Shirley’s Valentine Tart It’s a family tradition: on Valentine’s day, I make a chocolate dessert and we all throw dietary caution to the wind. This year I dreamed up a new creation adapted from various recipes I’ve used over the years. Can’t go too far wrong with warm chocolate, pecans and ice cream. Here it […]
recipes
etymology, recipes, Travel, Uncategorized 0 comments
New Years Resolution: Make the DayBreak Milk Punch for all my favorite people.
A Cajun fishing guide served me the perfect dessert drink. Try it for New Year’s. Note: this is not the traditional bourbon or brandy version offered in New Orleans restaurants. You do need one special ingredient, “Praline” liqueur, a concoction with a pecan flavor. It’s worth a trip to Spec’s. For each serving: Mix all […]
recipes, Travel, Uncategorized 2 comments
Very Parisian Salad
Every café in Paris served a version of the irresistible “salade avec chevre chaud.” There are fancier versions with pastry crusts, and other additions, a few more veggies, or crispy lardons of smoked pork, or toasted almonds, but the basic version is delicious and simple to make at home. You just need to pay a […]
Luscious – Apricot Tart
Counting down the days to a Paris adventure, tonight we celebrate with a bottle of champagne and a can’t fail tart, adapted from a pastry recipe given to me by B.J. Osterloh. The Pastry: 1 ¼ c. flour 1/8 tsp salt, omit if using salted butter 2T sugar 1 stick butter, cut in eight pieces […]
recipes, Uncategorized 2 comments
The Fictional Chef Serves Susanna’s Bananas
Susanna, my protagonist, has spent some time in de Islands, where dinner is served on the veranda with a balmy breeze and a dessert that makes the guests want to lick the bowl. You can make this recipe for any number of diners. Ingredients per customer: ½ banana, sliced lengthwise, then in half (in the […]
Wish Fulfillment
Fictional characters are a great outlet for fantasies. In my novel the main character’s best friend, Alexa, owns a thriving bistro in Kemah, Texas. What does she do with Gulf Coast seafood? She makes my favorite recipe for Cioppino. Cioppino – Seafood Stew Serves four. Make this Mediterranean style soup base in advance when you […]