When I was growing up in Quebec, the family would gather at Grandma’s house for baked beans breakfast several times a year. She’d bake fresh loaves of bread and the aromas would be divine. Grandma would soak her dry beans overnight then cook them slow and low overnight, with Grandpa adding a little water throughout [...]
This is the first Christmas the family will spend without Grandma. I’ve mentioned in past posts what an amazing cook and baker she was and that she had a huge part in my love of food. One of the items that belonged to Grandma that I was fortunate enough to get was a small 3-section [...]
I got this recipe from the fine folks at Driscoll’s® and had to share it as it is perfect for holiday entertaining. Filling Ingredients: 5 oz. rindless goat cheese, at room temperature 3 oz. cream cheese, at room temperature 1 large egg 1 large egg yolk 1 tsp. minced fresh thyme ¼ tsp. salt ¼ [...]
It is that time of year when braised meats and stews just sound wonderful. This week, my local grocery store had beautiful cubed veal available, so I created this simple-to-prepare, make-ahead, one-pot stew that is great reheated on a week night but elegant enough to serve at a dinner party. Ingredients: ¼ cup all-purpose flour [...]
Growing up, my Grandma made jelly roll cake all the time. A favorite was the vanilla cake with raspberry jam tucked inside and confectioner’s sugar lightly dusted over. Every Christmas, our family shares a Bûche de Noël, in recent years, it has been purchased because nobody has wanted to tackle making it from scratch. This [...]
My friend Lisa is a huge caramel fan and I’ve designed this simple-to-make frosting with her in mind. Great used as icing on a cake or as frosting on cupcakes. Ingredients: 1 stick (1/2 cup) butter 1 cup brown sugar 1/3 cup heavy cream 1 Tbsp. pure vanilla extract 1 pound box confectioners’ sugar 1/4 tsp. [...]
This weekend, I was asked to bring dessert to a potluck dinner. The hostess is a caramel fanatic, so I knew that my Dulce de Leche Cheesecake would be well-received, but I wanted something more portable. This recipe yields 24 two-bite cheesecakes, but can easily be halved if you only need a dozen. Ingredients: 24 [...]
Cambozola blue cheese has the rich flavor of Gorgonzola with the lovely gooey texture of Camembert. The off-white interior offers striking blue veins. It’s a cheese that’s growing in popularity because of its creamy texture and buttery, slightly tangy flavors. This grilled cheese sandwich uses fig jam to compliment the delicious sharpness of the blue [...]
My grandma used to make my sister and me peanut butter and banana grilled sandwiches in a cast iron contraption when we were kids. This contraption, an early version of a Panini press, had long handles that could be flipped on the stovetop until the bread was perfectly browned and gorgeous. I miss those days [...]
This comforting soup is perfect on a cold day and it is super simple to make. Ingredients: 3 one-pound bundles of fresh asparagus, chopped into 1 inch pieces 3 Tbsp. olive oil 2 Tbsp. vegetable oil 1/2 medium Spanish onion, chopped into 1/2 inch dice 1/2 tsp. each dried thyme, ground nutmeg, salt and pepper [...]
