If fresh tomatoes aren’t in season in your area, you can summon up some (almost) summer freshness by using canned tomatoes in this gazpacho. Easy Gazpachooriginal recipe Ingredients:2 large cans whole tomatoes in juice1 large cucumber, peeled, seeded, roughly chopped1 medium green pepper, seeded and roughly chopped1 small onion2 garlic cloves1/4 cup red wine vinegar3 Tbsp. good extra virgin olive oilhot sauce, to tastesalt to taste Instructions:Finely chop the cucumber and green pepper in a […]

I have to admit that sun-dried tomatoes have not always been high on my list…mostly because I had never really had them until a few years ago. And now? Love ’em. I always keep a few on hand. They really pack some flavor into so many different recipes. (See below for some ideas.) I like to buy mine in a bag as opposed to packed in oil, but that is just out of preference and […]

Now I know this whole soaking thing is not brain surgery, but I post this as a reminder to myself. Softening sun-dried tomatoes as well as any dried fruit, is very easy. I like to heat water in a small pot–not to boiling. Then I soak the sun-dried tomatoes for about 20 minutes. After that I dry them off with a paper towel and pick over them to remove any damaged parts or big stem […]

 This is a quick, refreshing dessert to cool you off on a hot summer day. Coconut Ice Milkoriginal recipe Ingredients:11 oz. can light coconut milk (I like Trader Joe’s, of course)*14 oz. can sweetened condensed milk**2 cups milk Instructions:Whisk all the ingredients together and freeze in an ice cream maker or pour into a large rectangular (freezer-safe) pan and stir every couple of hours until frozen. *Using full-fat coconut milk will not work for this […]

Peanut Butter and Fudge Brownies with Salted Peanuts by Dorie GreenspanSlightly adapted…… The original recipe for these appeared in Bon Appétit, January 2007(click here for original recipe) I altered this to fit what I had on hand and to my own tastes. PB and Fudge Brownies with Salted Peanuts For brownie: 1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter12 ounces bittersweet chocolate (3/4 of a Pound Plus bar from Trader Joe’s), chopped1 ounce unsweetened chocolate (1 square), chopped1 […]

Peanut Butter Cookiesadapted from a Better Homes and Garden recipe Ingredients:1/2 cup butter1/2 cup shortening 1 cup smooth peanut butter (not natural style)2 cups packed dark brown sugar2 eggs1 tsp. vanilla 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour1 1/2 tsp. baking soda1/2 tsp. salt Instructions: Beat butter, shortening and peanut butter until well combined and creamy.  Add the brown sugar and continue beating until fluffy.  Add the eggs and beat well.  Whisk the dry ingredients together and […]

Raspberry Buttermilk Ice Creamoriginal recipe Ingredients:  For berries: 2 cups fresh or frozen raspberries1/4-1/2 cup sugar (depending on sweetness of berries) For custard base: 2 cups heavy cream6 egg yolks (4 or 5 will work fine, but no less than 4)3/4 cup sugardash salt1 tsp. vanilla, optional2 cups cold buttermilk Instructions: For berries: Place the berries in a bowl and sprinkle with the sugar. Let sit for several hours or overnight. Mash berries with a potato […]

The next morning, the dough looked like this after I took it out of the fridge. Incorporating the butter: 1. Place the croissant dough on a large, well-floured surface. (The recipe recommends marble–and if you have a slab of marble that big, you are SO lucky. Can I come see it?) 2. Roll dough into an oval (or if you are me–ovalish) approximately 10 inches wide and 17 inches long. Brush the excess flour off […]