The word fruitcake immediately conjures images of boozy brown bricks studded with bizarre colored unidentifiable bits of fruit. I am not certain how fruitcake became the culinary oddity that it has become, but doesn’t have to be… What about a golden cake studded with naturally sweet bits of dark amber fruit and rich buttery pecans? …
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Cool-weather and the current full-time, heightened need for comfort food make me think of braised meats. I love beef stews, braised short ribs, and pot roasts. However, like many comfort foods -they can be rich, decadent, and not super healthy. How about a tender, meaty bowl of goodness paired with silky strips of onions and …
Continue reading “Braised Flank Steak with Peppers and Onions”
Lordy day, 2020 has been a lot to manage and take in. And, here we are at the holidays. There’s an active call from the CDC for smaller holiday celebrations. We’re tired. We’re overwrought. We’re scared of COVID and what it might do or scared of the people that aren’t scared enough….. Thanksgiving is normally …
Continue reading “Covid Thanksgiving and Gratitude”
Football Saturdays can feel like 100 yards of healthy eating pitfalls. Seriously, who wants to eat carrot sticks and celery spears with hummus when everyone else is jamming down on hot chicken wings and cheese dip? I always make sure to always have a crudités platter for mindless eating and I love vegetables, but face …
Continue reading “Lighten Up, Y’all! Buffalo Chicken Dip”
Apples dipped in caramel are one of life’s sweetest treats. It’s simple, nostalgic, and tasty, too. Knowing how to make caramel is a key kitchen skill, a must-do, something that should most certainly be in your repertoire. Sugar, heat, and a little bit of time can do amazing things. I fully understand there are storebought …
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Packed with dried fruit and nuts, dark chocolate bark is full of flavor and fun! Making this bark – simply a sheet of rich, decadent chocolate studded with crunchy bits of goodness – couldn’t be easier. You can whip up a batch in about 5 minutes before chilling in the fridge. There’s no tempering …
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Apples are one of fall’s most iconic foods. Raw, dried, sauteed, simmered, baked, jammed, jellied, pressed into cider or juice, or cooked down into unctuous butter – apples are an awesome addition to your autumn kitchen repertoire. Of all the apple dishes that may come to mind, Apple Pie is perhaps the most iconic. However, …
Continue reading “One Bowl Apple Snack Cake”
Several years ago a food website interviewed me and asked what I did with my leftover buttermilk. What? That’s like asking me what I do with my leftover flour, butter, or sugar! I consider it a kitchen staple that can be used in many different culinary applications. It gives tenderness and a lift to waffles …
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Chocolate Cupcakes can pretty much solve all the world’s problems. Well, that might be a stretch. Ok, it’s flat out not true. I will say, however, that sometimes it feels like it could be true. Chocolate Cupcakes are the culinary equivalent of a dog wagging its tail — simple, clean pleasure. They cause children to beam …
Continue reading “Healthy-ish Double Chocolate Cupcakes”
It’s hot. Need a dessert? “No-Bake” is the way to go! I hardly want to turn on my toaster, much less the oven. I’m sharing a recipe for a refrigerated no-bake cream that is super flexible and adaptable. First up, it’s served solo, a veritably virtuous Raspberry Yogurt “Mousse.” Pour the cream into crisp chocolate …
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