I’m always joking that I’d rather have cheese than chocolate for dessert. And this is my inspiration for this dish. It’s all in the presentation. Goat cheese is combined with a little Greek yogurt and herbs d’ Provence, then rolled into “truffles” and then coated with a variety of fun and different toppings. To serve them, we place them in little paper cups as you would a truffle. Serve with crostini’s or crackers, they are the perfect way to begin or end your meal.

Top sirloin and beautiful gulf shrimp are tossed in a wonderful spice mixture of coriander, cumin, garlic, and other spices to create this flavorful summer showcase. The avocado tzatziki sauce is to die for and is fantastic sauce to go with our grilled beef and shrimp. It can also be used as an excellent appetizer served with pita chips or crudités or added to a sandwich to make it taste super!

I just got back from a visit to New York with my son and the first thing on our agenda was to get a proper New York bagel with a smear! His was with plain cream cheese mine was lox and cream cheese. This salmon pâté is inspired by that decadent combination of smoked salmon and cream cheese. A little bit more elegant version of that flavor profile. We just slightly puréed the smoked salmon with cream cheese so there are nice pieces though out the cheese. Then, we add the flavor goodies; shallots, dill, lemon juice, capers, everything you put on top a gorgeous bagel. But today we’re going to serve it with crostini, but you could certainly serve it with a bagel, chips, or crackers.

Carrot cake is a classic. This is my take on my Mom’s recipe. The carrot cake batter is not light and fluffy, its more dense like a muffin batter. So I’ve added yogurt and I love the traditional addition of crushed pineapple to add flavor and help keep it moist. The cake is studded with roasted pecans and then covered in a decadent cream cheese icing. Just a slice of heaven. A perfect way to end a delicious spring meal.

These crunchy beauties are always the favorite at my parties! We start by making our own curry seasoning blend and add it to sautéed ground beef, then use it to fill wonton wrappers and deep fry them to perfection. Served with a spicy mustard dipping sauce, they are positively addicting–I bet you can’t eat just one!

This is one of my favorite summer dishes. The word gratin has two meanings: one is an oval-shaped baking dish; second, a topping that is browned. You can use whatever baking dish you have, it will not affect the taste. The onions, garlic, and tomatoes are cooked down to a jam-like consistency, topped with layers of eggplant and a ricotta-yogurt mixture, finished with a sprinkle of Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese that is slightly browned. This dish is fantastic for great entertaining since it can be made ahead. You can serve it as a starter, or alongside your main dish. I love it the next day with a fried egg on top for breakfast or a light lunch.