April 12, 2012

Breakfast at Hotel Esencia, Mexico, Mayan Riviera

A leisurely breakfast is the ultimate luxury and we have made quite an art of the breakfast ritual, wherever in the world we are. While on the Mayan Riviera we frequent a few places that add an element of luxury or authenticity (sometimes both) to our Mexican experience. I thought I’d share some of them with you without (hopefully) writing a tome (large scholarly work…) about it. Here it goes: Hotel Esencia on Xpu-Ha beach... View Article

April 12, 2012

Hartwood restaurant in Tulum, Mayan Riviera

We spend a month on the Mayan Riviera each winter and, given my interest in food, I am always on the lookout for special places to eat. We have our usual haunts, from the ultra luxurious to the local and quaint. This year I heard about Hartwood from a Bon Appetite article a while back and drove down to Tulum to explore and try it out. The Hartwood website advised that they are open for... View Article

April 12, 2012

Apples

Apples It’s hard to think of an apple as a seasonal fruit because a good selection of apples is available all year round, flown in from wherever they happens to be in season. The apple, however, is a fall fruit and if you have ever seen an apple orchard, those trees laden with golden, red, green or pink fruit in September and October are as exciting as anything I have ever seen (I live a... View Article

April 12, 2012

Cactus Pears / Prickly Pears

Cactus pears arrive at the market in early fall and remain there, keeping an eye on the going on, until springtime. Like it’s name indicates, a cactus pear is the fruit of the cactus plant and true to the origin, it is protected by sharp and prickly thorns from the would be cactus pear assassins. Do not give up though. By the time the cacti fruit makes it to the market it has been stripped... View Article

April 12, 2012

Candied Nuts

Candied nuts are part of my kitchen repertoire. I make a batch and keep it in the freezer to use when called for. I use walnuts here but almonds, macadamia, hazelnuts and other nuts work just as well. To use in salads just scatter a few nuts over the top after you have tossed the salad with the dressing. Ingredients: 3 cups walnuts 1/3 cup sugar 1/3 cup water 1/4 cup honey 1/8 teaspoon cinnamon... View Article

April 12, 2012

Agave Vinaigrette

Agave and crème fraiche combine to make a sweet and tangy dressing that goes particularly well with bitter greens such as arugula, endive and radicchio. I find that this dressing works best when blended with the help of an immersion blender Ingredients: 1/4 cup crème fraiche 1/4 cup agave syrup 1/4 cup apple cider vinegar 1/2 cup canola oil Directions: Combine all ingredients in a cup and blend with an immersion blender. The dressing will... View Article

April 12, 2012

Hazelnut Vinaigrette

Salads, especially those that include nuts and cheese, are particularly good when you add some nut oil to the dressing. Here is a dressing using hazelnut oil and some ground hazelnuts as well that give the dressing body and texture. Instead of using all hazelnut oil I divide the amount and use half vegetable oil and half hazelnut oil, for a slightly milder version of the dressing. You can however use all nut oil. Ingredients:... View Article

April 12, 2012

Mustard Vinaigrette

Classic vinaigrette made with Dijon mustard, garlic, vinegar and olive oil. Use the best ingredients you can find. Extra virgin olive oil from a reliable producer and good quality vinegar. What you put in is what you get out in flavour. Ingredients: 1 garlic clove, mashed or finely grated 2 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 tablespoons wine vinegar, red or white 1/2 cup olive oil, best quality extra virgin Directions: ... View Article

April 12, 2012

Creamy Mustard Vinaigrette

Here is a simple but good vinaigrette recipe made creamy with the addition of an egg yolk. If you’d prefer it without the egg just leave it out of the recipe. A tablespoon of cream can replace it if you feel better about cream than an egg. 1 egg yolk 2 teaspoons coarse grain mustard 1 clove garlic, grated 1/2 teaspoon Salt 1/4 teaspoon pepper 2 teaspoon white wine vinegar 1/2 cup olive oil To... View Article

April 12, 2012

Chopped Leaves Salad with Creamy Mustard Vinaigrette

I call this chopped leaves salad because I cut the greens with a knife into bite size pieces rather than break them by hand. It’s a good salad to make when you want to use the crisp green outer leaves of the romaine lettuce or larger leaves of red leaf or other salad greens you have in your fridge. I usually try to use the tender inner leaves for most salads but in this case... View Article

April 12, 2012

Pizza with Figs and Gorgonzola

When figs are in season I use them in every way possible. Their sweetness pairs well with the salty and creamy gorgonzola so I combine them in this pizza recipe. The dough is the quick method that I use when I don’t have time to prepare the dough overnight. I will set out my overnight pizza dough in a separate recipe soon. Ingredients: 6-8 ripe figs 3-4 oz Gorgonzola 1 tablespoon honey   Quick Pizza... View Article

April 12, 2012

White Bean Spread and Dip

Bean spread makes a lovely appetizer spooned on top of crostini, or serve it as a dip with pita wedges or thin slices of grilled bread. Leftovers, if any, are good on a sandwich or a tartine. You can use home cooked beans or open a can of organic low sodium beans. Both would work fine. If you cook beans you may as well cook more than you need and keep the extra in the... View Article