baking/cooking techniques
101: breaded cutlets
June 7th, 2013
I know what you’re thinking: “Breaded chicken cutlets? Do I REALLY need a tutorial on this?” Yes, you do. We ALL do. When I got my long-awaited copy of The Smitten Kitchen Cookbook, I was so excited that I dropped what I was doing and immediately sat down to peruse all of the wonderful recipes. [...]
favor-”ette”: lemony snippets
April 10th, 2013
It’s no secret that fresh squeezed lemon juice beats the bottled variety any day. But the convenience of the bottle is tempting, and then there’s the matter of how much juice you need, versus how much you actually get. I know I’ve spent way too much time cutting and squeezing lemons, only to get a [...]
101: roasted vegetables
April 5th, 2013
The calendar says April but it’s still feeling rather wintery around here. And the selection at the market isn’t helping. I’m chomping at the bit to get my hands on some lovely spring produce, but we’re still stuck – for the most part – with the dregs of winter. So what to do? Roast. Roasting [...]
you say macaroons…
March 21st, 2013
Passover’s approaching, and I’m on my annual hunt for a few yummy, flourless desserts. And I decided that this year it was finally time to tackle the one. The one I’ve been avoiding for too long now. The one I even TOOK A CLASS FOR. And had yet to make. Yes, it was time. I [...]
101: classic vanilla buttercream
March 19th, 2013
Ah, buttercream.Whether it’s for a cupcake, a batch of whoopie pies or a birthday layer cake, every baker should have a great buttercream (or two) in her arsenal. And though I’ve made my share of buttercreams/frostings/icings over the years, I’ve never been quite satisfied. They’re either way too sweet. Or too greasy. Or both. And [...]
mealtime bootcamp: “just right”!
February 22nd, 2013
So it’s the very last chapter of Mealtime Bootcamp! I’ve loved having the gracious and talented Caroline spend so much time here, and I’m a little sad to see her go! Caroline’s final “challenge” was around mealtime portions – how much to make, serving sizes, cooking for leftovers, etc. I offered up some guidelines and suggestions and [...]
favor-”ette”: heart-shaped egg
February 13th, 2013
How about starting a loved one’s Valentine’s Day with this? My dear friend Emily sent me the link to this tutorial on how to make a heart-shaped egg, and guess what? It’s so easy! Here’s what you need: 1 peeled hard boiled egg* – this will work best on a freshly boiled egg that’s still [...]
101: ganache
February 9th, 2013
Ganache is, hands down, THE multi-tasker in the kitchen. With just a few ingredients, minimal time and zero special equipment, you’ve got the base for (are you ready?) THREE different recipes – a glaze, a frosting or some heavenly truffles. I made the truffles. Can you say “Valentine’s Day”?
mealtime bootcamp: portions
February 8th, 2013
It’s our final installment of Mealtime Bootcamp with the awesome Caroline! Her last challenge has to do with portions: How much do I prepare for each meal? Do I make just enough for one meal for all of us or cook more than enough for leftovers? I have a friend who cooks for the entire [...]
dotty valentine cupcake toppers (from airheads!)
February 6th, 2013
Okay, I’ll admit it – I was ALL OVER this challenge. As an Alt Summit attendee I received an e-mail from Airheads inviting me to create a Valentine-themed craft, using (what else?) Airheads! No stranger to using candy as a decorating tool (thank you, Hello Cupcake!), I knew exactly what I wanted to do. Polka [...]
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