I want to extol the virtues of the savory tart. From classic quiche to stunning flamiche, Chicken, Cheddar and Pecan or a seasonal Italian Summer Cherry Tomato. The permutations are endless, which is certainly a large part of the appeal, but for me the savory tart represents exactly what I aspire to in the kitchen most of the time. Beautiful, … [Read more...] about Pear, Leek and Walnut Tart
Dinner
Steak House Platter Salad
As summer slowly moves into fall, the gorgeous fresh produce of summer fades and the beautiful autumn bounty isn’t quite in yet. The calendar may say autumn, but the weather has other ideas. It’s not quite time for soup and stew season and still nice enough to eat outdoors. I love a big platter salad for communal friend and family eating. It’s beautiful to present and everyone … [Read more...] about Steak House Platter Salad
Savory Tomato Frangipane Tart
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
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
