There were beautiful spring pea shoots at the grocery this morning, which reminded me of a standout recipe in The Cheesemonger’s Seasons by Chester Hastings, a cookbook to bring joy to the hearts of cheese lovers everywhere. The very best recipes have only a few ingredients, which, when combined, are so delicious that they draw your complete attention to the plate – making you grateful for the moment. This is one of those recipes. Some good burrata, a little olive […]
If you’re craving cheesecake but the caloric intake is making you think twice, these tarts are a light and lemony way to have your cheesecake and eat it too. Individual tarts have built-in portion control, and the amount of mascarpone is minimal but satisfying. I think the filling would be equally refreshing when made with limes instead of lemons, if you’re more of a key lime lover. This recipe is adapted from The Cheesemonger’s Seasons by Chester Hastings. I added […]
William Shakespeare’s 400th birthday is April 23rd, worth noting for lovers of great literature everywhere. When I worked at the White House, the President and Mrs. Bush hosted a dinner to celebrate Shakespeare’s birthday one year, inviting scholars and actors whose professional lives revolved around the Bard, with an Elizabethan-period meal and performance of “As You Like It” in the East Room afterward. I LOVED planning this dinner, and the chefs and calligraphers outdid themselves with both the menu and […]
This recipe should carry a warning label: if you love coconut, this is the best macaroon cookie, completely, utterly addictive, and gluten-free. Even the cookie dough is so good it was all I could do to stop eating it. You know the process – drop a spoonful on the baking sheet, eat a spoonful, drop another 2 spoonfuls on the baking sheet, take another nibble… It’s the joy of cooking – if there’s some self-discipline involved. For that, you’ll have […]
Serves: 6 Prep time: 20 minutes, plus one hour for the dough to rise For the dough: Use pre made pizza dough, for sale at most Italian markets. For the toppings:
