All professional photo credits (and it’s obvious which are professional): Betwixt Studio.
Four years ago today at about five in the afternoon, TD and I finally made honest people out of one-another.  That’s right, we gathered about a hundred of our favorite people together and got hitched, institutionalized, joined together as one, holy matrimonied, entered into a civil union.  It was a  good day.
The best.
We laughed, we cried, I wore fabulous shoes,  we ate hot fudge brownie sundaes.  It could not …

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So, I’d like to tell you about a book I just finished.  It really was delicious.  And brave.  And funny.  And often, painful. It was real.
I’m talking about Amy Finley’s How to Eat a Small Country.
In the spirit of full disclosure, you should probably know that I know Amy.  During college we worked together for a couple of summers at UCLA’s alumni resort, Bruin Woods.  When you spend two summers up in the mountains with 49 other college students and …

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Who is Mary See?  Funny you should ask.
It seems like most families have their own sort of internal economy complete with a currency and policies toward compensation, incentive and, of course, debt.  In my own family, the economy is ruled by the all mighty See.  Well, See’s Candy.  This “old fashioned” West-coast purveyor of confections plays a role in many of my childhood memories.  The grandchildren at my maternal grandmother’s Thanksgiving table were always exceptionally well-behaved in hopes of earning …

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Yes, I know it isn’ Thursday.  But guess what?  I happen to have little Tuesday posts planned for the next month or so. So there!
Today’s post is just a picture that I think aptly captures what it is like to cook in my little kitchen.  As someone once exclaimed, “you bake all that stuff here?”  Yes, yes I do.
Let me set the scene for you.  It’s about noon on a Saturday and I’ve got several projects going.  There are cupcakes …

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It has occurred to me recently that an inherent craving for the byzantine helps  fuel my love of baking and cooking.  Generally the more difficult a recipe, the more piqued my curiosity.  I also happen to feel this way about book and television show plots.  Yes, I cried like a baby when Lost ended last spring.
But.
There is certain elegance in simplicity and restraint.  Think of the black Louboutin pump.  A Rothco painting.  A tulip.  Or, in this post, a sable …

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Psssst.  Hey you!  Yes…you.
Need a great dinner party dessert?  Something elegant and impressive but criminally easy to put together?  Something that might make you feel like you are dialing-it-in while outward appearances argue ooh-la-la?
I’ve got what you need.  It’s a little something I call the ice cream torte.  Oh sure, it exists under a variety of names and circumstances.  In fact, the possibilities are nearly endless.  Just mix and match your favorite ice cream flavors and toppings.
For instance, I took …

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This post should be titled “The Misanthropic Hostess Goes Abroad” as I happen to be in Hong Kong at this very moment.  I should be giving you roast duck, dim sum and stories about items bought, coveted and bargained.  I promise we’ll get there eventually.
Instead, let’s talk about guilty pleasures.
A couple of years ago I read a great article in Town and Country Magazine about the guilty food pleasures of some favorite chefs.  I’ve tried to find the article, with …

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They say the Irish have  a wicked sense of humor.  Case in point: this recipe.
Lets see if you can figure out what the ingredients in the following photos ultimately made.

Okay.  Let’s stop here a moment.  For those of you keeping track, we’ve seen mashed potatoes, egg yolks, grated chocolate and soft-peaked egg whites.  Not to mention the almond flour I forgot to photograph.
I swear, this is one of those recipes where someone’s (Irish?) grandmother opened the pantry and decided to …

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Let’s get this month started properly.
Guinness Stout.  Chocolate.  Buttercream.
Shall I continue?
A work colleague (and fantastic baker) introduced me to this cake recipe several years ago. And I’ve been exploiting it ever since.  This is by far my favorite way to make chocolate cake.  It is dark and not as sweet as some chocolate cakes, which makes it a perfect foil for the globs of buttercream I like to slather on top.  And, if you are so inclined (as I am …

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The February 2011 Daring Bakers’ challenge was hosted by Mallory from A Sofa in the Kitchen.  She chose to challenge everyone to make Panna Cotta  and Nestle Florentine Cookies.
Let me tell you, as daring and fun as this adventure was, most of all, it was easy.  A snap.  Easy as pie.  A piece of cake.
Let’s start with the panna cotta.  Panna cotta is the result of what would happen if jello and pudding got together and had a love child. …

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