Desserts
Chef Chambrette’s Rum Babas
In Remembrance of Chef Chambrette We mourn the loss of the great Chef Chambrette and we pay tribute to his memory by sharing his signature recipe for Rum Babas with you, below. From the beginning, Chef Chambrette anchored the teaching staff at La Varenne Cooking School in Paris. He was always unstinting in sharing his favorite […]
Continue ReadingTarte Tatin
A Devine Dessert My daughter, Zoe, made Julia Child’s Tarte Tatin the night of our movie screening. It was wonderful. She made hers in a cast iron skillet. It’s especially delicious if you pour heavy cream on it! Yum! Tarte Tatin Serves 6 For the Tart Dough: 3/4 cups flour 1/4 cup cake flour 2 […]
Continue ReadingEggnog Bread Pudding
Christmas Spirit I am catering a luncheon today. It’s one of my all time favorite catering jobs. I actually never consider it a job, it’s a privilege. This is my 5th year doing it. It’s very festive and really gets me in the Christmas spirit. A room full of my favorite ladies, what could be […]
Continue ReadingApple Spice Cake
Need to Clone Myself…. My daughter, Zoe, made this apple bundt (yes, another one!) cake with caramel sauce for me last night. I am catering a luncheon for 20 people today, while at the same time serving 135 kids lunch. This is the true meaning of multi-tasking! Apple Spice Cake Serves 10 1 1/3 cups […]
Continue ReadingCandied Ginger & Rosemary Squares
Sweet & Savory Shortbread The following recipe is phenomenal. I got it from my friend Jacki. Is is a sweet or savory snack? You will have to decide this on your own. All I know is that it is unusual and amazing. This would make a nice hostess gift for the holidays. Candied Ginger & […]
Continue ReadingWake Up People, It’s December!
I can’t even believe it’s December! Yikes, it always makes me nervous. There are just too many details to take care of and I always forget some. Zoe had the assignment of taking a photograph for the header for December. I love it. She’s a becoming a great photographer. I’m not into cutesy. I grew […]
Continue ReadingPumpkin Banana Mousse Tart
Breaking with Tradition – It’s a Good Thing! My daughter, Zoe, made Ina Garten’s Pumkin Banana Mousse Tart. Everyone I mentioned this to said, “banana, really?’ It was really delicious. The crust worked especially well with it. Pumpkin Banana Mousse Tart Serves 10 For the crust: 2 cups graham cracker crumbs (14 crackers) 1/3 cup […]
Continue ReadingPumpkin Shortage! What’s Next?
I have assigned both my girls the job of making desserts for Thanksgiving. I am no dummy! Zoe is making Ina Garten’s Pumpkin Banana Mousse Tart and Grace is making a Hot Fudge Pie. I think I bought the last can of pumpkin in Pasadena. Yes, there is a pumpkin shortage. Recent heavy rains in […]
Continue ReadingBasic Cookie Dough Recipe
The Cooky Book My friend Cara has an incredibly cute little boy who wants to make Christmas cookies with his mom. This is the book I grew up with – it’s a classic! We baked a lot when we were kids. Now, the temptation is to buy the pre-made dough / cookies. Yes, I am […]
Continue ReadingSticky Toffee Pudding
The Brits and Their Pudding…. Having lived in London for 6 years, I learned a bit about the British diet (not sure “diet” is the right word). Basically, pudding is bloody important! I have never had a dessert served in England without a pitcher of cream being passed around the table to douse it in. Every, […]
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