Contessa Honey Coconut French Toast

There is a story in the Old Testament where God promised the Israelites a new homeland flowing with “Milk and Honey” after they crossed the dessert. Well, I can easily say without any intended irreverence, if God had promised me a land filled with rivers of COCONUT milk and CRUCIAN honey, I too would travel without complaints over the expansive hot desert sands (barefoot)!!! Read More

Happy Thanksgiving!!

I hope you and your family have a wonderful Thanksgiving Day! I hope the food you make today creates and adds to the wealth of family memories for tomorrow. Give thanks for all that you are and all that you are going to become! There is so much in the gift of food and gratitude! 🙂

The Crucian Contessa

Contessa Brown Butter & Lemongrass Tilapia

I have been working with lemongrass as a flavoring quite a bit lately. It finds itself in ice teas, ice creams, and now in savory dishes like this one. I enjoy the flavor that comes from lime zest, but I find the subtle scent of lemon grass makes the perfect substitute. Also, its grassy undertones elevate the dish in ways that lime zest alone can’t compete with. So, I decided to try it in this fish recipe. Coconut milk, lemongrass, a hint of curry, and other complex Caribbean flavors make their way into this luscious and incredibly simple end-of-the-week, supper dish.

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Contessa Tip #12

Be sure to read every recipe thoroughly before beginning. There is nothing worse than believing you can wing it. Especially when you realize that the 3 cups of sugar was supposed to be divided between the cake and the glaze. Or that the egg you added to the dough was to be used for the final egg wash in a croissant! Trust me, I have had that experience of one too many eggs in a cheesecake.

Part of the fun of cooking is learning how things come together. How time, individual ingredients, and perfect technique can help create unforgettable food and family memories! Rediscover your kitchen and enjoy!!

TasteSpotting!!!

October 18th was definitely a two-in-one kind of day!! First Tastespotting chose my Avocado Egg Rolls recipe, then my other favorite site Foodista picked it up and highlighted it!! It really brings me joy to see the foods we grow right here on our little Rock highlighted and celebrated! Big Smiles, even if a bit late in posting!!

Here is what I shouted on my FB page about this true honor!! “Food bloggers know how notoriously difficult it is to get one of their photos on Tastespotting.com! Well, today they accepted one of my photographs!! What a wonderful surprise!! :)” 

Avocado Egg Rolls!!!

Foodista!!

I suppose this is what happens when you try to balance life, work, and blogging! You forget to post that on October 18th, one of your all time favorite Food Sites recognized the beauty and hard work of the things you create and love!

I think my original post on FB says it most honestly, “FOODISTA!! ARE YOU SERIOUS TODAY!!? Ok, so this is truly ridiculous (In an AMAZINGLY WONDERFUL way)!!! TWO postings by two major food blogging websites!! Foodista.com saw this on Tastespotting.com, and FEATURED it on their site!! So excited that folks are sharing the love and passion for the flavor profiles right here on our little Rock!! What an AWESOME day!! :)”  Contessa Avocado Eggrolls!!

Contessa Tomato & Feta Salad

There is something about islands that speak to all kinds of commonalities; whether it is the Virgin Islands or the Grecian islands. Any place that is showered in the sunshine will have foods that reflect that brilliant synergy of sun, earth, and water. This simple tomato and feta salad, is not a Crucian dish, but to me it symbolizes much of the “sun” foods that grow easily on our island by many of our local farmers. Cherry tomatoes, culantro, basil, all lend a hand in this promising, beat-the-heat dish. Read More