My mother is in town visiting from New Jersey. To celebrate, I am hosting a big dinner at my house for friends and family. I have planned many events over the past several years and I have found that providing guests with signature cocktail options is always a nice, personal touch. Using this Armenian Cucumber…
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Cardamom Vanilla Panna Cotta
A Panna Cotta is a simple, yet elegant dessert that every home cook should have in their repertoire. Italian for “cooked cream”, a basic Panna Cotta is made by simmering cream, milk or half and half with sugar, mixing in gelatin and letting cool until firm. The finished product has a similar consistency to a…
Spiced Poached Peaches
August is National Peach Month, and to celebrate, I made a tasty batch of Spiced Poached Peaches. I found that the hardest part of this recipe was resisting the urge to devour the peaches right from the start. If you can also resist the urge, you’ll find that the finished product is really a treat….
Zucchini Tart
Let me start by saying that I definitely have a soft spot for beautiful tarts. Especially tarts topped with fresh, glistening fruit or a geometric array of sliced vegetables. Savory or sweet, I just love the contrast of the crisp crust and the creamy filling. Topped with feta cheese, this Zucchini Tart pairs a savory…
Armenian Cucumber Infused Vodka
While wandering through my local farmer’s market recently, I noticed one of the produce vendors was giving out samples of a gnarled, striped, cucumber-like fruit. I had never seen this type of cucumber before, so I made my way over for a taste. After further investigation, I found out that they were Armenian cucumbers! Fresh,…
Warm Spinach Salad with Cherry Pancetta Vinaigrette
Dressed in a warm cherry pancetta vinaigrette, this spinach salad is packed with amazing flavor and texture. Almond-crusted goat cheese and crisp fennel make the salad a substantial side to any main course (especially a flakey white fish). The cherry flavor of the vinaigrette is not overwhelming. The cherry vinegar adds a wonderful depth of…
Java Chip Ice Cream
It was around this time last year that my roommate first brought home an ice cream maker. I remember being so excited. Like really excited. Over the years, I had seen so many mouth-watering recipes for all sorts of ice cream, but I never had the equipment to prepare them. Since acquiring the ice cream…
Cherry Coulis
After last week’s Cherry Vinegar recipe, I still had several handfuls of ripe cherries sitting in my refrigerator. We’ve been having ice cream nightly this time of the year at my house, so I thought this Cherry Coulis would be the perfect accompaniment. A Coulis (pronounced “coolie”) is simply a thick sauce made from puréed…
Olive Oil Granola
Over the past year, granola has become quite the staple in my every day diet. You can find me snacking on a handful of granola either mid morning, mid afternoon or in the evening (or any combination thereof). Granola is such a healthy and delicious way to curb your hunger in between main meals (especially…
Cherry Vinegar
If you’ve never tried making your own infusion before, then you’ll have to give this recipe a go. The process of infusing can be applied to many cooking liquids including oil, vinegar, spirits and simple syrups. With only two ingredients, this fruit-infused vinegar is delicious, complex and the perfect compliment to a fresh summer salad.