Y'all, sometimes I just want a really, really good sandwich, one that rises above the standard turkey or tuna. I want every element to be flavorful and well-considered, and I definitely want the sum to be more than the parts. If juices run down my hands and arms, that's great. If I use three napkins before finishing the sandwich, that's great too.
Read MoreThe annual farewell to summer produce can leave jammers distraught. What can I put up now?! Although the fruit-based options are fewer and perhaps less dazzling in some ways (visually and otherwise), there is still much that can be done with fall's gems, especially apples and pears. Generally, I don't much like apple jams. I'd rather have a good applesauce any day. But apples love many other ingredients, and I enjoy pairing their sweet-tartness with more savory elements. Here, I macerate apples and pears with lemon thyme, lemon zest and juice, black pepper and sugar and then cook that mixture down to a crystalline spread, adding some pear brandy near the end. The result is a sweet jam with earthy undertones, just begging to be spread atop a good cheese and some crackers.
Read MoreAs many of you know, strawberry jam can be cloying, too sweet to be enjoyed. By and large this is because strawberries have little in the way of natural pectin so you really have to add a lot of sugar to compensate. As well, cooking strawberries seems to concentrate their natural sweetness, adding to the sugary taste factor. To compensate for lack of natural pectin, I added one grated apple per 4 cups of berries and cooked things until thick. What results is a beautiful, richly colored loosely set preserve whose sweetness is perfectly offset by lemon juice, cardamom and the slight tang of the apple.
Read MoreThis is autumn in muffin form. Absolutely delicious and addicting, these muffins make a great breakfast or snack. They freeze well too, so make a double batch!
Read MoreThis is such a delicious apple cake: incredibly moist, perfectly spiced, and as good for breakfast and a snack as it is for dessert!
Read MoreOn days when a comfort dinner is needed or simply desired, soup often fits the bill. It warms us when we're cold, soothes us when we're sick. It just feels good going down. I've been on a potato tear lately, craving them all the time and in every which way: mashed, roasted...you get my drift. Next step: soup!
Read MoreAn avid canner, I'm always playing around with new combinations of flavor and texture. And, I enjoy adding a savory twist to traditional sweet jams. I had a bunch of rhubarb in my fridge and a Ginger Gold apple leftover from making chutney. Allspice is one of my favorite spices and I thought it might pair nicely with juniper berries. What resulted was a really pretty, wonderfully rich, layered fruit butter.
Read MoreWhen the weather shifts towards a decidedly fall-into-winter temperature range, my cooking shifts too in an almost subconscious way. I like the way this makes me feel connected to the natural patterns of the world around me. The produce at the farmers market has been glorious of late: the deep greens of the lettuces, kales and their kin and the rich sunset-like hues of the tree fruits, winter squash and cruciferous clan. You almost can't avoid making a casserole or two and such was the impetus for this simple, satisfying bake.
Read MoreWhat's not to love about a great bread pudding? It's comforting, delicious, decadent and homey, all at the same time. Topped with a caramel whiskey sauce...well, that's perfection.
Read MoreThis recipe, from "The First Ladies Cook Book," appeared in the NY Times in 1965. It was republished in a 2009 Recipe Redux article by Amanda Hesser. It's absolutely marvelous and very simple to make.
Read MoreThis is another recipe that's come through the generations of my family on my mom's side, and it's a jewel in our crown of goodies. This is the best cranberry sauce I've ever had, and I really mean that. In addition to a "must" at our Thanksgiving and Christmas tables, this sauce elevates a turkey sandwich to greater heights, is wonderful with roast pork, with yogurt in the morning, or again, plain for a little treat.
Read MoreAlthough time-consuming, this fruit butter is an absolutely delicious way to use lots of apples! This recipe comes from Canning for a New Generation by Liana Krissoff.
Read MoreDelicious sweet-hot chutney; great with cheddar, roasted meats...I found this recipe in the New York Times. It's from Tart and Sweet. I once ran out of raisins so subbed currants; also terrific.
Read MoreI got this recipe from my Aunt Renee. It's the best applesauce I've ever had, and I've never found a taster who disagrees with that assertion. It is wonderful with most any combination of apples and has a gorgeous pink hue when you leave some of the red apples unpeeled. This is for kids and adults a like!
Read MoreI've never been a coleslaw fan, but I do like the idea of thinly sliced veggies in a tangy, creamy dressing. The crisp, crunchy freshness of Granny Smith apples, celery and fennel is infinitely pleasing, especially when dressed with a refreshing aioli infused with celery leaves and fennel fronds. This is a great summer salad; hearty enough to be a simple lunch when paired with some great bread and/or some grilled shrimp, or a terrific start to dinner on the patio.
Read Moremusings from a stay-at-home, cooking-obsessed mom
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