Posted by the Misanthropic Hostess.
Aug
15
Posted by the Misanthropic Hostess.
Why yes, I do sit around thinking about ways to incorporate Nutella into unsuspecting recipes. Would you expect any less?
Actually, I originally planned to tackle Pierre Herme’s infamous Nutella tart for this post. However, as I was reading through the recipe one last time I realized that the finished product would have to be refrigerated. Generally this isn’t a big deal but. Refrigerated items don’t travel well to work. Also not usually a big deal but. TD was going to …
Aug
4
Posted by the Misanthropic Hostess.
Yes. You are in the right place.
Nope, we’re not turning on the oven today.
Just chopping up some colorful treats.
Then throwing them together.
For a surprising take on salsa. Just add pita chips!
Watermelon Salsa
Ingredients
1 English cucumber, seeds removed and cubed
2-3 C seedless watermelon, cubed
1 large or two small shallots minced (purple onion would also work)
3 TBS (or to taste) fresh mint, chopped
1/2-1 C feta cheese, crumbled or cubed
Salt, pepper, olive oil and a mild vinegar to taste
Other tasty add-ins
Olives, tomatoes, basil, the …
Jul
28
Posted by the Misanthropic Hostess.
It’s okay, I’m still thinking about Mr. Darcy as well.
I wasn’t kidding about the scones. And because I certainly haven’t had enough of them, I’m bringing back the blueberries. Well, dried blueberries. Those of you scone purists may be happier with this scone recipe than last week’s frosted version. Also a Dorie Greenspan (slight) adaptation, this simple base would work well with any kind of dried fruit (the original calls for currents).
The method and ingredients are very similar: cold butter, …
Jul
21
Posted by the Misanthropic Hostess.
One of my goals with this blog is to use it as an excuse to try new things. Expand my culinary arsenal. Master some mad kitchen skills. Oh? You got it the first time? Good. In this spirit, the next couple of weeks will be all about scones. Now, I’m a big fan of the idea of the scone. Just the thought of this crumbly, slightly sweet treat brings to mind images of delicate china cups, green moors kissed by …
Jul
14
Posted by the Misanthropic Hostess.
Yes. We are still talking about blueberries. And happy Bastille Day while we are at it.
I’m always game to try a new cookie recipe and so set this one aside last fall after it appeared in September’s Bon Appetit Magazine to rave reviews. Who knows why it took me this long to get to it.
The recipe is for blueberry and cream cookies from Momofuko Milk Bar in New York. It begins with a sort of, well, milk-crumb-streusel concoction. Now, I …
Jul
7
Posted by the Misanthropic Hostess.
In general, words and phrases that have been purposely spelled incorrectly (usually as a means of kitschifying said word or term) earn a blanket boycott from me. I don’t care how good the pancakes at the Koffee Kart in Manhattan Beach happen to be. I refuse to step foot inside the place.
There is one exception. Embarrassing as it is to admit (and it’s okay, you can laugh), in our household we call blueberries baluberries. After the Balu the cat. You …
Jun
30
Posted by the Misanthropic Hostess.
Every once in a while I get inspired and come up with a recipe. The inspiration for this one came while looking at all the odds-and-ends of half-empty bags of chocolate and confections that reside in the bin in our pantry creatively labeled “chocolate.” Specifically, the nearly eight ounces of crumbled Lindt white chocolate white coconut bits I had from making curls for at least three different cakes. What to do? What to do?
Here is what I did. And here …
Jun
23
Posted by the Misanthropic Hostess.
We’ve already established the fact that I like parties even when I don’t like the people involved…hence the name of this little blog. So, as you can imagine, my head nearly explodes with anticipatory excitement when the chance to celebrate is paired with groovy people (think Oprah’s favorite things excited). This was recently the case when we feted the upcoming nuptials of a favorite colleague. The hosts indulgently allowed me to to have some fun with it. Though, I think …
Jun
16
Posted by the Misanthropic Hostess.
We’ve talked about Cooks Illustrated before and about how great their recipes are. And they are great. Spot on. Always turn out.
However, after having collected the magazine for years, I can say with confidence that Cooks Illustrated could make pouring a glass of lemonade sound complicated. And I understand this, because as I’ve openly admitted, I’m the same way. I like to do things right and sometimes this requires multiple steps. However, complicated seems too derogatory a term for …
Jun
9
Posted by the Misanthropic Hostess.
TD: Can you make me some cookies? Only, you know, the normal ones.
Me: You mean the kind without any of those villainous pink peppercorns?
TD: Uh huh. Yeah, those.
And so goes TD’s quarterly request for what he calls, “the normal cookies.” The “normal cookies” is simply code for chocolate chip cookies. Whenever I make a batch, they are quickly put into a zip lock bag and appropriated to the “man loft” where they are stored in the “man fridge” to be …