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
Cooking
Sunday Suppers with Bea of La Tartine Gourmande
A few weeks ago I had the absolute pleasure of attending a photography and food styling workshop taught by Béa Peltre of La Tartine Gourmande fame. It took place over two days in the Williamsburg neighborhood of Brooklyn, much of it at the envy inducing Sunday Suppers space (I don't think a single person left … Continue reading Sunday Suppers with Bea of La Tartine Gourmande
Tomato Season
"There's only two things that money can't buy - true, true love and homegrown tomatoes." - from Kevin West's Saving the Season, a cook's guide to home canning, pickling, and preserving We picked the first giant, juicy yellow tomato from our garden last night and sliced it into a caprese salad while it was still … Continue reading Tomato Season
Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream Sundaes with Bourbon Whipped Cream and Toasted Pecans
So I've been a little obsessed with making ice cream this summer. It started several months ago when I stumbled upon the Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams at Home cookbook and realized I could make her insanely good Salty Caramel Ice Cream rather than pay $11 a pint for it at our local specialty foods store. … Continue reading Chocolate Cherry Ice Cream Sundaes with Bourbon Whipped Cream and Toasted Pecans
First Harvest
The cold temperatures of spring and early summer gave our garden a very slow start. Despite a 24' x 8' bed filled to the brim with plants and seedlings, we've only had lettuce and herbs to enjoy. Until now! Seemingly overnight, bright pink tops emerged at the base of radish greens, several teeny tiny green … Continue reading First Harvest
Breakfast Bite: The Perfect Poached Egg
Hands-down the best way to have eggs, don't you agree? The best part is that it's so fast and simple, but there are a few essential steps to achieving a plump white with a perfectly runny yolk rather than something resembling a Portuguese man-o-war with its egg-y tentacles floating around in the water.The Perfect Poached … Continue reading Breakfast Bite: The Perfect Poached Egg
Cocktail Hour: A Simple Crisp White + Smoked Whitefish Spread
Sometimes nothing is better than a crisp white on a warm summer evening. Yesterday marked the summer solstice, and we spent it on our just finished stone terrace with chilled sauv blanc and this smoked whitefish spread. I picked up the smoked whitefish fillets from a fisherman's stand at the farmers' market in Lake Bluff … Continue reading Cocktail Hour: A Simple Crisp White + Smoked Whitefish Spread
What to Bring: Lemon Garlic Hummus
Store-bought hummus makes an appearance at almost every casual get together these days, but you can up the ante by bringing a flavor-packed homemade version to this year's Memorial Day cookout. It comes together in minutes, and DIYing it allows you to use fresh seasonal ingredients that may not appear in those little round tubs … Continue reading What to Bring: Lemon Garlic Hummus
Two New Obsessions + The Perfect Summer Marinade
Last month I wandered into Williams-Sonoma in need of a new paring knife. The Shun's unusual blade and gorgeous wood handle caught my eye, but I almost passed it by as the price was almost double that of the other paring knives. I asked the sales associate if Shun was really twice as good and … Continue reading Two New Obsessions + The Perfect Summer Marinade
Big Mac Throwdown
Last weekend during our outing to Little Goat Diner, Hannah ordered the All-American Burger - complete with special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed bun. Everyone at the table tried it and loved it, so I decided to surprise them with a version we could enjoy at home. I started by … Continue reading Big Mac Throwdown
the aesthete and the dilettante 