When I first learned to make chocolate truffles thirty years ago I didn’t know I was learning the recipe originally conceived, or at least credited to, Fernand Point (1897-1955), one of the greatest French chefs. He trained or mentored such giants as Paul Bocuse, Alain Chapel, and Jean and Pierre Troisgros, which should give you [...]

Categories: chocolate, dessert, entertaining, gluten-free, mother recipe, vegetarian
Tagged: chocolate, dessert, entertaining, gluten-free, mother recipe, vegetarian

Usually I avoid a complicated combination of multiple recipes in one post, but everything except the rub I put on the sirloin was made from scratch in class last Sunday so it certainly can be done in one post. Besides, the people attending the class insisted that I post it.
First, the rub. I created this [...]

Categories: Lunch, beef, condiments, entertaining, entrée, salad, searing, supper, technique
Tagged: condiments, entertaining, entrée, Lunch, main course, salad, supper, technique

Turn that plate with polenta around and you’ll find pollo alla cacciatora, or chicken cacciatore. It’s really a simple dish to make.
The essential ingredients include carrots, onions, and celery, to make a soffritto; tomatoes, either canned or fresh, and some tomato paste; some wine; some cheese; a few fresh or dried herbs; mushrooms if you wish [...]

Categories: Lunch, braising, chicken, child friendly, entertaining, entrée, gluten-free, poultry, sauce, supper, technique, vegan, vegetarian
Tagged: chicken, entertaining, gluten-free, main course, supper, vegan, vegetarian

Whether you’re serving a nice pâté or are putting together a charcuterie platter, want some crunch in your sandwich or just need a quick burst of flavor, a sweet pickle chip is just right! Michael Ruhlman published a recipe for a delightfully simple, wonderfully flavored sweet pickle chip in Charcuterie, a book I highly recommend [...]

Categories: charcuterie, condiments, dairy-free, entertaining, gluten-free, pantry, preserving, side dish, vegan, vegetarian
Tagged: charcuterie, condiments, dairy-free, entertaining, gluten-free, pantry, preserving, side dish, vegan, vegetarian

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. Whisk the whites and sugar [...]

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) orange marmalade, melted
20 candied cherries, halved
Beat [...]

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 all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
2 [...]

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

A couple months ago I had the privilege of hosting Chef Gabriel Rucker of Le Pigeon for a cooking demonstration at Williams-Sonoma. He prepared a wonderful truffled spinach that inspired this variation.
You’ll need one bunch of spinach for every two portions; no need for expensive baby spinach in this dish. Begin by gently sautéing the [...]

Categories: Thanksgiving, entertaining, gluten-free, mushroom, side dish, vegetarian
Tagged: creme fraiche, entertaining, gluten-free, mushroom, side dish, Thanksgiving, vegetarian

The most popular side dish in all my classes this year has been whipped sweet potatoes, with Chipotle Whipped Sweet Potatoes being slightly more popular. I got the idea for these from Bobby Flay.
Start by baking some sweet potatoes until they’re soft. You’ll probably want to use a sheet pan rather than just putting them [...]

Categories: Thanksgiving, entertaining, gluten-free, mother recipe, side dish, vegetarian
Tagged: entertaining, gluten-free, side dish, Thanksgiving, vegetarian