Today I came home to an email saying I had been nominated in the Cooking & Baking Blogs category for the 2010 OC Blog Awards by You’ve Just Been Spotted. What an honor and a great way to end the day. The voting is going on all week and you can vote no matter where you live.  If you would like to vote for Adventures In The Kitchen click on the button below. Voting ends Sunday, September 12th at 11:59 pm.  You can vote here. If you were here, I’d shamelessly offer you a cookie, perhaps a glass of wine.  [...]

I made these Union Square Bar Nuts as part of my recent Oscar party. They are coated with butter, brown sugar, rosemary and a bit of cayenne pepper for that extra kick. They are considered the best bar nuts in New York. Every day at 4:45 they come out of the oven warm and straight to the bar. Even Giada shared her love for these on the Food Network’s “The Best Thing I Ever Ate” show. This mix is extremely addictive.  Don’t say I didn’t warn you.  Thankfully they shared the recipe so that you don’t have to be in [...]

It is almost summer like weather here in Orange County. Coming home and having it light out is so nice, I love this time of year.   It feels like we have skipped spring and are into summer.  Tonight I made Fusion Risotto for the first time in a very long time.  I was introduced to a version of this at a class I took when I first became a personal chef. This risotto has a hint of the caribbean with the red curry paste and paprika.  It is slightly sweet with a hint of heat.  I add in peppers and [...]

Just in case you didn’t get enough sweets on Valentine’s Day I cooked up a rich dessert for you. I love the combination of orange and chocolate. This tart is a decadent mixture of both.  You start with a chocolate tart dough and fill it with a rich chocolate orange ganache.  It is reminiscent of those chocolate covered oranges you can buy at Trader Joe’s. These could also be made in bite size tart shells to serve at a large party. Chocolate Tart Dough 1 1/2 cups all purpose flour 1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder 1/3 cup sugar 1/2 cup [...]