Sweets & Desserts
Strawberry Shortcakes
Strawberry Shortcakes Flour on the Apron: "Poetry is the synthesis of hyacinths and biscuits." - Carl Sandburg Family dinners were the center of our household life when I was growing up. Eating was more than just an essential; it was an event, a requisite, that everyone attended, dress
Prep School: How to Make Whipped Cream
Prep School: How to Make Whipped Cream There’s nothing like a dollop of whipped cream to add a sweet finish to desserts and specialty drinks. But before you reach for the non-dairy frozen topping or the spray stuff in the cans, consider this: making whipped cream at home is easy (and so
Mixed Berry Fruit Tart with Lemon Curd
Mixed Berry Fruit Tart with Lemon Curd Curd Appeal: "This is a special feeling towards fruit, its glory and abundance, is, I would say, universal." - Jane Grigson My idea of the perfect spring Saturday? Adam and I hit the Farmer’s Market in the morning, followed by two sets of tennis
Key Lime Pie Pavlovas
Key Lime Pie Pavlovas A Few Random Things... At the risk of assuming you’re the teensiest bit interested, I’m going to tell you a few things you may or may not know about me/us, only because some people have asked. Okay, three people to be exact - but I had writer’s block, so since
The Stock Pot: Sweet Treats - Simple French Apple Tarts
The Stock Pot: Sweet Treats - Simple French Apple Tarts Let’s just go ahead and get this out of the way: I had never made an apple pie in my life until a few months back for the Indispensable Pie Dough photo shoot. There, I said it. Phew! What a relief! How, you ask, have I not come to
Prep School: D.I.Y. - Apple Pie Spice
Prep School: D.I.Y. - Apple Pie Spice My sister-in-law once walked into my house and, mouth agape, slowly said as she pointed to my massive collection of alphabetized small jars and bottles, “Look at all those spices.” It’s true, my spice addiction is a liability. I love them all
Jumbleberry Cobbler
Jumbleberry Cobbler American Woman: A story about Adam’s mom, her delightful quirkiness, her surprise involvement in a patriotic game of hide and seek and a favorite all-American dessert. I have to say that my mother-in-law, quite the character and eighty-five years old i
Strawberry Fool
Strawberry Fool April's Fool fool (foohl) n. 1. a victim of a trick, etc. dupe. 2. a creamy and fruity dessert with strawberries. A good while back, I received a forwarded e-mail about a man and his wife who were banned from Wal-Mart because of the retired husband’s impish antics du
Prep School: D.I.Y. – Homemade Raisins
Prep School: D.I.Y. – Homemade Raisins Honestly, this all started with grape tomatoes hanging out in a bowl that were just on the brink of fruit fly infestation. I couldn’t bear to chuck them out (I hate wasting food), even though they were almost too far gone for my taste. So, I thre
Old-Fashioned Carrot Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting
Old-Fashioned Carrot Cake with Vanilla Cream Cheese Frosting 18 Carrot Gold “Vegetables are a must on a diet. I suggest carrot cake, zucchini bread and pumpkin pie.” -Jim Davis Carrots, those orange-hued gems, have been playing starring roles in baking since medieval times. Priz
The Stock Pot: Sweet Treats – Hot Fudge Sauce
The Stock Pot: Sweet Treats – Hot Fudge Sauce There’s a quote by Heywood Broun that I adore: “I doubt whether the world holds for anyone a more soul-stirring surprise than the first adventure with ice cream.” I’ll take it one step further and add “ice cream with hot fudge sauc
The Stock Pot: Sweet Treats – Best Banana Bread
The Stock Pot: Sweet Treats – Best Banana Bread Confession: I think I subconsciously buy bananas just to make banana bread. I mean, sure, I have every intention of purchasing a large hand of bananas – the really green, underripe ones - with the solid purpose of using them in myriad wa
The Stock Pot: Sweet Treats – Amaretto Truffles
The Stock Pot: Sweet Treats – Amaretto Truffles I’m sorry, but chocolate is just plain sexy. Especially truffles. Even if they are plain, they’re still pretty enticing. But when you’re offered a tray of truffles cloaked in various confectionary wardrobes, well, it’s flat out cul
The Stock Pot: Fundamental Recipes – Basic Ganache
The Stock Pot: Fundamental Recipes – Basic Ganache One of the greatest jewels in a cook’s crown is having a handful of solid back-pocket recipes that can really multi-task. Ganache is one of those workhorses. Although its French name may sound intimidating and complex, ganache is noth
Coconut Blondies with Macadamias and Toffee
Coconut Blondies with Macadamias and Toffee Blondies Have More Fun: Forget the dumb blondie jokes. Brownie’s sexy sister is one smart cookie. Why, I ask you, should brownies always steal the spotlight? I mean, I love a good brownie as much as the next guy, er, girl. But blondies? These
It's really about us, my husband, Adam, and me (Cheryl), and mostly it's about the food. 
