Category Archives: Desserts & Sweet Endings

Cook the Book – Blueberry Orange Muffins

I use this recipe as a base for many different kinds of muffins.  The recipe below is as written in the cookbook, but as I’ve proven to myself many times before, I’m not capable of following a recipe, so I mess with it.  One change that I especially like is adding 1 teaspoon orange extract, [...]

Cook the Book – Drop Strawberry Shortcake

Whether you pick or grow your own, or you pick up a quart at the local farm stand or farmers market – these sweet, juicy red beauties are a summertime favorite. Drop Strawberry Shortcake 1 quart strawberries washed and sliced 3/4 cup sugar Shortcake: 2 cups all-purpose flour 3/4 teaspoon salt 1 tablespoon baking powder 3 tablespoons [...]

Cook the Book – Lorraine’s Nectarine-Blueberry Bread

Lorraine, one of the owners of the Victory Chimes, gave this recipe to me when I was running the galley for them. Lorraine’s Nectarine-Blueberry Bread Bread 3/4 cup sugar 1/3 cup butter 2 large eggs 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 1/2 teaspoon ground allspice 1/4 teaspoon baking soda 1 teaspoon grated orange rind 1 medium nectarine, peeled and [...]

Easter Dinner the Sequel

It’s the first time in the history of Easter dinners that we’ve spent more of it outside than in.  We have several friends, none of whom have family in the area, with whom we often celebrate holidays.  Typically we all gather with our winter coats on to watch the kids find their eggs and then [...]

Baked Bakery’s Root Beer Bundt Cake

Chloe’s birthday was earlier this month.  The cookbook Baked: New Frontiers in Baking by Matt Lewis and Renato Poliafito was hanging around on loan from Sharon and after thumbing through it, Chloe decided to try the Root Beer Bundt Cake for her cake.  Report:  E said, “OMG, the frosting is not only good, it’s stick [...]

Cook the Book – Butterscotch-Topped Gingerbread with Sautéed Apples

Love this cake.  It’s like a warm, cashmere cardigan that you can dress up or down but always feel comfortable wearing.  And it’s tops for evoking memories of Grandma in the kitchen with her ruffled apron wrapped around her waist.  I can almost feel her enveloping me in her arms, my face mushed into her [...]

Time to Spring Clean the Freezer Challenge

Eating local during the months before the garden really gets going is the toughest. My body is craving fruit and LOTS of veggies but they all come from far, far away… except for what’s in the freezer and the pantry. Can’t get much more local than that! Not only does it feel terrific to be [...]

Local Talent – Chefs, Writers and Producers

Yesterday was a food-filled day and today my head is bursting with new recipes to create and stories to tell.  I can’t decide where to let my fingers fly – the kitchen or the keyboard. Kitchen first, to bake a loaf of no-knead bread which I started yesterday when Sharon was visiting. I wanted to [...]

Cook the Book – Espresso Brownies

For everyone with a craft or a skill, there come moments when you view past work and creations with your more learned self and struggle to find acceptance of that work.  Those moments come for me when I look at recipes I wrote five years ago.  I’m five years more experienced, five years more trained, [...]

Cook the Book – Berry Pie

In honor of the 6th annual Pies on Parade event, a fundraiser to benefit the local food pantry and fuel assistance programs, in Rockland this upcoming Sunday sharing a pie recipe with you seems fitting. This Berry Pie recipe is  silky and luscious. Berry Pie Pie Crust 1 cups all-purpose flour 1/2  teaspoon salt 1/4 cup plus 2 tbs butter 2 [...]