Spectacular Stone Fruit Season!

Plum Crumble - the perfect dessert to welcome the arrival of fall!

Have you noticed how beautiful and delicious the Stone Fruits are this time of year. I have been raiding the Farmers Markets for peaches, plums, cherries and apricots. Stone fruits not only offer lots of vitamins and nutrients, these super sweet beauties are also low in calories. I have been enamored with the plums this season. Did you know that the natural white film coating, called a “bloom” protects their skin and makes them juicy by keeping the moisture on the inside of the fruit. If the plums still have their bloom when purchasing, you can tell they have not been over handled, and they should be very juicy upon ripening. Filled with antioxidants, these sweet, juicy beauties are super heart and brain healthy and naturally low in calories. Check out the recipe for my Soothing Plum Crumble. It is amazing! (simply click on the photo!)

With so many delicious ways to enjoy, I thought I would share some of my favorite sweet and savory dishes with stone fruits this week. Breakfast, lunch, and dinner, fresh salads, appetizers and desserts, so many delicious options for enjoying fresh stone fruits while they last.  I am thrilled to pass on just a few of my Fun & Simple favorites to enjoy with your family. Don’t forget to share and send me your photos!

Peach Arugula Salad

Hearty Peach Bolognese

Soothing Plum Crumble

I hope you enjoy these fun and simple stone fruit recipes while savoring the beginning of fall! Stay tuned for lots of fall entertaining ideas, menus and delicious and comforting new recipes...In the meantime,

You will find lots of my favorite recipes in my new lifestyle cookbook. order yours today!

A Delicious Late Summer Surprise

Where did summer go? I don’t know about you, but didn’t this one seem especially fast? The highlight for me was my birthday weekend when Jeff surprised me with a wonderful birthday dinner celebration in a spectacular wine cellar. I knew he was up to something, but would never let on and spoil his surprise, of course.  We spent the night before at the wonderfully chic Perry Lane Hotel in Savannah, Georgia enjoying the day in the city and the rooftop terrace at the hotel.

Then, when I arrived at the venue for dinner, I was be greeted by 20 of our closest friends…surprise right! But that wasn’t even close to being the real surprise. As I was seated at the table and read the beautifully crafted menu for the evening, I noticed something super special, the menu was comprised entirely of dishes from my new book! In honor of the launch this month, Jeff had arranged with the chef to prepare the evening’s event with an appetizer, a choice of 3 entrée’s and dessert all from Fun & Simple Gourmet. Needless to say, I was more than surprised, speechless in fact (which is not easy for me…ha!) and so touched that Jeff arranged such a special evening with our dearest friends.  Chef Nick at the South Carolina Yacht Club was so gracious and prepared the dishes perfectly, everyone thoroughly enjoyed the delicious food, incredible wines and beautiful evening in this magical setting.

I thought it would be fun to share the menu Jeff and Chef Nick selected as well as the recipes, all from Fun & Simple Gourmet. Now available here on the website, Amazon and select independent book stores and kitchen shops. (Click on the photos for these recipes!)    

Scallops Marnier

Trout Amandine

Veal Piccata

Citrus Glazed Salmon

Tiramisu Trifle

Fun & Simple Gourmet

It’s hard to believe we are already into our normal back to school routines, shorter days and fall flavors. I love cooking in the fall and now ready for the temperatures to become a little cooler, it sure still feels like summer! Enjoy your last days of summer weather and in the meantime…

With Chef Nick in the Wine Cellar at the beautiful South Carolina Yacht Club. Chef and his staff were amazing with every detail for our very special evening. I was so honored to have Chef Nick prepare my dishes from Fun & Simple Gourmet. Everything was superb! Many thanks Chef!

Just Peachy Recipes for National Eat A Peach Week!

Peach Amaretto Crisp

In honor of National Eat A Peach Day this week, I thought I would share some of my favorite sweet and savory peach dishes this week. I have had a wonderful summer in the kitchen creating new fun and simple recipes with all of the wonderful fresh summer fruits and vegetables, especially peaches.  They have been so incredibly delicious this year, and I have had so much fun with my favorite stone fruit. From peach waffles to a rich and hearty Bolognese, fresh salads, appetizers and desserts, so many delicious options for enjoying fresh summer peaches while they last.  I am thrilled to share a few of my favorites with you to enjoy with your family. Don’t forget to share and send me your photos!

Peach Waffles

Peach Amaretto Crisp

Mid Summer Bruschetta

Peach Ricotta Salata

Peach Bolognese

Peach Blueberry Crumble

I hope you are having a super fun National Eat a Peach Week! Time to pack in lots of summer fun during these last few weeks left before fall is upon us. What are your late summer plans? We have been enjoying the cool Colorado Rockies this month, especially the fabulous local farmers markets and fresh and delicious Palisades peaches while escaping the August heat and humidity on the southeast coast. Summer sure is going by quickly! Hope you enjoy these fun and simple peach recipes while savoring these last days of summer...In the meantime,

Super fun birthday lunch at Sweet Basil, Vail

You will find lots of my favorite recipes in my new lifestyle cookbook. Pre-order yours today!