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Nov 20, 2024

Wintery Pavlova with Port Cranberries and Ros

This Pavlova with port cranberries and rosemary is a wonderful wintery take on the summer dessert that hails from Oceania. 

Pavlova on a cake plate topped with cranberries.


Both Australia and New Zealand take credit for the invention of this cloud-like dessert, created in the 1920s to honor the Russian ballerina of the same name. It starts with a delicate meringue-crusted base that is dreamy  and marshmallow soft inside. 

Brothless Ramen with XO Sauce (XO Mazemen)

Brothless Ramen with XO Sauce is a highly flavorful noodle dish that is a mash up of Japanese Mezeman (mixed noodles) and a sauce created in Hong Kong that is a total umami bomb. 

Brothless Ramen with XO Sauce in a bowl.



Take some cooked ramen noodles and toss them with a mixture of XO sauce, oil or rendered fat, rice vinegar, and soy sauce and you have a magical mixture of noodles and sauce that is tasty, filling, and will introduce you to the spicy seafood condiment that was developed in the 1980s in Hong Kong. 

Nov 17, 2024

Eton Mess with Raspberries, Blackberries, and Jam

This Eton Mess with rasperries, blackberries, and raspberry jam is a tasty take on the famous parfait named after prestigious English boarding school. It's a tasty mash up of berries, whipped cream, and meringue. 

Two Parfaits of Eton Mess with Raspberries, Blackberries, and Jam


Evidently, it is served at an annual cricket match! 

Nov 16, 2024

Cranberry Crumble Bars

These Cranberry Crumble Bars are an easy dessert to serve for Thanksgiving and Christmas... or anytime. 

Cranberry Crumble Bars on a small plate.


These cranberry crumble bars are reminiscent of the flavors of Linzer cookies, the jam-filled sandwich cookie made with both wheat and almond flours. 

Nov 11, 2024

Cornmeal Batty Cakes

These cornmeal batty cakes are little savory pancakes made with just five ingredients. They are also known as Johnny cakes, hoe cakes, and several other names, such as Shawnee cakes and spider cornbread.  

Cornmeal Batty Cakes stacked on a plate.


In the new cookbook, Baking in the American South by Anne Byrn, these little corn cakes are called Nina Cain's Batty cakes with lacey edges (I received a copy from the publisher for an honest review). 

Nov 9, 2024

No Knead Ciabatta

This no knead chiabatta bread, with its crunchy crust and soft and airy interior, is super tasty and so easy to make. 

No Knead Ciabatta bread slices in a basket.


This bread is wonderful for sandwiches, croutons, and simply as a side for dipping in sauces, stews, and soups. It also makes amazing garlic bread

Nov 5, 2024

Homemade Wonton Soup with Pork and Ginger

This wonton soup, with pork and ginger, is a fun and delicious take on a classic Chinese take-out dish. 

Wonton Soup with Ginger and Pork in a red rimmed white bowl.



This soup, with its refreshing gingery chicken broth, pork and ginger filling, along with a crunchy addition of romaine, is a light and wonderful first course to a multi-course Chinese-style feast. I also love it for a light lunch.  

Nov 2, 2024

Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board

This Christmas tree charcuterie board is a fun and tasty appetizer for holiday parties or small get-togethers. 

Christmas Tree Charcuterie Board with salami, tomatoes, and cheese.


This Christmas tree charcuterie board appetizer can be customized any way you like. While mine is fairly small and meant for four to six people, you can make it as big as you like, especially if you have a large serving board or tray. 

Oct 31, 2024

Pumpkin Dinner Rolls

These pumpkin dinner rolls are light, tender, moist, and are wonderful warm and fresh from the oven slathered in melty butter. 

Pumpkin Dinner Rolls in a white bowl.


You'll love serving these rolls along with your holiday feast. They are sure to disappear. 

Oct 29, 2024

Honey Garlic Sweet Potatoes

These Honey Garlic Sweet Potatoes are slightly sweet, garlicky, and crispy. 

Honey Garlic Sweet Potatoes on a white serving platter.


These honey garlic sweet potatoes are swoon-worthy. The combination of the garlic and honey, plus a bit of cayenne, will have everyone going back for second helpings. 

Oct 28, 2024

Stuffing Muffins

These stuffing muffins are cute little individual servings of Thanksgiving-style bread stuffing. They are moist on the inside and extra crispy on the outside. If you favor the crispy edges of baked holiday stuffing, you will love these. 

Stuffing Muffins on a yellow cake stand.


One of my favorite courses for Thanksgiving dinner is the stuffing. I've baked it, made it in the slow cooker, incorporated it into dinner rolls, and used leftovers for pancakes

Mocha Oatmeal Muffins

These mocha oatmeal muffins are filled with walnuts and oats. That's a great excuse for having chocolate for breakfast, right?

Mocha Oatmeal Muffins in a basket for serving.

 


These muffins are a wonderful grab-and-go breakfast for busy mornings. Along with a piece of fresh fruit, they are substantial enough to keep you going until lunchtime. 

Oct 27, 2024

Shrimp Risotto

This shrimp risotto is creamy, cheesy, and pretty easy to make too! 

Shrimp Risotto in bowls.


Your guests will feel like you are serving them a "gourmet" dish that took lots of time and labor spent constantly stirring a pot by the stove, when, in reality, this risotto is pretty hands off. 

Oct 26, 2024

Chocolate Peppermint Brownies

These chocolate peppermint brownies are wonderful fudgy bites that will remind you of one of your favorite Girl Scout cookies, Thin Mints... only much fudgier. 

Chocolate Peppermint Brownies on a platter.


These brownies are super fudgy and are glazed with a deep chocolate ganache that is decorated with a white chocolate drizzle. 

Oct 23, 2024

No Churn Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream

This no churn Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream recipe is a wonderful way to capture iced Vietnamese coffee in an ice cream form! 

No Churn Vietnamese Coffee Ice Cream in a glass container along with two white bowls.


Vietnamese coffee is brewed to be super strong, very dark, syrupy, and slightly bitter. It's then combined with sweetened condensed milk and served hot or over ice. 

Oct 20, 2024

Sourdough Discard Crackers

This sourdough discard cracker recipe is an easy and tasty way to use any sourdough discard you have. Just try to restrain yourself from grabbing and snacking on one or two each time you walk by. They're pretty irresistible. 

Four photos of different sourdough crackers.


These homemade sourdough crackers are made with your sourdough discard. There's no rolling pin required. 

Dulce de Leche Pumpkin Cheesecake

This dulce de leche pumpkin cheesecake is the perfect dessert to add to your Thanksgiving table. 

Three Dulce de Leche Pumpkin Cheesecake slices.


This dulce de leche pumpkin cheesecake is a fabulous make-ahead dessert. In fact, it's better when it's prepared about 12 hours in advance and allowed to chill. Plus, you can make the dulce de leche topping in advance, refrigerate it, and bring it back to room temperature before pouring it over the cheesecake right before serving. 

Oct 19, 2024

Severed Hand Pies

These severed hand pies are a fun and easy to make Halloween dessert. Fill them with a red-colored fruit (cherry, raspberry, strawberry, or cactus pear) pie filling for a creepy and delicious treat. 

Severed Hand Pie on a white place cut up.

 

All you need to make these little severed hand pies is ready-made pie dough, cherry pie filling, and an egg wash. You can garnish the hand pies with some of the juices in your pie filling or with some raspberry or strawberry dessert topping. 

Oct 18, 2024

Mini Pizza Skulls

These mini pizza skulls are tasty little treats to serve at your next Halloween party. 

Mini Pizza Skulls around a bowl of pizza sauce.


These pizza bites are so easy to make. You can use your favorite pre-made pizza dough, such as Pillsbury, or you can use your own favorite pizza dough recipe and then stuff them with everything you love on a pizza. 

Oct 16, 2024

White and Spelt Bread with Poolish using the Cold Start Method (and an Attempt at Yeast Water)

This white wheat and spelt bread has a crispy chewy crust and a moist and airy crumb. 

White and Spelt Bread with Poolish whole loaf of bread.


This white and spelt bread begins with an attempt to make yeast water as a leavener. Years ago, I tried making yeast water, but failed. This time, our Bread Baking Babes (an every-other-month group of bread baking enthusiasts) host Judy of Judy's Gross Eats challenged us to make a loaf of bread, any bread, using a yeast water starter. 

Oct 14, 2024

Spiced Skull Cakelets

These spiced skull cakelets are cute little tasty bites flavored with cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, clove, and cayenne. They are a sweet dessert with a bit of a kick!

Spiced Skull Cakelets on a blue plate.


These little cake bites are such a fun and tasty treat to make for Halloween. The cakes are moist and spicy, and so reminiscent of the fall season. 

Oct 12, 2024

Peter Reinhart's Struan Bread

This bread is made with a delicious mix of different grains, including wheat, corn meal, oats, bran, and brown rice. 

Two loaves of Peter Reinhart's Struan Bread.


This multigrain bread, called "struan," was created by my favorite bread baking author and teacher, Peter Reinhart. 

Oct 9, 2024

Stir-Fried Udon Noodles with Chicken and Vegetables (Yaki Udon)

These stir-fried udon noodles with chicken and vegetables is so easy to prepare and is ready in less than 20 minutes. 

Yaki Udon in a red rimmed bowl.

 


Yaki udon is a Japanese stir-fry that includes udon noodles, a protein, veggies, and a simple sauce made with soy sauce (either light or dark depending on the region), plus mirin or sake. 

Oct 7, 2024

Pull-Apart Brioche Bread

This pull-apart brioch bread is soft, light, flaky, buttery, and rich, all at the same time. 

Pull-Apart Brioche Bread Loaf showing the crumb.

 

Brioche bread is made with an enriched dough that is high in butter and and eggs. It can be sweet or savory, or somewhere in between. It's a tricky bread to make, and can either turn out light and delicate, or heavy and dense. 

Oct 5, 2024

Twice-Baked Potato Pierogies

These twice-baked potato pirogies are wonderful little filled dumplings - potatoes, cheese, bacon - pure comfort food.  

Twice-Baked Potato Pierogies in a bowl.


These pierogies are a take on the Polish pierogi, which is typically filled with potatoes, cheese, cabbage, meat, or sweet fillings. As someone who loves anything potato and cheese, I had to try these, with a twist!

Sep 30, 2024

Molasses Bran Muffins with Cherries

These molasses bran muffins are super wholesome, moist, and packed with flavor. 

Molasses Bran Muffins with Cherries spread with butter and jam.


You can make (and serve) these delicious and nutritious all whole grain muffins in about 30 to 45 minutes. They are loaded with fiber, which makes them a super filling (and tasty) way to start your day. 

Sep 28, 2024

Easy Tomato, Kidney Bean, and Roast Beef Chili Soup

This tomato, kidney bean, and roast beef chili soup is perfect for using leftover roast beef or brisket. 

Three small bowls of Tomato, Kidney Bean, and Roast Beef Chili Soup.


The first time I made this Tomato, Kidney Bean, and Roast Beef Chili Soup because I had some leftover roast beef, and I wanted something to go with these wonderful savory corn muffins. 

Crispy Baked Chicken Taquitos

These chicken taquitos are stuffed with a mixture of shredded rotisserie chicken, ricotta cheese, cheddar cheese, and green chilis and then baked until crispy and ready for dipping. 

Crispy Baked Chicken Taquitos on a red-rimmed plate.


I have always loved taquitos, but I've never made them at home because they typically require deep frying. 

Sep 25, 2024

Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowls

This chicken teriyaki rice bowl dish is an easy, simple, and flavorful dinner that comes together in less than an hour. 

Two Chicken Teriyaki Rice Bowls.


This chicken teriyaki rice dish is made with a "from scratch" glaze of sake, soy sauce, mirin, sugar, and ginger. It's very light, and not syrupy at all. 

Sep 21, 2024

Slow Cooker Beef and Potato Stew

This slow cooker beef and potato stew is about as easy and tasty as it gets. 

Three bowls of Slow Cooker Beef and Potato Stew on a red striped cloth.


You don't have to brown the meat. You don't have to chop or peel the potatoes, and you don't have to chop any onions. The secret ingredient is condensed French onion soup, which melds with the juices of the meat as it slow cooks to produce an amazing gravy. 

Sep 20, 2024

Apple Sour Cream Cake

This apple sour cream cake includes fresh apples tossed in sugar and spices and baked into a moist cake flavored with cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla, and apple cider. 

Apple Sour Cream Cake on a cake stand with a plated slice in front on a small plate.


The cake is topped with an apple glaze, although it is moist enough on its own, making it a lovely breakfast cake. 

Sep 15, 2024

Chocolate Brigadeiros

Chocolate brigadeiros are the unofficial national candies of Brazil. They combine the elegance of truffles with the chewiness of chocolate fudge. Evidently, in Brazil, you can't have a birthday party or a wedding with out serving brigadeiros. 

Chocolate Brigadeiros in paper wrappers in a bowl.


In Brazil, they are sold both in fancy candy stores and also as a street food. Typically, they are rolled in chocolate sprinkles after shaping, but you can coat them in colorful sprinkles, finely chopped nuts, or even cocoa powder like truffles. 

Sep 11, 2024

Cold Sesame Noodles

This cold sesame noodle recipe is a tasty version of the Chinese-American restaurant cold sesame noodles sold in New York City's Chinatown starting in the 1960s. 

Three individual bowls of Cold Sesame Noodles.


These sweet and savory cold noodles will call your name late at night from the refrigerator when the hunger pangs strike. If you make these, you may find yourself grabbing a few noodles from the bowl and dropping them into your mouth when no one is looking. 

Sep 10, 2024

Sourdough Pizza Bianca

This sourdough pizza bianca is leavened with a sourdough starter and is made entirely by hand with the no-knead method. 

Sourdough Pizza Bianca Alla Romana Round on a cutting board.

 


This pizza bianca is an attempt to recreate the pizza bianco alla Romano from Forno Campo de' Fiori, a bakery in Rome that serves pizza by the slice. 

Sep 8, 2024

Teriyaki Chicken Cups

These teriyaki chicken cups are a fun way to combine a few simple ingredients to make a tasty little main dish for dinner!

Teriyaki Chicken Cups in colorful silicone cups on plates.


With about 10 minutes of prep time, and 20 to 25 minutes of baking time, you can get dinner on the table in about 30 to 45 minutes from start to finish. 

Sep 5, 2024

Cheesy Butternut Squash Pasta

Cheesy Butternut Squash Pasta - an easy to prepare one-pot meal or side dish that is ready for the table in about 40 minutes. 

Cheesy Butternut Squash Pasta in a bowl.



The butternut squash in this pasta dish, combined with the Parmesan cheese, adds so much creaminess that there is no need for added milk or cream to create a sauce. The cheese and the squash, along with the pasta, do all of the heavy lifting. 

Sep 4, 2024

Arugula, Apple, and Fennel Salad with Cheesy Crostini

This arugula, apple, and fennel salad is tossed with a wonderful citrus dressing and served with toasty crostini topped with a melty three-cheese spread. 

Arugula, Apple, and Fennel Salad with Cheesy Crostini and walnuts in a bowl.


 

This salad, dressed with mix of shallots, lime juice, lemon juice, honey, Dijon, extra-virgin olive oil, and salt and white pepper, is amazingly flavorful. 

Sep 2, 2024

Brussels Sprouts Pizza

These individual pizzas include a cheesy Alfredo sauce, pancetta, and roasted thinly sliced brussels sprouts. 

Brussels Sprouts Pizza on white plates.


I love pizzas that are layered with veggies that you don't traditionally think of when you think about pizza. The vegetables get all roasty and the pizzas often include different cheeses and/or sauces that bring in unexpected flavors. 

Aug 31, 2024

Hash Brown Potato Waffles

If you love hash brown potatoes, this is one of the easiest ways to make them at home. They turn out crispy on the outside and creamy on the inside, exactly the way you want them. 

Hash Brown Potato Waffles stacked on a small white black-rimmed plate.


This hash brown potato waffle recipe also gives you a great reason to own a waffle iron. It's no longer a single use kitchen electric! 

Aug 28, 2024

Pan-Seared Scallops with Black Beans and Red Pepper Sauce

These Pan-Seared Scallops with Black Beans and Red Pepper Sauce can be served either as an appetizer, first course, or main course. 

Pan-Seared Scallops with Black Beans and Red Pepper Sauce in white bowls.


This tasty and colorful seafood dish takes just about 35 minutes to make and it's wonderful for a light dinner with friends. 

Aug 26, 2024

Chocolate Chip Pecan Banana Muffins (Small Batch)

These small-batch chocolate chip and pecan banana muffins are loaded with chocolate chips and pecans, plus, they are a great way to use up that last banana! 

Chocolate Chip Pecan on a yellow cake stand.


These are pretty much portable mini banana breads in muffin form, but the chocolate chip and pecan to bread ratio is much higher, perfect for chocolate and pecan lovers. 

Aug 24, 2024

Mexican Street Corn Salad

This Mexican Street Corn Salad takes the flavors from the grilled corn (elotes) that is sold by street vendors in Mexico (and here in parts of Los Angeles) and incorporates them into a delicious salad. 

Mexican Street Corn Salad servings in bowls.


Mexican street corn is grilled corn that is slathered in a mixture of mayonnaise, cotija cheese, chili, and lime and then sold on the cob. There's also a version of street corn, called esquites, where the food vendor strips the corn from the cob, tosses the ingredients, and serves it in a plastic cup. 

Aug 19, 2024

Blackberry-Lime Breakfast Cake

Make this blackberry-lime breakfast cake and watch it disappear. It is loaded with two heaping baskets of blackberries, and the batter is flavored with the zest of two limes. 

Blackberry-Lime Breakfast Cake with a slice pulled out.


This breakfast cake comes together in just a few minutes, and takes about 45 minutes to bake.  It's kind of like making a giant muffin! 

Aug 17, 2024

Eggplant Gratin

 This eggplant gratin is an easy-to-make cheesy side dish that everyone will love. 

Eggplant Gratin with a chive garnish.


Serve this eggplant gratin as a side dish or even as a light main course. I love it with warm sourdough bread slices on the side for dipping in the sauce. 

Aug 16, 2024

Jamaican Coco Bread

Coco bread is a soft and slightly sweet Caribbean bread made with flour, yeast, coconut milk, and a little bit of sugar. 

Jamaican Coco Bread in a basket with one roll in front.


Coconut milk is a surprisingly wonderful addition to this bread. It adds a tiny hint of coconut flavor that is almost indiscernible. It's more fragrance than flavor and the coconut flavor is super mild. In fact, if you aren't told about the coconut milk, you might not even be able to tell. 

Aug 13, 2024

Whole Wheat Quinoa Bread

This whole wheat quinoa bread is packed with high protein quinoa and flax seeds. 

Whole Wheat Quinoa Bread on a cutting board.


This whole wheat quinoa bread is wonderful sliced and buttered, and also makes delicious avocado toast. 

Easy Sourdough French Country Bread (Made with Sourdough Discard)

This sourdough country bread is made with sourdough discard. To make this delicious bread, you don't have to worry about making sure your sourdough starter is perfectly ready when you mix it into your dough. 

Easy Sourdough French Country Bread on a cutting board.


This Easy Sourdough Country Bread is so hands-off, and you make it with just five ingredients... bread flour, whole wheat flour, water, salt, and sourdough discard. 

Aug 10, 2024

Summer Vegetable Tart

This savory vegetable tart consists of a crispy buttery pre-baked phyllo crust filled with a warm mixture of sauteed vegetables, thyme, and goat cheese. 

Summer Vegetable Tart on a white cake stand with a piece in front on a small plate.


The tender vegetables, combined with the goat cheese and seasoned with black pepper and thyme, are so flavorful. 

Aug 9, 2024

Fresh Mango Salsa

This mango salsa is so refreshing, spicy, and fabulous as a dip with chips or as a topping for grilled seafood or fish tacos. 

Fresh Mango Salsa in a black bowl with homemade tortilla chips.


When mangoes are available, I love to make this mango salsa. It's great for a snack with chips, on salads, and as a topping for grilled fish or chicken. It's so juicy too, and, just like my recipe for grilled pineapple salsa, this salsa adds some acid to your favorite short rib or carnitas tacos. 

Aug 7, 2024

Vietnamese Chicken Salad (Goi Ga)

Vietnamese Chicken Salad (Goi Ga) is a refreshing warm weather no cook recipe that is a popular dish in both South Vietnam and in U.S. Little Saigon communities. Goi Ga actually means "chicken salad."

Vietnamese Chicken Salad (Goi Ga) in a bowl with peanuts on top.


This crunchy and spicy salad is filled with shredded chicken, cabbage, carrots, chiles, and lots of fresh herbs. It's also dressed with a sweet, salty, spicy, and tangy dressing.