Several years ago my friend Rosemary and I took a cooking class in Sarasota with Pamela Sheldon Johns, a talented chef who splits her time between California and Italy. She has written many cookbooks specializing in regional Italian cuisine, and she loves to share her passion for cooking with others. Her farm, Poggio Etrusco, is…
Sweets & Desserts
Grilled Summer Peaches
Summer is all about stone fruits — peaches, plums, apricots, cherries and nectarines. I love them all, but I especially love peaches. To me, there’s nothing better than biting into an in-season peach that’s so ripe the juice runs down your arm and you have to run to the kitchen sink or hang off the…
Crispy Chocolate Chip Cookies
My recent summer road trip to Massachusetts was especially great because my husband had never been there. One of our best days was our drive through Cape Cod to enjoy beaches and lighthouses. We didn’t have lodging, so it was a daring adventure during peak season. What were we thinking? But my husband has a…
Cantaloupe with Citrus & Mint
Cantaloupe is such a versatile fruit — it can be served with sweet or savory components, and it’s always delicious. When in season, it’s sweet, fragrant and oh-so-delicious. I especially love the smell of it — it always reminds me of those melon flavored Lifesavers — you know, the ones in the tropical blend package?…
Zingy Fruit Salad with Whipped Coconut Cream
Fresh fruit salad is one of those “staples” in the dessert family. It’s easy to prepare, pretty, delicious and always welcomed by your loved ones (well, unless they were hoping for a big, gooey, chocolate cake. . .). While strawberries are still in season, I thought it would be nice to share a recipe for…
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…
Key Lime Pie Bites
Recently, my husband and I attended a party at Old Florida Outdoor Center in Englewood, Florida, to celebrate their 6-month anniversary. If you haven’t visited this beautiful store on Dearborn Street, you must go soon! The owners, Kenya and Danny Leonard, carry beautiful Florida art, offer several creative classes, schedule kayak rentals & guided walks…
Gingerbread Cookies!
It just wouldn’t be the holidays if I didn’t showcase gingerbread cookies! I love to make them because they’re cute, delicious, and fun to decorate. I’ve tried many recipes, including the one in my grandmother’s box, but have had the best luck using one from Rick Rodgers’ Christmas 101 book. I found the recipe many…
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…
Yummy Sweetmeats
I’m pretty well-versed on my family’s traditions and recipes, so it’s not too often that I find something that stumps me. But that’s just what happened recently while going through the dessert section of my grandmother’s recipe box. It was titled “Lebanese Sweetmeats” but I didn’t remember her ever making what appeared to be a…