Roasted Red Pepper burgers and Aleppo Steak Fries are easy to prepare for a weeknight meal and fancy enough for company.
Gingerbread Fortress Bundt Cake
A Great Alternative to Gingerbread Houses
For years, I have been thinking about making a gingerbread house. When I was growing up in Germany, the bakery downstairs had an amazing nativity set in their display window. All people and animals were made from marzipan, the buildings were made of gingerbread, and the snow was spun sugar. It must have taken them days to make it all. My mother would get me a marzipan apple if I was really good.
A few years ago, at a garage sale, I found a castle shaped Nordicware bundt pan. It languished on my shelf until I had the brilliant idea to use it to make a gingerbread cake. There is no need to assemble anything, so no need to make royal icing. Piped buttercream works perfectly. This cake tastes better if it can sit for a day without being disturbed.
Spiced Pancake Mix and Other Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen
Christmas Gifts from the Kitchen
Christmas gifts from the kitchen are wonderful to give to your friends, neighbors, family, and co-workers. Yes, it takes a little of your time, but the recipients will love it because it shows that you spent time and effort making the gift. It’s also great to have on hand if unexpected guests arrive, they can always go home with one of your homemade gifts.
Peaches Preserved in Vodka
These Peaches Preserved in Vodka are wonderful to have when peaches are not in season. Give them as gifts. Not for children!
Pineapple Upside-Down Bundt Cake with Coconut
This coconut pineapple upside-down cake is a real show-stopper. This one has pineapple juice in the batter so it is nice and moist with great flavor.
Raw Apple Cake with Apple Brandy and Raisins
This cake is a breeze to make. The batter is really thick, and you might think it’s not ever going to be a cake. The great thing is as the apples cook, they let go of their moisture that combines with the batter infusing it with all its wonderful apple goodness and making an impressive cake. The cake is rich and is perfect with tea, or espresso, or my favorite Armenian coffee.
White Pizza with Sausage and Sliced Garlic
White Pizza with Sausage and Sliced Garlic
When I made the Pizza with Red Sauce and Tomatoes, I had another ball of dough leftover that I wanted to use right away. I had a half a pound of Italian sausage in the freezer, fresh mushrooms, and leftover grated cheese. When I went to the cupboard to get supplies, however, I found that I had a) no tomato sauce to make red sauce and b) no onions because sausage, mushroom, and onion is my favorite combination. It turned out that was a really good thing. I left my comfort zone and tried something new – shallot scented béchamel white sauce and sliced garlic. It was by far the best pizza I have ever had – bar none.
Pizza with Red Sauce and Tomatoes
Pizza with Red Sauce and Tomatoes
I came home from work and I really wanted pizza. I don’t really like commercial pizza because it has so much salt, and it’s relatively expensive when you compare it to what you can make at home.
It’s easy to make at home. The dough comes together in about 10 minutes, and then you can sit and relax for an hour while it rises. I preheat the oven to about 450 and get all the ingredients for my pizza and have them at hand. I had some leftover pieces of cheese, leftover canned whole tomatoes, leftover pizza sauce, and some leftover garlic butter. All that stuff went into my pizza. The juice from the tomatoes became the best Bloody Mary I have ever had in my life.
I like to make my own red sauce, and I like fresh tomatoes on my pizza. I used to use fresh plum tomatoes, but now I discovered that I like the whole canned San Marzano tomatoes much better.
Thanksgiving The Day Of – Keep Your Sanity
Make a thorough plan to keep your sanity on Thanksgiving Day. You can do this!
Quick Warm Scones for a Breakfast Treat
Quick Warm Scones
I graduated from Immaculate Heart High School in Hollywood, California. So did Meghan Markle, now Duchess of Sussex. You know, when one of the girls gets married to Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex and the wedding is shown on live television, you have to get up at 4 o’clock in the morning to watch. That was the first time I made scones because I wanted something to celebrate and have with my winter forest tea. I have always been biscuit challenged, they come out flat as a pancake. It seems, however, that scones, which are in the biscuit family are not beyond me, and actually come out pretty good.