As a kid, I was a great one for projects. Homemade play-dough. Cookies painted with egg/food-coloring paint. Dollhouse furniture. Leaves pressed between waxed paper. I was never very good at any of these, and my record on finishing what I started was less than stellar. So maybe I should clarify that I was a great one for the idea of projects. I liked thinking about them, … [Read more...] about Clove Cookies
Snacks And Starters
Boiled Peanuts
This week, the farmers market was looking a little forlorn as summer moves into fall. The tomatoes and beans are fading, but the winter squash and pumpkins aren’t quite in yet. But I did find a nice treat at one of the stalls. Raw peanuts. Nice, big fat ones just waiting to be boiled up. A big ol’ batch of goobers. Boiled Peanuts are a love-or-hate kind of thing. They … [Read more...] about Boiled Peanuts
Pasta Butter Balls
One lazy evening, on a desperate-for-dinner freezer scrounge, I came across a half used log of frozen herbed butter – a beurre composée if you will. I like to make these with the summer glut of herbs and roll them into waxed paper wrapped logs. This butter has myriad uses, but I mostly use it for grilling. When you have a really good piece of meat, simply grilled, it doesn’t … [Read more...] about Pasta Butter Balls
Toasted Corn and Bacon Muffins
A good corn muffin is a thing of beauty. The perfect accompaniment to a bowl of soup or a supper salad, and so comforting passed around the table in a basket while still warm. Slather on a little butter, and you’ve got a bite of heaven, my friend. These tender corn muffins have the added attraction of crispy bacon and intense, chewy fresh corn kernels. The tang of buttermilk … [Read more...] about Toasted Corn and Bacon Muffins
White Gazpacho with Parsley Picada
The first time I ever heard about ajo blanco, or white gazpacho, was on a family vacation to southern Spain. We were having lunch at the lovely parador San Francisco on the grounds of the famous Alhambra in Granada. When I saw the menu description of creamy garlic and almond soup with grapes, I had to try it and I have been glad I did ever since. I only knew about classic … [Read more...] about White Gazpacho with Parsley Picada
