These buttery shortbread cookies are a family favorite: they are both simple to make and delicious to eat. This version is spiked with shards of crystallized ginger. Made with unbleached wheat flour, these cookies are definitely not gluten-free. Shortbread comes from Scotland, where it was made with oats. I’m planning to […]
Tag: winter
Baked Apple Pancake
This is a treat: it takes a bit of time, but it’s all simple steps. It’s just the kind of thing I like on a weekend morning. I make pots of tea and coffee, putter around in the kitchen for a bit, clean up while the pancake is in the oven, […]
Quick Tea Cakes with Jam
When you want to bake fast, use self-rising flour. This is flour that’s already mixed with baking powder and salt, and I like to keep it on hand. These quick tea cakes with jam show you how fast baking can be: it took 57 minutes from the time I turned on the oven and began […]
A holiday feast for two
There would be only the two of us this year, but we were determined to hold the festival, and celebrate the holidays in style. We set up a tiny festive tree and enjoyed the quiet beauty of lights inside contrasted against the snow outside. We hosted a family brunch upon […]
Green Bean Casserole for two
I know that many people think that cream and mushroom soup, and fried onions from a can, make a great casserole. And maybe they’re right, but it’s not the right size for a serves two feast! I adapted this from Alton Brown and from Smitten Kitchen, to whom I am […]
Roast Beef Tenderloin for 2
The tenderloin (fillet of beef) is the tenderest part of the beef. It can be costly – but it’s a dream to cook, and there is almost no waste. It’s actually quite easy to cook! Look for a center-cut Chateaubriand trimmed of fat and silver skin, which may require a […]
Holiday Cookie Party!
We kick off our holiday season with a Cookie Party, and I can tell you it’s a ton of fun, not too much work, and a great way to connect with friends. We schedule our cookie Sunday, and plan for a full day. Our mission is to bake as many […]
Pumpkin Gingerbread
I love gingerbread! My grandmother used to make hers with blackstrap molasses, lard, and boiling water; I remember its deep dark taste. This version is simpler, and uses butter instead of lard, but it still tastes absolutely fabulous. It’s lightened with pumpkin puree and spiked with both raisins and crystallized ginger. […]
Lime Curd Pavlova
Having received an unexpected (and wonderful) gift of a box of Texas citrus, I began a flurry of cooking using the grapefruits, lemons, limes, and tangerines. The most amazing and wonderful thing ever, though, was made with the limes: a lime curd Pavlova. If you aren’t familiar with Pavlova, it’s […]
No Fuss Quiche
Making a quiche is easy, even if you don’t like to make pastry. Refrigerated pastry from your grocery store makes a perfectly acceptable crust. Quiche is a wonderful way to recycle leftovers. All the meat and vegetables should be cooked and chopped in smallish pieces. Fuss Free Quiche 4 oz […]