His baking endeavors might not always look their bakery best (please don’t ever ask him to frost a cake and sometimes his pies are downright scary-looking) but more often than not the results taste fabulous. This plum upside-down cake is actually quite pretty and is based on a recipe he found in an old issue of Fine Cooking magazine. The taste idea is that of slices of tart plum balanced by a sweet cake base....
If you have ever had a fig tree, you know what I mean. Fig trees rain figs. (Oddly they rain leaves too. When it comes time, one day you have leaves on the tree, the next day, none. They all drop at once.) My parents have a green fig tree, Hank has a Mission fig tree, so we are doubly blessed. Personally I prefer the mission figs; the flavor is more intense....
The Best Way to Cook Parsnips: Roast Them! However, to get the fullest, richest flavor from the parsnips, they should be roasted. The browning caramelizes the natural sugars in the parsnips. In this recipe, we first roast the parsnips with some butter, then purée them with added water. It’s quite simple, but if you’ve never had parsnips this way, you’re in for a treat! How to Choose and Prep Parsnips If you know how to spot a good carrot, you’ll be able to spot a good parsnip....
Rarely a week goes by that we don’t have beans of some sort or another, and my mother’s chili beans with rice are a staple around here. My father found a recipe in our local grocery store (Raley’s) circular for a Cajun red beans and rice using smoked pork shanks. Given my dad’s love affair with all things pork, he couldn’t wait to make it. Traditional Louisiana red beans and rice also uses Andouille sausage which we did not add, but you could if you wanted....
But this kale and walnut pesto that I served with rotini pasta is bright green. It’s almost comically green and my kids thought it was hilarious to eat something SO green. Little did they know that it was actually HEALTHY. Like, ridiculously healthy. This meal comes together really quickly and the only cooking you must do is the pasta! Serve it by itself, with a side salad, or with lemon pepper chicken (my Dad Add)....
Here’s what to know. At What Temperature is Pork Done? Here are the current USDA recommendations: Pork chops, pork loin, and pork tenderloin: Cook to 145° F (63° C), then rest 3 minutes. Ground pork: Cook to 160° F (71° C). Grinding pork exposes more surface area to bacteria, so it needs to be cooked to a higher temperature than other cuts of pork. Keep in mind that pork cuts like pork shoulder and ribs have a much better texture and flavor when cooked to 180-195° F....
This shrimp and asparagus version is a great weeknight dinner option that can be served over spaghetti, brown rice, quinoa, mashed, or roasted potatoes, and it only takes 15 minutes in the oven. Yes, just 15 minutes! Do you want to know what makes this easy sheet pan dinner over-the-top delicious? The garlic butter sauce! Just ladle the sauce over the shrimp once it comes out of the oven and your dish will be perfection....
I know you’re supposed to carbo-load leading up to a big race, but I figured continuing to do so the next day will help to recharge after a busy weekend, whether you did a lot of physical activity, or at least thought about it. During the middle of the week, there are the flavors of curry in two preparations, along with a recipe to teach a classic French cooking technique....
Pomegranate molasses, lamb, fresh parsley, basil, onions and garlic do all the heavy lifting here — you don’t even have to cut the potatoes! Easy is one thing, but what makes this stew really standout is the tangy sweetness of pomegranate molasses — a traditional ingredient used in many Middle Eastern recipes. It adds a subtle tart complexity to this weeknight slow cooker meal. Where Can You Find Pomegranate Molasses?...
Turkey Wings: a Must-Try Recipe If You Love Turkey (or Chicken) Do you love turkey? Do you find chicken wings irresistible? Have you ever picked up a package of turkey wings wondering what wonderful goodness you could make with them? That’s me, by the way, and here’s what I made with the turkey wings that were calling my name in the store the other day. My father liked them so much, he begged the recipe from me just so he could eat them again....
I encourage you to set aside a weekend to try this recipe because they are both delicious and fun to make, but they do require time to cure the shells, cool, and assemble the cookies. Macarons make a beautiful addition to a holiday cookie tray, a Mother’s Day brunch, bridal or baby shower or even to decorate the top of a birthday cake! What is a French Macaron? French macarons are delicate, sweet meringue-based sandwich cookies with a smooth, crisp shell and chewy inside....
There’s something whimsically satisfying about stuffed pasta shells. Is it the shape that conjures up a sunny day at the beach with ocean surf turning over pebbles and shells as the waves retreat? Or is it the seasoned ricotta stuffing hiding inside the stuffed shells? I’m guessing pasta shells were invented by some mischievous pasta maker who created the shape as an act of rebellion against every parent who ever said to a child, “stop playing with your food....
Though there are a lot of options out there for an insulated thermos, the primary purpose, and the main selection criteria, should be how well they keep hot beverages hot, and cold beverages cold. Tim Schofield of Ritual Coffee Roasters in San Francisco also recommends considering the ease of cleaning the thermos, as well as making sure the material used in the thermos doesn’t change the flavor of the beverage....
Of course, once you have a grill, it feels like there are endless accessories you can buy to complete your outdoor kitchen. However, the truth is that with a few key purchases, you can equip your patio with everything you need for laid-back and delicious barbecuing. That’s why our top recommendation is Cuisinart’s Deluxe Grill Set: Its 20-piece collection of grilling tools, all made of rust-resistant, high-quality stainless steel, has all the essentials for delicious barbecue, including grill tongs, skewers, a basting brush—and even a carrying case....
Don’t worry, we break it all down for you to help you make your decision. Whether it’s for weeknight dinners in your backyard or for tailgating, here are the best grills to buy. With 363 square inches of cooking space, the Weber Original can cook up to 13 burgers at once and there’s enough clearance for a large turkey or beer can chicken. The lid has a hook on the inside for when it’s time to turn the hot dogs, and the lid’s handle has a heat shield to prevent burns....
Roasting strawberries intensifies their flavor and creates a nice, gooey syrup—it’s almost like making a compote in the oven, and the berries maintain their shape while still getting jammy. It’s wonderful for spooning over ice cream, yogurt, panna cotta, or old-fashioned strawberry shortcake. Roast Strawberries for Sweetness Roasting strawberries concentrates their flavor, making them sweet and extra-fruity, without having to add much sugar. You also get an intense syrup. I think of this as an oven compote....
Better yet, it’s super easy to whip up with pantry ingredients. Grab your blender—yes, blender—and get set for a pumpkin pie you’ll want to make again and again. No Eggs? No Problem Pumpkin pie is a custard pie, one that relies on eggs for a filling that holds its shape. There are a few options for replicating the body of an eggy custard without using eggs. For this pie, silken tofu is the secret ingredient....
