How to Compost
I used to feel rather intimidated by the concept of composting. Because I knew little about it, the idea seemed daunting. In my mind, I imagined composting to be a complicated and only for...
View ArticleDark Chocolate Affogato with Sea Salt
Our friend Vince introduced us to this fantastic dessert recently and we simply cannot stop making it during our quiet, cool evenings. A spin on the classic Italian affogato of gelato and espresso,...
View ArticleIf I Had to Choose One Pan
Although I love to cook, my kitchen arsenal is quite minimal. I enjoy the idea of a 20-piece stainless steel set from Williams Sonoma, but find that I actually do pretty well with just a handful of...
View ArticleApricot Pistachio Granola
One of my favorite breakfasts is a bowl of hearty oatmeal, full of chunks of fruit and nuts. The more “stuff”, the better. This recipe calls for chopped, dried Bleinheim apricots (the best!), which...
View ArticleSlow Roasted Cherry Tomatoes
When I start seeing beautiful tomatoes popping up at the market, I get really excited as I see this change as indicative of higher temperatures ahead. Right now, I am in France and enjoying the bounty...
View ArticleWhite Asparagus
Springtime in France means white asparagus–a local delicacy that never loses its allure, despite its annual appearance. Considered a real treasure, these thick, white stalks are coveted by chefs abroad...
View ArticleEasy Red Berry Eton Mess
This dessert was created on a day when I promised my children a fancy dessert after dinner, but didn’t have time to run to the store. Using leftover Trader Joe’s vanilla meringues from my daughter’s...
View ArticleOpen Faced Tuna Melt with Herbes de Provence
There are a handful of items I consistently stock in my pantry–good salts, good chocolate and good tuna! Once you taste tuna packed in pure olive oil, be forewarned that you may be less keen on...
View ArticleMake Your Own Fruit-on-the-Bottom Yogurt
Fruit-on-the-bottom yogurt was a childhood favorite of mine, but something I left behind a long time ago. I loved dipping my spoon down to try and catch a little of the fruit on the bottom with every...
View ArticleDinner in 5: Easy Crockpot Chicken Tacos
My mother-in-law shared this easy dinner with me shortly after marrying her son almost 13 years ago. Needless to say, we’ve enjoyed this quick dinner more times than I can remember. It’s a keeper!...
View ArticleMeyer Lemon Lavender Mini Bundt Cakes
Several years ago, when I worked for Williams Sonoma’s corporate office, I purchased a mini bundt pan that I still have today; in fact, it looks practically brand new a decade later! I’ve always been...
View ArticleCoconut Pecan Banana Bread
There are a lot of banana bread recipes out there…believe me, I know (I’ve tried may of them!). But, I’ve come to find out that my favorite versions are dense and just slightly nutty. The unsweetened...
View ArticleChocolate Cake, Dulce de Leche and Gray Sea Salt
To taste dulce de leche (“candy of milk” in Spanish), is to love it. This thick sauce is truly a decadent treat and the perfect accent to dense, chocolate cake (here, I added coarse, gray sea salt to...
View ArticleSpiced Apple Crisp with Hazelnuts and Vanilla Bean Brown Butter
I have to tell you that this is my favorite apple crisp to date. It takes a little longer to make than some of the other crisps I’ve made over the years, but the end result is absolutely worth it. I...
View ArticlePantry Staples: Four Fall Favorites
Last week I took advantage of a few local sales and stocked my pantry with my four Fall favorites (Hello October!). And while part of me wonders if I overdid it a little, the other part knows I will...
View ArticleThanksgiving Dinner Favors
With Thanksgiving Day a little over one month away, it’s time to start thinking about some of the details that make this special meal so memorable. First, figure out who you would like to spend the...
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Sparkling Apple Ginger Cider with Fresh Sage
Last month my husband and I were invited to a Diner en Blanc, and one of my assignments for the pop-up-picnic-in-white was drinks. Craving an apple/sage combination, I put together a non-alcoholic...
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Favorite Kitchen Canisters
Anyone who reads this blog likely keeps a supply of flour, sugar or some other grain on-hand somewhere in the kitchen; be it on the counters or in a cupboard. And so, I’m going to stray from my usual...
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Apple Picking + an Apple Pecan Crisp
The perfect day is a relative term, but for me, it is a sunny, crisp Autumn day. I get to bundle up in a sweater while simultaneously enjoying the sunshine warming my cheeks. And truly there is not...
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Homemade Sugar Pumpkin Purée
If you want to elevate your pumpkin dessert a little, jump from Libbys to the organic purée at Whole Foods. If you really want to amp things up (at your pumpkin party of course), then take a short...
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