Articles written by Catherine Pawelek

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About me - Catherine Pawelek

Catherine grew up in the Netherlands, finished her schooling in Paris (went to the Sorbonne University and worked as an Au Pair). Speaks 5 languages
Worked for the Airlines then moved to Southern California in the 70's. Met her husband Jose Luis on a cruise

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Food & Drink > Bread & Baking Recipes Recipes: Gingerbread waffles with applesauce: 1 of 6

From 2001-2006 for 6 years, we owned a country inn in New Hampshire in the heart of the White Mountains and served breakfast daily to our inn guests. When we had new guests every day it was easy enough to serve the same breakfast every day as the guests were different, but when we had customers staying with us for 7-10 days ...
Food & Drink > Meat & Poultry Tips for buying Kobe beef: 1 of 4

A couple of weeks ago there was an article in the St. Pete paper, written by our local food critic that explained a situation she encountered at a high end French Restaurant. She had taken 3 guests to this restaurant (she was not doing a review) and as they perused the menu the waiter recited some specials including a filet ...
Food & Drink > Desserts Recipes: Chocolate pots de creme: 2 of 7

Petits Pots de Creme, remind a lot of Creme Brulee, without the brulee part. Back in the 70's I had the opportunity to live for 1 1/2 years in Paris, while attending the Sorbonne University, so money was not in ample supply. Since that time I still would rather have a dessert over a sandwich, or have an appetizer and dessert...
Creative Writing > Memoirs Memoirs: Personal experiences with the healing power of dogs: 36 of 100

When my husband and I married, 27 years ago, there was not a subject we couldn't or wouldn't talk about whether it was religion, politics, culture, the world at large, they were all subjects we attacked with gusto and conviction, but neither of us vocalized much about, having children. It just never seemed a priority. How od...
Food & Drink > Desserts Recipes: Bananas Foster bread pudding: 3 of 6

Going bananas So what is it about this classic dessert that lights up our eyes like a kid on Christmas eve, maybe it is the simplicity, the comfort it gives us or that delectable smell. I like to put a twist on the classics so I might substitute the raisins with dried cranberry, add some , Grand Marnier, banana rum or Cointr...
Food & Drink > Ethnic & International Foods Tips for buying truffles: 2 of 4

"When we mention the word "Truffle" to friends , they mostly associate it with the wonderfully misshapen chocolate delicacy made from pure chocolate, often infused with flavorings and rolled in a variety of coatings. It is only the shape of this chocolate bite and nothing else that reminds us of its true namesake, that fungi...
Food & Drink > Beef, Pork & Meat Recipes Recipes: Rabbit with apple jelly: 1 of 2

Although my grandmother would make hassenpfeffer (rabbit stew ) for special occasions, my father preferred braising the rabbit and topping it with a variety of sauces, including cacciatore (hunter), dijonaise (with Dijon mustard) or the following one with "appel stroop" In Holland we have an apple jelly that we most often ea...
Food & Drink > Candy & Desserts Rating chocolate-lover's preferences: 1 of 1

Associating chocolate with medicine is probably not the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of chocolate and seems incongruous, but in fact it has more positive and beneficial qualities, than we even imagine. Some are related to adrenaline and amphetamines, which have an ability to regulate moods, making it no wonde...
Travel > Bus & Train Travel Train travel recommended for vacationers: 7 of 12

Growing up in Europe in the 60's and 70's, there was just no two ways about it, buses and trains were the main forms of travel, and through today, for me they continue to be my favoured form of public transport, as they are reasonably priced, have sufficient space for luggage, are on time and clean. You can travel to almost ...
Food & Drink > Candy & Desserts Is Swiss chocolate the best in the world?: 6 of 9

I grew up in Holland and even after travelling to over 60 countries, invariably, I want to say that I find that Dutch chocolate is the best. Even though both Hernan Cortes and Christopher Columbus, during the 1500's, returned to Spain from the Americas, bringing with them the wondrous cocoa (cacao) bean, which was initially ...