After sipping my homemade limoncello last week, I decided I hadn’t had enough of this season’s Meyer lemons. I ordered another half dozen from Green B.E.A.N. delivery. When I opened my box I found not six but eighteen petite yellow lemons. I immediately contacted customer service and offered to return them. The quick response: “We can’t take them back, can you use them?” Oh can I? When life hands me Meyer lemons, I feel very [...]

Is your Thanksgiving menu finalized? My mother is hosting dinner this year so Alex and I are responsible for very little. We’re bringing a charcuterie platter for the appetizer, brussels sprouts (probably pan roasted with homemade bacon) and Alex’s dressing. If your menu isn’t full of family traditions, here are five suggestions for seasonal but unique additions to the table: 1)Buffie Wellies – a tasty rich buffalo appetizer 2) Cranbellini – Add one ounce of [...]

When I wanted to make Irish Soda Bread but had no recipe, I knew just where to turn: my Irish friend Sarah. She is a dedicated volunteer for the Daughter’s of Erin, honored as their member of the year for 2011! Sarah shared her favorite version, Grandma Irwin’s Soda Bread. I baked it up yesterday morning with just two minor changes: I used half whole wheat white flour and added a bit of grated nutmeg. [...]

I mentioned making beer cheese dip for a Superbowl party a few weeks ago and Kellie asked for the recipe. Ask and ye shall receive, readers! albeit on a delayed schedule… Alex made this dip from scratch. It follows the typical fondue method: dust grated cheese with flour and mustard, warm a liquid with spices, and gently stir the cheese into the liquid. Pour into a fondue pot or very warm dish. We served the [...]

If you are like us and find yourself with an abundance of snow and ennui, try making snow cream. We made it today and here’s what Lil has to say: “Snow cream has two ingredients.  First you have to get really fresh fresh snow and get some maple syrup or milk or chocolate syrup or cider syrup.  And that’s how you make snow cream.” “It feels snowy when you eat it.  Maple syrup is the [...]

I was recently approached to contribute some recipes to an ipad application (details to come). When I started to look through my archives, I realized there were so many simple delicious dishes I make on a regular basis that are not on this blog. I am going to begin to remedy that today, with a recipe for popcorn cauliflower. This is a recipe that will convert crucifer haters like one of my sisters. Not only [...]

My aunt Deb picked and delivered a large box of pears from her farm.  We ate some fresh, but soon the pears begged to be preserved before they rotted. My thoughts turned to pear sauce and pear butter, but I have a large store of applesauce already in the pantry and I’m not sure I would enjoy pear butter.  Then I considered, what about brandied pears?  They contain alcohol, which puts them head and shoulders [...]