Is there a better combination than strawberries and chocolate? And when those strawberries are fresh, in season, local and at peak sweetness, I mean! I’ve made a simple strawberry crumble bar for years, a sugar cookie base with matching crumble. I’ve added herbs and spices to jazz it up, even a little liqueur. But recently, with a punnet of berries on hand a need for a sweet, … [Read more...] about Strawberry Chocolate Crumble Bars
Fruit and Vegetables
Spiced Carrot Cake Bars
Easter season is the perfect time for carrot cakes. But I will admit, I am a little too lazy to make beautiful layered version swathed in cream cheese frosting, decorated with icing or marzipan carrots. I tend to go for bundt or tube cakes, like these Carrot Ginger or Carrot Coconut version. My other cheat is these lovely bars packed with carrots then gently … [Read more...] about Spiced Carrot Cake Bars
Lemon Lavender Curd Crumble Cake
There is no question this is an indulgent cake. But it is also thoroughly worth the indulgence. A butter rich dough filled with a simple lemon curd under a rubbly top studded with lavender. The original recipe for this which I cut from a magazine years ago is called Belgian Lemon Tea Cake, I don’t know why. This cake appears so simple and unassuming, but slice into it and there … [Read more...] about Lemon Lavender Curd Crumble Cake
St. Patrick’s Day Grazing Board
I love a good snack board and I love a good theme, so creating a St. Patrick’s Day themed board was a perfect fit. I came up with this while standing in the grocery store trying to find something to nibble on for a book club outdoor gathering. It’s a nice combination of traditional St. Patrick’s Day fare and Irish products, all with a little touch of green. Deli corned beef is … [Read more...] about St. Patrick’s Day Grazing Board
Sardou Dip (Spinach and Artichoke Dip with Hollandiase)
The inspiration for this dip is a menu. I don’t remember where or when, but some menu I saw online – either Instagram or researching restaurants or something a friend sent me - had a Sardou dip. I didn’t eat at the restaurant, but the dip idea really appealed to me, so I started from scratch. Eggs Sardou is a New Orleans brunch classic in the benedict vein, an artichoke bottom … [Read more...] about Sardou Dip (Spinach and Artichoke Dip with Hollandiase)
