Sweet Praline Almonds
Ever since I tasted these praline almonds, made by my colleague and friend David Lebovitz once when he was visiting, I’ve loved them. They’re a perfect, and perfectly surprising, amuse-bouche, or appetizer. I make them often, we make them in classes, guests eat them like they were candy. Which they sort of are, with […]
Miche’s Two Ingredient French Apricot Jam – ’tis the Season
Evreux, June 3, 2017 – Miche lived to be 101 years old. Right up until she left us she was talking about her amazing two-ingredient apricot jam, among other things, and the tricks she used to make it. She also wanted to point out the bird on the steeple outside her window and remind a visitor […]
Strawberry Shortcake from the Grill
There are two things at play in this recipe for French strawberry shortcake from the grill. One is my brand, new, fancy Weber gas grill that has taken pride of place in my back courtyard. Two is my darling daughter Fiona’s predilection for loving and not eating animals. Sometimes she is flexitarian, but mostly she […]
Grilled Chicken with Spicy Rhubarb
Naturally, the French cook has a way with this fleeting gift of spring. Typically, it is wrapped in buttery pastry, pureed and put under a meringue, atop ice cream, blended with cream, cooked in syrup. Here, I’m inspired by the French fascination with sugar syrup to turn rhubarb into a sweet, zesty sauce for […]
Flourless Chocolate Cake from the Grill
Baking a cake over the coals? Quelle idée. But pizza bakes perfectly over blazing charcoal, so why not biscuits, or rhubarb pie, or even a flourless chocolate cake? As any good French chef would do, I headed straight for the flourless chocolate cake, set it over the coals, closed the cover and held my breath. When I […]
Bitter Orange Marmalade
I love phone calls like the one I received the other day from my neighbor, Nathalie. “Suzanne, I have too many bitter oranges, would you like some?” I didn’t hesitate a minute. This is the season for bitter oranges (Seville oranges – they come from Spain) and each year I turn them into marmalade. […]
Optimism and Lemon Meringue Pie
Since the election I’ve been searching for optimism. I’ve found some. There is optimism in people gathering round. At the market yesterday, it was a flurry of friendship as people came to me to ask questions, express their feelings and opinions. There is optimism in a woman standing for president, and knowing more people voted […]
VOTE
VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! VOTE! And then go home and make some….quince paste!
Fig Crostata
I’ll be including plenty of gorgeous Italian recipes in classes this fall, and one of them is inspired by the air in this high spot of Tuscany, part of the Apuan alps, which smells like dessert. Walking along the lanes, climbing the trails, even cycling to the beach with cars whizzing by, the amber aroma of […]
Apricot Shortcake
I was preparing to make my favorite apricot tart for dessert tonight when I stopped, as though held back by an invisible hand. This never happens to me. I love everything about the process of making a tart, from measuring the flour (I know, but I love to do it!), to rolling out the pastry, to […]
