Once you embark upon The Downsizing, you never really finish. A couple of weeks ago, I was combing through the small collection of cookbooks that remain on my shelf, trying to decide whether any should be donated or placed into my Little Free Library. Flipping through a Lebanese cookbook my husband Ted bought for me on one of our many visits to Ottawa, Canada, I came across this recipe. For sfuf. (Not a typo, I promise, although sometimes it's spelled sfouf.) I had to make it. Sfuf, a sweet cake, bright yellow thanks to turmeric, bakes in a casserole dish. It comes out of the oven glistening on the top, dotted with pine nuts, redolent with the aroma of orange. (I replaced the orange blossom... Read more →
Imagine, instead of a pie on the holiday table, a gigantic bowl of pies. Hand pies, individually sized, just a few bites of goodness and all the same so nobody fights for the largest slices. There would be no extra dishes to wash. And you could make them ahead, even way ahead, and reheat them in the microwave which is fast and easy and really the best way. Imagine that! Apple spice hand pies can be your reality for the holidays; all you need are some discos in the freezer, ready to defrost, and the filling you'd make for a regular apple pie. Readers of this blog know I'm a huge fan of discos, but if you can't get them, don't despair. Discos are small,... Read more →
Get ready for Fall, and for drop-in visitors. Bake this sour cream coffee cake and freeze it! When you have unexpected guests, pull out the cake, defrost, and top with whipped cream. Read more →
Serve these basil ricotta bruschetta for an appetizer, or dessert. Pan tossing the grapes brings out the natural sweetness, and the juices! Read more →
Pull a box of phyllo shells from the freezer, and in the time it takes them to defrost you can make this sweet mocha ricotta cream filling. Top with bits of chopped chocolate for a one-bite dessert. Read more →
For a totally unexpected brownie, try browning the butter, and add saffron, cinnamon, cumin and more spices, plus some bittersweet chocolate. Read more →
It takes just five minutes to get this cake into the oven. Make ahead and freeze, and you'll be ready for any last-minute entertaining. Read more →