Last year I read a piece in Southern Living magazine that had me laughing out loud. “Taking Sides” by Allison Glock described a formidable family tradition in the form of The Cranberry Salad, a side dish that nobody liked but was made and served each Thanksgiving day as a matter […]
Year: 2014
Gingerbread Streusel Coffee Cake
Crushed ginger cookies add texture to the streusel crumbs as a robust blend of holiday spices lends festive flavor to this Gingerbread Coffee Cake. Warm from the oven it makes a nice addition to a weekend or holiday breakfast. It tastes great with a warm cup of coffee or Mulled Cider.
Roasted Brussels Sprouts and Cranberries with Pecans
Discoveries on the Produce Aisle Last week I found stalks of Brussels sprouts for sale in the produce section of Sprouts market. A generous quantity of individual sprouts adorned each stout central stalk budding out from the base where each leaf had grown. It caught me by surprise. I don’t […]
Gingerbread Scones
What Anticipation Tastes Like I think my favorite flavor of the holiday season is ginger. Christmas wouldn’t taste or smell like Christmas without spicy notes of ginger and cinnamon wafting through the house and lingering in the kitchen. A pinch of ginger is the perfect way to dress up favorite […]
Plain Old Fashioned Mashed Potatoes
This recipe is for the kind of Mashed Potatoes we prefer in my family; fairly thick and with the occasional rustic lump of unmashed potato or bit of potato skin. Flavor with salt and pepper, along with butter, for an indulgent side dish to serve alone or with gravy. Writing […]
Party Pineapple: Two Ways
Seasonal fresh fruit. It is already beautiful and delicious. All it needs is a pretty presentation and a touch of something special to make it party ready.
Meringue Torte
I love February. I like the way it sounds, beginning with a frisky fricative followed suddenly by the pairing of two unlikely mid-word consonants in a mismatch that invites us to think before speaking. I like the way it begins with that famous rodent checking the shadows for promises of […]
A Simple Amaretto Chocolate Mousse
Silken Tofu makes a wonderful addition to this Simple Amaretto Chocolate Mousse. The recipe is super easy, wholesome and delicious…plus few would ever guess the secret ingredient in this creamy smooth chocolate mousse unless you told them.
Old-Fashioned Spaghetti Sauce
A good tomato sauce is at the heart of many wonderful meals. Seasoned with garlic, onion and herbs, a rich tomato sauce is a classic. My family just called it Spaghetti Sauce while using it to pull together a variety of recipes. It is delicious on its own over a […]
Cinnamon Toast Biscotti
What makes Cinnamon Toast Biscotti special is the topping added during the second bake. After cutting the loaves into thick slices and toasting one side, brush the biscotti with a bit of butter. Then sprinkle each cookie with cinnamon and sugar, like a slice of Cinnamon Toast.
Aunt Hen’s Cinnamon Toast
This is not exactly a recipe. It’s more like a memory. Or maybe a mindset, intent on those old-fashioned basics, pared down and well executed. And it’s not exactly news. It’s been written about by food bloggers everywhere, some who have great thoughts on the matter, some who get right […]
Details, Details: Hominy Au Gratin
Much like Macaroni and Cheese, Hominy Au Gratin is a straightforward casserole that speaks of comfort and satisfies big appetites on a budget. Even if you don’t have fond childhood memories of hominy, I think you’ll enjoy this introduction to nixtamalized corn à la Julia Child.