Maple Bar Bites
‘Sappy’ dessert ~ How cute are these little maple bar bites ! Especially skewered on these leafy little picks! I sent ‘the Mr.’ out , to pluck a few leaves for me. He was thrilled :) Now, these maple bites are tasty enough all by themselves but I of course, gussied them up with the leaves and a...
Old-Fashioned Berry Cobbler with a Twist
Summer Berries ~ Um, who isn’t crazy about Cobbler? Seriously, this dessert is the essence of summer. Who doesn’t remember picking ripe, juicy berries as a kid, oblivious to stained mouths and hands…more berries in your belly than the bowl your mother sent you out the door with. I must say, I am rather picky about...
Pink Champagne and Pink Grapefruit Sorbet ~
Pink B~l~u~s~h In love with the luscious color of pink grapefruit. I also adore its tart, tangy-sweet taste. Perfect for sorbet! Especially, when you combine the freshly squeezed juices, (love the old-school juicer) segments & zest with a little pink champagne and vanilla sugar. It’s effervescently refreshing, And of course, there is the ‘vitamin C’ thing....
Blood Orange & Toasted Almond Biscotti ~
Twice Baked Love, love Biscotti. Always have…our Grandma Nettie used to make them for us and store them in coffee cans. D~e~l~i~c~i~o~u~s! Biscotti, means…twice cooked. That’s what makes them so wonderfully crunchy. You can gussy them up any which way. This recipe includes: fragrant, earthy, toasted almond chunks, tangy Blood Orange zest, nutmeg and a splash...
Vanilla Bean, Nutmeg & Sage Pudding
‘Vintage’ Dessert I love taking an old school dessert and spicing it up. And it doesn’t get much more old school, than pudding. When I think of pudding, I’m instantly whooshed back to my childhood…sitting at the kitchen counter, watching my mom make her delicious tapioca pudding. So my pudding recipe is born of...
Meyer Lemon, Vanilla Bean & Rosemary Pops ~
Pucker up I love the taste of Meyer lemon. I love it so much, I bought a tree. The Meyer, is a tangy orange-lemon combo, that is sweeter than traditional lemons…making it perfect for desserts & drinks. I also love the taste of Rosemary. For the latest Girls Night IN gathering, I decided to combine the two flavors…to make...
Hot Chocolate with Star Anise and Thai Chile ~
Winter Warmth Don’t know if it’s the upcoming holiday of l~o~v~e or a recent viewing of, ‘Chocolat,’ a film favorite but I’m craving chocolate, hot Chocolate and not just any hot chocolate. This batch, is made from 3 ounces of unrefined Dark Spanish Chocolate… roughly chopped and a cup of whole milk, infused with Star Anise, that shapely, licorice...
Come to ‘Le Petite Pie’ Night at Our House: Girls Night In
In the Kitchen with Monica ~ Images ~ Stefanie Knowlton I’m so excited to share the night of Petite Pies at our house. The little pies, are a modern take, on the old fashioned, all American classic, Apple pie, a la mode. And here’s my little twist, I like to make apple pie bites, served with a...
Raspberry Prosecco Sorbet ~
Raspberries & Bubbles I love sorbet. It’s light, refreshing, fruity and when you pour a little sparkling Prosecco into the recipe… well, it’s heavenly! I made this pretty raspberry prosecco sorbet, as a refreshing break between courses, at our ‘Le Petite Pie’ night. So much fun! Can’t wait to share the evening with you! Anyway, this...
Salted Caramel & Vanilla Sauce ~
Buttery caramel & French Salt Love, love the combination of salty & sweet. So I came up with this ridiculously simple caramel sauce. I cook up a little of my vanilla sugar, vanilla bean seeds, French gray salt, heavy cream and water in a deep pan, on the stove top. The flavors come together to...
Petite Apple Pies ~
Pie ~ There is something so comforting about homemade pie and something so ALL American about homemade APPLE Pie. While cooking up holiday recipes, I came up with these… petite apple pie bites. They are little pillows of pie really. The crust is flavored with orange zest & vanilla bean and the apple filling is spiced with more zest, vanilla sugar, a good...
Sweet Lavender Sugar ~ Culinary Confections
Lavender Harvest After enjoying the pretty purple spires & heady fragrance of our lovely lavender, all summer long… It’s time, to snip a few stocks, while they are still at their peak and use the flower buds in the kitchen. A little lavender sugar, goes a l~o~n~g way and in small doses, it can really...
Inspired by a love of beautiful, yet simple design, food and entertaining. Monica’s distinct approach led this former television news gal to create La Famiglia Design. 
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