I’ve always admired the artistry and technique that goes into decorating sugar cookies. Jeff Gosche, a cookie decorating genius, lends his talent to San Francisco’s Miette patisserie, creating the most gorgeous cookies for the shops. The best part is that he shares his tips and tricks at the patisserie’s cookie decorating classes. I had the great opportunity to attend one last week.
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December 12, 2009
After dessert, I love making brunch. I’ve gotten really good at savory items but when there are a lot of people over I jump at the chance for sweet things- pancakes, french toast, crepes. It’s like having dessert in the morning. Every Thanksgiving and Christmas I make a sweet brunch item. It’s a warm up to cooking the holiday dinner.
Last year, I made pumpkin cinnamon buns for Christmas dessert. It could have been for brunch but after waiting for the dough to rise two times, it was a bit late. These are probably better suited for dessert anyway with all the sugar in them December 3, 2009
For this year’s Thanksgiving dessert, I made an elegant French Apple Tart. It was all about the perfect presentation of apple layers. In contrast, last year I made a Cranberry Apple Galette. A galette is a free-form tart so no need for rolling out dough or a tart pan. You simply gather up the edges of the crust around the mound of juicy apples and cranberries. While not as fancy as the French Apple Tart, it is equally impressive-looking when the fruit bakes down and it has a rustic, golden look when finished.
November 25, 2009
Super simple, super moist. Sounds very Sandra Lee but it’s true. This recipe from Bon Appetit is easy to add on last minute to round out your Thanksgiving menu. It has ingredients you probably have in the pantry or on hand for other dishes. I made it last week for a pre-Thanksgiving dinner and there were no leftovers. It has just the right amount of sweetness and if you spoon some cranberry sauce on top the contrast of sweet and tart is great.
November 23, 2009
November 19, 2009
My first attempt at gnocchi a couple of months ago was a ricotta gnocchi, light and refreshing, perfect for summer. I decided to create something a bit heartier. Potato seemed a bit too ordinary so I went with pumpkin. Also with pumpkin I can use canned. Potatoes I’d have to cook, mash, and let cool. It seemed like too much work just to get an ingredient ready for a recipe.
October 31, 2009
October 8, 2009
On Top Chef yesterday, the chefs had to prepare a family style dinner for chefs from Macy’s Culinary Council. Tyler Florence was one of five who represented and was also the guest judge. It reminded me of a cooking demo he did at Macy’s last fall. I watched Food 911 and Tyler’s Ultimate occasionally but after getting to see his personality and taste his cooking, (the latter definitely was a plus) I really became a fan. Coincidentally the demo and Q&A had a lot to do with home meals and preparing things for the holidays. Below are pictures and recipes that he made.
September 27, 2009
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 My life is food and I am lucky to experience it in San Francisco. Williams-Sonoma is my 8-5 and more because I dream the store is my kitchen. The Ferry Building farmer's market is my inspiration for baking in my half-sized apartment. When I'm not there, I'm out searching for the city's best eats, with special attention to sweets. I hope in perusing my blog, you are inspired with ideas for cooking, entertaining and tasting new things. Email me
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Using ricotta cheese, I created lemon ricotta pancakes for breakfast . The ricotta is the magic ingredient as it makes the pancakes so light that I managed to eat a stack of four.