Everyone has an opinion about fruitcake. I’m in the “don’t care for it” camp. My version of fruitcake is not too sweet and not too fruity. I make this every year. “Better Than Fruitcake” Holiday Cake AKA Almond Cake with Rum, Currants and Chocolate For this recipe you’ll need 1/2 cup dried currants 1/2 cup […]
This is my favorite potato salad recipe. Don’t let the combination of pickle juice and mayo scare you, it’s actually quite good. For this recipe you’ll need: 3 pounds Yukon Gold potatoes 2 large sour dill pickles, chopped 1/2 cup juice from the pickle jar 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon pepper Put […]
A little sour, a little sweet, and a lot of whiskey. What’s not to like? For this recipe you’ll need: 2 ounces bourbon or rye whiskey (use something that’s good quality, but you don’t need to break out your most expensive bottle for this cocktail) 1/2 ounce lemon juice 1 teaspoon sugar ice 1 candied […]
I’ve been singing this song all day. I’m working on a new red & white quilt. This is my first attempt at designing an applique quilt so I have my fingers crossed that it will turn out OK! I’m entering this design into a Red & White Quilt Design Challenge on SewCalGal. Check out the […]
Gin and tonics are my favorite summer cocktail. The key to a good G & T is to use good quality tonic. The supermarket brands are blah and flat tonic is frankly gross. I suggest buying your tonic in small bottles and drinking it the same day you open it. The gin, on the other […]
I’ve stopped buying curry powders and pastes. I got tired of discovering 5-year-old half-used packages of curry paste at the back of my fridge. It’s pretty easy to make your own and (bonus for wimps like me) you can control the heat level. This recipe is not exactly a Thai red curry but it contains […]
Sometimes the classics are the best! The key to a great vodka martini is to make it really cold. Decent quality vodka helps too but you don’t have to break the bank. If you store your vodka in the freezer you can make a cold martini in seconds. A frosted glass is even better. For […]
You have to really like gin to like a gin martini. Cheap gin is terrible so don’t bother with this cocktail if you don’t want to splurge on the good stuff. For this recipe you’ll need: a splash of dry vermouth 2 ounces cold gin lemon peel or martini olives for garnish Pour a splash […]
Everyone has their own recipe for boiling eggs. This is mine borrowed from Cook’s Illustrated. Bring about 2″ of water to a rolling boil. Add eggs directly from the fridge. Cook for 6 1/2 minutes with the lid on. Remove from heat and run under cold water until the eggs are cool enough to handle. […]
These brownies are basically amazing. Plan ahead because you really do need to let them cool for a few hours before cutting them into squares. This is my go-to recipe when I need to bring a dessert somewhere new. Brownies are easy to serve and eat, and everyone loves them. They let people know what […]