1 lb. ham OR cooked sausages (such as Polish or smoked sausage) OR fresh sausage (such as breakfast sausage, bratwurst, Italian, or chorizo) For a vegetarian version, substitute 1 lbs. cremini or button mushrooms, halved or quartered if large 2T. unsalted butter 3 c. chopped onions, not supersweet 1 large or 2 small sweet red peppers, […]
Food & Drink
Posted inFood & Drink
A few of my favorite things
If you’re looking for gifts for the cooks on your holiday shopping list, here are a few suggestions. They range from inexpensive stocking stuffers to items a bit more substantial, but still moderately priced. All have become indispensible in my kitchen and are things I’ve given as gifts to my kids, relatives and friends. Kitchen […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Beyond cookies and candy for holiday sweets
I love cookies, and I’ll certainly be making and eating my fair share of them during the holiday season. But after awhile, the cookie onslaught starts seeming “same-old, same-old.” That’s why I like to vary things a bit – especially when I’m giving homemade sweet gifts. Here are four non-cookie sweet treats that are good […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Cinnamon raisin scones
Scones are the ideal home-baked breakfast bread: not only do they mix up in minutes, their baking time is short compared to yeast doughs. This recipe calls for raisins, but I often use other dried fruits such as cranberries, cherries or blueberries. Since scones are best fresh from the oven, consider giving bags of scone […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Limoncello crema
Limoncello is a traditional sweet lemon liqueur made in southern Italy, usually served as an after-dinner drink. There are a few commercial cream versions, but most contain only alcohol, sugar syrup and lemon peel. Limoncello is pricey, but inexpensive and surprisingly easy to make at home. Even the cream version below is a snap, and […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Cranberry orange granola
Who doesn’t love granola? This version fits the season, with its use of orange and cranberries. As with the scone mix, florists’ cellophane bags make ideal gift-giving containers for it. 1/2 c. vegetable oil, such as canola 1/2 c. honey The zest from 2 large oranges 4 c. old-fashioned rolled oats 2 c. raw wheat […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Lemon pecan poundcake
This unusual lemon pecan poundcake came from a distant aunt of my husband’s. It was a top secret recipe that she only reluctantly divulged after securing sworn promises never to reveal it to anyone outside the family. Enough time has gone by since she passed away years ago that I feel relatively sure that her […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Off the beaten shopping path in St. Louis
If you’re planning a St. Louis holiday shopping trip, why not check out some independently owned stores and get away from frenetic mall mobs for at least part of your trip? There are hundreds, from funky shops in University City’s Loop on Delmar Street, to antique stores on Cherokee, to pricey boutiques in Clayton – […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Traditional green bean casserole (made from scratch)
This recipe is adapted from New Orleans chef Donald Link’s cookbook, Real Cajun. Link’s three restaurants, Herbsaint, Cochon and Butcher are wildly popular – on a recent visit to Cochon, there was a crowd waiting to get in at 9 p.m. on a Monday. Some of the book’s recipes are from the restaurants, but most […]
Posted inFood & Drink
New takes on old holiday sides
They’ll appear on countless Thanksgiving and Christmas dinner tables throughout America, as they have for decades: green bean casserole made with canned green beans, canned cream of mushroom soup, and canned fried onions; and candied yams or sweet potatoes topped with marshmallows. Neither were part of my family’s holiday traditions, though. As regards the green […]
Posted inFood & Drink
Chipotle mashed sweet potatoes
Canned chipotles in adobo are available in many groceries. They’re great to have on hand, but I rarely use more than one or two at a time; I freeze the rest and dig them out as needed. Approximately 6 lbs. sweet potatoes, all about the same size. 1-2 canned chipotle chilis in adobo, or to […]
Posted inFood & Drink
A wedding cake to remember
Have you ever wondered why wedding cakes are so expensive? Try making one, and you’ll find out. I did. I made a few wedding cakes during my catering days, but they were for small affairs, usually no more than 25-40 people. I’m not a pastry chef, and have never taken a cake decorating class, but […]
