One of my husband’s favorite treats is rugalah, a Jewish pastry/cookie that is made with a cream cheese and butter dough, and filled with all kinds of delicious things, like cinnamon, nuts, fruit preserves, chocolate, Nutella – if you aren’t familiar with it, wouldn’t you like to be? This year I made apricot rugalah (my favorite flavor) and speculoos rugalah. Speculoos is a Dutch spiced shortbread cookie that is ground up and mixed with vegetable oil to create a peanut […]
A good cookie after a long school day can make the world seem like a kinder place, and, let’s face it, the first day of school is BIG. There’s so much to talk about, so many new things to mull over, challenges laid down for the future; if the first day of school is big, then the first day of after-school is equally important for parents to get their kids’ first impressions. My standard line after school line was, “Tell […]
You never know where friendship will be found. Over twenty years ago I met a retired high school English teacher at a guest ranch in Montana. The ranch is a place where you meet lots of people, enjoy their company for a week, and never see them again. It was different with Benita. We talked a lot about books, and children, and life, and though our politics are diametrically opposed, we still see each other regularly and stay in touch, […]
This is one of the best recipes I’ve ever come up with. It has 4 ingredients: chocolate, caramel, a touch of cream and salted peanuts – couldn’t be simpler – and it’s the freshest candy bar you’ve ever eaten. A batch of these would make a wonderful hostess or holiday gift; they would be great at a birthday party; they are amazing when chopped up and blended into ice cream, and they can be cut into elegant little squares and […]
What would the summer be without peaches – those rich, golden orbs of luscious sweetness that spread sunshine with every juicy bite? Finding new ways to appreciate the peach is always a pleasure, and I particularly like this recipe because the filling provides a perfect showcase for the true flavor of a peach: slightly acidic, gently fragrant, and smooth on the tongue. The pine nuts give texture and substance to the filling, and the crust is just plain perfect. This […]
