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Category: The Munch

The Munch is all about the things I make, bake, create and cook.  Sometimes it is a simple little thing and other times a complete meal.  If it’s worth making it is worth sharing.

Laura – Make the Drive to Summerville

 Charleston is a food town, so you do not have to go far to get great food. Summerville is only 30 miles from where we live, but it might as well be Iowa. We very rarely ever go there. Summerville is a suburb; like most suburbs, there is no reason to go if you live elsewhere. That is until Laura opened. In the Spring of 2022, French Master Chef Nico Romo opened Laura, a rustic Italian restaurant celebrating his maternal grandmother- Laura’s heritage, culture, and foods. This is his third restaurant in the area, The first two being Nico in…

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Salmon with Coconut and Dill Sauce

When I first read the original version of this recipe in the NYT, I thought, “Well, that’s an odd combination! And it is a lot of steps.” Salmon with coconut AND fresh dill for my palate just seemed wrong. But we were having friends over for dinner, and in spite of the number of steps, it seemed straightforward and easy. I could do the prep earlier in the day and throw it in the oven once the guests arrived. And I wanted to have fish. I had to remove the tomato from the original recipe because of food sensitivity, and…

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Trapanese Pesto

Trapanese Pesto is quick and easy to make in your food processor. It requires no cooking, making it the perfect summer sauce or topping. It is vegetarian; if you omit the cheese, it can be vegan. I use this pesto three ways. It can be a sauce on pasta, a bruschetta topping, or a dip with crackers, pita, or bagel chips. Trapanese Pesto (Tomato & Almond Pesto) * Prep time 15 minutes  Ingredients 1/2 cup roasted Marcona Almonds, unsalted 2 Garlic cloves, puréed or finely minced 1 (14 ounces) can Whole San Marzano Plum Tomatoes*, roughly chopped 1/2 cup Sun-Dried…

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Gnocchi with Pistachio Cream Sauce

Gnocchi with Pistachio Cream Sauce Pasta with Pistachio Cream sauce was Gary’s go-to meal when we visited Sicily. His favorite pasta was gnocchi, although the cheese ravioli was a close second. So when we did the Sicilian wine tasting for our clients, I served the dish with gnocchi as one of the food pairings. It was a huge hit, and I was asked for the recipe by practically everyone. So I decided to post it here. Unfortunately, I have no pictures from when I made it, so I can only show you the end result of three meals in Sicily.…

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Costco Appetizer Upgraded Creations

Zhuzhing up Basic Costco Buys Costco is my favorite store. Yes, we are a household of two, but I can not imagine not shopping there. I especially like shopping at Costco because they have some products that can easily turn into something even better than what they intended. And these products save me lots of time. For example, I often make the food pairings for our wine tastings from Costco buys.  Below are several creations that I have made that are now fan-favorites. I created the first two appetizers for the recent Pedroncelli Wine Tasting I hosted last Thursday. These…

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Kings Hawaiian Custard Casserole

A couple of weeks back, I made a French Toast Casserole for brunch. It was well received and delicious, but I, personally, was hoping for a much creamier custard center that just never materialized with this recipe. As I ate it, I kept thinking about what would give me the custard quality I desired. I knew it was the “bread,” and then that light bulb in my head appeared when I thought Kings Hawaiian rolls! Let me just say I could not get this idea out of my head, so even though I just posted the French Toast Casserole in…

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Bistronomy by Nico – Born from Pandemic

Charleston has a new french bistro and it’s a great new addition to our food scene. I have been twice and can not wait to go back. It’s called Bistronomy by Nico. There is a story behind it, so indulge me. After you read this make your reservation. We all know that the pandemic has wreaked havoc on families and businesses across this country.  Hundreds of thousands have died, millions sick, and businesses everywhere have closed – many for good. Restaurants and bars have been hit especially hard due to the social and sharing nature of those businesses. With time…

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French Toast Casserole

We recently had a few folks over for brunch. I made three things that you have to know about.  The first is this incredibly easy French Toast Casserole. So simple and so delicious. Crispy top with soft, pillowy custard center.  You have to try this sometime. But the two others are also fabulous. I did not do anything different than the recipe called for, so here are links to the recipes.  I baked my scrambled eggs. OMG – they were the best. The fluffiest eggs I have EVER had. And I used a copycat recipe to make my ham taste…

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