Pandora's Box

Friday, September 11, 2026

FAUX- CACCIA

Focaccia is different from regular loaf bread because it uses a high amount of olive oil that pools in the dimples of this thick, fluffy and airy flatbread. It is stays soft on inside and has a crispy bottom. Using your fingers to to poke deep holes cause the dimples in the bread, and shaping it in an oblong flat loaf gives it a unique shape

This is a quick and easy way to make a FAUX - Caccia bread:

Coat a shallow pan with 2T mayonnaise or extra virgin olive oil and spread 1/2 store bought pizza dough (room temp) on top. Coat with another 2T Mayo or olive oil. Poke dimples throughout the dough with your fingers. You can add veggies, herbs, pesto, cheese, seasonings or anything that comes to mind! Bake at 425° for about 20 minutes

I topped mine with some chopped pimento, pesto, S&P, Paprika, grated cheddar cheese, cives, basil, red onion and tomato slice.

The MacKenzie-Childs Emerald Check Round Tray is perfect for serving this bread!

Thanks for stopping by, Patti

Mackenzie-Childs affiliate link

Graphic by Susan Branch

Wednesday, September 9, 2026

Chocolate Cheesecake Pumpkins

food

These were a delicious dessert, and easy to prepare!

I began with a silicone mold....

....and I brushed chocolate inside each to make "cups"

I filled each cup with prepared cheesecake....

...and then topped with graham cracker crumbs:

These were flipped over....

...and decorated with a broken pretzel stick and a squiggle of green chocolate:

Thanks for stopping by, Patti

Monday, September 7, 2026

Baked Cheese

food

Here's an easy snack a friend introduced me to:

Cut some Swiss cheese into squares and place on a cookie sheet.

Sprinkle generously with Everything But The Bagel seasoning

Bake at 425 for about 12-14 minutes

Munch away!

Thanks for stopping by, Patti

Friday, September 4, 2026

Gazpacho Shooters - the perfect amuse bouche!

food

Gazpacho is easy to make, easpecially in the summer when all of the veggies and herbs are fresh

Gazpacho is a Spanish soup, served cold, because it was created in Andalusia which is a very hot region in Spain. It is a refreshing soup to cool you down during intense summer heat.

There are a variety of ways to make this but this is a simple recipe, omitting olive oil. I wanted to make 4 small "shooters" as an amuse bouche before dinner.

These are the veggies I had on hand: 2 tomatoes, 4 slices of an Eng cucumber, green pepper, red onion, a mini carrot and a 1/2 celery stalk.

I bended all the veggies in a mini food processor If it's too thick you can drizzle in a bit of olive oil.

Then I added herbs, spices and seasonings for flavor:

I strained it through a sieve:

(all the "meaty" mixture was set aside to add to homemade tomato sauce)

This made the perfect amount for 4 "shooters:

Just enough to wet the palate before dinner!

Find the MacKenzie-Childs Courtly Check Shot Glass here

Thanks for stopping by, Patti

Graphics by Susan Branch

MacKenzie-Childs affilate link

Tuesday, September 1, 2026

Fall is for Footbal

bloghop

Fall is certainly for football fans.....

This table is set for burgers and chips and a relaxing day by the lake to watch football.

We have a store nearby called Mystery Bins and I bought all of the paper goods (plates, cups and napkins for 20) for only $2. I cut 4 rectangles of brown paper for placemats. The center tray is an enamel MacKenzie-Childs Emerald Check Tray. An old milk glass vase holds the flag as a simple centerpiece.

What's in the little canvas bags?

These were freebies at the NYS Fair last week!

Cute wooden flatware!

This was a last minute table setting and quite inexpensive, too!

Williams Park, in Cicero, NY, is the perfect place for a picnic and only a few miles away. The view of Oneida Lake is lovely, there are small covered pavilions to reserve, grills, a gazebo, a splash pad, a beach and a playground.