Julia Child’s birthday was this week – August 15, to be exact. For those of us who love to cook, she was an inspiration because we learned so much from her, and we saw the passion and joy she displayed in her kitchen, so we celebrate her special day! I was really young when…
Dessert
Grilled Pineapple with Cinnamon-Rum-Orange Yogurt
Growing a pineapple is one of the most rewarding things you can ever do. All you have to do is place the green top of a pineapple into some dirt and wait for it to produce a flower — one that results in a perfect pineapple. Easy, right? Like many things, it’s not that simple….
Rosemary & Lemon Shortbread Cookies
Rosemary is a beautiful, fragrant herb known for remembrance and friendship. It’s also a source of iron, calcium and B-6, and even has ancient healing roots for ailments like muscle aches, memory loss and hair loss. This stuff has it all! Because it thrives in a sunny climate and loves rain (we’ve been having a…
Lemon-Orange-Rosemary Granita
June 21 marked the first day of summer, but here in Florida it has felt like summer for the last two months. Needless to say, it has been pretty hot, and two weeks of rain greatly increased our infamous humidity levels, making it ultimately feel like the surface of the sun. For those of us…
Blueberry-Basil Crisp
There are few desserts I love more than warm, berry crisp. Think about it – your spoon breaks through that crunchy, buttery layer of goodness, then it dives deeper into soft, warm, gooey fruit. And, as you raise that drippy spoon to your mouth, you can’t help but anticipate how delicious it will be once…
Creamy Rice, Pineapple & Orange Pudding
When Easter rolls around I think of family dinners around my grandmother’s table. Dinner usually included baked ham with sweet and cinnamon-y pineapple sauce, creamy scalloped potatoes, fresh asparagus and homemade rolls, and it has always been one of my favorite meals. But dessert was also a treat. She usually served lemon meringue pie (or…
Apple Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting
Folks who know me best have heard me say “Anything is better with cream cheese frosting or bacon,” and a combination of the two is simply over-the-top deliciousness, in my book. Today we’re talking about cream cheese frosting. I simply adore it, especially when it’s on my favorite Apple Cake. I’ve written about this cake…
Basil Infused Whipped Cream
For years I’ve tried to grow basil in a pot in my home, only to see the poor plants get more withered and sad by the day. . . Well, things have changed at the Coudal house ‘cause we now have a garden and my basil is growing like gangbusters! The plants look so happy,…
Strawberry & Chocolate Icebox Cake
Florida strawberries are in season, so I’m getting my fill of them. I love these tasty, fragrant little berries in salads, smoothies, pie, muffins and, of course, classic shortcake. Somehow, though, “National Strawberry Day” on February 27 got away from me. Ironically, that was the day I picked up a bunch of berries at the…
Valentine’s Day Heart-Healthy Chocolate Bark
When Valentine’s Day rolls around, I always think of my dad because, on that special day, he always gave me a sweet card, flowers, and a little heart-shaped box of chocolates. He made me feel so special, and that feeling carried into adulthood, especially during the years when I didn’t have a boyfriend on the…
Vintage Calamondin Cake
I must admit, I don’t use boxed cake mixes, but I thought I’d put aside my baking morals after finding this recipe for a vintage-era cake that seems to have been extremely popular in the 1940s-50s (gosh, it even got published in several newspapers!). I’m not sure where it originated, so if you happen to…
Mini Pear & Fig Galettes
Armed with one remaining sheet of puff pastry, one overripe pear and some fig jam that’s been in my fridge too long, I set out to make a dessert. And since pears and figs make a naturally good team, I knew I couldn’t go wrong with whatever I came up with. . . I love…