According to the Smithsonian, “French women traditionally have relied on subtle culinary cues to signal their amorous intentions. The July 1956 issue of the journal Western Folklore reported: “a young maid lets her swain know whether the answer is ‘yes’ or ‘no’ by what she feeds him on St. Valentine’s Day. It’s a custom that…
Category: Dessert
{winter projects 2012} Fancy Hi Hat Cupcakes
Editor’s Note: Selifishly, I’m really excited about this post. Miles’ 3rd birthday is Monday and I plan on making him some special cupcakes to share at school… and these are the ones! Hi Hat Cupcakes- nope, I’ve never heard of them either but they look amazing and Becky’s description of them makes me wish a…
{winter projects 2012} Three Berry Pop-Tarts
Editor’s Note: Who wants to learn to make berry-filled hot pockets of goodness? I do! I do! Deanna’s post was first published, in springtime on May 23rd 2011 as Sundays on the Sunporch: Three Berry “Pop-Tarts”. We also get a glimpse of a toddler cooking with a bucket on her head… who doesn’t do that?…
{from scratch holidays} DIY Natural Food Coloring
As the Holidays are upon us, cookie-making season is in full swing. My kids have a list of cookies they want to make {or rather, eat}, I have my own recipe list of goodies to try, and then of course there are the edible gifts. At my house, there will be lots of cookie baking…
{edible gift} Fudge
Fudge is one of those treats that I usually reserve for the holidays. I’m not sure why, because it really is incredibly easy to make and SO delicious. Served alongside traditional holiday cookies, fudge is a welcome treat in my family. Wrapped in a box (check craft stores for a great assortment this time of year) with…
{edible gift} Alegria, a traditional Mexican amaranth dessert
On the one hand, I really like cookies, like the way they look, like the way the taste, like their size and variety. On the other hand, I am on the far side of 50, have a sedentary day job and would like to survive to enjoy 25 years or more of active retirement, so…
{No-Crust} apple pie
I’ve finally found the perfect apple pie recipe. It’s perfect because you don’t have to make a crust. That’s right, all of the glory and none of the pain. In a small kitchen, even a simple pie crust is typically out of the question. Really anything that requires rolling out dough usually gets vetoed. So…
{hello} I’m Becky
Hi, I’m Becky. I am a lover of baking who has recently discovered the wonder of preserving. I love reading cookbooks, and if you came to my house you would see a pile of cooking magazines and books on every end table and flat surface. Seriously. A good day for me involves picking fruit or…
{Savory} Yogurt Inspirations
I was 19 years old the summer I spent two weeks helping to build a wall around a schoolyard in a rural Turkish village. During breaks, villagers expressed their gratitude (or maybe just entertained their own curiosities about us) by offering us a drink called Ayran. It’s a salty yogurt drink that on those hot,…
{Guest Contributor} Frozen Yogurt Popsicles
Editor’s Note: I am pleased to introduce Hanna, Michael’s sister (my farmer and boss) and now our newest and youngest contributor! While working in heatwaves and downpours at the various Wednesday and Saturday markets in Saratoga, I would hear rave reviews about a frozen yogurt pops making the rounds on the farm in Granville. I…
{Pizza Week Part Two} The Dessert Course
Ah, two of the most wonderful words in the English lexicon: Dessert and Pizza. Put them together, and it’s pure heaven. While it isn’t a “true” pizza, this Dessert Pizza combines a sauce and lovely toppings on a doughy crust, just as traditional pizza would. Plus (in my opinion), it really isn’t a meal unless you end it…
{Love & Appreciation} Dad’s Special Cake
Lordy! Lordy! Look who’s…over the hill. I celebrated my 40th birthday over the Memorial Day weekend. I convey this information to you with a sense of pride. Life hasn’t always been easy, but sometimes it has, so I can’t complain. It has taken me this long to understand that the hardships I’ve survived have shaped…
{how you do it} Matcha-Lavender Scones
Editor’s Note: {How You Do It} is back! In general, the blog has been in a state of transformation and this recurring series is no different. When we first brought you this series, fellow local moms were writing guest posts about their kitchens, their traditions, their food. Since then we’ve made all guests regular contributors,…
{Recipe} For the Pie-Challenged
I have always been an utter failure at making pies. They sometimes taste good, but they look awful and are entirely lacking in aesthetic appeal. I apply uneven pressure on the rolling pin, make badly crimped edges that leak, use too much flour to dust, yadayadayada. So in my self-loathing, I tend to concentrate on…
{weekend reading} rhubarb recipe edition
Here’s reason #2498 why having a blog is awesome. You experiment with new foods. Case in point; Rhubarb. I have had lots of rhubarb strawberry pie but I have never personally made anything with it. N-O-T-H-I-N-G. As of today, I’ve made freezer pureed rhubarb w/ vanilla (for later use with strawberries), Rhubarb, Apple & Ginger…
