Cheese Bread has been a favorite at my family’s table for decades. Tender and flavorful this bread is delicious served with ham, turkey or most any family or festive dinner. Shape this lovely dough into braided loaves or, if you prefer, round pull-apart rolls to serve for brunch, dinner or an afternoon snack.
A measure of cloves rounds out the sweetness of cinnamon and dark brown sugar to create an intriguing flavor in Aunt Betty’s Spicy Oatmeal Cookies. The spices lay down a lingering impression on the tongue to sweeten the bitter notes in the coffee Aunt Betty loved to share. They also taste great with cold milk in a wide glass for dipping.
The directions for this old-fashioned Fruit Cobbler are short and sweet. It is a great recipe to feature seasonal fruit in a deliciously satisfying conclusion to any meal. While still warm, top with whipped cream or ice cream and enjoy!
Make the most of radishes, sugar snap peas and fresh mint by adding quick-cooking quinoa and rotisserie chicken to this Spring Garden Salad. A perky pepper jelly dressing pulls it all together creating a vibrant spring entree.
This dessert is easy to assemble from a mixture of whipped cream and Italian cream cheese layered with espresso dipped ladyfingers. The result is a lusciously smooth cake that feels like a mousse with substance. The flavor is much like that of a well crafted latte. Layers of vanilla cream sweeten the tang of soft cheese and the robust intensity of bitter espresso. Together they create a perfect afternoon pick me up or an elegant finish to a fine Italian dinner.
This Endive, Fennel and Radicchio Salad is a beauty. Like Christmas itself, it is bright and festive. Adorned in ruffled leaves and lacy fronds it has a sweet appearance. Wrapped simply, in a classic lemon vinaigrette, this elegant salad also delivers a sheer savor.
I discovered that the Advent calendars I only dreamed of as a child are now available in abundance. After scanning a number of different options to invite on this year’s Advent journey I ordered a calendar filled with fruit spreads and honey. With flavors like Cherry with Hibiscus Flower, Peach with Jasmine and Raspberry with Rose why not re-engage that childlike wonder and pursue an age-old wish come true?
Brightly tart fresh cranberries shine in this simple recipe for a smooth jellied cranberry sauce. This version uses less sugar than most to create a mildly spiced adaptation of a Thanksgiving classic.
These wholesome loaves of Banana Pumpkin Nut Bread are made with a measure of whole wheat flour, warmed with autumn spices, and sweetened with honey. The rich color and flavorful aroma make it an irresistible autumn treat.
These days, I don’t often take the time to make jams, jellies or other fruit preserves. I do, however, enjoy making fruit butter at harvest time. Working with the luscious ripe fruit brings Uncle Hal to mind. I think of his delight in the luxurious harvest and his enjoyment in helping his family to preserve it. When the fruit begins to simmer and its delicious fragrance permeates my kitchen I am struck by the healing force of gratitude and I can’t help but smile.
Dijon mustard, dark brown sugar and a splash of bourbon give these baked beans a spicy sweet edge. Baked for a long while, until good and thick, they are the perfect complement for a traditional backyard barbecue.
I love summer. There is a sweet simplicity in the minimalism of the season; less clothing, less ingredients, less fuss. In summer it is often the simple things that are the most appealing. I am drawn to backyard picnics, ice cold drinks in glass bottles still damp from the cooler, languid hours of sunshine slipping into a warm twilight, watching stars emerge in the darkening sky all the more striking for their tardiness…