Search Results for: All Desserts

Abuela’s Pumpkin Flan with Caramel Sauce for Thanksgiving!

Posted on Nov 17, 2016 by Peggy

Women that grew up in countries outside of the United States, immigrated to America as young adults, raised families and have grandkids, capture my imagination. They’ve escaped war, poverty and oppression, many bringing only the shirts on their back and the recipes from their homelands. And their stories? Makes my life look like a pony ride at a … Full recipe post »

Sylvia’s Heartbreakers: The Ultimate Chocolate Chip Walnut Cookie

Posted on Sep 19, 2016 by Peggy

There are over a hundred billion stars in our galaxy. Says Google, at least. After perusing chocolate chip cookie recipes on-line this week, I’m guessing there are about that many recipes for chocolate chip cookies. Minimum. So do I really need to burden the web with, yet, another one? It depends. What’s your taste in cookies? The following list … Full recipe post »

Lemony-Poppy Seed Cake + Great Celebratory Spring Recipes

Posted on May 21, 2016 by Peggy

Memorial Day picnics, graduation parties, weddings, showers and anniversaries. In the coming weeks you may be called upon to create a celebratory dish or two. Pound cakes are wonderful spring and summer desserts as the center hole of a bundt or fluted cake pan creates an ideal “vase” to insert fresh seasonal flowers or herbs. This cake (which … Full recipe post »

Tracy’s Famous Squash Blossom Honey Cake

Posted on Apr 23, 2016 by Peggy

So you want to write a book? Maybe you’ve already written one. If so, I’d love to trade notes!  If you are toying with the idea of writing your first book––be it a novel, cookbook, memoir, book of poetry or dummy guide–be prepared to have your cage rattled and buckshots pummelled across your backside; in short, be prepared to  bleed. At … Full recipe post »

“We must have a pie…

Posted on Dec 2, 2015 by Peggy

Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.” (David Mamet, Boston Marriage) But sometimes it can when making your first pie. A home cook worth his or her salt understands the most basic of recipes can sometimes be the trickiest. Take pie crust. If you make the pastry right the first time, it’s probably because you … Full recipe post »

Michigan Beaches, Strawberry S’mores and a Goodreads Giveaway

Posted on Aug 12, 2015 by Peggy

Michigan’s underrated. Some of us have long known that to be fact and now Thrilllist  agrees. In “The Definitive and Final Ranking of all 50 States”, Michigan was recently pronounced the best state to live “…ranking the states on everything”. And I quote:  “…Did you know Michigan has more coastline than any state other than Alaska? Did you … Full recipe post »

Goat Cheese Panna Cotta with Mulled Wine Poached Pears: Thanksgiving Day Warm-Up

Posted on Nov 22, 2014 by Peggy

Today’s Wednesday–8 days before Thanksgiving; 4 days before my kids, et al, come  to celebrate our early-bird feast. There’s several inches of white stuff on the ground, school’s out and some neighborhood kids just made a snowman. It’s leering at me from across the street. Wipe that silly grin off your face before I knock … Full recipe post »

Tropical Queensland Fruit Salad (that can be adapted to any fruit available to you)

Posted on Mar 27, 2014 by Peggy

On our flight from Christchurch to  Queensland, Australia, the passengers on Malaysia Airlines flight MH370 weighed heavy on our minds, particularly when traversing such a large expanse of sea. Skimming above the Great Barrier Reef making our decent into Cairns (the gateway to reef exploration) –   a collective sigh was audible.  Awe, certainly, of … Full recipe post »

Ginger-Molasses Bundt Cake with Lemon Curd

Posted on Dec 10, 2013 by Peggy

Today I began cooking for a holiday party I’m hosting the day after tomorrow. One item I want on the menu is an old-fashioned spice cake, and while thumbing through cookbooks in search of a recipe, I was imagining rich layers of flavor that would be more redolent of spice than cloyingly sweet. No such … Full recipe post »

Fourth of July Sheet Cake

Posted on Jul 2, 2013 by Peggy

Happy Fourth! If the day finds you late to the table with minimum of time to cook, and you’re scrambling to come up with a festive celebratory dish, I have a suggestion: Skip the following recipe, purchase a boxed cake mix, canned white icing, blueberries and strawberries, and this celebratory cake can be out the … Full recipe post »

(Homemade) Pistachio Ice-Cream & (Store-bought) Pistachio Baklava

Posted on Jun 3, 2013 by Peggy

I think I’ve stumbled upon the best ice cream I’ve ever eaten in my life; I must send this recipe to Ben & Jerry. Seriously, when I crumbled the pistachio baklava (scratch made from the Mediterranean Market on Ellsworth) into the pistachio ice cream (made with my Krups ice cream/sorbet machine), I could hear the flutter of angel wings. I served … Full recipe post »

Chocolate-Dipped Figs with Chopped Walnuts

Posted on Feb 8, 2013 by Peggy
Chocolate-Dipped Figs with Walnuts

Fantasize fillet mignon enrobed in a buttery bordelaise sauce, snuggled up to truffled mashed potatoes, followed by a triple chocolate torte decorated with candy hearts for Valentine’s Day. Romantic,yes? Wouldn’t a meal such as this light the fire for an evening d’amour with my hubby? Not unless said romantic evening means staggering from the table, … Full recipe post »

Marty’s Nutty Blueberry & Bran Yoga Muffins

Posted on Aug 5, 2012 by Peggy
Marty's Nutty Blueberry Yoga Muffins

If you read my column, you may think that I breathe, sleep and live for my next recipe, which is not entirely accurate. I also consider the most entertaining and efficient way of burning calories from the food I consume, and a bonus is discovering a recipe that’s yummy, healthy, and will provide sustained energy throughout … Full recipe post »

Annamarie’s Chocolate-Poppyseed Cake

Posted on May 30, 2012 by Peggy
Annamarie's Chocolate-Poppyseed Cake

When Annamarie invites me to her home for cake, I drop everything. I know the cake will be sublime, and her recipe well-tested and flawless; she spares no detail to assure you won’t fumble. The finest cakes are often the centerpiece of celebrations, so it’s critical that the recipe be well-organized and easy to follow. Annamarie tells … Full recipe post »

Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Posted on Feb 9, 2012 by Peggy
Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries

Love is expansive, and chocolate is dark; serving chocolate-strawberries, will surely melt a heart. Yep. It’s that time of year again, when my cornball soul can pen a silly verse without apology, when I can send construction paper hearts glued to paper doilies the old-fashioned way — snail mail — and serve my family chocolate at every … Full recipe post »