Chili demands cornbread and while it is always delicious, a simple tip and some extra ingredients will make yours stand out. Preheating not just the oven, but the skillet too, creates the excellent crust the best corn breads have. This works for muffin tins as well. ½ cup butter or margarine—softened (can use a little […]
Continue reading
Peanut Butter Molasses Dog Cookies
‘Tis the season for spoiling everyone, including the important four-legged creatures of the household who I guarantee will love these Peanut Butter Molasses Dog Cookies. Since Chloé the dog is my constant cooking companion and part of the exciting challenge of the dirty laundry kitchen is dodging the doodle, it’s time you see how she […]
Continue readingLucky Vegetarian Chili with Black Eyed Peas
It’s hard work to make a terrible chili. It’s also easy to make a great one. At this point I have both had and made so many versions that I can’t pick a favorite. But for me, two obvious requirements in a great chili are lots of veggies and lots of spices. The heat and […]
Continue readingWarm Shrimp Salad
This salad is inspired by many trips to Parc restaurant. I love to sit at the outdoor tables on Rittenhouse square and watch the dog walkers while I pretend I’m in Paris. But this salad and the wonderful French bread they bake makes a trip worth it even in the winter. When I don’t have […]
Continue readingOven Roasted Tomato Soup
I love soups. It’s true. I make a lot of them and I make them in large quantities and freeze half for a rainy day. For me, there’s nothing like this slow Oven Roasted Tomato Soup. I use lots of garlic and often keep it really plain. But you can season it any way you […]
Continue reading
Double Almond Pumpkin Bread
Some recipes are an essential part of acknowledging the change of seasons for me and Double Almond Pumpkin Bread is definitely one of them for me. For passionate pumpkin lovers, there’s no such thing as too many pumpkin bread recipes and I’ve tried a lot of great ones of the years both in my kitchen, […]
Continue reading
Swedish Pancakes
If you ever make it over to my house early on a Saturday morning, you’ll usually find us eating Swedish Pancakes. It’s my preferred weekend breakfast. The thin, delicate pancakes roll up beautifully and are a great vehicle for lots of gorgeous fruit. Swedish pancakes are mostly eggs and milk, so they’re packed with protein […]
Continue reading
Pomegranate Martini Punch
In the spirit of encouraging you to get to really know me, we should probably start with a cocktail… This particular cocktail has a long and sordid history in my own kitchen. And if you message me privately, I’ll tell you the story of its real name. I tend to pour with a heavy hand […]
Continue reading
Ginger Rogers
A great meal needs a great cocktail to get your guests in a festive mood and this Ginger Rogers Cocktail certainly does the trick for my Middle Eastern Feast. The bourbon makes the Ginger Rogers perfect for winter and the spicy ginger let’s your taste buds know that something fun is on the way. Finally, […]
Continue reading
Homemade Pita Bread
One of the first breads I really mastered was homemade pita bread, and for good reason. It’s really simple, and for fresh bread, it’s also quite fast. And you get a lot of bang for your buck. There’s something about serving homemade bread at a dinner party that really wows guests like no other entree. […]
Continue reading
Cous Cous with Pomegranates
I absolutely love making this Cous Cous with Pomegranates salad all winter long. It pairs well with almost any protein, or it’s great on its own. I love it because of the vibrant colors and flavors of the mint and pomegranate kernels. I also love all of the textures. The chewy cous cous, the tart […]
Continue reading
Persian Love Cake
At the end of the Middle Eastern Feast Dinner Party, after you’ve enjoyed a spicy Ginger Rogers cocktail and a meal full of rich and bright flavors, you’ll need a dessert that can hold its own. This Persian Love Cake does the trick. I certainly didn’t invent this one, but I definitely claim to have […]
Continue reading