I started making homemade pasta when I was eight. My parents kindly complimenting my bowls of mush while eating soppy noodles with much oohing and ahhing. I’ve since improved my pasta making skills. The moment I realized I could make my own butter I was out of my seat and shaking a jar of cream. [...]
Last week I had my first taste of rhubarb and asparagus. For me those two tastes symbolize Spring more than the presence of Tulips or the gentle warmth of sun (still waiting for that). The tangy tart bite of rhubarb combined with a buttery shortbread crust and cool whipped cream. The bitter taste of a [...]
Tradition tells us to leave Santa a tall glass of milk with a heaping plate of cookies. While there is nothing wrong with cookies I just have to wonder if maybe Santa is bored. I can’t help but think that he rolls his eyes while reluctantly reaching for yet another chocolate chip cookie leaving only [...]
I will be attending three Thanksgiving dinners this year. I will be wearing stretchy pants at each meal (and probably a cute little dress to cover up the fact that I’m wearing stretchy pants). It may surprise you to know that I don’t do a lot of cooking on Thanksgiving. It’s not that I don’t [...]
If you don’t want gaggles of children beating down your door on Halloween night then look no further. If you’d rather not be the most popular house on the block then continue on your Internet search. If you aren’t a fan of a cookie crust so tender it shatters in your mouth, or a creamy [...]
The December 2009 Daring Bakers’ challenge was brought to you by Anna of Very Small Anna and Y of Lemonpi. They chose to challenge Daring Bakers’ everywhere to bake and assemble a gingerbread house from scratch. They chose recipes from Good Housekeeping and from The Great Scandinavian Baking Book as the challenge recipes. This has [...]
I’ll be honest – I really have no idea what possessed me to make meringue mushrooms. Maybe it was my new found love of foraging? Nah. I think it’s because they are so fun to look at and much sweeter than their real life counterpart. I’ve made these in years past as an adornment to [...]
In the corner of our living room there are stacks and stacks of December issues of Martha Stewart Living. There is the December ’05 issue with a wreath studded with red glittering birds that hangs on a door painted the color of mint ice cream. December ’01- the cover is marked with an interior shot [...]
While serving dozens of cookie plates at the restaurant I would occasionally sneak in a taste for myself. After the Chocolate Chip Cookie, the little fruit jellies were my favorite item on the plate. “This is the best fruit roll-up I’ve ever had” was my reaction after the first taste of a Pate de Fruit. [...]
You know what I love?! Vanilla. I mean of course there are other things like my husband and my boys and chocolate, but vanilla is really something to admire. I love the way the thousands of little black seeds disperse in a pot of simmering cream while I’m preparing a custard. I love the vivid [...]
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