During the last year, the patio at my house has been my saving grace. I have room to space more than six feet apart, so family and a small pod of friends have visited for food I have prepared, takeout from local restaurants, but above all, cocktails. We’ve even had local bartenders provide delivery cocktails on occasion. Mind you, we haven’t gone overboard and more often than … [Read more...] about Aperol Spritz Sugar Cookies
Sweets
Slow Cooker Dulce de Leche Bread Pudding with Cherries
I’ve focused this month on recipes for the slow cooker, which is such a perfect way to prepare comforting winter dishes. My use of the slow cooker is generally for main dishes, soups or stews, or jam making occasionally, but over the years I have branched out. This recipe is the evolution of a very basic, simple slow cooker bread pudding that I made once for a special meal for … [Read more...] about Slow Cooker Dulce de Leche Bread Pudding with Cherries
Chocolate Peppermint Molten Cakes
There was a time when molten lava cake was all the rage. Fancy restaurants served it – it wasn’t really something people made at home. Then recipes were published and it became a standard dinner party dessert. Like many things culinary though, it fell out of fashion, and though everyone still loved it, it was a little embarrassing to serve it. Those pioneering restaurants took … [Read more...] about Chocolate Peppermint Molten Cakes
Gypsy Tart
I thought, when all these safer-at-home orders started, that I would be an absolute cooking machine. Testing three and four recipes a day, absolutely alight with creativity. And I’d make myself fantastic meals twice a day. I planned to become an expert on cooking from the pantry and the freezer. But it hasn’t happened. I still cook – it’s my job – but that burst of energy and … [Read more...] about Gypsy Tart
Maple Brown Butter Cupcakes
My family is long-rooted in the South, but both of my parents (and I) went to college in the Northeast. When we were kids, we made many summer vacation treks to my parents old stomping grounds with trips to New Hampshire, Maine and Massachusetts. It was a chance for us to experience a different part of the country, and the different food specialties my parents remembered. This … [Read more...] about Maple Brown Butter Cupcakes
