Recipes

Passover is approaching, as is the scramble to come up with a dessert to bring to the Seder you’ve been invited to.  Preferably a dessert that is not the flourless chocolate cake that you made last year.  Try this recipe.  This is a cross between a true sponge cake, a classic French genoise, and a […]

If you are unfamiliar, watermelon radishes are supremely beautiful. Their deep pink/magenta color is eye-catching and adds a real pop to any ordinary salad. Watermelon radishes are considered a heirloom Chinese Daikon radish and a member of the mustard family (along with arugula, broccoli, and turnips–who knew!). Typically, watermelon radishes are available during the spring and […]

When I started my blog, I had no intention of voicing political views.  So this will likely be my first and only post referring to anything political.  I strongly believe everyone is entitled to their opinion, whatever that may be.  But “Dump” cookies are delicious; I’m no fan of Trump; and the rhyme is too […]

My husband is not a cook. He will, however, if asked, make a dish or meal without hesitation and often rather enthusiastically. He will often return from a trip to the grocery store with a vast assortment of condiments and pickled products and, if we are lucky, the complete ingredients for whatever recipe he decides […]

I did not grow up eating this, my husband did; I ate pot roast.  Short ribs are a cut of beef taken from the brisket, chuck, plate, or rib areas of a cow. In essence, they are the short portion of the rib bone, which varies in thickness.  Short ribs come in two ways: (1) […]

The timeless allure of oatmeal chocolate chip cookies traces back to early 20th-century America. These chewy, comforting treats have been gracing cookie jars for generations, embodying a perfect blend of heartiness and sweetness. These are hands-down a family favorite and I am confident that will never change. I have elevated the classic recipe with a […]

Everyone needs a good basic waffle recipe on hand for Sunday mornings.  Buttermilk waffles, the epitome of breakfast indulgence, owe their magic to a tangy, creamy secret: buttermilk. This acidic marvel not only imparts a subtle tang but also tenderizes the batter, resulting in irresistibly light and fluffy waffles. Buttermilk’s Brilliance The acidity in buttermilk […]

My first job out of culinary school was working as a line chef; it was a position for which I was vastly unqualified at the time.  On my second day, I learned that they did not have a pastry chef.  Although I was hired as a saucier (responsible for the meats, fish, and sauces) I was […]

My younger son, Noah, has always been a fish fan.  At one point, I thought I had a pescatarian (someone who eats fish but not meat) on my hands.  Thankfully, I don’t–I say that only because my other son is a huge carnivore and will not eat fish.  Fortunately, Noah eats almost everything, but he […]

A good classic homemade tomato sauce is the cornerstone of countless culinary creations. Its essence lies in the quality of the tomatoes. Ripe, flavorful tomatoes bring a natural sweetness and depth that no store-bought version can match. Good quality canned tomatoes or ripe fresh tomatoes are the heart and soul of any tomato sauce. Their […]

My husband is a big pie fan. Huge actually. His theory is: eat it in the morning for breakfast so you have the whole day to burn off the calorie bomb.  I find this particularly funny as my husband is 6”1 and on the slim side—weight, you could say, has never been his concern.  Lucky […]

I have never loved yogurt.  It was not the texture or tartness; to me, yogurt has always been too sweet.  And then I went to Iceland… Greek yogurt started a whole thick-and-creamy yogurt trend.  Fage introduced their yogurt to the market in the late 90’s.  By the early 2000s, it was all the rage.  Greek […]

Gazpacho is a raw vegetable soup served chilled.  Gazpacho is believed to have originated in the Southern Spanish region Andalusia but is commonly seen all over Spain and Portugal (where it is known as “Gaupacho”).  Historically, the most well-known versions of gazpacho (or “soup-salad” as it has been called) come from Seville and Córdoba.  Traditional ingredients […]

I discovered Cotija cheese several years ago when I hosted my husband’s 40th birthday party, which had a Mexican theme and was catered by Tacolicious, a fantastic California-style taqueria in San Francisco.  Cotija has become a staple in my house ever since.  Cotija is a cow’s milk cheese named for the small Mexican town in […]