As summer hits its stride, and gloriously fresh produce becomes a luxurious stalwart of everyday noshing, I eat as many tomatoes as I possibly can. But sometimes, it's fun to diversify as well as let tomatoes play a supporting role rather than star. This tart seems to defy gravity and is wonderful warm, at room temp, and even cold. It's the best sort of simple- to make and in flavor- and takes full advantage of and highlights what's in season now!
Read MoreThis is a perfectly moist, wonderfully chocolate cake with a great crumb. It holds up well over time and under frosting. I've tweaked the original Hershey's recipe only slightly to include a bit less sugar and some whole wheat flour which no one has ever noticed.
Read MoreCustard has always been one of my favorite desserts, the eggy, smooth, velvety flan a decadently simple treat. I love a hearty chai tea and created this riff on my mom's custard recipe using a spiced tea milk in place of the regular milk and nutmeg.
Read MoreHaving been obsessed with homemade ricotta for quite some time now, I'm always looking for new ways to enjoy it. Recently, during a magical weekend in Charleston, my husband and I noticed the delightful presence of candied kumquats in several dishes. I returned home and immediately candied a batch of these teeny citrus orbs for myself. It didn't take long for me to spoon them atop some ricotta, and to heaven I was immediately transported. Since that fortuitous snack pairing, I've been thinking about ways to formalize the ricotta-kumquat duo into a true dessert. A tart sounded promising and shortbread is always a lovely base perfectly happy to play second fiddle. This.is.scrumptious!
Read MoreMy maternal great aunt, Aunt Da, made wonderfully simple tea cakes that seemed simultaneously substantial and light. She always made huge batches and stored them in a silver canister that seemed bottomless. Here, I've reimagined them to be even lighter (using a combo of cake and whole wheat pastry flour) and slightly spiced with Irish Breakfast tea, Meyer lemon zest and a nice dose of marzipan (rather than the originally called for vanilla). These are absolutely delightful, subtly flavored pillows of comfort.
Read MoreAnother hit from Molly Wizenberg! I can't tell you how many times I've made this tart, for us, for parties, for catering gigs and for friends. It is a hit every single time and now boasts legions of fans. Scrumptious!
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 MoreUtilizing lobster, avocado and grapefruit, this an absolutely wonderful, elegant starter or side dish.
Read MoreThis is Mario Batali's recipe. He says, "it would be better to overcook them by 5 minutes than to undercook them by one." In addition to my two small augmentations -adding lemon and mint- I think toasted pine-nuts would be a great touch. Simple, delicious!
Read MoreAfter Thanksgiving one year, I couldn't bear the thought of another turkey sandwich. This salad was born and is a delicious way to use up leftover roast turkey.
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 MoreHomemade ice cream is so fabulous, and with a great foundation, the flavor possibilities are endless. My sons asked me recently what my favorite candy was, and I replied that the older I get, the less I actually enjoy candy. I'd much rather have chocolate or some sort of baked good, but when pressed to consider a candy bar I'd eat if I had to, I thought of the Almond Joy. Coconut, chocolate and almonds- what's not to love?! Inspired by this conversation, I made this ice cream which is like a homemade, subtle Almond Joy with a twist: a dash of cardamom. Divine!
Read MoreSince discovering the ease of making (and enjoying) fresh ricotta last year, I've been an ardent fan and rather obsessive maker of it. Most weeks, there's a fresh batch in my fridge, and one of my favorite ways to enjoy it is with lightly-spiced poached figs and their syrup. I also really enjoy using the whey which is great and useful in so many ways. This ice cream combines the use of whey with my favorite fig-ricotta snack.
Read MoreThis is a really yummy, not too sweet, unique cake from Food & Wine. I love the glaze and think the cake is terrific served with fresh strawberries.
Read MoreA wonderfully flavorful way to use an entire bunch of radishes (greens too!), and who doesn't want pistachio-yogurt sauce?
Read MoreI adapted this from an Andrew Knowlton yogurt cake recipe in the May 2012 Bon Appétit. AK's used more yogurt and did not include the strawberry-rhubarb compote. If you don't incorporate the fruit swirl, up the yogurt to 3/4 cup. You can make this cake up to three days in advance.
Read MoreA rich, firm pudding-like cake that hails from Sicily. I found this recipe in a Cook's Illustrated special edition, Heirloom Recipes. Cook's Illustrated suggests serving this warm. I actually enjoyed better cold, after it sat in the fridge for a full day.
Read MoreThis is a whole grain, nutty, hearty pancake that is sure to keep you full and fueled. Spelt flour and ground pistachios in concert with cardamom and fresh mango are a bright, flavorful team.
Read MoreThis is a deliciously indulgent way to enjoy fresh crab meat!
Read MoreThis lobster pasta is a cholesterol bomb but totally delicious and worth it! I used two lobster tails, steamed them, and then made less of the sauces. I did not use or miss the salmon caviar; this is a very rich meal! This dish is not hard but you really have to pay attention and multitask. Have everything ready to go and at arm's length. Do not overcook the pasta before adding it to the skillet or you'll end up with a gummy mass.
Read Moremusings from a stay-at-home, cooking-obsessed mom
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