Dessert
Maple Bar Bites

Maple Bar Bites

‘Sappy’ dessert ~ How cute are these little maple bar bites ! Especially skewered  on these leafy little picks! I sent ‘the Mr.’  out , to pluck a few leaves for me. He was thrilled :) Now, these maple bites  are tasty enough all by themselves but I of course, gussied  them up with the leaves  and a...
Old-Fashioned Berry Cobbler with a Twist

Old-Fashioned Berry Cobbler with a Twist

Summer Berries ~ Um, who isn’t  crazy about Cobbler? Seriously, this  dessert is the essence of summer. Who doesn’t remember picking ripe, juicy  berries as a kid, oblivious to stained mouths and hands…more  berries in your belly  than the bowl  your mother sent you out the door with. I must say, I am  rather picky about...
Pink Champagne and Pink Grapefruit Sorbet ~

Pink Champagne and Pink Grapefruit Sorbet ~

Pink B~l~u~s~h In love with the luscious color of pink grapefruit. I also adore its tart, tangy-sweet  taste.  Perfect for sorbet!  Especially, when you combine the freshly squeezed juices, (love the old-school juicer) segments & zest with a little pink champagne and vanilla sugar. It’s effervescently refreshing, And of course, there is the ‘vitamin C’  thing....
Blood Orange & Toasted Almond Biscotti ~

Blood Orange & Toasted Almond Biscotti ~

Twice Baked Love, love Biscotti. Always have…our Grandma Nettie used to make them for us and store them in coffee cans. D~e~l~i~c~i~o~u~s! Biscotti, means…twice cooked. That’s what makes them so wonderfully crunchy. You can gussy them up any which way. This recipe includes: fragrant, earthy, toasted almond chunks, tangy Blood Orange zest, nutmeg and a splash...
Vanilla Bean, Nutmeg & Sage Pudding

Vanilla Bean, Nutmeg & Sage Pudding

         ‘Vintage’ Dessert   I love taking an old school dessert and spicing it up. And it doesn’t get much more old school, than pudding. When I think of pudding, I’m instantly whooshed back to my childhood…sitting at the kitchen counter, watching my mom make her delicious tapioca pudding. So my pudding recipe is born of...
Meyer Lemon, Vanilla Bean & Rosemary Pops ~

Meyer Lemon, Vanilla Bean & Rosemary Pops ~

 Pucker up I love the taste of Meyer lemon. I love it so much, I bought a tree. The Meyer, is a tangy orange-lemon combo, that is sweeter than traditional lemons…making it perfect for desserts & drinks.  I also love the taste of Rosemary.  For the latest Girls Night IN gathering, I decided to combine the two flavors…to make...
Hot Chocolate with Star Anise and Thai Chile ~

Hot Chocolate with Star Anise and Thai Chile ~

  Winter Warmth Don’t know if it’s the upcoming holiday of l~o~v~e  or a recent viewing of, ‘Chocolat,’  a film favorite  but I’m craving chocolate, hot Chocolate and not just any hot chocolate. This batch, is made from 3 ounces of unrefined Dark Spanish Chocolate… roughly chopped and a cup of  whole milk, infused with Star Anise, that shapely, licorice...
Come to ‘Le Petite Pie’ Night at Our House: Girls Night In

Come to ‘Le Petite Pie’ Night at Our House: Girls Night In

In the Kitchen with Monica ~ Images ~ Stefanie Knowlton  I’m so excited to share the night of Petite Pies  at our house. The little pies, are a modern take, on the old fashioned, all American classic, Apple pie,  a la mode. And here’s my little twist,  I like to make   apple pie bites, served with a...
Raspberry Prosecco Sorbet ~

Raspberry Prosecco Sorbet ~

Raspberries & Bubbles I love sorbet. It’s light, refreshing, fruity and when you pour a little sparkling Prosecco into the recipe… well, it’s   heavenly! I made this pretty raspberry prosecco sorbet, as a refreshing break between courses, at our ‘Le Petite Pie’ night.  So much fun! Can’t wait to share the evening with you! Anyway, this...
Salted Caramel  & Vanilla Sauce ~

Salted Caramel & Vanilla Sauce ~

 Buttery caramel & French Salt Love, love the combination of salty & sweet. So I came up with this ridiculously simple caramel sauce.  I cook up a little of my vanilla sugar, vanilla bean seeds, French gray salt, heavy cream and water in a deep pan, on the stove top. The flavors come together to...
Petite Apple Pies ~

Petite Apple Pies ~

 Pie ~  There is something so comforting about homemade pie and something so  ALL American about homemade APPLE Pie. While cooking up holiday recipes, I came up with these… petite apple pie bites. They are little pillows of pie really. The crust is flavored with orange zest & vanilla bean and the apple filling is spiced with more zest, vanilla sugar, a good...
Sweet Lavender Sugar ~ Culinary Confections

Sweet Lavender Sugar ~ Culinary Confections

Lavender Harvest After enjoying the pretty purple spires & heady fragrance of our lovely lavender, all summer long… It’s time, to snip a few stocks, while they are still at their peak and use the flower buds in the kitchen. A little lavender sugar, goes a l~o~n~g way and in small doses, it can really...