by Chrysa SmithThe first time I arrived in Hardin, Montana, I made a comical faux pas which still makes my husband's family chuckle. "Where is the deli?", I asked. You see, Hardin, about 45 miles from Billings, Montana, is a town of about 3,000. There's a theater, grocery store, a few churches and maybe a few more bars. It brings to mind those old western towns, where the sheriff draws his gun at [...]
by Chrysa SmithThink Andrea Bocelli, Celine Deon and Piero's. Because this Huntingdon Valley, PA ristorante delivers on both food and atmosphere.Step inside, take a deep breath and say aaaahhh! You've arrived at a restaurant appropriate for dinner-- linen tablecloths, a clearly Tuscan decor, dimmed lighting and music to dine by. As you sit there you realize that this is how a restaurant experience should be. No hustle, no bustle, no noise. But certainly [...]
by Chrysa SmithI know. Cake mixes have been around for decades; nothing new, you say. Well, I've recently stocked up on a bunch. Not because I'm a sugar junkie (although I might be). But because I regularly make an appointment with The Cake Mix Doctor.If you choose to make your own appointment http://www.cakemixdoctor.com/, I must say, you will see healthy cakes in a whole new way. For instance, take a yellow cake mix [...]
by Chrysa SmithPardon me for the boys bathroom humor. I couldn't help myself. Because I wanted to talk about cheese-cutting: just in time for the Oscars.Oscars & cheese? Right. Because whether you're snacking on cheese and crackers, making nachos or any cheese-based dip, my recent purchase of a cheese plane is just what the chef ordered. For too long, I used a sharp knife to slice my various cheeses. Most Sundays, I leave [...]
by Chrysa SmithAnother Saturday night at the Smith house. Only this time, after-dinner dessert was not served the usual 'out of the box' way. This night was the Chocolate Buffet.Yes, in honor of St. Valentine's Day, I opted to stay in, have a few friends over and celebrate in a pretty, moody way. And it looked just great, don't you think?Whether it's Valentine's Day or any other holiday, a special way to jazz [...]
by Chrysa SmithWhen was the last time you were greeted by a motherly woman, seated in a room full of nostalgia and served a full, all-inclusive meal that didn't cost you the price of a butter-soft handbag? Grandma's house? Well it's close. It's Mr. Joe's Cafe on South 8th Street in Philly. Step inside and you'll feel like you've stepped into grandma's kitchen, because the atmosphere is warm, the food is quite good [...]
by Chrysa SmithAargh! I went to look for my favorite Superbowl recipe and DRATS---I can't find it. But it's so easy, I'm going to loosely share it with you---whether you cook or not; whether you like reading about food or not; whether you give two hoots about Superbowl Sunday or not---because this recipe is good for any celebration that involves hearty snacking.Don't fret---it's not the stadium snack sculpture pictured here. It is simply--stromboli. [...]
