cooking

Food As Art

Did you know food can be a culinary art form? Think about it for a sec. The plate simply becomes the canvas. If you look closely you may discover cultural expressions, creative discipline, and stimulating sensory engagement. Today’s photo is a perfect example. I recently discovered a charming artisan boutique, called Hazel Coasts in SW Florida. The owner, Lindsay Ghord, showcases textiles handmade in Tunisia. The linen table runner with lime green and light aqua accents immediately caught my eye! Wouldn’t you agree? And the best part is you can get one yourself through her online shop @hazelcoasts.

Memories, recent or past, enhance the tasteful journey of art when they tell a story. Although food as a physical form is temporary once it’s consumed, the drama begins when the plate is placed before you. Every recipe appears unique and seems to hold its own value. Reality sets in when that first bite is taken. To be honest, food would taste the same whether it appears as art or not. In my blog, I choose to turn the ordinary into extraordinary by making it visually stimulating. 

After over 4220 days in a row, some of my posts continue to be favored by Ina Garten’s The Barefoot Contessa, on Instagram (@gail _dorna). You can even find me on Pinterest @Gail Dorna. It’s very easy to search for recipes there on the board entitled “Gail’s Kitchen Recipes”. I’d love to connect with you there as well. Experience different flavors and textures as you eat with your eyes. Catch a glimpse of “Eating My Way Through the Alphabet: Food is Art.” This remarkable journey of the palate is unique because it gives me a few moments with you. Thanks very much to all of my guests and followers on http://snapshotsincursive.com for the uplifting support, award nominations, and daily words of encouragement.

Grocery List Ideas

Whether you live on a food budget (don’t we all?) or simply wait for cravings to hit, home-cooked meals need some sort of advanced planning. Otherwise, when you head to the grocery store…..all bets are off. I’m sure I’m not the only one who has been found perusing the aisles while my stomach is growling “Feed Me”. It’s not uncommon to see customers nowadays munching on open bags of chips, snacks, or cookies as they shuffle down row after row hoping something, anything, will jump into their grocery cart and end this mealtime torture. Unfortunately, cashing out at the register could present a sticker shock when you surrender your credit card for payment. We’ve all been there. And although I’m happily married, double the cost when loved ones are there beside you. I see you shaking your head in surrender. It does keep life interesting, that’s for sure. On a brighter note, you will share the blame of extravagance together. 

By the way, thanks very much to all of my followers on http://snapshotsincursive.com for the uplifting support, award nominations, and moving words of encouragement. What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? It’s as simple as reciting your A-B-Cs. One of my passions is being at home in my own gourmet kitchen. I love to cook, and my husband loves that I do it often.  Now more than ever, since I am retired, I relish the thought of creating something delicious from scratch.  I adore time-honored traditions using tried-and-true recipes. Yet, I often never think twice about tweaking old favorites or modifying others to suit the inner craving of the moment.  Most of the recipes serve 2-4 people, but can be altered in any direction.  The leftovers are golden morsels to be eaten again later or shared with others.  And I love to share.  To me, seeing a smile in gratitude is thanks enough. The recipes you will find here in the next several weeks can be prepared very easily.  Feel free to contact me with questions.  Now take a deep breath, inhale the aromas, and join me on a tasteful journey entitled, “WHAT’S COOKING IN GAIL’S KITCHEN: GROCERY LIST IDEAS!”

Appetizers to Desserts

Everything has a beginning and an ending. Food is no different. It sets the stage for informal gatherings, romantic interludes, festive celebrations, and grande finales. From the first bite of crudité to the last sip of coffee, the entire experience can be extraordinary. If you agree with me, pull up a chair for “Eating My Way Through the Alphabet: Appetizers to Desserts!”  In a short time of blogging, the response continues to amaze me on this journey of the palate. Thanks very much to all of my followers on http://snapshotsincursive.com for the uplifting support, award nominations, and moving words of encouragement. What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? It’s as simple as reciting your A-B-Cs. One of my passions is being at home in my own country kitchen.   I love to cook, and my husband loves that I do it often.  Now more than ever, since I am retired, I relish the thought of creating something delicious from scratch.  I adore time-honored traditions using tried-and-true recipes. Yet, I often never think twice about tweaking old favorites or modifying others to suit the inner craving of the moment.  Most of the recipes serve 2-4 people, but can be altered in any direction.  The leftovers are golden morsels to be eaten again later or shared with others.  And I love to share.  To me, seeing a smile in gratitude is thanks enough. The recipes you will find here in the next several weeks can be prepared very easily.  Feel free to contact me with questions.  Now take a deep breath, inhale the aromas, and join me on a tasteful journey entitled, “EATING MY WAY THROUGH THE ALPHABET: APPETIZERS TO DESSERTS!”

Test Kitchen Favorites

It’s no secret restaurants have a way of drawing people in with seasonal offerings and unique dishes. I’m guilty of trying to copycat a certain dish afterwards when the craving hits me out of nowhere. Practice makes perfect, you know, just as tweaking a recipe to match the food preferences in the daily menus. It doesn’t get more satisfying than that. In Gail’s Kitchen I have no one to blame if something goes awry. Pull up a chair and read on. With over ten years of daily posts, the response continues to amaze me on this journey of the palate. Thanks very much to all of my followers on http://snapshotsincursive.com for the uplifting support and moving words of encouragement. I’m also on Instagram @gail_dorna and Pinterest @gaildorna. Please check it out. It’s an easy way to save recipes you favor. Ready? Set? Go! Take a deep breath, inhale the aromas, and join me on a tasteful journey entitled, “EATING MY WAY THROUGH THE ALPHABET: TEST KITCHEN FAVORITES!”

The Daily Special

Gail’s Kitchen seems to be open 24 hours a day. Pull up a chair for “Eating My Way Through the Alphabet: The Daily Special!” With over 3000 posts, the response continues to amaze me on this journey of the palate. Thanks very much to all of my followers on http://snapshotsincursive.com for the uplifting support and moving words of encouragement. I’m also on Instagram @gail_dorna and Pinterest @gaildorna. Please check it out. 

What’s cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? It’s as simple as reciting your A-B-Cs. One of my passions is being at home in my own “gourmet” kitchen.   I love to cook, and my husband loves that I do it often.  Now more than ever, since I am retired, I relish the thought of creating something delicious from scratch.  I adore time-honored traditions using tried-and-true recipes. Yet, I often never think twice about tweaking old favorites or modifying others to suit the inner craving of the moment.  Most of the recipes serve 2-4 people, but can be altered in any direction.  The leftovers are golden morsels to be eaten again later or shared with others.  And I love to share.  To me, seeing a smile in gratitude is thanks enough. The recipes you will find here in the next several weeks can be prepared very easily.  Feel free to contact me with questions.  Now take a deep breath, inhale the aromas, and join me on a tasteful journey entitled, “EATING MY WAY THROUGH THE ALPHABET: THE DAILY SPECIAL!”

A Cut Above

What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen: A Cut Above. Cooking and baking at home can be more than ordinary, especially when it becomes appealing to those around you. True, family recipes may become second nature because your mother made it, her mother before her passed it on, and her mother did the same. When it comes down to it, patience is still a key objective even when meals come together quickly. Don’t get me wrong, I appreciate modern conveniences as much as the next home chef. Not everything has to be difficult to be delicious. Recently, my friend was exasperated when her microwave oven went on the fritz. It wasn’t a total loss, but a part had to be ordered. This caused a major adjustment in her menu selection for the week. We’ve all been there. After four days, the microwave got repaired and her sense of calm returned. Life is like that. I love to cook, and my husband loves that I do it often.  Now more than ever, I relish the thought of creating something delicious from scratch.  I adore time-honored traditions using tried-and-true recipes. Yet, I often never think twice about tweaking old favorites or modifying others to suit the inner craving of the moment.  Most of the recipes serve 2-4 people, but can be altered in any direction.  The leftovers are golden morsels to be eaten again later or shared with others.  And I love to share.  To me, seeing a smile in gratitude is thanks enough. The recipes you will find here in the next several weeks can be prepared very easily.  Feel free to contact me with questions.  Now take a deep breath, inhale the aromas, and join me on a tasteful journey entitled, “WHAT’S COOKING IN GAIL’S KITCHEN: A CUT ABOVE!” The response continues to amaze me on this journey of the palate. Thanks very much to all of my followers on snapshotsincursive.com for your support and encouragement. The response continues to amaze me on this journey of the palate. 

Home is Where the Cook Lives

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet-Home Cooking! The response continues to amaze me on this journey of the palate. Thanks very much to all of my followers on snapshotsincursive.com for your support and encouragement. What’s cooking in Gail’s Kitchen?  Stay tuned and you’ll see more. It’s as simple as A-B-C.  One of my passions is being at home in my own country kitchen.   I love to cook, and my husband loves that I do it often.  Now more than ever, since I am retired, I relish the thought of creating something delicious from scratch.  I adore time-honored traditions using tried-and-true recipes. Yet, I often never think twice about tweaking old favorites or modifying others to suit the inner craving of the moment.  Most of the recipes serve 2-4 people, but can be altered in any direction.  The leftovers are golden morsels to be eaten again later or shared with others.  And I love to share.  To me, seeing a smile in gratitude is thanks enough. The recipes you will find here in the next several weeks can be prepared very easily.  Feel free to contact me with questions.  Now take a deep breath, inhale the aromas, and join me on a tasteful journey entitled, “EATING MY WAY THROUGH THE ALPHABET-HOME COOKING!

Simple Sensations

Welcome! Life is a continuous celebration from one meal to the next. It can be carefree and easy-going some days while unsettled and harried on others. With the abundance of fresh fruits and garden vegetables, every meal can be a gourmet delight. It’s all about the flavor. Simple everyday food can be the winning combination that looks amazing on the plate. By choosing your family’s favorite foods, it automatically turns mealtime into an all-star event. This remarkable journey of the palate allows time with you. Thanks very much to all of my guests and followers on http://snapshotsincursive.com for the uplifting support, award nominations, and moving words of encouragement. What’s Cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? It’s as simple as A-B-C. I love to cook, and my husband loves that I do it often. Most recipes serve 2-4 people, but can be easily modified.  Leftovers are golden morsels to be eaten later or shared with others. Seeing a smile of gratitude keeps me going. Feel free to contact me with questions.  Now take a deep breath, inhale the aromas, and join me on a tasteful journey entitled, “EATING MY WAY THROUGH THE ALPHABET: SIMPLE SENSATIONS!”

Eating My Way Through the Alphabet

What’s cooking in Gail’s Kitchen? Stay tuned and you’re about to find out. It’s as simple as A-B-C. One of my passions is being at home in my own country kitchen. I love to cook, and my husband loves that I do it often. Now more than ever, since I am retired, I relish the thought of creating something delicious from scratch. I adore time-honored traditions using tried-and-true recipes. Yet, I often never think twice about tweaking old favorites or modifying others to suit the inner craving of the moment. Most of the recipes serve 2-4 people, but can be altered in any direction. The leftovers are golden morsels to be eaten again later or shared with others. And I love to share. To me, seeing a smile in gratitude is thanks enough. The recipes you will find here in the next several weeks can be prepared very easily. Feel free to contact me with questions. Now take a deep breath, inhale the aromas, and join me on a tasteful journey entitled, “EATING MY WAY THROUGH THE ALPHABET”.