The Christmas holiday has now passed. I have let it be known around my house that the kitchen this week (and maybe the next week too) is temporarily closed! Fend for yourselves, I’m pooped. That last impromptu dinner for 20 people the day after Christmas just about did me in. (I advise anyone thinking of […]
Onion Soup Traditions
Lest anyone think from my earlier post regarding my lack of cookie traditions that we had no culinary Christmas traditions in our family while I was growing up I wish to correct that notion here. We did. Plenty of them. In fact they were the traditions that taught me much about hospitality and great entertaining. […]
December 25, 2010 by 5 Comments
Speculoos (Don’t Forget the Egg!)
French Fridays with Dorie For someone who didn’t grow up with any “cookie traditions” I sure seem to baking up quite a few batches this week. I wasn’t in search of new traditions with that post but they do seem to be finding me. This cookie probably won’t become one, however as I just found […]
December 24, 2010 by 12 Comments
Grandmother Sis Boom’s Christmas Cookies
Some recipes call out to be made even though they are not glamorous or what some would call ‘blog worthy’. This is one of them. I make it today out of pure sentimentality and not because it has any technical or visual merit worth sharing. Several readers have recently asked me when I’m going to […]
December 21, 2010 by 8 Comments
Her “Go To Beef Daube”?
French Fridays with Dorie I had a lot of fun today writing a particularly snarky French Friday’s with Dorie post about the concept of a needing to have a “Go-To Beef Daube” recipe. (I know. Don’t act so surprised. Me? Snarky?) Its just that the notion that anyone should be required to have a “Go-To […]
December 17, 2010 by 20 Comments
Potato Leek Soup
French Fridays with Dorie Well for once I am speechless. I just have nothing much to say. Its not that I don’t like Potato Leek soup. I do. What’s not to like? Its just that I really don’t have much to say about it. If it weren’t for the fact that I wanted to try […]
December 10, 2010 by 17 Comments
Ice Cream Truffles
Don’t laugh. I know this isn’t really a recipe but but I gotta tell you this experiment in blogging is taking its toll on my stress levels around here. What with the demands of ‘the season’ and the end-of-the-year work stress in high gear and all that. (What kind of masochist willingly adds to this […]
December 8, 2010 by 2 Comments
Signature Nuts?
French Fridays with Dorie I really like the idea that certain types of things can come to be thought of as someone’s “signature”. Scents, dishes, articles of clothing, even cocktails can become automatically associated in your mind with one person or one place. Coco Channel had her white pearls. Bing Crosby had that damn hat. […]
December 3, 2010 by 21 Comments
Giving Thanks for Potato Gratin
French Fridays with Dorie Would you just look at these beautiful (but shunned) potatoes? Sometimes potatoes don’t get any respect. If you can believe it, these fantastic potatoes were actually dis-invited from my family’s Thanksgiving celebration! Just like that. How rude! I mean really! To invite potatoes to a dinner (a holiday dinner no less!) […]
November 26, 2010 by 18 Comments
Caramel Topped Semolina Cakes
French Fridays with Dorie I wasn’t really all that excited about this week’s French Fridays with Dorie assignment: Caramel Topped Semolina Cake. I suppose that if this were an American Idol act Judge Randy would say, “Check it out man, I was a bit wacked about cereal in a pastry but your ok dawg. Not […]
November 19, 2010 by 25 Comments
