At the end of summer, when the larger slicing tomatoes are beginning to fade, I still seem to find small varieties of cherry and grape tomatoes hanging around the farmers market. Not, perhaps, at their peak, but still a taste of bright summer sun. They are perfect when kissed by heat from the oven to concentrate their flavor, so I find them marvelous for sauces or for tarts, … [Read more...] about Savory Tomato Frangipane Tart
almond
Glazed Double Almond Bars
I’m returning to a classic here. These are neither hip or new or with some special twist, they are just a recipe I have been making for years and return to when I need a little comfort. I love the old-fashioned taste of almond paste. I don’t now why exactly I say old fashioned, there is just something reminiscent about the rich, grainy, almond-y taste to me. I have no … [Read more...] about Glazed Double Almond Bars
Nectarine and Almond Coffee Cake with Whipped Honey Yogurt
I’ll be honest, the first time I set out to make this cake, my idea was to use purple plums, which I had seen at the farmers market the previous week. At that Saturdays market though, there were no plums, but I had promised to make a fruity coffee cake for a girls’ brunch the next day. Fortunately, I found some lovely, rosy nectarines and knew they would work just as well and … [Read more...] about Nectarine and Almond Coffee Cake with Whipped Honey Yogurt
Simple Moist Almond Cake
We are on the cusp of berry season, strawberries are just finishing up, but a few blueberries and blackberries are hitting the stands. We’ll get some raspberries around here, but not too many. And of course, there are the other fruits like peaches and plums just starting to make an appearance. All the hues from the fruit add so much color to the farmers market, coming out of … [Read more...] about Simple Moist Almond Cake
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
