From the category archives:

Desserts and Pastry

Sangria Glazed Pears & Honey Almond Cream From Grace-Marie’s Kitchen at Bristol Farms

Thumbnail image for Sangria Glazed Pears & Honey Almond Cream From Grace-Marie’s Kitchen at Bristol Farms November 6, 2011

In September I attended Grace-Marie’s Sizzlin’ Spanish Paella cooking class, which culminated with this Sangria Glazed Caramelized Pear & Honey Almond Cream dessert. I love to go to her classes because the food is so beautiful and I get to take marvelous photographs. It helps that my camera is a wizard, I realize. I am […]

5 comments Read the full article →

Orange Marmalade and Almond Crostate from The Mozza Cookbook

Thumbnail image for Orange Marmalade and Almond Crostate from The Mozza Cookbook October 18, 2011

The last time I was at my book store, I was so delighted to discover Nancy Silverton’s fabulous new creation, The Mozza Cookbook, was now on the shelf.  When I paged through it, I found that there were recipes for each of the dishes my friend Michele and I had eaten at Osteria Mozza a […]

7 comments Read the full article →

Maple Pecan Pie Bar Cookies

Thumbnail image for Maple Pecan Pie Bar Cookies September 11, 2011

2011 Holiday Season is upon us and it is time to start thinking about what desserts we are going to be serving at our feasts, buffets and cookie exchanges, and to give as gifts. That is why I love these cookies, because they can be make 3 days ahead and kept at room temperature. They […]

6 comments Read the full article →

Plum Kuchen…or Peach…or Pear

Thumbnail image for Plum Kuchen…or Peach…or Pear July 30, 2011

Cookies are nice. Cake is good. So is ice cream. But sometimes I want something really rich and intense, where only a small piece is enough to satisfy my craving. Well, this plum tart is the perfect antidote. A buttery crust, rich custard, intensely sweet fruit and crunchy brown sugar crumb topping. Oh yes. This […]

13 comments Read the full article →

Peanut Butter Cookies & the Gum in Hair Dilemma

Thumbnail image for Peanut Butter Cookies & the Gum in Hair Dilemma July 18, 2011

Ok, ok, I know everybody and their brother has a recipe for Peanut Butter Cookies on their blog, and they’re all pretty much the same recipe, but I want to have it here for myself. My go-to place, you know. Peanut Butter Cookies are one of the four cookie recipes I brought from my childhood, […]

7 comments Read the full article →

Black and White Checkerboard Cookies

Thumbnail image for Black and White Checkerboard Cookies July 10, 2011

  I have been thinking about making cookies for about a week, because I have been craving a sweet little treat and we had nothing dessert-like in the house. I didn’t feel like making your standard drop cookies either. I wanted to make something special, something different, intriguing and unusual. Something that would elicit a […]

30 comments Read the full article →

Blueberry Pudding Cake for My 4th of July BBQ

Thumbnail image for Blueberry Pudding Cake for My 4th of July BBQ July 5, 2011

I was so happy for the 4th of July to roll around, because we were having our first holiday feast in our new house. I actually cooked in my new kitchen  and our guests got to see the new place for the first time. It’s so much fun to give the grand tour. It was […]

17 comments Read the full article →

Strawberry Glazed Italian Ricotta Cheesecake from Grace-Marie’s Kitchen at Bristol Farms

Thumbnail image for Strawberry Glazed Italian Ricotta Cheesecake from Grace-Marie’s Kitchen at Bristol Farms April 12, 2011

The theme for my recent visit to Grace-Marie’s Kitchen Cooking School was Italian Cucina Sunday Supper, which I was looking forward to very much, because Grace-Marie grew up in an Italian American family and has been to Italy five times eating her way through the Northern half of the country, so she knows her Italian […]

9 comments Read the full article →

Mascarpone Tarts with Plum Sauce

Thumbnail image for Mascarpone Tarts with Plum Sauce February 4, 2011

From the time I learned to cook as a kid until I started culinary school, all my food was cooked and served family style, in big bowls and on big platters. No matter how many I was feeding, that is how it was done. That was how my Mom did it, and thus, so did […]

9 comments Read the full article →

Banana Cream Tartlets with Chocolate Gewgaws

Thumbnail image for Banana Cream Tartlets with Chocolate Gewgaws November 4, 2010

A few posts back we made these terrific little tartlet shells, and proceeded to fill them with lemon curd with little bee decorations. I had quite a few tart shells left over that I froze, so they were already made and waiting expectantly for their next incarnation.

12 comments Read the full article →

Linzer Cookies with Raspberry Jam

Thumbnail image for Linzer Cookies with Raspberry Jam October 25, 2010

Now that the Holidays are coming, I’m getting out all of my recipes that I only make at this time of year, such as these Linzer cookies. I love having these baking traditions that mean so much to me and my family. When they come for our Holiday gatherings, they can count on finding these […]

23 comments Read the full article →

Mini Lemon Tartlets & A Culinary School Banquet

Thumbnail image for Mini Lemon Tartlets & A Culinary School Banquet October 15, 2010

By the end of March 1995 I had completed eight out of ten quarter classes required to receive my Certificate in Professional Cooking and my Certificate for Pastry and Baking at UCLA. I had also completed the nine month 185 hour internship for Cooking at Campanile and another 150 hours internship at another restaurant for […]

15 comments Read the full article →

Mini Tartlet Shells, Food Art & an Optical Illusion

Thumbnail image for Mini Tartlet Shells, Food Art & an Optical Illusion October 3, 2010

Yesterday my plan was to make these Mini Tartlet Shells and photograph them. Next I was going to make the Lemon Curd and fill the tart shells. A couple of weeks ago I made the Little Buttercream Bees that were going to embellish their tops. Then I was going to photograph the finished tarts and […]

45 comments Read the full article →

Apple and Cheddar Bread & Autumn Harvest Brandy Pear Cake from Grace-Marie’s Kitchen

Thumbnail image for Apple and Cheddar Bread & Autumn Harvest Brandy Pear Cake from Grace-Marie’s Kitchen September 26, 2010

The theme for the Saturday Tea class this week at Grace-Marie’s Kitchen at Bristol Farms in Manhattan Beach was Back to School Autumn Tea. This week the menu was Autumn Harvest Brandy Pear Cake, Apple and Cheddar Bread,  Autumn Berry Tapioca Parfaits, Caramelized Onion and Brie Croissants, End of Summer Zucchini Soup and Smoked Salmon […]

15 comments Read the full article →

Autumn Berry Tapioca Parfaits & Caramelized Onion and Brie Croissants at Grace-Marie’s Kitchen

Thumbnail image for Autumn Berry Tapioca Parfaits & Caramelized Onion and Brie Croissants at Grace-Marie’s Kitchen September 23, 2010

The theme for the Saturday Afternoon Tea class this week at Grace-Marie’s Kitchen at Bristol Farms in Manhattan Beach was Back to School Autumn Tea. I had never been to one of her Saturday Teas before, but I was looking forward to it because she said this was the class where everyone laughed a lot. […]

7 comments Read the full article →

← Previous Entries

Next Entries →