Always a source of new ideas for our blog, Emily from Paper Cake Scissors is back with another guest post.  Last time, she brought us into the wonderful world of cocktails.  This time, she writes our first post on fine snacks. 
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Snack time!

 
The power of snacks is underestimated. I have a strong belief that tiny meals throughout the day are crucial; …

(yes, that’s truffles sliced on top)

This is a rustic Italian peasant dish raised to new heights with the addition of white alba truffles.  The braised beef is rich, the polenta creamy, and the earthiness of the parmigiano reggiano and truffles accentuate all the other flavors to make you feel as if you’ve been wrapped in …

As decadent as food gets, this risotto showcases the complex flavors of parmigiano reggiano cheese and incredible earthy white alba truffles (some of the finest truffles in the world). Whipped heavy cream adds richness while making the finished risotto luxuriously thick.  Let’s just say that when this came off the stove we took a break …

Pictured: Lobster-filled, heart-shaped ravioli with Fennel & Parmesan Sauce
This pasta sauce prominently features the crisp, anise-like flavor of fresh fennel bulb cooked with white wine and parmesan cheese.  This brightly-flavored sauce pairs perfectly with any of our seafood filled ravioli varieties.  If fennel bulb isn’t to your liking, simply substitute fresh leek for a milder sauce.
Fennel …

 
This salad is a great way to enjoy the tender, sweet meat of Alaskan spot prawns.  Mixing the orange zest powder and guajillo chile powder together creates a vibrant orange and red coating that makes the cooked prawns a provocative color that catches the eye.
The chili/orange coating also adds a strong note of citrus with a …

 
 
Pasta with Sauteed Fresh Mushrooms, Sausage, and Truffle Butter
Serves 4-6
This recipe uses fresh fettuccini pasta as a bed for fresh porcini mushrooms (you could use any fresh  mushrooms) sautéed with game sausage and garlic, then topped with seasoned bread crumbs and black truffle butter at the last second for a truly decadent result.  If you don’t …

 
Miner’s lettuce is a delicious wild salad green with a crisp, mild (slightly spinach-esque) flavor that is available from about March to June.  This salad, made with pine nuts, cheese, homemade vinaigrette, and dried fruit really allows it to shine while contrasting shapes, flavors, and colors for an interesting presentation.
Ingredients (per person):
1 large handful of …

The time before Valentine’s Day is running out, and if you’re like me you may not be entirely sure what special thing you’re going to do for your significant other.
Making your sweetheart a romantic dinner at home can be an intimate, more relaxed (and certainly more personal) alternative to going out to an expensive restaurant.
The …

You don’t need to buy a pizza stone so that you can bake pizzas. Your grill will do the trick. In fact, grilled pizzas are a delight
Here’s how to make a grilled pizza:
You can either make your own pizza dough or buy pre-made. You’ll also need some flour, olive oil and whatever toppings you want …

Here’s the nuts and bolts of making risotto. This is not a risotto recipe per se, but rather a general tutorial that will allow you to improvise and tailor to your own tastes. Part one below, lays out the five general steps. Then, below is a list of embellishments that you might want to consider.
BASIC …