A Magickal Transformation: Blueberry Baked German Pancake

There are some dishes that seem more to be the work of an alchemist or a sorceress than something a mere cook has whipped together in the kitchen. Baked German pancakes are one such dish: from a simple, runny batter of eggs, milk, flour, salt and butter, poured into a shallow baking dish and popped […]

Sour Cherry Lattice Top Pie

One of the prettiest pies known to humanity is a sour cherry lattice top pie.
Or, at least, I think so.
The brilliant color of the cherries is set off by the seemingly intricate woven strips of pastry; the fruit looks like round ruby baubles set in a golden filagree. The openwork top also allows […]

Two Ways To Treat Dad Like a King: Castle Cakes

What is a king without a castle?
I don’t often do whimsy in my cooking, however, when Morganna and Brittany saw this castle-shaped Bundt cake pan from Nordic Ware in a catalog, they insisted I had to get it. I already have a small collection of the sculpted Bundt pans, (and have used the rose-shaped one […]

First Pie of the Season: Strawberry Rhubarb Crumble Pie

I know that last month, I promised as the strawberries came into season, to write about a bunch of recipes that used them while they were at their peak of flavor and freshness.
And did I do that?

No.
Why?
Because I was too busy eating them up to cook with them.
They just tasted […]

Oatmeal Cookies: Homely, Humble And Just Darned Tasty

Some of my favorite dishes are not very appealing to look at. Some of them are downright ugly.

Shepherd’s pie is that way. So is split pea soup. Many dishes with beans and southern cooked greens are less than attractive–one glance at the beans, ribs and greens in my Hillbilly Deluxe Dinner (you pronounce that “deelux,” […]