Poached pears with ice cream are my new obsession. They are simple to make, delicious to eat, and they lend themselves to an infinite number of variations. Pears poached in spiced red wine are classic and perfect for the holiday season. I’ve had them three times this month: once in my cooking class, once from my friend at our Global Supper Club, and then I made them for Christmas Eve. These pears are the perfect dessert after a heavy meal, … Continue reading
If you need a last-minute holiday hors d’oeuvre, this is it! I have made gougères many times before, but my standard recipe has proven less reliable than I would like this time around (think smoke alarms and wasted cheese). Because I love gougères so much and make them so frequently, an inconsistent recipe is completely unacceptable. This improved version of the recipe does a better job of conforming to “pastry” standards, and it produces extra puffy and consistently reliable snacks. … Continue reading
I know this sounds totally crazy, but I filled these thumbprint cookies with leftover curried cranberry sauce. I know it sounds insane to put something that has onions in it on a cookie. It’s madness. But the combination turned out to be really delicious. I crave these cookies. I can’t pass by the kitchen without snagging one. The mild sweetness of the cookie is pierced by the cranberry sauce’s tanginess, and the curry undertones add a welcome, interesting dimension of … Continue reading