Pearl Muffins & Winter Citrus Jelly

by Laura 12 March 2011
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I picked up my Honey Girl this morning from an early flight from Boston.  She is my pearl, my sunshine, my joy.  So it seemed fitting to make these pearl muffins and some shiny-wiggly, glowy-jiggly winter citrus jelly for her welcome-home breakfast.  I took the syrup I boiled down yesterday from the candied winter citrus [...]

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Homemade Yogurt with Winter Citrus Syrup

by Laura 10 March 2011
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I’m thinking this morning about long lost books. My books.  I have what is perhaps a peculiar emotional attachment to them.  And I wish they could return home to their places, still waiting, on my bookshelves.  Some of the books, I know, are well cared for and will return someday after their long excursions. The [...]

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A Late Winter Tart: Candied Winter Citrus with Vanilla Custard, Dark Chocolate, & Flaked Salt in a Whole Wheat Almond Shortbread Crust

by Laura 9 March 2011
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This lovely late winter tart is a tarte composée, or composed tart. A buttery shortbread crust made with almond and whole wheat pastry flours and turbinado sugar for a little crunch is filled with a very thin layer of dark chocolate ganache, napped with vanilla custard, decorated with a kaleidoscope of candied winter fruits, and [...]

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Spinach Lasagne with Wild Boar Sausage, Olivada, Fresh Ricotta & Mozzarella, and Simple Tomato Sauce

by Laura 7 March 2011
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When my Dear Husband had surgery a few years ago, we saw a steady stream of homemade lasagne arrive, thoughtful visitor by thoughtful visitor, pan in outstretched arms.  It was a very touching parade, and we slowly and happily made our way through every last one.  What surprised me was the fact that so many [...]

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Vanilla Custard

by Laura 5 March 2011
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I made coconut macaroons yesterday.  This recipe is an Ole to their Lena, a Hardy to their Laurel.  It’s a pairing recipe in every sense, a frugal sister to egg-white only recipes, and a happy partner for a crumble or a figgy pudding or a slice of chocolate cake.  You could eat it with a [...]

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Cinnamon Cream Caramel Surprise Coconut Macaroons

by Laura 4 March 2011
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I’ve been spending a good bit of time in the car recently, making trips down to St. Olaf College, my alma mater, in Northfield, Minnesota, which is about an hour away.  Barbara Kingsolver has been my companion. (Books on tape, I love you.)  I’m about ten hours into The Lacuna.  It’s hard to imagine being [...]

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Whole Wheat Gingerbread Pancakes

by Laura 2 March 2011
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When I begin to long for winter to melt into spring, for the crocuses to pop their heads up and to feel the sun on my face again, the best remedy is to make something that I would only cook in the wintertime. It’s a nice reminder of the excitement I feel when the season [...]

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Homemade Cultured Butter Pressed with a Hand-carved Butter Mold

by Laura 1 March 2011
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My Norwegian grandfather had something of a love affair with butter; he loved a pool in which to cook an egg or some hash, or a thick smear on toast.  But mostly, it was his tableside companion at every home-cooked dinner I can remember eating with him, and he was not shy with it.  A [...]

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Fennel & Almond Pound Cake with Sambuca Syrup

by Laura 25 February 2011
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I used to love that little pinch of fennel seed and rainbow-colored licorice candy as I paid the check at our favorite Indian restaurant.  Rory Gilmore ruined it for me with her, well, I’ve posted it below for those willing to risk never being able to enjoy his or her little pinch again. … From [...]

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Tuxedo Salad: Black Beluga Lentils, Black Trumpet Mushrooms, & Creamy White Shepherd’s Way Farms’ Shepherd’s Hope Cheese

by Laura 24 February 2011
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When I walked past these little black beluga lentils the other day, they put me in mind of caviar.  They were just around the corner from some fresh black trumpet mushrooms.  And I had a wedge of lush Shepherd’s Hope artisan sheep milk cheese at home.  So into my little head popped the idea for [...]

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Creamy Parsnip, Celeriac, & Turnip Soup

by Laura 21 February 2011
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Today is my Dear Husband’s birthday. We have been sweet for each other since August of 1985, and married for almost 22 years. He still melts my butter. Happy Birthday, my dear one. My post recipe today isn’t very celebratory; we celebrated this weekend. But this little soup is one of the most elegant and [...]

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