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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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 […]
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.
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. […]
Long live this dessert, which delivers home-baked taste when you don’t have time to make a shortbread or pie. The crumble topping can be made up to 5 days ahead and stored in an airtight container in a cool place (but not in the fridge, which can make it go soggy). Serve the dessert layered […]
Handle with care. Flounder is delicate, but this easy recipe requires no magic tricks. Seven minutes in a hot oven is enough to transform it into a company-worthy dish. The secret’s in the crust—a thin coating of mayonnaise, Dijon mustard, and diced shallots covered with Parmesan and breadcrumbs. P.S. You must make your own breadcrumbs, […]
Asparagus Sformato with Chive Cream and Arugula Salad You say sfor-MATE-o and I say sfor-MAH-to—but what exactly does the word mean? Leonardo da Vinci, first credited with using the sformato painting technique in works like the Mona Lisa—would like you to know that the term derives from fumo (smoke) and connotes a soft shading between […]
