Dinner Party for 12 – Thai Beef Salad

A bunch of folks in my West Adams neighborhood are freelance, myself included. Speaking personally, it can make you a bit loopy at times when you have no water cooler hub bub to satisfy the daily need for human connection. So, this past week I launched what I hope will be the first of

Macaroni and Cheese with Mustard Thyme Breadcrumbs

My maternal grandmother was only 5 feet tall but packed a truckload of attitude into every inch. Edith Palm was one of four kids born to poor Swedish immigrants in Ipswich, Massachusetts in 1905. All four kids were tough, funny, hard

Tarte Tatin

The French have done many wonderful things but Tarte Tatin is way up there. This is great to do for dinner parties because you can do most of the prep the day before. And it’s bang for the buck since the ingredients are cheap and easy to

Lamb Meatballs with Spiced Tomato Sauce

This dish is the second in a series this week on throwing a birthday dinner. See the Kabocha and Fennel Soup post for the full menu. I’ll post the Tarte Tatin recipe this Saturday.

Double Chocolate Banana Bread

I believe this bread was invented as an excuse to eat cake for breakfast. My kids request I make this as their birthday cakes each year and sells out at the school holiday bake sale. It’s from King Arthur Flour and needs no adapting. If you ever have

Fig Mizuna Salad with Thai Basil

This is a hello/goodbye kind of salad. Bittersweet for the short window when it is possible. Figs are on their way out and the asian greens like mizuna are just coming in. That makes this fleeting culinary combination all the more delightful.

Cherry Bourbon Clafoutis with Pecans

I love all things Lucques and this little gem was inspired by Suzanne Goin’s Clafoutis in Sunday Suppers at Lucques. She did it with cranberries and walnuts and topped with bourbon whipped cream. I had dried cherries and pecans in the

Cardamom Walnut Coffee Cake

All hail the 6″ cake pan. I love me some cake and I like to make other people happy with cake. But I do not want cake lingering around like that last glass of wine I didn’t need. Enter this lovely little coffee cake adapted from Cook’s