Recipes

337

Traditional Hamantaschen

Hamantaschen are a triangular-shaped cookie made to commemorate the Jewish celebration of Purim. and are traditionally stuffed with sweet fillings made of poppy seeds, dried fruits, or fruit preserves

338

Tender Buttery Oat Scones with Currants

There’s nothing like a tender flaky scone, especially when it’s lathered in English Double cream and jam. I’ve tried a variety of recipes but I prefer the method described Cook’s Illustrated. Feel free to substitute any dried fruit for the currants.

339

Best White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies

A very close friend of mine has a beautiful Macadamia nut farm on the Big Island in Hawaii, so I’m always trying recipes with “mac nuts”. The first time I visited, I had visions of eating handfuls of fresh macadamia nuts straight from the trees, but it turn…

340

Maple Glazed Wild Salmon

341

Creamy Butternut Squash Soup with Sugar Spiced Croutons

You usually see this around Thanksgiving – it makes a great first course – but it’s also perfect on a cold winter day. I think the most impressed I’ve ever been with this soup was the first time I had it at Spago’s in Beverly Hills. Wolfgang Puck serves his…

342

Original Authentic Whoopie Pies

I'll always love the original Chocolate Whoopie Pie, but you can find countless versions on the web for Pumpkin, Ginger, Red Velvet, Lemon, Banana, and many more creative Whoopie Pies. The next time you're in the mood for a cupcake, give this "cousin" a try…

343

Easy Chicken Satay with Peanut Sauce

I love the bold flavors in recipes like this – it’s such a refreshing change from parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. The turmeric in the curry powder gives the chicken its distinctive yellow color. One of my favorite Thai restaurants in Los Angeles– Chan Da…

344

Baked Eggs - Oeufs en Cocotte

This is a fun way to prepare eggs for a special “breakfast in bed” occasion (or in my case - in the garden). Also known as shirred eggs, baked eggs will give you time to prepare everything else on the tray - toast, coffee, juice (better yet, Mimosa) while t…

345

Butterscotch Pots de Creme

I had lunch recently at Gjelina ( http://www.gjelina.com ) on Abbot Kinney in Venice, CA. I suppose it falls under the category of “trendy”, but I love the combination of good food and great people-watching, so I always look forward to having a bite there.…

346

Tortilla de Patatas (Spanish Potato Omelet)

I spent an afternoon at the Escuela de Cocina Cayena in Madrid (a Cooking School)

347

Ultimate Cheesecake Brownie

This is the perfect indulgence for the cheesecake AND chocolate lover. I used to buy them at Rosie’s Bakery in Boston and adapted this recipe from “Rosie's Bakery All-Butter, Fresh Cream, Sugar-Packed, No-Holds-Barred Baking Book.”

348

Best Traditional Beef Stew

349

Black Bean Mango Salsa

I visit friends in Hawaii every year and am always inspired by the island cuisine. This salsa is great on fish, but can also be served as an appetizer with chips.

350

Perfect Lemon Tart (Tarte au Citron)

This is one of my favorite tarts - very lemony, with a rich creamy filling. Paul Bocuse’s “Simple French Recipes for the Home Chef” calls for crème fraiche, but I find the heavy cream works just as well. This is the perfect finish to a great dinner.

351

Spicy Orange Glazed Pork Chops

This is a quick and easy recipe that pairs well with the rustic mashed potatoes that were featured on One For The Table - http://bit.ly/6ePKz5 . Cook’s Country suggests starting the pork chops in a cold skillet, which allows them to heat up slowly and hold…

352

Pear Tart with Almond Frangipane Filling

This is one of my favorite French tarts. Most of it can be made ahead, so it’s great when you’re having guests, because it can be baked several hours before serving. This is a classic recipe that can be found in numerous cookbooks. In Julia Child’s Masterin…

353

Best Traditional French Onion Soup Gratinee

This is one of my favorite soups – and unless you’re in France, it’s best to make it at home. Pungent yellow onions work best, and cooking them to a dark caramel color gives the soup depth and color. Tie the parsley and thyme sprigs together with kitchen tw…

354

Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon

355

Simple Glazed Sweet Potatoes

This is a fast and easy side dish to prepare – a little spicy and a little sweet.

356

Whole Wheat Carrot Morning Glory Muffins

These delicious and nutritious muffins are from the King Arthur Whole Grain Baking Cookbook - http://bit.ly/8E06Dc . It’s a great resource, and one of the cookbooks that I actually use quite often. Even though they are loaded with ingredients like shredded…

357

Beef Tamale Cornbread Topping

This is one of my favorite winter casseroles based on a recipe from The Best Make-Ahead Recipe Cookbook - http://bit.ly/6BfSwv . You can make it in one large 9x13 pan or prepare two 8x8 square pans, and bake one and freeze one for another time. To freeze, w…

358

Orange Zest Sugared Doughnut Holes

These little doughnuts are best eaten on the same day, in fact, they are best when still warm. You don’t need any special fryer equipment, a simple 4 quart saucepan will work, and they’re so easy to make. I like to use a mini ice cream scoop for form the do…

359

Deviled Eggs with Smoked Salmon

I love deviled eggs and there are so many delicious variations. I'm making these for Christmas dinner hors d'oeuvres and using some of the Smoked Sockeye Salmon that I brought back from a recent trip to Alaska.

360

Clementine Almond Cake

Every part of the Clementine -- peel, pith, and flesh -- plays a role in this moist almond cake. Each slice has a sophisticated slightly bittersweet marmalade-like flavor, since boiling the Clementines beforehand mellows any bitterness from the skin and pit…