“Cheater” Sourdough Bread & Baking in a Wood-Fired Oven
The chance to bake sourdough bread in a 185-year-old, wood-fired brick oven is a baker’s dream. Even if you never get such an opportunity, I have some bread-baking tips that …
Creme Brulee Shortbread
Creme Brulee Shortbread – Buttery Shortbread topped with a crispy, crackly caramelized topping. I love to bake because I love to share goodies from my kitchen. It would be no fun to bake …
Apricot Frangipane Tartelettes & Asti-Pair Dessert & Wine
Apricot Frangipane Tartelettes are the perfect pairing with sparkling wine. In the words of the singular Julia Child, “Wine is part of the food chain…there’s not anything evil about it. It’s …
Dark Chocolate Ganache – An Essential Recipe
One perfect bite – One recipe of Dark Chocolate Ganache and the truffle-possibilities are endless. I love chocolate. I don’t necessarily love all chocolate desserts. I’m not one of those …
Rhubarb Pie
Old-fashioned Rhubarb Pie just might be my favorite fruit pie of all. I love the tart-sweet flavor and beautiful pink color of pure rhubarb pie filling. In my “Perfect Pie …
Is good baking a talent, a skill, or just a matter of following a recipe?
A number of years ago I was interviewing for a job at a critically acclaimed restaurant. The restaurant didn’t have a pastry chef (as many don’t, I’m sorry to …