The Cook’s Kitchen

These first symbols of spring invite an abundance of recipes. Rhubarb is delicious roasted with ginger, or poached in sugar syrup and tossed with fresh basil or baked in a myriad of dessert recipes . Rhubarb is considered a vegetable, but it’s most often treated as a fruit - though it’s rarely eaten raw.Rhubarb […]

Many wait for the first glance of asparagus at the market and the first few spears of asparagus should be treated with reverence. Asparagus begs to be steamed and simply tossed in butter as a side dish. There are many other ways to pay homage to this most luxurious of vegetables. Hollandaise sauce or […]

Editor’s Note: Sunday dinner. In Great Britain, it is the traditional main meal of the day on Sundays. Usually served midday, traditionally a beef roast and potatoes will hit the table with other sides. The whole family gathers around and enjoys a large, filling meal together. In America, it’s less common though. Sunday dinners are […]

“What’s for pudding?” is a cry heard at every British table most evenings, and nothing beats the winter blahs better than an old-fashioned steamed pudding. Steamed puddings have always been a British thing and, if there is one positive aspect to recession, it’s when economy drives us back to the roots of home cooking. It’s […]

We walked along narrow, crooked alleys, far from regular tourist paths of central Florence, looking at numbers above well worn doors.  We walked past workshops with carpenters working on religious statues destined for alters, artists hard at work in paint splattered studios, and cafes filled with locals.  Finally, we found ‘In Tavola’, the professional cooking […]

Weekends this winter have been unseasonably sociable… not that I’m complaining! Every invitation seems to bring with it a request to bring appetizers along.
I have assembled the following recipes using what I have on hand for last minute invitations; they are simple to make and are simply delicious:
Smoked Salmon Rolls
Makes 16 appetizers
1/4 cup spreadable light […]

The wind was howling and the snow was swirling sideways past the windows, but inside our family was feasting on a Sunday dinner of leftovers creatively reconfigured into new dishes.Following a Friday night casual kitchen supper for 10 friends (and… yes, I had been at work all day), I was left with an abundance of […]

Chocolate Pistachio Brownies ~ perfectly suitable for a take-along hostess gift, and easy to make

6 ounces great quality bitter-sweet chocolate
1/2 cup butter
2 eggs
1 cup white sugar
2/3 cup white flour
1-1/2 cups shelled pistachios
Line a 11 x 7 inch pan with parchment paper. Preheat oven to 375F.  Chop the chocolate, and cube the butter, and place in […]

Cranberries stashed away in the freezer from Thanksgiving make a comeback in Christmas baking. The flavour of these muffins is fuller if you bake them a day ahead, and they can be frozen.
These are ideal for last minute hostess or co-worker gifts, especially if you present them in a festive looking tin. Pair with interesting […]

At the end of a long day, I want something quick and delicious.  A few renditions of chicken soup follow that are perfect for a weekend lunch, or a simple and quick mid-week supper after a hectic day. Just add corn muffins, or a baguette. All the soups are ready in ten minutes!
Chicken and Lemongrass […]