1 lb boneless lamb cut into 1 1/2 inch pieces
2 T flour
1/2 t ground black pepper
2 pinches of salt
2 T olive oil
3 strips of meaty bacon, cut into 1/2 inch pieces
1/2 medium sweet onion, cut into chunks
8 oz cremini mushrooms, rinsed, patted dry, and cut into thick chunks
3 large garlic cloves, chopped or smashed
3/4 cup red wine
2 cups beef stock
1 lb unpeeled yellow or red potatoes, scrubbed, bad spots removed, and cut into large pieces
2 large carrots, peeled and sliced into 1/2 inch slices
2 t tomato paste
1 bay leaf
1/2 t dried thyme
1/8 t dried rosemary
1 T parsley, chopped
Optional garnish: chopped chives or sliced green onions Read More
One Simple Question
Rigid diets do not agree with me – I tend to get rather obstinate at times and do not like being told what I have to do. So, I will tweak my way to a weight that is sustainable and healthy for me by using questions instead of silly rules.
Currently, I am tweaking liquids. It is astonishingly easy to pour a nice tall glass of unnecessary calories.
Our family loves to eat well and one thing I recently noticed is that more of our meals included a glass or two of wine – not a bad thing unless wine happens without pausing, breathing, and asking the right question. Read More
Tony’s Chicken
2-3 lbs bone-in chicken, use your favorite pieces
2 T olive oil
2 t ground garlic
1/2 t oregano
1/2 t marjoram
1/4 t pepper
1/8 t salt
1 sweet or yellow onion, cut into chunks
8 oz mushrooms, thickly sliced
2 carrots, peeled and cut into 1 inch pieces
5 banana peppers, sliced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1 T olive oil
1/2 cup white Italian wine Read More
Pinot Grigio Braised Leeks
4 large leeks
3 T unsalted butter*
3 garlic cloves
1 t dried thyme
1/4 t white pepper
1 t sugar
1 bay leaf
1 cup Pinot Grigio or your favorite white wine
2 T parsley Read More
Cacciatore Sauce with Gnocchi
serves four
1 T olive oil
1/2 cup onions, chopped
4 garlic cloves, crushed
30 oz tomatoes, fresh or two cans of tomatoes, chopped
1/4 cup good red wine
1/4 cup fresh parsley, chopped
1/4 cup fresh basil, chopped
1/2 t brown sugar
1/4 t crushed red pepper flakes
1 lb gnocchi (or pasta) Read More
Tony’s Zesty Pinot Grigio
Ingredients:
1 bottle very cold Pinot Grigio
1 bottle very cold Club Soda
1 t very finely grated lemon zest
Spoon Mage™ Notes:
This works with the zest or juice of your favorite citrus. Replace zest with juice if you do not care for the bitter flavor of zest. Just add a splash of lemon juice when you mix the drink. Read More






