Tag: Dessert

Friday Shout-Out: Nutella

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This week’s Friday Shout-Out is all about Nutella! I remember my first taste of Nutella. When I was 16 I visited France with a friend and stayed with her grandmother in Paris. We spent our days wandering the streets and sitting in cafes, trying very hard to look chic and Parisian. We ate a lot of crepes, many with Nutella. I was immediately hooked on the sultry, creamy, sweet hazelnut spread. But although I always have a jar handy I don’t put it to enough good use. Luckily this week I noticed a bunch of enticing Nutella recipes that are just the kick in the butt inspiration I needed. Continue reading “Friday Shout-Out: Nutella” →

Chocolate-Cherry Babka

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When my editor at the Jew and the Carrot (the food blog of the Jewish Daily Forward) asked me if I’d be interested in writing an article about babka, there was only one answer – YES. Babka, for those who have been sadly deprived, is a yeasty bread that is rolled around a filling (typically cinnamon or chocolate), stuffed in a loaf pan, and baked. It’s decadent and yet as appropriate for breakfast as for dessert. Yet somehow it seemed beyond my reach to make it at home. And in New York, when you have Zabar’s why bother? I was thrilled to learn it’s incredibly easy to prepare. Even better, most recipes make two to three loaves, which you can freeze and enjoy later. Continue reading “Chocolate-Cherry Babka” →

Friday Shout-Out: Peaches, and the (Unofficial) End of Summer

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Although fall doesn’t officially start in the Northern hemisphere until September 23 this year, this weekend – Labor Day weekend – marks the de facto end of summer. It used to mean nervous anticipation, back to school outfits (how many hours did we all spend picking out that first day ensemble?!), clean notebooks and sharpened pencils. Continue reading “Friday Shout-Out: Peaches, and the (Unofficial) End of Summer” →

Guest Post: The Secret of the Hungarian “Surprise” Cake

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When Jayne from the lovely food blog Chocolate and Figs approached me about doing a guest post, I didn’t need much time to consider. Her blog is stunning, her recipes mouth-watering, and her photos simply sensational (seriously, go check it out right now!). Since I tend to lean towards the savory, a guest dessert post was an enticing option. And we have a lot in common: she spent a number of years living in Israel and is originally from Hungary. Having recently been to Budapest to reconnect with my own Hungarian roots, I was particularly thrilled when Jayne said she wanted to do a special dessert from there. And so, for so many reasons I am honored to have Jayne leading the way with my very first guest post! I learned a lot from reading her post on Rakott Palacsinta and I hope you enjoy as much as I did.
 Continue reading “Guest Post: The Secret of the Hungarian “Surprise” Cake” →

Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

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Who doesn’t love lemon poppy seed muffins? I do, but I’ve never thought to make them. The inspiration for these came from a new place. This is my first month participating in something called the Secret Recipe Club. It’s organized by Amanda over at Amanda’s Cookin’, and each month participants are assigned another member’s blog to make a recipe from. It’s a fun chance to check out new blogs and make new recipes. I was assigned to Connor’s Cooking (be sure to visit her great site!) and allowed to pick any recipe I wanted to make. Although there are lots of great recipes, this one called out to me. Continue reading “Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins” →

Mulberry and Sour Cherry Pie

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Sour cherry pie is one of my all time favorites. Growing up there was a bakery across the street called Taylor’s that always had sour cherry pie with a crumble topping in the window. I still remember the taste, how revelatory it was, and how I never wanted to stop eating it. I’m not a big baker, but I’ve gotten pretty good at mixed berry pie that I make a few times each summer, usually in the Berkshires. Then last July I saw sour cherries at the farmer’s market and ventured into new territory, with the help of this recipe that our friend Rhonda cut out for me from the New York Times. I skipped most of the steps (no thank you to instant tapioca) but it came out insanely good. Continue reading “Mulberry and Sour Cherry Pie” →

Poached Pears, An Elegant Treat

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I’ve struggled with my oven in Israel. It’s electric, it’s in Celsius, but more than anything it’s uneven. A cake comes out perfectly cooked on the outside, and completely raw in the middle. I can produce good banana bread, and I’ve even managed to pump out a decent cake, but for the most part my oven is unreliable. So I’ve been trying to expand my dessert repertoire beyond baked goods. Continue reading “Poached Pears, An Elegant Treat” →

Over-Ripe Banana Heaven

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Where do bananas go when they become overly ripe? To over-ripe banana heaven, aka banana bread. Everyone needs a good banana bread recipe. Inevitably, a few bananas in that bunch you just bought are going to turn brown. No matter how much you love bananas, it seems to be a fact of life. I actually bought two more specifically for making banana bread. Lucky for me my local grocery store specializes in over-ripe bananas. Continue reading “Over-Ripe Banana Heaven” →