I am a chess pie fanatic. It was a frequent dessert at my grandmother’s house and a fond childhood food memory for me. That sweet, soft filling with a slightly grainy texture from a tiny dose of cornmeal. I love it. And I have produced many iterations over the years, from Sweet Potato Buttermilk, to chocolate in a chocolate crust to salted honey. Some … [Read more...] about Cranberry Chess Pie
Fruit
Pear, Leek and Walnut Tart
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
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
Nectarine Marzipan Cake
I have read many British recipes over the years that use the term squidgy to describe a cake. It is not perhaps the most literate of terms, but it is perfectly descriptive. I know exactly what it means – soft and moist and rich, dense but in the best possible way. This is a squidgy cake. The almond flour and marzipan add the delicious nutty density while the nectarine slices … [Read more...] about Nectarine Marzipan Cake
Peach Brown Butter Cake
I’ve never been very good at making beautifully frosted layer cakes. In fact, I generally avoid them, turning to Bundt and tube pans for simple and attractive cakes. I don’t have the patience required to beautifully frost towering layers, and it never comes out looking quite like I’d imagined. I take a cue from British bakers with a simple, single layer with a lovely gilding of … [Read more...] about Peach Brown Butter Cake
