SUMMER
Tilapia with Peppers and Harissa Sauce
Sometimes I just crave bell peppers, especially as summer fades into fall, which is their season. These vibrant, fruity capsicums make me think of Middle Eastern cuisine or that of Moorish Spain. Fresh bell peppers are a treat, but I'm thankful for the convenience of...
Lemony Courgettes with Edamame, Chile, and Yogurt
Is it autumn yet? Not in Tampa. It's still high summer and Florida's unbearably humid subtropical climate makes me feel like a little dumpling in a steamer basket. I step outside of my nice, cool apartment and immediately I'm dripping with sweat and overcome by the...
Caribbean Carrot and Mango Salad
My Caribbean Carrot and Mango Salad is inspired by flavours I discovered in St. Lucia on my honeymoon 7 years ago. The food was unlike anything I had ever experienced in the United States, where I'm from. My husband and I stayed at a beautiful beachside resort...
Grilled Broccoli with Black Olive Tapenade
I love grilling. Maybe it’s because I grew up in the Southern United States where people take their BBQ seriously. Maybe it’s because I get to create perfectly caramelized grill marks on my food. Or maybe it’s because the sizzle and the smoky aromas always take me...
Easy Everyday Vegetable Stir-Fry
We had a couple days of unbelievable sunshine and warmth here in Dublin this week (though today it has turned cloudy and cool). In true la belle vie style my husband made the last minute decision to take a vacation day and we skedaddled off to Portmarnock beach. It...
Chickpea Power! Two Healthy Salads to Fuel You All Day
Bonjour! How is your week going? The husband and I survived our big move to Dublin last weekend. We are still living out of boxes and getting settled into the new routine. Our little dachshund, Minnie, likes her new home and all the kids running around the park next...
How -To Prepare Whole Squid
It was a cold and drizzly Irish morning at the Cavan Farmers Market. Making my usual rounds I took a mental note of everything on offer-- must get a couple of éclairs from The Mason’s Apron to bring home for breakfast, don’t forget to grab some eggs, the kale...
The Last of the Summer Wine
The weather has turned cooler and a bit blustery here in Cavan. We're coming up on my favorite time of year: autumn. I can feel a change in the quality of the light, more golden and soft. My focus has shifted inward, away from long summer drives and tending to my...
Poached Fish with Tomato-Saffron Broth and Garden Vegetables
Back in April I arrived in Ireland with all my worldly possessions packed into two suitcases, including my cherished copper fish poacher. Snatched up at a second-hand shop, it's one of my favorite finds. I especially love the detail in the handles shaped like fins and...
Spanish Tortilla with Red Peppers, Chorizo and Manchego
I’ve got a real thing for Spain (I told you this before). The language, the small plates and brash flavors, the artisanal meats and cheeses, afternoon siesta, eating late- I love it all. Lately I've been obsessed with roasting red peppers. Maybe it's a yearning...
Strawberry, Spinach, and Quinoa Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette
Happy May Day to you! Here in Ireland, spring has been slow to reveal herself. Though the weather has been unseasonably cool, I do see a bit more sunshine and the breeze feels a tad warmer with each passing day. I've been waiting for the morning frosts to depart so I...
Greetings From Ireland and a Recipe for Blueberry Parfait
Greetings from Ireland! We arrived in our new home town of Cavan yesterday and the sun has been shining the whole time (which I'm taking as a good sign). Cavan is in the north, just 15 minutes from Northern Ireland. It's marked by rolling green hillsides dotted with...
Grilled Plum Salad with Purple Basil, Blue Cheese, and Balsamic Vinaigrette
I seem to be going through a purple period. I just can't get enough of plummy colors. Last week there was the Grilled Mission Fig Salad, followed by that post on aubergines, and today I'm grilling plums and placing them on a bed of purple lettuces and purple basil...
Grilled Fig Salad with Blue Cheese, Thyme, and Walnuts
Here at La Domestique I celebrated Labor Day by taking a rest. Though there's no ingredient of the week, I wanted to share a recipe for cooking with figs before their season comes to an end. Sweet and juicy black mission figs caramelized on a hot grill make for a...
Watermelon Granita with Mint and Lime
Recently, I took on a project for a client needing recipes and photography centered around the Cajun cuisine of Louisiana. Today, I live in Colorado, but I was born and raised in Arkansas, and made many trips through New Orleans en route to our family beach vacations...
Grilled Squid with Tomatoes and Basil
This year more than any other, I've been reveling in summer. Time passes so quickly, it's easy to blink your eyes and realize you've let a whole season go by without stopping to enjoy it. I've been working hard and playing hard lately. After working through the...
Shrimp Madras Curry with Raita
This week the husband and I celebrated our birthdays - mine on July 10th, and his on July 11th. The two birthdays meld into one big birthday, and it's great fun to share the festivities with my best friend. He was born and raised in Ireland, and each year I go on a...
Strawberry Tart
You may remember my resolution to celebrate each seasonal fruit this year with a tart? It all started in April with a recipe for Meyer Lemon Curd Tart. The purpose of the tart project is to slow my pace of life a bit, to savor each brief season and the tender fruits...
Recipe for Mussels Cooked in Rosé
On September 30, 2008 I met Michelle Obama. Just before the November election, Mrs. Obama came to CU-Boulder with the purpose of rallying students to register to vote. It was an exciting time, before the recession had taken its toll on the American spirit. I could...
Pissaladière
Pissaladière is a French dish from the Pays Niçoise, an area bordering Italy. It's easy to see the Italian influence in this flatbread decorated like a pizza. I read in Martha Stewart's Baking Handbook that Pissaladière is named for pissalat, which means "salted...
Sea Bass with Salsa Verde & Sautéed Cherry Tomatoes
One of my absolute favorite summer flavor pairings is fresh herbs with a sweet, white fleshed fish like sea bass. Today I'm inspired by Italian salsa verde, or "green sauce." Salsa verde is simply chopped herbs mixed with something briny (in this case I'm using...
Charentais Melon with Spiced Quinoa, Yogurt, and Pistachio
Sometimes the simplest pleasure is the greatest luxury. A perfectly ripe, heavily perfumed melon with syrupy sweet nectar is something to appreciate. Have you ever tried the Charentais melon? It's a cantaloupe from France with a reputation as the crème de la crème of...
Gray Sea Salt & Grilled Lamb
The Food I have something really special to share with you today! It's a recipe, and it has changed my world a little bit. Let's start at the beginning, shall we? I sat down at my desk to brainstorm a recipe that features salt as a very important ingredient. This was...
Clams in Fennel Broth
I know what you want right now in the heat of summer. You want something light, quick to cook, flavorful but simple. No problem! I find that my appetite can be stifled by the heat. The idea of stepping into my kitchen and sweating over a hot stove is not appealing....
Grilled Lamb & Peach Kebabs
The sweet, floral, juicy peach is lovely on it's own, but combine it with savory flavors and the peach really shines. Grilled peaches are a popular summer treat. I thought it would be fun to skewer the peaches and grill them alongside lamb kebabs. The flavor of lamb...
Cherry Clafoutis
Clafoutis is one of my favorite things to bake. This rustic dessert originated in the Limousin region of central France. Basically it's a custard poured over fruit and baked in the oven. Traditionally clafoutis is made with cherries, but apples, pears, berries and...
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