Appetizing Muse

Wonder where I've been the last three weeks? I've ignored blog posts, and probably seemed as if I disappeared into thin air.

Quite the contrary. I've developed a new web site named Food Fare, which is a special addition to Appetizing Muse that features recipes and culinary traditions from a variety of countries and cultures, as well as food-specific topics.

It took me a few weeks to pull together the site from scratch, selecting a design and then importing certain recipes from the old Shenanchie's Kitchen along with new dishes, methods and techniques. Food Fare contains global flavors found in unique and original recipes, culinary culture and tradition, seasonal favorites, kitchen and cooking tips, food links and more.

Food Fare's Ethnic & Traditional Cuisine includes information about the food and culture of different countries, time periods and events. Features contain bits of history, food traditions, lifestyle and dishes native to the specific country, as well as authentic recipes. In most cases, there is also a section of words and phrases in the native tongue of the subject.

Discover the richness of other cultures and explore global food traditions by visiting the selection of ethnic features, which currently include bits about Basque people, Ireland, Japan, Scotland and food in the Middle Ages.

There are also seasonal bits at Food Fare, with a selection of articles to get everyone ready for the autumn gatherings. Take a look at Graveyard Grub for spooky concoctions and global traditions, and get ready for turkey day by exploring Thanksgiving with Food Fare. Try the recipes and make good use of the helpful turkey guides.

Don't forget about the selection of other Food Articles, such as in-depth pieces about artichokes, avocados, garlic, hot dogs, mushrooms, ravioli, tamales and more.

Food Fare also contains a collection of herb and spice blends that can easily be prepared at home. In addition, there is a page of herb and spice varieties with definitions, uses and suggested substitutions.

Some of the recipes to be found at Food Fare come from the culinary articles, but there are a large number that come from myself, friends and family, and other sources. The collection has grown over many years and presents an enticing display of various comfort foods, as well as long-held traditional dishes and a simply marvelous array of surprising little food gems. Check out the recipe collection at Food Fare >

Many of the recipes also have extra bits of information, such as origin and locality, as well as links to more about specific foods in the dishes. I had some fun creating the pages for the Halloween recipes, adding "spooky" animated graphics with black backgrounds.

Food Fare is also lucky to have a staff of exceptional contributors, who offer their own tried-and-true recipes and cooking methods. Read about the talented contributors by perusing their biographies and having a look at their photos. Food Fare Contributors >

Extra features at Food Fare include Kitchen & Cooking Tips, Conversions and Reader's Mail.

Coming Soon: Over the next few few months look for special features about Pine Nuts, Christmas and New Years celebrations, and special pages for canine recipes, diabetics and vegetarians.

That's about it for now, although anyone reading this will likely sense how excited I am about the "grand opening" of Food Fare. To read the maiden edition of our newsletter Food Notes, click here.

If you get around to checking out Food Fare, let me know what you think by visiting the Contact page.