Ricotta is a very versatile cheese that makes a voluptuous, satisfying dessert. It’s fast and easy, whether you need an elegant finish to a meal for last-minute guests or a homey dessert served in a mason jar with a wooden spoon. It’s all a matter of presentation, as are so many things in life. I like having a recipe in my back pocket that can work in just about any setting. All it needs is a bit of fresh fruit, […]
My friend Lorraine Wallace has just published her THIRD cookbook, Mr. Sunday’s Suppers. It gave me the opportunity to throw a book party and invite her many friends to celebrate her success. My favorite caterer, Design Cuisine, served foods made from the cookbook: tiny chicken parmesan, pulled pork barbecue, mini-BLTs, and salmon chowder sips. For those with a sweet tooth, we had Lorraine’s pecan bars and chocolate-covered strawberries – a decadent pre-Valentine’s treat. It was a great crowd, with lots […]
It’s a well-established fact that I’m a big fan of Parks and Recreation, and I’ve watched this last (really good) season with a sense of impending loss. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a small Midwestern town myself and recognize an uncomfortably large number of the characters as people I know, or maybe it’s Ron Swanson’s libertarian instincts that appeal to me more than I can say, even while I’m laughing at them, but either way, I already miss […]
Have you ever opened your refrigerator to make a sandwich, looked dully at the contents, closed it again, opened it, closed it – and found that the cycle just went on and on? Nothing looks appealing. It’s the same old stuff all the time: turkey, ham, some bland cheese. No wonder we can’t find anything to eat – we’re in a rut! So I came up with three sandwiches to get excited about: a toasted peanut butter and jelly (the […]
Here’s an update on my husband’s diet progress: he’s lost 17 pounds since my daughter imposed a strict “no bagels for breakfast” rule. One of the things I’ve changed most dramatically for his diet has been his breakfast eating, and he loves this breakfast quinoa bake. The quinoa provides a long energy burn from relatively small amounts of grain, and the sweetness of the fruit makes him feel like he’s eating dessert for breakfast. We all need to feel satisfied […]
