There's a new power cookie in town. While it's yet to eclipse the cupcake's sovereignty as the sweet snack of choice for a nation obsessed, those in the know have long known that the ethereal pastel treats from Paris's Ladurée and other like-minded institutions are, well, just better. I speak, of course, of the French … [Read more...]
PETITE PUMPKIN CRISP — WITH A DASH OF SALT
Forget the red carpet hype of movie openings -- Spectacularly Delicious was invited to host the world premiere of a fabulous new seasonal dessert recipe from Chef Jonathan Mathias. Jonathan is owner and chef of A Dash of Salt, the caterer of choice for the celebrities, socialites and philanthropic titans of industry in Greenwich, Connecticut (one of the … [Read more...]
BLUE RIBBON COFFEE-TOFFEE PECAN PIE
It's official: This recipe for Coffee-Toffee Pecan Pie is a winner. A Blue Ribbon winner in the fiercely competitive Malibu Pie Contest, one of the most celebrated culinary happenings in all of Hollywood, greater L.A. and beyond. Except perhaps in certain circles in Orange County and Beverly Hills, where apparently the housewives neither bake nor consume pie. At least not … [Read more...]
GRILLED PEACHES AND HONEY ICE CREAM
The big Fourth of July block parties in Webster Groves' Park neighborhood featured many spectacular meals: the 300 lb. roast pig, the 10' foot pizza (true, with St. Louis Post Dispatch newspaper coverage to prove it), outdoor deep fat fryers bubbling away all afternoon while Gerry Rust churned out flocks of crispy fried chicken for the annual gathering of our … [Read more...]
JULIA AND SEAN’S OVEN-ROASTED PLUM CAKES
I wouldn't dream of laying claim to a shared recipe for Oven-Roasted Plum Cakes with the venerated Julia Child had not we shared a brief but meaningful and personal bonding over memories of Croquembouches past and meatballs present in what was to be the twilight of her career. And because this recipe as published in Baking with Julia … [Read more...]
PURPLE LEMON MOUSSE
Delicious dark berries (blue- and black-) combined with sweet cherries comprise the purple portion of this dense, fruity mousse. A nice thick layer of lemon adds a little sunshine to the Barney-colored base and crushed Amaretti cookies add an unexpected touch of soggy almond crunch. Topped with whipped cream and garnished with a non-toxic blossom from … [Read more...]
FRANGIPANE CLAFOUTI WITH YELLOW CHERRIES
Frangipani, frangipane -- I've come across these words from time to time but never really known what they meant. My assumption was something slightly exotic involving mixed fruit, nuts and spices perhaps, and most likely fragrant. Still, not knowing what something is doesn't stop me from making it anyway -- remember the great blueberry semifreddo scandal this past Fourth of … [Read more...]
BLUEBERRY SEMIFREDDO (SSD #8)
The Cuisinart ice cream maker is a ticket to frozen bliss. And this Simply Spectacularly Delicious (SSD) technique for Blueberry Semifreddo, an elegant diversion from the more common ice cream, can easily be adapted to showcase any of summer's achingly perfect fruit. All that's required is a quart of ripe fruit, … [Read more...]
BLACK AND WHITE MALTED ICE CREAM WITH BLACK AND WHITE COOKIES
The black and white malted milkshake -- one of New York City's many culinary wonders honored here with this recipe for Black and White Malted Ice Cream. And what better accompaniment than that other meta-New York delicacy, the Black and White Cookie. The magic of the black and white malted is that it employs vanilla ice cream flavored with chocolate syrup … [Read more...]
HOME MADE CANDIED VIOLETS (SSD #7)
Recently my home made cupcake decorating manifesto extolled the virtues of commercial candied flowers. And beautiful things they are indeed. Brilliantly colored, perfectly formed, splashy, flashy, glamorous. But we can do better with this Simply Spectacularly Delicious (SSD) recipe for Home Made Candied Violets. Rather than rush off on a fool's errand … [Read more...]