Three Thanksgivings, three favorite dishes

Sweet Potato Vichyssoise

THANKSGIVING IS OUR FAVORITE HOLIDAY, because it’s honestly just about delicious food. So when our Milwaukee daughter and her boyfriend couldn’t make it to our Thanksgiving dinner in Chicago, we all decided to do another one in Milwaukee. Continue reading “Three Thanksgivings, three favorite dishes”

Taking the daunting out of duck: tips and three recipes make cooking this delicious bird easy

Red Wine-braised Duck Legs

DUCK. SO ELEGANT AND, TO MANY HOME COOKS, SO DAUNTING. It has a definite wow power when you serve it to guests, but unfortunately, many of us think it’s harder than it really is to get right. Here are some tips for doing duck right. Continue reading “Taking the daunting out of duck: tips and three recipes make cooking this delicious bird easy”

Belgian Chicken with Juniper Berries offers a lighter take on cold weather fare

Juniper berries and genever (or regular gin) give simple pan-roasted chicken a sharp, clean flavor.

Belgian Chicken with Juniper Berries

NOW WELL INTO FALL, WE’RE LEANING INTO HEARTY COOKING. Soups and stews and roasts are sounding good. Pots of chili. Meat or chicken braised in wine or beer or something stronger. Belgian Chicken with Juniper Berries checks all those boxes, but the juniper berries and gin give it a sharp, clean flavor. Continue reading “Belgian Chicken with Juniper Berries offers a lighter take on cold weather fare”

Savory, a little sweet, all sublime: Chicken with Olives and Apricots

Weeknight-quick braised chicken thighs with green olives and dried apricots is show offy enough for weekend dinners. Recipe below.

Chicken with Olives and Apricots

HAVING COME LATE TO EATING OLIVES, I feel like I’m always playing catch up, discovering something new. The newest-to-me find is Castelvetrano olives, from southwestern Sicily. These prized green olives are mild, buttery and not overly salty, with a nice meaty texture. In a word, sublime. Continue reading “Savory, a little sweet, all sublime: Chicken with Olives and Apricots”

Two continents, one deliciously warming dish: Portuguese-style Beef Stew

Beef stew meat, Portuguese chouriço, bell peppers, paprika and potatoes drive the comforting flavor of this hearty stew.

Portuguese-style Beef Stew

IT SNOWED HALLOWEEN MORNING. The water in the back porch birdbath froze. Okay, so the snow didn’t stick around, and plugging in the birdbath—it’s heated—got it ready for the birds’ drinking and bathing needs again. But still, snow in October. That got us thinking about warm, hearty, meaty stews. Continue reading “Two continents, one deliciously warming dish: Portuguese-style Beef Stew”

’Tis the season for Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

Whoopie pies go seasonal, with pumpkin cookies and two different cream cheese fillings—lemon and maple nutmeg.

Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

PUMPKIN FLAVOR IS EVERYWHERE RIGHT NOW. Some car care places are even playfully advertising that “Pumpkin Spice Oil Changes Are Back!” My personal favorite pumpkin-flavored seasonal thing is, well, pumpkin pie. In fact, it’s what I choose instead of birthday cake. But Marion’s pumpkin whoopie pies are a delightful close second. Continue reading “’Tis the season for Pumpkin Whoopie Pies”

Buttery rich, elegantly light: Earl Grey Lavender Shortbread Cookies

Earl Grey tea and culinary lavender give butter-rich shortbread cookies an elegantly subtle floral/lemony lightness. Recipe below.

Earl Grey Lavender Shortbread Cookies

AFTER A WEEK ON THE ROAD, WE WERE BACK HOME. In our house, in our familiar kitchen. Doing our familiar things. And suddenly, we were in the mood to bake—something simple and cozy. These shortbread cookies were exactly that. Continue reading “Buttery rich, elegantly light: Earl Grey Lavender Shortbread Cookies”

Beautifully rustic, beautifully easy: three galette recipes

Blueberry Peach Galette

GALETTES ARE PIES’ LESS FUSSY COUSINS, with the filling simply piled in the middle of an unbaked, rolled out crust and the edges of said crust folded up and crimped around it. Imperfections aren’t just allowed—they’re part of the rustic beauty. Continue reading “Beautifully rustic, beautifully easy: three galette recipes”

If Detroit-style Pizza won’t come to you, here’s how to make it

A Detroit favorite, this pan-baked pizza is enjoying a very long national moment pretty much everywhere.

Detroit-style Pizza

DETROIT-STYLE PIZZA. Thick, square cut, chewy, crunchy—and increasingly, ubiquitous. Two years ago, in fact, Food & Wine covered the trend in an article entitled “How Detroit-Style Pizza Took Over America.” Continue reading “If Detroit-style Pizza won’t come to you, here’s how to make it”