At the end of summer, when the larger slicing tomatoes are beginning to fade, I still seem to find small varieties of cherry and grape tomatoes hanging around the farmers market. Not, perhaps, at their peak, but still a taste of bright summer sun. They are perfect when kissed by heat from the oven to concentrate their flavor, so I find them marvelous for sauces or for tarts, … [Read more...] about Savory Tomato Frangipane Tart
Dinner
Fig and Blue Cheese Galette
I am a fig fanatic. After the jams and preserves I stock up on every year, I turn to other fig delights, like this packed-with-flavor fig galette. The galette is the perfect vehicle for summer produce, it is simple to put together for a lot of payoff. And to be honest, I love the rustic, hand-formed appearance of pastry just cradling fresh summer farmers market finds. It has … [Read more...] about Fig and Blue Cheese Galette
Big Skillet Shrimp Butter Boil
A classic shrimp boil is a great deal of fun. But let’s be honest, quite a bit of trouble. If you don’t have a huge pot, don’t have a big vessel or table to put it all on, you are kind of out of luck. I consider it a fun “event” – lots of people gathered around to dig into a pile of fresh shrimp, having a great conversation while peeling away. For the full experience, I love … [Read more...] about Big Skillet Shrimp Butter Boil
One Pot Carrot Coconut Curry Noodles
I was dubious about the whole one pot noodle trend when it first arose – until I tried it. You can really infuse some flavor into simple pasta by simmering it all together for the entire cooking time. I started with some pretty simple versions like creamy one pot gorgonzola version and this lemon and leek idea, then I pushed the boat out … [Read more...] about One Pot Carrot Coconut Curry Noodles
Vegetable Marinara – A Very Useful Healthy Sauce
I cook. A lot. You know that. But I am not always motivated to prepare myself an elaborate meal every day of the week. And I certainly have days when I have been rushing around or testing recipes that do not a meal make (yes, I have had hours in the kitchen producing only brownies and cake, or several different kinds of bread). But I try my best to make my regular, at home … [Read more...] about Vegetable Marinara – A Very Useful Healthy Sauce
