A few years ago, on a family trip to Italy, we had an amazing meal prepared by a local chef that included handmade ravioli with a zucchini mint pesto sauce. It was one of the culinary highlights of the trip for me. I asked the chef how it was made, but my lack of Italian and his lack of English didin’t make for very good instructions. I have wanted to recreate that dish since … [Read more...] about Zucchini Pasta Bake with Mint Pesto
Raspberry Orange Pudding Cake
Summer fruit desserts are such a sunny joy. And whether you call this type of dish a cobbler, a slump or a pudding cake, it makes the perfect summer dessert. Sweet and juicy summer fruit melts into a saucy layer tucked beneath a tender cake. I’ve shared before my Saucy Peach and Bluebbery Cobbler version. Raspberries are a rare local treat and when I find them I make the most … [Read more...] about Raspberry Orange Pudding Cake
Squash Blossom Pasta Butter
I adore squash blossoms. A few local farmers market vendors sell them here, and I always buy as many as they have for sale. I make pesto, risotto, quesadillas, soup, and sometimes just lightly batter and fry them. I admit I have a little problem. I cannot resist buying them, and buying them in bulk. At the height of summer, I am in full canning mode, so I tend to bring home … [Read more...] about Squash Blossom Pasta Butter
Shrimp Ravigote
I am recipe developer by trade, so friends and family often ask me to recreate favorite dishes from local restaurants or food businesses. I always try, with varying degrees of success. These requests become more frequent, and more urgent, when a place closes. A favorite, classic lunch place in Memphis closed not too long ago, and several friends have since asked me how to make … [Read more...] about Shrimp Ravigote
Hot Honey Dinner Rolls
There is nothing in the world like freshly baked yeasty rolls. The smell of them baking, the first soft bite of a warm roll, the feeling of accomplishment in having made them. I am by no means an expert at the vagaries of yeast and baking, so I am always intrigued by simple recipes for breads and rolls, like this one. This process is pretty simple and foolproof, with no … [Read more...] about Hot Honey Dinner Rolls
