In the spirit of simplicity, choose a few special items to make and get your ingredients squirreled away in advance. I’ll share some hard-earned wisdom: do less.

browse the recipes:

Cocoa Pecan Truffles

Cocoa Pecan Truffles

A delicious and nutritious treat for everyday and holidays. Keep a few in the fridge and freeze...

Berry Crisp Granola

Berry Crisp Granola

I made this granola for my son who is going through some GI issues and needs to follow a low...

Canelés de Bordeaux

Canelés de Bordeaux

I've never made canelés until recently. Beeswaxing individual, copper molds, preferably antique,...

Baked Spiced Pears

Baked Spiced Pears

As with most of my recipes, consider this a starting point and have fun making it your own. The...

Eggnog, Small Batch

Eggnog, Small Batch

Did you know you can make eggnog? All you need is a pint of cream, a couple fresh eggs, sugar,...

X Cookies

X Cookies

One of my favorite and most used baking books is Baking with Julia. I grew up watching Julia Child...

Snowball Cookies

Snowball Cookies

Butter, toasted pecans, and just a touch of powdered sugar make for the best snowball cookies....

Brothy Clam Chowder

Brothy Clam Chowder

Clam Chowder cooks quickly and is something you can whip up on a moment's notice if you have a few...

Panna Cotta

Panna Cotta

Panna cotta is a dessert made with lightly sweetened cream that is delicious with fresh berries,...

Fior di Latte Gelato

Fior di Latte Gelato

Campione got me going on this fior di latte/fleur de lait topic. They serve it two ways for...

Artichoke Nibbles

Artichoke Nibbles

My Mom made a lot of recipes from Sunset magazine in the 1970's and these Artichoke Nibbles are...

Mignonette for Oysters

Mignonette for Oysters

Most of my oyster memories are midday affairs with either a waterfront view or heaping mounds of...

Salted Almonds

Salted Almonds

The best results for homemade salted almonds come from a hot brine and a hot oven. I've adapted...

Crab Cakes

Crab Cakes

  I'm not going to lie. These babies are a project. On the upside, make them ahead (night...

Cocoa Buckwheat Granola

Chocolate for breakfast? Sure! Maximize nutrition with this cocoa buckwheat granola, adapted from...

Candied Kumquats

Candied Kumquats

"Be sure and eat the skin."   I shot my then boyfriend, Christopher, a skeptical look, but...

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Mashed Sweet Potatoes

Mashed sweet potatoes are a must on our Thanksgiving table. When I made these for a cooking class...

Potato Gratin

Potato Gratin

Make this the next time you bake a ham or throw a nice piece of meat on the grill.  Potatoes and...

House Granola

House Granola

There are many types of granola, but this is my go-to recipe. The honey is key for making clusters...

Modified Memphis Coleslaw

Modified Memphis Coleslaw

This is the coleslaw you want for pulled pork. My modified Memphis-style slaw is creamy, sweet and...

Peppermint Stick Ice Cream

Peppermint Stick Ice Cream

What kind of birthday cake do you want, Jane? "Cream puffs!" Aiming to satisfy, and wanting to try...

Overnight Meringues

Overnight Meringues

These meringues are simple to mix and bake overnight while you sleep, like magic! Meringues are...

Checkerboard Shortbread

Checkerboard Shortbread

When my brother lived in Seattle, I frequented Café Besalu on every trip. Many of their...

Gingerbread House

  We just completed the third annual gingerbread house making project at our house. I won't...

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