There are days when you can eat healthy all day long, and then there are days when you need the richest, most buttery cookie you know of -- dipped in chocolate. Yesterday was one of those days. I'll skip the details, and get to the good part: When the chips are down, there's nothing like … Continue reading Some Days Call for Shortbread
It’s Always the Right Time For Soup
While we were sweltering last week in the near-90s, as Syracuse is wont to do, we are now rainy, grey and in the 60s -- the breeze coming in the window feels a lot chillier than that. A perfect day for soup! I had a recipe from Skinnytaste for Ham Bone Soup with Potatoes and … Continue reading It’s Always the Right Time For Soup
Broadening My Horizons: A First Shot at Cooking with Tom Colicchio’s Book, Think Like a Chef
I wasn’t sure what to expect from this book, but I got it from the library and ended up ordered my own copy as soon as I finished reading the introduction. I’ve cooked for a long time, and I’m pretty familiar with many of the basic techniques in the book (roasting, braising, etc), but I … Continue reading Broadening My Horizons: A First Shot at Cooking with Tom Colicchio’s Book, Think Like a Chef
Delicious (Gluten Free) Biscotti!
I LOVE BISCOTTI! I’ve made Biscotti for years. They are easy to make, so easy to add your own touches to, and they make great gifts. They also last forever on the counter or in the fridge/freezer (well, in theory). I first baked them using a book called Death by Chocolate Cookies by Marcel Desaulniers. … Continue reading Delicious (Gluten Free) Biscotti!
In the Mood for Macarons, Part 1
There are a lot of different cooking/baking moods aren't there? There is the "Okay, I guess we need a loaf of bread today" mood or the "I really, really want salted chocolate chip cookies... I NEED SALTED CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES" mood. Then, sometimes we want a challenge, right? It's the "How do they do that? … Continue reading In the Mood for Macarons, Part 1
Review: Eight Flavors, Sarah Lohman
I first picked up this book at the library, which is what I do with books I'm not sure I'll want to keep. To cut to the chase, I ordered my own hardcover copy as soon as I had turned the last page. It's unusual to find a book that is such an interesting combination … Continue reading Review: Eight Flavors, Sarah Lohman
Shrimp and Grits in Syracuse
Two years ago (maybe it was three...) I went to a writing conference in Atlanta and hung out with two of my Southern friends, Anna and Karen. Each morning at breakfast, they had a little side dish that I thought was Cream of Wheat (insert childhood nightmare here...). No, they had grits, and they urged … Continue reading Shrimp and Grits in Syracuse
Mmmm….Ice Cream
Even though we're lactose intolerant, we pop a Lactaid now and then for things we MUST have... ice cream is one of them. Just saw this post from Epicurious, and wanted to pass it along -- definitely trying this, though we will have to use lactose-free whole milk instead of cream. We have an ice … Continue reading Mmmm….Ice Cream
The First Dish
I love the reality show Top Chef, and one of the challenges they occasionally pose to contestants is to cook the first dish they ever made. That always comes with strong associations and memories, of course. When they do that, I try to think back to what was the first dish I ever made? I … Continue reading The First Dish
