Category Archives: First Courses & Deserts
My Fabulous Holiday Cake
My Christmas dinner was a success this year, but the desert was my crowning course. I chose a sour cream chocolate cake baked in a bundt pan. Instead of simply dusting the baked cake with powdered sugar, I took a … Continue reading
Filed under First Courses & Deserts
My take on Julia’s French Onion Soup
I love French Onion Soup! Especially when baked in individual crocks with French bread rounds and cheese. I started with Julia Child’s Soupe ‘a l’Oignon Gratinee and tweaked it. I wanted the deepest flavor from my onions, so instead of … Continue reading
Filed under First Courses & Deserts, Soup
Tarte Tatin
I have tried many different recipes for this classic apple tart but finally perfected my own! I have tried puff pastry and home-made short crust pastry and I find that using the latter gives better body to the desert. I … Continue reading
Filed under First Courses & Deserts
Orange Risotto & Breast of Duck
For anyone who knows me, my signature dish is risotto. I love the creamy texture and the way that the rice takes on so many flavors from sweet to savory. This dish was great fun. I used a recipe from … Continue reading
Filed under First Courses & Deserts, Meat, Poultry
Quiche Lorraine My Way
I adore quiche! As usual, I haven’t been too pleased with the recipes that I have found and decided to play around a bit with a classic recipe. Like the original, I fried strips of bacon (lardons) and placed on the … Continue reading
Filed under First Courses & Deserts, Fish & Eggs, Meat
Ragu alla Bolognese
I LOVE a good bolognese sauce. Used on it’s own over fettuccine or tagliatelle pasta is pure comfort food. Or layered with a Balsamella (or Béchamel) sauce in a lasagne is also a lovely use. I have been playing with many … Continue reading
Filed under First Courses & Deserts, Meat
Nutella Cookie Sandwiches
The November issue of La Cucina Italiana is all about dolce, or deserts and I am in heaven! I wasn’t sure which recipe to try first but since I am a lover of Chocolate and Hazelnuts I went for the … Continue reading
Filed under First Courses & Deserts
Salted Honey Caramels
After trying many different recipes I decided to take the best from each preferred method and create my own. The following is the culmination of many bags of wasted sugar, many different textures and many visits to my dentist (joking!). I love … Continue reading
Filed under First Courses & Deserts
Honey/Lavender Shortbread Cookies
This is a delicious take on the classic shortbread recipe. Dried lavender and honey were added to the recipe which adds fragrant and sweet notes to the buttery shortbread. I used powdered sugar and baking powder which gave the finished … Continue reading
Filed under First Courses & Deserts
A Legendary Tart
I found a recipe for Bakewell Tart recently and after doing some research, discovered the wonderful history of this delicious desert. Invented in the 1800′s in the village of Bakewell in the UK, this recipe combines some fabulous flavors all … Continue reading
Filed under First Courses & Deserts
