Lisa on December 21st, 2011

Nothing adds an easy touch of elegance to holiday desserts like freshly whipped cream. (Skip the aerosol can!) Be sure to chill your beaters and bowl before whipping away, either by putting them in the fridge for a good 30 minutes or by popping them into the freezer for a quick 10. I like to [...]

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Lisa on April 18th, 2011

Some kitchen tools are so handy that after you’ve used them once, you can’t imagine going without them ever again.  This four-loaf tray is one of those: not only is it perfect for making gift loaves, it’s an ideal way to make one loaf and then be able to freeze/save half of it for later.  [...]

Continue reading about Pumpkin Bread Bliss…in Four Acts

Lisa on November 26th, 2010

I was lucky — as a kid, I had the pleasure of visiting a local ice cream shop that made (and still makes, as far as I know) its own ice cream.  It was creamier and tastier than anything you could buy in a store.  Although all of their flavors were fantastic, my far-and-away favorite [...]

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Lisa on November 12th, 2010

Pie pumpkins are such an economical treat!  By “pie” pumpkins, I mean those cute little guys who only weigh a pound or two, the kind that are way too small to carve but are easy to bake, simmer, mash, or sautée.  (I would not want to try to cut a monster-sized pumpkin in half for [...]

Continue reading about Pumpkins: So Much More than Just Pies

Lisa on November 5th, 2010

Even though The Great Pumpkin Day has come and gone, pumpkins are still everywhere we look, and they’ll still be seasonally “in” when winter has us in an icy grip.  (Not looking forward to the slick streets, but I am looking forward to soft white carpets of snow making the neighborhood look like it’s been [...]

Continue reading about A Post-Halloween Pumpkin Treat

Lisa on December 7th, 2009

There’s a time for crusts and ends and corners, but that time isn’t all the time.  Sometimes you just want what’s in the middle without having to bother with anything else.  If you’re a big pumpkin fan like I am, you might prefer no-holds-barred, maximum pumpkin, especially at this time of the year when it’s [...]

Continue reading about No Crust, No Problem

Lisa on November 25th, 2009

Who says pumpkin is only for pies?  It’s a squash, after all, and we use every other kind of squash — acorn, butternut, spaghetti — in savory dishes.  It’s a shame that zucchinis are the only squashes that have managed to make the jump from savory (in countless Mediterranean dishes) to sweet (quickbreads and fritters).  [...]

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Lisa on August 19th, 2009

Perhaps I’ve spent too many hours in the Caribbean sun, but I think pumpkins and coconuts should occupy a more prominent place on the American table.  They both have a smooth, silky flavor, are durable to ship and easy to grow, and are endlessly versatile in sweet and savory dishes.  There’s pumpkin bread, pumpkin-stuffed raviolis, [...]

Continue reading about Squash + Nut = Muffin

Lisa on May 29th, 2009

A lot of people are shocked when they hear that I don’t eat store-bought cereal for breakfast.  I used to, but no longer–today’s cereals are packed with sugar, refined grains, sugar, additives and chemicals, sugar, damaged fats, sugar…and sugar.  (On the more upscale cereal boxes, you may see words like “evaporated cane juice” or “fruit [...]

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Lisa on April 13th, 2009

As part of my continuing quest to find more flavorful (and healthier) alternatives to white sugar–especially when I want to bake something tasty for breakfast–I decided to try my hand at maple syrup creations. (See Sweeteners for more information on natural sweeteners.) The result? A lightly-sweetened bread with the warm undertones of maple, the smooth [...]

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