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    About Me

    A woman with blond curly shoulder length hair wearing a blue plaid shirt, she is smiling and standing in front of a wooden fence.

    Hi! I'm Debra Cummings, welcome to Fine Foods Blog!

    I share simplified, step-by-step recipes with global flavors, and flavors from right in your backyard (wherever that may be!) I'm a detail-oriented Virgo and I believe that anyone can cook pretty much anything, as long as they have clear steps to follow.

    Whether is appetizers like Dill Pickle Dip, easy one pan recipes like Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms, or luscious Chocolate Pots de Creme, I'll have you cooking like a pro!

    And don't forget the cocktails! My past experience as a bartender means I can teach you how to make everything from a French Manhattan to that pre-prohibition classic, the Hanky Panky Cocktail.

    My husband is gluten free, so I'm always looking for gluten free recipes from every cuisine so he can enjoy them. No matter your dietary restrictions, you should be able to find some choices here!

    A family of seven adults wearing winter coats are smiling for a portrait in front of G.H. Mumm in Reims, France. There are two men and five women.
    Me with my extended family on a tour of Mumm Champagne house in Reims, France.

    Get to know a little about me

    Cooking brings me joy! And from an early age, I've always loved to eat! (Let's be honest.)

    I began this blog in 2010 at my husband's suggestion, with the desire to create recipes inspired by everything from childhood memories of my grandmother's cooking to my travels around the world—and to share them with others!

    In college, I spent time working behind the seafood counter and in the deli where I learned everything from how long to steam a lobster to the finer points of aged prosciutto.

    I've worked in all kinds of restaurants as a server and bartender—from brewpubs to tapas bars to fine dining—where I learned a little bit about how to cook a lot of different things, from Italian food to Spanish recipes.

    I've been a travel agent, driven the beer cart at a country club, and I'm currently a marketing executive.

    But truly, nothing brings me greater joy than making and talking about food. There's such a sense of satisfaction and accomplishment that comes with bringing a beautiful dish to the table.

    So please share these recipes with friends and loved ones. Talk about them, talk to each other. Go out and discover new flavors from new people in new places. Travel to another continent, or just the next town over, and find out what people are eating.

    And share your experiences with me! I'd love to hear from you in the comments!

    What you'll find on Fine Foods Blog

    • Easy to follow recipes: Don't you hate it when you're reading a recipe and the instructions are all bunched together in one or two paragraphs? Me too! I want to know step-by-step what I have to do without getting lost in the text. You'll find clear instructions divided up so they are easy to read to give you confidence while you cook!
    • Information about ingredients: I get excited about ingredients and I love to cook seasonally! My Virgo nature means that I want to know all the details about the ingredients I'm using. I'll share with you when it's important to splurge (parmigiano reggiano!), and when you can just use what you find at your hometown grocery store or big box chain.
    • Recipes for everyone, no matter the skill level: You shouldn't have to go to culinary school to in order to make a great meal in your very own home. I'll make recipes easy and explain any techniques you need to know so you can succeed in the kitchen.

    More about Debra and the blog

    My recipes, photography and food writing have been featured on Taste of Home, Eat This, Not That!, and Side Chef. If you'd like to work with me, please reach out!

    Follow me on Pinterest, Instagram, Facebook or YouTube.

    Which do you like better, cooking savory recipes or making sweet treats?

    I love both! Sometimes savory recipes allow you to wing it a little more and express creativity through ingredient variations, which is really fun. When it comes to baking and desserts, I like to keep things simple, think single-layer cakes, scones, and cookies. And I love to work with chocolate!

    What's your favorite type of cuisine to cook?

    I could never pick a favorite! French cooking is classic, of course, I love Middle Eastern flavors, and I'm discovering more and more about my Ukrainian heritage by cooking the recipes that my grandmother made and by learning new ones.

    What's a good recipe for a beginner cook?

    Soups and stews are great for beginning cooks because you've got a whole meal in one pot. My chicken pot pie soup uses rotisserie or leftover chicken, so you don't even have to cook that part. Easy peasy!

    Some of my top recipes

    Here are my some of my personal favorites and top reader favorites over the years. Enjoy!

    • A plate of mango slaw with two gold utensils on it. Two mangoes are in the upper right corner.
      Mango Slaw
    • An asparagus tart sliced into squares on a sheet of crumpled white parchment paper.
      Asparagus Tart with Puff Pastry
    • Chicken thighs with cherry tomatoes and fresh basil on a white plate.
      Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs with Tomatoes, Basil and Garlic
    • Four pumpkin cookies arranged in a grid on a white surface.
      Easy Pumpkin Cookies
    • A baking dish of winter squash gratin with a wooden spatula surrounded by fresh sage leaves, a brown napkin, and a glass of wine.
      Winter Squash Gratin
    • Old Cuban rum cocktails in coupe glasses and rocks glasses garnished with fresh mint sitting on a brown paper surface.
      Old Cuban Cocktail
    • A woman's hands are shown preparing a salt baked whole fish, she stuffs a whole fish with lemon, lime and fresh herbs.
      Salt Baked Fish
    • A variety of ingredients for a cheese plate including mostarda, olives, pickes, hazelnuts and cheese, on a marble surface.
      Mostarda Recipe

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    Hi, I'm Debra! I'm a detail-oriented Virgo, so it's my jam to simplify recipes and break them down into easy to follow steps. I help you bring the world to your table!

    More about me →

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    Get my new, and tried and true, recipes delivered to your inbox! Subscribe now!

    Gluten Free Recipes

    • Two small glasses of apple compote. Three apples are in the upper left, a red and white striped towel is in the bottom left, and three gold spoons are on the right.
      Apple Compote
    • A large bowl of slow cooker chicken cacciatore with a wooden spoon in it. A red and white striped napkin is on the left.
      Slow Cooker Chicken Cacciatore
    • Shakshuka with feta and cilantro in a blue pan with a wooden spoon in it. A blue and white striped towel is on the right.
      Shakshuka with Feta
    • A bowl and a small glass of cold borscht with toppings including sliced cucumbers and radishes, fresh herbs, and a hard boiled egg. Fresh herbs, two spoons, a blue napkin, and a bowl of radishes surround the soups.
      Cold Borscht

    Search more gluten-free recipes

    Trending Recipes

    • A woman's hands are shown preparing a salt baked whole fish, she stuffs a whole fish with lemon, lime and fresh herbs.
      Salt Baked Fish
    • Chicken thighs topped with a caper lemon sauce on a white plate.
      Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs with Garlic, Capers, and Lemon
    • Two campari and soda cocktails with orange slices, a plate of nuts and two bottles in the background
      Campari and Soda
    • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs with mushrooms and white wine sauce in a blue casserole pan. Some fresh thyme is in the bottom right corner.
      One Pan Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms and White Wine

    Chocolate Recipes

    • Gluten free triple chocolate cookies on a baking sheet.
      Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Cookies
    • A gluten free chocolate ganache tart topped with flaky sea salt on a pink plate.
      Gluten Free Chocolate Ganache Tart
    • Three white ramekins of chocolate mousse.
      Chocolate Mousse Recipe
    • Gluten free brownies with ganache icing dusted with cocoa powder on a white surface.
      Gluten Free Almond Flour Brownies

    French Recipes

    • Romaine Hearts salad with blue cheese, pears, and pecans on a white and gray plate.
      Pear and Blue Cheese Salad
    • Mussels in white wine sauce with lemon wedges and parsley in a blue pan with a spoon in it.
      Mussels in White Wine Sauce (Moules Marinières)
    • French hot chocolate in a white cup with another cup and a blue bowl of chocolate in the background.
      French Hot Chocolate (Chocolat Chaud)
    • Several servings of eggs en cocotte with spinach and bacon in small cast-iron skillets and serving dishes are displayed on a wooden surface.
      Eggs en Cocotte (Baked Eggs)

    Hi, I'm Debra! I'm a detail-oriented Virgo, so it's my jam to simplify recipes and break them down into easy to follow steps. I help you bring the world to your table!

    More about me →

    Subscribe To My Enewsletter

    Get my new, and tried and true, recipes delivered to your inbox! Subscribe now!

    Gluten Free Recipes

    • A bowl of dill potato salad topped with chopped fresh dill. A red and white striped towel, a wooden spoon, and fresh dill have been placed around the bowl.
      Dill Potato Salad
    • A small plate of garbanzo bean salad with a gold fork in it.
      Garbanzo Bean Salad
    • Elote dip in a blue bowl topped with cotija cheese and garnished with lime wedges and fresh cilantro. The bowl is on a plate of blue corn tortilla chips resting on a blue and white striped placemat, with a wooden bowl of yellow tortilla chips in the upper left and a gold spoon in the lower right.
      Elote Dip
    • A pan of risotto with peas with a wooden spoon in it. Three lemons are in the upper left corner.
      Risotto with Peas

    Search more gluten-free recipes

    Trending Recipes

    • A woman's hands are shown preparing a salt baked whole fish, she stuffs a whole fish with lemon, lime and fresh herbs.
      Salt Baked Fish
    • Chicken thighs topped with a caper lemon sauce on a white plate.
      Boneless, Skinless Chicken Thighs with Garlic, Capers, and Lemon
    • Two campari and soda cocktails with orange slices, a plate of nuts and two bottles in the background
      Campari and Soda
    • Boneless, skinless chicken thighs with mushrooms and white wine sauce in a blue casserole pan. Some fresh thyme is in the bottom right corner.
      One Pan Chicken Thighs with Mushrooms and White Wine

    Chocolate Recipes

    • Gluten free triple chocolate cookies on a baking sheet.
      Gluten Free Triple Chocolate Cookies
    • A gluten free chocolate ganache tart topped with flaky sea salt on a pink plate.
      Gluten Free Chocolate Ganache Tart
    • Three white ramekins of chocolate mousse.
      Chocolate Mousse Recipe
    • Gluten free brownies with ganache icing dusted with cocoa powder on a white surface.
      Gluten Free Almond Flour Brownies

    French Recipes

    • Romaine Hearts salad with blue cheese, pears, and pecans on a white and gray plate.
      Pear and Blue Cheese Salad
    • Mussels in white wine sauce with lemon wedges and parsley in a blue pan with a spoon in it.
      Mussels in White Wine Sauce (Moules Marinières)
    • French hot chocolate in a white cup with another cup and a blue bowl of chocolate in the background.
      French Hot Chocolate (Chocolat Chaud)
    • Several servings of eggs en cocotte with spinach and bacon in small cast-iron skillets and serving dishes are displayed on a wooden surface.
      Eggs en Cocotte (Baked Eggs)

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