March was crazy busy for me so I didn't participate in the Mastery Challenge (jellies & shrubs). This month I decided to combine the April challenge, quick pickles, with Easter, inspired by an article on Food52.com. What intrigued me most wasn't the pickle itself...
Becoming a Dumpling Ninja This year as a birthday gift my friends arranged for a cooking class, shopping trip, and dim sum brunch at Myers + Chang. What a gift! My friends obviously know me well. It was one of the coldest days this season and ordinarily I'd spend the...
Since my study abroad in London many, many years ago I've loved afternoon tea. I've hosted a few teas over the years and have learned to make things easier on myself by buying pastries from a bakery. But I have a small repertoire of sandwiches that I make, not only...
This delightful tea sandwich is one of my absolute favorites. It comes from The Barefoot Contessa Cookbook and features a homemade herb butter that melds perfectly with the smoked salmon. Some variation of this sandwich is often featured on an afternoon tea menu but...
A turkey sandwich sounds like a boring lunch that you grab on the go. This sandwich is anything but and features smoked turkey, a homemade scallion cream cheese, and a little surprise of a whole fresh basil leaf (or two). It is so simple to make, I've taken it for...
Alice's Tea Cup is a whimsical eatery in New York City. The décor and atmosphere are inspired by Alice in Wonderland. It's a lovely place to spend time with a friend, catching up, and enjoying a delicious meal. This is one of my favorite tea sandwiches, simple as it...
I recently took a class at the Boston Center for Adult Education taught by Tony Maws, chef/owner of my favorite restaurant, Craigie on Main. Known for his nose-to-tail cooking and making use of every part of an animal, this class allowed us to work with foods that...
Food in Jars Mastery Challenge #2: Salt Preserving This month's assignment for the Food in Jars Mastery Challenge was Salt Preserving. I admit that before the assignment came out I was apprehensive. I thought we would be curing meats or something that sounds iffy if...
With my weekday schedule I rarely have the time or energy to cook when I get home. I prefer to get my cooking done on the weekend and reheat leftovers throughout the week. However, I have a few recipes that take almost no time to prepare and this rice cooker chicken...
I was first introduced to Marisa McClellan and her blog Food in Jars several years ago. A friend learned of my interest in making jam and sent me Marisa's recipe for blueberry jam from her first book. And from that point I was hooked. Her cookbooks and blog make...
Updated: February 2, 2019 In a previous post I shared a recipe for chocolate haupia pie for a crowd. This weekend I was invited to a dinner and offered to bring dessert. Because my host always asks for this particular dessert, I decided to see what I could...
Unlike most of my family I'm indifferent to mochi. If it's there I'll eat it, if not, I don't miss it. When I come home to Hawaii I don't feel the need to seek out treats from different family-owned mochi shops to take back to the mainland with me. However, one type...