Watermelon Radish Tea Sandwiches with Mint Butter
Watermelon Radish Tea Sandwiches with Mint Butter are perfect for afternoon tea with the ladies or an afternoon cocktail party leading up to the races. They definitely make my list for must have dishes at a Derby Party. Not only are tea sandwiches a Derby tradition, but these Watermelon Radish Tea Sandwiches with Mint Butter... Read More→
Cucumber Tea Sandwiches with Spinach Basil Mascarpone
Cucumber Tea Sandwiches with Spinach Basil Mascarpone are sliced, stacked and ready to be enjoyed, because one type of tea sandwich just isn’t enough for my Kentucky Derby Party! These Cucumber Tea Sandwiches with Spinach Basil Mascarpone are cool and refreshing and a nice contrast to the slightly spicy Radish and Mint Butter Tea Sandwich.... Read More→
Mint Juleps!
In recent years I’ve spent first Saturday in May at my friend Anna’s Kentucky Derby party drinking way too many, but never enough Mint Juleps! The party gets bigger every year, and last year it migrated to one of the boat houses on the Schuylkill River and was hosted by three Kentucky natives. The dark... Read More→
True Birthday Cake- Welcome Hudson!
Hazelnut Marble Cake with Tangerine and Chocolate Buttercream “Baby” Cake This week was very special for me, so I had to make this very special True Birthday Cake- Welcome Hudson! I became an aunt for the first time as Hudson was born very late Wednesday night. My brother (Hudson’s father), Ivan pointed out earlier in... Read More→
French Buttercream
1 ½ cups plus 1 tablespoon sugar ½ cup water ½ cup egg whites 3 sticks unsalted butter; softened ¼ teaspoon fine salt orange and yellow food coloring candy thermometer Tangerine syrup: ½ cup tangerine juice ½ cup Meyer lemon juice (or ¾ tangerine and ¼ lemon if you can’t find Meyers) This will make... Read More→
American Buttercream
1 stick butter at room temperature 4+ cups powdered sugar fine salt flavoring of your choice (typically vanilla, but in this instance, tangerine and chocolate) Tangerine syrup: ½ cup tangerine juice ½ cup Meyer lemon juice (or ¾ tangerine and ¼ lemon if you can’t find Meyers) ½ cup 60% cacao or more dark chocolate... Read More→
Let’s fix it: Crystallized Jam
This beautiful breakfast of delicious jam on sourdough bread almost didn’t happen. And that would have been a tragedy. Every now and then, I open a jar of jam that’s so good that I draw out its use, only to discover that the jam has become gross and chunky looking. Eww. Dirty Laundry PANTRY TIPS... Read More→
Grilled Vegetable Naan Sandwiches
This is one of my go-to Summer weeknight meals. It’s really delicious and nutritious and I can grill a big mess of veggies on a Sunday and have them all week long. The yogurt sauce really ties this dish together. And if you’re in a meat sort or mood, some grilled shrimp or chicken on... Read More→
Clementine Pork with Rapini
This playful dish is a nod to the classic Orange Peel Beef. Lighten up! it extolls. And that’s what makes pairing it with MacRostie’s most playful wine (Pinot Noir Rosé) so much fun. The bitter rapini, which is common in Southern Europe and China (believe it or not) also ties wine to Asian cuisine in... Read More→
Deviled Eggs
Of course, everyone already knows how to make Deviled Eggs. Why would you possibly need a recipe? The truth is that most of us need a recipe, or at least some new techniques. In fact, it’s possible (or probable) that this should have been a pantry tips/ let’s fix it post. Because everyone knows how... Read More→
Dangerous! (Cocktail) Nuts!
These Dangerous! (Cocktail) Nuts! are for dangerous cocktails, just like the Aviation and Old Fashioned cocktails I have featured on my Madmen Premier Party Menu. I finally perfected this recipe, and not to rub it in your face, but they’ve been so popular that I’m sorry to say I’m going to have to keep you... Read More→
Green Goddess Dressing on a Wedge Salad
There are probably a million incantations of this dressing. I tend to skip the traditional anchovies and make it vegetarian with the addition of capers as a briny element. I also like a lot of herbs. And an avocado. And I can’t help but add some hot sauce. I try to remember not to be... Read More→
Oysters with Tropical Mignonette
When it came time to make Oysters with Tropical Mignonette for my Mad Men Party, the oysters went a lot easier than the clams with the help of this nifty video. Perhaps because oysters are more willing to be eaten? Or because I’ve done more oyster shucking? I’m not sure. Anyway. I used this really... Read More→
Baked Clams
This may be one of those projects that should really say, “Don’t try this at home.” No really. Every time I shuck oysters and clams it makes me really appreciate how cheap they are at restaurants. You heard me right, raw oysters in fancy restaurants are a bargain! This is seriously hard work, especially when... Read More→
Old Fashioned
An Old Fashioned is a go-to old school cocktail in my book and definitely required for a Madmen Premier cocktail party. While a rye whiskey is a good move if you’re channeling Don Draper, if you grew up in Wisconsin, like me, you’ll probably feel nostalgic towards the Brandy version. It’s a little sweeter, so... Read More→
Aviation Cocktail
I love this gin-based Aviation Cocktail for all it’s refined floral and citrus notes, but picking the right gin is important because of the more subtle ingredients in the cocktail (i.e. the maraschino liquer and the creme de violette). One of the properties that makes gin-based cocktails interesting to me is that gins taste quite... Read More→
Seared Snapper with Roasted Sweet Potato Salad
Apparently I forgot about some sweet potatoes from my last installment of my CSA (community supported agriculture) box. Let’s just say that the ground has been frozen here for a long time and who knows how old they were. The good news is, root vegetables seem to last forever and inspiration finally struck. I’m always... Read More→
Lobster Salad with Goat Cheese Vinaigrette
I love avocado and citrus together. I routinely pair them together on salads and serve them as a side to many Mexican dishes, sometimes with black beans, corn and cotija cheese. In this case, I wanted to make the salad a little more glamorous for a dinner party. Also, recently I have seen the ingredients... Read More→
Liza’s Coconut Pancakes
My sister (in-law) Liza made a special request while we were on vacation. PANCAKES! These came out of the good weather and fresh coconut. I’m pretty sure she was pleased with the end result. And since Liza is a runner and needs a breakfast that will stick with her, I based them on the egg... Read More→
Piña Colada
I thought of a lot of names for this particular drink. Spring Break! Piña Coladas. Impeach the Groundhog Piña Coladas. Seriously, Winter! Piña Coladas. I bet you’re sensing a theme. I just came back from Clearwater Beach and spring was definitely on my mind. I wasn’t thrilled this morning when I awoke to big snowflakes... Read More→