Raspberry Cheese Blintzes

Raspberry Cheese Blintzes on a plate with a fork, napkin, and roses

Madison Park Cafe used to be a favorite brunch place for my mother and I. After they closed we really missed their amazing cheese blintzes. So a few years back, I created my own version for Mother’s Day. Now it is an annual tradition. Creamy, sweetened ricotta on the inside brightened with just a little bit of lemon zest, wrapped in a delicate crêpe and topped with fresh raspberry sauce — these blintzes make a wonderful treat for a special breakfast.

Crêpes

3 large eggs

2/3 cup milk

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Sweet Potatoes with Brown Sugar Pecan Streusel

Everything great about pecan pie and sweet potato casserole comes together in this recipe.  This is the one Thanksgiving side I’m never “allowed” to skip.  Interestingly, it is the former sweet potato-haters in my life who are now the most insistent that I make it every year.  Probably because I, like them, can’t stand the sickly-sweet marshmallows on top of a traditional sweet potato casserole.  But the nutty streusel in this recipe is just the right balance.  It still tastes like dessert sneaking it’s way into the savory course of the meal, but it isn’t going to give you a cavity!  Continue reading

Peas & Pancetta

Peas & Pancetta is one of my favorite Thanksgiving sides.  Be sure to use petite peas as they are sweeter than full size peas and make a better balance for the salty pancetta.  I like to use the pre-diced pancetta from Trader Joe’s. It just makes life easier and around Thanksgiving I’ll take very ounce of easier I can get!  Continue reading

Creamy Chicken Verde

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Creamy Chicken Verde

This dish is a fusion of two my mother used to make.  The first is Chicken & Green Chilies, which was infamous in my house because on one of her first dates with my father, my mother accidentally made it with chilies so HOT they made my poor dad’s eyes water. Lucky for me, to impress the pretty girl, he soldiered through! Continue reading