Shrimp in Vadouvan Brown Butter

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

I love a hot appetizer –something warm, fragrant and tasty to eat as I sip my cocktail and get in the mood to relax and enjoy the dinner ahead.  Makes me happy. As a host, though, turning out a warm cocktail snack in the late stages of cooking dinner can be a little stressful.  For […]

Southampton Master Bedroom: New Direction

Monday, April 9, 2012

A couple of months ago, I posted about my project to pull together our dreary master bedroom in Southampton.  It’s a nice room, but the furnishings, linens and accessories are all left-overs from moves and remodels, and they don’t work together.  Many of you offered very useful advice, a common thread of which, I think, […]

Lavender Almond Roulade

Wednesday, April 4, 2012

The warming weather has me thinking of Julia frolicking on the beach, planting the vegetable garden in Southampton, dinner outdoors and light desserts of berries and cream.  In New York, that’s all still many weeks away, but this airy and elegant dessert is a delicious way of reinforcing that lightening mood.  Its flavor is subtle […]

Hotel Room Mai Tais

Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Last week for Julia’s spring break we traded the hustle, glamour and grime of New York for the laid-back charms of Hawaii.  (It’s odd to be suddenly back on a school holiday schedule at my age, but it makes for a nice excuse to take a vacation.) We stayed at a lovely resort on the […]

Chicken Fricassee with Creamy Leeks and Vadouvan

Monday, March 26, 2012

I’ve made this dish more times than I can count, and it’s become a family favorite that’s also special enough for a full-fledged dinner party.  It tastes rich and luxurious, but it’s quick and nearly foolproof.  The recipe includes a quick homemade stock, but if you’re short on time (or patience), you can substitute a […]

Worth the Trouble: Chocolate Budino Tartlets

Tuesday, March 6, 2012

I’ll start with this:  they’re worth it.  The contrast between the rich, creamy chocolate filling (like the chocolate pudding of your childhood, but better) and the flaky chocolate crust that cradles it is sublime, and the garnish of fruity olive oil and sea salt complements both in deliciously unexpected ways. When I serve them, the […]

Loft Master Bedroom: Before and After

Monday, February 27, 2012

“Well, it’s big.”  That’s about all David could say about the master bedroom when we first toured our new loft in Chelsea.  In truth, it had other virtues as well:  nice brick walls, large windows that let in lots of light and, if not a true view (a sliver of river to the left and […]

Turkish Coffee Chocolate Creams

Wednesday, February 15, 2012

I’m more of a fruit dessert person at heart (tarts, pies and the like), but when the weather is cold and gray, a good chocolate dessert warms the heart (and pleases the crowd).  I’ve got a couple of dinner parties coming up in the next week, and one of them will finish with this old […]

The Valentinez

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

Sophisticated sweetness:  that’s what’s on offer here, and what could be better for a Valentine’s Day drink? Cocktail aficionados will recognize this drink as a variation on the Martinez, a classic 19th century cocktail sometimes thought to be the ancestor of the contemporary martini.  The classic drink combines gin, sweet vermouth and maraschino liqueur in […]

Harissa Roast Chicken

Monday, February 6, 2012

We love a good roast chicken and probably eat one for dinner more often than anything else.  This recipe isn’t an improvement on that comforting classic, but it is a nice variation.  To give the bird some extra flavor, I use the North African condiment called harissa to make a simple marinade.  Harissa is a […]

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