I aspire to be, but am not much of a candy maker. I get a little nervous about the candy thermometer and the exactitude. In fact, I first started making pralines when I learned how to do them in the microwave. But I have been experimenting and expanding for awhile, and have come to discover making candy is not nearly as intimidating as I had feared. Sure, it takes some … [Read more...] about Sweet Potato Pralines
Fruit and Vegetables
Spiced Apple Torte
Recipes in my life go around in circles. I used to make a version of this apple dessert when I was just starting out in my first apartment, when a springform pan was considered exotic kitchen kit. I don’t know where I originally found it, but I imagine it might have been in my mom’s extensive file of apple recipes. My mother loves a good file folder, and when the apple tree my … [Read more...] about Spiced Apple Torte
Roasted Rosemary Grapes with Goat Cheese
Grapes are, I think, so unexpected in any form other than right off the stem for a snack. My parents always had a colander full of grapes near the sink, and the grandkids would snack off them constantly. So grapes have been sort of stuck in the realm of kid food to me, but this sophisticated dish dispels that idea quick smart. It has the effortless sophistication in food that I … [Read more...] about Roasted Rosemary Grapes with Goat Cheese
Cold Pickled Potatoes with Rosemary
I love a good, chilled potato salad in summer, whether it’s with burgers from the grill, a fried chicken picnic, or just a spread of cold salads. And I generally lean toward the chunky potatoes with a creamy dressing and interesting add ins variety, like my Mom’s Dilled Potato Salad, or Mustard Bacon Potato Salad. But I ran across a recipe in a book or a magazine for potatoes … [Read more...] about Cold Pickled Potatoes with Rosemary
Cherry Tomato and Sweet Onion Bake
I am always enticed by cherry tomatoes at the farmers market. All the pretty colors and shapes and sizes. They are all just so pretty, though the perfect orbs of a classic Sweet 100 or Tumbling Toms always catch my eye. And, as with much of the bounty of summer produce, I have a tendency to over buy, with no fixed plan for how to use them. And though popping the little tomatoes … [Read more...] about Cherry Tomato and Sweet Onion Bake
