CtBF – Belgian beef stew with beer and spice bread

This is a tale of two recipes. The first recipe is for pain d'epices, which is a honey-spice quick bread. And that is then sliced and slathered with mustard - and is put on top of the beef stew stew to thicken it. But I digress, the first step is really to make the bread. … Continue reading CtBF – Belgian beef stew with beer and spice bread

ffwd – never doubt Dorie (aka, who knew?)

This second celebratory week for the French Fridays with Dorie group asks the question "what recipe(s) were surprises for you?". OK, that wasn't the real question, but when I think about the title - I think about those recipes where I was very quite skeptical, but learned that Dorie knew what she was doing when she … Continue reading ffwd – never doubt Dorie (aka, who knew?)

ffwd – the “aha” moment (aka, the top 5)

For the next several weeks, the participants in French Fridays with Dorie will be exploring our experiences over the past several years to answer a few interesting questions. This week's challenge is to "choose your favorite, loved the most, best recipe in FFWD to share this week and tell Why? Also share with us your Top … Continue reading ffwd – the “aha” moment (aka, the top 5)

CCC – March Madness

Andrea, our beloved Kitchen Lioness, has offered those of us who often find ourselves without enough time to do everything we want (that would include me!) an opportunity to play catch-up in March. A month offering a chance to make up one or more of the recipes we've missed during out 10-month foray cooking through … Continue reading CCC – March Madness

CCC – the delicious month of February

February in the Cottage Cooking Club brought one of my most-awaited recipes: Beet Soup! with horseradish cream! But it also brought a Cheesy Peasy Puff Turnover, and a Potato Rosti. The beet soup is simplicity itself. I decided that this time I would actually roast the beets per the recipe, though I often pick them … Continue reading CCC – the delicious month of February

BCM – butter cake and granola (bars)

I have been hopelessly behind on all of my cooking/blogging activities. But the latest previous recipes from Baking Chez Moi have looked so delicious! First, I realized a bit late, that one of the recipes for this group was Granola Bars. I've been traveling a lot, and I thought "hey, I should make those and … Continue reading BCM – butter cake and granola (bars)

A French Thanksgiving – 2009

The summer of 2009 ended up being an intersection of sorts. I had read the book Julie and Julia and had been introduced to a world that, for me, had not even existed - an individual person blogging! And cooking through an entire cookbook as a project!! The following year, I started blogging myself when I … Continue reading A French Thanksgiving – 2009

ffwd – Happy Birthday Dorie! Palets de Dames

This week in our French Fridays with Dorie group, instead of making a recipe from Around My French Table, we were able to chose one of four recipes from Dorie Greenspan's new cookbook, Baking Che Moi. All of them looked wonderful, and I would like to make the other three when I have a bit … Continue reading ffwd – Happy Birthday Dorie! Palets de Dames

ffwd – gâteau basque

Home made strawberry jam, wrapped in a crunchy, buttery cookie-like cake. An oh so elegant version of a simple jam cake. That said, this was really quite easy, split into 2 steps, with a chill in between, But it made for a dramatic presentation. The dough was simple: butter; brown and white sugars; vanilla and … Continue reading ffwd – gâteau basque

CCC – the Cottage Cooking Club, cooking with River Cottage Veg: inaugural post

I've been participating with another cooking group - French Fridays with Dorie for the past 4 (!) years. One of our members, the amazingly talented Andrea Mohr, invited some friends to cook along through a new book, River Cottage Veg, by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall, and I asked to join in. In my family, I'm usually the … Continue reading CCC – the Cottage Cooking Club, cooking with River Cottage Veg: inaugural post