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
rosemary
Strawberry Rosemary Muffins with Strawberry Rosemary Butter
In the kitchen, excess is often the mother of invention and this recipe is a perfect example of that principle. I went overboard buying fresh strawberries, and decided to bake them into something delicious before the overflow went bad. I hadn’t made muffins in awhile, so that seemed like a good idea. As I gathered my ingredients, I found some rosemary left from another cooking … [Read more...] about Strawberry Rosemary Muffins with Strawberry Rosemary Butter
Greek Lemon and Rice Soup
My area is sorely lacking in Greek restaurants, but we do have a wonderful Greek Festival every year, and they have a lovely roasted chicken with lemon and rosemary on the menu that is a once a year treat. But about a year ago, a restaurant opened up (you may have one in your town too) that serves a Greek lemon and rice soup with the same sunny flavors. It is the reason I go … [Read more...] about Greek Lemon and Rice Soup
Lemon Rosemary Cocktail Wafers
The summer herb garden has been rampaging this year, and I have a rosemary bush that won’t quit. I’ll have plenty for use when the pears come in to make Rosemary Pear Butter and I’ll make a couple of dishes of Chicken, Prosciutto and Rosemary Lasagna. But I have also been using it in all sorts of interesting ways, trying to step out of my normal routine. Delicately brushing … [Read more...] about Lemon Rosemary Cocktail Wafers
Baked Camembert with Pear, Cranberry and Walnut Relish
Baked brie with fruity toppings used to be all the rage, and the real height of sophisticated appetizers. But they seem to have fallen out of fashion a little. I rarely see them at parties or in cookbooks anymore. Perhaps the trend for simple artsy charcuterie trays have taken their place, or appetizers served on individual spoons. But just because a dish isn’t trendy … [Read more...] about Baked Camembert with Pear, Cranberry and Walnut Relish