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Fit for a King: Fresh Pea Soup

Fit for a King: Fresh Pea Soup

There’s a little history lesson with this post. French kings lived in St. Germain-en-Laye on the outskirts of Paris prior to a transfer of power to Versailles in 1682. St. Germain was renowned for its beauty and its gardens. The last French king to live…

An Homage to Bertha Potter-Palmer: Triple Chocolate Espresso Brownies

An Homage to Bertha Potter-Palmer: Triple Chocolate Espresso Brownies

Raise your hand if you could use a really good brownie about now. Me, too. These Triple Chocolate Espresso Brownies will knock your socks off. Just reread the recipe title again. Slowly. Triple. Chocolate. Espresso. Brownies. Whoa! These brownies incorporate several types of chocolate and…

Lasagna And Nothing But An iPhone: Yikes!

Lasagna And Nothing But An iPhone: Yikes!

  When the going gets tough, there is nothing more comforting than a quiet table, a mellow glass of Malbec, an ooey-gooey plate of lasagna and the soft snoring sounds of a sweet pup snoozing nearby. That kind of comfort is just what I’ve desperately…

Getting Smashed: Russet Potatoes With Horseradish Sauce

Getting Smashed: Russet Potatoes With Horseradish Sauce

  I’m a potato person. Surely it is my Irish heritage. I love mashed potatoes, baked potatoes, potato cakes and on and on. I think if I ever were to post on one of the ubiquitos dating sites, I would have to be honest. My…

One More Thing: Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

One More Thing: Cranberry Upside-Down Cake

Here is one more delicious dish you might want to add to your table during his holiday season: Alice Waters’ Cranberry Upside-Down Cake.” The cake, with whipped egg whites folded in, is light. The cranberries, baked with a sweet caramel glaze, are sweet and tart…

Frittering Away A Lazy Sunday Afternoon: Zucchini and Carrot Fritters

Frittering Away A Lazy Sunday Afternoon: Zucchini and Carrot Fritters

Gorengan. Tempura. Kuku. Bhaji. Beignet. Everybody makes fritters. Even Martha Washington. She made Ale and Apple Fritters– presumably for an appreciative George. A fritter, by definition, is simply a fried pastry. It can be either sweet or savory and can include fruit, vegetables, seafood or…

Summer’s Bounty: Spicy Fruit Salad With a Decided Kick

Summer’s Bounty: Spicy Fruit Salad With a Decided Kick

  Do you still experience childhood food nightmares? Me, too. For me, the nightmare always begins with me prying open my battered metal lunch box. (Cue in the music from Jaws: Jaws.) On the worst days, there would be a processed cheese sandwich with gloppy…

Five Spice Cake–You’ll Be Entranced!

Five Spice Cake–You’ll Be Entranced!

Stare into this swirling spiral vortex. That and a good hot cup of chamomile tea will make you very sleepy. I love this bundt cake pan. It is a Nordic Ware pan from their Heritage Collection. I bought mine on Amazon here.  (Full disclosure: Jeff Bezos…

Thai-Style Corn Fritters

Thai-Style Corn Fritters

Happy summer! Too hot to spend much time at the stove? These Thai Corn Fritters may be just what you need. A short cook on the griddle and you have a tasty appetizer, entree or side. (OK. I’ll fess up. I eat these for breakfast,…

Fred, Ginger and a Little Creamy Polenta With Mushrooms

Fred, Ginger and a Little Creamy Polenta With Mushrooms

With apologies to George and Ira Gershwin: You say grits, I say polenta. Somehow making polenta made me think of the Gershwins’ classic “Let’s Call The Whole Thing Off”– people squabbling about inconsequential differences. (If you are not familiar with the depression-era song, here is…