The Santiago Cake is an easy to make almond cake, naturally gluten/dairy free, with delicious flavor and texture. It is light, with bright notes from orange zest, and is an excellent alone or paired with morning coffee, afternoon tea, or as an after dinner dessert served w/ ice cream or fruit.

Ricciarelli are dense, chewy Italian almond cookies originating in Siena. They are a distant, and much less fussy, Italian cousin to the French macaron — dairy-free and gluten-free, they are also so very perfect with tea or coffee!

My ex-husband’s mother, Vincenzina (Vini, as she liked to be called), passed away last April. She wasn’t perfect. Old-school Italian from Verbicaro, a small town in Cosenza, she was stubborn, lied with enviable polish, and was a talented cook.

I’ve been a traveler since age 3. It was a long goodbye to California then bright wide eyes in Paris. My parents worked for the government and we were a young family, so we traveled. That first voyage was one of many trips that would leave an indelible mark on how to go places.

My son in law has a severe dairy allergy. He’s a really nice young man, a musician, that we’ve known since he and my daughter were 16! I love to cook with butter, and have always been a little squirmy about using food substitutes because, in my mind, there is nothing like the real thing. But I love this young man and wanted to make him a chocolate cupcake that was yummy! I think this is it. Do try it and let me know your thoughts in the comment section. XOXO, M

My friend Connie is generous, kind, and loyal. We have been friends since our daughters were babies. Now they’re 37. And it’s her birthday today. Because of COVID19, we can’t celebrate like we used to, and I know she loves blueberry muffins, so I made these for her.

My friend, Liz, and I, love ginger cookies. This recipe was handed down to her by her mother.

The Feria de Sevilla is a once-a-year event that puts all other parties to shame. The whole city turns out to celebrate life with traditional flamenco dresses and shows of dance and horsemanship. Parties last from dusk to dawn for the week of the feria.

My Favorite Chocolate Chip Cookie is full of dark semi-sweet chocolate, buttery, chewy, and has crispy edges. It's also not too sweet, but sweet enough to make you want another.

Lisbon is the stunning capital city of Portugal. It is one of the most charismatic and vibrant cities in Europe, effortlessly blending culture and traditional heritage, with striking modernism and progressive thinking.

When Katrina Rozelle closed her bakery doors to retire, I thought I was going to lose my mind. So I bought as many of my favorite cookies from her to try to recreate her recipe for her Ginger Cookies.

Istanbul (historically known as Constantinople and Byzantium) was once the capital of both the Byzantine Empire and the Ottoman Empire.

What is a Negroni? It’s a cocktail concocted by Count Camillo Negroni (that’s his family’s name) who asked his bartender, Fosco Scarselli,

Abu Dhabi, Barcelona, Florence, Istanbul, Havana, Lisbon, Marrakesh, Paris, Tokyo, Vienna!

Growing up in Europe and Asia meant growing up with a diverse palate. In Andalusia, Spain, my mother’s favorite dish was Paella. It’s a rice dish that made her feel at home because she was Asian and grew up with rice at every meal, she missed it very much. Here is a basic Paella recipe.

My friend, Anjou, owns a small cafe in San Francisco. Until recently, Bamboo Asia was a five-restaurant chain of fast-food restaurants featuring Asian street food-inspired lunches.

I was inspired by Chef Josh Heiskell’s recipe for Nutella Peanut Butter Cookies to make this recipe.

“These are stupid delicious!” Chef Josh Heiskell (https://www.instagram.com/chefjoshheiskell/)

Chicken and pork adobo is a traditional Filipino comfort food, always paired with rice to balance the rich sauce and give it body.

Perched on the edge of the Empty Quarter, the world's largest uninterrupted sand desert, the Qasr Al Sarab Resort is an opportunity to explore one of the world's great wildernesses.