In the busy, crazy holiday season, necessity is often the mother of invention, and this recipe is proof of that. Some years ago, after a trip to Portugal with a group of girlfriends, I worked out a recipe for Portuguese Custard Tarts. It was really an attempt to recreate a memory for my friends, but they are so easy to make and lovely to serve, that they became something of a … [Read more...] about Egg Nog Custard Tarts
desserts
Rosemary Chocolate Caramel Tart
One of my favorite indulgences on my yearly trip to London is Millionaire’s Shortbread, a crumbly cookie crusted bar with rich caramel and a layer of chocolate on top. These bites are decadent and delicious. I have to stop myself from eating one every day, which proves to be my greatest challenge in self-control. I have often tried to recreate the bars, but I suppose they just … [Read more...] about Rosemary Chocolate Caramel Tart
Goat Cheese Cheesecake with Red Wine Rosemary Pears
I love taking classic dishes and adding a little twist, without adding a whole lot of work. Cheesecake topped with syrupy fruit is definitely a classic. In my younger years, cheesecake with strawberries, or later the more fanciful raspberry coulis, was the go to dessert for romantic dinner menus. With this recipe, you get the brilliant, creamy sweetness of a classic cheesecake, … [Read more...] about Goat Cheese Cheesecake with Red Wine Rosemary Pears
Swedish Waitress Apple Cake with Vanilla Custard
A recipe developer asks a lot of questions. It’s the best way to learn the secrets of cooking – the little tips and hints and tricks people use, things they learned from mothers, grandmothers and aunts, secrets from fathers, advice from magazines, cookbooks and the back of boxes, or lessons learned from failure. So I ask questions. In restaurants, stores, markets, from … [Read more...] about Swedish Waitress Apple Cake with Vanilla Custard
Apple Ginger Upside Down Cake
You may notice a little theme this month, though it wasn’t actually by design. As autumn rolls around, I start cooking with (and eating) a lot of apples. In season, locally-grown apples are a wonder, on par with eating seasonal, local strawberries, instead of the chemically ripened fruit flown in from miles and miles away. So I make the most of the bounty in cooking both sweet … [Read more...] about Apple Ginger Upside Down Cake