OUR VEGETARIAN BLOG
Pesto
This Italian basil and garlic sauce is one of the greatest delicacies of all time. It is most often used as a sauce for pasta, but my favorite way to savor it is to spread it on lightly toasted French bread and eat it as an appetizer. Traditionally it is pounded in a…
Mayonnaise
Mayonnaise can be mastered with a little effort and a good dose of knowledge. There are two methods to making mayonnaise: either beating it by hand or making it in the blender or food processor. The hand-beaten method produces a smoother, glossier mayonnaise….
Marinara Sauce
This is my favorite tomato sauce, very garlicky and flavorful. Dried herbs work fine here and add to its ease. Use it on Neapolitan Pizza, or simply serve on spaghetti or linguine for a quick meal. MAKES ABOUT 3 CUPS Вј cup olive oil 4 cloves garlic, minced 28-ounce…
Bread Crumbs
I always have these on hand in the freezer. They are very quick to make and can be made with stale bread or fresh bread. Save ends from bread (whole wheat preferred) and freeze them until you have enough to make bread crumbs, or use regular slices of bread. Toast the…
Rhubarb Cobbler
When I was a little girl, my friends and I would break off stalks of rhubarb and dip the raw ends into the sugar bowl, then bite off the sugary tip and squeal with delight over the overpowering tartness of the rhubarb. It was like biting into a lemon. That intense…
Pear and Apricot Crisp
Here is a nutritious dessert with a distinct fruit flavor that you can make 24 hours in advance. The apricots provide an interesting tartness, and the oatmeal and walnuts give it a deliciously crunchy topping. SERVES 4 TO 6 6 ripe but slightly firm pears (preferably…
Apple Crisp
This classic American dessert is a favorite of mine, but it must be well spiced and have a rich, crunchy topping, as it does here. I have found that almost any variety of apple will do (except Red Delicious they’re too mealy); if the apple is crisp and fresh and…
Poached Pears in Red Wine with Raisins
This is a very pretty dessert. Dark red spicy wine colors the pears and makes them deep maroon on the outside while they remain white within. They are especially light and flavorful and are wonderful served after a rich meal. SERVES 4 4 ripe but slightly firm pears…
Chocolate Chocolate-Chip Cookies
These are my idea of a great chocolate-chip cookie crisp, buttery, and very chocolaty. You had better hide some of these if you don’t want them all eaten in one sitting. MAKES 4 TO 5 DOZEN 2 cups (12 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips 1 cup (2 sticks) butter,…
Cowboy Cookies
These are the prized cookies of my childhood. My mother, Rita, would make large batches of these crisp, buttery cookies, and it was a challenge for all of us to control ourselves and not overindulge. Even now when I visit her, this is the one dessert I look forward…
Almond Butter Cookies
(pictured with Chocolate-Dipped Strawberries) Crisp, light, buttery, and richly flavored, these cookies could perhaps be equaled but not surpassed. I think they make a wonderful dessert, especially when served on a decorative platter with a side dish of fresh fruit or…
Ginger Cookies
Cookies to me are a great dessert as long as they are rich and flavorful. These ginger cookies are crisp and buttery with a good dose of spiciness. They are quick to make, and you can prepare the dough up to 1 week in advance, or make it a few months in advance and…