Tosca Cake is something I used to find a French bakery here and have seen it in other places around the world. In its simplest form is an almond cake with a crispy, syrupy sliced almond topping. I always rather thought it was a secret type of super complicated recipe that only trained pastry chefs could execute so never really had it on my home cooking radar. It always looked … [Read more...] about Blueberry Almond Tosca Cake
Fruit and Vegetables
Chicken Shawarma Platter
As I have said many times before, I love a good salad platter for feeding a crowd (check out my other versions here). A beautiful spread with lots to offer so everyone can tailor their meal to their own tastes. This chicken shawarma version is particularly versatile and absolutely packed with flavor. It’s filling and hearty yet still light and refreshing for summer, with … [Read more...] about Chicken Shawarma Platter
Curried Corn Salad
Fresh off the cob corn is one of my very favorite summer treats. Cobs boiled in water or milk, slathered in butter, kernels sliced from the cob sautéed in butter and cream, corn pudding, and of course a sprightly salad. I gorge myself on fresh corn in the summer months (and freeze some to savor in the winter). I tend to think of corn as a uniquely American vegetable and … [Read more...] about Curried Corn Salad
Chocolate Blackberry Cake with Red Wine
In summer, I tend to gravitate toward desserts that are fruit forward and maybe a little lighter. I am not going to try and claim Peach Bourbon Pound Cake or Blueberry Buttermilk Bread Pudding are diet food, they are just less intense. But I go all out here with a deep, decadent chocolate cake tinged with dusky blackberries and rich red wine. The I top it off with a thick, … [Read more...] about Chocolate Blackberry Cake with Red Wine
Parmesan Dutch Baby with Roasted Tomatoes, Arugula and Basil Vinaigrette
A Dutch baby is always so much fun to serve. Partly because the name is so cute, but also because the puffy batter is easy to make and can be taken in so many different flavor directions. For years, I only ever had sweet Dutch babies for breakfast or brunch, maybe filled with fruit and berries and drizzled with maple syrup. I soon decided they are the perfect vehicle for … [Read more...] about Parmesan Dutch Baby with Roasted Tomatoes, Arugula and Basil Vinaigrette