Because of the ease of preparation, this recipe for Roasted Marrow Bones with Parsley Salad may deliver the biggest bang for the buck of any recipe on SpecD. Hence the SSD tag (Simply Spectacularly Delicious). Bring a platter to the table laden with thick, naked cow bones, centers all a' bubble with molten marrow and everyone's going to have a visceral … [Read more...]
OSSO BUCO (SSD #13)
A nicely turned out Osso Buco is about as Simply Spectacularly Delicious (SSD) a recipe as one can have in one's repertoire. By virtue of there being only two sides of the cut of veal that need browning, it's arguable that this is the easiest braised-meat dish around. When you consider the searing and turning and multiple batches required for a … [Read more...]
PEPPERMINT CREAM (SSD #12)
The good folks at OXO have made my holiday entertaining just a little bit easier by sharing their new hand-held mixer. One for me and one for Andrea at Let Loose Littell who won our little contest. I referenced this peppermint whipped cream recipe in my little chat with Julia Child -- and you'll recall she thought the whole notion splendid. So … [Read more...]
MISO STEAK – SSD #10
A long marinade in white miso paste and other eastern seasonings results in a near-indescribably delicious grilled steak. Beef and miso paste make for a veritable umami explosion! So Miso Steak is now our 10th Simply Spectacularly Delicious (SSD) recipe. 6 T. white miso paste 6 garlic cloves, grated is best; lacking a proper garlic grater, minced will do 6 T. … [Read more...]
LAST OF THE HERB GARDEN ROASTED POTATOES (SSD #9)
Another Simply Spectaculary Delicious (SSD) recipe technique is a prefect late-summer side dish. The chilly nights of September remind us the glory days of the herb jardiniere are nearing their end. Summer 2011 was a particularly robust planting and now there's a last dash to employ as many of these flavorful leaves while the … [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...]
RAINBOW CARROTS (SSD #7)
What could possibly be more simply spectacularly delicious that this easy recipe for farm-stand fresh rainbow carrots, gently poached in the purest, cleanest well water (we've had ours checked -- rating: A+!) and then slowly glazed over low heat in an abundance of sweet butter. (If you blinked, that was the … [Read more...]
WHITE CHOCOLATE MOUSSE: THREE VARIATIONS (SSD #6)
Here's a Simply Spectacularly Delicious recipe for taking White Chocolate Mousse to the third power - divide it up and give each treatment its own presentation and violá, you have an enchanting offering of different delicacies to delight any palate. My young friends Miranda and Georgia were coming for dinner, and after the success of last summer's … [Read more...]
SPECTACULARLY BEAUTIFUL CUPCAKES: SSD #5
With no end in sight to the over-the-top cupcake craze, it seems like even accomplished home bakers have thrown in the towel. Why even try to impress and dazzle when you're competing with countless eye-popping monstrosities readily available? The reliable province of novices and experienced alike, pity the … [Read more...]
BRAISED LEEKS: SSD #4
Simply Spectacularly Delicious Braised Leeks: delicious results with a minimum of fuss (not that there's anything wrong with that). You know how there are words in other languages that have no equivalent in English? Like the Japanese bakku-shan, a girl who is pretty from behind but ugly from the front? Surely everyone's enjoyed a jaysus, … [Read more...]