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 […]
Pork Patties with ‘Nduja Roasted Fennel and Potato Wedges
Nothing Dull About These Flavors. Here’s a very tasty meal I put together after thinking about what to do with the ground pork sitting in my freezer and a couple of fresh fennel bulbs. Pork patties, seasoned with garlic, fresh oregano, and pecorino seemed like a good thing. I soaked fresh bread crumbs in milk […]
Muscadine Pie
One of the Best Pies I’ve Ever Tasted. Well, this is a first for me. I had never made a muscadine pie. Nor had I ever tasted one. I always buy muscadines when they show up in my market because I’m nuts about their flavor. I’ve sliced them in half and roasted them, as well […]
Black Rice, Plum, and Cherry Salad
And It’s Topped with Crispy Breadcrumbs! If you’ve never eaten black rice, this is a great place to start. I love it because it’s chewy and a little nutty in flavor, which makes it great for salads. When it cooks it ends up being a beautiful deep purple color that I thought would lend itself […]