Crisp Fennel Salad with Oranges and Olives

My friend made this delicious fennel salad and brought it to our Italian supper club dinner. Amid all of the rich foods on our table, this fresh, crisp salad was a welcome oasis. I craved it afterwards and had to make it myself, but a snowstorm was coming and I didn’t have the motivation to go out and get the proper ingredients- blood oranges and those black, wrinkly olives from the olive bar. I took the easy way out and … Continue reading

Red Wine Poached Pears

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

Gougères: Puffed and Refreshed

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