Recipes

289

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

290

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.

291

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…

292

Maple Glazed Wild Salmon

293

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…

294

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…

295

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…

296

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.…

297

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.”

298

Best Traditional Beef Stew

299

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.

300

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…

301

Brown Sugar Glazed Bacon

302

Simple Glazed Sweet Potatoes

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

303

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…

304

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…

305

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…

306

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.

307

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…

308

Rugelach with Chocolate Currant Walnut Filling

The trick to great rugelach is making a flaky buttery rich pastry dough. If the dough gathers into a cohesive mass around the blade in the food processor work bowl, you have over-processed it. Make sure to stop processing at the point where the mixture is s…

309

Festive Arugula Salad with Clementines, Feta, and Sugared Pistachios

This is a great salad to serve around the holidays when Clementines (Cuties) are in peak season. The green arugula and pistachios, red cranberries, orange cuties, and the white feta make for a festive presentation. The sugared pistachios can be made ahead a…

310

Best Braised Beef Brisket

I’ve tried many brisket recipes and this has become a longtime favorite. The method comes from a Cooks Illustrated recipe that requires a few hours of unattended cooking, as well as advance preparation. After cooking, the brisket must stand overnight in the…

311

Streusel Topped Pumpkin Muffins

The streusel topping is especially good on these muffins. I often double the recipe and save some in the freezer to use later on Blueberry or Banana Muffins.

312

Old Fashioned Shepherd's Pie

This is great comfort food on a chilly winter night. Although just about any mild beer will work in this recipe, O’Doul’s non-alcoholic beer works very well.