You don't have to spend a fortune on those little bags of artisanal granola you find at the market - it's incredibly easy to make at home and customize to your liking! When I was in Telluride last month, the hotel baked a fresh batch of chia seed-speckled granola every morning that was impossible to … Continue reading Breakfast Bite: Maple Chia Cherry Granola
Baking
The Weekend Kitchen: Apple Dumplings
Apple dumplings hold a special place in my heart. My Grandmother Porter, of German descent and a product of the Depression Era, could not stand to waste a thing. Her cooking was simple, hearty, and utterly delicious, and everything she made was from memory, learned no doubt from watching her mother and grandmother. During her … Continue reading The Weekend Kitchen: Apple Dumplings
Maple Glazed Cream Puffs and Mini-Eclairs
Let me set the record straight: I am NOT, by nature, a baker of fancy desserts. Or overly involved desserts. If you'd like any sort of crisp or pie, I can do that for you. Cookies? Coconut cakes? Lemon bars? I've got you covered. But 30 layer crepe cakes? Dyed, rolled and personalized heart cookies? … Continue reading Maple Glazed Cream Puffs and Mini-Eclairs
Chocolate Hazelnut Crepe Cake + A Very Happy Birthday
Oh my, was this cake a labor of love! My daughter Hannah requested a crepe cake for her birthday after seeing a picture of one on Pinterest (doesn't she know 99.9% of pinned recipes are for viewing pleasure only?) and she asked that we make it together. How hard could it be? I thought to … Continue reading Chocolate Hazelnut Crepe Cake + A Very Happy Birthday
A Dessert First Kind of Day – Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
Both of my kids were having a crummy couple of days, so I surprised them by making dessert mid-week (something usually reserved for weekends) and having it ready for their after school snack as they walked in the door yesterday. As my grandfather wisely once said, "Life is too short - we should have dessert … Continue reading A Dessert First Kind of Day – Strawberry Rhubarb Crisp
Good Morning, Sunshine! Have Some Coffee Cake
Today marks the first day of spring, but here in the arctic tundra (also known as Chicago) we are waking up to temperatures in the low teens with wind chills hovering around zero. Whether you are anxiously waiting for your destination vacation or hunkering down at home for a stay-cation, I've created a warm citrusy … Continue reading Good Morning, Sunshine! Have Some Coffee Cake
Breakfast Bite: Chocolate Chip Scones
Chocolate Chip Scones makes 10-12 scones 1 1/2 cups all purpose or gluten-free all purpose flour 1 teaspoon xanthan gum only if using gluten-free flour 1/3 cup granulated sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 4 tablespoons cold unsalted butter cut into 1/2 inch pieces 1 cup cold heavy cream (plus 1 tablespoon extra … Continue reading Breakfast Bite: Chocolate Chip Scones
Table for Four
This weekend, we enjoyed a casual dinner at home with two of our dearest friends. Feeling in need of a cozy late winter meal, I made succulent pan seared lamb chops with dried cherries and port (recipe here), oven roasted Brussels sprouts over toasted pecan and pearl onion studded wild rice, and a lemon tart … Continue reading Table for Four
Now THIS is Love
Yesterday I spent four and a half hours on these cookies. I am not making this up. The most ridiculous part, however, is not the amount of time that it took. It's that I made them for my son's classroom Valentine's Day party. I'm sure all of those 8th grade boys will spend LOADS of … Continue reading Now THIS is Love
Afternoon Snack
These Chocolate Chocolate Chip Muffins are great little afternoon nibbles. Extra chocolately but not too sweet, they are best served warm with a bit of raspberry jam and a glass of cold milk. Click here for the recipe, but please make these changes: (1) increase the milk to 1 cup (2) increase oil to 2 … Continue reading Afternoon Snack
the aesthete and the dilettante 