Isn’t it a marvel the way you can taste, or smell, or hear something long forgotten and have it brought back to life in an instant, a powerful memory you didn’t even know was still there? For me, the smell of Concord grapes is like being thrust back in time to my five-year-old self, perched on the fender of a tractor as my uncles stacked wooden boxes of grapes to go to market. Another thing that brings back happy childhood […]
As the weather begins to change, it’s nice to welcome fall with a hot toddy, so I thought: what better combination than bourbon and apple cider? Unfortunately, that turned out to be way too sweet and a little disappointing. I have an old book of cocktails from the 1930s that suggested boiling down the apple cider to syrup form before mixing with the bourbon, and that was a good tout. The apple flavor become much more pungent, and a squirt […]
We’ve been in the process of moving, and it’s wreaking havoc on my neat lists of recipes to make and post. There was going to be a peach pie, but then the pie pans were packed and nowhere to be found. Pantry staples are sketchy; the bread knife is MIA. Despite the disruption, there were enough interesting ingredients to make a decadent granola bar – peanut butter, chocolate, and some healthy stuff too, to assuage my guilt. Moving is more […]
Calvados in any apple dessert gives it substance and deeper flavor. This recipe is based on clafoutis, but uses caramelized apples instead of pears or cherries. If you love custard and baked fruit, this is about as easy and delicious as it gets. It’s a great way to use up old apples, and makes a warm and welcoming hot dessert casserole for a buffet table or tailgate party. If you leave the calvados out, it’s a big hit with little […]
Food and Wine magazine is one of my favorite sources of inspiration for new recipes, and last summer they had an intriguing recipe for cherry and onion salad with an Asian fish sauce and vinegar dressing. The fish sauce was strong, but when I tried it with a simple balsamic vinaigrette instead, it allowed the cilantro, cherries, and onions to meld without overwhelming them with additional flavor. I loved it! It reminds me of the mango and black bean salad […]
