Date bars can be tastebud chameleons. As a simple sweet they can be dusted with powdered sugar and enjoyed as bar cookies. But my palate loves to modify them to be a salty-sweet partner with cheese. Dates, of course, are the ingredient backbone. Many supermarkets sell them already chopped, but lately when I’ve used these pre-chopped dates, they have been…
Holidays
Candy Box Chocolate Cake I’ve been writing about cooking, food trends and chefs for over three decades. Before that, I taught cooking classes, rounding up groups of culinary students to watch and listen as I prepared myriad concoctions. I conducted culinary tours to Europe and Asian long before culinary travel became “a thing,” and have written three cookbooks. Along the…
Fuyu persimmons are the tomato shaped variety that are a beautiful orange hue. Because they are not astringent, they can be eaten when apple-like firm, or when slightly softened. They are generally available late September through December. I love to add them to a ginger-enriched spinach salad. First, I create some ginger juice to create an irresistible edge to the…
Gnarled meringue goblins are sweet and crisp, with an initial crunch of a thick potato chip … But after a second or two in the mouth, that brittle texture melts, dissolving into diaphanous delight. The shapes are amusing. Piped from a pastry bag fitted with a plain 1/2-inch tip (or squeezed from the cut corner of a heavy plastic zipper-style…
These delicious brownies are designed to be delicious as well as fun to prepare. Peanut butter cups are set into the rich chocolate batter and serve, after baking, as rounded vampire faces. Whimsical Vampire Peanut Butter Cup Brownies Yield: 24 to 30Nonstick cooking spray and aluminum foil2 sticks (1 cup) unsalted butter, cut into several pieces if cold (or use…
This ever-so-slightly ghoulish sweet is designed to prepare with the kids. The pumpkin cake goes together very quickly, requiring only 3 ingredients. While it cools, make the cream cheese frosting, a topping that is so delicious you could spread it on an old boot, and it would probably be kinda’ delicious! Put on aprons and turn on some daunting classical…
Quirky Halloween ghosts tickle me, especially if they are piped out with Seven-Minute Frosting and adorned with googly eyes. But when it comes to Halloween history, in early days, folks weren’t focusing on goblins made with marshmallow-like frosting. No, those ghosts where taken more seriously and were the focus of a Samhain, an ancient Celtic festival in which revelers lit…
Make or buy a pumpkin pie if you must, but these layered creamy-crispy squares will most-likely be the pumpkin stars. Make Ahead: Can be prepared 2 days in advance and refrigerated. Happy Holidays to all the cooks and all their helpers. Pumpkin Cheesecake Crumble SquaresYield: 20-24 squaresCrust and Streusel:1 cup unbleached all-purpose flour3/4 cup golden brown sugar1/2 teaspoon salt1/2 cup…