I did not grow up on icebox cakes. And I will be perfectly honest, my first experience with the concept was the Famous Wafers and canned whipped cream version, which I must have first encountered in college, but was known to make in my early apartment days. In fact, I thought that was officially Icebox Cake. It never occurred to me that there were versions. Then I was served a … [Read more...] about Lemon Speculoos Icebox Cake
Burrata with Smoky Tomato Jam
Burrata is it’s own special cheese, made from mozzarella – it’s a shell of mozzarella filled with fresh curds and cream (which is also called stracciatella). Its something I first heard about in fancy food magazines, the kind that are based in New York and have the world of ingredients available to them in a way many places (like Memphis) don’t always. I ate it first in London, … [Read more...] about Burrata with Smoky Tomato Jam
Orzo Caprese Pasta Salad with Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette
Summer’s high heat days are the time for cold salads that are filling and satisfying, but easy to prepare and to eat. I haven’t reinvented any wheels with this recipe, just taken the classic combination of tomatoes, basil and mozzarella to create a refreshing, simple summer meal. Because when the ingredients are at the peak of freshness, simple is best. I return to this flavor … [Read more...] about Orzo Caprese Pasta Salad with Roasted Garlic Vinaigrette
Savory Goat Cheese Panna Cotta with Watermelon Relish
One of the beautiful things about summer eating is simplicity. Sliced tomatoes, simply boiled corn, fresh fruit tumbled over a scoop of ice cream. There isn’t really much reason to undertake complicated cooking. But every once in a while, I want to use the lovely ingredients to make something more composed. I’ve been dancing around the idea of a savory panna cotta for awhile, … [Read more...] about Savory Goat Cheese Panna Cotta with Watermelon Relish
Fig, Brown Butter and Hazelnut Tart
I await fig season each summer with such eager anticipation. I get to the farmers market first thing on Saturday morning, making a beeline to my favorite fig vendor to snap up as many as there are available. My first task is making Fig, Bourbon and Vanilla Bean Jam, a favorite of my friends and family. I hold a few back to slice and eat drizzled with honey or wrapped in … [Read more...] about Fig, Brown Butter and Hazelnut Tart
