From Scratch

This delicious cake is from Nigella Lawson’s Feast and I’ll be making it again for St. Patrick’s Day, the fourth year in a row. The recipe was in the The New York Times in late 2004 and it was such a hit — people inhaled it — I bought the book.
With its chocolate base and […]

When this landed in my inbox last week from Nestle, I knew I had to make it for Valentine’s Day, but my dilemma was how to make it in advance, to share here, and show the layers without cutting into it. The solution was to make it in a springform pan instead of a square […]

Chocolate truffles are always a perfect treat, and they’re especially appropriate for celebratory days, whether it’s a birthday, a holiday or Valentine’s Day. There are two ways to make them: the easy way and the time-consuming way. If you think I’m going for the latter, then you’re probably a first-time reader here.
This truffle is a […]

Even though I drink hot coffee year-round, hot chocolate is, for me, a seasonal drink and it’s one of the joys of winter. I’ve made it for years with Mexican chocolate but with dark chocolate so easy to find these days — and heart-healthy — I decided to create a new version that would be […]

The finest peppermint bark I’ve ever had is a hand-tempered, top-quality-chocolate and peppermint confection at $24 per pound. I don’t know about you, but that kind of money for candy doesn’t sashay into my life every day, so we can mimic the festive treat for a fraction of the cost and time involved with only a few limitations.
First, […]

If you’ve never worked with phyllo dough, just take a deep breath and do it. This festive and different dessert, with dark chocolate and neufchâtel as well as cranberries, is worth trying when you’d like to serve something special.
Like many people, I was intimidated by phyllo dough, especially when every cookbook exhorts us to work […]

Fudgy or cakey? That’s always the question of preference about this quintessential American treat, the brownie. Of course, some people are happy with them either way.
These are fudgy and couldn’t be faster or easier. They’re also thin, baked in an oblong pan instead of the usual square, which is ideal because they’re rich. A small […]

   
If you use Baker’s brand White Chocolate Baking Squares, check the package. Kraft has issued a recall in the US and Canada because of possible salmonella contamination. The chocolate squares have slightly different names and packaging in each country.
The recalled product in the US carries four “best by” dates:

31 MAR 2008 XCZ
01 APR 2008 […]

Just as some people await the sight of the first robin as a harbinger of spring, I anticipate the first bags of wonderful cranberries as a sign autumn has arrived. And it has. It’s like a holiday here.
Cranberries are one of my favorite foods. They’re tart, healthful, low in calories; frankly, with all that good […]

I’ve been asked to provide something for a bake sale and I’ve finally learned that, in New Hampshire at least, that does not mean profiteroles, even if they are made from scratch. My profiterole misfire served only to reinforce my local identity as a flatlander, albeit a well-meaning  one.
Bar cookies always sell well and I […]

Well, yippee. It’s snowing again. I don’t mean flurries, but inch after stinkin’ inch of the heavy, wet stuff aptly called “heart attack snow” by the locals. This, on the heels of a fierce head cold that required so many tissues my nose still looks like Rudolph’s. 
What better way to cheer myself up than to head […]

I rarely need a reason to eat chocolate, but I’ve discovered it’s American Chocolate Week, so now I have a good excuse. This is one of my favorite chocolate cakes. It’s delicious and very light, thanks to cake flour. The whipped cream frosting is what makes it special — don’t be tempted to leave […]