By Alison Boyd-Savage I love to eat a lot of fish year-round. In the warmer seasons I welcome the abundance of the local catch, eagerly awaiting each new arrival, from the first flounder of April to the striped bass that closes out the season in fall. For sure, our local winter oysters are the best, […]
Author: Alison Boyd
Winter’s Freeze Calls For Skillet Pizza
If you are the owner of a well-seasoned cast iron skillet, you have the most important tool to make your own gourmet pizza in minutes with minimum fuss. Who does not love the delicious, slightly blackened crusts produced by a wood burning oven and dream of creating them at home? Most domestic ovens are not […]
Meringues for Giving
The holidays are looking different this year. Many of us will not be gathering for our traditional celebrations but staying safe with low-key festivity. What will not change for many is the preparation and enjoyment of some of the special foods that mark this time of year. While we may not be able to gather […]
A Winter’s Picnic
In October and November, my porch steps do double duty as an outdoor larder. Pots of hardy mums and late blooming geraniums form the backdrop for an array of pumpkins of all shapes and hues. I might add a gaudy Jack O’ Lantern or two for color, but the prime real estate is reserved for […]
October Spice is Not All About Pumpkins
The spiciness of a dish is commonly judged to be the amount of palate-searing, eye watering pain inflicted by ingesting certain members of the chili family. If you are a fan of the “hotter is better” crowd, you can reference the Scoville chart, a points system that rates the pungency of every thing from the […]
Blackberry Jam Cake with Blackberry Jam Compote
This simple cake is quick to make and is enriched with the addition of almond flour and blackberry jam. Robust blackberries react well to a few minutes simmering with sugar and the addition of a little blackberry or raspberry liqueur. The compote keeps for several days in the fridge and is delicious over ice cream […]
The Big Fish of Autumn
September is my favorite month on the North Fork. The days are still warm and relatively long, and it is prime season for catching and eating fish. I must admit my sportfishing is limited to dropping a pole in the bay and waiting for a silvery snapper to find its way onto my hook. These […]
An August Picnic
I have always loved picnics, even when the reality falls short of expectations. My romantic notions of dining al fresco, have survived numerous forays on windswept British beaches, with sand scouring our faces and invading the sandwiches. Enduring buzzing flies and angry wasps on a soggy river bank could not dampen my enthusiasm for eating […]
Dueling Strawberry Shortcakes
We are now in the height of strawberry season, but without a Strawberry Festival to mark the time, we must make a festival ourselves. Luckily, there are so many wonderful ways to celebrate this fruit of June.
Herbed Goat Cheese and Radish Bruschetta
Fresh herbs are another joy of early summer. We went for chives and parsley with a hint of thyme and mint, but dill and basil also hit the right note. Radishes are at their sharp, juicy best. Prepare at least a day in advance and up to three days ahead to allow flavors to meld. […]