Lamb Chops with Rosemary Tarragon Pesto

Most Definitely Not Your Typical Pesto. In my last post, I talked about the vinegars I made with the last of the herbs in my summer garden. Well, I’m at it again, wanting to use up my herbs before the first frost sets in. This time I decided to make a pesto using only rosemary […]
Black Sesame Lemon Bundt Cake

Perfectly Delicious – What More Could You Want?! Sesame and lemon – one of my favorite flavor combinations. I’ve tried a couple different recipes in which these flavors are used in a cake, but I haven’t been satisfied yet, so I set out to make my own recipe. This way I could be assured it […]
Blackberry Pie Galette

In Case You’re in the Mood to Bake a Pie! When it comes to baking, I know that homemade pie crusts can be daunting. I fully understand why the ease of buying a ready made pie crust is appealing. But in my very personal opinion, there is simply no point in baking a pie if […]
Roasted Strawberry Sheet Cake

Roasted Strawberries Ensure This is Packed Full of Berry Flavor! I’ve tried my hand at making a strawberry sheet cake and wasn’t at all satisfied with the result. The strawberry flavor didn’t transfer well. It had a dullness to it that didn’t strike me as particularly delicious. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great. Then […]
Lemon and Poppy Seed Olive Oil Cake with Crème Fraîche

I Now Have the Simple Lemon Cake I’ve Always Wanted. As with my orange cake, I had a situation where I’ve never been perfectly satisfied with any lemon cake I’ve ever made. Typically, they don’t have enough lemon flavor or they’re a little dry or the crumb is not what I want. I decided it […]
Apple Galette with Calvados

This is the Apple Dessert I’ve Been Dreaming About. I’ve been on a quest for a specific kind of apple galette or tart for years now. I was lucky enough to taste one in Paris several years ago that was the gold standard for my particular palate and I’ve been searching for that same taste […]
Green Tomato and Almond Tart

A Nutty and Buttery Crust is Filled with Green Tomato Jam for a Show Stopping Dessert. I’ve long wanted to make a green tomato jam tart ever since I first read about it in Rosetta Costantino’s wonderful cookbook, My Calabria. When I ran into a load of green tomatoes last week, I decided now was […]
Focaccia/Pizza with Lemon Ricotta, Strawberries, and Peas

I Can’t Resist Fresh Cool Toppings on a Warm and Chewy Crust. Is this recipe best labeled as a pizza or a focaccia? Or neither? I honestly don’t know. It’s a cross between both things. The crust is chewy, but lightly crisp. And it’s topped with ricotta, greens, onions, strawberries, and peas. Whatever you wish […]
Beans with Salty Orange Cream and Croutons

A Bowl of Beans Unlike Any You’ve Ever Tasted. Here I am, back with another bowl-of-beans recipe. And this one is a beauty. The day before I cook my beans is when I get to really thinking about how I’m going to serve them. I always soak them overnight in salted water. I’m a believer […]
Purée of Beets with Roasted Carrots and Dukkah (Duqqa)

A Glorious Combination of Color, Texture, and Flavors. Well, there are a few things going on here that warrant an explanation. I’ll start with the dukkah first. It’s an Egyptian nut, seed, and herb blend that’s been around a very long time. It’s used as a dip for flatbreads, amongst other things. I love it […]