wines…
Apple Pecan Crisp for Two
The product and following message have been provided by the makers of In The Raw® so that I could try the product and share my thoughts and information about Stevia In The Raw®. The opinions expressed in this post are my own and do not reflect the opinions of the makers of In The Raw®…
Walnut Tea Cake
This shop has been compensated by Collective Bias, Inc. and its advertiser. All opinions are mine alone. #TeaProudly #FallforBigelow #CollectiveBias This buttery, light cake is speckled with walnuts and notes of citrus then layered together with a fruit preserve center. It’s a seasonal treat that is perfect for cozy Autumn days and holiday occasions as…
