Flan (caramel custard)

Flan (caramel custard)

Serves 6 to 8 • 3 whole eggs • 3 egg yolks • 1¾ cups sugar • 2 cups milk • 1 cup heavy cream • ½ tsp. vanilla extract 1. Beat the eggs and yolks with ¾ cup of the sugar until thick and creamy. In a small saucepan, combine the milk and cream and heat to just below the...

Cherry and amaretto soufflé

Cherry and amaretto soufflé

Serves 4 to 6 • 3 Tbs. butter • 4 Tbs. flour • ⅔ cup milk • ⅓ cup cream • ⅔ cup sugar • 4 egg yolks • 2 Tbs. Amaretto liqueur • 1 cup halved, pitted dark cherries (preferably fresh) • 5 egg whites • pinch of cream of tartar Garnish • Raspberry Sauce 1. Melt the butter...

Pumpkin pie

Pumpkin pie

Makes two 9-inch pies This is my favorite. I love ginger, and this one is particularly spicy. Pastry for two 9-inch 1-crust pies Crust • 1⅓ cups flour • ¼ tsp. salt • 1 Tbs. sugar • ½ cup butter, well chilled • scant ⅓ cup ice water • ¾ cup brown sugar • ¼ cup white...

Apple tart

Apple tart

Serves 8 to 10 Crust • 1⅓ cups flour • ¼ tsp. salt • 1 Tbs. sugar • ½ cup butter, well chilled • scant ⅓ cup ice water Filling • 2 lbs. firm pippin apples • juice of 1 large lemon • ½ cup sugar • ½ to ⅓ cup apricot glaze (optional) 1. To make the crust, mix together...

Apple pudding

Apple pudding

Serves 6 to 8 • 3 large pippin (tart green) apples • 4 Tbs. butter • 3 Tbs. sugar • ½ tsp. cinnamon • ¼ tsp. ground cloves • 1 tsp. grated lemon rind • batter • 3 eggs • ½ cup flour • 1½ cups milk • 3 Tbs. sugar • 2 Tbs. brandy • ½ tsp. vanilla extract • dash of...

Dark brandied fruitcakes

Dark brandied fruitcakes

Makes 6 medium-sized fruitcakes. These also should be aged at least a month to develop their full flavor. • 2 cups coarsely chopped dried figs • 2 cups chopped dried apricots • ½ cup chopped candied lemon peel • 1½ cups golden raisins • 1½ cups chopped dates • 2 cups...

Apple strudel grandma clar

Apple strudel grandma clar

Makes 2 or 3 large strudels. Where it came from before Flora’s grandmother started calling it her own, nobody knows, but this is not a classic version of apple strudel. It is as unusual as it is tasty. When Flora makes this strudel, she makes double or more the amount...

Rum and chocolate fruitcakes

Rum and chocolate fruitcakes

Makes 8 medium-sized fruitcakes. Make these before Thanksgiving Day if you want to eat them at Christmas—they need aging to develop proper flavor. • 1 lb. dried apricots, cut in small pieces • 12 oz. pitted prunes, cut in small pieces • 8 oz. pitted dates, cut in...

Chocolate buttercream

Chocolate buttercream

Makes about 2½ cups. • 4 egg yolks • 1¼ cups sugar • 3 Tbs. unsweetened powdered cocoa • ⅔ cup milk • ½ lb. soft butter 1. Beat the egg yolks until they are creamy, then beat in ¾ cup of the sugar and continue until pale and fluffy. Beat in the cocoa. 2. Bring the...

Wenia’s mazurek

Wenia’s mazurek

Serves 10 to 12 This wonderful cake was first made for me by my Aunt Wenia in Poland, and I immediately demanded the recipe. It is the perfect cake for a very special occasion, a baroque, luscious creation that really looks like a celebration. • 1 sponge cake, baked...

Zuppa inglese

Zuppa inglese

Serves 10 to 14 It means “English Soup” because its base is English custard, but it’s really a marvelous, moist Italian confection—cake soaked with rum, layered with marmalade and custard, and covered with a meringue. The curious name presumably derives from a...

Spumoni cake

Spumoni cake

Serves 8 to 10 In the restaurant Torcoloti in Verona, we ate one of the most sublime cakes in the world. After the first long moment of silent ecstasy had passed, we asked our extremely friendly waiter if he could tell us a little something about it. Well, we found...