From James's kitchen
Tested, annotated, and worth returning to. Browse dependable recipes for everyday cooking, relaxed weekends, and occasions worth sharing.
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217Cranberry bread was always a staple in my house around the holidays. The mini loaves make great gifts and they freeze well, so you can make them ahead. Perfect on Christmas morning with some cream cheese and jam.
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218If you’re looking for an easy sugar cookie that doesn’t require rolling and cookie cutters – this recipe is for you. Use high quality unsalted butter – like Lurpak or Kerrigold – to achieve the best flavor. The cookies can be rolled in regular sugar, but it…
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219I made some mini red velvet cupcakes to take to a friend’s Christmas party. I used the recipe that I posted earlier for cupcakes (click - World's Best Red Velvet Cupcakes ) but for this batch, I switched to a rich cream cheese frosting. I sprinkled them wit…
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220These spicy little chicken tenders are quick and easy to make and a perfect party appetizer. You can save a little time by using store bought taco seasoning, but it's worth making up a batch of the homemade.
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221This is a fantastic and easy recipe from my friend Pat Loud which was passed down from her mother. She serves it at nearly every party that I’ve attended and it’s always a big hit. As with most good recipes, the amounts are somewhat flexible – in other word…
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222If you want some holiday aroma in the kitchen, bake up a batch of these muffins. They have great ginger flavor, especially if you use the crystallized ginger topping.
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223Food historians differ on the origin of this popular cake. This cake is incredibly moist with light cocoa flavor. You vary the amount of cocoa to your own taste; I prefer the full 4 tablespoons which gives the cake a nice crimson red color. In the south, it…
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224Date Nut Bars are rather old fashioned and pretty common in New England bakeries. This is similar to the Raspberry Squares recipe ( click here ) but I’ve added some whole wheat flour and a few spices to compliment the dates. On my drives from Los Angeles to…
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225I recently watched Mark Bittman make this on the Today show and thought it sounded like a great recipe. It’s so easy to throw together because it all cooks in one roasting pan and does not require pureeing. The apples lend a nice sweetness and the sage work…
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226This is a quick and tasty way to use up leftover Thanksgiving turkey (also works great with a supermarket rotisserie chicken). You can make homemade biscuits, but the ready-made biscuits make the recipe a breeze to put together. You can serve the pot pie ri…
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227I saw this recipe in the new holiday issue of Cook’s Illustrated magazine (pick up a copy – it’s full of great recipes) I liked the idea of a thick crumb topping and also liked that it used frozen blueberries – which are much easier to find this time of yea…
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228My friend Pat Loud asked if I could make a dessert for a party she was hosting at her home. The guest of honor was Cherry Vanilla - the famed rock goddess, publicist extraordinaire, poet and performance artist. The evening was to celebrate the release of he…
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229This is a great change of pace from traditional chocolate brownies. The oatmeal and butterscotch compliment each perfectly – buttery, chewy, delicious bars.
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230I love make-ahead recipes, whether it’s the main course or dessert, it’s nice to have some of the work done in advance. Blueberry Pie is one of my favorites, but can be tricky because the juicy berries can create a challenge for maintaining a crispy crust.…
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232Boneless chicken breasts are pretty common for dinner but can get a bit boring. I’m always looking for new ways to prepare them and this apricot version is a nice change of pace. I like to serve the chicken with green beans and brown rice.
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233Carrot Cake is a classic favorite for many. The problem is that sometimes the cake is either very dry or too moist, with an almost gummy texture, but this recipe delivers the perfect texture. I think the walnut oil gives the cake a greater depth of flavor,…
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234What’s not to love about these cookies? If you’re a fan of Reese’s peanut butter cups, these may become your new favorite cookies. I made mine with White Whole Wheat flour, but feel free to use all purpose flour, or a combination of white and wheat.
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235This is the time of year to find great varieties of apples – visit your local orchard or farmer’s market and try something new. This is an easy quick bread from the folks at King Arthur and tastes best with homemade applesauce, but unsweetened jarred sauce…
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236Cinnamon is the star ingredient, so try to use the best possible. I like Vietnamese Cinnamon - the strongest, richest, and sweetest cinnamon around. I get mine from Penzey’s (they have locations around the US or you can order online here - http://www.penzey…
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237These chewy fudgy chocolate cookies from Cook's Country will satisfy any chocolate lover who craves a brownie in cookie form. I use Callebaut chocolate, but Ghirardelli is also a fine choice. Three types of chocolate combine to deliver a deep dark rich choc…
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238This is a great recipe for two, but can easily be increased to feed a crowd. Barilla no boil lasagna noodles work best in this recipe and you can easily make them ahead and refrigerate until ready to bake.
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239This old-fashioned snack cake recipe features chewy coconut, crunchy toasted pecans, and caramel-like flavor. Do not use old-fashioned or instant oats for this recipe. It’s best to use a metal baking dish; glass pans are not recommended when broiling.
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240My friend Robert called asking for a good buttermilk pancake recipe – he said he was very surprised not to find one on my site. I do have one for whole grain pancakes, but if you’re looking for a traditional buttermilk pancake, this one works just fine. It…
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