Oh mince! I had forgotten about those beets! I had to find something to do with them, n’est-ce pas ? Nothing hurts me more than tossing food because I forget about it. I could have done something I knew well how to, but I did not feel like making neither a soup nor a salad , although these sounded both good too. I was in fact looking forward to something new to use my bunch of soon-to-fade beets . So when P. walked into the kitchen on Saturday morning to tell me I take that we stay here this weekend, don’t we? , he gave me a brilliant idea. Inspiring! Of course, we were staying in! There was really little chance that anything more exciting and adventurous could happen with my turned-black foot still bothering me — and that’s a mild way to put it as I have never had such a pitch black bruise. Within a few days, I’ve mastered the hopping technique like a pro and I can even cover distances in the house — from stove to couch — quite fast. I think I even like it. “ Gnocchi ?  read more »

I know, I know. WORST. BLOGGER. EVER. But you have to understand, since my last post, I've been slowly going a bit insane. I finished renovating my house. I sold my house. I went to Cuba. I bought another house. I got a new job. and I'm having a GIRL! So yeah, it's been a little busy!  read more »

Happy Independence Day!! I don't know about you, but our 4th has been quiet and uneventful. Dave and I slept in, watched some tennis, and went for a walk. Weather permitting, we'll go check out the local fireworks after dinner - and if not, we're off to the movies! Now, I had been hoping to share our dinner with you today, but on their current schedule, my 7-hour maple baked beans won't be ready until next Tuesday... so I thought I would share this lovely dessert with you instead!  read more »

Here we are, the sun is shining, the birds are singing, and it's Tuesday, and yet another Tuesdays With Dorie Challenge day!!! One of my most favourite days of the week, and the day I, along with umpteen other dedicated bakers, get to show you all what I have done with this week's Dorie challenge. We're some 200 plus strong now, and growing at an alarming rate, and we're all baking and eating our way through the most delicious baking book ever written, Baking, From my home to yours, by the best selling cookery book author, Dorie Greenspan. This week's challenge, Peanut Butter Torte on pages 282-283, as chosen by Elizabeth of Ugg Smell Food . I could hardly wait to get stuck in to this one for several reasons, the main one being I love peanut butter in any way, shape or form. Life just wouldn't be worth living if there was not a big jar of Skippy in the cupboard, or two or three! It looked to be a fairly easy recipe to execute and I had all the ingredients to make it without sending Todd to the store. (What it is about men and grocery stores?????  read more »

Again, I should REALLY be in bed. My preggo butt will be T-I-R-E-D tomorrow.

Especially considering I'm in a new job and should really be trying my utmost to impress all and sundry.

But I can't sleep without sharing this cake.

So here it is....from the Best of the Best of Bridge, this is what I craved. I was all set to make a much healthier dessert (a very good one!) from Self magazine. It's a lovely apple caramel strudel in phyllo, done with a creamy caramel sauce. As long as you eschew the cooking spray for butter, it's a GREAT dessert.

But then I saw this one. And it was like the helpless moth, fluttering blindly, yet oh so lovingly, toward the flame.  read more »

Franois Payard's Chocolate Meringue Tarts in miniature; photo courtesy of Deep Media. When I was little, I took piano lessons to little success. Even though I could manage to replicate notes on the page, I never had the 'sense' for the keys that makes one feel in ownership of the music. Nonetheless, I would spend the requisite time practicing on the keyboard at home, repeating the disjointed notes over and over until I hoped I had mastered them. It was during these practices that my father would sometimes wander into the room and take over the keys; though wholly self-taught, he had such an ear for music that he could easily reproduce my melodies in their entirety.  read more »

I have had a fascination for anything sweet, and especially cakes right from when I was a kid! And I had this extra-special affection for swiss rolls, those colorful, spiral cakes that tasted like heaven, and even with the minimal frosting and decoration, they always attracted the attention of dessert-lovers, including me!!  read more »

Barefoot Contessa Back to Basics with Ina Garten Thanksgiving Countdown Herb-Roasted Turkey Breast Homemade Gravy Sausage and Herb Stuffing Celery Root and Apple Puree The Food Network is doing a much better job than I am at getting organized for Thanksgiving. There have been slews of Thanksgiving shows with lots of turkey tips. Here are some of the T-Day shows that have been on: Sunny made a turkey breast. The Neelys smoked a turkey and served it with barbecue sauce. Giada is cooking Los Angeles style. Does that mean she cooks in her bikini while sipping cucumber infused water and nibbling on some green recycled appetizer?  read more »