As I remember it, trick or treating is hard work. Lots of walking, in what is invariably an uncomfortable costume, that heavy bag of candy and keeping your best manners on under all that stress. But the promise of a seemingly endless supply of fun-size candy bars made it all worthwhile. I even liked the stripey, crunchy peanut butter Mary Janes and the peanut … [Read more...] about Creamy Italian Sausage and Pumpkin Manicotti
Jack and Coke Cake (Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake with Jack Daniels Buttercream)
I am not much of layer cake maker. I have failed to master that great Southern skill of crafting magnificent layers of frosted beauty. I am more of Bundt cake type. I lack the artistic talents, but mostly the patience, to create the magazine worthy, bakery perfect confections someone who spends as much time cooking as I do should have mastered. There is a reason the picture … [Read more...] about Jack and Coke Cake (Chocolate Coca-Cola Cake with Jack Daniels Buttercream)
French Lentil Salad with Walnuts and Goat Cheese
When the weather turns chilly, it may seem that the time for cold salads has past. But this lovely, homey lentil salad is perfect for fall. The ingredients for this could not be humbler, but somehow the whole comes off as sophisticated. This is the kind of dish I imagine a French home cook would whip up if you just dropped by unexpectedly. This salad is great beside a … [Read more...] about French Lentil Salad with Walnuts and Goat Cheese
Bubbling Beer and Bacon Cheese Dip
Cooking with beer is an October tradition. While it is just cool enough to have one last outdoor event, it is fun to put together an Oktoberfest celebration. The weather is beautiful and the food is comforting, perfect for a gathering of friends. Warm sweaters and warm colors, leaves turning, a nip in the air and of course, plenty of beer. This recipe was born because it … [Read more...] about Bubbling Beer and Bacon Cheese Dip
Rosemary Pear Butter
As autumn approaches, I start to feel a little panicky about the end of farmers market season. I spend a huge amount of time in the summer preserving the bounty, through canning and freezing my favorite produce. But when I start to realize that my source for all that fresh, local goodness is going into hibernation, I fret and worry. My Saturday ritual will come to an end, … [Read more...] about Rosemary Pear Butter
