Blueberry Heart Tarts (well, almost)
10 Jul 2008

Blueberry Heart Tarts (well, almost)

by | posted in: Desserts, Recipes, vegetarian | 13

To put it in more discerning culinary terminology, these might actually be galettes, the rustic hand-shaped pastry with filling. But as Merriam-Webster defines it, a galette is a flat, round pastry with filling, and these are heart-shaped (ahem, almost). “Tart” usually implies a similar dessert that takes shape by way of a tart pan, and has a sticky, gooey or custardy filling beneath the fruit topping. Or either/or. These have neither. I’m a sucker for rhymes also, so I’ll stick … Read More

Just-Like-the-Parlor Mint Chip Ice Cream
13 Jun 2008

Just-Like-the-Parlor Mint Chip Ice Cream

by | posted in: Desserts, Ice Cream, Recipes | 14

This is what I’ve been having for dinner lately. I don’t have an air conditioner and don’t see the point much when I can dip into a carton of homemade ice cream every once in a while. It does much more than cool the physical senses. It soothes and elates, bringing me back to the emotional state of being on a class trip in kindergarten, when every kid lined up at the local ice cream parlor and ordered the same … Read More

Savory Asparagus Pie with Goat Cheese and Creme Fraiche
8 Jun 2008

Savory Asparagus Pie with Goat Cheese and Creme Fraiche

by | posted in: Cook-Offs, Pies, Recipes, vegetarian | 22

First of all: Holy heatwave! Bake at your own risk! I was kind of wondering when New York City weather would pull its annual trick of mutating overnight into a festering hotbox of city smog, in turn whipping us into hapless victims of stench. I’m still racking my brain for that clean water-saving alternative to showering twice or thrice daily.

Mint Chocolate Chip Happy Cone Cupcakes
13 May 2008

Mint Chocolate Chip Happy Cone Cupcakes

by | posted in: Cook-Offs, Desserts, Events, NYC Events, Recipes | 9

As a friend text messaged me earlier on the night of the 2nd Annual Cupcake Bake-off held by the Brooklyn Kitchen, some milk would be really good to bring along and serve with the cupcakes, instead of drinking pint after pint after beer after eating cupcake after cupcake (after cupcake). Well, a night later I’m finally taking up that advice with the leftover cupcake scraps stashed in Tupperware in my fridge, and damn. Is this ever the best combination.

Basil Lemon Ice Cream
25 Apr 2008

Basil Lemon Ice Cream

by | posted in: Desserts, gluten-free, Ice Cream, Recipes, vegetarian | 15

Warning: it’s gritty. I did not take the advice from the Epicuious recipe I based this variation off of and expel the custard mixture of basil leaves with a “fine mesh strainer” before churning it into ice cream. That would have been more, well, refined. But then, aren’t home-cooked specialties supposed to be a little gritty? I should call this one Brooklyn Basil Lemon ice cream.

Pain with Chocolate (and that’s not in French)
3 Feb 2008

Pain with Chocolate (and that’s not in French)

by | posted in: Desserts, Events, Recipes, vegetarian | 44

Gee, I’m single. I don’t know the way it is with you, but Valentine’s Day traditionally falls on a romantically awkward time for me (except for the last two years). This year, it’s pretty bad. I’ll spare you the gory details, but I essentially returned from my girlfriend-bonding Moroccan vacation to a live-in who’d decided he wanted out. Home sweet home! Of course, now that it’s the first week of February, all the aphrodisiac date menus, heart-shaped boxes of chocolates, … Read More

Honey-Cashew Fruit Crisps
23 Dec 2007

Honey-Cashew Fruit Crisps

by | posted in: Desserts, gluten-free, Recipes, vegetarian | 2

My favorite nut (besides, perhaps, my mother) is the buttery cashew. For a long time I thought there was no better way to enjoy them than alone, roasted, straight out of the can and without the pesky accompaniment of lesser nuts mixed in. A little coat of salt, maybe. But that was all. This may or may not still be the ultimate cashew experience, but recently I’ve discovered this nut to be a little more versatile to add.

Chunky Turtle Monkey Love Bars
3 Dec 2007

Chunky Turtle Monkey Love Bars

by | posted in: Desserts, Recipes, vegetarian | 14

“Was that banana?” Went the first question from everyone who’d tried these, once they unglued their mouths enough to ask. Next: “I’m getting caramel… nuttiness… chocolate…” Sounds almost like we were tasting vintage wines. To their credit, it was dark in the bar where we sat. Half turtle bar, partly inspired by the chocolate monkey drink, these lovable turtle monkey bars have the best of both animal kingdoms, in my opinion. Like a well-aged wine, the flavors also seemed to … Read More

Cranberry Orange Mince Pie
24 Nov 2007

Cranberry Orange Mince Pie

by | posted in: Desserts, Pies, Recipes | 12

So, nobody was exactly clamoring for me to remake a traditional British Christmas mincemeat pie this year at Thanksgiving. Blended dried fruits and the word “meat” in its name doesn’t conjure the most appetizing dessert (even though today, meat is commonly left out). It certainly never did for me, especially since I’ve only had mincemeat once before as a straight-out-of-the-can pie filling. This was at a Thanksgiving long ago, and I recall reading the ingredients on the can: It was … Read More

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