Walnut and Mushroom “Paté” Adapted from All Recipes 1 cup walnuts ½ cup minced shallots ¼ cup olive oil, divided 3 cloves garlic, minced ¼ pound shiitake or maitake mushrooms, chopped ¼ pound crimini or portobello mushrooms, chopped ¼ pound chanterelle or oyster mushrooms, chopped ¼ cup chopped fresh Italian parsley 1 tablespoon chopped fresh thyme ½ teaspoon… Read More
I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month. ~ Harlan Miller Hors d’oeuvres, starters, amuses-bouche, bites, finger food—no matter what you call them, these savory fleurettes—perfect for holiday parties or any gathering—lend opulence to your holiday table. Buckwheat, with its bold characteristics, adds flavor and texture to… Read More
In my post Rustic Simplicity, I mentioned how I’ve been de-cluttering. I need to do this—almost every week—because it’s like having a weight lifted off my shoulders and helps me breathe easier, think clearer, prioritize effectively and live better and more balanced. Although I got rid of a lot of stuff, it seems like I barely… Read More
Spicy, sweet, and punchy, baked fresh and served warm, this is the sort of starter that can precede almost anything. The generous sour cream base and the lightness of the puff pastry carry the sweet potato easily without the risk of a carb overdose. — Yotam Ottolenghi On the cover of Yotam Ottolenghi and Sami… Read More
Gougères make an elegant alternative to dinner rolls, but are light enough to serve as an appetizer as well. I recently made gougères to accompany an exotic mushroom pâté I served at a play date. The easiest way to describe gougères is to call them savory cheese puffs. Their dough, pâte à choux (or choux pastry), is a… Read More
On Friday afternoon I hosted my first play date. Since I like to entertain, cook and bake, I enjoyed the planning and preparation for this small event almost as much as I enjoyed spending the afternoon talking, eating and socializing with friends. Play date is an expression used mostly in the US for a pre-arranged… Read More
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