Easter Lush green grass and 80-degree temperatures inspired me to shoot my food photos outside, right in the backyard grass and hosta plants. I have novelty dishes that can be used as props, but nothing makes a better backdrop than nature herself. This Easter I made eggs with a rich blend of creamy peanut butter, […]
More macabre recipes can be found at my Halloween inspired site: The Halloween Hunt It was a dark chocolate night. I’m talking about the night before Halloween, when a hyper dosage of sugary sweet candy from the store called for a bittersweet intervention. The only thing sweet about this cake is the candy corn I […]
The bird came out perfect this year – crispy golden skin and juicy. Sea salt, one stick of butter and a sprinkling of pepper was all that was required for the turkey, which left plenty of time to work on sides and desserts. The kitchen always smells its best around Thanksgiving. The smells of white […]
Fruitcake is one of those desserts that often gets passed over at the holiday table. It could be that the sight of green candied cherries sickens some people, or jokes about using a weighty cake wedge as a door stop. I read about a Jay Leno episode where the host ate a slice of 125-year-old fruit cake. […]
The best gifts in my household are edible. Christmas candy is the present that keeps on giving throughout the day, long after others presents are stowed away. I actually enjoy making some of these throughout the year, if for nothing else but to improve on technique. After all, anyone who has made candy can tell […]
Drizzling rain and humidity made this Fourth of July a little soggy, but it didn’t fizzle out completely. Cupcakes are always festive, so I decided to whip up a batch of golden vanilla cupcakes and white icing. I considered adding red and blue dye to the icing, but the blueberries and strawberries I had on […]
The sultry, sweaty humidity of this week’s 90-degree heat wave had me reaching for my Origins Peace of Mind to dab under my ears and neck. As the cooling minty sensation began to work its magic, I thought, I should provide something just as soothing for my stomach. So I recalled an old summertime favorite: […]
Hot weather may encourage a cooling trend in some kitchens, but my thoughts turn to salsa, gazpacho and the burning sting of peppers. I guess this is like applying capsacian to alleviate pain. The natural chemical found in peppers has been found to turn off pain receptors. So hot you don’t feel the burn? Well, […]
I’m a little sad to see holiday baking is over. It’s my favorite time of the year to indulge in all things sweet and buttery, but now that it’s January, I have turned to leaner recipes. Most major food and home magazines tout a healthy lifestyle and diet makeover. Although I’ll still experiment with baking […]
