Coconut Lemon Bars

July 11, 2013January 25, 2014 by Jessica | 7 Comments

I love lemon desserts! They’re tangy and sweet at the same time, and not too rich, like a piece of flourless chocolate cake would be. Plus, every time we go to the fruit store, my son picks up a lemon and just HAS to buy it. This means we have a lot of lemons in the house. So when I was racking my brains for a great summer dessert, of course something with lemons came to mind. Of course, lemon meringue pie was possible, but I wanted something that travels well. While flipping through the “bar cookies and brownies” section of my Bon Appetit Desserts book, I came across this recipe, and was happy to see I had all the ingredients to make the dessert! Decision made. Continue reading …

Butterscotch Pie

July 9, 2013 by Jessica | 2 Comments

This is one of the BEST desserts we have ever made. And stephanie and I make a ton of desserts. Let’s just say at a holiday table with about 10 desserts, this one finished. The pictures are from two different times we baked the pie. So that’s why you’ll see two different pie plates and two different kitchens. Continue reading …

Asparagus Custard Tart

April 29, 2013 by Jessica | 16 Comments

Spring is here! And spring means asparagus is in season. No more boring roasted or grilled asparagus, we’re going gourmet here. Now, gourmet doesn’t mean hard. Actually, while there are a few steps in this recipe (you should read it over once before actually attempting it – you’ll need to do a bit of juggling), it’s quite easy! and impressive looking. Feel free to use store-bought pie crust or even puff pastry, as in the original recipe. Continue reading …

Sephardic Charoset

March 24, 2013 by Stephanie | 7 Comments

You’re probably not doing much relaxing this Sunday, it’s Passover prep season! That’s right, since tomorrow’s the first seder, you’re probably busy in your hametz-free kitchen, cooking away. Is your local grocery store all out of charoset? Or are you feeling extra eager this holiday season? Maybe you want to make your own.

Granola

January 7, 2013 by Stephanie | 7 Comments

Granola is so expensive when you buy it at the supermarket. It’s mostly oats, which are so cheap! And I get that nuts are expensive, so when I make it, I usually use whatever is hanging out in my freezer. This time, I still had lots of pepitas from my pumpkin biscotti leftover, so I used those to make this nut-free granola, but feel free to use pecans, walnuts or whatever you like. You can even add in some flax seed or wheat germ, but I think this is healthy enough as it is. And you can really use any fruit you like or have, dates and apricots are just some of my favorites. Dried cherries would work great, too. Or even raisins…you get the point. Continue reading …

Kale and Quinoa Pilaf

December 27, 2012 by Stephanie | 15 Comments

Kale and quinoa? You might think this dish is too healthy to taste any good, but you’d be wrong. If you’re trying to eat, this is a good start. But even if you’re not, this is a great dinner! It’s quick to cook up, dirties exactly one pot and the serving bowl, you can make it ahead of time and it’s tasty, too! What more can you ask for in a meal? Continue reading …

Beignets + Chanukah Party + a Giveaway

December 10, 2012 by Stephanie | 58 Comments

Happy Hanukkah! You probably thought we were going to post a recipe for sufganiyot, but nope. We’ve made donuts for Hanukkah in the past, but maybe next year we’ll stuff them with hot jelly. This year, we’re going France/New Orleans-style.

Oven Risotto

December 6, 2012 by Jessica | 10 Comments

People think that risotto is hard to make. And it is, but only if you use one of those recipes that has you standing over the stove mixing the wine and chicken stock and adding ladlefuls each time the liquid is absorbed. One of my favorite people ever, Ina Garten, just makes her risotto in the oven. So easy! Especially if you have homemade vegetable broth in the freezer, like I always do.

Dinner Rolls

November 27, 2012 by Jessica | 6 Comments

This is one of the most beautiful dishes I’ve ever made. And they were really easy! I know a lot of people are scared of yeasted breads, but this one is so impressive when served to guests, especially if you’re making a dinner party, that you should really just try.

Plus, I adapted this hand-kneading recipe to use with a mixer so there’s hardly anything you need to do. I also made it pareve, since I ate it with a meaty stew. I’m sure it would be even more amazing with some melted butter on top, though I love the flavor of a good olive oil. Or, you can dress it up with some herbed oil.

Double Pumpkin Biscotti

November 21, 2012 by Stephanie | 7 Comments

Can you believe tomorrow is already Thanksgiving!? It snuck up on me really quickly this year. Though I guess Christmas is already in the air here in New York, and on TV where I can’t avoid holiday shopping commercials.

We already shared a seasonally-appropriate meat main dish and a hearty fall vegetable with you this week, here’s a nice, light dessert to go with it.

Anyway, when Oh! Nuts asked if they could send me some dried fruits, nuts or seeds, I figured it was the perfect opportunity to make some Thanksgiving desserts. Thanksgiving = pumpkin, so I requested a pound of shelled pepitas (aka pumpkin seeds) and decided to bake some biscotti. Sometimes, especially after a day of eating heavy, starchy, meaty foods, it’s nice to have a light, crisp dessert.