Cooking Method: Baking
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Dutch Baby with Mushrooms, Leeks & Arugula
A Dutch baby pancake, sometimes called a German pancake, a Bismarck, or a Dutch puff, is a large American popover and is similar to a large Yorkshire pudding. I love making them because they have minimal ingredients and you can either make them sweet or savory. This Dutch Baby with Mushrooms, Leeks & Arugula is a great combination and makes an easy weeknight meal.
- Prep: 20 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Yields: 4 Servings
Black-and-White-and-Green Cookies
These Black-and-White-and-Green Cookies are a cross between the New York classic Black and White and Thin Mints. Fresh mint gives it a vibrant green hue and the flavor intensifies if you make it ahead.
- Prep: 2 hrs
- Cook: 10 mins
- Yields: Makes 24 cookies
Creamy Goat Cheese, Bacon and Date Dip
This decadent Creamy Goat Cheese, Bacon and Date Dip is whipped with goat cheese, cream cheese and topped with crispy bacon, sweet chewy dates and sliced almonds. It's served warm out of the oven.
- Prep: 15 mins
- Cook: 20 mins
- Yields: 6 - 8 Servings
Smashed Sweet Potatoes
Ina Garten's Smashed Sweet Potatoes is my new favorite sweet potato recipe. I grew up having canned yams with a pound of brown sugar and butter... Yes, there were a tad sweet! The potatoes are roasted and then smashed with orange juice and a little cream. My daughter wanted to top it with bacon, pecans, and some fresh sage, but this is optional.
- Prep: 10 mins
- Cook: 1 hrs 30 mins
- Yields: 8 Servings
Pecan-Rye Pumpkin Pie
My daughter Zoe made this very complicated Pecan-Rye Pumpkin Pie. Here is her take on it -
I'll be the first to admit that I am not great at handling crust, especially one that requires you to take it out of the oven three times just for the blind bake...but something came over me around 8 am and I dove right in, only to look up at the clock about 4 hours later. Mixing pumpkin and pecan together intrigued me enough to dedicate my morning to this task and I happen to be a sucker for heavily spiced pumpkin (not in my coffee, please). I certainly owe my mother's arsenal of little jars nestled on shelves built by my father a major shoutout here. All in all, this pie's wow factor really is in the time (and love!) you put into it. And don't even think about making this day-of.
Cornbread Stuffing With Sausage and Corn Nuts
My daughter Zoe made this Cornbread Stuffing With Sausage and Corn Nuts. I have to say, I have never heard of using corn nuts as an ingredient. The corn nuts get crushed into a dust, which adds an extra corniness to this stuffing.
- Prep: 45 mins
- Cook: 2 hrs
- Yields: 8 - 10 Servings
Brussels Sprouts Tarte Tatin
My daughters and their roommates had a "Friendsgiving" brunch on Sunday and Zoe made this Brussels Sprouts Tarte Tatin. Unfortunately, yet again, I did not have any since I am apparently not their friend! It looks good to me, though Zoe said it could probably benefit from pancetta or some bacon. It is best served right away (they’re not a great make-ahead option), so plan accordingly.
- Prep: 40 mins
- Cook: 15 mins
- Yields: 10 Servings
Maple Pear Upside Down Cake
I have no idea why I decided to make this Maple Pear Upside Down Cake. For me, this is ADVANCED baking! It's a bit complicated and includes making granulated maple sugar out of maple syrup, which are is an exact science of bringing it to 265° F. I was in shock when it worked. Anyway, this cake is exquisite, with a subtle hint of cardamom.
- Prep: 45 mins
- Cook: 1 hrs
- Yields: 8 - 10 Servings
Apple Mille-Feuille
My daughter Zoe made this Apple Mille-Feuille for dessert. It's a rather odd way of using puff pastry by baking it between to baking sheets on top of each other. The end result is astounding. It's topped with a luscious bourbon laced whipped cream.
Pan Banging Chocolate Chip Cookies
Anyone who’s been on social media in the last year has probably already seen Sarah Kieffer’s perfectly imperfect “pan-banging” chocolate chip cookies. As a cookie lover who errs on the chewy side, I was excited to try creating my own mesmerizing ripple effect (as well as the cheap thrill of slamming a sheet pan against a hot oven rack). What I wasn’t trying to do, however, was open my oven 5 - 6 times while the ambient temperature in my house was 90° F. Now that we are slowly (and I mean sloooowly) easing into fall here in Southern California, I thought I’d give these a try. Let me tell you, they are definitely worth the warm kitchen.
- Prep: 40 mins
- Cook: 35 mins
- Yields: Makes 10 cookies