Tonight’s dinner featured this quick and easy-to-prepare, oven-roasted asparagus. It goes well with just about anything and is nice as an appetizer. It’s equally delicious served warm or cold and is also a nice addition to salads. Mmmm, I love this stuff! [...]

As a wine lover, I make it a point to sample at least two new varieties each month; one red, one white. To be clear, I am not an expert on the subject, but through the years I’ve tasted quite a few and I know what I like. I’ve tried several wines of various prices and types, including Merlot, Bordeaux, Zinfandel, Chianti, Pinot Noir, Cabernet, Chardonnay, Pinot Grigio, Riesling, Vouvray, various blends, and so on. Some I’ve enjoyed more than others, but when it’s all said and done, I do have my all-time favorites. [...]

Until recently, I had never given thought to this question. During several food-related conversations with various friends and coworkers over the past couple of years, on more than one occasion it has been suggested that I may have “missed my calling” so to speak. The consensus among many of them is that perhaps I should have been a chef or food critic or some other food-related professional. Their comments are not meant to imply that I am not good at my work, as I have been feeding myself from the accounting [...]

While prepping for New Year’s dinner the other night and trying to figure out how to sneak a couple of martinis into the office something different to serve for dessert, this idea came to me. Sour apple martinis were already on the menu, so I broke out the Shustoff and the gelatin, and — voilà! Straight coolness. Ah, now this is my idea of a perfect celebratory dessert. What could be better than having a light, refreshing dessert and one of America’s favourite cocktails at once? This is definitely “grown folks” jello, y’all! [...]