Ricotta cheese is surprisingly easy to make, to me it’s easier than canning. You can make it at home with two ingredients, whole milk and lemon juice and equipment you use everyday. It isn’t the traditional way to making ricotta, usually ricotta is made with the leftover whey from other cheeses like mozzarella. However making ricotta from whole milk is just as rewarding and you can boast to your friends that you’ve made cheese from scratch, no scientific knowledge of cheese enzymes needed; plus it’s delicious. Read the rest of this entry »

Maybe it’s because I am half French, but can I say, I just love a good cheese!

If you think about it, cheese is quite miraculous.   There are so many varieties, from cow, sheep, goat, and each cheese is so distinct with it’s own unique flavor and texture.

It amazes me that the impression of any given cheese can be altered for better or for worse, when it is paired with other foods.  I love to take cheese and pair it with food.  While, they each have their own distinct taste, when paired together, it becomes something completely different.

Here are a few food suggestions that I love to eat with cheese.

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Some people collect stamps, and some collect coins.  Me?  I like to think of myself as a collector of recipes.  I have more recipes right now than I’ll ever be able to try in a lifetime, but that doesn’t stop me from wanting more! Read the rest of this entry »

Two yummy 5-minute recipes for delicious ice cream popsicles.  You’ll love ‘em both!

And here they are…

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Pears are coming into season, and it can’t be soon enough for me.  I love the taste of fresh ripe pears from local growers.

Did you know that there are over 3,000 varieties of pears?  I had no idea.

Of the 3,000 varieties.  There are six that reign supreme.

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I just got back from a visit to the Betty Crocker kitchens, and what an exciting trip it was!!  Although I am still coming off a sugar high, all I can think about is baking up some more of the treats we were able to bake and sample.  One of the cookies we made while we were there were these Citrus-Kissed Fig Thumbprints.  Not only were they super easy to make, but they were something a little bit different.  I would have never thought to combine the fig and citrus before, but it worked together so well! Read the rest of this entry »

Today I am sharing my favorite way to enjoy yogurt (super easy…no cooking involved!) as well as my favorite brands of European-style yogurt.  Continue below for more details!

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Our World Tour is back and we are more excited than ever. Our first stop on our World Tour: USA.

This featured recipe has been one our biggest hits and is loved by our staff. If you are looking for the perfect bowl of soup that is full of fresh vegetables and herbs, look no further! Our Garden Chowder is the perfect way to enjoy fresh vegetables to their fullest. The creamy consistency is complimented by the delicate herbs and spices in this dish. We spent weeks getting this dish just right in our test kitchen and the flavor is there to prove it. It is a favorite among our staff and has been brought back several times by popular demand. Don’t miss your chance to enjoy this classic, yet unique dish that will have you coming back for more. All Zupas locations will be serving the Garden Chowder through Saturday, September 4th.

We have been eating fresh fruit like crazy, I am sure you have too. There are an abundance of perfectly ripe stone fruit, peaches, plums and apricots that are grown locally. We love to slice them thin, mixed with a bit of homemade jam amd served atop (or underneath) a buttery cookie. These shortbreads are easy to whip together (after making it the second time I had the recipe memorized) and they pair well with any fruit, or with your after dinner coffee or tea. Read the rest of this entry »

To me, corn fritters bring back fond memories of running through the sprinklers as a child, and taking a little break on the back steps as my mom handed us each a hot corn fritter.

I love when summer sweet corn is at it’s peak!  There nothing better than some nice fresh sweet corn!  For those of us who have corn out of our ears, check out this corn fritter recipe!

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