So I am headed into the grocery store without a list or a plan, just thinking I’ll figure out our week’s menu as inspiration hits as I stroll the aisles. And then I see the recipe of the day on Food Network.com and I decide on the spot that is what we will be eating …
I am always trying to improve my skills in the kitchen, and a lot of time that involves trying out new gadgets and toys. I’ve experimented with pasta makers, sous vide machines, and immersion blenders, but I think the gizmo that might improve my cooking the most might also be the simplest. This week I …
I love watching cooking competitions, so queued up for my viewing pleasure are past episodes of the Christmas Cookie Challenge and The Great British Baking Show. I have learned not to watch these shows when I am hungry because I then want to make everything that the contestants are making on the show. Or they …
I am one of those folks who is guilty of only eating the top of a muffin or cupcake. (This is actually a family trait, so that when we share muffins at brunch, there is a sad, dejected pile of topless muffins left on a plate.) These cookies take the best part – the top …
I knew when I moved from North Carolina to Wisconsin four years ago, that I would be in for a bit of a culture shock. I knew I’d be trading in 100 degree days in the summer for subzero chills in the winter, hearing fewer “y’all”s and more “oh yah”s, and knowing folks who care …
It is hard to find a small pork butt… which, by the way, is not the actual butt of the pig. (I felt a lot better about enjoying this cut of meat once I learned that.) So when I purchased one recently, I knew I’d be cutting it in half and making several meals out …
So first I have to rewind a few years. I am visiting my dear friend, Allison (as in we knew each other before husbands and kids) in Boston and she was excited to take me to a favorite new bakery called Flour. Bakeries often disappoint me… they refrigerate things that should be kept at room …
I have been making this soup for decades. It is such a hit that it was a staple in the cooking classes I taught when we first moved to Charlotte 20 years ago, which then led to my having it in many homes for dinner parties! (No worries because I love it and never tire …
Brownies are probably the dessert I make the most frequently. It’s a super easy recipe, comes together in one bowl (so cleanup is a synch), and have that rich, fudgy flavor and texture that makes it one of life’s simple joys. But the other great thing about brownies are their versatility; not only can you …
The last time David headed up to Maryland to visit his parents, I sent him with some black and white cookies (a Jewish deli staple that I thought would make my in-laws happy). That recipe will be forthcoming soon. But first I will share what I made for this week’s trip, assorted rugelach, because it …