Wednesday, December 9, 2020

Holiday Gift Guide

The holidays are right around the corner so it is time to start thinking about finding the perfect gifts for the ones you love. I'll continue adding more products as I review them. If you'd like your product considered, please email me at 
capitalcooking@gmail.com. Happy Holidays!

Saturday, November 21, 2020

Tuesday, November 17, 2020

Perfect Pair: Maple-Roasted Turkey with Beer and Wine

Pete and I basting the turkey.
Spoil yourself on Thanksgiving with an organic turkey from Ayrshire Farm and pairings from Francis Ford Coppola Winery, 3 Stars Brewing Company and Ommegang.  I tested out the menu recently and this turkey is the best I've ever had.  Try the recipe on Thanksgiving and you'll be in heaven!  (This recipe is best made with friends when there is no Coronavirus while sipping beer and wine.)  I am blessed an thankful to have such wonderful friends and family.  Cheers!

Monday, November 16, 2020

Perfect Pair for Thanksgiving: Mustard Roasted Carrots

I am going to miss hosting Friendsgiving this year.  This Coronavirus makes me sad.

Looking for a Thanksgiving side?  These Mustard Roasted Carrots will do the trick.  This healthy dish is packed with flavor and pairs well with the local options selected below.  Happy Thanksgiving!

Friday, November 13, 2020

Thursday, November 12, 2020

Recipe: Autumn Apple Crisp

Everyone loves apple crisp!  I didn't expect fall to sneak up on us so fast, but now that it is here, it is time to enjoy delicious fall fruits and vegetables. Apples, pumpkin, figs, avocado, sweet potatoes...

Tuesday, November 3, 2020

Monday, October 12, 2020

Great Holiday Gift for Kids!

Looking for a great gift for kids?  You can make homemade fruit snacks with the kids.

America’s Test Kitchen Kids, one of the country’s most trusted and inspiring cooking brands for kids, is releasing the third cookbook in its acclaimed Young Chefs cookbook series - The Complete DIY Cookbook for Young Chefs. The new cookbook builds on the success of the series’ first two titles—The Complete Cookbook for Young Chefs and The Complete Baking Book for Young Chefs—which spent a combined 86 weeks atop The New York Times best seller list. Filled with over 100+ meticulously tested and kid-approved recipes, The Complete DIY Cookbook for Young Chefs is the ultimate do-it-yourself cookbook that will change the way kids think about their favorite foods. 

Tuesday, October 6, 2020

Yummy Halloween Treats


The crisp air of October often signals that autumn has arrived. For many, this is a favorite time of year as it’s time to enjoy leaves bursting with brilliant colors, patches filled with rows of glorious pumpkins and the upcoming arrival of scarecrows and ghosts.  These treats are perfect for a fall picnic or snacks at a winery.  There's plenty of fun stuff to do outside while staying socially distanced.

Recipe: Slow Cooked Lamb Shawarma


Sink your teeth into a slow cooked lamb leg. Top it with yogurt sauce, cucumbers, herbs, and enjoy the tender, juicy dish. Serve with toasted naan.

Monday, October 5, 2020

Perfect Pair: Pumpkin Gooey Butter Cake

The cake was supposedly first made by accident in the 1930s by a St. Louis-area German American baker who was trying to make regular cake batter but reversed the proportions of sugar and flour.  This cake is available at most area bakeries and grocery stores in St. Louis. If you haven’t had it before, you are in for a treat. Neal Wavra, the sommelier of the Ashby Inn in Paris, Virginia, helped us select the pairing.

Thursday, October 1, 2020

Uncorked: Stella Rosa's Spooky Wines from the Stellaween Collection


Stella Rosa is consistently evolving with the spirit of the times when it comes to wine trends and popular culture. Just in time for Halloween, the Riboli Family of San Antonio Winery Stellabrates® 
by dressing up its award-winning semi-sweet, semi-sparkling Italian wines with an all new limited-edition art series.  These bottles are so fun!

Friday, September 18, 2020

Jump into fall with these wines!


This collection of wines, which represents some of Italy’s most iconic varietals, was first released in the 1980s by Julius Angelini. Julius set forth to find quality wines with good everyday pricing.  I'm excited to pair the Pinot Grigio with some delicate fish.  

Wednesday, August 19, 2020

Leo is here!

Photo By Katie Mortland
Hi All!  I haven't posted much since May because we got a new addition to the family.  

Thursday, May 7, 2020

Uncorked: PURE Wine for Mom


Mother’s Day is almost here and while families will not likely have a chance to celebrate in person the important women in their lives this year, sending a gift will be a special touch. The PURE Winery, which debuted earlier this year, is a line of zero-sugar, zero-carb wines, a perfect fit for wellness-conscious moms and in indulgence that fits their active lifestyle.

Tuesday, May 5, 2020

Happy Cinco de Mayo!

This is a throwback to one of our first shows about making a Mexican Fiesta.  We made mango margaritas, empanadas, guacamole and sopapillas.  I hope you are having a fiesta today!  

Friday, May 1, 2020

Recipe: Salsa

You've got to make salsa for Cinco de Mayo!  During our time in Cabo, Mexico, we stopped by the One and Only Palmilla to cook with Chef Larbi Dahrouch.  He showed us his recipe for Salsa Mexicana.  I've got my own urban garden growing with fresh tomatoes and peppers.

Thursday, April 30, 2020

Recipe: Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

I love bananas and have been ordering them with most grocery deliveries.  Usually, we have some left that turn brown so I'm always looking for ideas to bake with the ones that turn over-ripe.  This is a good one.  

Tuesday, April 28, 2020

Monday, April 27, 2020

Recipe: Ratatouille

This recipe is quite different from our Grilled Vegetable Ratatouille that we made on our Thrill of the Grill episode with Heath Hall and Brett Thompson of Pork Barrel BBQ. Ratatouille is a perfect way to practice your knife skills.  Eat your veggies!

Friday, April 24, 2020

Recipe: Lasagna

Photo by Emily Clack
My sweet daughter requested lasagna last night so I delivered.  Hope you enjoy!  What recipes have you made during quarantine?

Thursday, April 23, 2020

Uncorked: Make Mommy Happy with These 3 Wines

I know it might be hard to look ahead with the focus on the coronavirus, but don't forget about Mom.  She will love these three wines.  I'll be gearing up to welcome my third baby the next day, if all goes as planned.  I'll open one of these when I get back from the hospital.  Make sure to show your mom some love on Mother's Day (May 10).

Monday, April 20, 2020

Recipe: M’Hanncha Coiled Serpent Cake

This crescent shaped pastry is stuffed with delicately flavored almond paste and coated with icing sugar. M'hanncha means "the snake" and this pastry certainly looks like a snake. It is made of filo dough and is then coiled like a snake. It is filled with an almond paste. You can make a large pastry with larger sheets of filo, or you can make individual sizes, which is much easier.

Friday, April 17, 2020

Thinking of Drinking: Red and White Sangria

Photo by Emily Clack
With weekends as beautiful as this one, Sangria seems like the perfect drink to sip on outside.  This Sangria is a twist on the traditional recipes that use brandy. Carmine’s uses Vermouth.  Both recipes are slightly sweet and very refreshing.  These are recipes are nice for a picnic, barbecue or party since the base of the drink can be made hours in advance.

Hopefully we can have gatherings again soon.

Wednesday, April 15, 2020

Tuesday, April 14, 2020

Uncorked: Top 3 Spring Whites

Spring is a great time to sip wine. The weather starts to feel a little nicer; the trees start blooming; the air smells fresh.

Monday, April 13, 2020

What to Cook: Shrimp

We've been making lots of meals at home during the pandemic.  I've compiled some of my favorite shrimp recipes in case you're looking for inspiration.  

Friday, April 10, 2020

Wines in the time of Quarantine

These frightening times may make perusing wine lists seem like a quaint pleasure of days gone by. But it is also important that we maintain our sanity and composure during tough times, and there has never been a time in our collective lives when we have needed to do that more. As Lord Byron said, "Wine cheers the sad, revives the old, inspires the young, makes weariness forget his toil." So perhaps you should gift one of the following to your favorite healthcare worker, grocery store clerk, or delivery person the next time you see them:

Friday, April 3, 2020

Quarantine Cooking: Asparagus and Shrimp Risotto

We've been completely isolated, but eating well.  I had a craving for risotto and fresh spring flavors.  Try this recipe.  Add in other spring ingredients like peas or fresh herbs.  

Wednesday, April 1, 2020

Recipe: Strawberry Shortcake

This recipe is featured on p. 120 of the Capital Cooking Cookbook. Long ago, we filmed the American Classics show with Chef Shannon Overmiller of The Majestic. Shannon is not only an amazing chef, but she is such a sweet person. This recipe is perfect for strawberry season.

Friday, March 13, 2020

Thinking of Drinking: Dewar’s Ilegal Smooth

Dewar’s continues to push the boundaries within the whisky category, through their commitment to innovation by creating the world’s first mezcal cask finished Scotch whisky. Dewar’s Ilegal Smooth is a premium 8-year-old Scotch, double-aged, and finished in Ilegal mezcal casks for a pleasantly unexpected sweet, smooth taste with a wisp of smoke finish.

Thursday, February 27, 2020

Wednesday, February 19, 2020

Mardi Gras Recipe: Beignets

Since Mardi Gras is approaching, celebrate with some homemade beignets!  Did you know that St. Louis has the second biggest celebration?  If it was more kid-friendly, I'd be in Soulard this weekend, but alas I will not partake in the debauchery. 

Wednesday, January 22, 2020

Recipe: Spicy Cauliflower Soup topped with Homemade Croutons and Truffle Oil

Cauliflower is a cultivated member of the cabbage family and was being planted in American colonies by the 1600s. Cauliflower is a bunched mass flower stems.  Most cauliflowers grow in large heads of thick white clusters. However, there are some new varieties that produce green and purple colors as well.  I didn't eat much cauliflower growing up. Being that my New Year's resolution is to eat more meatless meals, I decided to try cooking cauliflower for the first time. I thought this soup is a good starter.  Expect to see more veggie recipes for me this year!  Please share any cauliflower recipes that you have below in the comments.

Monday, January 13, 2020

Recipe: Creamy Chicken Marsala

Photo by Shauna Alexander
One of my favorite dinner recipes is my Creamy Chicken Marsala.  I recently made this for my dad's birthday.  Enjoy!

Thursday, January 9, 2020

National Soup Month: Broccoli and Cheese

Chef Michael Harr at Food, Wine and Co shared his recipe for Vegetarian Winter Broccoli Soup with Broccoli Floret Carpaccio, Asiago Cheese, and Extra Virgin Olive Oil. 

Wednesday, January 8, 2020

Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Happy New Year!

Every year I am more amazed at how fast time flies.  I realize it even more now that I have kids.