We often discuss in our family (usually during dinner) what constitutes a great dessert. Of course, as expected, my children think dessert means loads of sugar, chocolate, caramel, etc, etc. They don’t believe me when I tell them fruit is the original dessert. I can’t blame them much; I would have balked at the notion myself at their age. Maybe I’m just getting old, or maybe I’ve just realized that I don’t need a ton […]
I started out the day by giving each of my kids a list titled, “10 Things I Love About You.” Sadly they were much more interested in their peanut butter-filled chocolate hearts and getting to school to see their friends and exchange valentines. I can’t blame them, that was my favorite part of Valentine’s Day too. But oh, how I enjoyed writing their lists last night before I went to bed. We aren’t that […]
Three days until Turkey Day! I’m hosting my husband’s family this year. They don’t know it yet, but I’m doing a gluten-free menu. I think they’ll love it. I’ve been experimenting with my recipes to get everything just right. The one thing I haven’t decided on yet is dessert. My mother-in-law is bringing a big store-bought pumpkin pie, and my husband will be spending Wednesday making his famous doctored mincemeat pie (recipe forthcoming for those […]
Summer is coming to a close. All I really want to do is sit down and eat the rest of the summer peaches and strawberries drowning in a sweet custard sauce white I watch the leaves change on the trees in the front yard and my kids soak up the warm afternoons with their friends. And maybe grab a good book while I’m at it. This Quick Fruit Salad with Basil and Creme Anglaise is […]
Fall is here! My very favorite time of year. I’m teaming up with my amazing friend Becky again. This time we’re cooking with apples. Perfect for fall. Be sure to check out her Apple, Bacon, Cheddar Grilled Cheese Sandwich. (YUM.) And for mine…Brandied Apple Pie. My mom has always been a really good cook. She could make anything, it seemed. I first learned to cook by watching her. One of my favorite things was her Dutch Apple Pie. She baked […]
I like making ice cream. It’s sort of my thing. Sometimes I dream up flavors in the wee hours of the morning, or as I’m trying to fall asleep at night. (Sometimes it’s the same thing.) I like eating ice cream too, so it’s a win-win situation for me. This flavor came from a bar of chocolate I bought on a whim. It just looked good to me. I was out with my kindred spirit, […]
In honor of Julia Child’s 100th birthday, I’m sharing my take on a classic French tart. My custard tart is a little over-the-top maybe, but it’s definitely worth the multiple steps and extra ingredients. ;) My Summers with Julia When I was a kid in the 90s and home all summer, I would often watch PBS during the day. That was in the days when Baking with Julia was on repeat and I could watch […]
As I mentioned last week, I was able to attend evo conference. I was able to attend a fun dinner sponsored by the California Avocado Commission that included quite possibly the most delicious avocados I have ever eaten in my life. (I brought some home with me.) Before a cooking demo by THE Too Hot Tamales, we all participated in a bit of good-natured competition in the form of an Iron Chef-like Guacamole Fest. Susan […]
Let’s talk family reunions and old-fashioned homemade ice cream for a minute. In my mind, you can’t have one without the other. And it is that time of year again for my family. My paternal grandmother grew up on the same block as her grandparents and all of her aunts, uncles, and cousins. Many of their children still live on the same block in Salt Lake City. I loved visiting there when I was a […]
Buttermilk ice cream. Cherries. You want this, I promise you–you do. The ice cream is creamy and tangy and marries perfectly with the sweet cherries. We have poached cherries before in a combination of wine, water and sugar with a vanilla bean. But this time around I left out the wine and added almond extract. Just as good, though I’ve included the wine in the recipe below because you might just want to try it. […]