I wanted a nice Spring afternoon snack today, and when I spotted some lovely blueberries, I knew that a simple blueberry scone with lemon curd would go really well with a cup of coffee and a healthy dose of lazing about. Fortunately, I had lemon curd already made, so I could start on the lazing [...]

Categories: baking, dessert, eggs, mother recipe, preserving, vegetarian
Tagged: baking, dessert, eggs, fruit, mother recipe, preserving, technique, vegetarian

Over the past year I’ve seen a lot of posts about macarons filled with spectacular and stylish photographs and gushy praise for the cookies. I assumed that any cookie with stores dedicated to it and books written about it must be at least as special as the chocolate chip cookie, so I decided I, too, would take [...]

Categories: baking, dairy-free, dessert, gluten-free, rant, technique, vegetarian
Tagged: baking, cookies, dairy-free, dessert, gluten-free, mother recipe, rant, technique, vegetarian

Spanikopita, sometimes called spinach pie, is a classic, easy dish. It can be made with fresh spinach or frozen, with feta or your preferred cheese, with or without eggs, and with butter or olive oil. It can be served warm, cold, or room temperature. It’s not at all fussy to make, and lasts a week in the [...]

Categories: Lunch, baking, entertaining, entrée, mother recipe, side dish, supper, vegetarian
Tagged: baking, entertaining, entrée, Lunch, main course, mother recipe, side dish, supper, vegetarian

There’s a first time for everything, and this time was my first making focaccia. I’ve made various other breads, but never once had I made a flatbread of any sort. Somehow I’m not surprised that it’s easy. The process takes about 5½ hours, so have something else to do if you want to make this [...]

Categories: baking, bread, mother recipe, technique
Tagged: baking, bread, mother recipe, technique

A good pâté is one my favorite things–humble ingredients transformed into a culinary delight. I particularly enjoy a nice mushroom pâté with fresh bread and sweet pickles for breakfast. Another thing I particularly like about pâté when cooked en terrine is that it isn’t particularly fussy–a few more minutes in the oven won’t make a [...]

Categories: baking, charcuterie, entertaining, gluten-free, mushroom, side dish, technique, vegetarian
Tagged: baking, charcuterie, entertaining, gluten-free, mushroom, side dish, technique, vegetarian

I have to thank Martha Stewart for this one, or, more likely, the unnamed but talented chef Martha Stewart paid for this recipe. It comes from Martha Stewart’s Cookies. Peppermint Meringues 3 egg whites ¾ cup sugar ½ teaspoon peppermint extract Mix the whites and sugar in a metal bowl or the metal bowl of a stand mixer. [...]

Categories: baking, chocolate, cookie, dessert, eggs, entertaining, gluten-free
Tagged: baking, chocolate, cookies, entertaining, gluten-free

Fairy Glen cookies are an excellent option when you want or need gluten-free cookies. They do, however, require almonds, so if you need to accomodate someone with a nut allergy, these aren’t for you. Fairy Glen Cookies 3 egg whites pinch salt 1-3/4 cup (350g) sugar 3-1/3 cup (330g) finely ground almonds 1/4 cup (60g) [...]

Categories: baking, cookie, dessert, entertaining, gluten-free
Tagged: baking, cookies, entertaining, gluten-free

Now that Thanksgiving is out of the way it’s time to make holiday cookies for whatever holiday you might be celebrating. Angeletti are easy to make–kids can mix these successfully–and not too sweet. Angeletti ½ cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted 3/4 cup sugar ¼ cup milk 2 teaspoons vanilla extract 3 eggs 3 cups [...]

Categories: baking, cookie, dessert, entertaining
Tagged: baking, cookies, dessert, entertaining

No Thanksgiving feast is complete without at least one dessert, so I made individual Butternut Squash Cheesecakes. I used my mother recipes for the crust and filling. Crust Mother Recipe 2 cups fine crumbs 4 ounces (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted Mix the crumbs and melted butter in a bowl. Using a prepared pan, pat [...]

Categories: baking, dessert, mother recipe
Tagged: baking, dessert, mother recipe

Recently I taught a class on hors d’oeuvres at Williams-Sonoma. The Rosemary-Parmesan Icebox Crackers featured in the class were so good and yet so easy that I decided I should share them here. Rosemary-Parmesan Icebox Crackers 3/4 cup all-purpose flour 1 teaspoon sel gris or kosher salt 1 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper 1 teaspoon [...]

Categories: baking, cheese, entertaining
Tagged: baking, cheese, entertaining