Every shop I visited over the last week has been well-stocked with treats for the big day — Valentine’s Day, that is. All those treats looked so delicious – chocolate covered Rice Krispies treats, heart-shaped cookies, chocolate covered pretzels/cookies/dried fruit, things on sticks, things in stacks, tiny bags of cinnamon hearts (one of my faves),…
Sweets & Desserts
Almond Biscotti
When it comes to holiday cookies, I’m game for anything — thumbprints with yummy jam, spicy gingerbread, buttery shortbread, those little cookies with red or green cherries in the middle, cut out shapes covered in colored sugar — I love to bake ‘em AND eat ‘em. But there’s another cookie I especially love. Biscotti! These…
Homemade Pumpkin Butter
Halloween has come and gone, and the two sugar pumpkins (a.k.a. pie pumpkins) I bought for decoration have been sitting in my kitchen since then. I like to buy the small pumpkins instead of the big ones (perfect for carving) because they’re decorative AND edible — their flesh is sweet and firm, not stringy like…
Mango-Lime Curd
I recently joined an online cookbook club and my first task was to make something from Dorie Greenspan’s lovely booked Baking Chez Moi, filled with delicious recipes. I was determined to find something that seemed easy to make (let’s be honest, I was not going to tackle puff pastry from scratch) AND incorporated in-season ingredients,…
Gold Rush Griddle Cookies
While digging through my grandmother’s recipe box, hoping to find inspiration for a post this week, I came across “Gold Rush Griddle Cookies” and my heart warmed. . . Since I was a kid (early 1970s, that is), my mom made these as breakfast treats. I’m not sure if she found the recipe first, or…
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…
Seville Orange Curd
In the course of my 50 years, I’ve enjoyed many tasty desserts and have to say that I’m partial to those that are citrus-based. When Easter rolls around, I especially crave lemon meringue pie because it was always on our family’s holiday table. But that’s not to say I would turn away zingy lemon tarts,…
Poached Strawberries
Strawberry season is in full swing in Florida, which means we get to enjoy fresh berries until late February/early March. You’ll see them at farmer’s markets, roadside stands, farms and festivals and, if I’m nearby, you’ll probably see me buying some because I simply can’t get enough. It also happens to be peak citrus season,…
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,…