Articles written by Ron James - Page 3

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About me - Ron James

A performer since childhood, Ron James has spent more than thirty years as an actor, singer, broadcaster and popular master of ceremonies. He added "writer" to his list of credits about twenty years ago when he began regularly penning articles for a Nashville-based

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Food & Drink > Sauce, Spread & Dip Recipes Recipes: Creative pasta sauce and accompaniments: 9 of 32
I was visiting out of town recently and had to come up with something quick for dinner using only what was at hand. This required a great deal of creativity, I can assure you. But "creative" is not always synonymous with "difficult." Here are two delicious, easy pasta recipes that will make you look like a creative genius:SPA... More..
Travel > United States Most popular attractions in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina: 2 of 6
Broadway at the Beach: Shopping and SO Much MoreA few years back, I was appearing in a touring production that was playing Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. My wife and I were looking for something to do between shows and someone told us about this big outdoor shopping mall. "It's kind of like an amusement park and a shopping mal... More..
Food & Drink > Recipes (Other) Recipes: Italian recipes for a dinner party: 7 of 19
Traditionally, dinner parties are "themed" affairs. Obviously, if you're serving Italian food, you've already established a theme. You've probably picked out some red and white checkered table cloths and some chianti bottles for candle holders, complete with wax dripping down the sides. Or maybe plain white tablecloths with r... More..
Food & Drink > Restaurant Reviews What makes a great Italian restaurant: 10 of 27
What makes a great Italian restaurant? That's a tough one because there are so many variables, including a diner's level of familiarity with "great" Italian food. I know a lot of people who think Olive Garden is the primo ultimo in Italian cuisine, largely because they've never been exposed to anything else.It's getting much ... More..
Food & Drink > Restaurant Reviews Restaurant reviews: Olive Garden (United States): 8 of 21
Let's start with the upfront realization that Olive Garden is to Italian cuisine what McDonald's is to hamburgers: it's a chain restaurant. If you're looking for a cozy little Italian trattoria where you can share a romantic "Lady and the Tramp" moment - you ain't gonna find it at Olive Garden. If you're looking for that ulti... More..
Food & Drink > Cooking Desserts Homemade ice cream and frozen treats 101: 2 of 5
Here's a super easy, super refreshing Italian frozen treat. It's called "granita," and the only special equipment you need to make it is a freezer.A granita is a cousin to an Italian Ice. Like many other wonderful Italian dishes, it is believed to have originated in Sicily, but has spread over the length and breadth of Italy ... More..
Food & Drink > Ethnic & International Foods Cooking: Pasta as a main dish: 8 of 19
Pasta. Just saying the word evokes images of red checkered tablecloths and wine bottle candles. There is nothing that sums up the very essence of Italian cooking like pasta. It's a simple yet versatile food that has the added appeal of being nutritious as well as delicious. This despite a recently acquired and completely unju... More..
Food & Drink > Cooking (Other) Getting the kids involved with cooking: 5 of 11
I once wrote that everybody should learn how to cook. I still believe that. And I believe that the best place to start that education is with kids, especially boys.Some of my earliest memories are of watching people cook. I watched my mother cook, my grandparents, and my older sister. I even watched the valiant efforts of my ... More..
Food & Drink > Pasta, Grain & Rice Recipes Recipes: Baked macaroni and cheese: 16 of 33
When Italians want to express a state of natural symbiosis between two objects, they're likely to use the phrase, "come il cacio su'maccheroni" (like cheese on macaroni). While macaroni and cheese is perhaps not as common in Italy as other pasta dishes, it has nonetheless become a family favorite all around the world.MACCHERO... More..
Food & Drink > Sauce, Spread & Dip Recipes Recipes: Authentic Italian pasta tomato sauce: 6 of 12
This is impossibly hard, because EVERYBODY'S salsa di pomodori - or sugo di pomodori, if you prefer "gravy" to "sauce" - is the best. So why should you believe mine is the best? You probably shouldn't. But you should try it!SALSA DI POMODORI SEMPLICE DI RINALDO(Ron's Simple Tomato Sauce)2 or 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive o... More..