I really don’t know where this recipe came from, but whenever I make it, it feels very homey English country house to me. Maybe I picked it up when I lived in England. It’s a fruitcake, which the British are very fond of, but it is nothing like the traditional Christmas variety. It’s sweet, but also a little savory, with big, crunchy hazelnuts running through all that fruit. … [Read more...] about Fig, Fruit and Hazelnut Loaf with Whipped Stilton
Fruit
Vanilla Bean Mini Muffins with Blueberry Dip
The Peabody Hotel in downtown Memphis is known as the South’s Grand Hotel. And it is grand, with its marble lobby complete with of fountain to which ducks are paraded in and out twice a day. The Peabody was restored and re-opened in 1981 after a storied history of decline and resuscitation. I have been to many events at the Peabody, from wedding receptions to conferences to … [Read more...] about Vanilla Bean Mini Muffins with Blueberry Dip
Peach French Toast Casserole with Pecan Syrup
I love a French toast casserole, and I love a shared brunch. If hosting a dinner party overwhelms you, consider a brunch. I find there is a lot less pressure - recipes that can be made ahead, no need to do plated courses, casual clothes, no full bar and wine pairings. And when all the guests are gone, you still have some daylight left to relax. And not just for company. It’s a … [Read more...] about Peach French Toast Casserole with Pecan Syrup
Fresh Peach Sheet Cake
I love a sheet cake. You can feed a crowd, it’s easy to make, leaves a lot of room for creative decorating and is adaptable to so many flavors. And it’s not fiddly like a layered and frosted cake, which I have never been good at creating. I make sweet potato version for Thanksgiving, egg nog for Christmas, and a spice cake for anytime. And here is … [Read more...] about Fresh Peach Sheet Cake
Blueberry Sugar Cookie Bars
Now that blueberries are here, it’s time to get to work on some great ways to showcase these delicious jewels. And in the past few seasons, I have become a little obsessed with the vivid purple hue blueberries can add to a glaze (or ganache). It’s so dramatic! I want to find as many ways as possible to show off that beautiful hue. So here I’ve made a sweet and … [Read more...] about Blueberry Sugar Cookie Bars
